Chapter 26: Chapter 24: Seventh in the County Examination
Besides that.
Xinghua was a cook in the Li Family. To see her, he had no choice but to pay them a visit.
Of course.
Wei Tu hadn’t forgotten Li Yaozu’s ill intentions from back then. It was just that now wasn’t the time to be concerned with such matters.
First things first.
He knew how to get his priorities straight.
In the eyes of outsiders, he was still a Household Slave of the Li Family, indebted to them for their kindness.
Though he had already bought his freedom, the "stain" of his origins would be impossible to ever wash clean.
...
Leading his horse through the familiar streets, Wei Tu gazed at every sight, every blade of grass, and every tree. His state of mind was completely different from half a year ago.
A newfound sense of ease and composure had settled over him.
Wei Tu guessed this was due to several things: gaining Shan Wuju’s approval while at the Shan Family, his newfound confidence for the County and Prefecture Military Examinations, and... his confidence in his own power after learning the Martial Arts Killing Technique.
’The Li Mansion’s front gate is just around that alley.’
Wei Tu looked ahead and led his horse forward.
However, when he arrived on the street where the Li Mansion stood, Wei Tu was taken aback for a moment. The entrance was bustling with visitors, the gates thronged with carriages and horses.
The Li Family had started as traveling merchants a century ago, eventually settling here. In Qingshan County Town, they were merely an ordinary wealthy family, nothing particularly special.
Normally, they wouldn’t attract so many members of the gentry for a visit.
Seeing Chunlan and Caixia standing at the side gate to welcome guests, Wei Tu tied his Cyan Horse to a hitching post next to the main gate and walked over.
After a brief inquiry, Wei Tu learned the reason for the commotion: Li Xingye’s name had appeared on the list of successful candidates posted by the county yesterday.
And his rank was not low.
He was seventh in the County Examination!
’Seventh in the official examination...’ Wei Tu was genuinely shocked to hear this.
In Qingshan County, at least a thousand candidates took the County Examination. It was already a great feat to stand out among them and make the list, let alone achieve a result as high as seventh place.
(The pass list only included the top fifty names. Anyone not on it had failed.)
For Li Xingye to pass the County Examination and rank seventh at such a young age was an extraordinary achievement in Qingshan County, even if he couldn’t compare to the prodigies and top-ranked scholars of the past.
Besides, ranking seventh didn’t necessarily mean he was less capable than those ranked higher. After all, there’s no absolute first in literary arts, and the County Magistrate grading the exams had his own preferences.
’If the caliber of this year’s candidates in Qingshan County is decent, Li Xingye has a very good chance of earning the title of Scholar this autumn.’
Thinking of this, Wei Tu finally understood why so many carriages from wealthy families were at the Li Mansion’s gate today.
Although the title of Scholar was not particularly precious, a young Scholar was a completely different matter.
It meant he had a high chance of soaring through the ranks, passing the higher-level examinations, and one day serving in the emperor’s court.
Once his surprise passed,
Wei Tu explained his intentions to Caixia. He asked her to inform Mrs. Li Tong that he wanted to see Xinghua and would like to lodge at the Li Mansion.
"I’ll leave the Li Mansion for the Prefecture City after the county-level Military Examination is over."
Wei Tu gave a specific timeframe.
Hearing this, Caixia nodded and headed toward the inner residence.
After about ten minutes, Caixia returned. Shaking her head at Wei Tu, she said, "The mistress is currently in the main hall receiving the female family members of the guests. I waited for a long time, but I couldn’t find a chance to approach her..."
"How about this, Brother Wei, you wait here at the gate for a while. The guests should start leaving around 5:00 PM." Looking up at the sky and seeing the sun sinking in the west, Caixia suggested.
"Alright." Wei Tu nodded, left the side gate, and sat on the hitching post where his Cyan Horse was tied. He stroked the Cyan Horse’s mane and waited for the guests at the Li Mansion to leave.
Over an hour later, as the sky began to dim, there was finally activity at the Li Mansion’s side gate.
Maidservants carrying lanterns emerged, followed by gentry and noblewomen. The procession of lights looked like fiery snakes winding their way out.
With the rumbling departure of the carriages, silence returned to the front of the Li Mansion, gradually replaced by the chirping of insects.
Wei Tu saw Li Yaozu and his wife standing at the gate seeing off the gentry. He led his horse over, gave a slight bow, and explained his purpose.
After Wei Tu finished, Caixia chimed in, "Mistress, Brother Wei has been here for a while. You were just too busy for me to find a chance to inform you."
"Brother Wei?" Mrs. Li Tong sized up the young man before her, a look of astonishment on her face.
She had noticed Wei Tu outside the gate earlier, but in the dim light, she hadn’t recognized him. She had simply assumed the young man by the hitching post was a servant waiting for one of the gentry.
Mrs. Li Tong’s lips moved slightly, as if to say something.
But just then.
By the light from the gateway, Mrs. Li Tong finally got a clear look at Wei Tu’s current appearance, as well as the sharp aura unique to a Martial Artist. She thought for a moment, then immediately swallowed the words at the tip of her tongue.
If not for the purple woolen fabric of his lined jacket—a gift she had given to Xinghua—Mrs. Li Tong would never have believed the man before her was the same sturdy servant who had bought his freedom from their household more than half a year ago.
"My apologies for the delay. The Li Family has been a poor host," Mrs. Li Tong said to Wei Tu, using the same polite words she had just used for her distinguished guests.
After Mrs. Li Tong apologized, Li Yaozu chimed in with a broad smile. "Right, the county’s Military Examination is coming up. No wonder you’re in the County Town. You must have come from Shan Wuju’s, then..."
In his eyes, he had lifted Wei Tu up, recommending him to study under Shan Wuju. He was, without a doubt, Wei Tu’s benefactor.
And as a benefactor, Wei Tu would naturally be filled with gratitude toward him.
A gentleman dies for one who appreciates him.
’I have to cultivate this relationship carefully.’
"Yes, Master Li." Wei Tu nodded and gave a simple reply.
"Lodging here is a small matter. After all, you came from my Li Family and have always been loyal and earnest. I’ll grant your request."
Li Yaozu feigned closeness, patting Wei Tu’s shoulder with a smile.
Wei Tu frowned inwardly at his words, a flicker of displeasure in his heart.
’Loyal and earnest? He had a gut feeling there was more to Li Yaozu’s words. Did the man still see him as a Household Slave?’
However, Wei Tu didn’t refute it out loud, instead telling himself to relax.
’Perhaps I’m just being too sensitive about coming to the Li Family.’
’A Gentleman judges actions, not intentions.’
When Li Yaozu had moved a short distance away, Wei Tu gave a slight bow and offered his thanks.
"Come to the inner residence for dinner."
Mrs. Li Tong walked into the side gate, leading the way and speaking kindly to Wei Tu.
As for the Cyan Horse Wei Tu was leading, it was taken by the reins by a newly hired Horse Groom of the Li Mansion and led to the stables in a side courtyard of the front residence.
"Wei Tu?"
In the dining hall, a young man in a scholar’s robe sitting on a stool couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow when he saw Wei Tu being led in by Li Yaozu and his wife.
Li Xingye was, of course, familiar with Wei Tu.
When he was young, the family had hired a tutor to teach him the Confucian classics. That tutor had also taught a few of the household’s maids and servants to read.
And Wei Tu had been one of them.
He had also been one of Li Xingye’s few playmates in the Li Mansion during his youth.
...
...
PS: I made a mistake about the imperial examination system in a previous Chapter, and no one pointed it out. I only realized it while writing this one.
The imperial examinations are divided into several levels: the County Examination, Prefecture Examination, Daoist Examination (or Academy Examination), Provincial Examination, Metropolitan Examination, and Palace Examination.
One must pass the County, Prefecture, and Daoist Examinations to earn the title of Scholar. The Provincial Examination is for the title of Provincial Graduate (Juren). The Military Examination is the same; a candidate must pass the provincial-level Military Examination to earn a formal military degree.
