After listening to several pieces at Jade Sound Pavilion, Zheng Zhi and his friends returned to the inn where they were staying.
The musicians at Jade Sound Pavilion needed to improve their skills on the zither, but their arrangements were not bad.
Just so happened a few friends had also arrived in Chang’an. He, arriving in Chang’an earlier than them, was more familiar with the place and took them around for a tour.
Back at the inn, Zheng Zhi closed the door of his room and began practicing calligraphy.
Due to his unforgettable memory, he could skip a great deal of rote learning compared to the average student, and thus had time to focus on his weaker subjects.
His skills in archery and Horse Riding were not strong, but sufficient to pass the Imperial Examination. His strengths lay in the Ritual Department and mathematics, and his aptitude in the Music Department was not too bad. In the Book Department, his calligraphy and painting were a little weak, but he could make up for it with Law and composition.
For this session of the Imperial Examination, he was determined to succeed.
Zheng Zhi’s dream was to enter the Imperial Censorate and become an Imperial Censor courageous in speaking out against injustice.
His grandfather had been an Imperial Censor, and under his influence, Zheng Zhi had aspired to the same position since childhood.
Today’s Daxia seemed peaceful on the surface but was fraught with internal and external troubles.
Outside, there were enemies on all sides, and inside, the Emperor was negligent, and the corrupt officials caused chaos.
At court, there was a need for upright officials like him, who dared and loved to speak the truth.
Bang, bang, bang!
Zheng Zhi had not yet finished writing his post when a sudden, urgent knocking rang out on the door.
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His friends were not the type to be so rude.
Could it be that brother who had come to invite him for tea?
Zheng Zhi went to the door and opened it. He did not see the kindly brother but instead several constables with swords.
The leading constable asked, "Are you Zheng Zhi?"
Zheng Zhi had no fondness for these constables who bullied people using their power. He replied discourteously, "Yes, I am. What’s the matter?"
"Arrest him."
At the constable’s command, Zheng Zhi was seized by the shoulders by two men, one on each side.
The commotion at the door disturbed the other guests.
Three figures emerged from the neighboring rooms. Seeing what was happening, a young man’s face changed, and he demanded, "On what grounds are you arresting him!"
The constable snorted coldly and said, "Chang’an County Government has received reports that this man has repeatedly insulted His Majesty and slandered court officials, committing the grave crime of disrespect. Is there any mistake in arresting him?"
Upon hearing this, the three young men were not afraid but instead stepped forward, chests puffed out.
"I’ve insulted him too. Go ahead and take me as well!"
"Why can’t we speak about the Emperor’s neglect of state affairs?"
"Li Xuanjing dominates the court, partisan and repressive. Every official lives in fear. What slander is this?"
"You can arrest us, but can you silence everyone in the world?"
The constable chuckled coldly at them and said repeatedly, "Very well, very well. I did not witness the previous incidents, but I heard, with my own ears, your insult to His Majesty and defamation of a senior official..."
These naive youngsters, having read a few years’ worth of books, did not appreciate the scale of the world.
This was Chang’an, not their remote backwaters.
In Chang’an, one must not speak carelessly.
If the Imperial Guard or the men from the Spiegel Bureau heard such words, no number of heads would be enough to pay the price.
He waved his hand and ordered, "Take them all!"
...
On the streets of Chang’an.
Li Nuo held a bouquet in his left hand and his wife’s hand in his right.
All along the way, Song Jiaren remained silent.
He was not sure if it was the mention of the Lady Mother-in-law that had affected her.
After all, it was because of him that his wife had always been unable to stay by her mother’s side. Li Nuo did not know how much resentment she held in her heart over this matter.
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If they were to become a true husband and wife in the future, this would unavoidably be an issue to confront.
After a moment of silence, Li Nuo spoke, "Wife."
Song Jiaren said softly, "Hmm?"
Li Nuo asked bluntly, "Are you blaming me for the matter with your mother-in-law?"
Song Jiaren turned to look at him and shook her head, "No."
Actually, she had indeed blamed him before.
And for a long time at that.
As a child, when people called her ’motherless child,’ she would wonder why others had both parents while she only had a father, without a mother.
Later, she found out from her family that it was because of her marriage issue that her mother had a falling out with her father and left home. Naturally, she harbored some resentment towards her unseen and foolish "husband."
However, as she grew up, she became accustomed to it and understood that the incident shouldn’t be blamed on a child who had just been born at the time.
Now, of course, she couldn’t possibly blame him anymore.
Li Nuo looked at her and said, "You’re lying. You hesitated just now. You still blame me."
Song Jiaren was momentarily stunned and again said, "I don’t."
If she really blamed him, why would she let him hold her hand, sleep in the same bed with him, under the same blanket, allow him to teach her piano knowing he was proficient in archery, yet pretended to teach him how to shoot...
Li Nuo thought for a moment and said, "I don’t believe you, unless…"
Song Jiaren asked, "Unless what?"
Li Nuo whispered something in her ear.
Song Jiaren’s face turned red, she let go of his hand and quickly walked away.
Li Anning was easy to coax, and the wife easy to fool.
She was even more innocent than Li Anning.
It should have been Li Nuo’s fault, but with just a few words, he could turn the situation from passive to active.
Li Nuo sighed inwardly.
Wanting to take the initiative to receive a kiss from his wife was indeed not an easy task.
She was always reserved and shy.
He was uncertain where her mother-in-law’s initiative and generosity had been inherited...
Li Nuo returned to the Song Residence and glanced at the Law Code; Zheng Zhi’s portrait had already appeared in it.
The portraits of his three friends were beside his.
The difference was that Zheng Zhi’s portrait was bright, while those of the three were dim.
Li Nuo wasn’t entirely confident that he could make Zheng Zhi’s portrait light up.
He didn’t know if insulting His Majesty or criticizing the court officials counted as crimes recognized by the Law Code, but according to Daxia Law, they had all committed some offenses, to a certain extent, based on the results.
If it didn’t work out, he would just have someone watch the man, waiting for him to spit on the street before acting.
Li Nuo placed the bottle of flowers on the table, bringing over a large pile of books.
These were all the classics involved in the Imperial Examination syllabus.
Li Nuo picked up a book at random and opened a page; after a glance, he closed his eyes, and most of the content of that page entered his mind unbidden.
Just a cursory glance, and he remembered over sixty percent of the content.
Li Nuo opened his eyes and carefully read through the content in his mind once more.
When he closed his eyes again, he could reproduce all the content from that page completely in his mind.
This world really didn’t lack geniuses.
There actually were people who had photographic memories.
Li Nuo remarked with a sense of wonder, flipping through the pages of the book.
He wasn’t Zheng Zhi; he had to make use of this one day to review everything needed for the examination by heart, so as not to waste his lifespan.
Footsteps approached from outside the door.
Song Zhe entered, carrying a stack of thick books; seeing Li Nuo reading, it was the Confucian "Sixteen Classics," a mandatory part of the Composition exam in the Book Department.
He stepped forward and asked, "How are you doing with the Sixteen Classics?"
Li Nuo replied, "Just started."
Song Zhe was stunned, "Just started?"
With one month till the spring exam and two months till the Imperial Examination, he’d just started with the Sixteen Classics?
How would he write his Composition when the time came?
Watching Li Nuo flip through the pages, he asked, "You’re reading like this?"
Li Nuo nodded and said, "Yeah."
Song Zhe inquired, "You can remember it all this way?"
Li Nuo answered, "I can remember maybe eighty or ninety percent."
Song Zhe glanced at the book in Li Nuo’s hands and asked, "Only sincerity is the true way of Heaven; being sincere, one can fulfill one’s nature. After this line, what comes next?"
Li Nuo thought for a moment and said, "Having fulfilled one’s own nature, one can then fulfill the nature of others; having fulfilled the nature of others, one can then fulfill the nature of things; having fulfilled the nature of things, one can assist in Heaven and Earth’s nurturing and transforming; having assisted in Heaven and Earth’s nurturing and transforming, one can then stand together with Heaven and Earth."
Song Zhe’s face showed shock. "You’ve really just started, and you have a photographic memory like your father?"
Li Nuo was slightly stunned, "My father also has a photographic memory?"
Song Zhe noted that he used the word "also."
Indeed.
Like father, like son, what they could easily achieve, ordinary people would have to put in ten or even a hundred times more effort.
Fortunately, Song Zhe had grown accustomed to it, placing the stack of thick books down as he said, "These are the books I used back in the day, and they contain many notes and annotations. If you have time, you might want to look through them."
Li Nuo expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Lord Father-in-law."
Those books might not be particularly precious, but the annotations of someone who ranked third in the Imperial Examination could save him from many detours.
Song Zhe gave him another look before turning to leave.
Li Nuo opened one of the books he had brought and indeed saw that every available blank space had been densely filled with annotations.
If he could finish these books, then there would basically be no issue with the Composition section.
His photographic memory had its limits, and not wanting to waste his lifespan, Li Nuo continued to sit and read at the table.
Song Jiaren sat opposite him, reviewing notes about floral arts related to the Phoenix.
Unaware of how much time had passed, Li Nuo looked up and saw that it had gotten completely dark outside; he wasn’t sure what time it was. He looked at Song Jiaren and suggested, "If you’re tired, wife, you can go to sleep first..."
Song Jiaren didn’t look up, merely saying softly, "It’s okay, I’ll wait for you."
Li Nuo looked for a quarter of an hour more, not wanting his wife to miss her rest because of him, then he closed the book and said, "It’s getting late, let’s rest."
Song Jiaren nodded and walked to the bed.
Li Nuo usually slept inside, so he got into bed first, sitting against the headboard on the inside.
The blanket felt slightly cool, and he decided to sit up to warm up the bed.
At a certain moment, just when he was about to sleep, an unexpected, cool, soft sensation touched his cheek.
It was a brief contact.
Her action was swift, creating a waft of fragrant air.
Li Nuo was momentarily surprised.
Although the kiss landed on his cheek rather than his lips, it wasn’t accidental but deliberate on her part.
He turned to look, the light in the room suddenly went out, and he couldn’t see his wife’s expression.
Song Jiaren had already snuggled into the blanket, her back turned to Li Nuo, and she said softly, "I really don’t blame you; you should believe me now, shouldn’t you?"
Li Nuo thought for a moment and replied, "I don’t believe it, unless you kiss me one more time…"