The carriage wheels rolled over the bluestone-paved road, emitting a familiar rumbling sound.

This sound announced their return to Qingshi County.

Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop at the town entrance, a clamorous din of gongs and drums forced its way into the compartment.

Su Ming and Xu Qing exchanged a glance, both seeing a flicker of surprise in the other’s eyes.

Xu Qing was the first to lift the carriage curtain, and the sight before him made him freeze.

A crowd had gathered at the town entrance at some point, led by several men who looked like yamen runners energetically beating gongs and drums.

A crude yet eye-catching red cloth banner had been unfurled, its ink still fresh, boldly proclaiming: “Congratulations to Esteemed Masters Xu Qing and Su Ming of Qingshi Town for Passing the Bingchen Provincial Examination as Provincial Graduates!”

“The news travels fast!” Xu Qing murmured.

Su Ming’s gaze swept over the crowd, spotting many familiar faces, their expressions beaming with shared pride and joy.

He understood perfectly well. Official courier routes were always swift; the joyous announcement of their success had likely raced back to Qingshi Town well ahead of their own homecoming journey.

“I see,” Su Ming said with a slight smile, his tone still calm. “Brother Xu, you are the Second Top Scorer. Today’s spotlight belongs to you. Go on, don’t keep the folks waiting.”

Xu Qing nodded, took a deep breath, straightened his back, and stepped down from the carriage.

The moment he stood firm, he was enveloped by the enthusiastic crowd. Congratulations and praises rose and fell around him. A village elder stepped forward, gripping his hand, his face flushed with excitement as he spoke of “bringing honor to the family” and “winning glory for our town.”

While everyone’s attention was focused on the undisputed star, the “Second Top Scorer,” Su Ming silently slipped down from the carriage. He whispered a few words to the cart driver and prepared to leave quietly.

However, someone still noticed him.

Several townsfolk who had been surrounding Xu Qing turned their heads, their faces breaking into smiles as they greeted him. “Top Scorer Su… no, Provincial Graduate Su is back!” “Congratulations, Provincial Graduate Su!”

Their tone, compared to the fervor directed at Xu Qing, was noticeably more subdued, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible regret. After all, the gap between seventy-third place and the third-place “Second Top Scorer” was rather stark.

Su Ming paid this no mind, merely offering a humble, respectful bow in return. “Thank you, fellow villagers. It was merely luck, sheer luck.”

He found Xu Qing amidst the crowd and said in a low voice, “Brother Xu, enjoy this moment of glory and have a good reunion with your father. I must first go pay my respects to my teacher. I will visit to offer my congratulations another day.”

Xu Qing could see Su Ming’s mind was made up. “Alright! Brother Su, we’ll meet again soon! Please convey my regards to Teacher Zhou!”

Su Ming nodded, turned, and merged into the flow of people on the street, striding towards the direction of the County School.

The street was the same street. The shops lining both sides, the hawking vendors, the children laughing and playing—everything was just as it had been when he left.

His pace was not hurried, each step landing with exceptional steadiness.

“Master, I’m ready,” he said in his heart.

“Ready?” Lin Yu’s lazy voice sounded, carrying a hint of a test. “Remember, once you go in, you are a child who messed up his exam. You need to feel wronged, you need to be afraid, but above all, you must be sincere. The performance must be convincing!”

Lin Yu’s Soul Body shifted to a more comfortable position inside the ring.

Heh heh, Oscar-worthy acting is about to commence. Let’s see how this modern workplace PUA tactic… no, this ‘victory through appearing pitiable’ open strategy fares against an old fox of the ancient officialdom.

“Your disciple understands,” Su Ming replied.

Before long, the familiar black-lacquered main gate of the Zhou Residence came into view. Compared to the commotion at the town entrance, it was much quieter here. However, a brand-new pair of red paper couplets had been conspicuously pasted on the lintel, bearing phrases like “Poetry and Books Passed Down Through Generations” and “Fragrant Laurels and Orchids,” proclaiming the household’s joy at producing a Provincial Graduate.

Just as Su Ming stepped onto the stone stairs, the familiar side gate he knew so well creaked open from the inside.

The old gatekeeper peeked out. Upon seeing it was Su Ming, his somewhat cloudy eyes instantly brightened, his face breaking into an unprecedented, obsequious smile as he practically rushed out to greet him.

“Oh my! Master Su is back!” The old man’s bow was deeper than usual, his tone filled with reverence and flattery. “Please come in, please come in! The Master has been waiting for you in his study since early morning! He gave instructions that as soon as you arrived, you were to be shown straight in!”

This attitude was completely different from the gatekeeper Su Ming remembered, who had always maintained a somewhat formulaic politeness.

After passing the provincial examination, even with a low ranking, his status in the eyes of these servants had fundamentally changed, from a “promising student” to a genuine “Master.”

Su Ming inwardly scoffed, but his expression remained unchanged. He merely nodded gently. “Thank you for your trouble, Uncle.”

He passed through the courtyard, noticing that the occasional maid or servant passing under the covered walkways would stop, casting curious and respectful glances his way, softly greeting him with “Good day, Master Su.” The entire Zhou Residence was permeated with a subtle, reverent atmosphere born from his success.

Su Ming walked through the familiar courtyard and arrived before the study he had visited countless times.

He did not knock immediately. Instead, he stood quietly for a moment, adjusting his breathing and heartbeat to a slightly hurried and uneasy rhythm.

Only then did he raise his hand and gently knock on the door.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

“Enter.”

A low, authoritative voice came from within.

Su Ming pushed the door open and entered. A scent, a mix of aged books and high-quality ink, washed over him.

The study was, as always, elegantly tidy.

Zhou Wenhai, wearing a deep blue scholar’s robe, stood with his back to the door before a large writing desk.

He did not turn around, focused solely on wielding the Wolf Hair Brush in his hand, its tip dancing across the snow-white xuan paper.

Su Ming’s gaze fell on the paper.

It was the character for “Tranquility.”

However, the final downward-right stroke was executed with such force it seemed to pierce the paper, sharp as a blade. It disrupted the character’s overall balance and charm, revealing the writer’s own profound inner turmoil.

Zhou Wenhai did not speak. In the study, only the soft *swish-swish* of the brush tip on paper could be heard.

The atmosphere was stifling, oppressive enough to choke one’s breath.

Su Ming simply stood there quietly, head bowed, like a prisoner awaiting judgment.

A long time passed.

Finally, Zhou Wenhai completed the final stroke. He placed the brush heavily on the brush rest with a crisp *clink*.

He slowly turned around.

His face held no expression. His gaze settled on Su Ming, calm as a deep pool of water.

“You have returned.”

Three words, devoid of any emotion, yet carrying more pressure than any stern reprimand.

He did not invite Su Ming to sit.

Su Ming knew the test had begun.

He did not raise his head. Instead, following Lin Yu’s script, he took a step forward, bent at the waist, and performed a deep, ninety-degree bow, his salute reaching the ground.

His voice carried just the right amount of tremor and trepidation.

“Your student, Su Ming, has failed to live up to your esteemed expectations, Teacher!”

“In the examination hall, my performance was abnormal, my inspiration dried up. I merely placed seventy-third, bringing shame upon you and the County School!”

“Your student’s heart is filled with immense fear and shame! I am too ashamed to face your nurturing! I have come specifically… to beg for your punishment, Teacher!”

The words were spoken with genuine feeling, overflowing with remorse and shame.

Zhou Wenhai had not anticipated this move from Su Ming at all.

He had prepared a bellyful of words: disappointed questioning, scolding for failing to meet expectations, confusion over why Su Ming had concealed his abilities.

But now, all these words were firmly blocked in his chest by Su Ming’s preemptive, self-abasing plea for punishment.

He was a renowned Confucian scholar of many years, a respected and virtuous teacher. Facing a student who was already so “fearful” and contrite, what more could he say?

To scold him further would only make himself appear petty and lacking in magnanimity, obsessed with a mere ranking.

Zhou Wenhai was stunned.

Looking at Su Ming, who remained deeply bowed, not even daring to raise his head, the knot of frustration in his chest dissipated significantly without him even realizing it.

He let out a heavy sigh, his tone involuntarily softening.

“You… rise first.”

He gestured to a chair nearby.

“Sit and speak.”

Only then did Su Ming slowly straighten up, his face still wearing a look of shame. He obediently sat on the edge of the chair, only half-seated, maintaining a posture of respectful unease.

“Master is brilliant,” Su Ming thought inwardly.

“A minor scene, a minor scene,” Lin Yu hummed a little tune triumphantly inside the ring. “This is called striking the snake’s vital spot, grasping the human heart. He values face? Then we give him all the face he could want first. If he still refuses to let it go after that, then it’s his own lack of magnanimity.”

Zhou Wenhai picked up his teacup, took a sip, seemingly organizing his thoughts.

“Matters in the examination hall are full of variables. Performing below one’s usual standard is a common occurrence,” he said, his tone having regained its usual steadiness. “I, your teacher… do not blame you.”

Su Ming did not respond, nor did he offer a single word of explanation for himself.

He knew now was not the time for explanations.

He shifted the topic, as if hoping to make up for his “failure” by reporting his observations.

“Teacher, although this journey to the prefectural city ended in disappointment at the examination, your student did not return entirely empty-handed.”

His voice had regained its composure, his thoughts clear and logical.

“Yunshuo Prefectural City is far more prosperous and complex than your student imagined. Prominent families stand like forests within the city, merchant guilds are entrenched, and various forces interlock like a dog’s teeth, forming an invisible web. When your student first arrived, I felt dazzled and overwhelmed, like a frog at the bottom of a well seeing the vast ocean for the first time.”

Zhou Wenhai’s hand, holding the teacup, paused slightly. A flicker of interest appeared in his eyes.

This was precisely what he wanted to hear.

Su Ming continued, “For this Provincial Examination, the chief examiner, Minister Wang, served in the Ministry of Rites before retiring and values moral integrity above all. Your student observed that those who stood out in the prefectural literary gatherings, whose poetry and essays were particularly forceful and outstanding, mostly ranked high this time. The Top Scorer in the Classics, Qian Wenbo, his father is the Assistant Prefect of the prefectural yamen. The Top Provincial Scorer, Wei Zi’ang, is the son of a Vice Magistrate. This shows that within the examination arena, while the essay itself is important, connections and reputation are also indispensable aids.”

This analysis had already transcended the scope of an ordinary student, possessing a cool, observer’s insight.

Zhou Wenhai’s eyebrows raised slightly. The disappointment in his eyes had been completely replaced by astonishment.

Su Ming did not pause. He knew the real main event was just beginning.

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice a few degrees, as if disclosing a secret.

“Teacher, at the Deer Cry Banquet, your student sat at the very last seat as a companion. During the banquet, I happened to overhear a casual conversation between two low-ranking officials. In their words, they mentioned that the capital… seems to have been rather unsettled lately.”

“Oh?” Zhou Wenhai’s gaze instantly turned sharp.

“They said… a marquis’s mansion in the northern city was raided by the Imperial Guard. The cause seems to be related to an ‘Iron Certificate of Immunity’ left over from the previous dynasty, and it even implicated a certain noble personage within the palace.”

“Iron Certificate of Immunity!”

The teacup in Zhou Wenhai’s hand jerked violently. A few drops of scalding tea splashed onto the back of his hand, but he seemed not to notice.

His face instantly became extremely grave.

Su Ming took in his reaction and continued, unhurried, to add, “Your student is insignificant and of lowly status. I do not know the truth of this matter, and I dare not recklessly discuss court affairs. I merely speculate privately that if this is true, there will surely be great changes in the capital. With the court situation in turmoil, we scholars located in the provinces must likely be even more cautious in our words and actions.”

Having said this, Su Ming lowered his head once more, delivering his concluding remarks.

“Your student is dull-witted. It was only after this experience that I truly began to understand that the path of the imperial examinations is far from being merely about writing essays on paper. It is also about human relationships and worldly wisdom, about the changing tides of the times, about weighing advantages and disadvantages.”

“And only at this moment did your student begin to slightly comprehend the true meaning of the four characters you often taught: ‘The gentleman is not a vessel.’ A true scholar cannot merely be a ‘vessel’ for writing essays. One must also observe all directions, listen to all sources, understand the strategy of Concealing One’s Edge and guarding one’s simplicity, and clearly discern when to advance and when to retreat in the current situation.”

“This low ranking, perhaps… is not entirely a bad thing. At the very least, it allowed your student to see the depth of these waters in advance, so as not to plunge recklessly into them in the future and be utterly destroyed.”

A long silence fell in the study.

Zhou Wenhai stared fixedly at Su Ming, his expression complex to the extreme.

There was bewilderment, shock, scrutiny, and finally, all these emotions transformed into a heartfelt sense of gratification and admiration.

He had originally thought Su Ming was merely a youth of exceptional talent.

He had even worried this young man might become arrogant due to his talent, overly eager for quick success.

But he had never, ever expected.

One Provincial Examination, one journey to the prefectural city, could cause this sixteen-year-old youth to be completely reborn!

What he saw now was no longer a student preoccupied with gains and losses in ranking.

But someone who possessed a strategic view of the officialdom, understood the importance of concealing one’s abilities for self-preservation, and could even sniff out political storms from the slightest clues… a quasi-official!

The empty title of a Top Provincial Scorer, compared to this temperament far exceeding his years, this insight into the current situation—what was it worth?

Utterly insignificant!

He had been the narrow-minded one!

He had only seen the trees, while this disciple had already seen the entire forest!

“Hah… Hahaha!”

Zhou Wenhai suddenly burst into laughter, the sound filled with exhilaration and relief.

He stood up, personally picked up the teapot from the desk, walked over to Su Ming, and filled his empty teacup with steaming, fragrant tea.

This gesture even took Su Ming somewhat by surprise.

“Sit properly, sit up straight!” Zhou Wenhai looked at Su Ming, his tone carrying an unprecedented gentleness and appreciation. “You… are good! Very good!”

He pushed the teacup towards Su Ming.

“That you can think on this level… I, your teacher, am greatly comforted!”

Zhou Wenhai sat back down, letting out a long sigh as if he had shed a thousand-pound burden.

“The ranking is no longer important. With such temperament and insight, what more could I, your teacher, ask for? Your future is bound to be limitless!”

Inside the ring, Lin Yu was almost rolling with laughter. Workplace wisdom honed over millennia, used against an ancient intellectual, was simply child’s play!

“Done! Mission accomplished! See that, disciple? This is called dimensional reduction strike! That old man probably sees you as future prime minister material to cultivate now!”

Su Ming picked up the teacup, feeling its warmth in his palm, his heart also filled with myriad emotions.

His master’s strategy was indeed unfathomable, bordering on the supernatural.

A crisis that could have potentially created a rift in the teacher-student relationship had been effortlessly resolved, and his own standing in his teacher’s heart had even been elevated by more than a notch.

The two talked for a long while more.

This time, it was no longer a teacher testing a student, but more like an exchange between equals.

Zhou Wenhai asked many detailed questions about the customs, local conditions, and the ecology of scholars in the prefectural city. Su Ming answered them all fluently.

It wasn’t until the setting sun dyed the window frames red that Su Ming finally rose to take his leave.

“Teacher, your student will take his leave now.”

“Go ahead,” Zhou Wenhai nodded, his face full of smiles. “Go home and see your family; you should let your parents share in the joy. You still have several months before the Metropolitan Examination in the capital this spring. Review your studies diligently, no need to be hasty.”

Su Ming bowed respectfully, turned, and prepared to leave.

He reached the door, his hand about to touch the handle.

“Su Ming.”

Zhou Wenhai’s voice suddenly came from behind him.

Su Ming turned back.

He saw Zhou Wenhai standing in the light of the setting sun, his expression turning serious.

“Come see me once more before you depart for the capital.”

His voice was not loud, but carried an undeniable gravity.

“I, your teacher… have something to give you.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep