Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 100 Paying Homage to the Prefect

The official held up a golden goblet and poured the fine wine onto the blue bricks in front of the altar, filling the air with its aroma.

"Ya Xian".

"Final offering."

"Kneel and listen respectfully to the prayer."

At the master of ceremonies' call, Lu Chuan and the others knelt down.

An elderly headmaster of the prefectural school unfurled a scroll of silk and slowly began to recite the "Sacrificial Text to Confucius" for the current imperial examination in the Dacheng Hall:

"In the year of Bingwu in the Great Qianlong era, the Education Commissioner of Yingnan, along with the newly enrolled students, respectfully presents this offering of coins, sacrificial animals, and other ceremonial items before the spirit tablet of the Most Sage and Teacher, Confucius… Now that you students have emerged from your cocoons and donned your scholar's robes, you should reflect on the teachings of the sages, practice self-discipline and uphold propriety, and be concerned for the nation and its people. May you accept this offering!"

The aged voice echoed in the main hall.

"The ceremony is complete, and the students rise."

With the final gong strike, the music abruptly stopped.

Lu Chuan stood up and straightened his clothes.

Step out of the Confucius Temple gate

"Majestic—Martial—"

The yamen runners carried the sign indicating the quiet and led the way.

Lu Chuan and his group then headed to the Yingnan Prefectural Government Office.

This is the final hurdle: the group pays their respects to the prefect.

The main gate of the government office was wide open, and Lu Chuan followed the chief judge into the hall.

In the center of the main hall, Prefect Zhou was sitting in a grand chair.

He held the teacup, his expression a half-smile.

"The students greet Your Excellency the Prefect."

Led by the master of ceremonies, they bowed down.

This time, there's no need for the elaborate ceremony of kneeling and kowtowing.

According to the laws of the Daqian Dynasty, when a student met a prefect, he or she performed the rites of a scholar.

Hundreds of hands were clasped together, and they bowed deeply.

"Please excuse the formalities and be seated."

Prefect Zhou put down his teacup and raised his hand.

Long benches had already been arranged on both sides of the hall, and the scholars sat down according to their ranking.

"Looking at you all reminds me of myself back then," the prefect began, his tone amiable. "I have read your essays in both the main and secondary examinations. This year's candidates have demonstrated solid writing skills, entirely thanks to the capable selection of the Provincial Education Commissioner. Now that you have donned this scholar's robe, you will be students of the Prefectural School, the elite of the school under my jurisdiction."

At this point, Prefect Zhou changed the subject:

"I don't care how many grand plans for governing the country you write in your articles. I only need you to remember four words: abide by your duties."

"After returning to your hometown, do more to educate and guide, and do not form cliques, engage in private affairs, or interfere in litigation. If anyone is not good at studying or has poor moral character, although this government cherishes talent, the cane of this government office will not be lenient."

These words, delivered with a mix of eloquence and shrewdness, perfectly exemplify the cunning and shrewdness of a local official.

The scholars below quickly stood up and bowed again: "We, your students, will respectfully obey the Prefect's instructions."

After the speech, it was time for the prefect to offer tea and have a chat.

Prefect Zhou's gaze swept across the faces of the crowd, finally settling on Lu Chuan with a smile. He asked slowly, "Where is Lu Chuan of Qingyang County?"

Lu Chuan's heart stirred, but his face remained expressionless.

He stepped out of the queue, stood in the center of the hall, and bowed deeply: "Student Lu Chuan greets his esteemed teacher."

This address of "respected teacher" stirred a pang of sadness in the hearts of many quick-witted scholars in the hall.

Prefect Zhou leaned back in his chair and deliberately asked in a deep voice, "I instructed you in the inner hall before that you should pursue your studies with unwavering determination. In this year's provincial examination, you ranked fourth in the main hall, and although you improved in the re-examination, you still only managed second place. You failed to bring me the top honor of achieving the highest score in all three categories. Do you know your crime?"

The question was extremely serious, and the atmosphere in the hall instantly froze.

Lu Chuan lowered his head, but he knew perfectly well that his mentor was deliberately giving him a warning in front of everyone. This was both to save face for him as the prefect and to protect him from the jealousy of his fellow students.

Lu Chuan lowered his sleeves and answered sincerely, "I know my fault. However, when I was in the examination hall during the re-examination, answering the question 'When you go out, serve the ministers and officials; when you return home, serve your father and elder brothers,' I suddenly remembered my teacher's previous teachings: 'When a scholar stands in the court, he should think about the rules; when he retires from his clan, he should think about his duty.'"

"I am deeply aware of my youth and shallowness, and my knowledge is still insufficient compared to that of my seniors. If I were to greedily pursue the empty title of 'Three Excellences,' it would only undermine the steadiness and integrity that my teacher taught me."

"Therefore, I wrote with restraint, and being able to get second place is already thanks to the blessing of my mentor's literary talent."

Prefect Zhou was slightly taken aback, then clapped his hands and laughed.

"Hahaha, you little rascal, you know how to pin the blame on me."

He pointed at Lu Chuan and smiled at the headmaster of the prefectural school beside him, saying, "Look at this student of mine. He is well-versed in his studies, and his debating skills are second to none. He ranked fourth in the main examination and second in the re-examination. He handles the situation with more composure than you old scholars."

The tense atmosphere in the hall instantly dissipated, and many clever scholars suddenly realized that the prefect was not punishing them at all, but was clearly showing off his favorite student in public.

"Alright, get up." Prefect Zhou stopped laughing, his eyes filled with undisguised smugness. He waved his hand and said, "Second place in the first class, an eleven-year-old student of the Great Qian Dynasty, you have not disgraced Qingyang County, nor have you disgraced this prefecture."

"Once you enter the academy, if you dare to slack off, I will not forgive you. Go now."

"The student will heed the teachings of his esteemed teacher."

Lu Chuan bowed and returned to the queue.

As soon as he stepped into the inn, Lu Shouye's eyes seemed glued to Lu Chuan, circling him again and again, his hands touching his clothes and making clicking noises.

"Beautiful, so beautiful! My son looks like a literary god who has stepped out of a painting in this outfit."

Lu Shouye looked at the red silk flower on his son's head, and then at his son's blue robe, and he couldn't stop smiling all day.

"Dad, you've been looking me up and down the whole way, aren't you tired?" Lu Chuan asked with amusement as his father scrutinized him.

"I'm not tired, I've never been tired in my whole life." Lu Shouye wiped away the tears of laughter and pushed Lu Chuan upstairs. "Come on, let's go back to the room and rest. We've packed all our things."

Pushing open the door to the second-floor room, Lu Chuan was slightly taken aback by what he saw inside.

The once spacious guest room was now crammed full, but Lu Shouye had tidied it up neatly.

The table, the bedside table, and even the bamboo baskets on the floor were filled with congratulatory gifts sent by various people from Yingnan Prefecture in recent days.

There are stationery, textiles, pastries, and other food items.

Looking at the room full of things, Lu Shouye felt both proud and worried: "Chuan'er, I've kept a record of all the things that the shopkeepers and gentlemen gave me. I've tied up the things I can take with hemp rope. As for the things I can't take, I'll hire an oxcart to take them back tomorrow."

Upon learning that the father and son were leaving, the shopkeeper hurriedly ran upstairs. As soon as he entered, he bowed repeatedly, his face full of heartache and reluctance.

"Oh dear, my esteemed gentleman, Brother Lu. Why are you leaving so soon?" The innkeeper slapped his thigh and eagerly pleaded, "Stay a few more days! I'll have my inn cleaned every day, and I won't charge you a single penny."

"You should stay in the prefectural city a little longer. When the newly appointed scholars come to seek your advice, you'll be able to show off your prestige, won't you?"

The innkeeper was shrewd; the longer Lu Chuan stayed, the more famous his inn would become.

Lu Chuan straightened up, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the shopkeeper, and politely declined:

"I appreciate the shopkeeper's hospitality. However, my father and I have been in the prefectural city for almost two months now, preparing for the provincial examination."

"Qingyang County is far away, and my family's farmland and studies have been delayed for a long time. I will come to bother you again when the prefectural school starts classes in a few days."

Seeing that Lu Chuan had made up his mind, the shopkeeper could no longer insist on keeping him. He could only agree and personally help Lu Shouye carry the large and small bags off the ground.

The midday sun was just right.

Lu Chuan changed out of his blue robe and put his cloth shirt back on, carefully putting his scholar's attire into his bundle.