"Father, Lord Ye."
Shen Qingping's voice broke the awkward and peculiar atmosphere. "The Junzhu specifically sent me to welcome you. Please come with me to see her."
Shen Mingwen glanced at his son and nodded. "Since it is the Junzhu's order, Lord Ye, let us not keep her waiting."
Half an hour later, Shen Mingwen and Ye Shijie stood before Song Shihuan.
"Time is pressing," Song Shihuan said with a smile. "Tonight, I shall share a simple meal with the two of you. Tomorrow, you must enter the examination hall to set the questions. The Grand Tutor has selected a group of officials uninvolved in the cheating scandal to accompany you."
"The Junzhu's arrangements are impeccable. We shall follow your lead," Shen Mingwen replied.
The previously harmonious atmosphere shifted the moment Song Yu strode into the room. He walked straight toward Ye Shijie, bowing deeply in a formal student's greeting.
"Having heard of your arrival in Guanzhang Prefecture, I came specifically to pay my respects, my lord."
Song Shihuan added an explanation. "Young Master Guo provided invaluable assistance during the cheating scandal, so I invited him to join us for dinner tonight."
"I've heard of your deeds. Well done."
Ye Shijie, visibly pleased that his student had gained the Junzhu's favor, wore a rare smile. In stark contrast, Shen Mingwen's face darkened like the bottom of a pot.
"Ahem—"
Shen Qingping, ever watchful of his father, coughed pointedly. Your Highness, do take note of the old man standing beside you.
Song Yu seemed to realize his oversight and turned to Shen Mingwen with feigned innocence.
"Ah, I haven’t introduced you yet," Ye Shijie interjected. "This is the Grand Tutor of the court, Lord Shen Mingwen—father of young Lord Shen."
"Guo Feng pays his respects to Grand Tutor Shen." Song Yu hastily bowed, even flashing a discreet wink at Shen Mingwen.
It wasn’t that he had deliberately slighted Shen Mingwen earlier.
But under the identity of Guo Feng, he had no plausible reason to recognize the Grand Tutor.
"I’ve heard of you. A promising young man."
Shen Mingwen’s expression softened slightly.
For the first time, Song Yu felt that "trepidation" was the only word to describe a meal. Wedged between his two mentors, he might as well have been a dumpling filling.
Once dinner ended, Song Yu fled the room as if escaping a battlefield. Only after putting three li between himself and the estate did he finally exhale in relief.
"Your Highness, young Lord Shen asks whether you still intend to appear before the two lords again."
"No, absolutely not."
Song Yu had learned his lesson. "One more round, and I’d wear out my tongue from all the talking."
......
The next morning, Shen Mingwen and Ye Shijie entered the examination hall with the other officials.
As they walked in, their conversation circled back to Song Yu.
"Lord Shen, you seem quite familiar with Guo Feng as well."
Shen Mingwen suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. Familiar? I know him better than my own shadow.
"Thanks to you, he’s made a name for himself several times now. I’ve reviewed his examination papers, so I’ve taken an interest in him."
Of course, what truly interested Shen Mingwen at the moment was how to keep this old man from snatching the future position of Imperial Tutor.
"Is that so? This student of mine possesses remarkable talent. I hold high hopes for him. If he could one day receive your guidance, I’d be grateful on his behalf."
The words nearly made Shen Mingwen’s nose twist in irritation.
His student?
This is my student!
Shen Mingwen forced a dry chuckle. "Let’s proceed. It’s time to draft the questions."
If he had to listen to Old Man Ye’s gloating any longer, his fists might start moving on their own.
As the first provincial examination in Da Qi’s history to be held a second time due to scandal, it should have been mired in gossip. But with Shen Mingwen as chief examiner and Ye Shijie as deputy, their reputations alone silenced the rumors.
"Before, we pitied the candidates from Ji’an Prefecture. Now, it’s our turn to pity ourselves."
"I’ve heard Grand Tutor Shen has presided over multiple metropolitan examinations. His judgment is razor-sharp—he can assess a candidate’s skill at a glance," one examinee said nervously. "I wonder if my paper will catch his eye."
"I’d settle for passing. I dare not hope for more."
On the eve of the examination, the inns were packed with candidates. Over meals, chatter filled the air.
"I wonder which examination cell I’ll be assigned this time."
Seated in a corner behind a screen, Song Yu pricked up his ears at the mention of cells. A premonition told him his name would come up.
Sure enough.
"Personally, I wouldn’t mind getting the foul-smelling cell. It’d be like sharing in Young Master Guo’s luck," one examinee joked.
"True enough! Young Master Guo aced the exam despite the foul cell, and now there’s the Toad Palace Incense. Maybe the incense’s blessing is meant for those in the worst cells!"
"Lu Wenchao was as far from the foul cell as one could get, and he still turned out to be a blockhead."
Before long, the foul cell was being hailed as the most auspicious spot.
"How the times have changed."
Shen Qingping, sitting across from Song Yu, clutched his chest in mock despair. "Even the foul cell—a cursed place—is now glorified."
"What can I say? Such is the power of this prince."
Song Yu immediately puffed up with pride.
"In terms of single-handedly making the foul cell fashionable, Your Highness is indeed unmatched," Shen Qingping said, smirking. "Once your identity is revealed next year, you can even trample Song Yanzheng at the Ping Prince’s Mansion."
One man carried out of the foul cell on a stretcher.
Another emerging as the top candidate.
Truly, even dragons beget diverse offspring.
"Speaking of which, how is Song Yanzheng faring these days?" Song Yu realized he’d nearly forgotten the man existed.
"Under Chang Ling’er’s care, Song Yanzheng is doing very well."
Shen Qingping emphasized the last two words.
"Such as?" Song Yu leaned in, intrigued.
"Surviving on watery gruel with barely any rice? Eating moldy bread? Going unwashed until lice nest in his hair?" Shen Qingping watched Song Yu’s expression shift. "Shall I continue, Your Highness?"
"No, that’s... revolting."
Song Yu grimaced. "Still, knowing Song Yanzheng is miserable does lift my spirits."
"Rather than dwelling on him, Your Highness might want to prepare for the storm brewing between those two old men."
Shen Qingping shot him a look of pity. "The only reason the tension isn’t worse is that Ye Shijie doesn’t yet know your true identity."
"But once he does—"
"My head aches already." Song Yu massaged his temples theatrically.
Shen Qingping clicked his tongue.
"Somehow, I doubt Old Man Ye is the type to shrug off the title of Imperial Tutor."
