When Song Qiming returned from the Imperial Academy in the evening, he was feeling quite down and looked to be in a bad mood.
"Brother, what's wrong?" Could it be that someone at the Imperial Academy was bullying him?
Song Qiming shook his head, sighing with a disappointed expression, "Today I finally learned what it means that there is always someone better out there. I feel like getting the top scorer position is a bit unlikely now."
Song Shixue asked in confusion, "Top scorer? Weren't you aiming for the second tier?"
She had never thought her brother could become the top scorer. After all, he was too young and there were too many competitors. Passing the imperial examination to become a Jinshi would already be excellent.
It seemed their older sister hadn't demanded that he must take first place, either.
Song Qiming rested his head on the table and sighed, "This is a goal I set for myself. I want to be the top scorer."
Song Jinzhao smiled faintly and said, "Did you meet someone better than you at the Imperial Academy?"
Song Qiming nodded and let out another depressed sigh. "Yeah! I took a bit of a blow."
"Did you meet Dongfang Yukun?" Ye Liangyu, walking in with a relaxed smile, observed Song Qiming's reaction meaningfully.
Song Qiming suddenly straightened his back, staring intently at Ye Liangyu as he nodded vigorously. "I did. He is simply unprecedented, stunningly brilliant, and as handsome as Pan An. Teacher, did you do this on purpose?"
He thought that coming in first in the provincial exams at thirteen was already impressive, making him a genius among geniuses. Who knew there was someone even better, and the gap wasn't just a little bit. He was truly quite discouraged.
Ye Liangyu sat down with a smile and drank some tea. "Compared to Dongfang Yukun, you are indeed lacking a bit. There are too many capable people in the world, not just in the Imperial Academy, which is why my requirement for you is only the second tier."
Song Jinzhao grew more interested as she listened, opening her hand to gesture for someone to explain.
"So, could someone tell me who exactly this Dongfang Yukun is?"
Song Qiming puffed up his cheeks and said, "Sister, you have no idea. As soon as I stepped one foot into the classroom, I was blinded by a man who looked even prettier than a woman. He is truly too handsome, I've never seen anyone like him."
"Then I caught them competing in the arts. That refinement, that posture, and his zither playing was so beautiful it sounded like music from the heavens."
"He rides like the wind and shoots with unerring accuracy. His archery could almost rival Shixue's, and his running script calligraphy flows like a swimming dragon, having reached the pinnacle of perfection."
Suddenly thinking of something, he quickly ran back to the next room and brought out a piece of calligraphy to hand to Song Jinzhao. "This is the calligraphy he gave me, a poem he composed on the spot in class today. Sister, take a look, isn't it as graceful as floating clouds and as vigorous as a startled dragon!"
Song Jinzhao and Song Shixue both leaned in to look. Even Song Anhao, who had been playing outside with Xuetuan, was drawn over. He stood on tiptoe, grabbing the edge of the table, until Ye Liangyu scooped him up by the waist and set him on his lap so he could see clearly.
Song Jinzhao blinked. To be honest, this handwriting looked a bit like Wang Xizhi's.
She had been to museums and seen many copies of the Preface to the Poems Collected from the Orchid Pavilion, and she could say there was a ninety percent resemblance.
At first glance, it was somewhat elegant; at second glance, the elegance carried strength; at third glance, it was rather beautiful; at fourth glance, it was absolutely stunning.
It gave off a feeling of fiercely restrained ambition. That madness that seeped through yet couldn't fully break out was what struck the appreciator's soul the hardest, making it unforgettable at first sight, rendering one unable to look at any other calligraphy ever again.
"The brushwork is profound. One couldn't achieve this without over a decade of practice. The poem is written well too, blending emotion with scenery to create a strong visual image."
Ye Liangyu asked, "He gifted you his calligraphy and personally wrote a poem; it seems you two get along quite well?"
Song Qiming pondered for a moment and nodded hesitantly. "I suppose so. I sit right behind him, and he was the one who initiated the conversation with me."
"A modest gentleman as gentle as jade—I think that describes him perfectly."
Song Qiming held up a finger, his eyes shining. "No, those eight words are far from enough."
Having never seen the person, Song Shixue didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Brother, you've praised this Dongfang Yukun to the heavens. Now I'm extremely curious about what he actually looks like."
Lanxi, standing at the door of the room, looked up at Song Shixue, his pupils shrinking as if pricked by a needle.
He gritted his teeth hard, forcefully suppressing the bitterness in his heart.
If he was truly as handsome as the eldest young master described, would she like him?
Ye Liangyu gazed gently at Song Qiming, as if in his heart, no matter how outstanding Dongfang Yukun was, he could not compare to the student before him.
Encountering a competitor more talented than oneself, being able to see their strengths with an appreciative eye, not being stingy with praise, and feeling admiration rather than jealousy—this was very good.
"Dongfang Yukun is the grandson of the Secretariat Director, Dongfang Yuanbin. Although he is currently sixteen and still studying at the Imperial Academy, he actually passed the provincial exams and came in first place when he was only ten."
Song Shixue immediately asked in return, "Then why hasn't he passed the metropolitan exams to become a Jinshi yet? Are the metropolitan exams that difficult?"
Song Qiming replied, "I heard from my classmates at the Imperial Academy that Dongfang Yukun deliberately didn't take them. I don't know anything beyond that."
On his first day, not many people had spoken to him, so he didn't know much either.
Ye Liangyu patiently explained to them.
"Dongfang Yuanbin is a veteran official of two reigns and has been in the position of Secretariat Director for many years. Dongfang Shaoting, who is Dongfang Yukun's father, is the Minister of Personnel. The father and son can be said to hold high positions and wield immense power."
"Six years ago, when Dongfang Yukun came in first in the provincial exams, the common people rumored that he was the reincarnation of the Wenqu Star. If he had participated in the metropolitan exams, he would surely have placed in the top tier, and at just ten years old, it was indeed possible for him to achieve that."
Song Jinzhao said lightly, "Three generations of descendants serving as officials in the same court, already holding great power, plus a once-in-a-millennium prodigy—the Emperor would be wary."
Ye Liangyu shook his head and smiled. "It is truly a pity that the Princess cannot enter the court as an official. For the games of the court and the struggles of the state, you are even more suited than Qiming."
Song Jinzhao was born into a farming family and had not been immersed in such matters from a young age like the children of officials. Yet, she could hit the nail on the head so quickly based on just two sentences. It could only be said that it was innate, but unfortunately, she was born the wrong gender.
Song Jinzhao recalled the people she had seen at the birthday banquet that night, unable to figure out which one was Dongfang Yuanbin.
"Since Dongfang Yukun will be participating in next year's metropolitan exams, will either his grandfather or his father have to step down?"
Ye Liangyu nodded. "Dongfang Yuanbin is already elderly; he will retire next year. Currently in the court, Chancellor Gu Qishan is acting head of the Department of State Affairs. For the time being, Dongfang Shaoting will not be able to surpass him."
Song Qiming's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed. "So Dongfang Shaoting will become the new Secretariat Director?"
Ye Liangyu nodded. "If there are no surprises, it is highly likely."
Song Qiming's chest involuntarily relaxed. With such an outstanding grandfather and father, it was no wonder they could produce a one-in-a-million genius like Dongfang Yukun.
Being so young now, his official career would definitely not be simple; it was bound to be an unstoppable, broad path to success.
"Awooo—" A low tiger's roar echoed in the courtyard. A servant hugged the wall, taking a detour to the room's door to report.
"Master, Young Master Song is outside requesting an audience."
Ye Liangyu stood up and went to the door. "I imagine he has already been to the Fei residence."
Song Qiming blinked. Who had been to the Fei residence? Gao Li?
Watching the retreating figures of the master and disciple, Song Jinzhao picked up the calligraphy on the table and handed it to Lanxi. "Put this in the eldest young master's room."
Lanxi took the scroll and slowly pushed it open, his fingers subconsciously tightening around it. After arriving in the next room, he couldn't help but spread the scroll out and examine it carefully a few more times.
It was just semi-cursive script; he could write it too, and definitely much better than Dongfang Yukun.
"Achoo~" The beautiful youth, who was practicing archery at home, suddenly felt an itch in his nose and couldn't hold back a sneeze. His hand slipped, and the arrow flew out, hitting the bullseye dead center.
"Young Master, put on your coat quickly, lest you catch a cold," the servant waiting beside him immediately picked up the clothes resting on a chair and was about to dress Dongfang Yukun.
The beautiful youth waved his hand and said with a proud face, "No need. Someone is probably missing me."
The servant: "..."
In the slightly dim study, a lamp was missing, and Song Gaoli widened his eyes as he looked at Ye Liangyu.
"So Lord Fei recommending me to study at the Imperial College was really arranged by you?"
Song Qiming was taken aback at first, then looked at Ye Liangyu in pleasant surprise. If Gaoli could enter the Imperial College, he would have an acquaintance inside.
Ye Liangyu nodded. "Inserting two people at once would attract too much attention, so I just gave Fei Yanzhang a heads-up. He can handle it."
"Thank you, sir, for taking the trouble to arrange this. I'm just worried that if I enter the Imperial College and fail the exam next year, this quota will be wasted for nothing."
Song Gaoli looked down at the floor in embarrassment, his mouth saying no but the corners of his lips refusing to stay down.
Ye Liangyu stared at the top of his head and said, "As long as you give it your all, it's not a waste. You can learn a lot at the Imperial College. Even if you don't pass next year, you can continue studying there after failing, and you will definitely pass in three years."
Every time he barely passed the line; who could really say for sure when it came to luck?
