Chapter 001 Cheap Old Man
The western section of Qinhuai River in Nanjing City of the Ming Dynasty is dotted with mansions and official residences of royal relatives, meritorious officials and nobles. The magnificent buildings and jade buildings reflect the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty.
However, beneath the high walls of the palace, there is a somewhat old villa located on the corner of the street, which seems somewhat out of place with the grandeur of this place.
On the wooden bed in the east wing of the villa, a boy who looked to be in his teens was sitting at the head of the bed, looking at everything unfamiliar around him, his eyes full of suspicion and confusion.
Unscientific!
These three words kept echoing in Zhang Ning's mind. He was clearly repairing cultural relics at the workbench, and he just dozed off. Why did he appear in this "ancient" room, and even his body turned into that of a teenager?
As a materialist who has received higher education, Zhang Ning could not think of any other reason to explain the changes before his eyes except the word "dream".
Yes, I must be dreaming!
Thinking of this, Zhang Ning pinched his thigh without hesitation, even though he knew that he could feel pain even in dreams. But at this moment, Zhang Ning was desperate and could only use this simplest and crudest method to experiment.
But it was different from what Zhang Ning thought. What rushed into his mind was not only the pain, but also a memory...
My name is Shen Yichen, I am sixteen years old, and I am from Jiangning County, Yingtian Prefecture, Ming Dynasty. I am currently studying in the private school of Chengguogong Mansion.
At present, there are only two people in the family, including myself and my mother, Shen. They usually rely on weaving to make ends meet, so they have always lived a poor life.
As for my father...
When his memory reached this point, the name that emerged instantly woke Zhang Ning up, because this name was as incredible as his own appearance here. He was the top hereditary noble of the Ming Dynasty, the second generation Duke Chengguo Zhu Yong!
Duke Chengguo is my father?
Zhang Ning suddenly felt like laughing and crying. What kind of joke was this? It was unscientific, and it didn’t even conform to . When did Duke Chengguo Zhu Yong have a adopted son named Shen Yichen?
Regardless of whether there are omissions in historical facts, Duke Chengguo was at least a super-rank duke of the Ming Dynasty, and he was not the cuckolded king of the Qing Dynasty described in later crosstalk. How could his surname be different?
Could it be that I traveled to a parallel world?
Thinking of this, Zhang Ning's mind suddenly opened up. In his previous life, he had watched a lot of science fiction movies and time-travel online novels, so he hesitated for a moment, then shouted tentatively.
"Lord God?"
The slightly empty room was still dark, and no light spots appeared as imagined.
Maybe the name is not correct, try a more common one.
"system?"
After the words fell, there was a long silence, and still nothing unusual happened.
There is a problem! Is this not cheating for yourself, or is it the wrong name?
After thinking it over again and again, Zhang Ning's face became a little solemn, then he gritted his teeth and shouted out those two words.
"dad!"
Anyway, the memory in my mind is that even Duke Cheng Zhu Yong can become my cheap father. Maybe this is the system's evil taste. I can only cater to its wishes!
However, the system response that Zhang Ning was waiting for did not appear. Instead, a middle-aged female voice came from outside the door: "Chen'er, what are you talking about?"
Chen'er?
When Zhang Ning suddenly heard this name, he was stunned and didn't react to who this Chen'er was calling.
"Chen'er, it's already morning, hurry up and eat something and go to the teaching hall."
Hearing the female voice outside the house again, Zhang Ning finally reacted. In his memory, his name was Shen Yichen, so Chen'er was calling him.
"Yeah, I'll be right there."
The answer came out of his mouth without any strangeness. It was very familiar and natural, as if this kind of conversation happened often.
"Did I really travel through time?"
Zhang Ning finally realized that things were not as simple as a dream, and as the memories in his mind became clearer and clearer, he also had a clearer understanding of his current environment and identity.
It is no longer the year 2021, but the eighth year of the Zhengtong period of the Ming Dynasty (1443). The urging female voice outside the house is his mother, Shen. Now is the time to go to the private school in the Chengguo Mansion.
As for the previous memory that Duke Chengguo was my father, it was not the system’s bad taste, but the fact!
But to be precise, this father-son relationship only exists in blood, not in name, because Shen Yichen is the son of a maid, which is commonly known as an illegitimate child.
The children of the Ming Dynasty were divided into three categories: children born to wives, concubines, maids, and illegitimate children. Children born to wives and concubines were roughly equivalent to modern legal children, except that they were divided into legitimate and illegitimate children. Children born to maids and illegitimate children were equivalent to modern illegitimate children, also known as illegitimate children.
However, in ancient times, there was no special discrimination against children born to maids. As long as the father acknowledged the child and the subsequent clan agreed to record it in the family tree, the child could also obtain the status of a concubine's son.
The reason why Shen Yichen and Duke Chengguo do not have a nominal father-son relationship is that Zhu Yong is reluctant to acknowledge it. Furthermore, as the top duke of the Ming Dynasty, he cannot be included in the family tree whenever he wants, so he can only take his mother's surname as a son born to a maid.
But after all, he was the blood of Duke Chengguo , so even if he was not recognized in the family tree, he would not end up living on the streets. So in this noble residential area in the western section of Qinhuai in Daming, he had such a slightly dilapidated courtyard, and also got the opportunity to go to school at the Duke Chengguo’s private school, so as not to become illiterate in the future and lose the face of the Duke.
"Chen'er, why haven't you come out yet?"
Another urging voice came, interrupting Zhang Ning from falling into his memories again.
"coming."
Zhang Ning responded, then took a deep breath, suppressed his inner panic and confusion, and planned to take things one step at a time.
Pushing open the door and walking out, Shen Yichen saw a small courtyard with a simple layout. In addition to a well, there was only a sycamore tree. Although it looked a bit shabby and the floor tiles were damaged in many places, it was cleaned very cleanly without even a fallen leaf.
The door of the side room on the north side of the courtyard was open, and Shen was placing breakfast on the small table. Shen Yichen took a look and saw that his "mother" was wearing a short shirt with a vertical collar and a high top hair. She had a gentle and dignified face, and looked like a typical Jiangnan woman and child in ancient paintings.
"Why are you still standing there? Come and eat quickly, or the teacher will punish you if you are late."
Seeing Shen Yichen coming out of the room and just standing there blankly, Shen waved at him. In this era, teachers are absolute authorities and the punishment for being late is very severe.
Moreover, his son's identity is special. Only by working harder than ordinary people can he be recognized by Duke Cheng and included in the family tree to get rid of the identity of an illegitimate child. This is also Shen's extravagant wish.
Hearing the call, Shen Yichen hurried over and sat at the dining table in the way he remembered, trying his best to appear natural and calm.
On the dining table was a bowl of white porridge, a plate of pickled vegetables, a few multi-grain steamed buns, and a boiled egg. It looked simple, but the aroma was so appetizing that it made people salivate.
Shen Yichen happened to be a little hungry, so he picked up the white porridge on the table and started eating it with steamed buns and pickles.
Seeing Shen Yichen eating heartily, Shen smiled, but she still reminded him, "Chen'er, the weather is about to turn to autumn, and the county exam will be here in a few months. You must seize the time to study and don't procrastinate."
County exam?
Hearing this strange yet familiar term, Shen Yichen paused for a moment.
The so-called county examination is the most basic entry examination in the imperial examination system. Only by passing the county examination and the prefectural examination can one obtain the status of a tongsheng and be considered a serious scholar.
Theoretically, it is not difficult to obtain the status of a tongsheng, not to mention that one can receive an "elite" education in the private school of Chengguogong Mansion. The starting point is much higher than that of many children of this era.
But the "Shen Yichen" in this world might not really be a good student. He took part in three county examinations but failed to even pass the examination to become a student. His IQ is really low.
So this is why Shen used the word "again".
In my previous life, I studied hard for more than ten years and finally graduated with a master's degree. I didn't expect that I would have to start from scratch in this world. Life is so unpredictable sometimes...
Of course, despite his emotion, Shen Yichen nodded calmly and replied, "Mom, I will try my best."
Shen Yichen's casual answer made the smile on Shen's face even wider. As a parent, they were naturally pleased that their son was sensible and understood the importance of studying, not to mention that in this era, everything else is inferior except studying.
After a simple breakfast, Shen took out a small cloth bag and handed it to Shen Yichen. It contained stationery such as pens, ink, paper and inkstone, as well as textbooks such as "Thousands of Poems" and "Elementary School" that were currently taught in the elementary school.
After taking the "schoolbag", Shen Yichen said goodbye to Shen and turned to walk towards the courtyard gate. To be honest, in addition to fear and confusion, he also felt curious in his heart. He wanted to see what the scene was like in the eighth year of the Ming Dynasty in history.
Shen was actually quite surprised by Shen Yichen's "quick" action in going to school. You know, this kid is usually very slow in going to school, just like he had to be urged several times in the room before.
The sun rose from the west today, but he became so active in going to school. Has he really grown up?
In an alley outside the Shen family's villa, with the rising sun, many small vendors carrying loads on their shoulders have begun to hawk their wares, mostly local specialties and snacks. If you ignore the difference in clothing, Shen Yichen seemed to be seeing the scene of the rural market when he was a child.
After walking out of the alley, a wide road appeared in front of us. This was the official street in the Ming Dynasty. Compared with the small vendors carrying loads in the alley, the official street was lined with shops specializing in business, and the goods sold were even more dazzling. Cloth shops, tea and toys, cosmetics, etc., everything was available.
As Shen Yichen continued to move forward, the noisy and bustling shops gradually decreased, and entertainment and leisure places such as theaters and teahouses began to appear. And among the various magnificent corridors and attics, there were also boats and pleasure boats staying on the Qinhuai River.
Old Courtyard in Jinling?
This name emerged in Shen Yichen's mind. This was the most famous place for entertainment in the Ming Dynasty. Moreover, unlike ordinary prostitutes who sold their smiles at the door, most of those who could live in the old courtyard were famous prostitutes with both talent and beauty.
In addition, across the river is the Jiangnan Imperial Examination Hall, the holy land of imperial examinations in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Therefore, many romantic stories about talented men and beautiful women in later generations took place here, such as the famous Eight Beauties of Qinhuai.
However, brothels usually open after noon, and the atmosphere reaches its peak at night. Now, there is only the boatman Xiao Si doing the purchasing and cleaning work, and there are not even many maids to be seen, let alone the famous Qinhuai prostitutes who are the most beautiful in the world.
Pity……
Shen Yichen sighed. It seemed that it was not yet the right time to experience the bright nightlife of Daming City.
Just as Shen Yichen was about to continue walking towards the Duke Cheng's Mansion, he caught a glimpse of a woman in white standing at the bow of a pleasure boat beside the river bank. The river breeze gently blew her skirt, and under the warm morning sun, there was a different kind of beauty.
Facing this painting-like scene, Shen Yichen couldn't help but mutter inwardly, no wonder the famous Qinhuai courtesans were sought after by so many literati and scholars in ancient times, and even formed a unique brothel culture, it was true that temperament determined the grade, and there was no sense of vulgarity.
But the next scene made Shen Yichen feel a little puzzled. He saw the woman in white standing on the bow of the pleasure boat slowly stepping forward and stepping onto a more dangerous position on the side of the boat, as if she was going to commit suicide by jumping into the river.
No way, how could I have such a coincidence to witness a live broadcast of people jumping into the Qinhuai River?
Shen Yichen looked at the scene in front of him, his heart full of confusion. However, before he could slowly figure out what was going on, the woman in white standing on the side of the boat had already moved her feet out little by little, and even her whole body began to lean forward.
Shen Yichen couldn't think of what was going on. If he continued to watch, he would have to go into the river to rescue her. So he threw the school bag on his shoulder, rushed to the river bank, and then jumped directly onto the bow of the pleasure boat and grabbed the woman in white.
Because of the excessive force, Shen Yichen even pulled the woman in white into his arms, and then the two lost their balance and fell heavily on the bow deck. But Shen Yichen was more miserable, and he was just a cushion for nothing, and he gasped in pain.
"Are you OK?"
Shen Yichen endured the pain in his back and asked the woman in white in his arms.
Hearing Shen Yichen's voice, the woman in white subconsciously looked up at him. It was not known whether it was because of surprise or panic. At this moment, the woman in white's face was extremely pale, but one could vaguely see her beauty and childishness between her eyebrows. She was estimated to be in her teens.
After a brief eye contact, the woman in white seemed to have reacted. She pushed Shen Yichen away and struggled to get up from the deck.
But this push from her made Shen Yichen grimace in pain, and he felt like he was screwed. It seems that even in ancient times, being a good person and doing what is right was risky.
The woman in white looked at Shen Yichen's grinning face with a complicated expression. There was a hint of gratitude in her eyes, but more of it was pain.
"Why did you save me?"
Why?
Shen Yichen, who was standing up by the side of the boat, was stunned when he heard this. He subconsciously thought about saving people at that time, so why did he have to prepare a reason in advance?
"There's no need to ask so many questions when saving people. Just think of me as a chivalrous man."
Shen Yichen replied casually, and then prepared to get off the boat to pick up his book bag. Since the other party didn't appreciate kindness, there was no need to bother him too much. Things like being brave and righteous were never an equal exchange.
Moreover, compared with such an outrageous thing as traveling through the Ming Dynasty, this episode was nothing. He was still thinking about going to the Duke Chengguo's Mansion as soon as possible to experience the luxury of the legendary top duke's mansion in the Ming Dynasty.
"Did you really save me?"
The desolate tone behind him made Shen Yichen stop in his tracks. He turned around and saw that the rescued woman in white had red eyes and a layer of mist in her pupils.
