Chapter 024: One for One Again
"Oh, I see ."
Shen Yichen showed no interest in Zhao Hongjie's empty promises.
The reason is very simple, that is, we are now in the Ming Dynasty, not the Qin and Han Dynasties or the early Sui and Tang Dynasties. Therefore, the imperial examination system is used to select talents, not the system of selecting filial and honest people or the system of nine-rank officials.
What’s the use of being famous for your poetry? Even if you are as good as Du Fu and Liu Yong, if you want to enter the center of power, you still have to pass the imperial examination.
I am just a schoolboy right now, and I haven't even achieved the most basic title of scholar. Instead of thinking about how to become famous, I might as well concentrate on passing the county exam next year. Otherwise, the more famous I become, the more people will laugh at me.
"Ah... this is really a rotten tree that cannot be carved!"
Zhao Hongjie was very upset about Shen Yichen's attitude. If he had this level of ability, wouldn't he have publicized it to everyone?
After all, if a person doesn't pretend to be cool, what's the difference between him and a salted fish?
"If I am a dead wood, then you... forget it..."
Shen Yichen wanted to find an adjective to describe this kid, but he couldn't find a word to describe his lameness. He could only reach out and grab Zhao Hongjie's neck and drag him towards the corner gate. If he continued to talk nonsense, he would probably be late again.
Arriving at the outer courtyard private school, it was a little different from the past. The lecture hall, which was a little noisy before the morning class started, became silent everyone's eyes were on him.
Do you think I'm a gentleman?
Seeing this scene suddenly, Shen Yichen was really confused. After being stunned for two seconds, he pulled Zhao Hongjie and quickly returned to his seat.
"Shen Yichen is here. I thought he would go to the inner courtyard private school."
"Yes, he is now famous in Yingtian Prefecture. The Duke even kept him alone yesterday to give him a lecture."
"Then why are you still here? Does it mean that you still don't like the Duke?"
"I don't know, but I've been invited to participate in the Winter Solstice Poetry Festival. I'm sure I'll be included in the family tree in the future."
The classmates around were talking about it in a flurry. Perhaps because they were used to loudly mocking him in the past, this time they still did not seem to be avoiding Shen Yichen and all of their discussions were heard.
After hearing this, Shen Yichen finally understood why the scene was so strange when he came in. It turned out that these guys all knew what happened at the family dinner yesterday, and they thought they would be included in the family tree and soar to the sky from now on.
Shen Yichen could hear it, and Zhao Hongjie could hear it too. He seemed to remember something, so he came over and asked in a low voice, "By the way, what did the master say to you yesterday?"
"No, are you guys so well-informed? Why do you all act like you're there in person?"
Shen Yichen was speechless. It was fine if he knew about "Linjiangxian". After all, once this poem came out, it would definitely spread quickly. But in the end, he was kept by Cheng Guogong for a conversation. These people knew everything. When did communication become so advanced in the Ming Dynasty?
"The family banquet of Duke Chengguo was attended by many nobles and important officials. Almost the entire city of Nanjing knows about it. Is there anything strange about it?"
Now it was Zhao Hongjie's turn to be puzzled. Duke Cheng was such a person that everyone was watching his every move. Not to mention that this family banquet had almost all the nobles and important officials present, and there were also students from the inner courtyard. It was hard for him not to know!
“That seems to be the case.”
Shen Yichen instantly understood that he was just a small character, while Duke Chengguo Zhu Yong was a "light bulb" and his every move would be watched by countless people.
In addition, the group of inner court students yesterday were basically from the Nanjing literati circle, so it was not surprising that the news spread. It was just that he had not yet adapted to the influence of the upper class.
"Tell me quickly, did the master mention the matter of entering the family tree?"
"No, I just gave him a few words of encouragement."
Shen Yichen didn't want to talk too much about his conversations with Zhu Yong, and there were too many grievances and hatreds behind these conversations that were difficult to explain.
"That's it. It shouldn't be like this."
Zhao Hongjie found it incomprehensible. Logically speaking, Shen Yichen had made a name for himself in the scholar circle, so it wouldn't be a disgrace to the Chengguo Mansion to include him in the family tree.
"It doesn't really matter whether or not you enter the family tree."
As Zhao Hongjie was even more persistent than himself, Shen Yichen could only smile and reply.
"That's not what you said before."
"You said that was in the past."
While the two were arguing, Li Tingxiu stepped onto the podium with a book in his hand, and the entire lecture hall suddenly became quiet again.
"A day's plan begins in the morning. Instead of spending time chatting, it's better to focus on reviewing your lessons."
It was obvious that Li Tingxiu had heard the gossip among the schoolchildren, so he gave them a few warnings.
"Students follow the teacher's teachings."
All the students immediately stood up and said yes.
"Today's morning lesson is to recite and write down the entire text of The Doctrine of the Mean. Those who fail will be punished by copying it three times and having their palms spanked ten feet high."
"ah……"
"Ruined."
"No, sir!"
As soon as Li Tingxiu said this, the entire lecture hall was filled with wailing.
Some time ago, when reciting the "Great Learning", only a few . Now just a few days later, they have to recite the more difficult "The Doctrine of the Mean". It's simply not a way out.
Among the students, the only one who can still be leisurely and contented is probably Shen Yichen.
I saw a relaxed smile on his face, thinking to myself that it might be a bit difficult for me to write a poem. Isn't reciting and writing these a stage for performance right at my doorstep?
But as the old saying goes, one should not be too cocky. Li Tingxiu's next words made Shen Yichen experience what it means to be overjoyed and then end up in sorrow.
"In addition, Shen Yichen is asked to write an eight-part essay on the topic of 'Who is better, you or Hui?' If you don't write well, you will be slapped on the palm of your hand twenty feet."
What?
When Shen Yichen heard this, he was completely stunned. Wasn't it a joke that he had to write an eight-part essay now?
Originally, Shen Yichen's plan was to study eight-part essays intensively in the past six months and then test the results in the county exam next year. However, he did not expect Li Tingxiu to not follow the routine and asked him to write the essay himself today, which really caught him off guard.
If I were to write poetry or something, I could probably churn out a doggerel if I gritted my teeth, or at worst, I could probably get something out of it a plagiarist. But for this eight-legged essay, I don't even know where to copy it!
And what’s more important is that it’s okay for me to just write one more article, but why do I have to slap my palms ten more times?
Soon this blind spot was discovered by Li Da in the back seat. Thinking that Shen Yichen would be hit ten more times than himself, he felt secretly happy and couldn't help laughing out loud.
Shen Yichen was already unhappy, and he heard Li Daxin's gloating laughter behind him, so he became angrier and angrier, and felt that he couldn't stand it! Let you laugh happily, at worst we can die together.
So he stood up and said to Li Tingxiu: "Sir, what is worrying is not the lack of space but the inequality . I am willing to share the twenty feet with Li Da!"
Hearing Shen Yichen's words, Li Da felt a little confused for a moment. Is this how the saying "It's not the lack of wealth that is worrying, but the inequality of distribution" should be used?
"You have a point. If Li Da couldn't recite the Doctrine of the Mean from memory, he would have been slapped on the palm of his hand twenty feet high."
What does it mean to feel like falling into an icy cave? This is Li Da's current psychological state. He never expected that Shen Yichen would put on this drama for him.
