A powerful minister of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 215: Final Song
Yu Linglong didn't believe it.

Human energy is always limited.

In addition, Song Xuan also had to write the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and run the shop, so he couldn't finish it even if he divided it into two parts.

"Which year's test questions were not difficult?"

The madam felt much better:
"There are so many scholars in the world, but only a few can pass the imperial examination. However, starting from this year, students who failed the provincial examination will have to take the provincial examination again."

The madam felt that there were more and more officials in the Song Dynasty, but there were not so many positions!

How can we avoid increasing the difficulty of the imperial examination?

"From the moment I met Song Xuan, I felt he would pass the exam."

Yu Linglong was extremely surprised by what Mother Ding said.

But when she heard it was Mother Ding's words, Yu Linglong suppressed the urge to ask back.

Because when it comes to men, Mother Ding is much better than herself.

Song Xuan didn't care what they thought. He came down from the second floor with heavy gold ingots in his arms.

"Why did Twelve Brother come down so quickly?"

"Yes."

Lu Lejian immediately stood up, somewhat gloating:
"Could it be that Shi Er Lang wanted to do something illegal, so he was kicked out?"

"No way."

Zhu Yu felt that Song Xuan was not such a frivolous person.

Does he look down on the beauty of that courtesan?

But Zhu Yu thought Yu Linglong was pretty.

Liu Sanbian was surprised to see Song Xuan coming down so quickly, so he naturally went to meet him.

"Shi Er Lang, the poem you just wrote was truly excellent. I'm afraid that no one in the entire Song Dynasty could write a better Mid-Autumn Festival poem than yours."

In the face of Liu Sanbian's flattery, Song Xuan did not think it was flattery.

His unborn nephew was so powerful that he could overwhelm the entire Song Dynasty.

Song Xuan felt that only Xin Qiji and Lu You could compete with him.

Moreover, when he was in school, his Chinese teacher said that this poem was a famous piece of work throughout the ages.

It’s hard to catch up.

"That's okay."

Song Xuan smiled while holding a folding fan in his hand:

"From now on, they can just recite this poem during the Mid-Autumn Festival. After all, the Xikun style also has various quotations."

Liu Sanbian couldn't help laughing out loud, he was indeed a young man.

He was so young and frivolous.

Most people will be a little modest.

But Song Xuan didn't care about such polite words at all.

"Shi Erlang, your poems will surely be famous throughout the Song Dynasty. Tomorrow, I believe this song of water tune will spread throughout the entire Song Dynasty."

"Hahaha."

Song Xuan then bowed and thanked him. He had never encountered such a thing before.

"By the way, Twelve Lang, are you confident in your ability to solve the test this time?"

"I'm sure!"

Liu Sanbian was speechless again.

But when he thought that Song Xuan was just like that, he stopped worrying about it.

Then Liu Sanbian nodded slightly:

"Then I'll wait for good news from Twelve Lang."

"it is good."

Song Xuan nodded.

Then he ran to his table.

Everyone was surprised that Song Xuan came down so quickly.

"Twelfth Brother, I thought you would stay upstairs overnight."

Lu Lejian joked without caring at all.

"Would a top star just climb into your bed?"

Song Xuan snorted and laughed: "It's just wishful thinking."

"oops."

"Finally feeling comfortable."

Lu Lejian quickly greeted Song Xuan with a smile:

"You went upstairs for a while, and I was jealous. I didn't expect you to come down so soon."

Song Xuan waved his hand casually:

"Why don't you just pay her yourself next time?"

"Can that be the same?"

Lu Lejian asked Song Xuan to sit down:
"You wrote a poem and it's worth it. Wouldn't it be embarrassing for me to spend money?"

Seeing that his stool was a little dirty, Song Xuan wanted to bend down to wipe it, but then the gold ingot in his arms fell directly on Lu Lejian's feet.

"Ouch."

Lu Lejian only felt that his big toes were sore as if he had kicked the corner of a table.

"Song Twelve, what did you hit me with?"

Song Xuan picked up the gold ingot, placed it on the table and wiped it with a red cloth:

"Gold ingot."

"Where did you get the gold ingots?"

Wang Tai looked puzzled:

"We agreed not to bring any money before we left."

"Oh, I see. Could it be that Lu Lejian didn't keep his word and you were afraid of offending him, so you didn't let us in. So you brought the money here secretly?"

Fan Xiang naturally knew Song Xuan's "strength", and this was also in line with his usual magnanimous style.

"No, Yu Linglong gave it to me."

"impossible!"

Lu Lejian, whose face was already flushed due to the pain, was even more incredulous when he heard this.

Zhang Kang was also surprised and thought it was impossible:
"We usually come here to spend money, how can we make money from a brothel?"

"Not to mention that it's the top star who's giving you money. Could it be that she wants to support you?"

There are examples to support Zhang Kang's statement.

There were some scholars who relied on money given by their lovers in brothels as travel expenses.

But Zhang Kang felt that even if a student passed the exam, he would not marry a prostitute, and those with a conscience would redeem her.

Those without conscience should just pretend that such a thing never happened, so as to avoid being laughed at.

"No way!"

Lu Lejian uttered a few words from between his teeth.

"Even I don't believe it either."

Wang Tai also said solemnly:
"This gold ingot belongs to Song Twelve, just as Fan Xiang said."

"How could it be a gift from Yu Linglong?"

"Yes, yes, yes. He almost fooled me."

Anyway, everyone present expressed disbelief that it was the top-ranked Yu Linglong who gave it to him on her own initiative.

Song Xuan waved his hand and put it away again:
"Believe it or not, I accepted the gold that Yu Linglong gave me. If you don't believe me, you can ask her later when you have the chance and expose me."

Wang Gui indeed shone on both sides.

He also lived in Tokyo for many years.

Of course, I have never heard of a person like Song Xuan, who could take out gold from a brothel without spending a penny.

"It's getting late, and there's nothing interesting to do. Why don't we just call it a day?"

"Alright."

Han Qi gained some new insights today, but he also felt that this place was not very interesting.

He is now concentrating entirely on the provincial examination.

Otherwise, even if you pass the provincial exam, you will not be able to pass the provincial exam and will have to take the provincial exam again.

Wang Tai and Lu Lejian wanted to stay for a while longer.

Song Xuan ignored him and left with his men.

Zhang Kang was the first to say goodbye, as he also had other friends who came to visit and admire the moon.

Anyway, tonight is lively enough.

Various lanterns are lit throughout the night.

Bao Zheng follows behind him:
"Shi Er Lang, was that really the gold Yu Linglong gave you just now?"

"Well, it was to thank me for the song I wrote earlier. I didn't refuse the reward for letting her sing it."

"I see."

Bao Zheng said he was taught.

It was also the first time he heard that someone could visit a brothel without spending any money, but instead receive money from the brothel.

After all, Song Xuan didn't go there to blackmail.

They returned to the academy.

Song Xuan stood at the door.

I just watched them go away.

Song Xuan came in and the family members went out, leaving Tao Hong alone to look after the store.

In fact, it’s not called watching the store.

I'm closing the business today and leaving someone at home to avoid thieves.

"Twelfth Brother, did you really earn this gold from the brothel?"

After entering the room and finding that there were no outsiders around, Wang Gui finally couldn't hold back the doubts in his heart.

"Of course."

Song Xuan threw the gold to him and said with a smile:

"You know, when we went there, I just put on my clothes and left. I didn't even take a gold leaf."

Wang Gui touched the gold ingot in his hand, looked at it carefully, and took another bite:

"Hahaha, gold is really rare, it's true."

"Give it to you."

Song Xuan said nonchalantly.

"what?"

Wang Gui stood there in a daze.

Zhang Fangping had long known Song Xuan's temperament.

It was the first time I saw so much gold that year, and I couldn’t let it go.

Brother Twelve directly threw two pieces to him and asked him to take them back.

This will prevent you from being tempted and bribed by others when you become an official in the future.

Of course Zhang Fangping refused to accept it. Especially now that he had his uncle's financial support and was staying at Song Xuan's house, he didn't have to worry about any other expenses.

Wang Gui was a little reluctant to part with it, as he had never seen so much money before.

But when he thought about how he had enough food and shelter at Song Xuan's place, how he had never had to worry about clothes, how he was paid, and how he could also practice martial arts.

Wang Gui felt really bad about taking this piece of gold again.

"Twelve Brother, I can't accept it. Besides, I will have a sum of money coming into my account after you pass the imperial examination."

"Take it."

Song Xuan has already reached the second floor:

"Just take it easy and experience it for a while, so that you won't become a member of the Imperial Guard in the future and risk your life for a small reward, or become obsessed with gold ingots."

Wang Gui held the gold ingot in his hand, not knowing what to say for a moment.

In the future, I will develop in the Imperial Guards, and my twelfth brother will be promoted in the civil service, so I probably won't have the chance to fight for him.

But as long as it is not a rebellion, I will definitely help him in the future.

Wang Gui secretly made up his mind and held the gold ingot in his hand tighter.

As Song Xuan fell asleep, the Mid-Autumn Festival was really lively.

Since then, many people have been singing Song Xuan's poem.

Most people in brothels don't have any appreciation ability, but that doesn't mean others don't have it.

"Song Twelve wrote this poem so well!"

"Yes."

"I never thought that Songcheng would produce such an outstanding student. I wonder how he performed on the hair-test?"

“It will definitely make the list.”

"Otherwise, how can it be consistent with the Water Melody Song he wrote?"

There are of course some rumors mixed in.

Such as the news released by the madam of Hongtaifang, Song Shier and Liu Qi were jealous of each other for the top prostitute Yu Linglong, and wrote lyrics.

Quite a few people do believe it.

After all, when they sang "Song of Water Melody", they did not sing the opening words together.

"what."

The gate of the Gongyuan opened.

Yan Shu couldn't help but stretch.

After all, marking papers is not an easy job.

Song Qi already knew the result. Song Xuan was indeed selected by Prefect Yan as the top scorer in the Yingtian Prefecture.

This kid is really lucky.

That night, Song Qi sent people to spread the Mid-Autumn Festival poem written by Yan Shu.

Maybe it should have been sung a long time ago.

After all, everyone still has to give some face to Prefect Yan.

"Prefect Yan, everyone."

Zhang Kang stood at the door, welcoming everyone.

Yan Shu nodded, always feeling that every time he marked the papers, it was like being in prison.

Song Qi immediately asked:
"Zhang Tuiguan, after the Mid-Autumn Festival poem by Prefect Yan became known, is there anyone else's poem that can compare to its quality?"

Zhang Kang didn't understand why Song Qi brought up this topic.

The Mid-Autumn Festival poems by Prefect Yan?

I've never heard anyone sing it!
For the past two days, Song Twelve has been the only one to take the lead.

"Liu Sanbian and Song Xuan both wrote a Mid-Autumn Festival poem."

After hearing Zhang Kang's answer, Song Qi didn't think Song Xuan's poems were much better.

However, Liu Sanbian still has extremely high attainments in writing lyrics.

They are all sung in brothels and are not accepted in official circles.

After taking the exam so many times and still failing, Song Qi felt that it would be difficult for Liu Sanbian to pass the exam in his lifetime.

"Oh?"

Yan Shu knew the strength of these two people and asked quickly:
"How did they both write?"

"Now everyone in Song City is talking about Song Twelve's song 'Water Melody'!"

"Song of Water Melody?" Yan Shu became interested and quickly said:

"Read it to me quickly."

Song Shou, Su Qi and others gathered around and listened to the poems recited by Zhang Kang.

"When will the bright moon appear? I raise my cup to ask the blue sky."

Yan Shu stroked his beard and could not help but exclaim in admiration: "What a wonderful word!"

Su Qi was the guarantor for Song Xuan. He said in surprise:
"I'm afraid it will be difficult for anyone to write a Mid-Autumn Festival poem that surpasses Song Twelve's from now on."

Song Shou had long appreciated Song Xuan's talent in poetry.

So at this moment he was not surprised, but looked at the group of incredulous colleagues around him with a smile.

Song Qi stared with his eyes wide open and his mouth open.

He originally thought that he could secretly publicize Yan Shu's Mid-Autumn Festival poem and give his leader a surprise after the papers were graded.

This will also help me make further progress in my career.

I never expected that not only would Liu Sanbian appear, but the even more amazing Song Shier would also appear.

As far as the degree of popularization among the people is concerned, Yan Shu's elegant poems in the Xikun style are really not widely spread among the people.

It's not even as good as the poem by Liu Sanbian.

Now Song Xuan, a singer of the song "Water Melody", suddenly appeared and defeated the two of them.

"Hahaha."

Yan Shu immediately burst into laughter. He had long known that Song Twelve was an excellent scholar.

Otherwise, we wouldn't have hit it off so well at first sight.

The more famous Song Twelve became, the happier Yan Shu became.

But at this time there were still many people standing outside who came to inquire about the news, and Yan Shu did not immediately announce that Song Xuan was the first place.

Anyway, it’s not time to announce the results yet.

We have to wait a little longer.

But at this time, many students had already gathered outside.

It is just to get a good position and prepare to find your place on the red list.

"We share the beauty of the moon even though we are thousands of miles apart."

Su Qi stroked his beard and exclaimed:
“This poem is so majestic.”

"Yes."

Song Shou also nodded repeatedly.

Song Twelve, this unpolished gem, can no longer be hidden and is beginning to shine.

Although Song Qi felt that he had not arranged well to flatter Yan Shu, he saw that Yan Shu really admired Song Xuan.

He then understood that he still needed to maintain a good relationship with Song Xuan.

After all, Song Xuan has already won the first place in the imperial examination. If everything goes well, he may be able to catch up with his elder brother who won the first place in the imperial examination.

By then, it will be hard to say anything.

Song Qi was more intelligent than his elder brother Song Yang, otherwise he would not have thought of ways to flatter Yan Shu.

Although the filming was not successful this time, it at least confirmed to him that Yan Shu was very optimistic about the younger generation with potential.

In the future, when Yan Shu returns to the central government to take up his post, he might promote students who have passed the examination at Yingtian Academy.

Yan Shu was not afraid of Song Xuan's fame, but he was worried that he would not study hard and waste his talent.

He really fell from being a child prodigy.

A child prodigy cannot always be a child prodigy.

Just like the child prodigy who accompanied the emperor in studying, Cai Boqi passed the imperial examination at the age of three, and even Bai Juyi's youngest son could not compare with him.

But Yan Shu felt that Cai Boqi was a true prodigy who fell from grace, leaving behind only a little cleverness.

But Song Xuan proved through his own strength that he had never fallen from the level of a child prodigy.

Especially the last time he was deliberately dismissed from the exam, it was a severe tempering for him.

Today's top scorer in the examination is a clear proof!
Song Xuan is a man who can learn from his mistakes and become stronger, and now he has honed himself to be an excellent person.

Yan Shu believed that if the imperial court reformed the examination again, it would surely help Song Xuan rise to prominence.

First in the provincial examination.

That is within easy reach.

Yan Shu stood on the steps, looking at the expectant eyes shooting towards him, and understood that they were the eyes of many students eager to make progress.

However, the imperial examination does not reward everyone for their efforts.

A large number of people are destined to be unable to reach the shore, or to wander around here for the rest of their lives.

Until the family could no longer support it.

"Prefect Yan, do you want to go back for a while?"

Song Qi felt that being watched by so many people was a little inappropriate.

If Yan Shu said something before the results were announced and someone else heard it, it would be troublesome.

"Alright."

Yan Shu went straight back to the Imperial Examination Hall, picked up his brush, and wrote Song Xuan's poem.

"And remembering old friends."

Su Qi stroked his beard and smiled, "Song Twelve is so young, yet he has old friends?"

"I guess it's the friends I made during the last Yingtian Academy entrance exam."

Of course, Yan Shu would not be so brazen as to claim the identity of this old friend.

He couldn't afford to lose face like this.

What's more, he was about to select Song Xuan as the top scorer, so how could he let the matter of his old friend spread?
At most, when he went to invite Fan Zhongyan to come out of seclusion, he met two fellow villagers, Song Xuan and Zhang Fangping. Admiring their talent, he invited them to take the entrance exam for Yingtian Academy.

After that, Song Xuan only provided some financial support to the academy, which was a matter between Fan Zhongyan and his master.

As the prefect of Yingtian, Yan Shu was extremely restrained in his interactions with Song Xuan.

After all, he hoped that he could win the top three prizes in a row, but he didn't want to give people the impression that he deliberately chose Song Xuan as the top prize.

Because Song Xuan’s strength is there!
"Song Twelve is quite ambitious. I heard he went to Tokyo when he was a child. His unique handwriting is modeled after stone carvings."

Song Shou directly exposed Song Xuan's past:

"I don't know what kind of friends he made when he was a child in Tokyo."

"After so many years, perhaps we have already lost contact."

Song Qi finally understood. He had noticed that Song Xuan's handwriting was very different. It turned out that this was the root of the problem!

Even Song Shou knows Song Xuan better than Song Hao.

Song Qi raised his eyebrows slightly, thinking secretly in his heart:

"It seems like their relationship is really just average. He doesn't even know where his younger brother learned his unique handwriting."

Yan Shu read this Water Melody Song again and again and could not help but exclaim in admiration:

"Song Twelve's poem has a unique conception, a unique approach, and is full of romanticism. I think it is the masterpiece of all the Mid-Autumn Festival poems in history. It will be difficult for future generations to surpass it."

Song Qi looked at Yan Shu in astonishment again. He didn't expect Yan Shu to speak so highly of Song Xuan!
(End of this chapter)