Notes on Longevity

Chapter 25 You'an's First Encounter with Chen Zhongqian, Chengru's Playful Encounter at the Imperial Examination Hall

Ten days later, the examination ended, and the candidates walked out of the examination hall one after another. Some walked away in groups, chatting, while others gathered in small groups to talk about their exam experiences. They congratulated each other and hoped that they and each other could pass the palace examination.

"May I ask what business you two have with me?"

Inside the examination hall, in a secluded rockery, Yang You'an looked at the two officials in front of him with a puzzled expression.

The two men looked at Yang Youan with smiles on their faces. "During the exams these past few days, we walked around the exam hall a few times and thought your answers were quite good and insightful. You seem to know a lot despite your young age."

The speaker was Wu Zixu, the Vice Minister of Rites, and next to him was Chen Youzhi, the Minister of Rites.

"Thank you for the compliment, sir."

Yang Youan bowed and replied.

How old are you this year?

Chen Youzhi, who was standing to the side, looked at Yang Youan and asked with a smile.

"Your Excellency, I am fourteen years old this year," Yang Youan replied.

"Huh? Only fourteen?"

Upon hearing this, the two exchanged a smile. Wu Zixu looked at them in astonishment and said, "You're too young. Not bad, not bad. If you can enter the palace examination, you will definitely become a pillar of society in the future."

Upon hearing this, Yang Youan looked quite alarmed and quickly cupped his hands, saying, "You flatter me, sir. If I can enter the palace examination, I will do my best to become the top scholar."

"You're not that old, but you've got quite the big mouth!" Wu Zixu laughed loudly. "The imperial examinations are more difficult at each stage than the last. Just getting into the metropolitan examination is already quite an achievement. If you want to become the top scholar, I'm afraid it will be very difficult for you."

"You did quite well in the provincial examination, but the palace examination is set by the current emperor, so you can imagine how difficult it is."

Chen Youzhi patted Yang Youan on the shoulder with a slight smile on his face: "I see that your place of origin on your answer sheet is Fuyun Prefecture, Beishan County."

"Yes." Yang Youan was startled when Chen Youzhi patted his shoulder, and looked at Chen Youzhi with a rather unnatural expression.

"Thirty years ago, this place produced a top scholar and a third-place scholar. But later, both of them declined their official positions and returned to that place. In recent years, most of the candidates who came from here have also obtained official positions, and you are no exception. If you can enter the palace examination this time, even if you don't become the top scholar, I will still go to His Majesty to ask for an official position for you. At that time, you can come to my Ministry of Rites and work as an editor."

Upon hearing this, Yang Youan immediately bowed and said, "I thank you in advance, sir."

"Alright, alright, you can go ahead now! You can come visit me at my residence whenever you have time."

"I shall take my leave." After Chen Youzhi finished speaking, Yang Youan bowed again, then turned and left under the gaze of the two men, walking out of the examination hall.

"Lord Chen, this child answered the questions quite well, but there are quite a few mistakes. You should..."

Wu Zixu looked at Yang Youan's departing figure with great confusion, and he said to Chen Youzhi.

"Yes, his refined and elegant appearance is just like mine back then. Now I look like an old man."

"Greetings, sirs."

Wu Zixu was about to say something when a voice came from their side. The two looked over and saw Li Chengru, dressed in a colorful robe, standing smiling beside another artificial hill, looking at them with a beaming smile. "Young Master Li," Wu Zixu greeted Li Chengru with a bow after recognizing him.

Chen Youzhi walked up to him with a smile, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "So, are you confident?"

"Not very confident." Li Chengru chuckled, his eyes almost squinting.

"You confidently boasted to His Majesty that you would definitely beat Zhang Ze'an in this examination, how come you're not so sure now?"

Chen Youzhi teased Li Chengru: "Is it because of what that kid Yang Youan said to you the other day? He said that even if you become the top scholar, you don't have to become an official. So many scholars study hard for years just to achieve this."

"No, no... um?" Li Chengru still had a grin on his face, but he quickly realized what he meant and stared at Chen Youzhi in disbelief: "No, how do you know all this?"

Chen Youzhi smiled without saying a word, but instead glanced at Li Chengru and stroked his beard as if to say: Guess.

Li Chengru lowered his head, and after a moment's thought, he immediately realized what was going on. Pointing at Chen Youzhi, the Minister of Rites, he said in disbelief, "Did you send someone to follow me, monitor me, and eavesdrop on my conversation?!"

"No, no." Chen Youzhi hummed in agreement, smiling smugly. This was the first time he had seen such an expression on Li Chengru's face since he had known him, and he was quite satisfied. He then explained, "It was not I who sent people to follow you."

"Who is that? I'd like to see who dares to send someone to follow me." Li Chengru said aggressively, rolling up his sleeves as if he were ready to fight at any moment.

"Who could it be? Of course, it's His Majesty. Not to mention ordinary officials, even I can't just let anyone follow you."

As Chen Youzhi spoke, he began to walk around the examination hall, following the artificial hill, strolling through the place where he had once diligently written his essays.

Li Chengru followed closely behind, asking Chen Youzhi with great confusion, "No, why did His Majesty send someone to follow me? I haven't done anything wrong."

"Of course, His Majesty is worried about you." Chen Youzhi looked at everything in the examination hall, deeply moved. He thought back to when he was here, just like those candidates, hoping to pass the imperial examination and bring honor to his ancestors. So many years have passed, and he is now a high-ranking official, and even serving as an examiner for this year's examination. It's hard not to feel a pang of nostalgia here.

"No, what do I have to worry about? I'm just injured, not crippled. And isn't His Majesty too idle? It's one thing to follow me, but why send people to eavesdrop on my conversation? Is he that curious about what I'm doing?" Li Chengru complained, rambling on to Chen Youzhi.

“Hey, watch your words. Even though His Majesty dotes on you, you can’t talk about him like that. After all, he is the ruler of a country.”

Chen Youzhi watched everything with satisfaction, his words light and cheerful. He showed no reprimand what Li Chengru said.

"The ruler of a country?" As soon as Chen Youzhi finished speaking, Li Chengru looked at him in disbelief, then snorted and returned to his usual demeanor.

He straightened up, took out the folding fan from behind him, opened it, and launched into a sarcastic remark at Chen Youzhi: "You know His Majesty is the ruler of the country. I saw you scolding the Second Prince in court in front of His Majesty and all the officials, and I didn't see you treating His Majesty as the ruler of the country at all. If His Majesty hadn't been so angry, I think you would have directly hit the prince."

"You're not in the imperial court, so where did you see that?" Chen Youzhi sensed something was amiss, so he stopped and stared at Li Chengru, asking in return.

"I...I heard it from someone else." When Li Chengru saw Chen Youzhi looking at him, he immediately looked to the side, at the flowers, grass, and white walls of the examination hall.

"Well, so I was wondering who was so bold as to knock me out. It turns out it was you, kid."

As Chen Youzhi spoke, he raised his hand and slapped Li Chengru across the neck.

But Li Chengru wasn't one to stand around waiting to be hit. The moment he saw Chen Youzhi raise his hand, he immediately ran away, shouting all the while, "You old bastard, come and chase me if you dare!"

(End of this chapter)