Notes on Longevity

Chapter 26 Zhenghe and Shi Anzhi Invite Each Other to the Guest House

"That rascal!" Chen Youzhi laughed as he looked at Wu Zixu beside him. "He really is different from before."

"When I first met him, I said one sentence to him, and he had to return three gifts."

As the two walked through the examination hall, Chen Youzhi reminisced about the past, filled with emotion: "If he hadn't been injured when the sorcerer brought disaster to the country, he would be the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard at this age."

“If we consider age, he’s not old enough to be a deputy commander; but if we consider martial prowess, he’s more than qualified to be a commander.” Wu Zixu followed behind Chen Youzhi and continued his words slowly.

"By the way, what do you think of Yang Youan?" Chen Youzhi walked onto a small arched bridge in the examination hall, looked at the lotus flowers blooming in the pond, and asked Wu Zixu.

“This boy is still young, but his behavior is somewhat similar to that of the Minister from decades ago.” Wu Zixu thought for a moment and then blurted out his words.

“It really does look very similar,” Chen Youzhi sighed. “Back then, I had just entered the palace and started as a compiler, working my way up to where I am now. It’s just a pity about that official. If he were still alive, I wouldn’t have gotten the position of Minister of Rites.”

"It's a pity that the official was young and impetuous, and couldn't stand the intrigue in the palace. In the end, he was demoted to a county and became a county magistrate. In the end, he resigned and went into the mountains to cultivate Taoism."

Wu Zixu continued his words, feeling a sense of sadness in his heart.

And so, the two strolled and chatted in the examination hall, reminiscing about many things from the past.

As noon approached, Yang Youan walked out of the examination hall and stood at the entrance, looking slightly anxious. His eyes were fixed on everyone who came out, as if he were searching for someone.

But after all the candidates came out of the examination hall, he still didn't see the person he was waiting for.

As the sun grew stronger, Yang Youan became increasingly anxious, pacing back and forth in front of the examination hall, fearing that the person might suddenly change their mind and not come.

Just as Yang Youan was feeling anxious, a voice rang out, immediately making him stop in his tracks and a smile appear on his face.

"The sun is so bright, why don't we go back to the inn first?"

“The place I arranged with Brother Zhang is outside this examination hall. If I go back to the inn first, wouldn’t that be breaking my promise?”

Yang Youan bowed to the newcomer.

"No wonder Brother Li likes you so much; you are not only polite but also so trustworthy."

The newcomer was a young man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven, handsome in appearance. Although he was wearing the same colorful clothes as Yang Youan, he had a dashing and debonair air about him at first glance.

He held a folding fan made of black wood and white paper in his hand, and kept fanning himself as he walked toward Yang Youan.

"A scholar values ​​both propriety and trustworthiness." Yang Youan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw him arrive.

"Let's talk on the way," the man said to Yang Youan, putting away his folding fan and pointing to the road back to the inn.

"Brother Zhang, please go first." Yang Youan extended a hand to the man and smiled.

Seeing this, the man didn't stand on ceremony and headed towards the Bailai Inn after Yang Youan finished speaking.

Yang Youan met this person at the entrance of the examination hall before the exam began.

He was standing in the crowd, looking at the names written on the wall and listening to the discussions around him, when suddenly a hand was placed on his shoulder.

Yang Youan was startled, thinking it was Li Chengru, so he hurriedly turned around. Just as he was about to speak, he realized that it was not Li Chengru who had patted him.

"You must be Yang Youan." Before Yang Youan could react, he saw the man's mouth opening and closing as he asked him.

He bowed to the newcomer, then looked at the young man before him with a puzzled expression: "My name is Yang You'an. May I ask what business you have with me, sir?"

"It's nothing. I just heard that you and Wenren had a conflict, so I came to check on you."

Yang Youan was puzzled when he heard this. How did others know about his conflict with Brother Li? But out of courtesy, he asked the other party's name first, "May I ask your surname, sir?"

"My surname is Zhang, my given name is Ze'an, and my courtesy name is Anzhi."

Zhang Ze'an returned the greeting to Yang You'an.

Upon hearing this, Yang Youan thought to himself: Isn't this Brother Li's mortal enemy? And he's also the young master of Bailai Inn. What does he want with me?
Just then, Yang Youan heard someone calling out "Young Master Li." He subconsciously looked over and saw that Li Chengru ignored the flattery from the crowd and instead walked to the other side of the crowd, found a crowded spot, and went inside.

Yang Youan overheard their discussion and saw their confusion over Li Chengru's appearance. Then he heard the door open and the sound of someone entering the examination room to announce the start time of the exam.

As the man's voice fell, the crowd bowed and then surged into the examination hall.

Before that, Zhang Ze'an said to Yang You'an, "Wait for me at the gate after the exam, and I'll go with you to find him."

Although Yang Youan didn't understand why Zhang Ze'an wanted to go to Li Chengru, he was still very happy at the thought of being able to go to Li Chengru.

Although the night was unpleasant, Yang Youan did regret it afterwards, because everyone has their own ideas and no one can control anyone else.

However, he was also conflicted, because he was a child raised by poor people, and passing the imperial examination was his only way out. Li Chengru was able to become the top scholar but not an official; that was his own ability, so what right did he have to criticize others?

"I heard from Brother Li that you and he are mortal enemies, so why did you go to find him with him?" On the way back to the inn, Yang You'an was puzzled. If they were mortal enemies, wouldn't they fight if they met? Especially when Yang You'an thought about how Li Chengru looked when he talked about Zhang Ze'an in the backyard that day, he felt that if the two of them met, things might get even worse.

"What mortal enemy? He's just making things up." Zhang Ze'an, however, was fanning himself with a smile as he said this. "Back then, he lost to me in the palace examination and insisted on arguing with me. Not only did he not win, but he also cheated and asked His Majesty to let him compete with me again."

"His Majesty agreed?" Yang Youan's heart skipped a beat, and his lips twitched. He thought to himself: This Brother Li is really bold, daring to renege on his promise in front of the Emperor.

"agreed."

Seeing Zhang Ze'an's helpless expression, Yang You'an became even more convinced that Li Chengru was the son of the Minister of Revenue. So he said, "Actually, even if Brother Li doesn't become the top scholar, it would still be easy for him to become an official."

"Yes, he wants to be an official. Whatever official position he wants, as long as His Majesty thinks he has the ability, His Majesty will basically agree."

Zhang Ze'an sighed, his body becoming somewhat languid. He closed his folding fan, quite emotionally, "If I had his position, becoming prime minister would be a matter of a single word for me."

Upon hearing this, Yang Youan frowned, a puzzled expression on his face: Isn't Brother Li the son of the Minister of Revenue? How come he can become any official he wants just by saying a word to His Majesty?

He didn't understand at all.

Just as he was about to ask a question, he heard Zhang Ze'an mutter to himself, "No, no, then wouldn't I be going to lose both my parents? That won't do, that won't do."

Finally, seeing Yang Youan's confusion, he said, "It's actually fine as it is now. There's no need, no need."

Yang Youan looked at Zhang Ze'an's way of speaking and some of his expressions and felt like he had seen them somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where.

The two walked slowly to the inn. As he and Zhang Ze'an stepped through the inn's entrance, the innkeeper at the counter greeted Zhang Ze'an as "Young Master," and he realized: "Isn't this Brother Li?"

(End of this chapter)