While Miss Song was cheering for Meng Fangxun, Meng Fangxun himself, after leaving the Song residence, leaned against a wall, his legs feeling weak.
His heart was still pounding wildly.
Song Weilan had completely exceeded his expectations!
Based on their letters, he had imagined her as a bold and lovely girl.
Meeting her today confirmed that, but her boldness and loveliness were tempered with a dignity befitting a well-bred young lady.
When she entered carrying tea, her elegant blue brocade dress had stunned him. And then catching a glimpse of her delicate, serene yet playful features left him speechless.
It all felt unreal.
How could such a wonderful girl fancy him?
If he didn't study fiercely and earn a Second Class Jinshi degree, he would be too ashamed to formally propose!
Meng Fangxun returned to the Chen residence, determined to study hard.
Meanwhile, Duan Youyan, who had accompanied Sheng Yunjin back to the Sheng family, was facing scrutiny from the Sheng clan.
"Duan Youyan is just a country doctor with a decent face who got lucky passing the provincial exams. Who knows if he'll pass the Metropolitan Exams? Even if the clan wants to support someone, shouldn't it be a male member of our own clan? Why support a son-in-law who married in?"
The purpose of Duan Youyan and Sheng Yunjin's return to the capital was clear: first, for the exams; second, to present Duan Youyan to the Sheng family; third, to reclaim resources originally belonging to Magistrate Sheng's branch.
A great clan's resources weren't just about knowledge—they included property, land, capable subordinates, and skilled artisans. These were treasures accumulated over generations, not given lightly. Even male clan members had to be outstanding to earn them.
Since Magistrate Sheng was demoted to Pingxi County and only had Sheng Yunjin, a male son, his branch had been marginalized.
If Sheng Yunjin hadn't been well-behaved in the capital and won the favor of several high-ranking officials' wives some even considered him as a potential wife for their younger sons, Magistrate Sheng would have been exiled by the clan long ago.
Then Sheng Yunjin married a man who entered their family, which infuriated the clan. If Sheng Yunjin hadn't married in, he could have still contributed to the clan. By taking a husband, he lost all value.
Just when everyone thought this branch was finished, the husband they married turned out to be quite capable—not only passing the Xiucai exams but also becoming a Juren in the first year of the exam reforms.
Last year, the clan had bad luck; only Sheng Yuxuan from the main branch passed the Jinshi exams.
Now, Sheng Yunjin returns with Duan Youyan, openly competing for resources meant for Sheng Yuxuan. The main branch, of course, was furious and tried their best to disparage Duan Youyan.
"Ranking third in last year's provincial exams can't be just luck, can it?" The fifth branch, to which Magistrate Sheng belonged, spoke up.
Their impression of Duan Youyan was favorable. They expected a country doctor, newly arrived in the bustling capital and visiting a great clan like theirs, to be overwhelmed.
Instead, when Duan Youyan stepped out of the carriage, it was they who were impressed by his upright, elegant bearing and handsome appearance.
Really, Duan Youyan was exceedingly good-looking. Coupled with his Juren status from last year—when even the main branch only produced one Juren—their declining fifth branch actually had one too.
So what if he married into the family? He was part of their branch now.
Moreover, Duan Youyan was very proper. His etiquette when paying respects was impeccable, and he showed no awkwardness about his status as a son-in-law. His attitude towards Xiao Jin was also devoted.
How could they not feel favorably towards him?
"How is it not luck?" The main branch unconvinced, slapping Duan Youyan's exam papers on the table. "Look at his papers! He wrote entirely about promoting medicinal herb cultivation. It was a coincidence!"
"A coincidence that he studied medicine, a coincidence that Yong'an Prefecture was promoting herb cultivation, a coincidence that Yong'an's tax revenue soared last year because of it. With so many coincidences, he passed."
"But what if the exam topics were different?"
"Could he still have passed then?"
The main branch had studied Duan Youyan's papers extensively. Their words left the room silent.
They had a point.
What if the topics had been different?
Everyone fell into thought.
Seeing the situation turning in their favor, the main branch pressed their advantage. "If the Metropolitan Exams test different current affairs topics this time, and he fails, and the clan has already allocated resources to him, wouldn't the clan suffer a huge loss?"
"You can't be so absolute," the fifth branch retorted, unwilling to relinquish hard-won resources. "If he got 'lucky' enough to become a Juren, couldn't he also get 'lucky' and become a Jinshi? What if he does pass and then rises rapidly? Wouldn't our Sheng family miss a chance to secure a talented individual?"
Clan resources were inherently a means to secure talent. The Sheng family was already declining; the exam reforms had pushed them to the brink. At such a time, for Duan Youyan, an outsider who married in, to break through and embark on this path of current affairs—if he could succeed, he could potentially lead the Sheng family back to prominence.
"Nonsense!" A main branch member slammed the table. "Since when does our Sheng family rely on outsiders? Does our Sheng family have no sons of its own?"
"And can we rely on an outsider?! Even if he achieves great success later, if his heart isn't truly with Xiao Jin, the entire Sheng family could be doomed!"
Others nodded. "The main branch speaks sense!"
The fifth branch members looked grim. "So we just watch this talent slip away?"
"No matter how you slice it, Duan Youyan has already caught the Emperor's eye. If the Emperor remembers him, 'achieving success' might be an understatement. If the Sheng family supports him now, regardless of the future, he'd owe us a debt, wouldn't he?"
"Otherwise, everyone would condemn him!"
The main branch knew the fifth branch had caught the scent and wouldn't let go easily. They gritted their teeth. "Let the Metropolitan Exams decide the outcome!"
"If his ranking in these exams is higher than Yuxuan's, then the clan can give him whatever resources it wants! Our main branch won't utter a word of complaint!"
The main branch wasn't stupid. What if Duan Youyan had some real skill and just barely passed? They'd still have to yield resources. So they put forward their best candidate. If Duan Youyan outperformed the clan's finest young man, they'd have no argument. If he didn't, the fifth branch would be silenced.
The fifth branch knew the main branch was a tough nut to crack. Prying resources from their grasp was difficult. They had no choice but to hold their noses and agree. "Fine!"
"All the elders are here today as witnesses, so no one can go back on their word later!"
***
Unaware of the clan discussions, Sheng Yunjin had initially been thrilled to bring Duan Youyan home. However, apart from the fifth branch, others received them coldly, especially Sheng Yunjin's former close friends in the capital who had promised to visit but ignored his invitations.
Duan Youyan also sensed the strange atmosphere. Though unsure of the cause, seeing his A-Jin slighted upset him. Upon returning, he dug out the various current affairs practice essays Xu Huaiqian had written for them and began studying intensely.
While he hit the books, Pei Wangshu and Zhang Bingwen, out exploring, noticed something odd.
The inns, tea houses, and taverns were abuzz with Juren from across the nation discussing the booklets issued by the Emperor. The Emperor's intention was for them to study and grasp the essence of current affairs through the examples.
But some clever Juren had twisted this. One declared, "His Majesty only tested taxes because he knew about Yong'an Prefecture's surge in revenue! Those ten Juren from Changnan just got lucky! If it were another topic, probably none would have passed!"
Hearing this, Pei Wangshu flared up. If it weren't taxes, they could have passed on other topics! Sure, they benefited from the tax topic, but wasn't that better than those who couldn't even capitalize on an advantage?! Before these exams and the distribution of their papers, many of these Juren didn't even understand current affairs!
But Zhang Bingwen held him back. "What's the use arguing? It'll only create conflict and make more people think the Juren from Yong'an are incompetent."
Changnan had only produced ten Juren last year. Even with previous candidates who failed the Metropolitan Exams, they numbered only thirty or forty. How could this handful contend with hundreds or thousands of Juren from other provinces? It was a losing battle.
Zhang Bingwen pulled Pei Wangshu away. "If you're unconvinced, just outperform them in the Metropolitan Exams!"
"Last year, Yong'an Prefecture produced six Juren. Regardless of the others, if all five of us pass this time, the rumors will collapse on their own!"
After much persuasion, Zhang Bingwen finally managed to steer the somewhat impulsive Pei Wangshu back. "Let's go study. We can't let these people look down on us."
Pei Wangshu was convinced. He had originally thought just scraping through the Metropolitan Exams would be fine—as long as he passed, even a low-ranked Jinshi was acceptable. He wasn't picky!
But now, knowing some viewed their Juren success as mere luck, his pride was stung. He returned and began studying diligently in seclusion.
While the other four buried themselves in books, Xu Huaiqian, after sleeping his fill, cheerfully toured his new home with his wife.
For convenience in the capital, Chen Liejiu had bought a married couple as servants—one as a gatekeeper, the other a cook. Xu Huaiqian saw they were honest. They had a young daughter who was not sold into servitude; she was too young to work and remained a commoner. By ensuring the daughter's free status, Chen Liejiu secured the parents' loyalty, as they needed the income to raise her.
Having worked as a escort, Chen Liejiu understood human nature well. People with nothing to lose could be unpredictable. His little husband was frail, and Wang Wanwan and Chen Xiaomei were women. If he were away, they'd be vulnerable against malicious intent.
"You arranged everything perfectly," Xu Huaiqian praised his wife after inspecting the household. "My A-Jiu is the smartest!"
"If I'm so smart, then you can focus with peace of mind on your exams!" Chen Liejiu laughed, packing Xu Huaiqian's writing materials. Since waking up, his little husband had been stuck to him like glue. Who was really dependent on whom?
"Mmhmm, I'll definitely study hard and aim for that Tanhua rank!" Xu Huaiqian nodded.
The Metropolitan Exams differed from the lower levels. They didn't require staying in the exam hall for days. They were held in three sessions, one every three days. The format had changed; candidates now entered and left on the same day, though the exact structure was still unclear.
Previously, they tested the Four Books and Five Classics, poetry, and policy essays. Now, with the focus on current affairs, it might be all current affairs, or might still include some poetry. Xu Huaiqian had reviewed everything. Unless the questions were extremely obscure, he was confident he could pass. If it was all current affairs, even better!
Xu Huaiqian had considered everything—except that on the day of the Metropolitan Exams, he, who hadn't been sick in a long time, suddenly fell ill!