CH 56

Chapter 56 Make Them Proud (2)

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Chi Jingxi had no reaction. His handsome face remained relaxed, and there was laziness hidden in his eyes. "Was that all that was said?"

"This servant said a few words to him, but he scolded this servant for being poor and undeserving to teach him a lesson. The servant took into account that he was the Master's classmate and did not dare to say more. So this servant returned." The servant lowered his head and complained in an aggrieved voice.

Chi Jingxi turned the pages of the book and replied with a lazy voice, "You've said enough."

"What is Master keeping that ignorant person for? Just drive him out and let him know his own position." Seeing that Chi Jingxi was in a relaxed mood, the servant fanned the flames some more.

"That’s a good idea." Chi Jingxi's fingertips rubbed the pages of the book.

The servant was extremely happy after hearing this. Impatiently, he asked, "Then this servant will relay the message."

Unexpectedly, Chi Jingxi announced. "There is still a vacancy for the guards outside. Go and fill it."

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"Ah?" The servant was dumbfounded for a moment, and then a look of horror appeared on his face. He immediately knelt down and slapped himself twice. "This servant is wrong! This servant is wrong! Please forgive this servant! It's freezing cold outside, this servant will definitely freeze to death!"

Chi Jingxi asked, "What did you do wrong?"

"This servant shouldn't have exaggerated! This servant shouldn’t have made up lies to the Master! This servant is damned! This mistake won’t happen again!" The servant learned from the way Wen Yantong admitted her mistake to Chi Jingxi earlier and immediately begged for his forgiveness.

However, after hearing this, Chi Jingxi only hummed softly and said, "Go out."

The servant knew that there was no room for turning back. He suppressed his fear and anger, got up from the ground, and exited the study.

As soon as he went out, the servant saw Wen Yantong standing by the door and listening at the corner. 

Seeing the slap print on the servant's face, Wen Yantong couldn't help but sneer. "Wow~ Why did you put on rouge after going in for a while? It's strangely pleasing to the eyes."

The servant glared at her resentfully. However, he did not dare to bicker with her again. Instead, he just walked out of the house obediently without saying a word.

How could Wen Yantong let him go so easily? So she whispered while following behind him, "Serves you right! You deserve it! See if you talk sh*t again."

Even though the servant was shaking with anger, he didn't dare retort. After his ears were blocked, he went outside, bearing the snow as he stood by the door with the other guards.

Although Wen Yantong didn't know why Chi Jingxi punished him, she felt very relieved, both physically and mentally. She held back her laughter and returned to the study. Seeing that Chi Jingxi was busy reading, she quietly took a seat opposite of him.

Chi Jingxi was used to Wen Yantong staying by his side now and was not as repelled as the first time. Hearing her come in, he asked, "Why didn't you move the heater in?"

Wen Yantong shook her head. "That thing is too heavy, I used all my strength, but it only moved a little bit. Now, my legs hurt, too."

Chi Jingxi asked, "Since the study room is so cold, why are you sitting here?"

As if she was here because of an eviction order.

Wen Yantong smacked her lips and said, "It's a rare opportunity to have a few words with the Little Marquis, so I naturally want to cherish this opportunity."

Chi Jingxi lifted his eyes slightly and glanced at her. "Your words are only bearable when you are flattering people."

Wen Yantong took that as a compliment. She smiled and said, "Little Marquis, you are so smart. No one has ever blamed you for their mistakes, right?"

She picked up a pen and drew casually on the paper while talking, "I am different. I have been stupid since I was a child. In order not to disappoint my parents, I want to do my best in everything. It's a pity that I have never made my parents proud."

"When my Father was young, his family was very poor. He didn't even have a decent bed and slept in thatched huts and straw bunks. His biggest wish at that time was to be awarded an official status through the imperial examinations. As the saying goes: a noble from a humble family." Wen Yantong's voice was mixed with a sigh.

"It's a pity that because he was too poor, he couldn’t afford to study. It was already a miracle that he could read a few words. Afterward, he made money through business, and his life gradually improved. He could afford books! But because of his advancing age and poor memory, he failed three times. Not once did he pass the preliminary exams in the county-level imperial exams."

She glanced at Chi Jingxi and saw that he was reading a book with his eyes lowered. His face was calm, without any reactions; she was unsure if he was even listening. But he didn't say to shut up, so Wen Yantong continued, "I came to study at Songhai Academy to make up for my Father's regrets. Even if I just received a ‘qualified’ score, I can still go home proud."

As an academy directly built under the orders of the imperial family, Songhai Academy had a special existence outside the imperial examination system. As a student of this academy, one could also participate in the imperial examination, but the system of the imperial examination was cumbersome. There were many levels and countless exams before one was allowed to take the court-level imperial examination. However, Songhai Academy organized a summarized exam every three years, which takes place in the palace. It was personally invigilated by the Emperor and the Minister of Rites, which was equivalent to the specifications of the court-level imperial exams.

Once passed, the title of ‘jinshi’[1] would be immediately rewarded. One could then take the actual court-level imperial exam and further increase their ranking. If failed, then one was either given a ‘qualified’ or ‘unqualified’ title. ‘Qualified’ was equivalent to being a ‘xiucai’[2], while ‘unqualified’ meant nothing. At most, the latter could talk about their past of studying at the prestigious Songhai Academy and flaunt it around.

What Wen Yantong meant was that she wanted to bring the title of ‘xiucai’ home.

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Footnotes:

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[1] jinshi - a person who has passed the court level imperial exam

[2] xiucai - a person who has passed the county level imperial exam