Chapter 457 - 280: It’s Really You?
Chapter 457: Chapter 280: It’s Really You?
The night passed uneventfully.
The sky had just begun to brighten.
Gloomy, dark clouds already pressed down on Shu State Prefecture City.
A misty layer of clouds obscured the rising sun in the east, like an extension of the night, reluctant to let the morning come.
But the Night Watchman still made his rounds on time, crying out the hour.
Drums also sounded from the tower above the city gate.
Whenever this happened, bells from the temple in the northwest corner, the academy to the north, and outside Yanhua Lane in the south would answer in chorus.
With the harmonious tolling of bells and beating of drums, a new day arrived.
Chen Yi, of course, didn’t wait until then to get up.
To be precise, he had been rising early these past few days, washing up and dressing before heading to the study.
Of course, he wasn’t going there to practice his calligraphy or to create a few paintings.
He was going there to read.
That’s right.
Chen Yi had been preparing for the Annual Examination at the end of the month for several days now.
Besides the history and geography books he had read during his confinement, this time he was focusing more on the classics and historical records.
Although the Great Wei Dynasty didn’t have the Four Books and Five Classics, it had similar canonical texts.
These included works like Magic Calculation, the River Book, Qian’s Transmission, and the Sayings of the Four Sages, among others.
Covering astronomy, geography, divination, the Medical Dao, and Confucianism, they were required reading for every scholar.
Chen Yi originally had some memories related to these texts, but they were very vague.
But as he read through them, the relevant content would surface in his mind.
Most of it was the original owner of his body’s understanding.
However, most of that understanding was flawed.
At least, in the eyes of Chen Yi, who had stepped into the Dao Realm through Music, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting, these so-called classics were merely the past sages’ insights into heaven and earth, the Great Dao, life, and the world.
He had his own understanding.
Therefore, after reading through the classics once, Chen Yi simplified the complex, assimilating all the memories for his own use.
Coupled with his absorption of the Profound Mysteries from various Daos, which allowed him to draw parallels and comprehend more broadly, he believed he could hold his own in a debate with the likes of Mr. Zhuo Ying and Mr. Lingchuan.
It was more than enough to handle an ordinary Annual Examination.
Unfortunately, this year’s Annual Examination was anything but ordinary.
Chen Yi had no choice but to make extra preparations.
Just then, Xiaodie entered with two Armored Warriors, each carrying stacks of books. While gesturing where they should place them, she said:
"Young Master, here are the past exam questions from the Annual and Prefecture Examinations for Shu State and other state capitals."
"However, few people have collected the top-scoring essays, so there are only some scattered pieces."
Chen Yi looked up and nodded. "This will be enough to keep me busy until the Annual Examination."
His method was none other than the study habit ingrained in his very being—cramming with practice questions.
As long as he practiced enough, it was hard to say if he’d get an outstanding score, but he could at least pass.
And if he had a flash of inspiration during the exam, or if it touched upon his own areas of knowledge, it wasn’t impossible for him to produce a brilliant, renowned essay.
Seeing him say this, the tension on Xiaodie’s small face eased.
"Young Master, you should read then. I’ll go prepare breakfast for you."
Chen Yi raised a hand to stop her. "Just prepare some for yourself. I’m going to the academy this morning. I’ll eat something there."
Xiaodie said, "Oh. Young Master, when will you be back? The Eldest Young Miss said there’s a banquet in the mansion at noon."
"I probably won’t make it back before noon."
Chen Yi knew exactly who Xiao Wan’er was hosting. It would be a miracle if he showed up.
Yesterday afternoon, after receiving a message from Elder Master Xiao via Wang Ji, he knew that Xiao Wan’er was planning to host him—the owner of Hundred Herbs Hall—today.
That’s why he had planned from early this morning not to stay in the mansion.
To avoid having Xiao Wan’er ask him to keep the guest company.
Xiaodie, unsuspecting, bowed and left the study with the two Armored Warriors.
Chen Yi watched her depart, then put down his book, stood up, and went to the side room to take out his masks and other items.
Once everything was in order, he leisurely left Spring Lotus Garden.
"Greetings, Young Master."
"Greetings, Young Master."
"..."
Along the way, the Maids and Household Servants of the Marquis’s Mansion all bowed and greeted him.
Chen Yi returned their greetings one by one. As he passed through the central courtyard, he glanced in the direction of the Qingjing Residence.
Seeing it was just as it had been the past few days, he knew that nothing major had happened in Shu State City.
It wasn’t that the Marquis’s Mansion was particularly well-informed.
Rather, for the past few days, Liu Hong had been visiting daily to report on the situation in the city.
He always came first thing in the morning, as if afraid the Old Marquis would write a petitionary memorial and send it to the Capital Prefecture.
Chen Yi was aware of all this, so he also understood that as long as Asutai didn’t appear and King Landu made no move, there would be no major disturbances in the Prefecture City.
At most, there would only be daily fluctuations in the prices of goods like grain, vegetables, and meat.
He arrived at the front courtyard.
He greeted Wang Lixing, Liu Si’er, and the others, exchanged a few words, and asked about the recent situation.
Although Wang Lixing wasn’t talkative, he didn’t hide anything from him.
"Scouts flying the Peacock King Banner have been spotted on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. All caravans have recently suspended their plans to travel west."
"However, many people in the Prefecture City aren’t worried about King Landu coming. Most of them assume he wouldn’t dare."
Chen Yi smiled and nodded. "Horse bandits excel at moving like the wind, but they’re likely lacking when it comes to storming cities and capturing strongholds."
Liu Si’er chimed in, "The Young Master is right."
"Although King Landu is a Grandmaster, he can only fight ten thousand men at once. Faced with high city walls and passes, he alone would be stretched thin."
"Besides, the western passes are heavily guarded, and there are two experts of the Upper Three Grades Realm within the passes. If the Peacock King Banner wants to break through, they will surely suffer heavy losses."
"Brother Si has a point."
"Still, I kind of hope he does bring his men. That way, the Master and the Second Young Miss can finally lead the Dingyuan Army west."
The Armored Warriors were a restless bunch. They all started talking at once, their voices overlapping, but they shared a single desire: war.
For Personal Guards like them, military merit was also necessary for promotion.
Only if Elder Master Xiao or Xiao Jinghong led the troops into battle would they have a chance to see action.
Otherwise, they would be stuck as Personal Guards for their entire lives, unable to become independent commanders like Li Changqing and Pang Xuan.