Becoming a Sage Starts From Condensing the Essence of Time

Chapter 93: Determined to Start All Over Again and Regain the Old Land, I Can Pay Homage to the Former Capital of the Empire (3)

Translator: Atlas Studios       Editor: Atlas Studios

An Le walked out of the numbered room with the examination pass and integrated into the Provincial Scholar team. Although these candidates were tired, they were excited. They discussed the content of the examination questions and analyzed if their answers were accurate.

“Everyone, which direction do you think the correct answer for the big question ‘Debating the North Expedition’ should be?”

“Needless to say, we naturally have to use the people’s livelihood, wealth, public opinion, and many other aspects to explain the drawbacks of the North Expedition. We also have to emphasize Emperor Yuan Meng’s strength and avoid him. Maintaining the current situation is the true solution.”

“After saying so much, isn’t the problem simple because it is written by Prime Minister Qin? He has always advocated maintaining the situation of peace and is unwilling to waste the people’s money on the North Expedition.”

Before the candidates left the Literary Department, they started arguing with each other on the limestone road.

An Le listened for a moment before losing interest.

Not long after, two figures stood in the distance, bathing in the warm sun.

When they saw An Le, they waved excitedly.

It was Liu Yue and Provincial Scholar Xu.

“I’m Xu Shun. Greetings, Master An.”

Provincial Scholar Xu was much more humble at this moment. He no longer had the arrogant attitude from before.

An Le glanced at him indifferently and nodded slightly to greet him. Then, he chatted with Liu Yue, who looked a little sad.

Xu Shun pursed his lips and quietly followed behind the two of them without much complaint. Master An’s name was like thunder in his ears. He had ignored him previously, so it was understandable that he was treated like this now.

“Master An, do you support the North Expedition or not?”

The three of them left the Literary Department and walked to the stone monument archway of the Literary Department. Liu Yue, who had been calm the entire way, finally couldn’t help but ask An Le.

An Le glanced at Liu Yue and said, “Of course, I support the North Expedition. North of the Blue Wave River is the homeland of the Central Plains. It’s our responsibility to recover our homeland and repay the humiliation of the barbarians.”

When Liu Yue heard this, his entire body stiffened. Xu Shun, who was at the side, kept shaking his head with excitement on his face. “Master An, that’s not true. We’re in the Spring Quarter Examination. We can’t just rely on our own feelings to answer questions. We also have to grasp the examiner’s preferences. Supporting the North Expedition isn’t the right answer.”

An Le couldn’t be bothered with this person and took a deep look at Liu Yue, whose face was getting paler.

He raised his hand and patted it. “There’s no need to take it to heart. It’s just an answer. It’s not embarrassing.”

“If I can really become an official because of this, I will fulfill my wish and reclaim our former territory.”

After saying that, An Le did not say anything else.

Wearing the Green Mountain and Ink Pool Sword at his waist, a white robe that was spotless disappeared between the mountain paths of the Literary Department.

After being comforted, Liu Yue’s expression improved a little. He savored An Le’s words, but he was still a little depressed.

He thought of the grand vow he had made at West Lake to recover the old territory, and he thought of the answer he had left on the paper.

He felt that his morale had been reduced a little.

“Master An is really carefree.”

Liu Yue looked at An Le’s straight back, fluttering clothes, and confident back with his sword. He could not help but reveal a hint of admiration.

Even though he knew what the correct answer was, he could still write what he wanted to say with his heart. Even if he lost his points because of this and might not even be able to enter the top rankings, he still maintained his pride.

Liu Yue could not do it because he could not give up his score. He was full of ambition and needed to rise to the top to realize it.

Although he was envious of An Le’s carefree attitude, there was nothing he could do.

Xu Shun smiled at the side. “He’s carefree now, but if he drops out of the examination and can’t enter the rankings, Master An, who’s famous in Lin’an, will probably feel very uncomfortable. He might even become a joke in the mouths of the scholars in Lin’an.

“He’s free in front of others, but he suffers behind others too.

Liu Yue frowned slightly and looked at Xu Shun unhappily. “You don’t understand how carefree Master An is.

Then, without another word, he flicked his sleeves and left.

Xu Shun curled his lips. “If not for the fact that you, Liu Yue, have an extraordinary reputation, I wouldn’t have bothered with you.”

The first round of the Spring Quarter Examination ended. To An Le, it was as comfortable as listening to a song in West Lake for a day.

After returning to the bustling street, he headed to Yanchun amidst the crowd. The female shopkeeper, who had not seen him for three days, greeted him warmly.

“Young Master, why haven’t you come to get wine for three days?”

“Is the wine not to your liking?” The female shopkeeper asked.

An Le bowed and smiled. “I participated in the Spring Quarter Examination and just completed the first round. Aren’t I here to drink? There’s no problem with the wine. It’s delicious enough. Give me two pots.”

When the female shopkeeper heard this, she immediately said in surprise and heroic qi, “I didn’t expect Young Master to be a Provincial Scholar. Young Master can drink this wine for free today! I only hope that Young Master can become a top scholar! Then this small shop will also be honored!”

An Le smiled. He wanted to pay, but he couldn’t dissuade this enthusiastic female shopkeeper.

After getting two pots of free old yellow wine, An Le went to Ding Ya Alley to cut a catty of braised beef.

In a good mood, he returned to Imperial Ancestral Temple Alley.

When he passed by the Imperial Ancestral Temple, he saw the door open. The old man was sitting on a chair with the Galloping Horse Painting he had drawn for Fourth Master Lin hanging in front of him. He narrowed his eyes and basked in the warm sun while admiring and appraising the painting.

In the small courtyard, An Le set up a table and chairs. He warmed up the old yellow wine and drank and ate meat with the old man.

“Young Friend An, you’re in a good mood and seem to be very clear-headed.

Looks like you did well in the first round of the Spring Quarter Examination?” The old man smacked his lips and recalled the taste of the old yellow wine.

An Le downed a cup of yellow wine and smiled. “No, on the contrary, I might lose a lot of points.”

When the old man heard this, he looked over in confusion.

Then what was there to be happy about? Was he crazy?

An Le told the old man about the North Expedition question.

When the old man heard this, he couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. “It’s indeed a question that Qin Lishi can come up with.”

“Young friend, how did you answer? Tell me properly.”

The old man was really curious about An Le’s answer.

An Le did not hide anything. He put down the cup and stood up. He walked to the courtyard and raised his hand to wave at Green Mountain, who was stuck in the old locust tree.

With Green Mountain in hand, An Le began to dance the Lyrical Three Swords that the old man had taught him.

On the other side, he slowly recited the answer to his denunciation.

The old man sitting on the chair listened as he drank. Gradually, a ball of brilliant sun-like flames burned in his eyes, and he wanted to cross the Blue Wave River with his sword and fight.

Unknowingly, the pot of wine was finished.

When An Le finished reciting the last word, the old man clapped and laughed.

“What a good sentence! Expel the barbarians and reclaim the Central Plains!” “Good answer, good answer!”

“Hahaha, the essay that caused the Literary Monument to move last night… So it was written by you!”

“I wonder if Qin Lishi will vomit blood if he sees that your answer actually caused the Literary Monument to move.”

“At the very least, he must be very disgusted..”