Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1352: Chapter 1304: Clearing Up Misunderstandings

”Seems to be okay.” Chen Xi collected the exam papers while smiling and greeting others. The political and legal sciences are indeed difficult, and the volume of questions is huge, but it hasn’t reached the despairing heights of the mathematics exam before.

Thus, although some scholars who came to take the exam were secretly cursing about the volume and difficulty of the questions, they weren’t as crushed as they were after the mathematics exam. Some did quite well.

”Brother Zhang, I saw you flying through the exam with your pen earlier. How did you do?” Yang Fu, a fellow scholar from Yongliang, habitually gathered with Zhang Ji and waved to him.

”It might not have gone that well.” Zhang Ji replied with a wry smile. He was considered quite outstanding in Yongliang, but coming here, first failing to score forty on yesterday’s mathematics exam, and now uncertain about today’s political and legal exams, left him with little confidence.

”I didn’t do too well either,” Jiangg Xu replied with a wry smile. ”I’m going to say hello to my cousin, hoping to ease the tension between us.”

”You’d better go.” At this moment, Yang Fu spotted Wang Yi, a flash of a peculiar look in his eye. Although Fa Zheng hadn’t done anything, the Jiangg Family was already frightened half to death. The saying ’Never underestimate a poor young man’ seems fitting here.

”Cousin Yi.” As Wang Yi packed up her pen, ink, paper, and inkstone and came out, she heard a very familiar voice. Looking around, she saw Jiangg Xu’s group, with a few old acquaintances among them.

”You’re also here for the exam? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Sister Ying mentions you often these days.” Wang Yi covered the distance in a few strides, looking at the group and speaking. She also knew Yang Fu; they were maternal cousins. As for Jiangg Family’s Jiangg Xu and Jiangg Jiong, they were familiar faces.

To speak the truth, Wang Yi never had a bad impression of the Jiangg Family. Honestly, she had good relations with the younger generations of the Jiangg Family. Back when she could take Jiangg Ying away, apart from the support of aunts and grannies from the Jiangg and Wang families, these younger generation members also played a lenient role.

Unfortunately, looking at the situation of aristocratic families, even individuals like Chen Qun, Chen Xi, and Xun Yu, these near Heaven-defying Level young family heads, still had clan elders above them, not to mention other aristocratic families, where elders ruled the households.

Jiangg Xu scratched his cheek, a bit embarrassed. By now, even though news was sparse in Yongliang, with the Jiangg and Wang families working hard to expand their information sources, they knew Liu Bei was gearing up to swallow the world, and Fa Zheng was a key figure he relied on heavily.

”Don’t worry; my cousin has no mind for these matters, and recently, he hasn’t been home. Sister Ying is quite bored at home, and Cousin probably wants to see her too.” Wang Yi quickly understood Jiangg Xu’s expression, smiling as she comforted him.

”That’s good, that’s good.” Jiangg Xu replied with a wry smile. By now, they realized Fa Zheng had thoroughly matured to the point he didn’t need to deal with them personally. A mere glance might suffice for someone else to handle it.

This was also why the Jiangg Family sent their excellent young members to take the exam, to show goodwill and submission. Being here, they discovered the Central Plains indeed couldn’t be compared to border regions, with its not only flourishing scenes but also a land of talented individuals.

”Dear cousins, it’s not good to stand here like this. Come home with me; I better not be accused of lacking hospitality.” Wang Yi glanced at everyone present and said graciously. Apart from Zhang Ji, she wasn’t familiar with most, including Zhao Ang, who were distant relatives.

”Alright, I also want to see how Ying’er has been.” After a moment of hesitation, Jiangg Xu spoke up.

As for Zhang Ji, he still hadn’t grasped the situation, but with an invitation, even though it came from a woman, it was clearly a Yongliang accent. In a time when geographical bonds ran deep, meeting a fellow native in a foreign land seemed perfectly fine.

Moreover, Zhang Ji had none of Jiangg Jiong and others’ uneasiness, nor did he understand the circumstances like Yang Fu and Zhao Ang did. He felt lighter at heart; meeting fellow townsfolk in a foreign place and getting a free meal was great. Could Zhang Ji admit he was actually quite poor?

”I’m heading home first.” Wang Yi waved to the group of women waiting there for Cai Yan, among whom stood Lul Xun, held by Mi Zhen.

Mi Zhen and her group heard Wang Yi’s words slightly, bowing in salute before staying put to wait for Cai Yan to come out. They had no choice; at the moment, Cai Yan was equivalent to the leader of this group.

”Little Sister Cai.” Mi Zhen turned her head to ask Cai Zhenji beside her, ”How did the exam go?”

”Not too great.” Cai Zhenji sighed. She was actually younger than Mi Zhen, but most of the time, the group called her sister.

”I think my paper might be marked as heretical.” Mi Zhen replied with a wry smile.

”What did you write?” Lul Xun asked curiously.

”There’s not enough money, so my solution was commercial circulation, economic prosperity, raising taxes, and increasing support for handicrafts.” Mi Zhen said with a wry smile.

Though Mi Zhen knew she was a bit off-topic and her content might be considered unorthodox, what she learned from Cai Yan was to fully express her thoughts. Additionally, Mi Zhen truly believed that solely emphasizing agriculture and suppressing commerce wasn’t entirely correct.

”I think your brother might have a word with you.” Lul Xun said with a wry smile. Although a merchant, Mi Zhu actually agreed with prioritizing agriculture over commerce. ”Besides, money can’t be eaten; only food is the fundamental issue, right?”

”In my context, money is simply a general equivalent, and taxes aren’t just money.” Mi Zhen squeezed Lul Xun’s hand with dissatisfaction. ”Moreover, have you figured out what to do with your thirty-six?”

Cai Zhenji shook her head, slightly distancing herself from Mi Zhen and Lul Xun, who liked to cause harm to those around them.

Wang Yi led a group of people on foot back to the Legalist household, having no choice since they had hitched a ride with Li Yuan’s carriage in the morning and thus had no vehicle. Besides, even if she had one, her small carriage wouldn’t comfortably fit so many people.

The distance wasn’t very far, and taking a shortcut, they quickly reached her residence. Unlike the bustling streets crossed before, this street looked not particularly prosperous, but with residences on either side.

Only then did Zhang Ji realize something was different, seemingly that this was where Liu Bei’s officials resided.

”Clang clang clang!” Wang Yi quickly reached her home, gave a few casual knocks, and a Legalist servant opened the door, ”The young lady has returned; the lady should be in the backyard.”

”These are the lady’s paternal cousins. You notify the lady; I’ll arrange accommodations first.” Wang Yi waved and said, though she could have let the house steward arrange it. Given their already strained relations, doing so might not be wise.

[It seems this isn’t an ordinary household...] Zhang Ji looked around at the decorations inside the courtyard, clicking his tongue in thought yet harboring little reverence.