noffsinger Chapter 120 Dedicated
Chapter 120 Dedicated
"I understand what you mean." Dr. Qi shook his head helplessly. "Your Majesty's will is naturally not something that you and I, as subjects, can influence."
"But these people have the ambition to serve the country, but the first job they get after passing the imperial examination is to write letters for servants. Such a disparity is bound to cause dissatisfaction."
"Don't you understand?" Dean Song closed the memorial and looked up at him: "If Your Majesty has such a kind heart, why didn't you ask students to write letters for you a few years ago?"
"You know that His Majesty is in urgent need of talented people at this time. You have also seen how much His Majesty values this autumn examination and how eager he is to recruit all the talents in the world."
"Your Majesty's decree is said to be out of sympathy for the difficulties faced by palace servants, but in reality it is intended to select students from this new class who can truly be used by him." Dean Song slowly stood up and walked to the window. From a distance, he could see those young people gathered together arguing endlessly.
"Just wait and see, one of these people will eventually become a high-ranking official."
Dr. Qi followed his gaze and asked in confusion, "Who are you talking about, Dean?"
"Who do you think it is?" the dean asked instead of answering.
"The one who can receive such a high evaluation from you must be the one from the Zhou family." Dr. Qi replied with a smile.
"The Zhou family is so lucky to have such a son!" The dean smiled, then pinched his forehead with a headache, "If the boys in my family can have half the ability of the Zhou family boys, I can close my eyes with peace of mind."
At this time, Zhou Linsu was about to say goodbye to the students around him and go back to prepare when he heard a call from behind: "Brother Zhou!"
The one who spoke was Sun Boxian, the runner-up in this session, the eldest grandson of the famous Sun family in the capital. His father was a third-rank Zhongshu Shilang of the current dynasty, and his grandfather was the emperor's mentor, a first-rank official and the Prince's Tutor.
"Brother Sun?" Zhou Linsu turned around and bowed to the person who came. "What's the matter?"
"Brother Zhou is at the top of the list. Without Brother Zhou's nod, I'm afraid we won't be able to convince others!" Sun Boxian said modestly, but the naked contempt was revealed in his eyes without any disguise.
"You want me to nod?" Zhou Linsu did not participate in their argument, so naturally he did not know what he was talking about. "What is it?"
"Of course I'm going to write a letter to resign from this job!" Sun Boxian said confidently, "You and I studied hard and learned a lot, not to write letters for others. This is a small thing that any educated person can do, so why do you have to do it?"
"Brother Sun, you are wrong!" Zhou Linsu couldn't help but frowned. "Although you and I have passed the imperial examination, the books we read are for the country and the people. What's wrong with just writing a letter for others?"
"Huh?" Sun Boxian obviously didn't expect him to say that. The irony in his eyes became even clearer, causing the people around him to unconsciously distance themselves from him. "So that's what Brother Zhou thinks?"
"Then we are shallow, hahaha!" Sun Boxian laughed strangely, glanced at him with disdain, and left with a group of people.
Zhou Linsu looked at the remaining people. They were all dressed simply. Those who were dressed fancy were not as good as him. They glanced at him hesitantly and followed Sun Boxian.
Those children from aristocratic families either thought so or were afraid of the reputation of the Sun family, so they had to follow Sun Boxian's lead. Only Zhou Linsu, a simple-minded man, was willing to lead the way with these children from common people. He had already become famous among the poor students.
"Brother Zhou, what do you think?" A man in simple clothes walked up and asked.
"Don't worry, brother." Zhou Linsu looked back at the direction where those people were leaving. "Since His Majesty has issued an order, you and I will just follow it."
Zhou Linsu looked at the eyes gathered around him and said loudly: "Brothers, don't worry. Go back early and make more preparations. You and I just need to do what His Majesty ordered."
"As for how they are, it has nothing to do with you and me."
Although the Zhou family is considered a famous family in Beijing, his ancestors did not have deep roots and were originally peasants who worked in the fields for a living. He had an innate affinity for these students from poor families.
His father was the only one in the Zhou family who served as an official in the court, and he was only a third-rank Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Compared with the Sun family, he was not as good as others.
Sun Boxian and most of the children of aristocratic families around him looked down upon people like Zhou Linsu. After all, most of them had deep roots and had been officials for generations, and they had already formed their own factions in this imperial city.
Zhou Linsu went home with his head down, but met a man of similar age at the door who was chatting with his father.
"Bo Qi? Come and meet Master Wen." Lord Zhou greeted Zhou Linsu hurriedly as soon as he saw him.
"Boqi, long time no see." The visitor smiled gently, "I heard from my uncle that you were called to the Hanlin Academy. How come you came back so soon?"
"Hello, Brother Wen!" Zhou Linsu looked at the visitor with unusual excitement and asked, "Brother Wen, how come you have time to come here today?"
When Lord Zhou saw how familiar the two were, he hurriedly made an excuse to leave, leaving the space for the two young people to chat, "Shuyi, since Boqi is back, you should stay a little longer and have another cup of tea!"
Wen Ji nodded, bowed, and thanked him, then went into the house with Zhou Linsu.
"Brother Wen, didn't the emperor send you out? When did you come back?" Zhou Linsu's eyes sparkled with stars as soon as he saw Wen Ji.
Wen Ji was as gentle as ever, "I came back a few days ago, but my father was preparing for hunting, so I didn't come to visit Uncle Zhou earlier." Wen Ji apologized and said, "By the way, why did you look so sad when you came back? Did someone in the Hanlin Academy cause trouble for you?"
"That's not the case." Zhou Linsu calmed down when he talked about business. "Today, His Majesty ordered us new students to enter the palace to write letters for the palace ladies, and the students just had some disputes."
"You are asked to enter the palace?" Wen Ji said with some curiosity: "This is a new thing."
"But the palace rules are strict, so you must be prepared."
"That's not a problem." Zhou Linsu sighed in distress, "It's just that Sun Boxian, the grandson of Grand Tutor Sun, has gathered a group of young men from noble families and said that he wants to write a letter to His Majesty to resign from this job."
"Does it have anything to do with you?" Wen Ji frowned.
"No, of course not!" Zhou Linsu said, "I don't mind it at all, I will naturally follow your Majesty's order."
"That's right." Wen Ji nodded, "Your Majesty may not be testing you with this. Do your best in everything."
"I understand, Brother Wen." Hearing that Wen Ji also thought so, Zhou Linsu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, "I will definitely do it well."