Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 593 - 592 Testing Tian Peng

"How could I guess anything? Don’t beat around the bush, if you have something to say, just say it!" Lord Chai Shao said bluntly.

"Alas, I didn’t score a single point on today’s exam," Chai Wei said.

Lord Chai Shao slapped his forehead, "What, is this something to be proud of? Not scoring a single point has made you happy?"

"Sorry, my lord, I earned all the points," Tian Peng interjected from the side.

Lord Chai Shao immediately changed his tone, looking at Tian Peng with a kind expression, "If they didn’t score, it’s their own lack of ability, why take the blame upon yourself?"

Chai Wei watched the shift in Lord Chai Shao’s demeanor coldly, feeling that his own position in his father’s heart seemed to have diminished considerably.

"Come, let’s go inside to talk, don’t stand at the door," said Lord Chai Shao as he patted Tian Peng’s shoulder and led him into the house.

Chai Wei silently followed behind. It wasn’t just a feeling anymore; his place in his father’s heart seemed to have truly fallen.

The servants set a full banquet table to celebrate the end of the exams.

Princess Pingyang Zhao placed a piece of food into her son’s bowl, her face full of indulgence, and asked, "How was it? Was the exam tiring?"

"Mother, I just rode around the woods on my horse today, what do you think, tiring or not?" Chai Wei said gloomily.

Princess Pingyang Zhao really didn’t know how to respond, but with only two days’ time, her son had changed a great deal and she felt reassured, for he finally seemed the way a boy his age should be.

"You scoundrel, if you’re not capable, don’t blame others for being excellent," Lord Chai Shao said.

"Since your son just finished his exams today, can’t you say something nice?" Princess Pingyang Zhao glanced at her husband.

Lord Chai Shao: "..."

After a while, he couldn’t hold it in and, remembering what the Emperor had asked him in the palace, he picked up his wine cup and asked Tian Peng, "Young brother, when you go to the palace to meet His Majesty, will you be nervous?"

"Why should I be nervous?" Tian Peng didn’t understand. "His Majesty is revered as such because of his concern for all under heaven and the love of his people. If he cares for his subjects, and I am under his care, should I fear meeting His Majesty when entering the palace?"

"Uh, what you’ve said makes sense," Lord Chai Shao pursed his lips. This young brother was truly formidable with words, leaving him at a loss for response.

"It seems like you’re hinting at something, my lord, why not speak plainly?" Tian Peng saw Lord Chai Shao hesitate and knew he wanted to say something, "But I believe a person like you, my lord, would certainly not misspeak, so whatever it is, please just say it. I’m listening."

Lord Chai Shao’s hand holding the wine cup paused for a moment. This young brother was indeed sharp; he had barely started speaking and the young man knew he had something to say.

"It’s nothing of great importance, just my personal thoughts," Lord Chai Shao prefaced, and then continued, "Traditionally, the martial arts champion serves at the Imperial Court. If you become a martial arts champion, you might end up as an Imperial Sword-Guard or something similar, an idle position. Is this what you desire?"

Chai Wei was puzzled. Being an Imperial Sword-Guard was such a prestigious job, serving right before the Emperor, something others couldn’t achieve even if they desired.

"Why would you ask that, Father? Isn’t an official position like the Imperial Guard what I’m aiming for by taking the martial examination?"

"Can you compare yourself with this young brother?" Lord Chai Shao glanced at his son.

His son was born in Chang’an and would live in Chang’an. Each person has their own ambitions.

If he could, he would wish for his son to become an Imperial Guard, following close by the emperor, where there would hardly be any significant catastrophes.

But Zhu Ganglie was different, he was alone without any family, he had no parents to worry about, which made him suitable for venturing out into the world.

Tian Peng also knew what Lord Chai Shao meant. He said, "Lord, do you think there’s a better place for me?"

"Yes, although this is just my suggestion. Whether you listen to it is up to you," Lord Chai Shao began.

Such words coming from someone else might have been fine, but Lord Chai Shao, renowned for his bluntness, once he started speaking, found it impossible to contain himself, and had no choice but to continue speaking in spite of himself.

"What do you mean?" The last time Chai Wei saw his father being so hesitant was when he snuck out to drink.

"It’s just that I see your ambition doesn’t lie here. With only yourself to consider at home, you are more suited for adventure than for serving in court..." Lord Chai Shao said.

Chai Wei seemed to have grasped something, but his thoughts veered off course. He thought his father was afraid that Tian Peng might take his position and so he looked towards Lord Chai Shao.

"Father, what do you mean by this? What Zhu wants to do is his own business, and I feel you should not interfere with his intentions," he said.

"Have I interfered?" Lord Chai Shao’s anger rose as he glanced at his son. "Didn’t I start by saying that it was a suggestion? Can’t you understand that?"

"Then why would you talk about this to others without any reason?" Chai Wei’s voice softened. He seemed to have misunderstood his father’s intentions.

"I do not wish to see talent buried! With the young brother’s abilities, I think it would be such a waste for him to merely while away his time in court," Lord Chai Shao said adamantly.

Tian Peng wasn’t quite clear about what he wanted to do and had just been going with the flow, but upon hearing what Lord Chai Shao said, he felt stirred.

"Then, according to your view, Lord, what do you think would be good for me to do?" Tian Peng asked.

"Well, actually..." Lord Chai Shao, having intended to cushion his suggestion with a few more words, didn’t anticipate Zhu Ganglie to be so direct, rendering all his rehearsed pretexts useless.

"Please speak, Lord."

"Originally, I was quite surprised to hear you had applied for the martial arts examination. Young brother, please don’t mind my prying," Lord Chai Shao said, "A great man’s ambition should encompass the whole world. I think you are more suited for joining the military."

"Indeed," Tian Peng nodded. "I’ve heard this no fewer than a hundred times on my way here; everyone says rather than taking the martial arts exam, I should join the military. But Great Tang is now at peace, if I were to join the military, I wouldn’t be able to make much of a name for myself. Moreover, I have taken the martial arts exam upon someone else’s request."

"So that’s how it is," Lord Chai Shao continued to inquire, "Did the person who asked you to take the martial arts exam ever tell you why you must take the exam?"

Tian Peng carefully recalled the words of the Governor of Bianjing, who had encouraged him to take the martial arts exam. It seemed it was because Tian Peng had originally planned to farm in the countryside.

But the Governor of Bianjing felt that farming in the countryside would waste Tian Peng’s physical strength, hence he urged him to take the martial arts exam instead.

"He didn’t explicitly tell me the reason for taking the martial arts exam," Tian Peng replied, "What he said was along the same lines as what you’ve mentioned. I was actually planning to farm in the countryside."

Tian Peng spoke candidly and did not find farming to be a shameful matter.

Upon hearing Tian Peng’s words, Lord Chai Shao felt enlightened, thinking that the other person must also have had the heart of a Bole—a discerning judge of talent.

He had not yet witnessed this young man’s true capabilities, but having interacted with him for just two days, he felt it would be a waste for Tian Peng not to utilize his potential, truly a case of having an eye for talent.