Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 346 - 182 Conversation

"This time’s Provincial Examination encountered a few candidates with decent literary talent."

Gu Chengyu thought of Min Feng, considering him a formidable opponent. Min Feng lacked neither strategy nor learning, and likely harbored intentions of competing with him.

As for Fu Yanshan, he was someone deeply engrossed in scholarly pursuits. Knowledge he possessed for sure, but too much reading had rendered him somewhat scholarly in demeanor.

"When I went to the Capital for the Advanced Scholar examination back in the day, I also met individuals of outstanding learning. That was when I realized there’s always a higher sky beyond this one. Chengyu, becoming arrogant because of your talents is something to avoid at all costs."

Gu Chengyu knew that back then his teacher considered himself capable of winning the top spot but ended up second. After all these years, his teacher still felt resentful about it!

"I am fully aware! I must guard against pride and impatience and strive even harder to advance."

"Hmm!" Liang Zhirui nodded his head, stroking his goatee.

"You all are just unlucky. Twelve years ago, the Advanced Scholar examination was still held the year after the Provincial Examination. However, due to the Holy Emperor’s prolonged ill health, it has been changed to once every three years. Otherwise, you could have participated in next year’s examination."

Liang Zhirui was satisfied with this student before him. An eleven-year-old scholar was unprecedented in the Dayan Dynasty. If he could participate in the examination early, a twelve-year-old Advanced Scholar would certainly shock the world.

But even three years later, when Gu Chengyu would be just fourteen, achieving the title of Advanced Scholar would still be remarkable.

Gu Chengyu was not particularly regretful about this matter. He felt that his current knowledge was still shallow, and a few more years of study would give him more confidence.

"Studying a couple more years is a good thing; haven’t you always said that learning is endless? With two more years of study, I can have better assurance in the spring examination as well."

"It’s wonderful that you think this way! Who knows when the Holy Emperor will recover."

Though Liang Zhirui was no longer a court official, he still worried about the Holy Emperor’s health. Liang Zhirui retired five years ago, though he wasn’t yet old enough to be stepping down, but he had little choice.

He’s not without regret in his heart; now the court was overrun by treacherous officials. The Holy Emperor, due to his health, has been deceived by these scoundrels. Who knows when clarity will return to the empire.

"Oh, and how did you coincidentally meet my granddaughter?" Liang Zhirui thought of his granddaughter, who had returned with him, and felt a rush of excitement.

Since moving to Jingyuan Prefecture four years ago, he hadn’t seen her. That child had a hard life, losing her mother early and having a father who remarried. In the hands of her stepmother, how could life have been easy?

A few years back, he was still the Grand Secretary, so naturally, those people wouldn’t dare to do much, only persuading her to distance herself from her maternal grandparents’ family.

After he retired, those people had no more scruples, and his granddaughter was left to the whims of others, was she not?

He had considered bringing his granddaughter to stay with him for a few years. However, Duke Zhen’s Mansion was unwilling to let her go, and besides, she had been taught from a young age not to be close to her maternal grandparents, leaving them helpless.

He recalled what his good son-in-law had said about Xianxian being a Miss of the Duke Mansion, questioning how she could live under her grandparents’ roof. Back then, he was so enraged that he stormed out.

Upon returning home, he was scolded by his old wife. He had to blame himself, as he was no longer the Grand Secretary, and his son-in-law was merely an Assistant Prefect.

With no offspring of his own, and a family legacy to consider, why would the Duke Mansion still need to regard him with any importance? Although he had three disciples, none had yet reached high positions!

Thinking of his deceased eldest daughter, Liang Zhirui’s eyes grew moist. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than outliving one’s children.

He and his old wife had devoted so much energy to their eldest daughter. Remembering the past was futile, so he steadied himself and temporarily set the matter aside.

Unexpectedly, two months ago, Xianxian wrote a letter expressing how much she missed her maternal grandparents’ home, delighting both him and his wife. As people age, they tend to dread loneliness, and having young people around brings life to the household. Therefore, he often had Gu Chengyu stay overnight at the mansion.

Though Gu Chengyu had the escort agency send a letter, he omitted mentioning the dangers on the ship to spare his family and teacher from worrying.

Now that they had safely arrived at the Prefecture, saying so wouldn’t matter. Most importantly, he wanted to ask about Mr. Hu on the ship, as there was a chance his teacher might know him.

"It was a coincidence; we happened to be on the same ship. We didn’t know each other initially, but who would have thought that halfway across the river, we encountered a pirate ship and ran into River Bandits."

Before Gu Chengyu could finish, Liang Zhirui exclaimed in surprise. He couldn’t help but lose his composure; after all, facing such a situation, who wouldn’t be anxious?

He scrutinized Gu Chengyu, noting he was intact and in good spirits. Recalling Xianxian, he asked, "How could there be River Bandits? Was Xianxian unharmed? How did you all manage to escape?"

There were few instances of River Bandits attacking passing ships on the Jingyuan River. When they did plunder, it was mostly large merchant ships laden with cargo. Bandits either didn’t act at all, or when they did, few survivors lived to tell the tale. The bandits at Yi River were even more rampant than here.

"I have no idea why those men targeted our ship. Thankfully, Miss Yao is fine. As for the River Bandits, Thanks to the collective effort of many on the ship, we killed most of them, with five handed over to the government."

"What? You killed the River Bandits?" Liang Zhirui looked at Gu Chengyu suspiciously. He knew Gu Chengyu practiced martial arts but assumed they were merely exercises for fitness.

Scholars needed a healthy body to endure the examinations. In the examination halls, it’s common to see students faint, especially during the Autumn Examination. Therefore, he endorsed Gu Chengyu learning martial arts, though he had never witnessed it firsthand.

Deep down, he believed that a scholar’s status was inherently higher than that of a martial artist, hence not paying much attention. But he hadn’t anticipated Gu Chengyu’s capabilities to be this commendable to the point of overpowering River Bandits? He found it hard to believe. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Was there an expert on board assisting you?"

"There were indeed a couple of skilled individuals; one belongs to your household, and the other was a follower of a Mr. Hu. I wanted to ask if you might know that Mr. Hu. He claimed to be a merchant, but to me, he seemed more like an official."

"Oh? What makes you say that?" Liang Zhirui assumed that with the help of experts on board, Gu Chengyu and the others managed to escape danger. Hence, he didn’t linger on the martial arts issue but grew interested in the Mr. Hu Gu Chengyu mentioned.

"That man said he was heading to Fengding Prefecture and mentioned conducting a major business deal that offended others. He wanted me to protect him, which I declined. I noticed he had calluses on his hands like a scholar and his mannerisms were scholarly. Also, you don’t see many merchants traveling with just one follower, especially one with such an arrogant demeanor!"

"He asked you for protection? Are your skills that remarkable?" Liang Zhirui and Gu Chengyu shared a good rapport, being both teacher and friend. A few conversations later, they shifted to casual banter.

Gu Chengyu rolled his eyes, "My skills are indeed remarkable."

He knew his teacher wouldn’t believe him. Every time he mentioned wanting to practice swordplay, he was mercilessly mocked.