However, what puzzles this old man is, given Old General Liu’s temperant, knowing that you have co to Cyan Wood Province for the provincial examination and knowing that the commander here is , there should have been a letter for .
But such a letter has yet to arrive, why is this so?
Can you... perhaps enlighten ?"
Li Xuan saluted and then recounted the events of that day one by one.
After a long while...
Liang Shigu, after listening, contemplated for a long ti, then gestured for him to "Take a seat."
And then said, "You want to see the world through your own eyes, but do you know what you want to see?"
Li Xuan answered firmly, "I want to see all the people under heaven, not the strife of factions."
Liang Shigu was montarily taken aback by his straightforwardness but then showed an expression of appreciation.
To see all the people under heaven, this ans he wants to work for the common folk.
Recalling the deeds of the young man in front of him as well as his reputation outside, the commander of State City contemplated and said, "Very well then."
Then suddenly said, "The governor’s young son is nad Zhou Changye. Even in the Zhou family, he does not receive much regard. As for his two disreputable companions, they are even less worthy, being vain and ignorant scions.
You need not worry about their interference with the autumn imperial examination, as at least I can assure you of fair treatnt."
Li Xuan saluted and respectfully said, "Thank you, General Liang."
After speaking, he curiously asked, "I have never t Zhou Changye, so why does he target ?"
Liang Shigu laughed, "Isn’t it just a matter of romantic entanglents?"
"Romantic entanglents?" Li Xuan was even more intrigued.
Liang Shigu then explained the matter to him.
As Li Xuan listened, he suddenly understood, but his heart felt confused and strange.
It turns out that during the outbreak of the epidemic in Hundred Flowers Mansion, although Cao Shuda couldn’t escape, his first wife led their children out successfully and then sought refuge in Cyan Wood Province with Cao Shuda’s eldest son, Cao Shi.
However, this refuge arrangent is dependent on others.
Although Cao Shi is kind, his backing is the governor of Cyan Wood Province.
The governor’s son took a liking to Cao Yi and wanted to take her as a concubine.
The governor casually ntioned this to Cao Shi, who discussed it with the first wife, and after so deliberation, they arranged this marriage alliance.
However, Cao Yi did not agree.
Not only did she disagree, but she also had a falling out with her family and then ran away, leaving without a trace.
Zhou Changye, being habitually arrogant, was upset that the woman he fancied disappeared, so he inquired into it and learned of Cao Yi’s previous association with Li Xuan. Thus, he vented his anger on Li Xuan, who had arrived in the province to take the exam.
Li Xuan sighed and asked, "Do you know where Miss Cao has gone?"
"I have no idea either..." Liang Shigu shook his head but then added, "However, with the autumn examination approaching and the chaos outside the city, Green Willow Pavilion is publicly managed. If you wish to study peacefully for the examination, you should not continue staying there; otherwise, trouble may arise."
Li Xuan said, "Thank you, General."
Liang Shigu seed to lose interest in the conversation and waved his hand.
Li Xuan, understanding the cue, took leave.
Once he had left far away, a scholar erged from behind a screen behind Liang Shigu.
The scholar sighed, "The General truly values this young lad."
Liang Shigu sighed, "We are all old now, and it is hard to co by such a promising young talent, so we ought to treasure him."
The scholar laughed, "So the General did not tell him about Cao Yi becoming a nun?
For exam preparation, Green Willow Pavilion is the first choice, but if not chosen, there are other good places.
These places include the tranquil Xinci Temple.
If the young man goes to Xinci Temple, he will definitely see Cao Yi again, which will further infuriate the governor’s spoiled son, increasing the conflicts on both sides.
The governor is the Pri Minister’s man, and if Li Xuan rely causes a rift with his son, it would sever his chances of joining the Pri Minister’s faction."
Liang Shigu stroked his beard and laughed, "I don’t know anything; I know nothing at all, haha..."
...
...
Xinci Temple is built on Yeguang Mountain, on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by clear mountains and water, with a beautiful and serene environnt and a thriving incense burning.
Studying in the mountains and forests is indeed a choice for many scholars of Great Yin.
Besides the environnt, there are so advantages to the temple itself.
Typically, temples have a lot of books, which can be borrowed by scholars.
Additionally, the food and lodging at the temple are convenient and very cheap, with so places even free.
However, low cost also ans the fare is bland and without enrichnt.
Therefore, temples are not usually places where wealthy scions reside.
As for wealthy scions, they often have private estates in the mountains and forests.
Of course, other than that, there are so private-built small wooden houses, nestled in the mountains and waters, offering a different kind of charm.
Li Xuan did not stubbornly stay at Green Willow Pavilion but instead took his maid up to Yeguang Mountain.
He climbed step by step to the temple, t with the temple steward, and after presenting his identification, the steward arranged a monk’s room for him.
Li Xuan tipped a little silver, and the monk’s room was upgraded to a ditation room on the outskirts of the temple.
After further tipping, the ditation room beca an elegantly situated room in a beautiful location.
This was not due to the steward being greedy, but because people coming to stay in the temple sotis bring maids, and the temple does not allow n and won to live together, so arrangents have to be made outside the temple.
This... requires additional paynt.
In the following days, things finally settled down temporarily.
Li Xuan spent his days reading and visiting local scholars.
Sotis they would invite each other for outings in the forests;
Sotis they would sit in secluded bamboo groves to discuss the world, brew wine, and drink tea.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
Li Xuan had also made a group of new acquaintances.
One day, after a bit of drinking, a friend complained, "The temple’s tea and als are indeed coarse and bland, truly unbearable. But if we want to go to State City once, the journey is long, and coming and going takes a whole day."
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