Confucianism under Heaven

Chapter 6: Literary Treasure, the Three Absolute Literary Masterpieces!

Chapter Six: Literary Treasure, the Three Perfections of Literary Mind and Brush!

"Thank you for helping me out, sir."

Upon arriving at Fang Zifeng's study, Ye Ru bowed respectfully, performing a student's greeting, showing none of his previous arrogance.

Do you know why I called you?

Fang Zifeng laughed.

"I do not know, but you must have something important to tell me when you summoned me here."

Ye Ru shook his head and replied.

“You are a promising student. In principle, you were originally a student on loan without a formal school registration, so you cannot participate in the county examination. Although you have now obtained the title of Tongsheng (a student with the title of Tongsheng), without official documents from the imperial court, I fear no one will know about you.”

Fang Zifeng paused slightly and then spoke in detail.

Upon hearing this, Ye Ru was taken aback. Although he had become a student of the Imperial Academy with the help of three poems, he had no literary reputation and no record of it in the court, so it didn't count. If Fang Zifeng could help him become a real scholar, he would be able to participate in the county examination.

Moreover, most members of the Langya Wang clan are narrow-minded. If he offends Wang Xiaoyang today, he will inevitably face retaliation in the future.

If I were to pass the imperial examination and become a child scholar, even if the Wang clan wanted to ruin me, they would have to think twice.

"I can take the test myself."

After a moment's thought, Ye Ru said, "There must be something fishy about this unusual situation."

"Why? Don't you want your literary rank anymore?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Zifeng's eyes widened, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

"You wouldn't come to our temple without a reason, sir. I'm afraid you wouldn't be so kind as to do that."

Fang Zifeng gave an awkward smile and said:

"I do have a favor to ask, but if you want to become a student at Wenxing Private School, you must lend me a hand. What do you say?"

"Let's not beat around the bush. I hate trouble the most. Besides, even if I don't get into Wenxing Private School, with my talent, I'm afraid the other two major private schools would still accept me, right?"

"If there's nothing else, then I'll take my leave."

Ye Ru bowed again and then turned to leave.

"and many more!"

Fang Zifeng was dumbfounded. Was this still the same Ye Ru from before? He, a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), was being completely outmaneuvered by this fifteen-year-old boy for the first time.

"Hmm? Is there anything else, sir?"

Seeing this, Ye Ru smiled faintly and said.

Fang Zifeng stared blankly at Ye Ru, who was completely different from before, and then said helplessly:

"I'll give you the spot for the scholar, but you have to do me a favor. When I was taking the imperial examination, I had a rival named He Shengming. He sent me a message by carrier pigeon a couple of days ago, saying that he would come to my Qingyun County in six days to exchange poems with me."

"Moreover, he brought along a disciple who, it is said, achieved the highest score in the provincial examination that year..."

"So you want me to help you deal with that top-scoring genius?"

Before Fang Zifeng could finish speaking, Ye Ru continued the sentence.

"Indeed intelligent, indeed."

Fang Zifeng was taken aback for a moment, then exclaimed in admiration.

"If I can become a student of Wenxing Private School, that's fine, but you have to protect me. I've offended Master Xu and Wang Xiaoyang, and they will definitely not let me off the hook."

Ye Ru pondered for a moment, then said.

"You don't need to say more about Master Xu and the others. I will protect you. With your two Hongmeng poems and one Jingsheng poem, they have probably already reached the county magistrate. They will definitely investigate your whereabouts in a few days. At that time, they will also protect you. Don't worry."

"However, my friend and his prized student are not so easy to fool. Although my friend did not achieve the triple crown of the imperial examination, he did pass the provincial and metropolitan examinations in succession. His student was also the provincial champion in the previous provincial examination and had also written two poems on the concept of primordial chaos and one poem on cultivating virtue."

Fang Zifeng couldn't help but say that Ye Ru was just a student, not even a student yet, and that the two of them would inevitably have a poetry contest when they met. Although Ye Ru was very talented, he might not be able to beat his favorite student.

Seeing Ye Ru remain silent for a long time, a look of disappointment appeared on Fang Zifeng's face. He then waved his hand weakly and said...

"Sigh, if you don't have confidence, then forget it. I'm afraid you'll be discouraged. I'll just find someone else then."

After a moment's hesitation, Ye Ru smiled slightly, then raised his head and spoke softly:

"Do your best!"

Seeing Ye Ru's confident gaze, Fang Zifeng was taken aback, then breathed a sigh of relief:

"In that case, let's give it a try."

Fang Zifeng nodded. He knew how formidable the top scholar in the provincial examination was, so he didn't have high hopes for Ye Ru. He just hoped that Ye Ru wouldn't embarrass himself too much.

"Then the student will take his leave."

After receiving Fang Zifeng's permission, Ye Ru bowed and then left the study.

Back in his dormitory, Ye Ru breathed a sigh of relief. He had almost used up all his talent in writing these three poems.

Writing poetry consumes one's thoughts and talent, especially the poems of ancient sages.

Then he looked into his mind, where there was something that looked like a house.

Ye Ru knew that it was the Book Palace.

Having become a student of the first level of the imperial examinations, one has access to a library to store one's talents, and the "book core" is located three inches above one's lower abdomen.

However, the book's courage and palace are not very large.

"Young Master Ye Ru, it's...it's my grandfather."

Just then, a voice rang out, and Su Tongyao walked in from outside the door, her face streaked with tears, causing Ye Ru's expression to change drastically.

"What's wrong with Grandpa Su?"

"My grandfather is seriously ill!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Ru was shocked and he and Su Tongyao hurriedly ran to the latter's residence.

The two arrived at a dilapidated house, where an old man lay on a worn-out bed, nearing the end of his life.

A bloated look appeared on his face.

Even from a great distance, Ye Ru could sense the deathly aura surrounding the old man's body.

Enveloped in deathly aura, there was no hope of recovery.

"Grandpa Su, what's wrong?"

Ye Ru walked over and helped the old man up, saying worriedly, while Su Tongyao beside him was crying incessantly.

"Xiao Ru, I am terminally ill. Before I pass away, I would like to ask you to protect Xiao Yao."

Grandpa Su weakly took Ye Ru's hand and said.

"grandfather!"

Hearing these words, which sounded like a deathbed message, Su Tongyao cried even harder.

"Is it possible? This is the last thing I can ask of you."

Seeing the dying look in Grandpa Su's eyes, Ye Ru felt extremely saddened and immediately bowed respectfully:

"Grandpa Su, I promise you, if anyone tries to hurt Xiaoyao, they will have to step over my dead body!"

The boy's voice, though immature, was undeniable.

Upon hearing this, Grandpa Su lay down, a satisfied smile on his face, and then took out a huge calligraphy brush from beside the bed.

This calligraphy brush is entirely blood-red, as if it were made of bloodstone, giving it a sense of antiquity and vicissitude.

Grandpa Su stroked the large pen, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes, then handed it to Ye Ru:

"This pen has been with me for a long time. I don't know how much of its spirit is left. Now I'm giving it to you."

"This is?"

Ye Ru stroked the pen, its body engraved with dragons and tigers leaping, which was quite unusual.

Grandpa Su looked at Ye Ru, then took a deep breath and said something with a sense of nostalgia that made Ye Ru's eyes widen.

"This is a literary treasure, the Three Perfections of the Literary Mind and the Brush."