Note: Don't Forget to join my Pãtreon/flokixy to get access to +10 Advance Chapters or unlock the full story from the shop support so I can bring more Chapters for you
Because he had stayed up late talking with Fang Jingzhi and Xie Cang, Su Qi'an was arranged to rest in a side room at the county office.
When Su Qi'an woke up, the sky was already bright, and when he glanced at the position of the sun, he realized he had slept well into the late morning.
This deep sleep was understandable, considering the events of the previous night—he had met with three people in a row, and none of them were ordinary figures. They were all sharp-minded individuals, and every word Su Qi'an said, though seemingly casual, had been carefully considered.
Dealing with smart people requires effort, and to make matters more challenging, he had met with Xie Cang, a master of military strategies.
Had Su Qi'an not been so tired, Xie Cang would have likely kept him talking all night.
After a night of mental exertion, Su Qi'an wasn't just sleeping; this was the most restful sleep he had since arriving in Daliang. At least he didn't have to worry about his safety in Lingbei County; no one would dare make a move against him here.
If anyone dared to attack the county office, it would be tantamount to rebellion—an act that could only lead to death.
Su Qi'an got up, quickly washed, and opened the door. Outside, a constable had been waiting for a while. The constable spoke briefly to Su Qi'an before quickly leaving.
The constable had come specifically to deliver a message from Fang Jingzhi. Xie Cang, along with Fang Jingzhi and his entourage, had left before dawn, heading out for a mission. They had set out early because Xie Cang, having been inspired by his conversation with Su Qi'an the night before, couldn't hold back his eagerness to lead an expedition.
However, the bandits they were going to deal with weren't the ones at Dongzi Mountain, but smaller groups on nearby hills. Xie Cang's actions were more a result of restlessness.
Su Qi'an didn't find it surprising that Xie Cang had taken such action. At least no one would disturb him now. If he had encountered Xie Cang today, Su Qi'an would have probably been stuck for the day.
After a bit of tidying up, Su Qi'an quietly left the county office through the same backdoor he had entered.
He did this to avoid unnecessary trouble. After all, it had only been a short time since the county exams had ended. If people saw him leaving through the front door, it could lead to unwanted speculation.
It was common knowledge that Fang Jingzhi supported Su Qi'an, but to do so openly would be too bold. Su Qi'an preferred to leave quietly, as though he had never been there.
After winding through seven or eight alleys, Su Qi'an reached the main road. The street was bustling, and the sounds of street vendors filled the air. It was quite lively.
Just as Su Qi'an was about to return to the inn, he paused and casually looked around. His expression turned knowing as he noticed something.
It wasn't an accidental glance; he had noticed that a group of capable people had been tailing him. They weren't stalking him—they were protecting him.
Su Qi'an had never seen them before, but he recognized their presence. They were from the Lingbei County office, and after the conversation last night, he understood that Fang Jingzhi and Xie Cang likely considered him important enough to assign protection.
Su Qi'an knew that no one would dare act against him in Lingbei County, not even the most bitter enemies like Wei Yun. No one would be foolish enough to make a move in the county.
Su Qi'an wasn't worried about his safety in the county; this was the safest place for him.
Of course, he wouldn't reject Fang Jingzhi's good intentions. Since they wanted to protect him, he would let them do so.
After about ten minutes, Su Qi'an returned to the inn without any trouble. Whether it was because he had given prior notice or the protection was effective, he didn't run into any problems, such as being blocked by his enthusiastic admirers.
Returning to his room without any concerns, Su Qi'an felt quite at ease.
But that peace wouldn't last for long. On the third day, prominent young men from Lingbei County, like Ye Chong and Qin Huai, came to visit him.
Su Qi'an had shown his talents, and naturally, Ye Chong and Qin Huai wouldn't miss the opportunity to get closer to him, hoping to engage with powerful families through him.
Honestly, Su Qi'an wasn't very interested in these noble families. If he encountered someone like Wei Yun, the spoiled son, he would feel disgusted.
But Su Qi'an understood the good intentions of Qin Huai and Ye Chong. To move forward and live a comfortable life, it was necessary to interact with these influential families.
It wasn't about becoming best friends, but at least not becoming enemies. Su Qi'an had already made his peace with families outside of Lingbei County.
If he were to arrogantly disregard the noble families of Lingbei, that would be foolish.
So for the next two days, even though Su Qi'an was physically and mentally exhausted, he still had to accompany these young masters to flirt and enjoy their time.
Though he appeared to be a gentleman, being surrounded by them for two days drained him.
During this time, these young masters had planned to visit Chunfeng Courtyard to meet Miss Xiao Wan. However, the madam there informed them that Xiao Wan had been taken away by officials from the county's main office two days after Su Qi'an had recited his poem "Guan Ju Zeng Xiao Wan."
Su Qi'an was surprised by this. Xiao Wan had mentioned this to him, but he didn't expect her to leave so quickly.
The speed with which Chunfeng Courtyard acted was astonishing. It wasn't their fault, though—after all, Su Qi'an didn't realize that the poem he had recited that night had quickly spread, and Xiao Wan's status had risen four or five times over.
This wasn't surprising; the real issue was that the poem was now circulating across Chuandu County.
Many of the wealthy and powerful families in the county wanted to meet Xiao Wan, further raising her profile.
Once Xiao Wan left, the young masters quickly lost interest and started looking for other entertainment.
As Su Qi'an walked away, his gaze wandered.
Given Xiao Wan's beauty, a small county was too small for her. And soon, Su Qi'an would leave Lingbei County as well. A small county was not the place for him to truly display his talents.
...
Without the pressure of the county exam, the scholars and students in Lingbei County relaxed in their own ways.
Before long, seven days passed by in the blink of an eye.
On the eighth day, the young masters, who had been running around looking for entertainment, suddenly changed. They all wore their best clothes, their hair neatly tied up, and their faces polished as though they had been groomed several times. Today was the day the county exam results were being announced.
The top scorers would rise to prominence, while those who failed would lament their misfortune and try again next year.
For those who made it, it was the happiest moment. It was a big deal to dress up and look presentable for the announcement.
All the scholars gathered in front of Lingbei County office. Fortunately, the entrance to the county office was large enough to accommodate six or seven hundred students.
Before the announcement, based on the strength of each family, certain sections had been reserved for those with stronger backgrounds.
Su Qi'an, due to the talents he had displayed, naturally waited in the front row area, alongside Ye Chong and Qin Huai.
Not far from them stood Su Qi'an's old rivals, Wei Yun and Song Wen. They were surrounded by a group of powerful young men from various counties.
This time, however, Wei Yun and Song Wen made no attempt to provoke Su Qi'an. They waited quietly for the results to be announced, as though nothing had happened.
Their lack of provocation was a relief to Su Qi'an.
As the crowd waited in anticipation, the county office doors slowly opened after about half an hour.
Then, Liu Shiye walked out slowly, flanked by a group of soldiers in black armor, likely for protection.
The soldiers' imposing presence suggested they were no ordinary soldiers.
Every year, Liu Shiye was the one to announce the exam results. This was both an acknowledgment of his abilities and a sign of respect for the Lingbei County office.
Liu Shiye stood not far from Su Qi'an and the others, surveyed the crowd, and cleared his throat.
He then tore open the seal on the official documents and began to read out the names, starting with the first.
"The list of successful candidates in this year's county exam is as follows..."
"50th place, Zhang Dong, from Lingxi County."
"49th place, Chen Zhong, from Lingnan County."
As Liu Shiye read each name, cheers erupted from certain areas, where the successful candidates had gathered.
The county exam only selected 50 candidates each year from a pool of six or seven hundred students. This showed just how difficult the exam was.
With each name announced, the pressure on the students increased.
Who wouldn't want to be one of the top 50 successful candidates? Becoming a successful candidate was a matter of great honor for their families.
For Su Qi'an, however, who had failed the exam numerous times, whether his name was on the list didn't matter much. It would be nice if he passed, but he wouldn't mind if he didn't.
He turned his gaze and briefly looked at Wei Yun and Song Wen.
Both of them looked calm and composed, as though they were certain of their success.
"Ha, it's true what they say—those with connections have confidence," Su Qi'an thought with a sigh.
"32nd place, Ye Chong, from Lingbei County."
"28th place, Guan Cheng, from Lingnan County."
Liu Shiye's voice kept ringing out in a steady rhythm, and with each passing name, the tension among the students grew.
Suddenly, Su Qi'an heard Ye Chong's name being called, and his expression changed slightly. Ye Chong, beside him, was also surprised.
Once he reacted, Ye Chong enthusiastically embraced Qin Huai and Su Qi'an, exclaiming, "Haha, Qin brother, Su brother, I made it! My father will be overjoyed when he hears this. Ye Li, hurry up and spread the good news!"
The tall man from the Ye family was also excited, pushing his way through the crowd in a frenzy.
Ye Chong's laughter echoed, and after calming down, he clapped Su Qi'an on the shoulder and said, "I made it because of Su brother's talent. Haha, now I can't wait to see where you'll land. With your literary skill, you should at least be in the top three!"
"Qin brother should also be in the top ten."
Qin Huai and Su Qi'an exchanged a glance and smiled lightly at Ye Chong.
"Then we'll take your good wishes to heart," they said.