6: Top Scholar

[The fourth year,]

[You have been consistently obsessed with studying and practicing martial arts. Perhaps it has become a habit, as you feel that practicing martial arts is no longer that arduous.]

[Because you have gained some fame in the academy, the matter of 'a girl giving you a hundred taels every month' soon spread.]

[Because of this, other girls also wanted to 'feed' you and one after another offered to give you money; you did not refuse any of them.]

[You couldn't help but sigh: being handsome and talented makes one popular everywhere!]

[However, because of this, you became the public enemy of all the male students in the academy. Someone even let out word that they would 'fix' you once you left the academy.]

[Dean Han also sought you out for a private talk. What he said was similar to Fu Qian, advising you not to let money blind your eyes.]

[He also asked with deep grief and indignation, 'How can someone who could speak the four sentences of hengqu and the Seven Policies for Governing the Nation be deluded by a mere few silver taels?']

[You brushed him off with a few words, saying it was borrowed and that you would pay it back later.]

[Dean Han said no more, but you could feel that he was disappointed in you.]

[Faced with this situation, you could only accept it.]

[After all, without money, it is truly difficult to move a single step.]

[You knew that if you didn't have money, you might be stuck in the Body Tempering Realm for the rest of your life. Would you wait until you were old to regret it?]

[You knew very well what you wanted.]

[You didn't care at all about the idle gossip of others.]

[Only you could truly experience the sense of powerlessness you felt when you saw your parents being besieged back then.]

[The fifth year,]

[You finally reached a Breakthrough to the Middle Stage of Body Tempering.]

[The academic system of the Literary Academy is three to five years, after which one can become a reserve official by passing the Imperial Civil Service Examination.]

[You were hesitating whether to participate in this year's examination.]

[On this day, a fellow named Fang Chen ran over to threaten you, telling you to stay away from Ronger, otherwise he would make it impossible for you to survive in the Yan Dynasty.]

[This was the first time you met someone with such a big mouth; you guessed that his background was certainly not simple.]

[You ignored him and didn't retort, because there was no need.]

[Three days later,]

[Ronger asked you to meet her at Wangyue Tower.]

[Wangyue Tower is a top-tier restaurant in the Imperial Capital. The private rooms are like presidential suites, equipped with everything for eating, drinking, and entertainment.]

[In the Heaven-grade Room Number One on the top floor, the entire prosperity of the Imperial Capital was in full view. The crisscrossing streets stretched as far as the eye could see.]

[You and Ronger chatted happily, and she poured wine for you from time to time.]

[As you drank, you eventually fainted from intoxication...]

Watching the simulated Qin Chen, he frowned and muttered, "Isn't my alcohol tolerance quite good? I've never been drunk before!"

Suddenly his eyes widened: "The wine was poisoned?!"

[The next day,]

[After waking up, you found yourself lying on the bed in the private room, still holding Ronger in your arms.]

[Her jet-black long hair emitted a faint fragrance, and her delicate collarbones and the undulations beneath her chemise were in full view.]

[You immediately realized that you had been slept with by her last night.]

[Seeing you wake up, she instead burrowed deeper into your arms.]

[Last night was a blur, and you couldn't remember the details clearly.]

[But of course, you wouldn't refuse such a good thing.]

[After all, over the past two years, your affection for her had indeed increased quite a bit.]

[You rolled over and pinned her beneath you...]

[An hour later, she snuggled in your arms and suddenly asked softly, 'Qin-lang, will you marry me?']

[This question stumped you. Were you really going to miss out on the Daughter of the Grand Secretary?]

[Furthermore, you felt that Ronger was too proactive, which not only made you feel strange but also took away some of her charm.]

[Seeing you hesitate, her tears began to fall drop by drop, yet she forced a smile: 'I was just joking~']

[You didn't respond to that, but said seriously: 'The life or death of my parents is unknown, and my great vengeance has yet to be avenged. After everything is settled, I will definitely have my parents come to your door to propose marriage.']

[A flash of sorrow crossed her eyes, but she immediately broke into a smile through her tears: 'Everything shall be as Qin-lang says~']

[You two continued to linger in each other's company until evening before leaving.]

[As you were leaving, you couldn't help but glance at the bed and noticed that smear of bright red peach blossom.]

Watching the simulation, Qin Chen always felt something was not right.

"Why would Cheng Rongrong do this? She is the Daughter of the Grand Secretary, would she really go this far?"

"And that Fang Chen, his background is certainly not simple. Could he have some connection with Cheng Rongrong?"

The Qin Chen in the simulation was confused as a participant, but as a bystander, Qin Chen saw the clues.

[Five days later,]

[Fang Chen brought a squad of guards and sought you out aggressively.]

[His eyes stared at you with spitting fire, as if he wanted to swallow you alive.]

[He didn't waste words with you and directly ordered his subordinates to take action.]

[As someone in the Body Tempering Realm, how could you be a match for these Acquired Realm guards? You were tied up in no time.]

[You didn't expect Fang Chen to be so arrogant as to dare to take action inside the academy.]

[You knew that if you were taken out of the academy, you would be finished.]

[Fortunately, Ronger arrived in time and also brought a squad of guards to snatch you back.]

[The two groups fought fiercely in the academy. Although both sides were injured, they remained somewhat restrained.]

[As Fang Chen left, he pointed at you viciously: 'You have already found your way to death!']

[You were completely bewildered throughout the entire process.]

[Ronger didn't explain much, only urging you not to leave the academy before she hurriedly departed.]

[Afterward, Dean Han sought you out privately and advised you to leave the Yan Dynasty quickly.]

[He told you—Fang Chen was not only a Genius of the Martial Arts Academy but also the Personal Disciple of the Headmaster there. His Family's power was so great that even the academy had to bow its head.]

[Your heart went cold—even the Headmaster couldn't protect you.]

[You knew Dean Han was doing it for your own good, but even more so for himself. As long as nothing happened to you in the Literary Academy, his conscience would be clear.]

[However, you also understood that everyone has their own difficulties; why should someone risk their life for you?]

[You guessed—Fang Chen was either a prince or the son of a powerful official; otherwise, how would he dare to kidnap someone in the Literary Academy?]

[If Cheng Rongrong hadn't arrived in time, no one would have cared even if you died!]

[In the Imperial Capital, you were less than an ant.]

[Thinking back to how you wanted to cling to the Daughter of the Grand Secretary, you smiled self-deprecatingly.]

[What kind of thing were you?]

[No strength, no background.]

[This was the Imperial Capital, not Longyang Town!]

[You suddenly thought of Liu Caiping from Longyang Town.]

[Wasn't the way you looked at her and the herb farmer Ji Bin back then just as laughable as the way Fang Chen looked at you now?]

[After much deliberation, you decided to take a gamble.]

[You planned to seek refuge with the most powerful person—the Emperor—and become a Solitary Official.]

[So you began to prepare for the Imperial Examination. As long as you earned a scholarly title and entered the Emperor's sight, perhaps you would be safer.]

[Three months later,]

[You ranked first as the Top Scholar of the Literary Arts with an essay titled 'On Self-Cultivation, Governing the Nation, and Bringing Peace to the World.']

[Your examination paper was posted on the Imperial Bulletin at the palace gates: To establish oneself, virtue is the foundation. By rectifying the heart and being sincere in thought, investigating things to extend knowledge, one can then regulate the Family. When the Family is regulated, rites and laws become clear; when rites and laws are clear, the nine branches of the kindred are in harmony; when the kindred are in harmony, a region is well-governed. Extending this Dao to the myriad people—abolishing slavery, reducing punishments, lightening taxes, encouraging agriculture, promoting education, and purifying the administration—then the nation can be governed. When the nation is governed, the world will admire it; those nearby will be pleased and submit, and those far away will come to join. Cultivate literary virtue to embrace them, and display military readiness to awe them, harmonizing the myriad nations...]

[Countless scholars saw your article; some were amazed and admired it, while others were red-eyed with jealousy.]

[Not only that, many young ladies from prestigious families in the Imperial Capital admired you as well.]