অধ্যায় ১২৩: পরীক্ষার প্রস্তুতিতে একসাথে

since he had decided to participate in the examination, wang yan took action swiftly.

he gathered zhao he, huo qingsong, lu jianzhi, jian fang, and a chi in the courtyard of the southern residence to hold a meeting and discuss forming a student study group, preparing to make a concerted effort to tackle the grand examination.

"brother zhao, what do you think of my proposal?" wang yan asked zhao he with a slightly flattering tone.

among three people walking together, there must be one who can be my teacher.

if the proficiency levels of these three people were all comparable, even if they studied together, their progress wouldn't actually be very great. it was necessary to have a strong figure acting as the soul of the group, so that the weaker members of the trio could achieve leaps and bounds in their progress.

and zhao he was undoubtedly the soul of this group.

"zi'an, are you certain you want to form this study group? what is the specific study plan like? are you sure you want me to be the group leader?" zhao he sat on a small wooden stool, held a teacup, took a gentle sip, and then spoke.

zi'an's original intention was good, but he wanted to see if zi'an's plan was thorough.

"in the morning, starting when yin period begins and ending when mao period concludes, during this time we gather in the reading room of the imperial pavilion. then you, brother zhao, will lead us in reading books aloud, and we will discuss the classical meanings lectured on the previous day, with you, brother zhao, acting as the judge. in the evening, from the third quarter of you period until the end of hai period, we will gather in the study room of the imperial pavilion to shore up our weaknesses and consolidate the knowledge learned in the morning. based on current affairs, brother zhao will pose a question and we will write a policy essay. during these five months, for the first two months we will focus primarily on three essays on the four books and four essays on the classics; for the next month we will study imperial edicts, proclamations, memorials, and tables; and for the final two months we will focus mainly on the classics, history, and other contents. i wonder how brother zhao feels about this arrangement?" wang yan stated the plan he had arranged in his heart.

if the students were willing, the imperial pavilion could keep the lights on in the reading rooms and study rooms twenty-four hours a day, specifically to provide a good reading environment for diligent students.

as for why they didn't consider reading in the garden, it was mainly because in the biting cold of winter, anyone reading outside would freeze to death.

studying was important, but the body was the capital of revolution.

"ah? zi'an, do we have to wake up as early as the yin period?" jian fang opened his mouth wide in astonishment, his face full of reluctance.

he usually was urged by his cousin to wake up just a moment before the yin period, and now that he had to wake up so early all of a sudden, he couldn't help but look at wang yan with a bitter and resentful expression.

"zi'an, if it's arranged like this, then who is going to fetch water for the young master? and what about breakfast?" a chi chimed in as well.

he had been dragged by his own young master to sign up for that damn examination, and he didn't want to live that kind of study life reciting classical texts every day.

qingsong and jianzhi did not speak.

"zi'an, it seems you need to resolve jian fang and a chi's problems before this study group can be established," zhao he reminded, casting a slightly stern glance at a chi, who lowered his head with a guilty conscience.

"that's easy to resolve. before this, i already submitted a request to headmaster dong that during the exam preparation period, there will be dedicated servants to help the students preparing for exams fetch water and provide meal delivery services to their rooms. headmaster dong already approved this request yesterday."

wang yan never fought a battle without being prepared, and therefore he had specifically resolved the issues of water fetching and dining beforehand, only gathering everyone together after that.

"zi'an, you were even able to resolve this!" a chi was somewhat surprised that headmaster dong could actually agree to wang yan's request, and for a moment he couldn't find any other excuse.

a chi didn't know that even if wang yan hadn't submitted the application, headmaster dong had intended to provide this service to all students preparing for the exams.

the importance of the triennial examination to the students went without saying, and furthermore, this time there were pageboys participating as well; this examination would determine the course of their lifelong fates. headmaster dong was naturally willing to open wide the doors of convenience so that they could peaceably apply themselves to studying and cope with the grand examination in the coming year.

"zi'an, my body is weak, i can't wake up that early." jian fang walked quietly to wang yan's side, tugged at the corner of wang yan's robe, and said in a spoiled, coquettish tone.

heavens, asking him to wake up that early, wasn't this asking for his life? he simply wouldn't do it!

wang yan was stunned and utterly bewildered by jian fang's words. what, what is this...?

wang yan paced around jian fang's body. with this bulky and robust physique, who would dare say it was weak?

looking into jian fang's pleading little eyes, wang yan had no choice but to look at qingsong with the exact same expression.

jian fang only listened to qingsong's words; qingsong, hurry up and tame jian fang.

fortunately, qingsong came through. feeling wang yan's helpless plea for help, he immediately pulled jian fang to his side and said, "zi'an, don't worry, i am responsible for waking up my cousin. next year's grand examination is a major matter, and i support zi'an's decision."

qingsong is truly wonderful! qingsong is truly reliable!

wang yan could not help but cheer in his heart for huo qingsong being so reliable.

"does anyone else have any opinions?" wang yan glanced around the circle, his gaze finally landing on lu jianzhi.

"jianzhi, do you have any opinions?" although wang yan knew that lu jianzhi had always been reticent and taciturn, he had forcefully dragged him into his own small team this time, and fearing that he might not be accustomed to it, he wanted to ask for his opinion.

"zi'an, i listen to you in everything, i will definitely cooperate to the end," lu jianzhi replied to wang yan.

"then brother zhao, how does it look to you now?" having settled the others, wang yan began to lobby zhao he to become the main force.

"since the others have no objections, i am naturally willing to join as well." zhao he finally spoke and agreed.

"good, we will officially start entering the countdown to exam preparation from tomorrow. everyone, let's work hard together." wang yan clenched his fist and made a gesture indicating hard work.

although the others didn't understand what this gesture meant, upon hearing wang yan's words, they all nodded.

"that's right, brother... lu, how come your young master isn't taking the examination?" jian fang asked lu jianzhi curiously.

actually, he wasn't quite sure whether he was older or lu jianzhi was older. after all, this lu jianzhi looked younger than him, and after hesitating for a moment, he decided to address lu jianzhi as brother lu.

"just call me jianzhi. my family's young master doesn't need to take the examination, so the young master didn't sign up," lu jianzhi said.

zi'an's friend was his friend; he permitted the other person to address him just like zi'an did.

"is that so! your young master is truly blessed," jian fang said with envy.

he had long since heard that young master murong had an extraordinary background, and now that his pageboy said young master murong's family "didn't need" him to take the examination, just how powerful of an existence must that family be?

jian fang thought that rumors were indeed not groundless; they must have a cause.

later, everyone discussed the study details further, and after reaching a unified consensus, they each departed.

the next day, apart from zhao he and qingsong, everyone else came to the imperial pavilion with sleepy, half-open eyes to begin their studies.

wang yan truly hadn't chosen the wrong person in making zhao he the lead reader. with his very first shout, using that deafening voice, he directly shook everyone awake from their hazy slumber, and then used that familiar, cadence-filled reading voice to lead everyone in reading together. it was extremely infectious, and before they knew it, wang yan and the others were unconsciously nodding their heads and swaying as they recited the poetic verses.

after about an hour of reading, everyone's mouths were dry and parched, and their voices unconsciously grew softer.

wang yan snapped his fingers and called for people to bring out clear tea to quench everyone's thirst.

the saying that money can make the ghosts turn millstones applied both in ancient times and today.

the person specifically pouring water was hired by wang yan at great expense from among the academy's pageboys, costing one liang of silver per month—which was the wage wang yan earned serving baili xuan for half a month, entirely dedicated to hiring the pageboy.

he was responsible for the task of specifically adding tea water for them in the morning and evening, enabling everyone to study with greater peace of mind.

after drinking tea, zhao he began to explain the examination rules of past years and talk about everyone's shortcomings. he was prepared to start teaching from the most basic level of poetry composition, letting everyone build a solid foundation step by step.

wang yan understood that the reason zhao he did this was entirely to accommodate jian fang and a chi, seeing as the foundational skills of jian fang and a chi were far too weak. if they didn't start enlightening them from the very beginning, they wouldn't be able to keep up with the study pace of wang yan and the others.

roughly half an hour before class was about to start, everyone prepared to return to wash up and have their meals.

the academy's regular coursework still had to be dealt with.

moreover, master wu was also considering the students taking the grand examination, and had begun lecturing extensively on examination content in the classroom.

wang yan and the others also benefited immensely.

before long, the news about wang yan's study group was known to all the students in the academy, and those taking the examination also successively formed teams to imitate them. all of a sudden, every morning the imperial pavilion emitted the sound of vigorous reading, and at night it was brightly lit, stirring up an intense wave of studying within the academy.

this day, just as wang yan had finished reading and was on his way back, he saw from afar that ming ziyu was waiting with a yong at the entrance of his courtyard.

"brother zi'an, i also want to join you all, can i?" ming ziyu twisted his hands, lowered his head, and said softly.

"ziy u, don't you not need to participate in next year's grand examination? why do you want to join?" wang yan asked with perplexity.

scions of nobility like ming ziyu, baili xuan, and wu yan disdained and had no need to participate in this kind of grand examination; who knew, perhaps in the future they would become feudal lords of their own territories, so how could they possibly covet taking that so-called jinshi exam?

one had to know that in the winter, sleeping early and getting up late was truly a test of one's willpower.

jian fang was also someone qingsong had to resort to all sorts of methods every day just to drag him out of bed.

therefore, when ming ziyu suddenly proposed wanting to join the study group he had formed, wang yan didn't quite understand why he was coming here to invite suffering upon himself.

"you are all working so hard, i also want to forge ahead like you all, and moreover my coursework isn't very good either, there is a lot i don't understand, so i want to study together with you all," ming ziyu explained.

during this period of time, as ming ziyu watched them strive and work hard for the examinations, he felt immense envy, and he also wanted to experience that kind of feeling.

"i will consult with zhao he and the others tomorrow. if they agree, i will also warmly welcome your joining."

wang yan knew in his heart that young masters like ming ziyu, who had whatever they wanted, often lived empty lives where their spiritual realm was utterly barren, which was why they envied the kind of life where people strove with all their might for the future.

freud believed that the personality structure is composed of three parts: the id, the ego, and the superego.

the id is the primitive self, referring to the primal self that contains the basic desires, impulses, and vitality required for survival. the ego refers to the "self," which follows the "reality principle" and serves the id. the superego is the part of the personality structure that represents the ideal; its function is primarily to supervise, criticize, and restrain one's own behavior, and it follows the "moral principle."

many sons of wealthy families fell and were ruined at this stage of the "superego."

now that ming ziyu wished to complete his spiritual advancement, wang yan was happy for him and also gladly willing to lend him a helping hand.

"that's truly wonderful, brother zi'an. then i'll wait for your good news." ming ziyu's two small dimples revealed themselves as he smiled happily, truly extremely cute.

wang yan smiled and nodded.

"the hour is not early either, ziyu, you should go back and rest first," wang yan said, seeing that the sky was growing late.

"all right, see you tomorrow, brother zi'an." ming ziyu departed reluctantly, taking a yong with him.

thus the next day, after wang yan inquired about the opinions of the others in the group and they expressed their agreement, wang yan conveyed the good news to ming ziyu.

consequently, yet another member was added to wang yan's group—ming ziyu.