Chapter 002: Joyful Immortal

... ... ... ... ... ...

Just as I was thinking, I heard these two people speaking to each other without yielding.

Although the weather was cold, the middle-aged man driving the car still wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and said, "Young master, we have arrived at the Yuexian Building"

The man raised his eyebrows, increasingly perplexed, and could not help but lift his robe and hasten upstairs

Does Brother Pan truly believe that the current examination system for the Jinshi degree, which relies solely on classics, essays, and strategies, is appropriate? Can a scholar who cannot even compose poetry and prose still be considered a person of talent?

The carriage stopped in front of a magnificent three-story building

Oh, it is likely because you, Brother Wang, are only skilled in composing poetry and essays, and are unable to discuss the current affairs of the world!

In the sixteenth year of the reign of Emperor Taizu, the first place in the first degree of the imperial examination was awarded to Kuang Mengyuan, who became the first individual in the history of the Celestial Empire to achieve the remarkable feat of being a "Three Yuan" by consecutively winning the top honors in the provincial, metropolitan, and highest imperial examinations. When he traveled to the capital for the examination that year, he resided at the Yuesian Building. Since then, the Yuesian Building has become a place of great fortune and auspiciousness in the hearts of scholars and candidates. It is indeed a place of blessings, as all the top scholars in the imperial examination, except for the one in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Emperor Taizong, have emerged from the Yuesian Building.

Brother Pan, I did not expect that a person who prides himself on his vast knowledge would engage in such slanderous acts. This shows how many unworthy individuals were admitted in the previous provincial examination

The man smiled at him, said nothing more, took a small bundle from the car, bid farewell to the coachman, and then proceeded directly into the Yuxian Building

The middle-aged man turned around, lightly raised the whip, and the horse kicked its hooves as the carriage slowly made its way towards the southern part of the imperial capital.

The proprietor of Yuexian Building, Zhang Zixiang, was reconciling accounts with the accountant at the counter when he heard the conversation between the man and the waiter. He couldn't help but raise his eyes to take a look. He saw that the man was quite young, with a clear and resolute expression on his face, standing there with an upright posture and an extraordinary demeanor

The middle-aged man scratched his head, smiled, and said: "I didn't expect this young master to also know about the Tianyin Tower in the Imperial Capital"

As soon as the young man entered the lobby, a waiter quickly approached him, his eyes scanning him swiftly. With a beaming smile, he asked, "This young master must be here in the capital for the examination, right? I will go prepare a guest room for you right away"

Just as he was about to go upstairs, he heard a clamor coming from above. The waiter, with an awkward expression, explained to the gentleman: "This is a common occurrence in the Yuexian Building; you will gradually get used to it in the future"

No one could clearly see which of the two had made a move, and before they could react, Zhang Zixiang had already rushed up from downstairs, panting heavily

Currently, various candidates from the Ministry of Rites are arriving in the capital, and many of the drivers in the capital have pooled their money to start a rental business for transporting people from nearby counties to the capital. The young man inside this carriage is one who, after arriving in Caozhou, rented this driver's cart to enter the capital.

The man pondered for a moment, smiled, and said: "That works too"

The second floor is quite spacious, with dozens of tables of various sizes arranged throughout. There is a wall facing the street, which is fitted with large windows, offering a splendid view of the street below. Next to the scattered seating, there are also several private rooms separated by screens.

A man stopped the waiter who was about to go upstairs and said, "I don't want to go to a room, just give me the cheapest one you have here"

The man got out of the car, shook off the deep gray, wide-sleeved robe he was wearing, raised his eyes to glance at the large sign hanging above the building, then smiled slightly, reached into his bosom to take out two strings of coins, and handed them to the driver.

Zhang Zixiang sighed inwardly; among the many scholars residing in this Yuxian Building, although each possessed their own distinct charm, there was no second individual quite like the man in the robe before him, who exuded such a cold and proud demeanor

Suddenly, with a loud "bang," a blue and white porcelain vase flew over and smashed against the screen in front of him, then slid to the ground and shattered into pieces

At the side of a four-person table in the middle, two young gentlemen stood, both wearing expressions of discontent. Upon seeing them, the man smiled faintly, understanding in his heart that the earlier clamor must have originated from these two.

The waiter listened to the man's words, his smile slightly faded, but he still responded, taking the bundle for the man, and said: "Young master, you haven't eaten yet, why not go upstairs to have a meal first, and then return to your room to rest"

The middle-aged man said somewhat reservedly: "It is good that the young master understands. The Tianyin Tower is not a place that just anyone can visit. Those who can go there for entertainment are all figures such as court officials and noble sons." He smiled foolishly and added: "If the young master can succeed in this imperial examination, then you will also be able to go there."

As the carriage turned the corner of Zhenan Street, a man's voice suddenly came from inside the carriage, "Stop for a moment"

At first, he saw the pile of broken porcelain on the ground, and Zhang Zixiang's face instantly turned a shade of brown, so angry that he could hardly speak. Then he noticed the screen that had been knocked askew and hurriedly stepped forward, grasping the tilted carved screen, and leaned in to ask, "Miss An, are you alright in there?"

Yuexian Tower was established shortly after the ascension of the founding emperor of this dynasty. Over nearly a century, it has evolved from a modest inn into the premier restaurant dominating the imperial capital.

Every three years, during the spring examination, scholars from various regions rush to the capital and compete to secure rooms at the Yuxian Building. This leads to a significant increase in room prices at Yuxian Building during the examination period. Despite this, a large number of wealthy and talented young men are determined to secure a place at Yuxian Building, even if it means going to great lengths to do so

Then, does Brother Wang mean to say that he believes the actions of Emperor Taizong's administration in abolishing the poetry, prose, and calligraphy examinations of the Jinshi degree are inappropriate? Do these superficial talents provide any assistance to the affairs of the state? I, lacking in ability, humbly request your guidance.

A cart leisurely drove from the New Cao Official Road into the outer city of the imperial capital, proceeding south along the streets within the city

As all the seats by the window were taken, the man picked a table next to the screen and casually ordered two vegetarian dishes, sending the waiter away.

In front of the carriage, a three-story building with red tiles and white walls stands out prominently on Zhennan Street. Two rows of large red lanterns are hung high in front of the building, and on the side plaque, the three characters "Tianyin Tower" can be faintly discerned.

In the third month of the sixteenth year of the Tianhe era, the imperial examination for the Jinshi degree conducted by the Ministry of Rites was about to commence. The candidates arriving from various provinces and counties to take the examination brought a sudden liveliness to the usually solemn capital city.

The man in the car let out a muffled laugh, "Who doesn't know about the largest brothel under the Ministry of Revenue in the Celestial Empire?"

The man listened intently, and his brows involuntarily furrowed.

The man in the car remained silent for a while before finally saying: "Let's go"

The middle-aged man driving the car stopped as instructed, and then he heard the man inside the car ask: "Is that Tianyin Tower up ahead?"

The middle-aged man took the money and smiled, saying: "Young master, you must have come to stay at the Happy Immortal Pavilion to add some good fortune for yourself, right?"