Chapter 4: Childhood Sweethearts

The so-called innate body of obscured intelligence refers to a state where the intellect is blocked, making it impossible to comprehend Confucian thought through personal insight. This type of constitution is generally innate, thus one can only rely on external assistance to infuse the body with sacred power and forcibly open the intellect.

Dong Zijing set down the basket, pouted slightly, and with a cheerful smile, brought the invigorating soup from inside to Su Lin's front. She blew gently with her rosy little mouth and said, "Brother Su Lin, it's no longer hot, you should drink it quickly! Drinking it will surely help you pass the examination for the child scholar."

Well, if you know, then you know! My father has opened such a large herbal medicine shop; is it not permissible for me to take some invigorating herbs and brain-boosting wood to brew soup for his future son-in-law?

The imperial examination system for selecting scholars in the Tianren Continent is conducted jointly by the Nine Nations. The primary unit for the examination of young scholars is the county, with a fixed quota for each county, allowing for the selection of the top twenty candidates. The content of the imperial examination consists of five forms: the study of classics, poetry and prose, the interpretation of ink, policy questions, and the principles of the classics.

"Zijin, what brings you here? Have you come to see me secretly? Aren't you afraid of being caught by your elder brother?"

Hmph! Do you dare? Brother Su Lin, if you don't marry me, I... I will ignore you for the rest of my life. If my father and the others don't allow me to marry you, then we will... yes... that's the word, we will elope!

I am not afraid at all! Brother Su Lin, you are fifteen years old this year, and I am thirteen. By next year, when you come of age, you can marry me and enter my household. I know that my father and elder brother want to break off the engagement because you have not yet shown your intelligence. However, I, Dong Zijing, have made up my mind about you. I believe that Brother Su Lin not only can become wise but will also be able to pass the examinations to become a scholar, a provincial graduate, and even a successful candidate in the imperial examination, perhaps even the top scholar. At that time, hehe... I will be the top scholar's wife, just like the lyrics in the opera say, Zijing wants to be a first-rank noble lady. How impressive that would be!

Returning to his own room, Su Lin felt a surge of excitement within him. Seeing his ten-year-old brother Su Wen had gained enlightenment, Su Lin was also eager to achieve the same. He opened the "Analects" on his desk and read through the first chapter. The content had not changed a single word from what he had seen on Earth in his previous life, yet strangely, the phrases that he once found dull and tedious now appeared to Su Lin to be quite engaging.

The wisdom aperture is located at the brow, which is the source of a person's wisdom. Only by unblocking the wisdom aperture can one possess the ability to communicate with the saints and acquire their divine power. The common term for this in folk culture is "opening the aperture," which refers to awakening wisdom and opening the wisdom aperture. However, now, Su Lin has discovered that his wisdom aperture is actually blocked.

What is going on? Why is this happening?

No wonder I have not attained enlightenment by the age of fifteen; it turns out my intellect has always been obstructed. Could it be that I am naturally dull-witted?

In this way, I can only rely on the county examination of the imperial examination system to gain enlightenment. Commoners who have not attained enlightenment fundamentally lack the qualifications to participate in the imperial examination. However, fortunately, I belong to the gentry class, and even if I have not attained enlightenment, I still possess the qualification to participate in the county examination.

"Zijin, this invigorating herb costs one tael and one qian, while the brain-refreshing wood is five taels and one qian. Did you... did you steal the medicinal materials from the shop to brew this for me? What if your father or elder brother finds out?" Su Lin, without needing to think, already knew that the medicinal materials used for brewing the medicine were stolen by Dong Zijin, and he frowned as he spoke.

The county examination is the simplest, as it only tests the recitation of scriptures and poetry. The recitation of scriptures is akin to memorization, with the scope of examination covering various sacred texts and classics. I possess an unspoken book of wisdom, so even the most challenging recitation can be answered correctly. Poetry is somewhat more difficult, as it requires composing verses around a given theme. However, the unspoken book encompasses all knowledge, so selecting a few poems to respond should not pose much of a problem

However, from a young age, Dong Zijing, who has already considered herself to be Su Lin's wife, stubbornly insists on this belief. She often sneaks away to meet Su Lin when her family is not paying attention. This time, knowing that Su Lin is about to take the Tongsheng examination, which is crucial, she specifically stole some invigorating herbs and awakening wood from the apothecary to brew a bowl of invigorating and refreshing soup for Su Lin

A surge of energy pressed directly against the wisdom aperture at his forehead, indicating a sign of enlightenment. However, what troubled Su Lin was that the wisdom aperture at his forehead was blocked, seemingly obstructed by some foul substance.

He put away the "Analects" on the table. Since he already had a method for enlightenment, Su Lin felt no anxiety in his heart. Just as he was about to head to the southern wing to find his younger brother Su Wen to inquire about the situation after enlightenment, he had just stepped out of the door when he saw a little girl with bright, sparkling eyes, who was very delicate and charming, bouncing up with a small basket in her hand.

Dong Zijing appeared nonchalant, with a rosy little mouth that looked both adorable and charming when she smiled

Good! Su Liu, you underestimate my ability to awaken my intellect. I shall astonish everyone in the county examination in two days and attain the status of a student, thereby forcibly awakening my intellect

Our state of Wu is founded on the principle of "filial piety." Su Wen has remarkably been able to enlighten others with the thoughts of "filial piety and brotherly respect." Although these are not the words of a sage, nor even the discourse of a great Confucian or a Hanlin scholar, they are indeed the interpretation of the sacred words by the grand scholar Lu Ji. It is to be expected that once Su Wen passes the provincial examination, he will surely have a prosperous official career

Reflecting on the format of the county examination, Su Lin felt a sense of calm settle within him. If even someone like himself, who possessed the unspoken heavenly book, could not secure a place in the top twenty, it was likely that others had even less of a chance.

The county examination for the candidates will take place the day after tomorrow. Half a month ago, Su Lin had already seized this one and only opportunity to register at the county office. He understood that this was his last chance to awaken his intellect; if he were to succeed in the county examination and become a candidate, he would receive the divine empowerment of the candidate's literary status, thereby awakening his intellect through external forces

Brother Sulin, I have heard that you will be taking the county examination the day after tomorrow. Zijing has specially prepared a bowl of invigorating soup for you, wishing Brother Sulin success in passing the examination with flying colors

"How shameless! Zijing, you are only thirteen and already thinking about getting married? What if I don't marry you, or if your father doesn't allow you to marry me, what will you do?" Su Lin was also amused by Dong Zijing's words, laughing as he took the invigorating soup and brought it to his mouth

Seeing Dong Zijing, who was beaming with a sunny smile, Su Lin felt a warm sensation in his heart. Initially, the Dong family had arranged this betrothal due to their admiration for the Su family's noble status. However, over the past few years, as Su Lin approached adulthood, he still had not matured, and the Dong family had grown increasingly indifferent towards this engagement, even showing signs of reconsideration. Dong Zijing had also been strictly ordered by her father and elder brother not to come to see Su Lin privately again.

Su Lin sipped the invigorating soup while gently stroking her little head. Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly felt a surge of warmth rising from her lower abdomen, which then rushed straight to her forehead. The intellect that had previously felt blocked was unexpectedly cleared by this wave of warmth.

Su Lin focused his gaze and suddenly remembered that the little girl in front of him, who looked about the same age as Su Ru, was his fiancée, Dong Zijin, the youngest daughter of Dong Guihua, a merchant from the herbal medicine shop in Fengle County. This was a marriage arrangement made by his father, Su Jingtian, while he was still alive