Chapter 145: Disciples of Chancellor Song

West Xihua Gate.

Song Zhiyuan boarded his family carriage, leaning back against the carriage wall with his eyes closed to rest, while his mind replayed the conversation he had just had with the Emperor.

He had guessed correctly; the Emperor had no desire for him to have any opportunity to get entangled in the factional struggles of the imperial princes in the future. Otherwise, a marriage decree would have been bestowed directly on the spot just now.

Song Zhiyuan stroked the large thumb ring on his hand and let out a soft sigh.

Having been on the throne for many years, one had to admit that the Emperor's mind was truly unfathomable; he no longer dared to second-guess it lightly.

Upon returning to the Chancellor's estate, Song Zhiyuan was about to turn toward the study when his footsteps paused. Instead, he altered his course toward the south courtyard's outer rooms, where the scholars who studied under his tutelage resided.

Stopping in front of a guest room, a page boy was washing clothes by the door. Upon looking up and seeing him, the boy froze for a moment before hurriedly standing up and bowing respectfully.

"This humble servant pays respects to My Lord Chancellor."

"Rise."

Movement could already be heard from inside the room, and shortly afterwards, a tall and slender figure appeared in view. It was none other than one of Song Zhiyuan's disciples, Yan Zisheng, whose courtesy name was Changsheng.

Yan Zisheng walked quickly up to Song Zhiyuan, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Teacher has arrived."

"I was free and came to see you. Have your lessons all been completed?" Song Zhiyuan walked into the room, accompanied by him.

Yan Zisheng pulled up a chair for him to sit down, picked up a teacup from the table, poured him a cup of clear tea, and smiled, "The student has just composed an essay based on an old imperial examination prompt. Would Teacher be willing to offer some comments?"

"Bring it here."

Yan Zisheng presented the essay he had written. The handwriting on the paper was extremely neat, the brushwork gentle yet possessing a sharp edge.

Song Zhiyuan read through the entire piece. This essay had been written based on a major examination topic from three years ago. The general approach to answering was quite pragmatic, though it lacked a bit of practical experience, making certain parts appear slightly superficial.

Song Zhiyuan pointed out the shortcomings one by one, combining them with his own many years of experience as an official to highlight the contradictions within the answers, which left Yan Zisheng thoroughly ashamed.

"As expected of Teacher. While answering, the student was already wondering if it was somewhat impractical. Hearing Teacher's words now is truly like an enlightenment from a divine being," Yan Zisheng said with deep admiration.

Song Zhiyuan shook his head and said, "Your academic foundation is solid; what you lack is merely age and life experience. Being able to think up to this level is already quite good. However, to be an official, one must maintain a comprehensive grasp and achieve balance—you cannot gain one thing only to lose another. Putting people first is correct, but as a local magistrate governing a vast city, you must put matters first. After all, nothing can be accomplished without norms and standards. Only when there are rules and systems can a place be properly managed."

Yan Zisheng stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed. "This student thanks Teacher for the instruction."

"Are you confident about taking the provincial examinations this autumn?"

Yan Zisheng nodded. "At least eighty percent."

"Not bad." Song Zhiyuan looked at his refined and handsome face, inexplicably thinking of his own youth, and changed the subject. "You must be eighteen this year, right?"

"Replying to Teacher, the student will turn nineteen after the start of winter."

"You are no longer young. After the autumn examinations, your mother will probably start arranging a marriage for you. Do you have any thoughts on the matter?"

Yan Zisheng came from a farming and scholarly family. His father had passed away early, leaving the household with only twenty mu of meager farmland. His education relied entirely on his mother and younger sister making and selling embroideries, alongside the rental income from the small plot of land, allowing him to pass the exams.

Thus, Yan Zisheng also came from a humble background, probably only performing slightly better than Song Zhiyuan had back then—at least his family owned a tiny bit of property.

As for marriage, he felt a rare sense of awkwardness and said, "Mother has also mentioned that we should wait until the autumn examinations are over."

Naturally, Song Zhiyuan understood. If Yan Zisheng placed high on the list as a presented scholar (Jinshi), his options would multiply; if his ranking was even higher, he would instantly become a prime candidate for a son-in-law.

Looking at this young face, a thought suddenly sprouted in Song Zhiyuan's heart.