My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 62

Chapter 62: Street Parade

Capital City

After meeting with his friends, Song Changxu traveled back and forth between the outskirts and the capital. He had seen all of the capital, but there were some places he had not entered. When Zhizhou arrived, he could take him for a tour.

When they were in Jinhe County, Xu Zhizhou had come to see him. Seeing his appearance, he had felt his heart soften.

There was nothing wrong with wanting to leave the village and go to a bigger place.

Song Changxu used to think that Xu Zhizhou was a vain person, but now he thought, At least he’s still very good to me.

And in his eyes, it was no longer vanity. Everyone longed for a better life. It was just that Xu Zhizhou was open about it.

Song Changxu found that he had too many filters for Xu Zhizhou.

He returned to the inn and smiled at the purse in his hand.

From the town all the way to the capital, Song Changxu was relaxed after the exam. He would usually sleep until noon, but not today. He had to go and see the list tomorrow.

After getting up, Song Changxu still went to buy two meat buns and ate them as he walked. When he reached the list, there were still three layers of people. He was already used to it.

Xie Feng was fanning himself. This time, he had come to see the list in person. Luo Shuang and Cheng Maoxue had also come.

This time, the futures of the first, second, and third-class Jinshi were also different. The first class would enter the Hanlin Academy to be officials, the future prime ministers. The outstanding ones in the second class could stay in the Shuchang Hall, while the third class would only be sent out, or might not even be able to be officials.

One radish, one hole. As long as the people above did not step down, how could the people below get in?

Song Changxu finished his two meat buns. He saw that many people had come to see the list, but there were many fewer servants.

It seemed that this time, these aristocratic and wealthy sons had all come in person, afraid of missing their rankings.

This time, what he had written was a bit radical. He didn’t know if it suited the emperor’s temperament. If it did, what rank would he get? If it didn’t, he would at least be a third-class Jinshi.

Song Changxu had dared to write like this only because he had a safety net. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared.

“The list is out!”

“Quick, someone’s coming!”

The scholars saw someone coming and crowded forward. Song Changxu was still on the outside and was already a bit squashed.

“The first place is…” someone cried out.

First place: Song Changxu of Yunzhou Prefecture

Second place: Shen Liang of Mingzhou Prefecture

Third place: Pei Shengrong of Ningzhou Prefecture

Fourth place: Bai Shu of Yunzhou Prefecture

…

The top scorer was not Shen Liang?! Someone was shocked.

Shen Liang was a “Lesser Triple First.” He was the top scorer in the provincial examination and the metropolitan examination. He had five firsts in his hands, only missing the last one, the top scorer. He hadn’t expected the position to be snatched by an unknown person.

Otherwise, he would have been a “Six Firsts.”

“Brother Song, my god…” Cheng Maoxue was the first to see the golden list. He looked at the first name in disbelief. He remembered that Brother Song was nineteenth in the metropolitan examination. How had he shot up so quickly? The top scorer, that was the top scorer!

There was only one every three years, the final winner.

“What Brother Song?” Xie Feng had just squeezed in and heard Cheng Maoxue’s words. He squinted at the list, his gaze stunned. “Am I seeing things? Yunzhou Prefecture, Song Changxu is the top.”

They had been with Song Changxu for more than a year and had only thought of him as a potential stock. But who was going to tell him that this potential stock was the top scorer?

Luo Shuang: “Brother Song is the top scorer.”

Luo Shuang also found their rankings at the bottom. Fortunately, they were in the second class, which was a relief.

Brother Song is so amazing, Luo Shuang thought. He had not expected it at all.

Shen Liang also hadn’t expected to be the second-place graduate in the end. He was just one step away from being a “Six Firsts.”

He let out a breath.

“Who is this Song Changxu? Why do I have no impression of him in the metropolitan examination? It’s as if he just appeared out of nowhere. The top scorer, he’s actually the top scorer.”

Song Changxu saw his ranking. Not to mention that others hadn’t expected it, he hadn’t either. He had only wanted to get a good ranking, but he hadn’t thought of getting first.

The top scorer, he had become the top scorer. Song Changxu’s head was spinning.

He had also thought that if he were sent out, he would take Xu Zhizhou with him. It would be good to be a county magistrate in a local place.

“His Majesty has set up a Qionglin Banquet today. Please come with me,” an official said.

In addition, the first class would have to change their clothes and ride a big horse in a street parade as usual.

Someone led Song Changxu, Shen Liang, and Pei Shengrong to change their clothes.

Song Changxu put on a brocade robe, with double wings in his hair, and rode on a tall horse. The imperial guards cleared the way in front, and they proceeded along the street.

He was handsome and slender, and on the tall horse, his elegant and spirited demeanor was fully revealed.

The last top scorer had been a middle-aged man in his forties. This time, it was a young and handsome gentleman, which was pleasing to the eye for the common people.

The second and third-place graduates were also outstanding in appearance. They were all a string of handsome gentlemen. The common people threw flowers and purses to express their admiration.

The most flowers and purses were thrown at Song Changxu.

Because he was the top scorer, and also the most handsome.

A flower landed on his collar. Song Changxu looked down at the flower on the ground and smiled at the thought of something.

He suddenly thought of the time before he had married Xu Zhizhou, when he had taken a shortcut home from Lingshui Village and had run into him on a small path. He had been holding a bowl of fish soup and had burned his hand, looking pitiful with his pouting lips.

“The new top scorer is really good-looking.”

“He seems to have a good personality.”

“We should go and find out if he’s married.” The ge’ers and young ladies of the official families were all a bit moved. It was a common practice in the capital to “catch a son-in-law from the list.” This time, the top scorer was so young and handsome. They would be willing to marry him.

Song Changxu did not know of their thoughts. He held the reins tightly. A spring breeze of success, a swift horse. In one day, I’ve seen all the flowers of Chang’an.

He still missed Xu Zhizhou.

After the street parade, they went to attend the Qionglin Banquet. Shen Liang was about twenty-five years old. He asked, “Brother Song, is this your first time taking the imperial examination?”

The three of them walked and talked.

Song Changxu nodded.

A trace of surprise flashed in Pei Shengrong and Shen Liang’s eyes.

Pei Shengrong was indeed good-looking. He was a relatively quiet type. To say that he was the third-place graduate was well-deserved.

At the Qionglin Banquet, the three of them had already exchanged names and had established a preliminary friendship. In the future, they would all be going to the Hanlin Academy. They were Jinshi of the same year, so they naturally had to stick together.

Emperor Pingjing arrived with the court ministers. Everyone bowed.

“Get up. The first class, come up and let me have a look,” Emperor Pingjing said in a deep voice.

Song Changxu took a deep breath and took a step forward. He saw Emperor Pingjing’s face. It was a handsome and majestic face.

Emperor Pingjing encouraged them a few words and then let them go.

Liu Wangsheng glanced at Shen Liang and was very satisfied. He still had three daughters and two ge’ers at home. If Shen Liang was sensible, then he was willing to form a marriage alliance with the Shen family.

As for the top scorer, Liu Wangsheng still had to think it over carefully. Seeing that His Majesty valued Song Changxu, he would not have any in-depth communication with him on the surface.

Pei Shengrong was from the Pei clan of Hedong. He had elders in the court to protect him. Shen Liang had an uncle who was a director of the Ministry of Rites in the court, but he was only a junior sixth-rank official and could not provide much protection.

Song Changxu had even less of a background. Liu Wangsheng thought of what he had heard and felt a sense of pity.

He had given up the most powerful marriage alliance and had only married a country bumpkin. If he were not yet married, the court ministers would have married their own daughters and ge’ers to him to win him over.

After they were married, they would be their own family and would naturally help him and pave the way for him. It was a pity that he had destroyed the last shortcut himself.

It was not easy for a person with no background to get by in the officialdom.

Song Changxu sat on the side and saw Xie Feng by a middle-aged man. Xie Feng saw him and came over. “Brother Song, congratulations.”

Song Changxu cupped his hands. “Thank you, brother.”

Xie Feng pulled him to the middle-aged man and called out, “Granduncle, this is this year’s new top scorer, and also my classmate and good friend, Song Changxu.”

Hearing this, Scholar Xie was surprised. He nodded and sized up Song Changxu. “You look very young. Since you and Feng’er are good friends, you should help each other in the Hanlin Academy in the future. The friendship of classmates is rare.”

Seeing that he was wearing a crimson official robe, Song Changxu knew that he was an official of the fifth rank or higher. His heart was filled with awe, but on the surface, he said neither servile nor overbearing, “Thank you for your guidance, sir.”

Scholar Xie had other things to do and did not stay with these juniors. After he had left, Xie Feng and Song Changxu both breathed a sigh of relief.

Xie Feng looked at Song Changxu and smiled. “My granduncle is a Hanlin academician. He’s a bit serious, and our family is a collateral branch, so our relationship is actually very ordinary. But he can still take care of us a little in the Hanlin Academy.”

Song Changxu’s heart warmed. “Brother Xie…”

Xie Feng took out his fan and tapped Song Changxu’s shoulder. “You’re the top scorer. Many people are watching you now. It’ll be fine after a while. Brother Song, you must not join any faction. Although it’s impossible not to, if you have to, you should find a promising one.”

These were heartfelt words.

“I understand, Brother Xie.”

Luo Shuang and Cheng Maoxue also came. Cheng Maoxue had already become one with several of the Jinshi. He was still the same.

“Zhuangyuan Song, congratulations,” Cheng Maoxue said with a smile.

The four of them gathered at the Qionglin Banquet, as if it were years ago. Although it had only been a little over a year, life was at a new stage.

The four of them were still together.

.

The noisy sounds outside the inn were getting closer and closer, and there were also shouts and the sound of gongs and drums mixed together.

Most of the people staying at the inn were scholars. A clerk came to deliver the good news happily.

“Yu Guanglin has passed, a third-class Jinshi, ranked two hundred and eighty-seventh.”

“Tian Xuan has passed, a third-class Jinshi, ranked two hundred and seventieth.”

“Ji Yuan has passed, a second-class Jinshi, ranked ninety-second.”

…

The people who were eating in the inn’s dining hall were happy to hear this string of names. “Congratulations, congratulations. Now that they’ve become Jinshi, we’re also basking in their glory today.”

The innkeeper was even more so, smiling from ear to ear.

The Ministry of Rites had posted the golden list. The clerk had gotten the news and had gone to deliver it.

“Song Changxu has passed, first place in the first class, the new top scorer!”

Hearing this, everyone in the inn was shocked.

“There’s someone in the inn who has passed as the top scorer!”

The innkeeper was ecstatic. With a scholar passing as the top scorer, he could create a “top scorer’s room.” In the future, anyone who slept in this room could become the top scorer. What a great blessing.

“Zhuangyuan Song has gone to the Qionglin Banquet. He won’t be back for a while,” the innkeeper thought happily.

In the afternoon, when Song Changxu returned to the inn, the innkeeper was very warm to him. “Young Master Song, congratulations on becoming the top scorer. This is our inn’s newly brewed wine, a gift to celebrate.”

Hearing this, Song Changxu smiled. “Thank you.”

The assistant brought the wine to his room and respectfully closed the door.

When Song Changxu returned to his room, he felt that some of his fatigue had faded. He first washed up, changed his clothes, poured some wine, and slowly savored a cup.

He had drunk a lot today. There were people he knew who had come to toast him, and also people he didn’t. The Qionglin Banquet was not only for His Majesty to show his grace to the new Jinshi, but also a good opportunity for them to build connections.

He had met several Jinshi. Song Changxu rubbed the space between his eyebrows, drank a mouthful of wine, and then took out his purse to look at.

The first class would enter the Hanlin Academy. The top scorer was a junior sixth-rank compiler, while the second and third-place graduates were junior seventh-rank compilers. They were responsible for compiling the national history, drafting edicts, and so on. Although these two positions were not high in rank, they were close to the emperor and the central government, and were important stepping stones for future promotion.

Of course, some of the top scorers might be sent to the local areas to be prefects or county magistrates, and then be transferred back to the capital after they had accumulated some local experience.

The cost of living in the capital was not low. When Zhizhou came, they would have to rent a house first. It would be nice if someone gave him a house.

The housing prices in the capital were staggering.

The height of the houses in the capital was also restricted. The palace was about nine feet, while the residential houses were about three feet. The houses were densely packed. To buy a courtyard house in the capital would cost thousands of taels of silver.

For an ordinary minor official, like Song Changxu, a junior sixth-rank official, the monthly salary was seven taels of silver, plus rice and cloth. There would be silver given during the New Year and festivals. In a year, it would be about a hundred taels of silver.

A hundred taels of silver was a lot in a small place, but in the capital, with the cost of food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as social obligations, a hundred taels of silver was a tight budget.

“It’s not easy to be an official. You have to have a strong family background to be one easily.”

A single copper coin can fell a hero. Fortunately, he now had an official position. He could make sugar. When someone tried to snatch his recipe, they would have to consider his status.

An innocent man gets into trouble because of his wealth.

Sugar was a huge profit in the Ningxing Dynasty, and it was not under the control of the government. Song Changxu planned to rely on sugar to accumulate his initial capital.

“I said I was going to buy a house. In the future, when we live in the capital, I still want to buy a courtyard house,” Song Changxu set a goal for himself.

He held the purse tightly and lay on the bed.

After the exam, after he had been appointed, he would have a two-month holiday. When Zhizhou came, he would take him for a good tour of the capital.

They hadn’t seen each other for so long. Song Changxu rarely felt lonely. Today, he had passed as the top scorer, but his husband was not by his side. He was all alone.

After the exam, he thought of his husband more and more often.

He sighed and turned over to sleep.

The next day, when he woke up, he still had more than thirty taels of silver in his hand. He wanted to find a broker to look at the houses in the capital. It cost two qian of silver a day to stay at the inn. It would be a lot if he stayed any longer. The most important thing was to find a house and settle down first.

He asked around and found that there was a brokerage firm here. He found a thin man and asked him about the houses.

“Young master, what kind of house are you looking for, and what is your budget?”

Song Changxu said thoughtfully, “I want a separate house with a small courtyard, with a kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom.”

To be precise, a one-bedroom, one-living room, one-kitchen, and one-bathroom.

“Also, I hope the environment is quiet and not too close to the outskirts. The budget is twenty-five taels of silver.”

The broker thought for a moment and said, “There are some. Please come with me, young master.”

The broker took Song Changxu to see three places. In the end, he took a liking to a small courtyard. It was also a partitioned house, with a large house divided into four courtyards, but it was indeed quiet and clean.

Song Changxu bargained with the broker and settled on a price of twenty-three taels.

Holding the contract, Song Changxu put it in his pocket. He planned to move in today to avoid spending another day’s money at the inn.

He had come to the capital for the exam and didn’t have many things. It was very easy to move to the new house. He bought pots, bowls, basins, quilts, and bedsheets, as well as a broom to clean the house.

When Zhizhou came, he could move in.

Song Changxu’s adaptability was very strong. Now he planned to buy the tools for making sugar first.

.

Xu Zhizhou and the others were in a carriage. They would sleep at an inn when there was one. When they reached the capital, it was noon. They went in with the people from outside the city.

He lifted the curtain and looked out the window. There was an endless stream of pedestrians, and from a distance, he could hear the sound of songstresses and pipas. The shops on the side were bright and looked very expensive.

“So this is the capital. It looks much more prosperous,” Xu Zhizhou murmured.

They were not idle in the carriage. Xu Zhizhou had taught Xu Zhici a few characters.

It was also Xie Huaichuan’s first time in the capital. He found an inn to stay at, planning to rent a house later, and then go to the Xiao residence to pay a visit.

“We’re in the capital. Where do we go to find my husband?” Xu Zhizhou said, jumping down from the carriage. He was even more anxious now that he was in the capital.

“We haven’t received his letter since we’ve come to the capital. I’ll go out and ask around later,” Xie Huaichuan said.

This time, Xu Zhizhou said, “Thank you, brother-in-law.”

A trace of a smile appeared on Xie Huaichuan’s lips. “We’re all one family. I’ve told the assistant to bring up the food later. You can eat first. I’ll go for a walk.”

Xie Huaichuan found a passerby and asked, “Where can I see the list of the new Jinshi?”

“Go and have a look at the entrance of the examination hall. It’s quite strange. This year’s new top scorer is from a poor family, a young gentleman with no background. He had a good appearance when he was parading on horseback. It’s a pity that for some reason, the court ministers did not choose him as a son-in-law, but chose the second and third-place graduates instead,” the person said with some regret.

Xie Huaichuan subconsciously asked, “What’s the new top scorer’s name?”

Even though he was a military officer, he also knew the value of a new top scorer.

“His name is Song Changxu, from Yunzhou Prefecture.”

Hearing this, Xie Huaichuan’s head was buzzing, and his scalp tingled. He stared at the person in front of him. “What did you say his name was?”

“Song Changxu. That’s his name,” the passerby said. He had been talking to Xie Huaichuan because he had an extraordinary temperament. Now, being stared at by him, his heart grew cold. He said and then left.

Xie Huaichuan still wanted to ask, but he had to give up.

“Changxu actually passed as the top scorer. If so, then someone should know where he lives.”

Xie Huaichuan found the inn where Song Changxu had previously stayed. The innkeeper said that he had already moved out, saying that he had found a place to live.

“So it seems he’s rented a house. I also have to go and rent a house. I’ll go and ask a broker,” Xie Huaichuan was a person of action. He would do what he thought of.

When he reached the brokerage firm, Xie Huaichuan stated his requirements and also asked, “Changxu has rented a house from you. Do you know where he’s renting? It shouldn’t have been long.”

The broker looked at Xie Huaichuan’s temperament. He said, “I’ll go and have a look at the contract first. I should be able to find it.”

Xie Huaichuan nodded. He had been in the army for many years and was not afraid of fighting. When he dealt with people like brokers, he was always tough.

When you’re out, you can’t be soft-hearted. People will bully you if you’re kind.

The broker quickly came out and found out Song Changxu’s address. He asked, “May I ask who you are, young master? Our brokerage firm has a rule that we can’t reveal our customers’ addresses.”

Xie Huaichuan took out his official plaque. “I am Zhaoxin Xiaowei, Changxu’s brother-in-law, here in the capital on official business.”

The official plaque could not be faked. The broker’s attitude towards Xie Huaichuan became even more respectful. He took Xie Huaichuan to see the house. Xie Huaichuan first chose a set with a small courtyard, signed a one-year lease, and after getting the keys and the contract, he went to find Song Changxu without stopping.

The broker took the contract and muttered to himself, “Didn’t they say that the top scorer was from a poor family? Where did this brother-in-law come from? He’s also good-looking, but he’s a bit scary to look at. I didn’t dare to lie or play any tricks in front of him.”

Xie Huaichuan arrived at the place where Song Changxu was living. He knocked on the door first.

Song Changxu was at home making sugar. The fire was burning brightly, and he was stirring the pot with a large ladle. Hearing the noise, he went to open the door.

“Who is it?” he asked warily.

Seeing that it was Song Changxu himself, Xie Huaichuan breathed a sigh of relief, his brow relaxing. “You’re really here. We’ve already arrived in the capital. Zhizhou said he wanted to find you, so I asked around and came over.”

Song Changxu was overjoyed. He first opened the door. “Come in and rest for a moment, brother-in-law.”

He brought some hot water and poured him a cup. He said with embarrassment, “I’ve been busy with other things recently and haven’t had a chance to buy any tea. Please have some hot water to moisten your throat first, brother-in-law.”

As soon as Xie Huaichuan came in, he smelled a sweet smell. He drank the hot water and asked, “Why does your room smell of sugar?”

Song Changxu said, “I was reading a book recently and saw an ancient recipe for making sugar. I thought I’d give it a try. If it works, I can sell it.”

He took out the three kinds of sugar he had made. “This is maltose, brown sugar, and white sugar.”

“Have a try, brother-in-law.”

Xie Huaichuan ate a piece of maltose. It was made from malt and was too sweet.

The brown and white sugar each had their own taste. He couldn’t tell which was better.

“It’s quite good,” Xie Huaichuan still commented.

Song Changxu added enough firewood to the pot. He then went inside to change his clothes and wash up. He had transformed from a cook into a handsome young man, his eyes full of anticipation.

“Let’s go, brother-in-law.”

Xie Huaichuan: “…”

The two of them arrived at the inn. Song Changxu’s steps were fast. Fortunately, Xie Huaichuan was a martial artist and could keep up.

Xu Zhici and Xu Zhizhou were eating in the inn. Xie Huaichuan had ordered three dishes and one soup. Xu Zhizhou was originally very hungry, but he still had no appetite. He had a few bites and then stopped.

There was a knock on the door.

Xu Zhici said, “Come in. The door is not closed.”

Song Changxu was still a bit apprehensive. He pushed open the door and saw Xu Zhizhou at a glance. Xu Zhizhou looked up and met his gaze.

“Husband!” Xu Zhizhou immediately threw himself into Song Changxu’s arms. Song Changxu readily hugged him.

The two of them hadn’t seen each other in a long time. There were still other people around. Song Changxu only reached out and scraped Xu Zhizhou’s nose. Seeing that his nose was red and his eyes were also red, he was stunned.

He held Xu Zhizhou’s hand and didn’t let go.

“Elder Brother,” Song Changxu called out.

Xu Zhici asked with concern, “Have you eaten, Changxu? Let’s order a few more dishes.”

Xie Huaichuan went to call someone himself.

The four of them ate at the table. Xu Zhizhou had an appetite now. With Song Changxu by his side, his features came to life.

“Husband, are we staying in the capital, or are we going back to Jinhe County?”

Song Changxu couldn’t help but feel a bit proud in front of Xu Zhizhou, but he couldn’t show it too much.

“We’re staying in the capital. I’ve already rented a courtyard.”

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: I have to be reserved. [Dog with a rose in its mouth]

Little Xu: Huh? [Laughs]