Chapter 1
“Huh? Isn’t that the second young master of Official Pei’s family? Why is he lying here?”
“I heard Pei Zhao say that his illegitimate younger brother has been slow-witted since childhood. How could he possibly be qualified to take the provincial examination?”
“Brother Pei! Is that your younger brother?”
Outside the examination compound, a young man dressed in plain-colored robes had been accidentally struck by a flying inkstone. He lay on the ground, barely breathing, his delicate, handsome face completely drained of color.
“My younger brother has always been a bit of a fool. Please don’t take offense.”
The young man’s legitimate elder brother, Pei Zhao, hurried forward, terrified of becoming a laughingstock. “Pei Ji! Get up!”
Seeing that the young man remained motionless, the noble young masters watching the commotion grew increasingly disdainful and mocking.
“Brother Pei, could your younger brother be taking advantage of the situation to make a scene and extort money from Young Master Zhou?”
“Of course he wouldn’t dare.”
Pei Zhao turned deathly pale upon hearing this.
The flying inkstone had been thrown by Zhou Xiaota’s servant, though it hadn’t been intentional. The servant had gotten into a dispute with an examinee and, in a moment of anger, accidentally struck Pei Ji.
Who was Zhou Xiaota? He was the son of Zhou Yan, the Vice Minister of Rites. Relying on his father’s position as an influential court official who enjoyed the emperor’s favor, Zhou Xiaota routinely threw his weight around in the capital. Every young master from the powerful aristocratic families knew him. For this year’s spring examinations, the imperial court had appointed Zhou Yan to oversee the examination candidates’ qualifications. If these examinees offended the Zhou family, their future official careers would undoubtedly suffer.
Zhou Xiaota was the type who refused to let anything go. At that very moment, he was humiliating the examinee who had blocked his path not far away.
Afraid that Pei Ji might provoke Zhou Xiaota and drag him into trouble, Pei Zhao hurriedly urged, “Pei Ji! Stop embarrassing me!”
More and more people gathered to watch. Pei Zhao gritted his teeth, furious at having lost face.
Why couldn’t that inkstone have just killed Pei Ji outright?!
Every word of the surrounding gossip reached the young man’s ears. He gently curled his fingers and continued lying on the ground with his head tilted to one side, pretending to be unconscious.
He, Pei Ji, had transmigrated into the web novel “The Great Sheng Dynasty.”
He had originally thought he might become one of the four male leads, who relied on their schemes and talents to overcome every obstacle and eventually wield tremendous power throughout the imperial court.
But reality was cruel.
He was nothing more than a background character.
The illegitimate son of a minor sixth-rank official, a character who would die within the first ten chapters of the novel.
And this insignificant background character happened to share his name.
Pei Ji was utterly devastated. He had nearly been killed by an inkstone just moments ago, and his head hurt like hell.
“Young Master Pei, your younger brother seems to be seriously injured.”
A clear, gentle voice came from nearby.
Pei Zhao turned around and saw that the speaker was a young gentleman in blue who happened to be passing by.
Having only recently arrived in the capital with his father, Pei Zhao was unfamiliar with most people. However, when he noticed the exquisite mutton-fat jade pendant hanging from the young gentleman’s jade belt, he didn’t dare be discourteous. He replied vaguely, “How am I supposed to get him up all by myself?”
The blue-robed gentleman gave a slight nod, and the attendant beside him immediately stepped forward.
“Oh…”
Just then, Pei Ji slowly opened his eyes and stopped pretending to be unconscious.
Everyone immediately halted what they were doing.
Pei Ji tried to stand, but the original owner’s body was far too weak. His slender wrists lacked the strength to support him against the ground. After several unsuccessful attempts, his dark hair fell loosely over his chest.
The blue-robed gentleman bent down and gently helped him up. “Young Master Pei, allow me to help you.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Bodhisattva Young Master.”
This was the first person from ancient times Pei Ji had met since transmigrating into the novel. The gentleman was kindhearted and had a clear, pleasant voice. In Pei Ji’s eyes, he was practically a living bodhisattva.
“It’s a small matter. There’s no need for such courtesy.”
During the time he had spent pretending to be unconscious, Pei Ji had already sorted through the entire plot.
The original owner received very little attention in the novel. His fate was decided in just a few lines: death by poisoning. A fortune-teller had once claimed that the original owner’s soul was incomplete, which explained his erratic behavior and persistent illnesses. Furthermore, his birth mother had come from a humble background and died early. His father’s principal wife treated him harshly and begrudged him even the smallest necessities. No one in the household treated him like a young master.
As time passed, the original owner’s mental state deteriorated.
And Pei Zhao, the legitimate elder brother standing before him, treated him even worse.
Pei Ji lowered his head and saw the original owner’s book bag.
The bag had been washed until it was spotless. Inside were steaming hot steamed buns that the original owner had specially prepared for his elder brother. He had even worked day and night to make two pairs of gloves to keep him warm. Despite Pei Zhao rejecting his gifts repeatedly, he had still eagerly brought them over.
“Hurry up and get back to the residence!” Pei Zhao barked sternly. “Otherwise, I’ll report you to Father!”
If he were the original owner, he would undoubtedly have been frightened into obediently returning home. But Pei Ji was different. Instead, a faint spark of life appeared in those previously vacant, bewildered eyes.
“Please don’t blame me, Eldest Brother. I’ve embarrassed you. It’s just that the examination compound is so shabby and cold, and its earthen walls must be freezing. I was worried you wouldn’t eat or sleep well, so I specially brought you a few things.”
To claim the moral high ground, Pei Ji deliberately put on a pitiful expression. He was already slender and frail, and having just suffered an injury, his slightly drooping eyes and brows gave him an air of delicate vulnerability that naturally stirred sympathy.
Pei Zhao was dumbfounded by his words.
How had his younger brother, who normally couldn’t even string together a complete sentence, suddenly become so different?
While Pei Zhao was distracted, Pei Ji discreetly rolled his eyes. Then, looking past him toward the blue-robed gentleman who had helped him earlier, he asked gratefully, “Young Master, may I ask your name?”
“My surname is Su.” The blue-robed gentleman’s gaze lingered briefly on the wound on Pei Ji’s forehead before he departed with his attendant.
Pei Ji withdrew his gaze and took a deep breath.
He could thank that gentleman properly later. Right now, he had something important to do.
The plot was currently at Chapter One: Bullying at the Examination Compound. The examinee being harassed by Zhou Xiaota, the vice minister’s son, was none other than Gu Tiao, the novel’s first male lead.
Gu Tiao came from an impoverished family. Simply because he had stood in Zhou Xiaota’s path, the latter’s servant had bullied and insulted him, even smashing his book chest to pieces.
If everything went according to the original plot, Gu Tiao would claim first place in the palace examination three months later.
What was supposed to happen next was that Zhou Xiaota’s servant would attempt to damage Gu Tiao’s writing brushes. When Gu Tiao stepped forward to stop him, his wrist would accidentally be injured.
Pei Ji gently clenched his fists, forming a perfect plan in his mind.
All four male leads, who would eventually wield tremendous power, were present at this year’s spring examinations. If he could become close friends with them, he could at least guarantee himself a lifetime without worrying about food or clothing, rather than dying from poison three months later.
For now, he had only recognized Gu Tiao.
This was the perfect opportunity to play the hero and rescue a beauty.
Ready to make his move, he turned his gaze toward his future prime minister.
Gu Tiao was still being mocked by Zhou Xiaota’s servant. Although he wore a plain, coarse-cloth robe, he stood as straight as a pine tree, naturally exuding an aloof and chilly elegance. Even standing beside the aristocratic young masters, his bearing was extraordinary. Anyone could tell at a glance that he was no ordinary man.
Zhou Xiaota deliberately indulged his servant, watching the spectacle with several familiar friends as though enjoying a performance, looking down on everything from his position of superiority.
He had always despised these scholars. As the son of an aristocratic family, he could enter official service through the hereditary privilege system. Unfortunately, his father constantly told him that the civil officials at court were fiercely clannish and looked down on those who entered through family privilege. If he wanted those officials from humble backgrounds to respect him, his best option was to pass the imperial examinations and enter government service through merit.
The servant’s shrill voice rang out. “If you fail the examination, will you even have enough money to travel back to your hometown? Why not learn a trade here in the capital and become a bricklayer? That might be a better way to make a living!”
Those words were also directed at the other examinees from humble backgrounds.
Their expressions turned ugly, but because of Zhou Xiaota’s powerful family, they could only swallow their anger.
“There’s no need to trouble yourself over my affairs.”
Everyone was waiting for Gu Tiao’s reaction, expecting him to become timid, frightened, or anxious.
But Gu Tiao merely brushed the mud from the hem of his robe with an indifferent expression. His cold gaze swept over Zhou Xiaota as though looking at something utterly insignificant.
His back remained perfectly straight, without the slightest bend from his neck to his waist.
Zhou Xiaota was clearly dissatisfied with his attitude. He raised a hand to signal his servant to withdraw, preparing to personally teach Gu Tiao a lesson.
“Here’s my chance.”
Supporting his frail body through sheer determination, Pei Ji walked toward them.
“What are you doing?!” Afraid Pei Ji would cause trouble, Pei Zhao hurried after him.
“Young Master Zhou.”
Pei Ji suddenly darted forward, positioning himself in front of Gu Tiao.
“Who are you?” Zhou Xiaota didn’t even bother to look at him properly.
Pei Ji smiled brightly and cupped his hands toward Zhou Xiaota. “Young Master Zhou, who I am isn’t important. What’s important is that the imperial examinations were personally authorized by His Majesty to recruit talented scholars from humble backgrounds throughout the realm, regardless of their social standing. I’m afraid what you said earlier runs directly counter to imperial policy.”
The moment those words left his mouth, the noisy entrance to the examination compound fell silent. A faint look of astonishment gradually appeared on Gu Tiao’s calm, cold face.
“You’re twisting the truth!” Zhou Xiaota panicked for only a moment before sneering. “When did I ever say a single word from beginning to end? You’re slandering me!”
By now, Pei Zhao was drenched in cold sweat, trembling as he hid among the crowd.
Upon hearing this, Pei Ji nervously tightened his fingers around his sleeve.
So Zhou Xiaota hadn’t said it himself?
Then he’d simply put it another way.
He cleared his throat and declared firmly, “A servant’s words and actions are naturally subject to his master’s discipline. Your servant openly humiliated examinees from humble backgrounds. If you hadn’t given him your tacit approval, how would he dare behave so arrogantly?”
Zhou Xiaota’s face darkened.
This brat certainly had a sharp tongue.
Pei Ji continued, “Your esteemed father is an important official responsible for this year’s spring examinations. If someone with ulterior motives were to hear of this—the Censorate is just across the street, you know. Humiliating scholars is no trivial matter.”
Zhou Xiaota instinctively glanced in the direction Pei Ji was pointing, and his expression abruptly stiffened.
Three bell tolls sounded from inside the examination compound.
“Eldest Young Master,” an older family servant whispered, gently tugging at his sleeve, “the master specifically instructed us that nothing must go wrong today.”
Zhou Xiaota frowned deeply and stared at Pei Ji for a couple of seconds before suddenly smiling.
“Pei Ji, is it?”
He gave Pei Ji a sinister look before turning toward the examination compound.
“I’ll remember you.”
Pei Ji forced himself to remain composed. “Remember me, then…”
With the matter settled, calm returned to the entrance of the examination compound. The examinees who had been seething with indignation earlier now looked at Pei Ji with newfound solemnity and admiration.
…
The contents of Gu Tiao’s book chest were scattered across a muddy puddle, almost everything damaged or soiled. His scroll pouch, water dropper, and pickled vegetables had all been broken or ruined. To the sons of aristocratic families, these things were naturally insignificant. But to someone from an impoverished family who had scraped together enough money to travel to the capital for the examinations, they were everything.
Pei Ji finally collected himself and turned to look at Gu Tiao.
Gu Tiao had a tall, slender figure. Although he stood there dressed in coarse, simple clothing, his bearing was exceptionally refined and elegant. His eyes were beautiful, seeming to hold the cold light of distant stars and the moon as he looked at Pei Ji. His handsome face was so exquisite that he hardly seemed like someone from the mortal world.
His future prime minister really was extraordinarily handsome.
Pei Ji gently straightened his robes, deciding to go tease him a little while earning some affection points in the process.
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