20demayo Chapter 350 Study
Chapter 350 Study
Chapter 350 Learning
Everyone expected Chen Xuan to blush and appear embarrassed, like most young men. However, Chen Xuan remained calm and composed, showing no embarrassment whatsoever. He simply smiled and waved his hand, politely declining, saying, "Thank you for your kind offer, but I currently want to focus more on improving my knowledge. As for marriage, that's not urgent for now."
Someone said, "Now that you've become the top scholar, why do you still need students?"
Chen Xuan smiled and said, "I've just passed the imperial examination and can't become an official immediately. His Majesty has ordered that we students need three months of training in the ways of officialdom. Only after passing this training will we be assigned to various places to take up our posts and become true officials. It would be too hasty to propose marriage now. Besides, I only have a short one-month leave to visit my family, and I have to return to Xianyang to report back in the next two days. I really don't have time to think about marriage!" After saying this, Chen Xuan sighed softly, his eyes revealing a hint of helplessness and apology.
Hearing Chen Xuan's explanation, the others stopped insisting on the matter. Time flew by, and after two days at home, Chen Xuan prepared to return to Xianyang with his family. Before his departure, neighbors and villagers came to see him off, urging him to take good care of himself and bring honor to his hometown. Chen Xuan agreed to all their requests, his heart filled with reluctance as he looked at his hometown where he had lived for so many years.
Once again on the official road, Chen Xuan was accompanied by his family. He knew that the road ahead was long, and new challenges and opportunities awaited him in Xianyang. But as long as his family was by his side, he had the courage to face any difficulties. He gripped the reins tightly, looking into the distance—where lay his official career and a new journey in his life.
Time flies, and a month has passed in the blink of an eye. During this month, Chen Xuan has handled all the affairs at home in an orderly manner and made proper arrangements for his family's daily life. Now, he is fully prepared to embark on the upcoming three-month training program in officialdom.
Chen Xuan was filled with anticipation and excitement for his three-month study period. He knew very well that these three months would be his most important and valuable experience in the future. He believed that Princess Jiayang's proposal for this study arrangement was not only to familiarize them with officialdom, but more importantly, it was likely a test. Chen Xuan was confident in himself and had made all the necessary preparations.
The first thing they had to learn was the rigorous etiquette and norms of the imperial court. Chen Xuan had only vaguely heard of them before, but upon truly delving into the studies, he was astonished to discover that behind these seemingly simple rituals lay the sedimentation and inheritance of a long history. These etiquette norms were ancient, profound, and demanding in every detail, from speech and behavior to clothing. Every action and every word required repeated contemplation and practice to reach the required standard, in order to display the demeanor and bearing befitting a court official. Chen Xuan rose early and went to bed late every day, repeatedly correcting his movements in front of the bronze mirror, reciting the appropriate dialogue for various occasions. Sweat soaked his clothes, yet he felt no fatigue whatsoever.
Beyond etiquette and norms, a wealth of real-life cases concerning people's livelihoods awaited Chen Xuan and his colleagues' careful analysis and interpretation. Through in-depth research and analysis of these actual events, Chen Xuan felt as if a door had been opened to the lives of ordinary people. From disputes over farmland irrigation to commercial conflicts, from the challenges of caring for the elderly and infirm to the inadequate response to rampant epidemics, each case gave him a profound understanding of the hardships and needs of ordinary people, as well as the complex laws governing society. Chen Xuan knew that only by thoroughly understanding these cases could he formulate more reasonable and effective policies and measures to benefit the local people when he served as an official in the future. He often sat with his classmates, passionately discussing the rights and wrongs of the cases and their solutions, often arguing heatedly over a single point of view, yet gaining a great deal from the clash of ideas.
Previously, Wang Sai had always harbored resentment towards Chen Xuan for becoming the top scorer in the imperial examination. However, after repeated in-depth discussions and exchanges with Chen Xuan, his contempt for Chen Xuan gradually subsided, replaced by a growing sense of appreciation.
It's important to understand that Chen Xuan came from a humble background and had a relatively weak foundation, especially in learning etiquette, where he struggled considerably. Initially, he often made some basic mistakes, which naturally became ammunition for Wang Sai to ridicule him. Every time Wang Sai saw Chen Xuan make a fool of himself, he would mercilessly mock and ridicule him, a situation that continued for quite some time.
What's admirable is that Chen Xuan never took the ridicule and sarcasm of others to heart. Instead, he practiced those tedious etiquette movements in front of the mirror every day, over and over again, without getting tired of it. Hard work pays off; as time went on, Chen Xuan's movements became increasingly standardized and precise, exuding an elegant air in every gesture. Moreover, even his speech and manners became more and more poised and graceful, displaying a truly refined demeanor.
What's particularly noteworthy is that when analyzing various cases, Chen Xuan always puts himself in the shoes of ordinary people, considering the issues from their perspective and proposing practical and effective solutions. His unique and incisive viewpoints often hit the nail on the head, leaving people speechless with admiration. Over time, Wang Sai finally realized that Chen Xuan, whom she had once looked down upon, was indeed a true top scholar. Thus, in the course of their daily interactions, Wang Sai and Chen Xuan's relationship grew increasingly close, and they even became inseparable friends.
As their studies progressed, a completely new course—regulatory systems—was presented to them. Chen Xuan and the others had never heard of it before, and as the course began, doubts quietly arose in their minds. But they understood that their primary task at the moment was to study diligently, and everything else could be put aside for the time being. Sure enough, after learning about regulatory systems, the next step was the assessment system. This assessment system was far more stringent than they had imagined, including assessments from superiors to subordinates, as well as assessments from the public to officials.
Chen Xuan and the others suddenly realized that they were likely a sharp sword in Princess Jiayang's hand, and that the court would inevitably undergo a transformation starting with them. Princess Jiayang had them learn these things to implement these systems, and they would become the first batch of test subjects, as well as the results Princess Jiayang would demonstrate to other officials.