allonlinenovel The Heartache Behind Chapter 506
The Heartache Behind Chapter 506
The Heartache Behind Chapter 506
Wang Wenzhou angrily carried Xiao Lanlan to brush her teeth, while Shen He looked at the mess in front of him, feeling like crying but having no tears left.
Han Chengtao patted Shen He on the shoulder and comforted him, "Eat it. As long as you can bear the nausea and don't throw up the first bite, you won't feel nauseous anymore."
Shen He turned and glanced at Han Chengtao, then said with a wry smile, "Brother, what is your honorable name?"
"My name is Han Chengtao," Han Chengtao replied, bowing slightly.
"Brother, what did I do wrong? Why is my master making me eat shit?" Shen He really couldn't understand what he had done wrong.
Han Chengtao smiled and told Shen He what had happened.
Upon hearing this, Shen He realized that Little Lanlan had eaten excrement! This was a serious matter; no wonder Lord Wang was so angry. He absolutely had to eat that excrement, and he had to lick the latrine clean. If Lord Wang wasn't appeased, he would be in trouble.
Having thought of something, Shen He picked up a small spoon, scooped up a large spoonful, and put it in his mouth.
"Hmm?" Shen He suppressed his nausea, savored the taste, and said with a self-deprecating laugh, "This shit even tastes like tomatoes. Did that person eat tomatoes?"
"Haha!" Han Chengtao laughed, "Brother Shen is amazing. I did indeed have scrambled eggs with tomatoes yesterday."
Shen He frowned and said with a wry smile, "Brother, did you take this shit?"
"Hmm!" Han Chengtao nodded and said with a wry smile, "I really admire Brother Shen. Even in such a predicament, you can still find joy in hardship."
Shen He scooped up a spoonful, put it in his mouth, and said softly in the tone of someone who had been through it all, "Brother, I'm so old, I've seen through a lot of things. Take eating shit for example, although I'm eating shit now, I usually eat the finest delicacies."
"Sigh..." Shen He took another bite, sighed, and said, "Life is full of disappointments. If you can't see things clearly and are unhappy, you'll only hurt yourself. If you can see things clearly, even shit can be eaten happily. Everything has a price. If you eat shit now, you'll be drinking milk later."
Han Chengtao deeply resonated with Shen He's words. He too had just eaten excrement, but once he left the examination hall, he would pass the imperial examination with flying colors and become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). This was the reward for eating excrement. How could a man who couldn't even stomach excrement accomplish great things?
"To be honest, Brother Shen, I also ate some excrement just now," Han Chengtao said with a wry smile. "After hearing what you said, Brother Shen, I feel much better."
"Haha!" Shen He scooped up a spoonful, offered it to Han Chengtao, and asked with a smile, "Brother, would you like another bite?"
"Ahem..." Han Chengtao coughed awkwardly a few times. This servant of Lord Wang's household was no decent person either. Like master, like servant.
"No, thank you! I just finished brushing my teeth, Brother Shen, please eat it yourself," Han Chengtao said with a wry smile.
The imperial examination ended the next morning.
Han Chengtao walked out of the examination hall with high spirits. He vowed that he would never tell anyone about what had happened there. In a few days, the imperial edict would be posted, and he would pass with flying colors and become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination). After that, he would return to his hometown in glory.
When the time comes, the people in his hometown will only see Han Chengtao returning home in glory, and will never know that behind his success lies untold suffering and heartache.
Wang Wenzhou raked in 13 million taels of silver during this imperial examination, a sum that, given the strength of Joseon, was probably equivalent to Joseon's annual revenue for eight to ten years.
Jung Joon-young and the other second-generation rich kids were so exhausted from sleeping with girls that their legs went weak. These kids found it strange; sleeping with girls at the examination hall felt different, far more enjoyable than usual. Because of this, they worked incredibly hard, and when they left the examination hall, they were all leaning against the wall to walk.
Even the students from poor families were lenient. As they left the examination hall, their gazes towards the privileged students were filled with disdain, and they silently cursed them, thinking, "These people are shameless and a disgrace to scholarship." As for why they were lenient, they probably knew the reason themselves and would never tell a second person.
On the same day, Kong Zhenyun, the second imperial envoy of the Ming Dynasty, arrived in Seoul.
When the children in Beijing learned that Wang Wenzhou had fallen into the water and gone missing, they were frantic with worry. After discussing it, they decided, disregarding the fact that the "little flowers" were still young, to head straight to North Korea to search for Wang Wenzhou.
Upon learning of this, Zhu Youjian immediately went to the residence of Duke Zhongyi to visit Wang Wenzhou's children. Wang Wenzhou's sons were far too young; if anything were to happen to them, he would have no way to explain it to Wang Wenzhou. Under Zhu Youjian's persuasion, the children finally abandoned their plan to go to Korea.
Because Kong Zhenyun was also an imperial envoy, Li Zong hosted a banquet for him. Kong Zhenyun was very puzzled; Wang Wenzhou had already been rescued, so why hadn't he attended the banquet?
Li Zong was well aware of Wang Wenzhou's actions at the examination hall. He was so angry he almost vomited blood. Wang Wenzhou had gone too far! He treated the imperial examination like a child's game, not only making a dog the top scholar but also selling the title of Jinshi on a large scale. What's worse, Wang Wenzhou had turned the examination hall into a brothel. If these filthy things got out, how could the court save face?
But now that things had come to this, Yi Jong was powerless. Those who could afford to buy "divine talismans" were all sons of powerful and wealthy families. If Yi Jong did not recognize this civil service examination, then the Joseon nobility would be the first to stand up and oppose it.
Li Zong had no choice but to swallow his bitterness and eat the still-steaming excrement, enduring the nausea.
Li Zong raised his wine cup and said with a smile, "Lord Kong, I would like to offer you a toast."
Kong Zhenyun quickly picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.
Li Zong subtly inquired, "Lord Kong, since you are an imperial envoy to Korea, can Lord Wang return to the Ming Dynasty?"
Kong Zhenyun shook his head and said with a smile, "To be honest, Your Majesty, the main reason I came to Korea this time was because His Majesty was concerned about Lord Wang's safety. Now that Lord Wang is out of danger, other matters are still under your jurisdiction."
Li Zong's expression changed. Wang Wenzhou, that mad dog, was truly enjoying the Emperor's favor.
"Lord Kong, given your age, you must be Lord Wang's senior. Shouldn't he also respect your opinion?" Li Zong wanted to ask Kong Zhenyun for help in persuading Wang Wenzhou not to let a dog become the top scholar in Korea. If Wang Wenzhou really did that, the civil and military officials of the Korean court would be ashamed to face anyone.
"Hmm?" Kong Zhenyun frowned and said, "Your Majesty, please don't stand on ceremony. Just say what you have to say."
"This..." Li Zong said, both amused and exasperated, "I really can't bring myself to say this! Lord Wang insisted on presiding over this imperial examination, and I didn't want to offend him, so I let him be the chief examiner. But who knew that he would actually let one person be the top scholar!"
"Pfft!" Kong Zhenyun sprayed the wine in his mouth everywhere.
"Really?" Kong Zhenyun asked.
Li Zong shook his head with a wry smile and said helplessly, "Lord Kong, you must persuade Lord Wang. It's one thing for him to use this imperial examination to amass wealth, but we can't let a dog become the top scholar!"
Kong Zhenyun nodded. Based on his understanding of Wang Wenzhou, he knew that Wang Wenzhou was indeed capable of doing such a thing.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly try to persuade him. However, you may not know this, but although I am senior, when Lord Wang gets into trouble, he really won't give me any face." Kong Zhenyun was too embarrassed to mention the embarrassing incident of being tortured by Wang Wenzhou to the point of soiling his pants.
"Lord Kong, you must persuade Lord Wang to stop! Time is too short. Even if I petition the Emperor, it will be too late by the time His decree arrives!" Li Zong said helplessly.
Kong Zhenyun thought for a moment and then said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it."
"Lord Kong, as long as Lord Wang retracts his order, I will do anything!" Li Zong now regrets that he shouldn't have forced Li Mei to her death in order to vent his anger.
Kong Zhenyun began, "Then I will speak frankly. Lord Wang is young and fond of women. I wonder if Your Majesty has any daughters of marriageable age..."