After My System Went Bankrupt, I Found My Happy Ending with the General - Chapter 26

Yin Zikun did not assign any more painting tasks, so Luo Chuchen returned to his residence and, for the first time in a while, browsed through the classical texts and scriptures on his bookshelf.

The entrance examination for the Painting Academy was divided into two parts: painting skills and classical studies. The painting section had no fixed scope, while the classical studies portion tested knowledge of the Classic of Filial Piety, the Analects of Confucius, Shuowen Jiezi, and Erya. None of these were particularly difficult, and all had been taught at Shifang Academy.

After returning to the capital, Luo Chuchen had retrieved his old textbooks and many of his past assignments. He organized them and planned to review them over the next half-month as a refresher.

Shechuan assisted him, arranging the books while flipping through them, and praised, “Young master, your handwriting is truly beautiful.”

Luo Chuchen replied, “Is it only my handwriting that’s good?”

Shechuan laughed, “Don’t tease me, young master. I hardly studied much at all.”

Luo Chuchen said, “Back then, I urged you to study alongside me, but you weren’t diligent. Now you say you haven’t learned much, who’s to blame for that?”

Shechuan chuckled and pleaded, “Blame myself, I suppose.”

A moment later, Shechuan picked up a piece of paper from between the pages of a book and exclaimed, “Hey, this is a passage from the Analects!”

Luo Chuchen asked, “And how would you know that?”

Shechuan grinned, “I remember this one vividly! Do you recall, young master? Back when Jue was still at the Marquis’s residence, it was spring when he taught you this! Word by word, you could never remember it, but I, standing by, memorized it.”

Luo Chuchen couldn’t recall and, feeling a bit embarrassed, changed the subject, “Speaking of which, Liang Jue has already been under house arrest for two days.”

Shechuan tidied the books and said, “It’s only seven days it’ll pass quickly.”

“Still five more days to go,” Luo Chuchen sighed wistfully and couldn’t help glancing out the window.

Shechuan laughed, “Young master, are you perhaps hoping Jue will resume teaching you?”

“I’d like that, but can he do so now?” Luo Chuchen shook his head.

The topic was dropped.

By evening, Luo Chuchen sat at his desk, feeling muddle-headed as he reviewed the Classic of Filial Piety, growing increasingly drowsy.

Shechuan was no longer in the room. Just as Luo Chuchen decided to rest his head on the desk and doze off, he suddenly heard a soft tap at the windowsill.

The rustle of clothing passed over the window. Luo Chuchen froze for a moment before sluggishly lifting his head.

Before he could fully raise it, he was lightly tapped on the head.

“After studying outside for four years, how come you haven’t changed a bit upon returning? Still dozing off like this?”

“Jue-ge.”

Luo Chuchen lifted his head listlessly. Standing before him was Liang Jue, dressed in martial attire, smiling as he picked up the Classic of Filial Piety from the desk and skimmed through it. “Isn’t this all basic content?” he remarked.

“The Painting Academy entrance exam tests these basics…” Luo Chuchen pouted. “I’d rather they tested more advanced topics, so I wouldn’t have to review such boring material.”

Leaning against the desk, Liang Jue flicked Luo Chuchen’s forehead with his finger. “Wake up now.”

Luo Chuchen winced in pain, clutching his forehead, but it did clear his mind somewhat.

Only then did he think to ask, “Aren’t you under house arrest? How did you sneak out? Aren’t you afraid the Emperor will charge you with defying his decree?”

“This seven-day house arrest isn’t a big deal,” Liang Jue shrugged. “As long as I don’t openly show myself where prying eyes might see, it’s fine. Would you go around telling people?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Luo Chuchen teased mischievously. “I’ll go out on the streets tomorrow and tell everyone.”

Liang Jue thought for a moment, then chuckled, suppressing a laugh as he said, “What are you going to say? That this general climbed over your wall late at night, or something like that?”

Luo Chuchen: “…”

He pondered it, then caught the implication, his face flushing as he stood up and pushed Liang Jue’s arm. “Why are you setting me up like this?”

The push was so light it barely registered, and Liang Jue burst into laughter.

Taking advantage of Liang Jue’s visit, Luo Chuchen’s eyes sparkled with an idea. He snatched his copy of the Classic of Filial Piety back, dusted it off, and declared, “Alright, this young master is going to focus on his studies to prepare for the end-of-month examination. Idle bystanders should not cause any disturbances here.”

Liang Jue blinked. “I came all this way, and you’re just going to send me off like that?”

“What else can I do?” Luo Chuchen raised an eyebrow and said slowly, “Could you possibly teach me?”

“…” Liang Jue didn’t respond, merely smiling at him.

Luo Chuchen had intended to set a trap, hoping Liang Jue would offer to teach him. Seeing that Liang Jue wasn’t taking the bait, he felt both embarrassed and annoyed, as if his scheme had been completely exposed.

Just as he was about to make a fuss, Liang Jue walked over to his side, leaned down, and looked at the text in the Classic of Filial Piety with him. “Ah, I’d very much like to help you, Marquis, but I’m just a military man with shallow knowledge. I’m afraid I won’t be of much use.”

“You, with shallow knowledge?” Luo Chuchen didn’t believe it. “Back then, you were better than me at everything.”

Liang Jue replied, “That’s because you weren’t serious. If you truly put your mind to it, you could master anything, couldn’t you?”

“Ahem.”

Luo Chuchen felt both bashful and pleased by the praise, nodding with feigned modesty. “That’s true.”

Liang Jue chuckled quietly.

“Alright, I’ll just keep you company,” he said, pulling up a chair and sitting beside Luo Chuchen. “If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask me.”

Luo Chuchen grinned, shifting his stool closer to Liang Jue until their arms were touching before he resumed reading.

With Liang Jue around, Luo Chuchen rarely felt drowsy. His efficiency in studying improved day by day, and he grew increasingly confident about the upcoming painting examination.

The twenty-fourth day marked the Winter Solstice, a significant festival.

The emperor was to hold a grand ceremony at the Southern Suburbs Temple, and Liang Jue’s house arrest was lifted accordingly. Two days prior, he had already begun preparing the troops for the escort.

The Chu residence was also exceptionally busy, preparing for the evening family banquet. Early in the morning, several of Chu Yuan Zhu’s colleagues came to visit.

Feeling satisfied with his study progress, Luo Chuchen decided to give himself a day off. He changed into fresh clothes, leisurely cradled a small hand warmer, and reclined on the couch to read a storybook.

Qin Yu arrived around noon, accompanied by servants carrying several scrolls of paintings.

Luo Chuchen quickly said, “Why bring gifts? I didn’t prepare anything in return.”

Qin Yu waved his hand dismissively. “No need for reciprocation. I picked these out for you a while ago and just found an opportunity to bring them over. Here, take a look.”

Luo Chuchen hopped off the couch and unrolled the scrolls as instructed. They were all works by renowned artists.

“I really can’t accept these!” he protested, trying to refuse.

“You have to take them,” Qin Yu insisted, shoving the scrolls into his arms. “I bought them for fun when we visited the temple fair the other day. They’re not worth much anyway. If you don’t take them, they’ll just end up propping up a table leg at my place.”

“You.”

Luo Chuchen had no choice but to accept. He quickly instructed She Chuan to select a few items from the newly established storeroom, leftovers from the Marquis’s estate, to give as a return gift.

After Qin Yu left, Luo Chuchen sorted through the scrolls before suddenly remembering something.

“Sher Chuan, did my senior brother mention that I should go see him today?” Luo Chuchen slapped his forehead.

Sher Chuan was also taken aback for a moment before replying, “Yes, today is the Winter Solstice.”

However, the Imperial College should have let out early today, how could they have waited until the late afternoon?

Moreover, all officials were on holiday, and Chu Yuanzhu had mentioned taking him later to pay respects to his parents,

There was no way he could leave now, so Luo Chuchen had no choice but to send a servant to the Imperial College. The servant returned saying that classes had ended long ago, but he had managed to retrieve a letter.

Opening it, Luo Chuchen saw Min Ziyu’s bold, elegant handwriting.

In the letter, Min Ziyu also mentioned the earlier misunderstanding it was his first year studying at the Imperial College, and he hadn’t been aware of the exact timing of the Winter Solstice holiday. He proposed rescheduling their meeting for three days later.

Setting the letter aside, Luo Chuchen breathed a slight sigh of relief.

These past few days, he had been so absorbed in studying with Liang Jue that he had forgotten such an important matter. Thankfully, the Imperial College had let out early.