The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

Song Lingsu heard what Song Lingjie said, and simply smiled, shaking his head.

”To be honest, when I first heard the ranking on the list, I did feel a bit low, and my face didn’t quite hold up. I’m the eldest legitimate grandson, yet I was overtaken by my cousin, and didn’t even do as well as he did.” As Song Lingsu spoke, he thumped his shoulder once: ”You brat kept silent all this time only to amaze everyone in one go.”

”But once the disappointment passed, I let it go. Third Brother, I’m not as good as you.”

Song Lingjie said, ”Big Brother, this time I just happened to run into some luck. The chief examiner, Lord Yan, favors poetry and policy essays, and has always loathed those empty talkers while liking the practical-minded. I heard the inscription hanging in his study says, ’Establish life for the people, establish a heart for heaven and earth.’ This year’s policy essay topic just happened to be about rampant disasters, and as a parent-official how one should speak up for the people. On my way south, all that I saw and heard gave me much to draw on, so answering the question came very naturally. You could say I struck good fortune. Didn’t you notice that among the few names at the very top, at least four are scholars from Poor Families?”

Song Lingsu nodded: ”Luck plays a part, yes, but if one’s belly is empty of learning and the classics, then the essays and policy pieces one produces are nothing more than gaudy clothes over a hollow core, flashy but insubstantial. I’ve read your essay; some of your arguments are things I would never have thought of. And from how you behave and conduct yourself day to day, I’ve come to understand why you could write such an essay.”

Song Lingjie raised an eyebrow: ”I’m all ears.”

”You don’t look down on anyone, not even those at the very bottom.” Song Lingsu pointed at the boatmen busy at work on the ship and said, ”You never put on a lofty airs, thinking yourself superior and disdaining their company. Precisely because of that, you see all the more clearly what people’s lives are like.”

Song Lingsu clasped his hands behind his back for support, gazing at the fiery red sunset on the horizon, and said, ”Compared to you, I do have the bad habits of a scion of a great clan, pride and conceit. Third Brother, if we become officials, I will surely not be your equal.”

Song Lingjie burst out laughing: ”After that speech, I don’t even know whether you’re praising me or belittling me.”

Song Lingsu grew anxious: ”Of course I’m praising you. Do you really think I’d bear a grudge against you just because my rank isn’t as good as yours? There’s always someone better, and among the strong there are yet stronger hands. I’ve never assumed I could be first forever. Even if this time I’m only in the middle ranks, who’s to say I won’t climb higher when we sit the metropolitan exam next time?”

Song Lingjie’s brows and eyes relaxed, and he said, ”Big Brother really is a man about to be married now; your thinking has grown much steadier.”

”Get lost.”

Song Lingsu’s ears flushed red. He spat a word at him, then picked up his wine cup and drained it in one go. Watching the boatmen adjust the angle of the sail against the headwind, he said, ”A man is just like this boat—when is it ever smooth sailing all the way? Along the journey there are bound to be headwinds that force us to adjust the direction of the sail. People are the same. A lifetime is so long; running into setbacks and blows is only natural. To just collapse because of a ranking? That would be a joke.”

”I’ll take Big Brother’s words to heart. As Grandmother said, facing failure itself isn’t scary; what’s most frightening is being defeated by failure.”

Song Lingsu shook his head and wagged a finger: ”Third Brother, you’re wrong. How have we failed? Success isn’t only being first. You and I, before even coming of age, have both passed the provincial exam as Scholars, bringing glory to our ancestors and raising the prestige of the Song Family—that is success!”

Song Lingjie was moved. Looking at his profile—gentleman like jade, as elegant as orchids and fine trees, with a natural nobility and pride—he couldn’t help but feel a surge of heroic spirit in his own heart as well.