For the next two days, Lu Chang’sheng reviewed old lessons and learned new ones, spending all his ti holed up in bookstores.
Li Nangua helped deliver ssages to Wang Heihou, Zhao Hu, and the others.
He needed a backup plan.
In front of Li Nangua, he claid he was on the winning side of things, but he knew another outco was possible—the light might not be enough to suppress the darkness.
If that actually happened, he’d have to disappear completely, wait it out another ten or twenty years.
Watch him entertain guests, watch his lofty tower co crashing down!
But that was a last resort.
On the third day, Du ng ca as promised, and imdiately spotted Nangua behind Lu Chang’sheng, carrying two packages.
"Nangua, where are you off to? You look like you’re moving out!"
Lu Chang’sheng laughed, "The scenery on Ruilong River is matchless—how could I not take it in a few more tis?"
This little lantern festival, and the grand one after it, were both set by the Ruilong River, so Lu Chang’sheng planned to stay at Fenghua Restaurant.
And compared to Huiying Building, Fenghua was a rung higher, with the backing of the noble Zhou Family, they said.
And the Zhou Family had close ties to Lord Xu Yuan. Even if trouble cropped up later, he’d have a shield.
"No need to move house just to get a better view," Du ng said, thoroughly baffled.
Later, the three of them reached Fenghua Restaurant, booked a room—elegant setting, fully furnished, and spacious, rivaling his own five-courtyard ho. In the central hall, there was even a small garden, tastefully arranged, and a private library stacked with current exam textbooks and news, classics and witty literature.
"Even a library! What a surprise. No wonder it’s so pricey to rent."
Lu Chang’sheng leafed through the books, then headed to the upstairs pavilion, drew open the window, and saw, across the way, Ruilong River’s little boats drifting gently, song girls swaying in the breeze.
A true scene of prosperity!
He thought: Tonight, this lively place is bound to start dancing for the sake of one man!
He burst out laughing. Usually calm and collected, tonight with things looming, he couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitent.
Night fell, and lanterns blossod everywhere, their bright glow clear even ten or more miles away.
"Lu! The lantern festival’s started—co out!"
Du ng waited outside, knocking. But soon, a maid appeared and said the master had already stepped out.
Du ng muttered that Lu Chang’sheng valued won over friends, and wandered off, soon lting into the crowd.
The lantern festival had once been a secret eting night for talented scholars and beauties, but eventually turned into a chance for scholars to show off their wit and attract the ladies.
Though the little festival was hosted by Huiying Building, it was no small affair, and rchants along Ruilong were already warming up for the big event—so the place was lively indeed.
Every kind of scholar, successful or not, would show up here, especially along the riverside literary academies, where contests of talent and knowledge happened daily.
A so-called reputation for learning—that was made in places like this.
Du ng wandered until midnight, exhausted, back toward Fenghua Restaurant. He rembered arguing with a Child Scholar over this year’s essay topic, earning praise from all around—and catching the eye of a few ladies. His pride swelled.
He thought: Just wait ’til I see Chang’sheng later, I’ll make sure he’s jealous of .
But as he reached the door, he suddenly saw a crowd packed together outside.
He squeezed and elbowed several tis but couldn’t get through, so he asked soone nearby, "What’s going on in there? Did sothing happen?"
The man didn’t look like a scholar, so Du ng didn’t think twice.
But the man said, "I ca to see for myself: heard there’s this guy going down the river, solving every lantern riddle in sight, never missed once. Figured I’d co and listen, maybe pick up so good riddles for my stall next ti!"
Turned out, the guy was a lantern riddle vendor along the river.
Du ng shook his head. He was curious, sure, but with a crowd that thick, it wasn’t worth the hassle—so he stifled his curiosity and headed inside.
The next day, he went back to the Literary Academy to debate. Suddenly, a commotion broke out not far away.
A whole throng surged in that direction.
Even the scholar he’d been arguing with turned pale, jumped up to go see.
"Brother, what are you going to see? Wait till we’re done debating!"
said Du ng.
They were about to wrap up—if the guy bailed now, that was pure cheating.
But the other just shook his head, "Brother, your skills are superior—I concede!"
Du ng was stunned.
Scholars prided themselves on not backing down until the very end. But this one really surrendered?
Why?
Just as he was about to ask, he heard a few young ladies hurrying past, chattering.
"Hurry over—yesterday that fellow said he could solve every lantern riddle along the river in two days, and he did it!"
"Heavens, is his scholarship that amazing?"
······
Du ng eyed those two, both clearly noble ladies, feeling sour inside.
The girls who’d glanced at him just yesterday, now had eyes only for soone else; unwilling to accept it, he chased after them and asked, "Misses, do you know who that man is?"
"Lu Chang’sheng, the scholar!"
One of the girls answered charmingly.
Du ng’s jaw dropped, repeating incredulously, "Lu Chang’sheng?"
"That’s right! Lu Chang’sheng!"
Du ng never did witness his friend’s feat—solving all the lantern riddles along Ruilong River in just two days.
It was said that the lantern riddles of Ruilong River were as countless as the stars.
Maybe exaggerated, but it proved just how many there were.
So Child Scholar had tried before, but gave up halfway through.
That man later passed as an Advanced Scholar and beca an official.
So, for many scholars, solving all those riddles was considered an impossible task.
And now, his own friend had pulled it off!
"Doesn’t that an my friend’s got the makings of an Advanced Scholar?"
When Du ng next saw Lu Chang’sheng, his gaze was hazy, almost as if eting him for the first ti.
And in the days that followed, Lu Chang’sheng kept overturning all of Du ng’s expectations.
Li Nangua trailed behind Lu Chang’sheng as he walked every inch of the Ruilong riverbank, using the four exam topics—Classics, History, Poetry, Essays—defeating scholar after scholar.
The reputation he’d built, once "Advanced Scholar potential," turned into "Top Scholar potential!"
Even the essays left behind by Advanced Scholars in the literary academies paled next to Lu Chang’sheng’s writing!
Wherever he went, scholars stared in awe.
"There must be a place for Chang’sheng in this year’s exam!"
Lu Chang’sheng smiled, light and free.
Fa is both a burden and a shield.
"With such a reputation, let’s see how you deal with !"
He laughed softly; the Ruilong River itself seed to chuckle along.
On the third day of the lantern festival, deep in so Jixia Academy courtyard, flickering candlelight lit several towering figures.
A figure hurried in and reported the situation from the festival.
"Lu Chang’sheng? He’s that gifted? Still, the Heaven-Reaching List has already been divided—no way to change it now!"
"Indeed!"
······
Fifth day of the lantern festival.
The door was pushed open again.
Shadows flickered—ghostly apparitions in the light.
"What’s the matter?"
"Still the Child Scholar, Lu Chang’sheng!" the ssenger said, and explained.
"Hmm? He’s talented, I’ll give him that! Send soone—if he’s willing to join us, we’ll carve him a spot in the next Heaven-Reaching List."
On the sixth day, the small festival ended and the main event began.
The door swung open once more.
"Still him?"
"Yes! All the river scholars say the boy is Advanced Scholar material!"
"The Heaven-Reaching List cannot be changed!"
Day seven, eight... day ten.
"All scholars of Black Mountain Prefecture say this boy should be this year’s Advanced Scholar!"
Silence ruled inside.
At last, a voice said, "We can make room for one—rank him ninety-eight!"
Just as the words landed, another man entered, glancing over but saying nothing.
"Go ahead—don’t tell , it’s about Lu Chang’sheng again?"
"Yes."
"So what’s the latest praise for him?"
"Top Scholar material—this year’s champion!" the ssenger replied quietly.
"Hohoho~ That’s quite a reputation! Does he really think none of us have tempers? Think his fa can protect him?"
"Ridiculous!"
"Naive!"
A wave of angry voices echoed all around.
The two ssengers broke out in a cold sweat, heads bowed in silence.
The n gathered here—they were giants of Black Mountain Prefecture, capable of swaying Jinghua Prefecture itself.
They thought: If only Lu Chang’sheng had stopped before this last push, he could’ve snagged rank ninety-eight. Now, he’s pissed off the bigshots and gets nothing.
But just then, a voice called out from outside.
"Qin Ming requests an audience!"
"What’s the matter?"
"Lord Xu Yuan says: I urge you all to proceed with caution."
After that, footsteps, and the speaker was gone.
The atmosphere inside instantly turned heavier.
"So, that’s Xu Yuan’s stance?"
"He’s warning us not to go too far!"
"So what now?"
"Now is not the ti!"
"Then—this year’s Top Scholar?"
Long silence ruled the room.
Finally, a voice whispered, "Lu Chang’sheng!"
As soon as he finished, another followed: "Lu Chang’sheng!"
"Lu Chang’sheng!"
"Lu Chang’sheng!"
"Lu Chang’sheng!"
······
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