Emperor CHAPTER 01

 

Chapter 1: A different kind of crossing

Translated by Kumis Muscle Subs

　　

　　It was just after the fifth watch of the night in February, 1505 A.D. It was not dawn, but the voices of people had begun to rang in the city of the Shenjing.

　　

The watchman hurried home, passed in front of the Fulai Building in the west of the city, stepping through the night's remnants of snow, leaving two clear rows of footprints.

　　

The shopkeeper pulled up the door, shivering from the cold wind. After two sneezes in a row, the guy complained in his heart, but he didn't dare to spit out a word.

　　

The three years of the spring exams, the inn is fill with mostly scholars, regardless of whether they are gray-haired or in the prime of their life, they are all masters of Wenquxing, and it is impossible to say which one of the bunch will jump the dragon gate and get the the gold medal list.

 

The shopkeeper repeatedly warned him to watch his mouth and eyes. No one can protect him if he carelessly offended any of them.

 

Putting down the door panel and tidying up his appearance, the man have no time to steal leisure and hurried to the back kitchen to help boil the water.

 

　　Today is the day of the announcement, and everyone will rush to the east of the city early. The shopkeeper had instructed that no one should make mistakes, otherwise half a month's wages will be deducted.

 

"Don't say I'm stingy, wait until the official who announces the good news came then say a few more fortunate words, you won't be worrying about reward. Three years ago, we had a second-class jinshi, and the reward was enough!"

 

　　Thinking of the boss's words, the man's heart was hot, and his footsteps are much lighter.

 

　　On the west side of the second floor, there are five first-class guest rooms in a row.

 

　　The door of four rooms had been opened, and the young scholar wearing short clothes and cotton pants does not call the shop staff. He personally carry the copper basin and green salt and did not care to greet any one. He dressed , wash up, used breakfast, and rushed to the announcement list.

 

　　The only room left was the guest room, which was always quiet and did not make any sound.

 

　　The door of the room was closed tightly, and there was no candlelight.

 

　　The four scholars came out of the room, looking at the guest room that still had no sound, thinking about last night's banquet, the scholars in that room got so wasted. They feel in their heart and think: This one is aware that he is so hopelessness that he doesn’t intend to go to see the examination result?

 

　　"Yang Xiandi?"

 

　　Kindhearted people stepped forward and knocked on the door, worried that the one inside could not think, hanged his neck or swallowed a silver piece, things would be very bad.

 

　　Three years of exams, and many smug people will return home in defeat. Even Tang Yin, who was famous for his talents, fell before the fraud case and could not take the test again for life.

 

　　Thinking of this, the man who knocked on the door was even more worried, and his face showed a bit of anxiety.

 

　　The two were from the same town, and they got along well in The Capital City, so they are genuinely worried.

 

　　"Yang Xiandi, are you awake?"

 

　　After knocking several times, attracting everyone's attention, and finally a creaking sound came from their ears.

　　"Brother Li."

 

　　The door of the room opened, seeing the familiar Lan shirt square towel, the knocker breathed a sigh of relief,

 

　　Standing in the door is a person with a surnamed Yang, first name Zan. And because he is the fourth in the family, people who know him often call him "Si Lang".

 

At this moment, Yang Shilang is wearing a blue Confucian shirt and a square scarf of the same color. He has a long body and a handsome face, with a slight hook at the corners of his mouth, and a three-point smile in his eyes, giving people a sense of closeness.

　　

　　Looking up and down, Li Juzhang suddenly frowned.

 

He traveled to the capital with Yang Zan and spent more than a month together. Not only did he understand each other's temperament, he could also understand him a little bit.

　　

　　Yang Zan was young and successful although he is not arrogant; he was somewhat proud and reckless. In other words, he gives people a sense of sharpness.

 

　　Today, face to face, the sharpness is all gone.

　　It's only been one night, how can there be such a big change?

 

"Brother Li, forgive me, this shidi is thinking about the ranking list. I couldn't sleep well all night, so I woke up a little late." Yang Zan didn't seem to notice Li Juren's strangeness, and pointed at the blue marks on the bottom of his eyes, saying, "Fortunately, Brother Li is here, otherwise, I'm afraid I'll sleep until the sun rises."

 

　　　When speaking, a few embarrassment flashed across his face, along with the faint blue under the eyes, and he was really a little uneasy.

 

　　　Seeing this, even if Li Juren had doubts, he could only press it into his heart, and he gave a few words of comfort, ordered the boy to call for hot water, and told Yang Zan not to miss the time for the announcement, before hurrying downstairs.

 

When Li Juren's back disappeared at the corner of the wooden ladder, Yang Zan closed the door, leaned on the door, took a deep breath, and walked a few steps to the copper basin, looking at the blurred reflection in the water, and couldn't help but smile.

 

　　Things are not what they used to be.

　　Such a ridiculous thing happened to me!

 

He soaked the cloth and gently placed it on his face, the water vapor soaked his cheeks, and there was still a burst of pain on his forehead, as if a thousand cymbals sounded at the same time, making him restless.

　　

　　" Si Lang?"

　　"I'm fine."

　

　Yang Zan put down the cloth towel and turned to the book boy who was waiting beside him.

 

　　At the age of twelve or thirteen, when his generations are still studying, he already has to follow across several places, from Xuanfu all the way to the capital, taking care of everything on the way.

 

“Si Lang, do you want to have some refreshments?"

 

　　Although the book boy also found it strange, he always kept his identity in mind, and he would not spit out half a word of things that should not be said.

 

　　The reason why he changed overnight is not for him to ask. Moreover, after a long time in the capital city, Si Lang was no longer arrogant and sharp, and his actions were much calmer. If you can pass the exam, you will be interviewed at the Sun Palace, and this kind of change may be a good thing.

            "Alright."

 

Seeing Yang Zan nod, the book boy immediately pushed open the door and went downstairs to find tea and snacks.　　

 

Si Lang got up late, he needed to be quicker so he wouldn't fall behind

 

When he left home, his parents repeatedly instructed him to serve Si Lang well, so that he could live up to the grace of the Yang family. Book boys keep it in mind, never forget it, and do things carefully.

　　

　　　Seeing his actions, the people in the same inn praised him a lot, and with that, they also valued the Yang family's heritage.

 

　　One clan, one family.

 

The background of the family heritage can be seen from the words and deeds of the family servant.

 

　　Those who use power to bully others will not last long.

　　Those who are humble and not timid can go a long way.

 

Once Yang Zan crossed over, he changed from a white-collar worker in a private company to a master in the Ming Dynasty. Even if the memory of the original owner remains, he still feels like a spectator, as if he is watching other people's affairs, and it is difficult to substitute himself. He was like a strainger to the book boy named Yang Tu.

　　It is not easy to stabilize your mind and be at this point.

 

　　Fortunately, he was traveling through Beijing, and there was only one book boy beside him. If it was at home in Xuanfu, it would have been revealed in seconds, and burned as a demon. Monks and Taoists would be called to read the scriptures for several days and nights.

 

　　Pretend memory loss?

 

　　Ask all the parents in the world, how can they not recognize their children?

 

　　Nurtured for 17 years, love is extraordinary, but if there is something wrong, it will arouse suspicion. Yang Zan was not happy to see the consequences.

 

　　Sitting at the table, Yang Zan was a little confused.

 

　　When I woke up last night, my brain was chaotic, and the original body was hungover, his eyes were hazy, Yang Zan sat on the bed, froze for a long time, he  pinched his leg and it hurts, only to determine that it was not a dream.

 

　　Yang Xiaoju drank too much, 80% of which was alcohol poisoning, and died.

　　The Yang “white collar worker” inexplicably crossed over and took his place.

　　Why him?

　　Because of the same name and surname?

　　Assuming various possibilities, it was finally confirmed that 100% of them would not be able to go back unless the sky was struck by thunder and the clouds were empowered.

　　Get drunk again?

　　The risk is too great.

 

　　If you really die of drunkenness, the chance of living again is infinitely close to zero.

 

　　The only way out of this is to take one step at a time. As "Yang Zan", at least a good background anyway. It's not like he’s a criminal waiting in his cell readying himself to be executed; so he can't really complain.

 

　　While thinking about it, the book boy brought a pot of hot tea and a basket of steamed buns.

 

　　The lid of the bowl was lifted, the hot steam hit the face, and the three white fat buns crowded together, aroma of meat wrapped around, attracting people's appetite.

 

" Si Lang is late. It's really not too much to eat, and the inn is too busy. After a while, I will ask the store to order a few good dishes."

 

　　Yang Zan nodded his head, knowing that the book boy was not lying. He did get up a little late, so he couldn't blame anyone else.

　　In addition, pure natural grains without genetically modified, no lean meat essence of various kinds of refined pork, the stuff that in the future world can't really get. It's really unreasonable to have to complain.

 

　　A few images suddenly flashed in his mind, Yang Zan's eyebrows moved, raised chopsticks held up a bun, handed to the schoolboy.

　　"You can also use some."

　　The book boy took the bun, and all doubts disappeared.

　　Si Lang is still Si Lang, and the previous worries are completely superfluous.

　　Holding the buns, the boy ate them with satisfaction, his face full of joy.

　　

After he eaten the two buns and picked up the hot tea, his heart was beating.

 

　　Before, he was only concerned with sorting out his memory and paying attention to his words and actions, completely ignoring the most urgent matter of the moment: the release of the examination list!

 

　　The original owner was elected at the age of sixteen. Although he was at the bottom of the list, luck is also an important element. But if they compare all around, with his age It's already rare thing.

 

 

 

 

For the original owner, even if it just a pass to the next level of scholarly tittle, as the bottom of the secondary class he is already satisfied. But Yang Zan condition as in now is only asking for a headache

 

　　Anyone who knows anything about the imperial examination will know that it is not finished after the trial, and there is still a palace examination to face.

 

　　Think about it, sitting in the hall, the examiner is the emperor and the ministers, it is difficult to think about it without a headache.

 

　　If you don't pass, you'll be out of a job at best and go home to cry and pitied yourself. But if you make a mistake in the exam, you will be charged with a royal misconduct, which can endanger your life. Even if not beheaded, pulled down and beaten with a few boards will also kill.

 

　　Can I hope for not passing?

　　

His body is not weak, with his family high hopes on his shoulders, even if he’s not on the list, in three years’ time; he will need to come back and took the examination again.

And if he fails in the next three years, he would took it again and again, the examination are endless.

 

　　　　The idea of reduing the eight-legged essay, Yang Zan lamented a sigh, hugged his head even tighter.

　　The fact that you have the original body's memory in your head does not mean that you can use it freely. The fact that you know the scriptures and allusions does not necessarily mean that you can write a beautiful article.

 

　　It's hard to get to the top, but it's also difficult not to.

 

　　Less than twelve hours after crossing over, Yang Zan sat with his head in his hands, completely in trouble.