Palace Fighting: Naive Concubines' Ascent to Power-Chapter 484 - Meaning

Lian Musu looked at him encouragingly, "Brother Liang, feel free to speak your mind. I’ve received much help from you and hope to be of assistance in return. Otherwise, I would feel uneasy."

Is that so?

Liang Qi, seeing the sincerity and encouragement in Lian Musu’s eyes, finally mustered the courage to voice a doubt that had always been in his mind, "Brother Lian, why do you wish to take the civil service examination?"

Scholars pursue a career in the civil service to stand out, but is it merely to stand out? What beyond that?

In the past two days, he had spent a long time wondering why he was taking the civil service examination, besides doing it for his grandfather, for what purpose was he doing it.

Lian Musu was surprised and immediately saw the confusion in Liang Qi’s eyes.

To ask such a question is indeed not easy; Brother Liang must be a person with sentiment, not wanting to be like the others.

He smiled faintly, his expression softened yet carried a solemn air, and said very firmly, "For the sake of ’justice.’"

Liang Qi was startled, as he thought it was about the unfairness of this re-examination, "Brother Lian, do you think this exam was unfair?"

Lian Musu shook his head, "Not at all. The fairness, impartiality, and equity of the civil service exams, judged by one’s knowledge and abilities, have always been for oneself to strive for. If I’m not capable enough to pass, it’s completely justifiable that I shouldn’t embark on a political career for the rest of my life. This is the justice for all scholars, and I have no complaints."

"Then what is it?" Liang Qi didn’t understand.

Lian Musu’s eyes gleamed with a bright insistence, and he firmly stated, "The justice I seek is the prosperity of the state, peace across the four seas, all the people well-fed and clothed, with none suffering from injustice, willing to devote my whole life to achieving it, fighting for justice for all under heaven."

Liang Qi was profoundly moved and blurted out, "But nowadays the four seas... the four seas..."

He wanted to say that nowadays the four seas are tranquil, all the people he saw were well-fed and well-dressed...

Under Lian Musu’s gaze, as he spoke, his voice gradually lowered, yet he couldn’t finish his sentence.

"Are you trying to say that the four seas are now tranquil?" Lian Musu’s face was filled with solemnity. Without waiting for an answer, he continued to ask, "Where are you from, Brother Liang?"

"From Luoyang," Liang Qi suddenly felt unable to meet Lian Musu’s piercing gaze, which seemed to see through him.

"How is Luoyang?"

"Very good."

"What about the empire, in your view?"

"The empire is peaceful; the nation is prosperous, and the people are safe."

"And how about the Capital?"

"Thriving like dragon horses and flowing carriages; the people are wealthy."

Through a series of questions and answers, Lian Musu understood why Liang Qi felt that the four seas were tranquil.

Looking at Liang Qi, he continued to ask, "Beyond Luoyang and the Capital City, where else have you been in your life?"

Liang Qi’s face began to heat up, "When I came to the Capital, I passed through Handan City, Baoding Mansion..."

"Besides these?"

Under Lian Musu’s gaze, Liang Qi dared not look him in the eye, shaking his head in shame, "Liang has dedicated over twenty years exclusively to studying. I came to the Capital mainly to enter the Imperial Academy. Beyond that, I have never travelled anywhere else."

In Luoyang, he spent his days confined at home reading, rarely even stepping outside his door, and his grandfather allowed no one to disturb his studies.

On his way to the Capital, he traveled by carriage, stopping only to lodge at posts and inns, but even inside the carriage, he read without pause, rarely looking at the scenery outside. He didn’t need to bother with anything else, as servants and attendant students took care of everything.

Upon arriving at the Imperial Academy, where he couldn’t bring his servants and attendant students, he finally learned to wash his own clothes and manage his life, yet he seldom went out even then.

He carried on his shoulders his grandfather’s expectations, and he didn’t dare let his guard down for a moment, thus the thought of going out was almost rare.

Looking at the fervent and pure-hearted person before him, Lian Musu sighed deeply, softening his voice, "Brother Liang, I was forced to leave my home, travelling from the south to the north, from barren lands to wealthy regions, having seen much more than you have."

He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance, "His Majesty has been wise since his ascension, appointing people based only on their merits, striving to govern diligently, quelling internal strife, reviving the livelihood of the people, and recently even pacified the turmoil in the west, terrifying the foreign states. Now there are no wars under heaven, and the lives of the people are thriving, saying that the realm is in peace is not an exaggeration."

Before His Majesty’s ascension, the people were struggling to survive, which he had seen as well. Their family’s town was relatively affluent, and the people somewhat stable, but outside that area, there was devastation too painful to witness.

Compared to that time, it was already much better now, but not enough, far from it. If it were enough, why would his family have fallen into misfortune without reason, and why wouldn’t he be reunited with his younger sister, and why were the wrongs done to them still unrectified, and the wrongdoers still at large?

"What you said earlier, Brother Lian..." Liang Qi looked up, the person before him had a clear and handsome face, his eyes bright like stars and holding emotions that Liang Qi couldn’t quite understand, which made him halt his inquiry.

Lian Musu turned his head to look at him, suppressing the emotions in his eyes, smiled at him, and continued, "Brother Liang, if peace in the realm only means people need not be displaced, have roofs over their heads, and most people not starving to death, then indeed, it is peaceful."

He spoke with a touch of compassion, "The world is so vast, Brother Liang, I have seen countless injustices where the wronged had no recourse, I have seen families selling their children to survive famine years, I have seen beggars wandering the streets, people freezing to death for lack of clothing in winter, and I have seen wicked people bullying the meek. Not every place is like the Imperial Capital or Luoyang, out of sight in remote areas, many injustices still prevail."

Liang Qi’s eyes widened as he realized something.

Lian Musu patted his shoulder, "Brother Liang, there are many more things to be done in this world. If you are unsure why to take the imperial examination, then do it so that someday everyone can eat their fill and wear adequate clothing, and everywhere will be like the Imperial Capital and Luoyang."

After saying this, he slowly walked away.

Liang Qi was profoundly moved, staring blankly at the person leaving him. Just as the man was about to leave his sight, he couldn’t help but shout, "Is it possible to achieve?"

Lian Musu stopped and turned back to speak frankly, "It is difficult."

Liang Qi was startled.

Lian Musu then flashed a bright smile, "But it will get better and better, just like ten years ago, just like now."

Watching the man depart, Liang Qi felt as if he had been enlightened, his thoughts wildly stirring, unable to calm down for a long time, yet his heart had found a solid place, his body filled with strength.

He had finally found the meaning of his participation in the imperial examination, and his life finally had its true direction and goal.

That man’s brilliance had enlightened him, helping him find a noble purpose in life. His pursuit of a career in civil service wasn’t just for his grandfather or to rise above others but also for himself, to do more with his own flesh and blood and ensure everyone under heaven could eat their fill and wear warm clothes!

This conversation remained engraved in his life forever, and whenever he reached a crossroads in life, he would recall today’s words and remember his original intention.

And the man’s silhouette, he followed for a lifetime...

A shadow passed by in the distance, nearly making him twist his back.

Turning his head, Minister Qin has welcomed someone.