A Poor Exam Candidate in Bianjing Has His Thoughts Overheard by the Grand Tutor

The provincial examination results were posted, and Shen Yan had failed. When the wealthy Zhao Mingyuan mocked him beneath the results board, saying, “A penniless nobody like you thinks you deserve to take the imperial exams?” Shen lowered his head. “You’re right, sir. I deserve the reprimand.” But in his heart, he cursed: [Your father paid three thousand taels for your exam answers. You really think nobody knows?] He had no idea that Zhou Yanzhi, the Grand Tutor to the emperor, was passing by. He heard every word. The Grand Tutor sent ginseng, summoned a doctor to treat Shen Yan’s mother, and arranged for him to attend lessons at his private school. Shen Yan remained respectful on the surface, but grumbled inwardly: [The old man looks at me like he’s interrogating a criminal... Did I offend him somehow?] When Zhao Mingyuan humiliated him in public, the Grand Tutor said coldly, “You. Go stand outside and listen.” When thugs cornered him in an alley to get revenge, the Grand Tutor’s hidden guards appeared out of nowhere. Only then did Shen Yan realize that this cold-faced Grand Tutor had been protecting him all along.