Chapter 55: Do You Still Not Have Faith in Me?

Li Su didn’t even bother to lift his brow. He was, at present, an obscure figure, and it was perfectly normal for others to doubt him. Once the exam results were out, everything would be clear; there was no need to argue further here.

“Have you finished eating? If so, let’s head back,” Li Su said to the other three.

Lin Ze and Ren Shuhua elegantly wiped their mouths. “We’re done.”

After Li Su left, the scholar who had spoken with them earlier turned to his companions and brought up Li Su. “Did you hear someone just boasting that the top provincial scholar would be none other than himself? Even the official top candidate wouldn’t dare make such wild claims.”

“What a joke. Where is this person now?” Ye Wenshu asked, genuinely curious to see who could be so arrogant.

“They’ve already left, but I’m sure he was just bragging. He didn’t look half as impressive as I am, yet he wants to compete with the official scholar for the top spot.”

“Don’t pay him any mind, Wenshu. He’s just a clown. In my opinion, the top provincial scholar is yours for the taking.”

Ye Wenshu nodded slightly. He hadn’t participated in the exams for the past few years, intending to sweep all three titles in one go. He had never failed to get what he set his sights on.

Their conversation was full of praise for Ye Wenshu, and in their hearts, they truly believed in his abilities.

…

Li Su didn’t take the incident to heart. Qin Ming pursed his lips and said, “That Ye Wenshu sounds impressive, but I think it’s just because they haven’t witnessed your talent yet, Brother Su.”

Ren Shuhua nodded in agreement. In their minds, there was no question Li Su would come first in the exams.

Li Su’s expression remained calm. “Perhaps he truly is talented, or perhaps he’s just been talked up by others. It doesn’t matter—our real skills will be proven in the examination halls.”

Since they were all targeting the same goal, it would simply come down to who was most capable.

Lin Ze stroked his chin and said, “Let’s hurry up and study, too! Why should we be the only ones always getting discouraged by Brother Su? It’s more fun if everyone questions their life choices together.”

He genuinely wished everyone could experience just how “interesting” it was to take the imperial exams alongside Li Su.

While he studied, Li Su didn’t forget to mark out key points for the other three.

The trio trusted him completely; as long as he highlighted something for them, they would memorize it thoroughly, even if it meant staying up all night.

Li Su also came up with a few topics for policy essays he thought were likely to appear in the exam.

For the next few days, the four of them barely left the house and had little interaction with other scholars. They secluded themselves in their rented courtyard, immersing themselves in study and seizing every moment.

Meanwhile, rumors had already begun to circulate outside: Li Su intended to challenge Ye Wenshu for the top provincial scholar’s spot.

At first, Ye Wenshu’s group didn’t know Li Su’s real name. But there were other scholars from Li Su’s county in town.

Unlike Li Su’s group, these scholars didn’t spend all day inside reading; they mingled with others. In their conversations, Li Su’s name came up. When Ye Wenshu’s group inquired further, they realized Li Su was the very same scholar they’d met at the restaurant—the one who aimed to win the top spot.

Ye Wenshu’s friends were quick to spread the word that Li Su had boldly declared his intent to compete with Ye Wenshu for the title.

Most scholars had never even met Li Su, so of course they sided with Ye Wenshu, believing his learning far surpassed Li Su’s.

As for those who praised Li Su’s abilities? They were just country bumpkins from a backwater county, inexperienced and easily impressed—they thought a little talent was something extraordinary, but outside their small world, it was nothing.

The time it took Li Su’s group to reach the provincial capital proved just how remote their county was, and it had never produced any notable talents.

Ye Wenshu’s county, on the other hand, produced accomplished scholars at nearly every provincial exam.

The scholars from Li Su’s county felt wronged and a little indignant, but they couldn’t refute these points. They could only secretly hope that Li Su would win the top spot and put these people in their place.

Though they longed for this outcome, they knew deep down that the others weren’t entirely wrong—Li Su’s chances of coming first were slim.

Li Su, meanwhile, was completely unaware of these rumors. The four of them only stepped out on the day of the exam.

When the scholars from his county who knew Li Su saw him on the road, they spoke earnestly, “Li, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Ye Wenshu is truly formidable, and his father is a scholar as well. Just do your best.”

“Yes, Brother Li, don’t let this affect your performance.”

“Is this the Li Su you’ve been talking about?” Several other scholars came over, sizing him up as if he were a clown with no sense of his own limits, their gazes openly disrespectful. “Other than being decent-looking, I don’t see anything special about him.”

Li Su’s brow furrowed slightly. “Is there something you want?”

Qin Ming glared at the group. “What do you want? Stirring up trouble? And on exam day, no less—is someone behind this, trying to stop us from sitting the exam?”

He wondered if someone had deliberately arranged for them to be delayed and miss the exam.

“We just heard that this Brother Li has made bold claims about topping the exam, so we came to see for ourselves.”

Li Su: “???” He did want to come first, but when had he ever made such grand declarations? He’d never even met these people.

Li Su replied with quiet composure, “A scholar who doesn’t strive for first place isn’t a true scholar.”

They burst out laughing. “You really have no self-awareness!”

“Utter nonsense!”

“Do you have any other business? If not, please step aside. You may not care about the exam, but we do,” Li Su said, his expression unchanged. The faces of the scholars blocking him, however, turned sour—they felt as if they’d punched into thin air.

Li Su wasn’t afraid of trouble, but right now, attending the exam was his top priority. The best way to prove them wrong was to win the title outright.

Lin Ze and Qin Ming shoved past the group, and Li Su strode through the gap with swagger. The other three hurried after him, shooting glares at the scholars who had tried to block their way.

Ren Shuhua pondered; clearly, some rumor had spread without their knowing.

The few scholars left behind, fuming, said, “Let’s head to the exam. As for Li Su, if he doesn’t win, he’ll be the laughingstock of everyone.”

Qin Ming muttered resentfully, “Those people are insufferable. Where do they get the nerve to act so superior?”

Li Su reassured them, “Just focus on the exam and don’t let this bother you.” Letting it affect their performance would be the real loss.

“Don’t tell me you’ve lost faith in me?” Li Su said with a faint smile.

Lin Ze, Ren Shuhua, and Qin Ming exchanged glances, then broke into sudden laughter. Others might not know what Li Su was capable of, but they did. They were already looking forward to the expressions on everyone’s faces when the results were announced.