The Chang'an Youth Episode 2 Recap
> The Chang'an Youth Recap
Ministers gathered after court to discuss the newly established Shangyi School. Some questioned its necessity, citing the existing Imperial College and numerous academies, while others argued it could be a vital institution for recruiting talents and even training capable generals to strengthen the Great Yu Empire. With the entrance exam looming, Tang Jiuhua diligently tried to guide Shen Yiyi through her studies.
However, Shen Yiyi, whose true aim was to fail the exam and escape their arranged marriage, showed little interest in academics, instead pondering over various food choices for lunch. Tang Jiuhua gently reminded her to finish reciting "The Spring and Autumn Annals" first. Meanwhile, at a tavern, two men were overheard discussing their plan to hire a ghost examinee for the entrance exam, openly admitting their ambition for wealth and official positions.
Dugu Muxue, disgusted by their words, publicly denounced them as "shameless scoundrels" and warned that it would be a "great misfortune for Great Yu and her people if someone like them should become an official." When the men attempted to confront him, Dugu Muxue effortlessly subdued them, declaring they were "not worth its time" for his sword.
In the palace, the arrogant Crown Prince openly taunted the Second Prince, reminding him of his mother's status as a former princess and his own position as the rightful heir. He warned the Second Prince to be sensible if he wished for tolerance. Seeking refuge from the Crown Prince's relentless oppression, the Second Prince pleaded with General Li for help.
He explained that the palace offered no sanctuary and Shangyi School was his only hope for temporary peace, emphasizing his lack of ambition for power. Despite General Li’s initial reluctance due to the Emperor’s potential disapproval, the Second Prince eventually persuaded him, promising to reveal his true identity to his father after enrolling. To further conceal his royal status, the Second Prince adopted the name Li Xinyuan, with General Li posing as his distant uncle.
Yang Zian was engrossed in his studies when his elder brother, Yang Zixu, approached him, announcing his appointment as Shangyi School's Teaching Assistant. Yang Zixu suggested they "work together" if Yang Zian were admitted, to which Yang Zian politely acknowledged their father's instruction for them to "look out for each other."
Yang Zixu, in turn, asserted that as the eldest son and Teaching Assistant, he would be the one to "take care" of Yang Zian, subtly highlighting the superficiality of their relationship before departing for other matters. On the day of the entrance exam, Shangyi School was a bustling hub of activity. Upon entry, an examiner announced that all personal effects were prohibited, and body searches would be conducted to ensure fairness and security.
Shen Yiyi, fearing her disguise would be discovered, attempted to avoid Yang Zian and the search. However, Tang Jiuhua reassured her, promising they would "play by ear." When it was Shen Yiyi's turn, she resisted the examiner's touch. Tang Jiuhua, identifying himself as the "son of the Assistant Minister of War," quickly intervened. He offered his money bag to the examiner, proposing he personally conduct Shen Yiyi's search, which the examiner accepted.
Tang Jiuhua then swiftly performed a perfunctory search, declaring that Shen Yiyi's "small physique" could not hide anything, thus allowing her entry. Other students were disqualified for various reasons, such as birthmarks, shoe lifts, or concealed items like "lucky charms." The Chief Supervisor then announced the first test: a rigorous "long-distance race."
The route began at Shangyi School's training ground, traversed Chang'An Street, the palace's outer corridor, and the palace gate for a mandatory stamp, before returning to the school's finish line. Only the top eighty participants would proceed, with the last twenty being eliminated. Shen Yiyi, surprised by the physical demands after expecting a test of poetry, voiced her concern, but Tang Jiuhua confidently asserted they could "cope well."
Yang Zian, overhearing their casual remarks, scoffed at them, prompting Shen Yiyi to retort by calling him "stinky tofu," reigniting a playful quarrel from their previous encounter. With the Emperor's command, the race began, and the students charged forward. Dugu Muxue and Yang Zian quickly took the lead, exhibiting impressive speed. Shen Yiyi, however, intentionally lagged behind, hoping to fail the exam.
She feigned thirst, claiming she "can't run any further," and later faked a "cramp in her leg," urging Tang Jiuhua to go on without her. Despite her attempts to delay, Tang Jiuhua remained by her side. She also paused to help another student who had dropped their belongings. As the race neared completion, Tang Jiuhua, realizing only two qualifying spots remained, forcefully pulled Shen Yiyi towards the finish line.
Dugu Muxue and Yang Zian claimed the first and second spots respectively, while Li Xinyuan secured forty-eighth. Tang Jiuhua finished in sixtieth place, with Shen Yiyi trailing just behind in sixty-first. Shen Yiyi was secretly pleased, believing she had failed. Tang Jiuhua, despondent about her near miss, lamented, "Just one place behind." During the stamp verification, a significant number of students were disqualified either for failing to acquire a stamp or for having invalid ones.
This unexpected turn of events led to Shen Yiyi and Tang Jiuhua advancing in rank and securing their spots. The examiner then announced a "hidden test" designed to assess the students' "personal qualities," citing examples such as "helping an old man up or helping a pregnant woman." To Tang Jiuhua's delight, and Shen Yiyi's secret dismay, they were the only two who passed this hidden test, resulting in their martial arts scores being advanced by twenty-five places.
Following the martial arts exam, the Chief Supervisor explained that the combined scores of both the martial and literary tests would determine the twenty-six students admitted to Shangyi School. For the literary examination, the Emperor presented a vase with a flower as the subject of their essays. Shen Yiyi, mistakenly believing the results would not be announced for "in over three days" based on Tang Jiuhua's guess, decided to simply draw a stalk of wheat on her paper.
To her shock, after the papers were collected, the Chief Supervisor announced that the results would be revealed immediately. The Emperor personally reviewed the essays. He criticized one student, Hu Mingyi, for "foolish flattery" and awarded him a C grade. He awarded Li Xinyuan and Dugu Muxue B grades for their patriotic sentiments. Yang Zian received an A for his astute observation that "short-lived blossoms are no match for perennial pines," implying that superficial beauty is fleeting.
Upon seeing Shen Yiyi's paper with only a drawing of wheat, the Emperor was enraged, condemning it as "impudence" and ordering her to be taken away for "thirty lashes for contempt of the examination." Shen Yiyi vehemently protested, declaring, "Your Majesty is being unfair!" Faced with the Emperor's wrath, Shen Yiyi boldly argued that the examination rules did not prohibit drawing, only stating the "plant" as the topic.
She then cleverly connected her drawing of wheat to Yang Zian's essay, asserting that while beautiful flowers fade, a simple ear of wheat represents sustenance, which is what truly matters to common people, far more than the symbolism of orchids or chrysanthemums. She further interpreted the Emperor's choice of a flower as an "exhortation" for students to "empathize with the people and to make real progress instead of giving empty promises."
Acknowledging her initial defiance, Shen Yiyi humbly accepted expulsion but pleaded for leniency regarding the physical punishment. Deeply impressed by her eloquent and insightful defense, the Emperor declared, "Well done, Shen Yiyi," not only rescinding her punishment but also awarding her "first in the literary examination to Shangyi School." He remarked that other students, including Yang Zian, Dugu Muxue, and Li Xinyuan, were "diamonds in the rough" who would shine after training at Shangyi School.
Upon learning of Shen Yiyi's successful enrollment under disguise, Lord Tang furiously chastised Tang Jiuhua, condemning their actions as "nothing short of lese-majeste." Tang Jiuhua defended his decision, stating his desire to achieve his dream of attending Shangyi School and protecting Shen Yiyi, who he claimed shared the same ambition. Shen Yiyi, however, openly contradicted him, revealing he had "forced her into it," and offered to withdraw.
Tang Jiuhua swiftly countered that withdrawing after the results were announced would be an even greater act of defiance against the Emperor, risking grave consequences for their family. He reaffirmed his commitment to keeping her identity a secret and promised no one would discover her true self during their four years at Shangyi School. Lord Tang, left with no alternative, reluctantly agreed.
Shen Yiyi privately lamented that her plan to avoid marriage by having Tang Jiuhua attend Shangyi School had backfired, now trapping her there for four years. She resolved to use her time at the school to search for clues regarding her past. The new students were welcomed by Dr. Lin, who was responsible for their daily lives at Shangyi School.
He led them on a tour of the Hall of Boundlessness garden and the renowned Book Depository, which he proudly declared to be the largest in Great Yu. Dugu Muxue inquired if the collection extended beyond Confucian classics, to which Dr. Lin confirmed the presence of all categories, including "mythical stories," organized with indexes.
Shen Yiyi, observing the ancient texts, casually wondered aloud about their monetary value if sold, a comment Yang Zian quickly rebutted by stating that "the value of ancient books cannot be measured by money." Tang Jiuhua defended Shen Yiyi, explaining her remark simply highlighted the books' preciousness and noting her extensive reading as the literary exam champion. Shen Yiyi, however, seized the opportunity to argue with Yang Zian, criticizing his privileged perspective.
She asserted that for ordinary people, basic necessities like food and clothing were far more crucial than the abstract value of ancient books, accusing him of being a "bigot" who, "born with a silver spoon," spouted "empty talk and preaching." Later, when the dormitory assignments were released, students learned that all rooms were doubles and roommates would rotate each term. Shen Yiyi expressed her displeasure at not being able to have a single room, prompting Tang Jiuhua to humorously suggest they share a room, an idea she immediately rejected.
