Thinking this, Edward Jr. Sutton picked up the incense, lit it with a fire striker, and offered three sticks. After a moment’s thought, he took a cold steamed bun wrapped in oiled paper from his robe and placed it on the table as an offering... out of sympathy.

Of course, if the gods don’t eat the bun and a hungry child steals it, that’s fine too.

“The skull is the ancestor’s remains. Now that graves are unsafe, it’s not too late to bury it again after things are settled.” Outside, the gloom deepened. Edward Jr. Sutton wrapped the skull in cloth, sat by the bonfire, ate meat in big bites, and, by the firelight, took out a book to read.

To be honest, reading after killing someone would surely shock outsiders. In fact, Edward Jr. Sutton also felt his own temperament was a bit unusual. In his previous life, after injuring someone, someone advised him: “With your personality and martial skills, you’re bound to get into trouble. Why not take the civil service exam—working in government is good for self-cultivation.”

Edward Jr. Sutton thought this made sense, so he reviewed his studies for a year and passed the exam in one go. Unfortunately, he died just after passing the interview.

Now, having solved one problem but planted another hidden danger, Edward Jr. Sutton was even more determined to cultivate himself through government service. But reading wasn’t just for last-minute cramming; there was a purpose behind it.

“So the gentleman is harmonious but not accommodating, how strong and upright! Neutral and not biased, how strong and upright! When the country is governed by the Way, he does not change; how strong and upright! When the country is without the Way, he remains unchanged unto death; how strong and upright!”

As soon as he finished a chapter, the words [Experience +1] floated up from the book and vanished in an instant. Edward Jr. Sutton remained expressionless and continued reading aloud.

“To chop an axe handle, the pattern is not far. Holding an axe handle to chop another, you glance at it and still think it’s far. Thus, a gentleman governs others by using people, correcting and stopping. Loyalty and forgiveness do not stray far from the Way. What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.”

Again, the words [Experience +1] floated up from the book.

“So it really is like this!”

According to his tests, experience actually increased his understanding. Each chapter read gave a bit of forced experience. Even though not much could be accumulated in half a night, little by little, it added up, and it was already much faster than ordinary scholars.

His mastery of the Four Books and Five Classics was only at level 3. According to the state of his understanding, the deeper his comprehension, the more experience he gained, and the better the textbook, the same applied.

But the problem with textbooks in this era was that good ones were all closely guarded secrets of various families. Without connections, you couldn’t even hand-copy them, let alone see them widely printed.

Some people short on money would publish some contemporary essays, but these not only used traditional characters without punctuation and had complex sentence structures and meanings, but their content was also often convoluted. Even if there was real insight within, it was like gold hidden among gravel.

Moreover, the authors themselves had their own academic backgrounds. Without understanding these schools of thought, the threshold for later learners was too high. This was a common tactic of the gentry class—crude but effective. Edward Jr. Sutton had no way to resist it.

What was clear was that if he couldn’t quickly acquire knowledge and form a system, if he failed this exam, not only would the trouble from killing erupt, but after his father’s death, the fear of hunger and insecurity, the complicated feelings of a proud young man being supported by the girl next door he grew up with, still lingered in his heart.

After awakening, his mature mind could control all this, but he also knew that simply suppressing it wasn’t a solution.

It’s better to channel than to block—thoughts must flow!

Isn’t it just the imperial exam?

Let’s see how hard this ancient ladder to the heavens really is!

At least with this cheat, every time I read, I automatically understand a bit more. If once isn’t enough, I’ll read a thousand or ten thousand times—let’s see who can stop me!

I will definitely pass as a xiucai and a juren!

The fire flickered gently in the ancestral hall, caused by cold wind blowing through the cracks in the windows and doors. Even though he could warm himself by the fire, Edward Jr. Sutton still had to rub his hands and move around from time to time, or else he’d still feel cold.

After moving around a bit, he sat down again, holding the book and reciting. Just then, a caravan of carriages slowly approached on the road.

Chapter Four: Pointing at a Fox as a Wife

It is said that the coldest time is when the spring snow melts. Now, in the middle of the night, it was getting even colder. Even while moving, the nearly frozen servant, seeing a shrine ahead, immediately reported to the carriage: “Madam, Miss, there’s a shrine up ahead. Should we stop and rest here? We’re not far from Linhua County, but it’s not yet time for the city gates to open. Even if we hurry, we’ll have to wait at the gate.”

“Then go see if there’s anyone in the shrine. If there is, ask if we can rest inside.” A woman’s voice sounded from inside the carriage. Though deliberately calm, it still made the steward’s heart flutter.

He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look at the jade hand lifting the curtain, and replied, “Yes, Madam.”

“Wait, let Stephen go ask.” For some reason, the person inside suddenly changed her mind. Soon after, a maid got down from the carriage. Though just a maid and still young, her features were as delicate as a painting, especially her bright eyes, which carried a hint of charm for no reason. She had been given the surname Hu by her mistress and was the head maid, Stephen Brooks.

The steward had only recently been promoted and didn’t understand why the second wife of the Hu family dared to use such a beautiful maid. After all, most mistresses disliked such beauty. But as a servant, not as close to the lady as the maid, he dared not show any sign and had to keep a smiling face.

Stephen Brooks was efficient. She went straight over and knocked on the door. Edward Jr. Sutton heard it from inside and asked, “Who is it?”