From Companion Scholar to Chancellor

From Companion Scholar to Chancellor Plot:

Lin Yan, a boy from a poor family, became the companion scholar of noble young master Gu Zhao at ten. Gu was playful and always neglected his studies; Lin had to cover up his messes and secretly finish his unwritten essays—all because Master Gu’s rule: “A companion scholar must share the master’s fate.” If Gu was punished, Lin would be kicked out too. But no one expected this little companion, who lacked the qualification for the imperial exam, would shock the court with a heartfelt memorial defending Gu when Gu was framed and imprisoned for offending a powerful official. The emperor admired his talent and granted him special permission to take the exam. Lin then climbed from a low-ranking official to the powerful Chancellor. Yet when he reached the peak of power, he discovered Gu’s “unruliness” was all an act—the seemingly unreliable young master had long secretly included his future in his own life plan.