Every year, on the Sacred Ancestor Sacrifice Day, the emperor would personally go to the ancestral mausoleum to offer sacrifices. The Imperial Historian's Library would choose six students to attend the ceremony. This was a great opportunity for the emperor to show his face, and the twelve prefectures' Yixue families wouldn't miss it.
However, the Taishi Library had its own rules. Every year, the six candidates were not only the children of the capital's aristocratic families, but they would also choose young teachers from the north and south according to their discretion. On one hand, it would avoid being accused of nepotism, and on the other hand, it would not bury true talents.
Thus, Academician Shangguan recommended Qin Yuerou because last year, Academician Qin and Academician Dou recommended a junior from the Shangguan family. This year, the Shangguan family and Dou family didn't have any new students. The Imperial Historian's Library would inject new blood every three years, and this year, they couldn't recommend old people. This was another rule that everyone tacitly agreed on.
Without a doubt, no one disapproved of Qin Yuerou attending the ceremony on the Sacred Ancestor Sacrifice Day. After a few simple questions, the eighteen academicians unanimously agreed.
The next two male students were also from the Anling aristocratic families. Their rankings in this year's Grand Yan Examination weren't low, and one of them was a sixth-grade Yixue Master.
Yu Shu could see that including Qin Yuerou, these three people were already set in stone. Today, they were just here to go through the motions.
As for the remaining three people, including Yu Shu, they weren't from the Anling Twelve Prefectures' aristocratic families. Just based on their names, it was obvious.
What made her slightly surprised was that Han Wenguang, who was a master of the Three Predictors, recommended a Xiaoyi Master named Sun Jun. He was also from a humble background.
The academicians were obviously harsher on Sun Jun. Not only did they ask a few difficult questions, but the academician who taught physiognomy also called Sun Jun in front of him and carefully looked at his palms and palms.
Sun Jun was about the same age as Qin Yuerou, but he didn't look very smart. When he answered, he stuttered a few words, causing the academicians to frown slightly. However, they tactfully expressed their dissatisfaction to Han Wenguang and didn't directly oppose him.
However, Han Wenguang only said one sentence to suppress these complaints.
"Although the Sun family is now in decline, their ancestors are the military school of Qi Men Dun Jia. Their ancestors have passed down a book called 'Ghost Valley Seven Chapters'. Sun Jun has already offered this strange book to the Taishi Library and temporarily stored it with me. I will take it out and read it with my colleagues in the next few days. This child's righteous action shows his moral character. Is it not enough to pay homage to the heavens? "
Yu Shu thought to herself that she did not know the content of the Three Chapters of the Haunted Valley, but she could guess its value from the expressions of more than ten academicians present. Since Han Wenguang had openly invited everyone to have a piece of the pie, no one would be stupid enough to make things difficult for him. This was not making things difficult for Han Wenguang, it was making things difficult for themselves. Even Fang Zijing, who had always been at odds with Han Wenguang, just blew his beard and acquiesced to this matter.
After Sun Jun, there was only Yu Shu and another girl left. Yu Shu then looked at the delicate girl in a pink skirt. She just felt that she looked familiar, but for a moment, she couldn't remember where she had seen her.
At this time, Academician Kong, who was sitting on the right side of Academician Shangguan, was the old master of the Kong family, one of the twelve aristocratic families of the capital.
"After discussing with Academician Xie and Academician Jing, I am willing to recommend Miss Zhan from Jiangxi, the 39th place in Fengshui this year, Level Nine Master Yi Zhan Xueyuan."
Yu Shu now remembered that Miss Zhan in front of her was not one of a group of female students who were summoned to the small building for questioning because Jing Chen was suspected on the second day after the Stargazing Platform murder. At that time, these delicate girls spoke to protect Jing Chen and even accused the deceased Cao Youling of improper behavior. It could be said that Yu Shu did not have a deep impression on her.
Thinking of this, Yu Shu looked up and found the indifferent figure of Jing Chen among the eighteen chairs. She looked at him silently, and her mood was surprisingly calm. The depression and unwillingness of the previous parting gradually disappeared in the disappointment again and again. What was left was only a few inexplicable feelings of loss.
When she could stay out of the matter, she understood that a man with a special background like Jing Chen had too many involuntary actions. He could sacrifice himself for the greater good, but Yu Shu was a self-respecting, selfish, and self-centered person. There was such a clear difference in essence. Even without Shui Yun's involvement, they would eventually go their separate ways.
Yu Shu looked on coldly. The academicians did not make things difficult for Zhan Xueyuan like they did for Sun Jun just now. Seeing that she answered a few simple questions, they approved of her cleverness.
After everyone nodded, Zhan Xueyuan blushed with joy. She secretly glanced at Jing Chen, then retreated to the door and stood together with Qin Yuerou and the others.
Yu Shu did not care about this short scene because Fang Zijing had already spoken. After waiting for a long time, it was finally her turn.
"This year's Grand Yan Examination is in an eventful period. First, the Celestial Commissioner's officials practiced favoritism and committed fraud. The Astrology Section issued a white list, and the Mystic Arts Section actually did not have a champion. Next, the Arithmetic Section unexpectedly produced a female fortune-teller."
The first thing Fang Zijing said seemed to have nothing to do with the main topic of the day, but after thinking about it carefully, the three things he said were all related to Yu Shu.
"I'm sure everyone here has heard of this young female fortune-teller. This old man, Madam Lu, and Academician Sima recommended her."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Shu instantly felt more than ten pairs of eyes fixate on her. Their gazes were not reserved at all. None of the five people in front of her had "enjoyed" this kind of special treatment. Even though she had seen many big scenes and was very calm, facing this group of old and shrewd elders, who added up to almost a thousand years old, was enough to make her feel uncomfortable.
There was pressure, but she would not cower. The Imperial Historian's Library was a place with rules. She was a fourth-grade fortune-teller. In terms of rank, among the academicians present, there were not many who were stronger than her.
However, even if she thought this way, others might not take it seriously.
"Yu Suanzi is indeed one of the most outstanding of the younger generation who entered the Academy this year. However, I heard that Yu Suanzi gambled with someone, humiliated them in public, and stole their seal. I personally feel that such an unruly, impulsive, and reckless woman is not suitable to participate in the solemn scene of ancestral worship. "
Yu Shu originally thought that they would more or less raise a few academic questions for her to perform and then make things difficult for her. Who knew that the higher-ups would directly reject it. The reason was that she had caused a ruckus at the banquet at Wang Ji Lou last month. Her words were righteous and unruly. To put it bluntly, she didn't swallow her anger and instead slapped Han Wenguang's face in public.
The person who spoke was Academician Gao, who looked to be in his fifties. He was considered young among the group of white-haired old people. Yu Shu had seen him once from afar. At that time, Xin Liu had pulled her to identify him, reminding her that the Gao family and the Han family were in-laws. Since she had offended Han Wenguang, it was best not to think about worshiping this Academician Gao as a disciple. Yu Shu did not care at that time. With her level of knowledge in mathematics, she had never planned to study at the Imperial Historian's Library.
Yu Shu looked at Han Wenguang, who was sitting calmly in the seat of honor, and sneered to herself.
Now that this Academician Gao had made it clear that he was in cahoots with Han Wenguang, it was not appropriate for her to defend herself on such an occasion. What kind of people were there? Black and white had their own conclusions. If she could not make it clear with a few words, it would instead make her seem rash.
Therefore, she turned to look at Fang Zijing, thinking that Fang Zijing was the one who recommended her, shouldn't he speak up for her?
Fang Zijing didn't say anything, but the other person whom Yu Shu met for the first time today said, "What's the matter?
"Where did Academician Gao hear this rumor? Why is it different from what I have heard? It wasn't that Yu Suanzi was holding a banquet to entertain his guests, but there just had to be someone who didn't know what's good for him and chose to come and challenge him on his wedding day. Not only did he fail to pick a fight, he was ridiculed instead. How could it be that Yu Suanzi's words and actions were wrong? After all, she was personally chosen by the Celestial Commissioner, and her name was on the Celestial Commissioner's list. How could she let a few villains talk about it? If she did not speak up, then she would be a good-for-nothing. "
The woman sitting on the right side of Fang Zijing was in her thirties. She had a pair of phoenix eyes and a smile, but the words that came out of her mouth were full of sarcasm.
Yu Shu had no doubt that this beautiful and sharp-tongued woman was the famous Madam Lu at a glance.
Guessing her identity, Yu Shu quickly figured out why the other party would speak up for her. Han Wenguang was ambitious and wanted to be the leader, break away from the Celestial Commissioner, and set up his own organization. He tried to use Yu Shu as an opportunity to smear the face of the Celestial Commissioner. All kinds of calculations, the Celestial Commissioner would definitely be aware of later, so how could she not be angry with Han Wenguang?
After the banquet at Wangji Building, Han Wenguang's faction did not make any moves for a month. Presumably, he was suppressed by the Celestial Commissioner, so he did not act rashly. But even so, Madam Lu, who had just stepped down from the Celestial Commissioner's position not long ago, had a conflict with Han Wenguang.
At this time, it was not difficult to understand why she would say a few words for Yu Shu.
Academician Gao's eyebrows trembled because of Madam Lu's sharp rebuttal. He couldn't help but retorted sarcastically. He used the virtue of women to argue, but Madam Lu grabbed him and scolded him.
Everyone present was speechless. It was not that they didn't want to interrupt, but they couldn't.
The result of a quarrel between a man and a woman could be imagined. Yu Shu widened her eyes and watched Madam Lu rudely beat her chest and stamped her feet on Academician Gao. She was so envious of her. When could she get that position? If she was in a bad mood, she would scold whoever she wanted.
In the end, Academician Shangguan, who was the oldest, became the peacemaker.
"Ahem, ahem, listen to me. Let's stop for a moment. Don't let this affect the harmony between us. Whether Yu Suanzi is chosen or not isn't something that can be decided by just one person. Why don't we have a vote? According to the rules, if more than half of the people agree that she should participate in the ceremony, others can't disagree. If not, we will find another candidate. "
Hearing this, Yu Shu didn't care what others thought. She felt unhappy in her heart. To be honest, she didn't have to go to the Sacrifice Day. She stood here and was criticized by a group of people because she didn't want to miss an opportunity to make progress. But it didn't mean that she was willing to be picked like a cabbage. If it didn't work, they would find someone else. She didn't even have the right to speak up.
If she had known that she would face such a passive situation in Rongsheng Hall, she might as well sleep in and wait for Xue Rui to come back in Wangji Building.
"I agree that Yu Suanzi should participate in the ceremony." Madam Lu was the first to speak, followed by Fang Zijing, Sima Kui, and then Academician Qin who taught Yi Li, Academician Qin who taught arithmetic, Academician Xie who taught physiognomy, and Academician Shangguan. One after another, seven people expressed their agreement.
This was not enough. At least nine people were needed to decide. Two people were not enough.
Seeing this, Academician Shangguan sighed and confirmed, "Is there anyone else who wants to say something?"
No one answered. Yu Shu lowered her head. In the eyes of others, she looked a little discouraged.
Some of the young Yi Li teachers who passed looked at Yu Shu with sympathy, while others looked at her with schadenfreude.
But in fact, as the person involved, Yu Shu didn't feel good or bad when she saw this situation. She just felt a little impatient. She wanted to end this voting without human rights as soon as possible and go back to her business.
At this moment, a cold and clear voice rang out.
"I thought Yu Suanzi was qualified to participate in the ceremony."
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