Thinking of this, King Duan quickly followed Lin Mubai's footsteps. Then, he felt that he should do something to help his father.
However, today was Ping Yang's birthday banquet. Discussing matters of the court here would spoil the atmosphere.
King Duan Lin Xinjue understood this very well. Hence, he suppressed his thoughts. However, the smile on his face grew wider and wider.
…
No one deliberately discussed what happened between Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang in the pavilion. This was because, with the arrival of Emperor Lin Mubai, Ping Yang's birthday banquet had officially begun.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong personally came to invite Chi Guyan to sit at the main seat. However, Chi Guyan simply replied that there was a difference between a ruler and an official, and sat beside Fang Zhengzhi.
Seeing this scene, Emperor Lin Mubai's expression did not change.
It was obvious that he agreed.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong was not too surprised. He merely said a few more things about how this was Ping Yang's birthday and how he and Ping Yang had been like sisters since young. Then, he sat beside Emperor Lin Mubai.
Seeing this, Fang Zhengzhi finally understood why Chi Guyan chose to enter the Heaven Dao Pavilion a year ago. Politics was filled with all sorts of schemes and plots.
Even something as small as a seat had all sorts of considerations.
Fang Zhengzhi felt that he should not become an official. Or rather, he did not want to become an official. It was not because he was afraid of losing, but because it was too tiring.
If he had to choose …
He would definitely choose to become an idle official.
"Come, today, I shall use Ping Yang's birthday to drink with all of you!" Under Emperor Lin Mubai's lead, the officials and nobles all raised their cups to celebrate Ping Yang's birthday.
After three rounds of drinking, some of the nobles started to get restless. They began to suggest some poetry recitations to liven things up.
After all, it was a rare opportunity to showcase their talents in front of Emperor Lin Mubai.
After the Great Xia Dynasty was established, it used the Law of Dao as its foundation. It controlled the Dao of All Creation. One could see the flourishing of literature in the country. Emperor Lin Mubai naturally would not object to seeing the talents of the youths.
Then, some of the nobles threw out poems or couplets.
Fang Zhengzhi did not care about this. He always felt that reciting poems or couplets was too unskillful. Especially the couplets. He reckoned that he could just casually copy some classic couplets and he would be able to scare these people to the ground.
Therefore, his attention was focused on Chi Guyan.
Today, Chi Guyan was still as stunning as ever, her jade-like skin emitting a faint brilliance. Her body was also emitting a faint fragrance.
However …
These were not what attracted Fang Zhengzhi.
Fang Zhengzhi's gaze landed on Chi Guyan's hands. It was a pair of slender, white hands. They were very clean, and she was holding a three-legged wine cup made of pure silver.
Chi Guyan was drinking.
Most importantly, Chi Guyan was drinking very quickly. She poured cup after cup into her mouth, unable to stop at all.
Fang Zhengzhi smirked.
He had never seen Chi Guyan drink, at least not during the Divine Constabulary banquet. He did not know why Chi Guyan would drink today.
But that was not important. What was important was … He had already decided to wait until Chi Guyan's face was red from drinking and she was so drunk that she couldn't even stand properly. Then, he would immediately take advantage of her precarious situation and issue a challenge.
At that time, in front of so many people, Chi Guyan would probably be too embarrassed to reject?
Even though it was somewhat shameless, but to be able to do it in front of Emperor Lin Mubai, the Crown Prince, King Duan, and the other princes … To beat Chi Guyan to the ground in front of all the officials and nobles?
Just thinking about it made him excited.
Therefore, he began to wait …
After Chi Guyan had drunk more than 20 cups. Fang Zhengzhi still did not wait for Chi Guyan to show any signs of drunkenness. There was not even a trace of redness on her stunning face. It was still as clear as white jade.
Fang Zhengzhi was very disappointed.
Did a woman have to hold her liquor to this extent? Did she not give any man a chance at all?
At this moment, Chi Guyan seemed to have noticed the strange expression on Fang Zhengzhi's face. A faint glimmer of light flashed in her starry eyes.
"Do you want to compete?"
"I don't drink!" Fang Zhengzhi calmly pushed the cup in his hand to the side. Then, he minded his own business and poured himself a cup of tea.
He always remembered a famous saying. On the dining table, one should never compete with a woman in drinking.
Especially do not compete with women who drink, because such a woman can often drink the whole table of people down.
Then, Fang Zhengzhi thought of Chi Guyan's background. What kind of place was the Divine Constabulary of the Northern Lands?
The Iron Blood Marquis family.
A woman who grew up in the Iron Blood Marquis family …
Alright.
Fang Zhengzhi suddenly felt that he was still a little too naive. If Chi Guyan drank, then she definitely would not be drunk.
When the officials and nobles heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, they instantly rolled their eyes. From the beginning of the banquet until now, Fang Zhengzhi had been drinking. Now, he could say that he never drank?
Who would believe him?
Just as they were thinking about this.
Chi Guyan spoke again, "Mm, not drinking might not be a bad thing."
The officials and nobles felt as if they had been slapped in the face. Chi Guyan actually believed him?
King Duan Lin Xinjue naturally saw the scene of Fang Zhengzhi and Chi Guyan sitting at the table.
From the beginning to the end, he had been watching Fang Zhengzhi's actions. Especially when the nobles proposed a poetry competition, his eyes never left Fang Zhengzhi.
But, Fang Zhengzhi was too calm, as if he could not hear the voices coming from beside him.
"So this is his weakness!" A ray of light flashed in King Duan's eyes.
His thoughts had always been on the Imperial Examinations. However, after interacting with Han Changfeng, he also knew about the situation at the River of Trust Province Theory Examinations.
Fang Zhengzhi's theory examinations were very good.
Whether it was the Book of Dao or the formation of troops, he could even recite the Law of Dao without missing a single word.
On this point, even Han Changfeng had to admit that it was basically impossible to defeat Fang Zhengzhi in the Theory Examinations. Unless he bribed all the invigilators in one go.
But the risk of doing so was too great. For Fang Zhengzhi. Han Changfeng would not take this risk, and neither would King Duan.
Then …
The best way was to tamper with the questions and find Fang Zhengzhi's weakness. Then, increase the proportion and score of this question.
If that was the case, no matter how good Fang Zhengzhi's answers were in other areas, he would not be able to enter the First-Class Roll of the Theory Examinations.
"Born in a mountain village … naturally he would not have the leisure to compose poetry! Even if he wanted to … no one would go against him? "The more King Duan thought about it, the more he felt that this was possible.
At this moment, a nobleman dressed in a green brocade robe walked to Fang Zhengzhi's side.
"I heard that Young Master Fang topped both the theory and combat examinations in the River of Trust Province Examinations. Today, I am here to learn from Young Master Fang! "As he spoke, the green brocade robed nobleman prepared to speak.
When the other noblemen saw this, they were all waiting for Fang Zhengzhi to make a fool of himself.
At this moment, Fang Zhengzhi was counting how many cups of wine Chi Guyan had drunk. He was trying to gauge her alcohol tolerance. He did not have the time to spar with these noblemen.
He waved his hands.
"I'm not free!"
These words sounded like an elder expelling a naughty child.
The green brocade robed nobleman's expression changed. He was here to use Fang Zhengzhi to showcase his talents. How could he let this go?
Just as he was about to speak.
A voice rang out from the host's seat.
"It is said that the second young master of the Tian Family, Tian Muyu, has the reputation of being a 'matchmaker'. I just heard you say that you can spar with him. Would you like to spar with me? "
Tian Muyu, who was dressed in a green brocade robe, turned around and saw that the person who spoke was King Duan, Lin Xinjue.
Suddenly, he didn't feel too good.
Spar with King Duan?
Would he dare to win?
Tian Muyu definitely did not dare. However, he could not reject. As such, he could only grit his teeth and bow to King Duan.
"Your Highness, since you are in such a mood, Muyu will add to your enjoyment!"
Such a scene naturally fell into the eyes of the crowd.
In that instant, the hearts of all the court officials and aristocratic scions surged with waves that reached the heavens.
King Duan was obviously trying to help Fang Zhengzhi escape. In other words, he was purposely protecting Fang Zhengzhi.
However. What was the reason behind this?
No one understood.
However, many speculations could not be avoided.
For example: Fang Zhengzhi was King Duan's man? Or, King Duan was trying to distract Fang Zhengzhi. Therefore. Was he trying to save Fang Zhengzhi's face in front of Emperor Lin Mubai?
Some even guessed that King Duan was trying to use Fang Zhengzhi and Chi Guyan's relationship to pull Chi Guyan to his side.
Emperor Lin Mubai did not say much.
However, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's eyes glimmered. After all, Fang Zhengzhi was too sensitive. Anything that had to do with Fang Zhengzhi. Anything related to Fang Zhengzhi was not as simple as it seemed.
…
Tian Muyu's fate was naturally bleak.
King Duan sent out three pairs, yet he could not match any of them. In the end, he fled back to his chair.
"Smack!" A loud slap landed on Tian Muyu's face.
The one who slapped him was an old official. "I told you to study and write, yet you always cause trouble outside. Have you become a joke today?"
This was naturally scolding Tian Muyu. However, it was also a way to protect Tian Muyu.
Tian Muyu immediately knelt down and swore that he would work hard in the future.
Putting aside the acting skills of the old and the young, this slap was a solid one. Then, the aged official turned to King Duan and started to praise him incessantly. He also asked King Duan to give pointers to the useless Tian Muyu in the future.
King Duan Lin Xinjue waved his hand lightly and did not say anything else. He continued to drink and eat, as if he had never won against Tian Muyu.
Protect Fang Zhengzhi?
Naturally, it was impossible. However, King Duan Lin Xinjue's thoughts were extremely meticulous. He did not want Fang Zhengzhi's weaknesses to be exposed prematurely. If that was the case, his suggestion to increase the number of points for his poems and couplets in the Imperial Examinations would arouse suspicions.
Furthermore, there were still a few days before the Imperial Examinations. Even though there was not much time, he did not want Fang Zhengzhi to know his weakness.
Who knew if Fang Zhengzhi would try his best to learn how to match couplets in the next few days?
King Duan did not forget that Fang Zhengzhi still had Yan Xiu, who came from an aristocratic family.
To destroy a person, one must first inflate his ego!
…
The birthday banquet ended in such an atmosphere. The officials showed their faces and the aristocratic families also showed their talents. All of them were in high spirits.
After Emperor Lin Mubai left, the Crown Prince and King Duan also took their leave.
Fang Zhengzhi looked at Ping Yang, who was blinking her eyes at him. He knew that if he didn't leave now, it would be difficult for him to do so.
Without waiting for the Crown Prince and King Duan to leave, he quickly followed them.
Unfortunately, this scene was witnessed by all the courtiers. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with doubt and speculation.
This was especially so for Han Changfeng. He stared intently at King Duan and Fang Zhengzhi. His eyes glimmered as his brows furrowed into a deep crease.
…
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