"Mister!" The figure saw Mister Hua sitting in the pavilion and stopped in his tracks. Then, he quickly walked into the pavilion.
"Sir, are you here to see King Duan?" Mister Hua was not surprised by the figure's actions. Instead, he smiled.
"I would like to ask for King Duan's opinion on some trivial matters." The figure nodded.
"How can the results of the Imperial Examination be considered trivial matters?" Mister Hua's tone was calm, but there was a glimmer of light in his eyes.
The figure moved slightly and slowly took off the cloak covering his head, revealing a youthful face. It was Su Qing, who had stood behind the Crown Prince during the preliminary court examinations.
"Sir, your words are spot on. I, Su, am impressed. What are your thoughts on the results of the Imperial Examinations? I will definitely follow your instructions." Su Qing bowed to Mister Hua as he spoke.
"Official Su, you are too kind. I do not hold any official position in the Imperial Court. At most, I am just a guest in King Duan's residence. I am not qualified to talk to you. I would like to hear your opinion." Mister Hua smiled, but he did not return the bow.
"Sir, you have worked for King Duan for many years and have accomplished many things. How would a lowly official like me dare to speak in front of you? However, since you have asked, I will speak frankly. I hope that you can enlighten me! "Su Qing was not at all displeased by Mister Hua's actions. He continued to bow.
"There is no need. King Duan has been waiting in the study for a long time. Sir, please follow me!" Mister Hua waved his hand and walked towards the study.
Su Qing looked at Mister Hua's back and lowered his head. However, his eyes were glowing and his lips curled into a cold smile.
...
Within the study, Duan Ling Tian Xinjue was not sitting on his chair. Instead, he was pacing back and forth. His brows were furrowed as if he was thinking about something.
Just at this moment, the door to the study was pushed open. Mister Hua walked in with a box of food in his hand. However, he did not take a second step. He stood silently in front of the door, waiting for Su Qing to enter.
Su Qing walked to the door and stood beside Mister Hua. Similarly, he did not take a step further.
Duan Xinjue, who was pacing back and forth in the study room, saw the two of them and his eyes lit up. "Su Qing, you're here. Quick, sit down. Mr. Hua is here too. Quick, come in!"
Just as Su Qing was about to give way, Mr. Hua had already turned around and closed the door. He had no choice but to step into the room first. Mr. Hua followed behind Su Qing and placed the food box on the table. From start to finish, he did not say a single word.
"I was just thinking about the rankings for the Imperial Examinations. You two came at the right time. Tell me what you think." Duan Ling Xinjue looked at Su Qing after he finished speaking.
Su Qing did not decline further. Instead, he walked to the middle of the study and bowed to Duan Ling Tian Xinjue, "With my authority, it is a little overstepping my bounds to discuss the results of the Imperial Examinations. Since Your Highness Duan Wang has asked, I will speak my opinion. "
"Okay, go ahead!" Duan Xinjue nodded and finally sat back on his chair.
"The results of the Imperial Examinations. The Emperor has allowed Your Highness to make the decision. This means that the Emperor trusts Your Highness. However, this matter is not as simple as it seems. Not only does it involve the Emperor, but it also involves the conflict between the aristocrats and the commoners. Your Highness's decision today actually represents the position you stand on. "
"You are right. I know this as well." Duan Ling Tian Xinjue nodded slightly after hearing Su Qing's words.
"Your Highness, what you need to do now is to give and take!"
"What do you mean?"
"What does Your Highness think of the Emperor?"
"Of course it's Yan Xiu."
"Yes, then I would like to ask Your Highness, who is more important in the conflict between the two factions?"
"Of course it's the aristocrats. You want me to give the top spot to Yan Xiu?" Duan Ling Tian Xinjue frowned when he heard this.
"Your Highness is in charge of the Imperial Examinations. I have no objections. However, if this matter is as simple as it seems, I believe that Your Highness would not be so worried right?"
"That's right."
"I would like to ask Mister Hua to make a hypothesis. If Your Highness gives the top spot to Yan Xiu, what would the result be?" After hearing Duan Ling Tian Xinjue's words, Su Qing turned to look at Mister Hua.
Mister Hua was drinking tea by himself. When he heard Su Qing's words, he shook the teacup in his hand. Then, he slowly took another sip.
"It seems like Official Su has made a decision on this matter. As you have said, if Your Highness gives the top spot to Yan Xiu, then the officials will naturally think that Your Highness Duan will follow the will of the people. The Emperor will also accept Duan Ling Tian's suggestion and give the top spot to Yan Xiu, but …" Mister Hua did not stop at the end.
"But what?"
"Most people have overlooked one point. That is Yan Xiu's own thoughts." Mister Hua's eyes glimmered. That was a sign of extreme confidence.
"Mister Hua's words are exactly what I am thinking. If Yan Xiu is given the top spot, but Yan Xiu does not agree to it, I am afraid that it will have the opposite effect. However, if I were to give the top spot to Fang Zhengzhi, not only would I be dissatisfied with it, but I would also lose the Emperor's trust in the court. I would also disappoint the nobles. After thinking about it, I am in a dilemma!" Duan Ling Tian Xinjue nodded.
"Your Highness's foresight is truly admirable. As the saying goes, choose the lesser of two evils. Why don't Your Highness avoid the heavy and dwell on the light?" Su Qing spoke again at this moment.
"Official Su, which of the two do you think is more important?" Duan Ling Tian Xinjue asked.
"On the surface, there seems to be no difference between the two. However, the deeper meaning of avoiding it is not about the weight of the choice, but about the word 'avoid'!"
"Oh? Official Su, please speak! "
"Everyone knows what the Emperor is thinking. However, if we are to talk about it, who does Your Highness think should top the examination?" Su Qing did not speak immediately, instead, he countered with a question.
"If we are to talk about it, it should be … Fang Zhengzhi." Even though Duan Ling Tian Xinjue was somewhat unwilling, he still admitted it.
"That's right, Fang Zhengzhi made history in the Great Xia Dynasty in the Theory Examinations. None of the six scripts were wrong. Even Chi Guyan and Nangong Hao's batches didn't have such glory in the Theory Examinations. In the combat examinations, he dragged Yan Xiu down with him even though he wasn't as powerful as Yan Xiu. Furthermore, he knocked Yan Xiu unconscious. Logically speaking, Fang Zhengzhi should have won. Even if we take a step back, this combat examination can only be considered a draw. "
"That is true." Duan Ling Tian Xinjue nodded.
"Your Highness forcefully gave Yan Xiu the top spot. Naturally, you are following the Emperor's heart. However, the Emperor's heart has always been difficult to predict. The Emperor's greatest fear is for the princes to guess the Emperor's intentions. Even though your Highness's actions are in line with your Highness's wishes, you are not going to break your promise. This is also detrimental to your reputation! "When Su Qing reached the end, his tone subconsciously became heavier.
"What does Mister Hua think?" Duan Ling Tian Xinjue's expression changed slightly. However, he did not immediately reply to Su Qing. Instead, he turned to look at Mister Hua.
"Official Su, you are right. However, I do not understand the word 'avoid' that you mentioned just now. I wonder how Official Su is going to avoid this? "Mister Hua turned to look at Su Qing, a faint smile on his face.
"This is the reason why I am here today!" Su Qing's expression was filled with confidence.
"Official Su, what do you want?"
"This matter seems complicated, but it is actually very simple. Your Highness, you only need to use a few tricks to shift the blame to another person."
"Who?"
"Ninth Prince!"
"Ninth Brother? I see. Ninth Brother is indeed the most suitable candidate to supervise the examinations with me. I almost forgot about him. "
…
The next morning, the sun shone brightly.
As the oldest teahouse in the capital, Fragrance Restaurant had always been a gathering place for scholars from all over the world. Especially during morning tea time, there was an endless stream of people coming and going.
As for the most exquisitely decorated room in the Fragrance Restaurant.
However, not everyone had the ability to enter. However … To the tyrant of the capital, Ping Yang, who no one dared to offend, this was not a problem.
In the private room, Ping Yang was wearing a bright red cloak. Her two slender and smooth legs were casually placed on the tea table. He held a piece of pastry in his hand and slowly placed it into his mouth, savoring it.
Opposite Ping Yang sat a well-dressed young man. He used a small knife to cut the desserts for Ping Yang while watching her eat the desserts eagerly. His face was full of anticipation.
This was none other than the Ninth Prince, Lin Yun.
It was normal for a prince and a princess to have tea and snacks in the Fragrance Restaurant. However, the Ninth Prince's current state was rather pitiful.
"Ninth Brother, you invited me to tea so early in the morning and even brought my favorite pastry over. I'm sure you're not just here to chat with me, right?" Ping Yang swallowed the pastry and leaned back.
"Haha, it's nothing much. As you know, every year at this time, talents from all over the world come to the capital, so …"
"Oh? What's so fun about it? "
"In the past, the gatherings were usually organized by various parties. However, there are too many people in the capital this year. Furthermore, almost all of the top 20 on the Rising Dragon Roll are here. Even the Emperor has to take this seriously, so …"
"So what?"
"He opened the Eastern Suburbs Hunting Ground and personally set up the rewards!"
"Eastern Suburbs Hunting Ground? Hahaha … That's fun. The reward from Father Emperor is definitely not ordinary. Thank you, Ninth Brother, for telling me about this. I have to go and prepare! "Ping Yang immediately became excited when she heard this.
"Eh, wait!" The Ninth Prince shouted when he saw Ping Yang about to get up.
"Ninth Brother, is there anything else?"
"That, you know that the people from the capital cities all have some wealth. Ninth Brother only has the Purple Lightning Dragon Stallion..." The Ninth Prince hesitated.
"No!" Ping Yang rejected him without hesitation.
"One day, can I borrow it for one day? I'll return it to you after! " The Ninth Prince was exasperated. The Purple Lightning Dragon Stallion belonged to him, yet he had to borrow it from Ping Yang.
How could this be tolerated?
…
Inside a uniquely decorated inn.
Fang Zhengzhi had a good night's sleep. Imperial Physician Li was indeed Imperial Physician Li. In just one day, Fang Zhengzhi felt energized. He seemed to have fully recovered.
As the saying goes, humans are iron, and rice is steel. If you skip a meal, you will starve.
The first thing Fang Zhengzhi did when he woke up was to find food. However, before that, he decided to visit Yan Xiu.
Yan Xiu's room was right next to his.
Of course, this was not a coincidence. Yan Xiu had booked the room for Fang Zhengzhi a long time ago.
In Yan Xiu's own words, he did not lack money.
Fang Zhengzhi knew this all along. He did not want to stand on ceremony with Yan Xiu.
The moment he walked out of his room, Fang Zhengzhi saw a burly bearded man standing at the door. The bearded man was standing at the door with a serious expression on his face.
"Young Master Fang!" The burly bearded man greeted Fang Zhengzhi respectfully when he saw him walk out of his room.
He did not address Fang Zhengzhi as Official Fang. This was not because he held a higher position than Fang Zhengzhi. It was because he addressed Yan Xiu as a Young Master.
Fang Zhengzhi knew who this man was.
When he first met Yan Xiu, this man had been beside Yan Xiu. Then, in the River of Trust Capital, he had been by Yan Xiu's side.
However, ever since Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu traveled together, he had disappeared. Fang Zhengzhi could guess why he was here.
"Uncle Tie!" Fang Zhengzhi did not know. He only knew that Yan Xiu called the burly bearded man Uncle Tie. As such, he called him that too.
"Young Master Fang, are you going out?"
"Yes, how is Yan Xiu?"
"Young Master woke up last night and is still resting. Young Master Fang, are you going in?" Uncle Tie asked as he retreated.
"Still sleeping? Then I won't go in. " Fang Zhengzhi thought for a moment and decided not to disturb Yan Xiu. After all, Uncle Tie was here. Yan Xiu should not have any problems taking care of him.
"Okay." Uncle Tie nodded and returned to his original position.
Fang Zhengzhi didn't say anything else. He walked out of the inn and strolled leisurely on the streets, looking left and right for delicious snacks.
Before long, he had five to six snacks in his hands.
As he spoke, he basked in the morning sun. At this moment, Fang Zhengzhi noticed a sneaky looking guy in a black shirt in a small alley by the side of the road.
He was carrying something wrapped in black cloth on his back. It looked like a box.
Fang Zhengzhi had never been very interested in men. However, the way the other party kept winking at him made him a little unhappy.
As such, he decided to give this guy a punch.
He was going to let this guy know the consequences of winking at men.
"Aiya, Young Master, please have mercy!" When the servant saw Fang Zhengzhi's fist, he immediately knelt down and begged Fang Zhengzhi.
"Tell me, why are you scaring people when you are so ugly?" Fang Zhengzhi asked sternly.
"Ah?!" When the servant heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, he instantly felt a little uncomfortable. His pair of black eyes darted around rapidly, "Of course I can't compare to Young Master's elegance. Young Master, you look like a dragon among men. I wonder if Young Master is interested in treasures?"
"Treasures? What treasures? "Fang Zhengzhi's eyes lit up. Was he in luck? He met a thief on his way out?
"Young Master, please follow me. This is a top quality treasure. Be careful not to let others see it!" The servant immediately fawned upon hearing Fang Zhengzhi's words.
"Okay!" Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
Very quickly, the servant led Fang Zhengzhi to a secluded area in the alley. A huge tree blocked the light. It was a good hiding spot.
"What treasure is it, take it out!" Fang Zhengzhi urged.
"Young Master, please take a look!" The manservant didn't have any intention of delaying. He directly took out the thing wrapped in cloth from his back.
It was indeed a wooden box.
It looked exquisite. It was made of redwood and had some carvings on it.
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