"I don't believe that the other Sages won't stop him!"
"They are Half-saint, and their Sages have already fallen."
"There is always a way out, and I believe that there will be a turn for the better."
"Let's hope so. Since Lord Feng went to find Duke Jian Mei, Duke Jian Mei will definitely think of a way to help Fang Yun. "
"Duke Jian Mei is only a Grand Scholar, and even if he becomes a Grand Scholar, he won't be able to stop the Second Sage Clan. However, if the Imperial Examination Inspector of the Sacred Academy really breaks the rules, I'm afraid Duke Jianmei will not sit by and watch. "
Magistrate Dong said, "If that day really comes, Duke Jian Mei won't be needed. I will take control of the entire prefecture's fate, and he will die on the spot. After that, I will commit suicide in front of the Sage Shrine, and let the world know that Jingguo scholars cannot be bullied! "
"Brother Dong is righteous!" Although the officials praised and admired him, they were all sad in their hearts.
Jingguo was too weak.
By the river, Tong Li looked at the joyful smiles of the crowd and heard the cheers everywhere, and a faint sense of regret appeared in his heart, but it was immediately torn apart by the humiliation. If the Holy Pages were gone, then so be it. However, as the descendant of a prestigious clan and the grandson of a third-rank assistant minister, he was unable to tolerate Fang Yun kneeling and kowtowing in front of everyone.
"Gyeongo's trash!" Tong Li's low voice was squeezed out from his throat.
The imperial guard said, "The local officials will host a banquet at Jinghai Restaurant to entertain the participants. My Young Master will also be there, so you should come along."
Tong Li did not dare to refute and walked with heavy steps towards Jinghai Restaurant. As he walked, he thought about how to win back the bet and avoid being humiliated. If he could not avoid it, then he would think of a way to wash it off.
Tong Li walked for a full fifteen minutes before entering Jinghai Restaurant.
At this moment, Jinghai Restaurant's celebration banquet had already begun, and it was grander than any other year.
The scholars of Jade Sea City already knew what Fang Yun said to Juren Qian, and everyone was moved. Those who were dissatisfied with Fang Yun before all punished themselves by drinking wine and apologizing.
The most prestigious old scholars of Jade Sea City also came over to offer a toast, expressing their gratitude to Fang Yun. The attitude of these elders was clear, whoever dared to speak ill of Fang Yun would have to consider the consequences.
Those who were originally optimistic about Fang Yun felt gratified. From now on, Fang Yun would be able to establish himself in Jade Sea City. If the people of Jade Sea City had the ability to decide on the Book Hill quota, even if Fang Yun did not want it, they would still forcefully give it to Fang Yun.
Tong Li did not hesitate to throw dirty water at Fang Yun, but all of it missed.
Gyeongo's people sat at the same table as usual. In the past few years, the people of Jade Sea City would occasionally propose a toast before ending the banquet hastily. But today, other than Magistrate Dong who said a few polite words, not a single person came. The few people from Gyeongo drank together. If not for the fact that they were afraid of being called sore losers, they would have long left.
Especially Shi Dehong, as he drank while looking at Fang Yun who was surrounded by people, his eyes became redder and redder.
Yan Yukong slowly drank and ate, as though this matter did not concern him.
The people of Gyeongo were like flowers in a pot, completely turned into decorations. Even the mugwort and calamus flowers of the Dragon Boat Festival were more eye-catching than them.
When the imperial guard brought Tong Li out, the Peaceful Sea Restaurant quickly quietened down. Some people sighed while others stayed away. Especially those who hated evil, they did not hide their disgust for Tong Li.
Tong Li's face was filled with shame, not because he was wrong, but because he had lost.
Zhao Zhuzhen put down his wine cup and stood up, looking at Tong Li, "Tong Li, now is the time for you to fulfill your promise. You said that if Fang Yun obtained first place in the Dragon Boat Culture Gathering, not only would you hand over the Saint Page, you would also kowtow on the Dragon Head Bridge and give up on this year's capital examination, right? "
Tong Li lowered his head, not saying a word.
"What? You have the guts to slander Fang Yun, but now you don't have the guts to admit it? "Zhao Zhuzhen asked with a cold smile.
Tong Li knew Zhao Zhuzhen's temper the best. He had already violated her taboo by favoring Gyeongo. If he went back on his words in front of her, he would definitely be humiliated even more. He gritted his teeth, facing Fang Yun, quickly kneeled on the ground and kowtowed, then immediately stood up.
"Fang Yun, I was wrong! Tonight I will get someone to hand over the Saint Page, and I will also clear my name of slandering you. At the same time, I will give up on this year's capital examination! " Tong Li clenched his fists as he spoke. Even if he was filled with endless hatred for Fang Yun, he did not dare to express it.
"This matter is over." Fang Yun nodded. Even though he did not like Tong Li, since Tong Li had fulfilled his promise, he would drop the matter.
At this moment, laughter came from the table where the people of Gyeongo were seated.
"You are Tong Li, right? I just heard that you want to compete for Mao Zai? With your guts, what do you have to compete for Mao Zai? I can guarantee that if you cannot defeat Fang Yun once in the future, your palace of literature will be shaken. You may not even pass the county level examination, let alone the provincial level examination. The higher Fang Yun's achievements in the future, the more likely it is that your palace of literature will be destroyed. If you give up on the capital examination today, it means that you have given up on your ambition and the Divine Path! "
"You …" Tong Li stared at Shi Dehong angrily. His body swayed, and then his expression changed drastically. Because his palace of literature was shaken because of this.
Fang Yun did not expect Shi Dehong to be so scheming. Not only did he scheme against Tong Li, but he also schemed against him. He immediately looked at Shi Dehong and said coldly, "What, after losing the dragon boat race, you still want to harm the people of Jingguo and frame me? Do you think such a simple trick can destroy his palace of literature and cover it in dust? "
Many people stared at Shi Dehong angrily.
Shi Dehong smiled and said, "I am only telling the truth. Confucius said, 'Repay hatred with honesty, repay kindness with kindness.' Although you, Fang Yun, are tolerant of him, he only sees it as an exchange of humiliation. He does not think that it is your kindness, so he will not repay kindness with kindness. Since he thinks that you hate him, he must repay hatred with honesty. That is, he will use the method that he thinks is honest to resolve the grudge between the two of you. Tong Li, am I wrong? "
No one refuted him. They were all High Scholars, but they did not have the ability to refute Shi Dehong. Those who had become Grand Scholars were all very old. If they reprimanded Shi Dehong using the classics, it would be bullying the weak. If it led to a debate between the poets, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Although many Gyeongo people were dissatisfied, they could not help but secretly sigh that this person was indeed the disciple of the Lord of Poetry. Not only was he good at poetry, he was also very good at reading people.
Fang Yun sighed softly. He knew that this matter would not end well. If Tong Li was a Grand Scholar, he might be able to refute Shi Dehong. However, he was only a High Scholar and could not withstand Shi Dehong's bewitchment. Now, unless there was a great scholar to wake everyone up, no one would be able to dispel the thoughts in Tong Li's heart.
Tong Li lowered his head and clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked. Shi Dehong's words had hit the nail on the head. He still had resentment towards Fang Yun. He did not dare to repay Fang Yun's hatred with hatred, but he also could not repay kindness with kindness. He could only repay hatred with honesty.
Shi Dehong saw that Tong Li was deeply immersed in it and smiled, "Tong Li, you may not be as good as Fang Yun in the imperial examinations, but you are from a prestigious family. You must be well-versed in the arts and have a huge advantage on Book Hill. In my opinion, why don't you make another bet with Fang Yun. Don't bet on the imperial examinations, bet on Book Hill! The two of you compete on Book Hill. The higher one wins. The loser will destroy his own palace. How about it? "
An old Grand Scholar flew into a rage, "How dare you! The Old Man sees that you are a junior and allows you to spout nonsense. If you dare to harm us Jingguo scholars again, the Old Man will definitely kill you at Jinghai Restaurant! "
Many Jingguo scholars were also angry. Previously, Shi Dehong could only be considered as instigating discord, but later on, he simply encouraged the two of them to kill each other. That way, the Grand Scholars would have an excuse to attack.
Shi Dehong immediately shut his mouth. He would not give others a chance to kill him.
Tong Li suddenly raised his head and looked at Fang Yundao, "Fang Yun, I admit that your poetry is the best among all the scholars in Jiang Zhou. Your Holy Speech is also the best among all the scholars in the world. I am definitely not as good as you in the prefectural examinations. However, as Young Master Shi said, I may not lose to you on Book Hill! I want to make another bet with you! You and I will compete on Book Hill. The one who climbs the highest will be the winner! The loser will destroy his own palace. How about it? "
Fang Yun looked at Tong Li quietly and said slowly, "Tong Li, you and I have no enmity between us. If you don't want the talents of Jade Sea Prefecture, you can tell me and I can go back to Dayuan Prefecture to take the examination. However, you first went to General Gan's house to slander me and spread the news throughout the city. In the end, you got other scholars to block me in the Academy of Literature. It was you who personally cut off our path of negotiation. "
"Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. The first time we met, you spoke ill of me and then forced me to race the dragon boat. You personally added resentment to my heart! In the end, you're blaming everything on me. Your will and benevolence were broken by others, but don't implicate me! As an imperial scholar, why should I bet on destroying my own palace with you? Who gave you the confidence! You have already given up on this year's prefectural examinations, so how can you become an imperial scholar? If you can't become an imperial scholar, how can you bet on Book Hill with me! "
After Fang Yun finished speaking, he calmly drank his tea.
Magistrate Dong said, "Tong Li, Assistant Minister Tong and I are old friends, so I know his temper very well. If you harm Fang Yun, he will definitely cripple you personally. If Fang Yun destroys your palace, he will probably give up everything to take revenge for you. Your choice now is no longer about your own future, but about your entire Tong family! You must not be bewitched by others and lose your will! "
Zhao Zhuzhen said in disdain, "When you were in the capital, I only thought of you as a slightly talented person, but now I know that you are an idiot who doesn't know when to stop!"
Tong Li's face flushed red and his will was shaken again.
Shi Dehong suddenly said, "Fang Yun, you said that a mere scholar isn't qualified to bet on destroying your palace. How about I, a High Scholar, bet with you?"
Everyone stared at Shi Dehong. A few of the Grand Scholars were already prepared to kill him with their sharp tongues if he said anything harmful again.
Fang Yun looked at Shi Dehong and said, "Oh? High Scholar Shi means that if I can surpass Tong Li on Book Hill, you will destroy your palace? "
Shi Dehong laughed and said, "Of course not. If you bet with Tong Li, I will also bet with you, but the conditions are different. When I became an imperial scholar and entered Book Hill, I broke through the second mountain's third pavilion and entered the third mountain's first pavilion. My condition is that if you can surpass me and enter the third mountain's second pavilion, then I will destroy my palace. If you can't, then you will destroy your palace. How about it? Everyone in Jingguo, I am not harming him, right? I am betting that he will become an imperial scholar, so he is the one who is taking advantage of me! "
"Fang Yun, do you dare to bet with me? Do you dare to let me participate in this year's prefectural examination? "Tong Li shouted.
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