"This Fang Yun used to be an idiot who didn't know anything. How did he become so powerful today? What a ruthless method. The head of the case must have been personally appointed by County Magistrate Cai. Offending him is the same as offending County Magistrate Cai. "Shopkeeper Zhen's heart was in a mess.
Fang Yun cupped his hands towards the crowd and said loudly, "I used to work in this Auspicious Restaurant and earned 500 copper coins every month. Just yesterday, Shopkeeper Zhen dismissed me and didn't even give me a single copper coin. He even threatened to kill me. Today, County Magistrate Cai is holding a scholar gathering at Auspicious Restaurant. I went to the banquet on time, but Shopkeeper Zhen didn't let me in. Although I, Fang Yun, am a poor scholar, I still have a backbone. I won't enter Auspicious Restaurant. Tomorrow, I will apologize to the county magistrate. Everyone, please recognize Shopkeeper Zhen and Auspicious Restaurant. Here, we only recognize clothes and not people. "
Fang Yun left after he finished speaking.
Shopkeeper Zhen was hesitant. He saw people looking down from the second floor and subconsciously raised his head. He saw that almost all of the county's big shots were there. County Magistrate Cai, Lord Wang, High Scholar Su, and so on.
High Scholar Su, who was in his fifties, looked at Shopkeeper Zhen with an especially cold gaze.
The county's aristocratic families wanted to befriend the most promising scholar, but the owner of a restaurant actually wanted to drive away the most promising and promising head of the case?
Shopkeeper Zhen was so scared that his face turned pale. He felt as if his bones were frozen. Offending County Magistrate Cai wasn't a big deal. He would leave after his term was up. However, High Scholar Su had been rooted in Ji County for many years. He had three generations of aristocratic families. The consequences of offending him were even more serious.
Shopkeeper Zhen clenched his teeth and quickly followed Fang Yun. "Fang Yun, I had eyes but couldn't see. I didn't know that you were this year's head of the case. Since we've known each other for so many years, please forgive me."
Fang Yun stopped and said, "Shopkeeper Zhen is too polite. You didn't do anything wrong. Auspicious Restaurant is your place. You have the right to not let me in. Of course, since you let me in, I also have the right to not enter. Goodbye. "
Remembering the look in High Scholar Su's eyes, Shopkeeper Zhen hurriedly grabbed onto Fang Yun's sleeve and begged, "Young Master Fang, please forgive me. I was a snob. My eyes are on my buttocks. I only recognize the clothes and not the person. I sincerely apologize. I will compensate you for your wages."
A light cough came from the second floor. County Magistrate Cai said, "If you have something to say, say it upstairs. It's improper to quarrel in the middle of the street!"
County Magistrate Cai glared at Shopkeeper Zhen and then looked at Fang Yun with a smile.
Fang Yun immediately cupped his hands and said, "Since the county magistrate has spoken, this student will naturally comply." After saying that, he stepped into Ji Xiang Restaurant without hesitation.
Only now did he realize that Fang Yun was faking his intention to leave. In fact, he was waiting for County Magistrate Cai to speak. If Fang Yun had insisted on leaving, he would have been disrespectful to the County Magistrate. Therefore, he had deliberately shouted riddles downstairs to attract the attention of County Magistrate Cai and the others. In the end, he had also ruined his restaurant.
"He was pretending before? This kind of scheming isn't much, but it's too scary for a child to do this! "Shopkeeper Zhen suddenly realized that he didn't have any strength to resist Fang Yun.
The two of them went up to the second floor. A tall and strong barbarian was standing at the door of the Heaven Room. Fang Yun took a few more glances at him before walking in.
The Heaven Room was very big. There were already three tables inside and nearly twenty people were sitting at them. At this moment, all of them stood up.
County Magistrate Cai was clearly dressed in casual clothes and even had a smile on his face. However, he still had a kind of subduing majesty. This was his talent, his cultivation, and his official position.
"Speak, what's going on?" County Magistrate Cai asked with a smile.
Shopkeeper Zhen knelt on the ground with a plop and fiercely slapped his own face. He said while slapping, "Reporting to the county magistrate, everything is this lowly one's fault! This lowly one is despicable and shameless. I embezzled Young Master Fang's salary and was blinded by lard. This lowly one is willing to compensate you. "
"Who allowed you to speak?" County Magistrate Cai said indifferently. His tone was very light, but it made Shopkeeper Zhen's hair stand on end. His eyes were filled with fear, as if he was a rabbit being stared at by a lion or tiger.
No one in the surroundings spoke. Almost everyone's eyes were filled with ridicule.
Shopkeeper Zhen lowered his head dejectedly. Only now did he realize how big the gap was between his status and that of a double armor student.
Fang Yun bowed first and then truthfully told the story of him and Shopkeeper Zhen.
Everyone's face was filled with anger. High Scholar Su said sternly, "I didn't expect that Ji County would produce such a beast! If you only forbade Fang Yun from bringing back the vegetables that he threw away, that would be pardonable. However, why did you have to insult him! Fang Yun's riddle poem wasn't wrong at all. As expected, you only recognize the clothes and not the person! You're worse than a pig or a dog! "
Shopkeeper Zhen was terrified and his whole body trembled.
Fang Yun said with a smile, "Today's event was delayed by this lowly one's personal matters. This lowly one is willing to punish himself with a cup of wine as an apology. Shopkeeper Zhen, since you have already admitted your mistake, I will forgive you. You may leave. "
Shopkeeper Zhen blankly raised his head and looked at Fang Yun. He saw Fang Yun's smiling face as if he had really forgiven him. However, he knew in his heart that this matter wouldn't be resolved so easily.
"Good magnanimity! Everyone, sit down. Don't let that despicable person spoil your mood. As for the wine, there is no need to punish him. "County Magistrate Cai didn't hide his admiration for Fang Yun.
Everyone sat down.
There were a total of three tables. The first table was headed by County Magistrate Cai. Those who sat there were all officials of Ji County or influential families. The lowest ranking scholar was an elementary scholar. Only one seat was reserved for the head of the table.
The second table was occupied by this year's imperial scholars. The third table was occupied by the county's famous scholars.
There was one Grand Scholar and three High Scholars. Other than the imperial scholars, the rest were all elementary scholars.
Fang Yun politely sat down at the first table. As soon as he sat down, the door opened.
Fang Yun turned his head to look and saw Fang Li and Fang Zhongyong walking in together.
Fang Zhongyong immediately bowed to greet them. Fang Li just clasped his hands and looked around. Finally, his gaze fell on Fang Yun's head. His eyes were burning with anger.
Fang Yun didn't seem to notice.
When the two of them sat down, the gathering officially began. First, County Magistrate Cai proposed a toast to the sages. Then, he proposed a toast to the Jingguo Emperor and Empress Dowager. Finally, he proposed a toast to the imperial scholars.
The topic of this gathering revolved around the county examinations. County Magistrate Cai first talked about the first question. In the twenty-seventh year of Duke Zhao, where was Confucius?
This was equivalent to a Grand Scholar giving a lecture. Furthermore, it was beneficial to the study of the classics. Not only would the imperial scholars listen carefully, but the imperial scholars would also listen attentively to prepare for the imperial examinations.
Those imperial scholars who just found out the question also thought carefully. They all knew that Confucius was in Qilu. However, since County Magistrate Cai proposed this question, the answer naturally wouldn't be simple.
County Magistrate Cai said, "This question is abnormally difficult to understand. Even an imperial scholar may not be able to answer it correctly. I was only able to answer it because I read some books in the capital. Fang Yun, tell me how you answered this question. "
Everyone looked at Fang Yun. The greatest taboo in learning was to know the how but not know the why. If Fang Yun couldn't explain this question clearly, then his reputation as an imperial scholar would be greatly reduced.
Fang Li interrupted, "Zhongyong didn't answer it. Please enlighten me and educate this good-for-nothing child of mine."
Fang Zhongyong's face revealed a difficult expression. He then looked at Fang Yun and made an apologetic expression.
Fang Yun nodded slightly, indicating that he understood. He already knew that although Fang Zhongyong was somewhat arrogant, he had always been quiet and didn't have a bad reputation. On the contrary, his father, Fang Li, used the name of the father of the prodigy to show off. Many people didn't like it.
Fang Yun pondered for a moment and organized his thoughts. He said, "At first, I also thought that the answer to this question was simple and only wrote Qilu and Lu. But when I wrote the sixth question, I saw that it was about the 'Book of Rites'. I was inspired and remembered that the 'Book of Rites' mentioned that Kong Sheng went to the funeral of Ji Zi's eldest son … "
Then, Fang Yun used his own words to organize the thoughts of this question. He used the most solid method to explain this question without any mistakes.
When Fang Yun had finished speaking, many of the Elementary Scholars and Scholars who were present were still deep in thought. Those who had already understood what was going on started praising Fang Yun.
Fang Li's aura suddenly weakened. He was also a scholar and knew the difficulty of this question. He also knew that Fang Yun's way of solving the question was flawless.
"Fang Yun is a genius. I can't compare to him." Fang Zhongyong said softly. His voice was melancholy, but there was no resentment.
County Magistrate Cai laughed and said, "Fang Yun, although the way of thinking is complicated, it is the most suitable for scholars. If you had used my way of solving the question, I would have suspected that you had cheated."
County Magistrate Cai continued to explain his own way of solving the question. He had used a few rare books to solve the question, and most of them were not in Fang Yun's book Heaven and Earth. Not to mention Fang Yun, even High Scholar Jun Su of the Imperial College had not read them.
After everyone compared, they looked at Fang Yun in a different light. Fang Yun's way was the right way to go.
Next, everyone continued to discuss the questions of 'Holy Words'. County Magistrate Cai even extended it to 'Scripture'.
The so-called 'Scripture' was to use a sentence or a part of the Holy Scriptures as the topic. The examinee had to write an essay to explain the principles within.
If 'Holy Words' was to memorize the Holy Scriptures, then 'Scripture' was to understand the Holy Scriptures and form one's own understanding.
When County Magistrate Cai finished talking about 'Holy Words', the dishes were placed on the table. Everyone ate and drank for a while. The next topic was to discuss poetry.
County Magistrate Cai said 'Holy Words', so Wang Yuanjun of the Academy of Arts was about to start talking about poetry. But Fang Yun beat him to it and said, "My son's poetry has the ability to surpass the county, but he only got a 'B'. County Magistrate Cai said that Fang Yun's poetry is of great talent in Mingzhou. Can you let us see his poetry in the county examination?"
Many people were silent and secretly looked at Wang Yuanjun.
Wang Yuanjun did not expect Fang Li to be so unruly. To put it more harshly, it meant that he did not distinguish between seniority and inferiority. This was a big taboo.
Wang Yuanjun said expressionlessly, "I originally wanted to leave Fang Yun's examination paper in the County Academy of Arts for the younger examinees to admire. But after I passed his poem to Grand Scholar Li of the State Academy of Arts, Grand Scholar Li said that he would send the original copy of the poem to the Academy of Arts. He said that this poem was not only the best in this year's county examination, but also the best in the past few hundred years! Grand Scholar Li said that this poem would definitely be in next month's' Holy Way '! "
The room was in an uproar.
"Grand Scholar Li really said that? Enshrined in the State Academy of Arts, how could a scholar's poem receive such treatment!? "
"The best poem in the county examination? This title is incredible. "
"If it can be in 'Holy Way', then wouldn't the county have another Literature Memorial Arch? With the double armor, Fang Yun alone would have two Literature Memorial Archways. "
"It seems that no one in our Ji county has been in 'Holy Way'?"
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