Tong Li's face turned gloomy. The thing he was most worried about had happened.
Fang Yun did not have any conflict of interest with the scholars of Jade Sea City.
Although his grandfather was a Rank 3 Assistant Minister and had a good relationship with Li Wenying, Jade Sea City was still under the control of the Notre-Dame and Li Wenying. Since Fang Yun was favored by Li Wenying, Li Wenying's people would naturally help Fang Yun.
The Elementary Scholar examination was held in the entire Jiang Prefecture, so Fang Yun was the same in any prefecture city. Thus, not only did the scholars of Jade Sea City not dislike Fang Yun, they even hoped that Fang Yun would leave behind a huge Literary Name in Jade Sea City. Many of them even hoped that they would be able to bask in his glory and leave behind a good name.
Tong Li cursed these people in his heart. No wonder they did not remind Fang Yun even though they knew he was here. They were waiting for him to jump into the pit before acting as if they were on the same side as Fang Yun.
Tong Li was very clear about his own standards, so he purposely took part in the provincial examination two years later in order to obtain the title of First Scholar. As for the title of First Scholar, he did not even dare to think about it.
For the title of First Scholar, he had prepared for many years and was certain that this year would be the best. However, he did not expect that Fang Yun would appear out of nowhere. He could not swallow this anger.
Tong Li's face quickly turned from gloomy to sunny as he smiled, "You all have also seen it. You all want Fang Yun to participate in the Dragon Boat Race, but he does not want to participate. I came here to provoke him and for his own good. Everyone, can you let me finish speaking first? "
"Then speak." That Scholar said.
Tong Li smiled, "Fang Yun, you probably don't know that the rules of the Dragon Boat Race every year originate from the Holy Land 'Sea of Knowledge', right?"
"I have seen it in books, but I do not know the details." Fang Yun said.
"Then that's it. For the Dragon Boat Race in Jade Sea City, the prefect and the Court Lord will use their official seals to gather the talent of the Holy Temple to cover the river. The Dragon Boat Race here is not about who can row the boat the best, but who can write better poems. The more talented the poems were, the stronger the resonance with the official seal, and the more Heaven Earth Primordial Qi it would drive, which would then propel the dragon boat. All these rules are changed from the 'Sea of Learning'. If you participate in the dragon boat race this year and become a Jinshi in the future, you will naturally get twice the result with half the effort. "
No one retorted. Just by looking at it this way, it was indeed beneficial to Fang Yun.
Tong Li continued with a smile, "However, since Fang Yun doesn't seek undeserved fame, I'll take a gamble in order to provoke him. As long as Fang Yun can win the first place in this dragon boat race, I will not only give him the Holy Page that my grandfather gave me, but also kneel down and apologize in public at the Dragon's Head Bridge. I will also try my best to clarify the matter of grabbing the place of Book Hill and give up this year's County Test. If Fang Yun can't win the first place, I don't need you to kneel down. I just need you to hold a banquet in Jing Hai Restaurant to apologize to me, and then go back to the Da Yuan Prefecture to take the Xiucai examination. How about it? "
Even those who supported Fang Yun couldn't refute. After all, the price Tong Li paid was extremely high, and Fang Yun was obviously benefiting.
Everyone looked at Fang Yun.
Zhao Zhuzhen frowned slightly and gave Fang Yun a look, as if to tell him not to agree.
Fang Yun didn't respond to Zhao Zhuzhen. He stared at Tong Li for a long time before saying, "Brother Tong, you really put in a lot of effort. If I don't participate in the dragon boat race, I will be letting Brother Tong down. Alright, I agree to this bet! Which dragon boat team is willing to let me participate? "
Everyone hesitated.
Tong Li immediately looked at the Juren who scolded him and said, "Brother Qian, since you are also participating in the dragon boat race, why not let Fang Yun join?"
Juren Qian looked at Fang Yun and asked, "Brother Fang, are you really willing to participate in the dragon boat race?"
"Naturally."
"That's good. According to the rules, each dragon boat can carry three Juren and three Xiucai. We will change one person and you will go up. " Juren Qian was very happy. As someone who didn't have any conflict of interest with Fang Yun, he wanted to make friends with Fang Yun.
Fang Yun cupped his hands towards the crowd and said, "Everyone, please be my witness today. If Brother Qian and I lose the dragon boat race, I will immediately leave Jade Sea City and never take a step back." Fang Yun looked at Tong Li after he finished speaking.
Tong Li immediately said loudly, "Then I also ask everyone to be my witness. If Fang Yun can win the dragon boat race, I will immediately kneel down in front of the entire city and kowtow to him three times!"
Zhao Zhuzhen said, "Tong Li, since you said so, when the time comes and you can't do it, don't blame me for forcing you to kowtow!"
Everyone could see the anger in Zhao Zhuzhen's heart. Most of them didn't know who this person was and why he dared to speak to Tong Li in such a manner.
"I, Tong Li, am a man of my words! I will go to Dragon Head Bridge and wait! Goodbye! "Tong Li cupped his hands and quickly went downstairs. The few scholars behind him immediately followed.
Walking out of Jade River Inn, one of the people behind Tong Li hurriedly said, "Brother Tong, what's wrong with you today? Who doesn't know Fang Yun's poem names? Why did you still want to bet with him? "
"Yes, Brother Tong is really unwise."
"I feel that this brat Tong Li seems to have a card up his sleeve. He must know something. Tell us the truth!" One of them laughed.
Tong Li laughed and said, "Do you know who Gyeongo sent to participate in the dragon boat race today?"
"I heard that it's the disciple of Lord Shi, one of the Four Great Scholars. I don't know if this is true or not. However, even if the opponent is Lord Shi's disciple, Fang Yun won't lose to him. How can you be so sure that you can beat Fang Yun? "
Tong Li continued to smile and said, "You only know one thing, but not the other. I only found out yesterday that Gyeongo Half-saint's disciple, Yan Yukong, also came along! The dragon boat race isn't a one-person competition. It's a competition where three high scholars and three elementary scholars are on the same boat. It's a competition where many people compete. If Lord Shi's disciple can't beat Fang Yun, then with Yan Yukong, what are the chances of Fang Yun winning? "
"Ah? Is it really that Yan Yukong? I heard that his talent is not only higher than Gyeongo's Lord Shi, but it's also comparable to the number one prodigy in a hundred years, Yi Zhi Shi. He's the most likely candidate to become the next Half-saint in Gyeongo. Why is he here? "
"Is he the three-headed genius who became the Head Scholar at the age of ten, Elementary Scholar at the age of twelve, and Top Scholar at the age of fourteen? It's said that he could become a Grand Scholar at the age of sixteen, but he was suppressed by his Half-saint teacher, who personally brought him around the world. He's going to become a Grand Scholar this year, and he's eighteen. Last year, someone said that Yan Yukong not only wanted to become the top scholar in Gyeongo, but he also wanted to become the leader of the Ten Nations! If he becomes the leader of the Ten Nations, he'll definitely become one of the five-headed scholars. He'll definitely become one of the four great scholars in the next generation. "
The smile on Tong Li's face became even wider as he said, "It's good that you know Yan Yukong's talent. Fang Yun may have a famous teacher, but he can't compare to Yan Yukong, who has Half-saint's teachings! His so-called famous teacher might just be some great Confucian or Half-saint who casually gave him pointers. He wants to be that person's teacher, but that person might not want to acknowledge him as a disciple! "
"Brother Tong is right! Fang Yun is doomed this time! "
"Brother Tong, you're so scheming!"
"No wonder Gyeongo was willing to take out the chessboard. What a pity. " The person who spoke sighed softly. Then, the others realized that Gyeongo and Jingguo were not on good terms, and they even snatched a state from Gyeongo. Hence, they stopped talking.
Tong Li's face turned sullen, but he couldn't flare up.
"Brother Tong, who's that sissy?"
"That person seems to be a woman dressed as a man. Brother Tong, who exactly is she?"
Tong Li's face became even more gloomy as he said, "She's a big shot that you and I can't afford to offend. I didn't want to offend her at first, but since she doesn't like me, I'll just fight for my talent. She can't do anything to me! "
In the Jade River Restaurant, Zhao Zhuzhen told Fang Yun about Half-saint's disciple. After saying that, she sighed and continued, "I gave you a look just now because I wanted you not to fall for it, but you still agreed. Yan Yukong alone is not enough to overwhelm you, but with Lord Shi's disciple and the others, you have almost no chance of winning. "
Fang Yun asked, "Why would Half-saint's disciple participate in the dragon boat race this time?"
Zhao Zhuzhen said resentfully, "Half-saint from Gyeongo may not have ordered them to come, but the Gyeongo royal family has been eyeing Jingguo covetously. "Last year, Jingguo was defeated by the Barbarian Wolf, and this year's situation is even more severe. Gyeongo will naturally take the opportunity to suppress Jingguo at the dragon boat cultural competition. To put it more bluntly, Gyeongo is promoting the power of Gyeongo to the people of the Ten Nations and Jingguo so that they can prepare to take over our territory in the future. "
Fang Yun looked at Zhao Zhuzhen carefully and suddenly remembered that the royal family of Jingguo had the surname Zhao. 'Could it be that Zhao Zhuzhen, who is disguised as a man, is a princess or a princess?'
Fang Yun immediately recalled the people in the royal family of Jingguo. There were many princesses, but there was only one young princess who was the younger sister of the late emperor and the aunt of the current three-year-old emperor. The other princesses were not as young as her.
"Oh, I see. It wouldn't be a big deal if they sent Lord Shi's disciple, but they've gone overboard by sending Half-saint's disciple, "Fang Yundao said.
"Of course! They've gone overboard this time! Otherwise, I wouldn't have come personally! "Zhao Zhuzhen was even more agitated, but she didn't hide her voice, making her sound more like a woman.
A thought popped up in Fang Yun's mind, and he asked, "Could it be that you asked Lord Li to invite me to watch the dragon boat race?"
Zhao Zhuzhen said frankly, "I was the one who begged Uncle Li to let you come, but I didn't persuade you since you don't like the dragon boat race. I just didn't expect that bastard Tong Li to provoke you. I really don't know if I should thank him. Tong Li is well-behaved by Assistant Minister Tong in Capital City, but once he leaves Capital City, he becomes a good-for-nothing. I really want to teach that bastard a lesson on behalf of Assistant Minister Tong. "
Fang Yun didn't expect Zhao Zhuzhen to be so straightforward as to treat him as an acquaintance even though they had only met for a short while.
Zhao Zhuzhen soon realized that she had misspoken and hurriedly explained, "I like your poetry and have been thinking about it repeatedly. I feel particularly close to you when I see you today, don't get the wrong idea."
"Brother Zhao, you're being too polite. I like straightforward people the most," Fang Yun said with a smile.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
