Cui Yanxin and Jiang Zian were both from Qing 'an Prefecture, but they weren't students of Anxi County, so they didn't have much contact with County Magistrate Liu before.
Of course, with their previous status, they couldn't reach this level either.
However, things were different now. According to the past practice of the imperial court, the new Jinshi every year was more important, and the lowest rank would be appointed as a seventh-grade county magistrate, who had a brighter future than those who became officials through other channels.
In this way, they naturally had the qualifications to be on an equal footing with County Magistrate Liu.
Seeing Cui Yanxin stand up and walk towards County Magistrate Liu, Jiang Zian's eyes flickered. After a little hesitation, he also stood up.
"Let me propose a toast to County Magistrate Liu," Cui Yanxin walked up to County Magistrate Liu and said with a smile as he raised his glass.
County Magistrate Liu smelled a strong smell of alcohol from a few steps away.
County Magistrate Liu raised his head and frowned slightly. He had seen the conflict between Cui Yanxin and County Magistrate Li just now, so he naturally didn't like Cui Yanxin. However, one shouldn't hit a smiling person, so he symbolically raised his glass, took a sip, and put it down.
He was a little tipsy just now, but after seeing the scene by chance, he sobered up a little and didn't dare to drink anymore.
Cui Yanxin drank all the wine in his glass, and when he lowered his head, he saw that County Magistrate Liu's glass was still full. A trace of displeasure appeared on his face, but it soon disappeared.
At this moment, Jiang Zian walked over and also said, "Junior Magistrate Liu," and bowed to County Magistrate Liu.
"Among the new Jinshi in Qing 'an Prefecture, Anxi County accounted for more than half of them. Lord Liu, you're really good at teaching!" Cui Yanxin complimented County Magistrate Liu after sitting down in front of him.
County Magistrate Liu sneered in his heart. Anxi County was the largest county in Qing 'an Prefecture, and its students were far better than other counties in both quantity and quality. The prefectural school was full of talents, and every year's imperial examination was like this. Obviously, this guy was up to no good.
"It's all thanks to the prefectural magistrate and Professor Feng. I don't dare to take credit," County Magistrate Liu said lightly.
County Magistrate Liu's indifferent attitude made Cui Yanxin and Jiang Zian suspicious, wondering if they had offended him in some way. They racked their brains for a long time, but still couldn't remember.
Cui Yanxin was in a bad mood tonight. He just embarrassed a lowly actor, but he was slapped in the face by Li with a poem and became a laughingstock in the eyes of the public. Now he wanted to come over to get close to County Magistrate Liu. It would be best if he could make trouble for the county magistrate in the future. Unexpectedly, he was blocked by County Magistrate Liu's cold attitude before he said it.
After becoming a new Jinshi, his self-confidence swelled a little. The Cui Family was also a rich and powerful family with a lot of people in the imperial court. His official career would be smooth sailing in the future, so he didn't pay attention to a small county magistrate at all. With the help of the wine, he said in a strange tone, "I didn't know that such a powerful figure like County Magistrate Li had appeared in your county. Even the Prince attached great importance to your poetic talent. County Magistrate Liu's subordinates are really full of talents!"
For County Magistrate Liu, this sentence was not a compliment, but a sarcasm.
If County Magistrate Liu heard Cui Yanxin's words a few days ago, he would definitely be very unhappy.
After all, he was the County Magistrate of Anxi. No one would feel good if he was overshadowed by an assistant official.
But after witnessing so many things with his own eyes, he had long given up these thoughts. The heir, the Prince, the Princess, the Emperor … Which one of these people could be contacted by a small county magistrate like him? How could he dare to have a trace of dissatisfaction in his heart when he could talk and laugh with the Emperor?
Perhaps, this was the opportunity for him, County Magistrate Liu, to make further progress in his life.
"Hehe, in this case, I have to congratulate County Magistrate Liu," Jiang Zian said with a fake smile.
As a county magistrate, he would definitely feel uncomfortable if his limelight was overshadowed by a county magistrate. Jiang Zian simply added fuel to the fire. If County Magistrate Liu had a grudge against him, he would definitely have a hard time in the future.
"I don't need you two to worry about my affairs," County Magistrate Liu said coldly with a wave of his sleeve.
How could he not hear the hidden meaning in their words? He was slightly angry. After all, the two of them had not been appointed officials yet, but they dared to mock him. If they weren't in the Prince's Mansion, he would have probably reprimanded them.
"I'm afraid that the person surnamed Li will become arrogant because of the favor. If that happens, County Magistrate Liu will probably have a headache," Cui Yanxin said with a faint smile as he looked at County Magistrate Liu.
It was already somewhat presumptuous for a new Jinshi to say such words to a county magistrate.
However, Cui Yanxin had the backing of the Cui Clan, so she naturally looked down on officials like County Magistrate Liu, who had no background and was born in a poor family. Secondly, she really drank a lot tonight. This place was remote, and there was no one around, so she naturally spoke more casually.
Hearing this, County Magistrate Liu couldn't help but stand up from his seat no matter how good-tempered he was. However, before he could reprimand them, another stern voice suddenly exploded behind them.
"Presumptuous!"
Cui Yanxin and Jiang Zian suddenly turned around. When they saw a middle-aged man with a cold face standing behind them, cold sweat rolled down their foreheads. Their legs became weak, and they almost collapsed to the ground.
"Prince, Prince …"
"Bastard, is this all you've learned after studying the books of sages for so many years?" With the cold voice of Prince Ning, Cui Yanxin and Jiang Zian's hearts sank to the bottom.
"Is that … Prince?"
In the distance, the officials who were talking also noticed the abnormality here. After looking at each other, they stood up and gathered here.
…
The second night watch had passed, and it was late at night. The banquet in the Prince's Mansion was finally over.
The guests from Qing 'an Prefecture all stood up and said goodbye. Carriages drove away from the gate of the Prince's Mansion. The curfew in the city was nothing to him. The patrolling soldiers had already received orders and wouldn't stop them.
The Prince's Mansion would naturally arrange a place for the guests who came from further places to rest.
When Cui Yanxin and Jiang Zian walked out of the Prince's Mansion, they were still a little muddle-headed. Their minds were blank, and the only thought left in their minds was how to save their official careers that had turned from bright to gloomy.
There were also other officials who walked out of the gate and looked at their backs, shaking their heads and sighing.
The two had just talked nonsense in the Prince's Mansion and happened to be heard by Prince Ning. Then, they were reprimanded mercilessly.
For the new Jinshi, the imperial court would first look at the evaluation of the local officials before officially appointing them. This was related to the official careers of the scholars in the Prince's Mansion. According to the usual practice, most people would praise them. But this time, Cui Yanxin and Jiang Zian might have a stain on them that couldn't be erased.
As the people that Ning Wang had heavily mentioned, if the two of them wanted to get a good job, it was almost a pipe dream.
Of course, everyone remembered the County Lieutenant Li, who was the source of all this, although he only showed up for a short time.
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