Fanlou is the tallest of the four big buildings in Jiangzhou. It is located on the south bank of Jinshui River. It has nine floors and is also known as the tallest building in Jiangzhou. The most mysterious part is the ninth floor, which is never open to the public. No one knows what kind of people are qualified to reach the top.

At this moment, in a luxurious box on the ninth floor of Fanlou, a table of people were sitting and toasting each other.

Sitting in the first seat was a slightly plump man. He was in his fifties but looked so well-maintained that one couldn't tell his real age. What caught people's attention was his earlobes, which were thick and pointed towards his mouth. It was obvious that he was a blessed man.

He is the governor of Jiangzhou, Xu Zhifeng.

The Great Zhou Dynasty implemented a three-level system of prefectures, counties, and states, with a total of fifteen prefectures. The governor of each prefecture was a third-rank official, a true frontier official with great power and influence.

Xuzhou Mu picked up the wine glass, his eyes fell on Song Ming in his left hand, and said with a smile: "Let us raise our glasses together to welcome Master Ming to Jiangzhou."

"Uncle Xu is so polite. I came to Jiangzhou just to attend the poetry and writing competition, but Uncle Xu prepared such a grand banquet. I am really flattered." Song Ming smiled modestly.

"Isn't this what Uncle Xu should do?" Xu Zhifeng said with a smile, "It's you who are being distant with Uncle Xu by saying this."

Although he was the governor of Jiangzhou, he did not dare to neglect Song Ming. He was originally Song Shiwen's man, and he was able to sit on the position of governor of Jiangzhou because of Song Shiwen's support behind the scenes.

The officialdom is like a pyramid. The higher you go, the fewer positions there are and the more you need someone behind you.

The person behind Xu Zhifeng is the Prime Minister Song Shiwen.

"Come on, raise your glasses." He raised his glass, and everyone present couldn't help but sigh. The usually serious and never-drinking Xuzhou Mu now raised his glass with a smile. This is what power brings.

Only the son of the Prime Minister made Xu Zhifeng bow his head, and others did not dare to neglect him. Those who were invited were all "his own people"

There were officials from Jiangzhou government, local dignitaries, and the principal of Nando Academy.

After a few drinks, the atmosphere became more lively.

Xu Zhifeng glanced at everyone, "Mr. Ming came to Jiangzhou to participate in the Yongmei Poetry Festival. I believe you all know why this literary gathering was held."

Everyone present nodded in agreement.

What the public sees is just entertainment, but there are actually other reasons.

The so-called literary gathering to praise beauty is actually a literary gathering to praise plum blossoms.

The then Prime Minister Song Shiwen loved plum blossoms the most, so the Wen Party was also called the Plum Party.

The main purpose of holding this literary gathering was to promote the Literary Party and thereby expand its influence among young scholars throughout Jiangzhou in order to achieve a monopoly on talent.

The grand literary gatherings that are unknown to outsiders are simply out of reach for ordinary people.

Everyone present was from Jiangzhou's upper echelons of power, so they naturally knew the purpose of Song Ming's attendance at the literary gathering, which was self-evident.

He was the son of the Prime Minister. He won the first place in the literary competition, and became the leader among many scholars in Jiangzhou, thus making the name of the Prime Minister deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

Everyone outside was immersed in the carnival of the grand literary gathering. Countless gamblers placed their bets on it, but they didn't know that the outcome of this literary gathering had already been determined. There was only one person who could win the championship, and that person could only be Song Ming.

This literary gathering was hosted by the Jiangzhou City Schoolbook Office, which was a very inconspicuous place in the Jiangzhou Lifang. The government was the one that really had the final say.

After another glass of wine, Song Ming smiled faintly and asked, "I wonder if there will be a talented and famous candidate to win the first prize in tomorrow's literary competition?"

"Supervisor Liu, please tell Master Ming about this." Governor Xu gestured to Liu Feng.

He was the one who made things difficult for Song Chi in Nandu Academy.

"There are a few favorites to win the championship, including Duan Yunzhou from Nandu Academy, who is currently the leader of Qingke Pavilion."

"Yunzhou." Song Ming nodded and said, "Yunzhou is indeed talented in poetry. My father admires him very much. He will take part in the provincial examination this year."

Liu Feng smiled apologetically and said, "How can Duan Yunzhou be compared with Master Ming? You are known as the Little Poet Saint in the capital."

The implication is that Duan Yunzhou will participate in the literary gathering, but he will be a runner-up and will naturally give way to Song Ming.

I wonder if those gamblers outside who bet on Duan Yunzhou would cry.

Song Ming could not deny it.

"Besides Duan Yunzhou, there's another person, Tang Yan, Hao Yongzhen's apprentice. He's good at poetry and prose, and is a hot candidate for the top prize."

Liu Feng did not add anything, implying that Tang Yan was not one of them.

"Hao Yongzhen was once one of the four great talents in Jiangnan. We invited him here to expand the influence of the literary gathering." Xu Zhifeng echoed and explained.

"Yeah." Song Ming nodded and said nothing. Even if there was some inside information, he couldn't reveal it too much. After all, it was a literary gathering attended by all the scholars in Jiangzhou.

"There is also a student named Liu Zicheng who comes from a poor family. He could read and write at the age of five and composed poetry at the age of six. He is a genius. He has been sponsored by the Gu family and is said to have already joined the Gu family."

"Gu family?"

Song Ming looked slightly stunned. Another important reason he came to Jiangzhou this time was to "ask for money" from the Gu family.

The Crown Prince and His Royal Highness Prince Qing are both preparing for next year's war. The most important thing right now is to raise money and food, the more the better. As the richest family in Jiangzhou, the Gu family will naturally not let it go, and they will even contribute more than originally planned.

I remember that Miss Gu Rongsan from the Gu family was very beautiful, and Song Ming once wanted to take her into the harem, but now he can only think about it.

Songchi.......

Every time this happened, he couldn't suppress the anger in his heart.

Song Ming picked up the wine glass to cover it up.

At this time, Liu Feng continued, "There is another person who is the most ridiculous. He even dared to say that he would win the first prize, which attracted a lot of criticism. His name is somewhat similar to yours, Master Ming."

Liu Feng heard Han Yuanzheng talk about what happened at the female general's homecoming banquet. It was no longer a secret now, so he deliberately did not mention the name to test Song Ming's reaction.

"This kid really doesn't know his place. He entered Nandu Academy and directly joined the Donglin Society as its leader. However, I have already made a rule: if he doesn't win the first place in the literary gathering, I will expel him from the academy."

Liu Feng knew the grudge between the two and was deliberately trying to please Song Ming.

"It's Song Chi, right? He's actually come to Jiangzhou City too!"

Song Ming gritted his teeth and his expression suddenly changed.

"He passed the county and prefectural exams... and should be preparing for the academy exam in June."

Song Ming took a deep breath and sat up straight. "My father gave me some instructions before I came here."

His father was the prime minister of the time, and everyone present sat up straight subconsciously, even the governor of Xuzhou was no exception.

"Although this boy shares my name and is from the same hometown, he actually has no connection to my Song family. Moreover, he is also an important pawn of Lu Taiyuan... Father said that Song Chi must not be allowed to pass the college entrance examination."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked surprised and suspicious.

What exactly did Song Chi do?

He had just passed the provincial examination, but the Prime Minister took him so seriously that he wanted to personally take action to ruin his future.

Xu Zhifeng said directly: "There is no way he can pass the college entrance examination."

As the governor of Jiangzhou, it is too easy to make someone fail the college entrance examination.

"As for the literary gathering to be held tomorrow?"

Song Ming sneered, "Who the hell is he? How dare he compete with me for the top spot?"