Chapter 103 The show begins, absent
"Hmph, he's just a lowly commoner. How could I lower myself to fight him? Is he worthy of it?" Dong Zefei felt very guilty and his face was full of disdain.
Jiang Rong pretended to be surprised, "Ah... So you mean you don't dare? You are a juren, but you are afraid of a scholar. You didn't cheat to get the title, did you?"
"Princess, you are slandering the fairness of the imperial examination. You can't say such nonsense." Zhou Gou immediately said righteously.
Jiang Rong smiled and said, "I'm not talking nonsense. I clearly said that he didn't cheat and he is a person with real talent and knowledge. What is there to be afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid, I just don't care!" Dong Zefei hurriedly covered up.
Xie Lingxi sneered, "If you want to prove that you didn't cheat, then come to the ring and fight. Otherwise, you are cheating!"
"You are being unreasonable and talking nonsense..." Dong Zefei was angry and panicked.
Throw down this sentence.
Xie Lingxi didn't say much to Dong Zefei. He took the little beauty in his arms and turned away.
This is what Jiang Rong asked him to do for her...
Finding fault.
What "dandy boys" do best.
No need to reason.
I said that if you don't dare to come, you are cheating...
Can you not come to prove your innocence?
Zhou Gou's face turned pale. What should I do?
…
The news about Zhenxiu Tower spread throughout the capital within a day.
The spectators were talking about it.
"This Northern Prince deliberately provoked Dong Zefei. It seems that Chi Moyan is quite powerful. Are they still worried that their opponent will not go?"
"Dong Zefei must go, otherwise he will be accused of cheating."
"I must go and watch the competition in three days! It will be very exciting!"
"I think the Northern Palace is shooting itself in the foot. Although Senior Qianqiu is very powerful, how long has Chi Moyan been his disciple? How much can he learn? Dong Zefei was the third place in the Jiangbei County Examination last year. If he hadn't fallen off his horse a few days before the examination and broke his hand, he would have missed the examination... With his level, he might have passed the examination!"
"That's right. It's a pity that the casino doesn't allow betting on the pool, so Mo Yan will lose everything..."
"Can a casino run a losing business? Everyone knows that Chi Moyan can't win... But he is a scholar, even if he loses, if he can argue with the scholars, it will be enough for him to become famous in the capital... Maybe this is the way that the Northern Palace is trying to build momentum for him."
"That's right! Let's go and watch the fun together in three days."
"Let's go together."
…
At this moment, the public opinion in the capital still leans towards Dong Zefei.
Many people specifically stood up to express their support for Dong Zefei, and supported him to win a big victory in three days.
Dong Zefei, who was pushed to the forefront of public opinion, was anxious at home.
Also extremely anxious was the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
If Dong Zefei was caught cheating, wouldn't he be in trouble?
…
Mingxin Division.
"Boss, the Northern Prince's wife sent us the newly published volume three of Thousand Years!" The subordinate presented a book.
Chu Jue was flipping through the case files. Upon hearing this, he took the book and said with a smile:
"Look, I said that grandparents are close to each other. My cousin's study has published a book, and she knew to come and give me a copy. What does this prove? My cousin has me in her heart! This is the blood-related family affection!"
Subordinate: But, the Princess Consort of the Northern Prince doesn’t know that you are her cousin!
Wait, you're not her cousin at all.
"Let me see what's written in the new volume." Chu Jue started flipping through the middle, ignoring the previous volume, and instructed;
"Go to the study and buy three hundred copies, and give one to each of our brothers in the Mingxin Division. Oh, don't forget my dad, give him one as well."
"Yes." The subordinate obeyed the order.
Chu Jue opened the first chapter of the second volume and took a glance at it, his expression changed instantly.
What?
Under my nose, there are still such unscrupulous businessmen who oppress the people!
Investigate! He must get to the bottom of this immediately!
…
Three days later.
At daybreak, the bluestone street was already crowded with people.
A simple bamboo platform was built in front of Wanjuan Study.
The time for the battle is noon.
Chi Moyan, dressed in a blue shirt, sat quietly on a cushion.
Opposite him, there were four cushions.
Facing the ridicule and taunts from the onlookers around him, he remained indifferent and just sat there quietly.
The maid was preparing tea on the side of the coffee table.
Chi Moyan served the tea, sipped it, sipped it, and waited.
As time approached, three scholars, including Shang Yanwen, arrived one after another.
Only Dong Zefei was nowhere to be seen.
"The Northern Prince is traveling, pedestrians please give way—"
The followers sang loudly.
The carriage from the Northern Prince’s Palace has arrived.
Xie Lingxi and Jiang Rong walked out together and went to the second-floor terrace of Wanjuan Study.
This place has the best view and you can have a panoramic view of the scenery below the stage.
Jiang Rong looked at the empty cushion on the platform and curled his thin lips calmly.
Glancing at the audience again, he saw Shen Baiting and his sister being squeezed around in the crowd.
They obviously did not travel with Shen Wenyuan.
Shen Wenyuan and several sons of officials were in the teahouse opposite the study, cheering for Shang Yanwen.
"Jadeite, please invite Brother Shen and Sister Shen to take a seat." Jiang Rong ordered.
Jadeite took the order and retreated.
After a while, Shen Baiting and Shen Li arrived together.
"Why didn't you tell me? I asked Qiu Niang to arrange a seat for you." Jiang Rong said with a smile.
Shen Baiting bowed and said, "I'm afraid I disturbed you. You must be very busy with such an important event in the study today. If Master Chi can't win, I'm afraid that people will criticize him, the study, and the Northern Palace..."
Shen Li also looked at Jiang Rong with a worried look.
Apparently, after reading "Qian Qiu Volume Three", the brother and sister were worried that Jiang Rong would lose and be cursed by the people, so they came to see it specially.
"We're about to win a game." Jiang Rong chuckled and said, "The hour of dawn is approaching."
"when--"
A bell rang.
The hour of Chen has arrived.
The onlookers were in an uproar.
"What's going on? Dong Zefei didn't come?"
"He has been accused of cheating. Even if it rains knives from the sky, he has to come and prove his innocence. What could be more important than the innocence of a scholar?"
"So... he's really scared?"
"He is a juren and he is afraid of a xiucai, unless his juren is fake."
"Hiss...did he really cheat in the imperial examination?"
For a time, there was a lot of discussion and various speculations.
Chi Moyan saw the empty cushion and looked at the remaining three people and said:
"Dong Zefei doesn't dare to come, who among you three will go first?"
"Me!" Shang Yanwen said immediately.
The other two scholars, whose backgrounds were relatively inferior, did not dare to compete with him for the opportunity to be the first to come to the fore.
Shang Yanwen was very confused that Dong Zefei was absent.
But he is very confident in himself.
He wanted Chi Moyan to lose and roll off the stage today.
"Since you want to fight with me, there's no point without a prize. Whoever loses will get out of here!" Shang Yanwen pointed at the ring and sneered.
This Wanjuan Bookstore was looking for trouble with him and Jinxiu Cloth Shop, and he wanted to vent his anger!
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