Chapter 3, Chapter 3: Kneeling again?
Feng San, also known as Feng Xing, was so frightened when he returned that he fell ill.
He cried as he told his family that he had gotten into trouble, and Minister Feng was extremely worried.
This unfilial son is always causing trouble.
"Who did they offend this time?"
"Madam... Your Highness."
Feng Xing was about to cry again. He was terrified whenever he thought about the face he had seen in the library. It was the clearest view he had ever seen of the Crown Prince in his life, face to face, with the two of them no more than a foot apart.
Previously, when he saw the Crown Prince, he only glanced at his profile out of curiosity, but who knew that this time the Crown Prince would come right up to his face.
Minister Feng: ? ? ?
"Say it again, who did you say?"
Minister Feng even doubted his own ears, and was so shocked that he couldn't sit still.
Feng Xing cried and said again, "Father, it's the Crown Prince. I yelled at the Crown Prince in the library. I know I was wrong. Father, you must save me!"
Minister Feng still couldn't believe it: "You said you saw the Crown Prince in the library yesterday afternoon? Didn't you go out with the Marquis of Weiyuan's heir?"
He once suspected that his son had misremembered and that he had offended the heir apparent, not the crown prince.
Yesterday afternoon, he and several other ministers clearly spent the afternoon discussing matters with the Emperor and the Crown Prince in the Imperial Study. How could the Crown Prince possibly be in two places at once and go to the library?
Feng Xing was confused by his father's words, but he insisted, "Father, I am absolutely sure I did not see wrong. It is His Highness the Crown Prince. No one else believes me, not even the heir of the Marquis of Weiyuan. They say I have something wrong with my head."
He wasn't wrong, so why doesn't anyone believe him?
Minister Feng stroked his beard and calmed down: "Go to the temple for a while and clear your head. There is absolutely no way the Crown Prince would have gone to the library yesterday. You must have been mistaken."
Feng Xing was going crazy; he really wasn't mistaken.
"Dad, do you also think there's something wrong with my head?"
Feng Xing said in disbelief.
Minister Feng nodded decisively: "Yes, there's something wrong with your head. Someone, take the Third Young Master to Jinshan Temple outside the city to recuperate. He can come back when his mind is clear."
Feng Xing was still shouting when he was sent away, but in the end, his mouth was gagged before he was sent away.
Although Madam Feng and Madam Feng were reluctant, they did not stop him this time. Feng Xing really needed to go to the temple to avoid evil spirits. He was confused and no one else saw the Crown Prince. He was the only one who was scared half to death and said that he had offended His Highness the Crown Prince.
After seeing them off, Minister Feng sent someone to investigate the academy from the previous day. All those who came yesterday were students, and there was no sign of His Highness the Crown Prince.
Although you may not have met His Highness the Crown Prince, he would definitely be accompanied by a large group of people when he goes out. It's impossible for him to go to buy Xuan paper and ink sticks alone.
Besides, what I bought was the most ordinary stuff. The prince's palace has all sorts of good things, so why would he care about these?
His son must be seeing things.
Over here, Ye Jianshan ran out of the bookstore and dragged his third uncle back to the Qingyang Guild Hall, where he paid the waiter to run errands for him to buy Xuan paper and ink sticks.
"I'd better just stay in the clubhouse and study. It's too scary outside. There are powerful and wealthy people there. I can't afford to offend them."
Ye Jianshan sighed. His mother was indeed prescient.
Ye Lei asked worriedly, "What's wrong? Dashan, what happened?"
Ye Jianshan recounted what had happened in the library. Ye Lei's heart leaped into his throat. He pulled Ye Jianshan up and thoroughly examined him: "Well done. If you can't win, run away. Safety first."
All he wanted was to bring the person back safely.
Ye Jianshan also thought he was clever: "Third Uncle, you have no idea how fat he is. He just knelt down there in a flash, which almost scared me to death. I thought he was going to hit me."
Then he really has no ability to fight back at all.
The opponent exerted pure weight pressure.
Ye Lei's heart skipped a beat: "He knelt down again?"
It's really strange. Why would a nobleman from the capital kneel down as soon as he sees Da Shan?
"He's fat, isn't he?"
Ye Jianshan shook his head helplessly. He was a top scholar in Qingyang, but in the capital, he was just a drop in the ocean, an ordinary candidate.
Ye Lei was still somewhat conflicted. Although he was a rough and unrefined man, he had become much more meticulous over the years by helping Ye Yun manage the embroidery workshop. There was definitely something going on here.
One could be an accident, but two couldn't possibly be a coincidence.
He glanced at Ye Jianshan, who had already started studying, and kept the matter in mind, without disturbing his nephew.
Ye Jianshan studied diligently at the guild hall for five days. He only went out once when he saw the Wen family father and son off. He stayed in the room to study the rest of the time. During this period, the Qingyang Guild Hall gradually welcomed new people.
Ye Jianshan is extremely satisfied with this clubhouse. Unlike other large clubhouses that hold poetry and literary gatherings everywhere, this one allows him to study in peace.
But after the newcomers arrived, such invitations gradually increased.
Ye Lei said worriedly, "Why don't you go out and play with them? Don't stay cooped up in the house all the time. Just take it as a way to relax."
He was worried that the incident at the library had left his nephew with psychological trauma.
Ye Jianshan thought about it and realized that this wouldn't work; he still had to go out, so he accepted his fellow villager's invitation.
The two people who invited him today are Luo Shaohui and Tan Jingshan.
The two were classmates and close friends from the same academy, both over twenty years old. They were incredibly surprised to learn that a sixteen-year-old top scholar was living in the guild hall.
I never expected that this year's Qingyang Jieyuan (top scholar in the provincial civil service examination) would be staying at the guild hall.
They hadn't originally planned to stay here, but after the news of Ye Jianshan staying here spread, people gradually started heading this way.
Since the top scholar has already moved in, those who live nearby can absorb some of his scholarly atmosphere and perhaps even achieve better results in the exams.
Luo Shaohui was somewhat surprised that Ye Jianshan had accepted the Wenhui invitation: "Don't worry, Third Brother Ye, we will take good care of Jianshan."
Ye Jianshan rarely participated in such literary gatherings. He had always studied at the county school, where there were fewer people and fewer complicated activities.
The three of them came out alone, without any attendants.
Tan Jingshan was even waving a fan around, which made Ye Jianshan feel cold.
It's late autumn in the capital now, and it's getting colder. At this time, having a fan is definitely just for show.
Tan Jingshan snapped his fan shut and said to Ye Jianshan, "Jianshan, do you know who organized today's literary gathering?"
Ye Jianshan shook his head: "I don't know."
"It's the Cui family, a family of scholars. They produced a scholar who passed the imperial examinations four times in a row. He's a year older than you and was the top scholar in the provincial examination in the Jiangnan region. Everyone is betting on whether you or him will become the top scholar in the metropolitan examination and the top scholar in the imperial examinations this time. If one of them succeeds, they will be remembered in history. You can count on one hand the number of people who passed the imperial examinations six times in a row in history..."
Ye Jianshan knew Cui Jianbing. His third uncle had told him about him, and whenever people came to the guild hall, he would mention this person more or less when he went out to greet them, exchange pleasantries, and praise them.
The man seemed to be a year older than him.
If the other party is kind, it wouldn't hurt to make their acquaintance.
They are the youngest candidates in next year's spring imperial examination.
Moreover, Choi Gyeong-byeong initially became famous because his grandfather was the Grand Secretary Choi Won. Choi Won almost achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations when he was young, and he may have had some regrets, so he placed his hopes on his grandson Choi Gyeong-byeong.
He has been held to high standards since childhood, and Cui Jianbing has not disappointed him, ranking first in all his recent exams.
I never expected Ye Jianshan to suddenly appear.
He took the exam at the age of thirteen and ranked first in all three years. Moreover, it is said that his family was a pig butcher and did not have the same good study conditions as Cui's family. Compared to him, Ye Jianshan seemed to be much more capable than Cui Jianbing.
After Tan Jingshan finished speaking, Luo Shaohui continued, "Today's top scholar will also receive personal guidance from Chief Minister Cui. If there is an opportunity, he can even become his student."
Ye Jianshan was somewhat surprised: "Chief Minister Cui is also attending the literary gathering?"
"Yes, and that's not all. I heard the Fourth Prince will be coming too, as well as the Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Weiyuan..."
Tan Jingshan introduced a group of people, and Ye Jianshan listened attentively.
Once you arrive in the capital, you can't afford to be ignorant of these powerful relationships, or you might offend someone without even realizing it.
Ye Jianshan has been asking around about the Guo residence, but he still hasn't found the entrance.
If he gets into trouble and can't find anyone to call for help, he'll be doomed.
Jingfulou was the restaurant hosting this literary gathering. When Ye Jianshan arrived, he saw that the candidates were already packed with people.
It seems everyone wants to see Chief Minister Choi and gain his favor.
Ye Jianshan was sandwiched between Luo Shaohui and Tan Jingshan for protection. He was not tall and could not see what was happening in front of him, so he sat down with a blank look on his face.
Soon someone brought over printed exam papers to distribute.
On the Foundation of China's Rejuvenation
This is a frequently asked question, very broad and vague, familiar to everyone, but difficult to answer brilliantly.
Ye Jianshan hadn't expected Wen to be like this; what was the difference between this and a quiz?
He had imagined the literary gathering to be like a banquet. Not only was he bewildered, but even those who had attended many literary gatherings had never seen this kind of format before. It was like asking them to answer questions in front of everyone.
Feng Xing also came today. He had just returned home last night and had been sent to Jinshan Temple for four days. After calming down, he realized that his father was right and that he must have misjudged the situation.
If he had really offended the Crown Prince, things wouldn't be so peaceful now.
So he said he was better and applied to go home, and Minister Feng, feeling sorry for his son, agreed.
I heard there was some excitement here today, so I came with the heir of the Marquis of Weiyuan to join in the fun.
The heir of the Marquis of Weiyuan was still mocking him: "Look at you, your eyes are acting up. You were sent to Jinshan Temple for a few days and you've behaved yourself, haven't you? That person couldn't possibly have shown up that day..."
The Marquis of Weiyuan's heir was still speaking when he noticed the silence beside him. Turning his head, he saw Feng Xing's face was pale, his lips were trembling, his eyes were fixed on a certain spot, and he was muttering, "Too...too...Crown Prince..."
He was getting impatient; why was it starting again: "Where is the Crown Prince..."
Before he could finish speaking, he saw the person that Feng Xing had been staring at.
Startled, he even dropped the teacup on the table, drawing everyone's attention and prompting them to look in his direction.
The person Feng Xing was staring at also looked up, craning his neck to curiously observe the commotion on the side of the Marquis of Weiyuan's heir.
Then, with two loud thuds, Ye Jianshan saw the two men kneel down in front of him.
Ye Jianshan: ? ? ?
The heir of the Marquis of Weiyuan was terrified. He hadn't expected that Feng Xing was right this time; he really did see the Crown Prince's second uncle.
Not knowing if their words had been conveyed, they were momentarily frightened and, together with Feng Xing, promptly knelt down to admit their mistake.
Ye Jianshan sensed something was wrong. He recognized the fat man; he had pulled the same trick last time, and now he had brought his accomplices along. What was he up to?
His sixth sense told him that he should not stay here any longer, so he clutched his stomach and said goodbye to his two fellow villagers, Tan Jingshan and Luo Shaohui, saying, "I am really ashamed. Jianshan has a stomachache and I am afraid he will not be able to attend this literary gathering. I will take my leave now."
After saying that, he darted out of the crowd like a monkey and quickly disappeared.
Before Luo Shaohui and Tan Jingshan could react, they found themselves the center of everyone's attention.
If I'm not mistaken, the heir of the Marquis of Weiyuan and the Third Young Master Feng are kneeling in this direction, right?
What are the backgrounds of these two people?
Under everyone's scrutinizing gazes, Tan Jingshan and Luo Shaohui looked completely bewildered.
What happened?
Why are you looking at them? And why are you kneeling in their direction?
A note from the author:
----------------------
Three chapters in a row! See you tomorrow morning at 7 AM! [hugs][hugs][hugs]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com