The selection process for the "Jichun Craftsmen's Guild" was finally completed at 3:45 PM the following day.
When the results of the vote for "Spring Reward Silver Coins" were read out by the abbot of Wujue Temple, those present were stunned for a moment before being greatly surprised.
I must say, this year's "Jichun Craftsmen's Guild" is absolutely fascinating.
In the past, the competition among all shortlisted exhibits was fierce, with each vote counting against the last, making it difficult to determine a winner.
This time, the votes for the last nine of the ten shortlisted exhibits were fairly normal, but the votes for the first and second place exhibits dropped drastically.
This is something that has never happened in the decades-long history of the "Jichun Craftsmen's Guild".
The abbot of Wujue Temple announced: "The dragon-drawn carriage from Ye Kingdom has made it into the top ten and will receive 416 silver coins as a spring reward."
The second place, Qianzhu, only scored eighty-three.
The remaining three, four, and ten votes also had several dozen votes.
More than two hundred wealthy merchants and artisans from various countries voted together, yet the number of votes cast was so disparate, truly a first for the "Jichun Craftsmen's Guild".
In the past, when the votes were balanced, the difference was at most ten or twenty points. It should be noted that there are all kinds of people, each with their own preferences, aesthetics, and requirements.
This time, however, the dragon-drawn chariot created by the State of Ye received almost unanimous approval.
The head monk said, "Congratulations to the top ten. Tomorrow is the final for the best. I hope you will all go to the Thousand Trees Hall on time."
"Thousand Trees Palace, Thousand Trees Palace! Ah Qing, we've made it! We've made it!"
Mu Gaoyi and Shi Hetong excitedly grabbed Zheng Quchi's arm, jumping and skipping with joy, completely disregarding their image.
Zheng Quchi was also happy: "We've made it! We've made it! How much prize money can we get for being in the top ten?"
She looked at them with eyes full of expectation.
“Ah Qing, there’s no prize money yet. Those who make it into the top ten will have to compete for the best. Only after they are eliminated will the organizers give money and silk to the craftsmen who are not selected, as a sign of encouragement and reward,” Mu Gaoyi explained to her.
Upon hearing that he would only receive money if he failed to be selected, Zheng Quchi's happiness was immediately halved.
"...I'll still be rejected."
Wei Yao stepped forward with a smile, and Wang Zebang also showed a rare smile. Runtu still had a poker face, but the relaxation between his brows showed that he was happy to be shortlisted.
"Ha, you're so happy just because you've made it to the shortlist? The craftsmen of Ye Kingdom are really naive. Just think of it as a bunch of profit-driven merchants casting their votes. How can that be considered accurate? Tomorrow will be the real test of the craftsmen."
A tall, stern-faced man scoffed and walked past Zheng Quchi and his group.
Zheng Quchi was inexplicably attacked, and she asked, "Wait, who is he? Does he have to care whether other people are happy or not?"
“Exactly, I think he’s just jealous that we got first place,” Mu Gaoyi echoed her unhappily.
Shi Hetong recalled for a moment and remembered: "It seems he was among the top ten... Right, he is Yu Manqi, the top disciple of Zuo Mo, the master craftsman of the Southern Chen Kingdom."
Zuo Mo, the master craftsman of the Southern Chen Kingdom?
When Zheng Quchi heard this name, her expression changed drastically. Her previously somewhat angry gaze became deep and intense as she looked at Yu Manqi's back.
So, he's that person's apprentice.
Zuo Mo, the craftsman from the Southern Chen Kingdom who harmed Uncle Mu and his senior brother.
Although she has now fulfilled Uncle Mu's last wish, she has not yet avenged Uncle Mu and the others... Given the chance, she will definitely meet that Zuo Mo and see what kind of person he really is.
But judging from his disciple's arrogant demeanor, he himself must be a vile and wicked person.
Uncle Mu and his group were defeated by the treacherous and vicious Zuo Mo at the "Jichun Craftsmen's Guild Meeting" back then, so this time she will first see how capable his personally taught apprentice really is.
——
With the exhibits shortlisted, they still need to be placed in their proper locations. This task will naturally be handled by Wang Zebang and Mu Gaoyi. Once this matter is settled, Zheng Quchi and Runtu will go to the "Shanju" arranged by the temple to rest.
It should be noted that food and lodging at the temple are all charged, but those who are among the top ten will have all fees waived.
"lady."
Back at Shanju, Fu Rong came to visit. Thinking that he hadn't shown up before, he must have been working for Yuwen Sheng.
But now that he's back, and Yuwen Sheng is still nowhere to be seen, she asks, "Where is the general?"
Fu Rong looked around and whispered to her, "The general has suffered some injuries..."
Zheng Quchi's expression tightened: "How did you get injured again?"
Has he been finding pleasure in getting injured lately?
She thought for a moment and realized something was wrong. This was a temple for praying to gods and Buddhas. It was impossible for a large number of suspicious people carrying lethal weapons to break in. If it was an assassin, like the one before, wouldn't Yuwen Sheng be able to deal with it easily?
"What exactly is going on?"
"Actually, it's like this..."
——
Just as Zheng Quchi had drawn the attention of most of the "Jichun Craftsmen's Guild," especially when Abbot Miku and Gongshu Jiru couldn't resist going over, Yuwen Sheng began his operation.
Fu Rong helped him change into a set of black clothes, giving him a simple disguise, and then he broke into the Peacock Pagoda of Wujue Temple, which was off-limits to outsiders.
The Peacock Pagoda served as the abbot's library and office at Wujue Temple. It had three stories. He used the dense foliage of the trees to cover his path and successfully reached the pagoda, then leaped up the eaves to the second floor.
There were no warrior monks guarding the second-floor tower. After entering through the window, he came to the bookshelf where the books were displayed.
"Peacock Tower, second floor, third row of bookshelves, Julu prepared a plan for the construction of the Xiatianbu, and reached an agreement with Abbot Miku of Wujue Temple."
Yuwen Sheng's trip to Yongchun City in Julu was not to quarrel with Gongshu Jiruo over a momentary impulse, nor was it just for the "Jichun Craftsmen's Guild" held by the Gongshu family. Rather, it was for an urgent, coded letter delivered by a spy from Ye State.
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