Chapter 75 Competition
——Xu Mansion——
"Madam, there is finally news!" As soon as Mr. Xu got off work, he rushed home happily.
At this time, Xu's mother was lying on the chaise longue, with several maids massaging her back and peeling grapes. When she heard Xu's father's voice, she sat up immediately.
Mother Xu went to greet Father Xu with a hopeful look on her face and said, "Master, is there any news about Kai'er? Have the young master of the Duke's Mansion and the others agreed to save Kai'er?"
"Kai'er has good news, but it's not that the young master agreed to save people." Father Xu looked at Mother Xu and said with joy.
Hearing this, Xu's mother's mouth shrank and she said, "You didn't agree to save anyone, why are you so happy?"
"Although we didn't directly agree to save him, the rumor we spread must have worked! I just got news from above that due to the influence of the rumor, the government decided to give Kai'er another chance in order to investigate the truth!" Father Xu said excitedly.
"Really!" Upon hearing this, Xu's mother's eyes lit up instantly, and she asked, "What kind of opportunity are you giving? Can you redeem Kai'er with this money?"
Upon hearing this, Father Xu waved his hands and said, "It's not about using silver to redeem him, but the court said to give Kai'er another chance to take the exam. Isn't it said outside that Kai'er was framed? Moreover, Kai'er is the youngest scholar in Daxia, so the court said to give Kai'er another chance to prove himself and arrange for him to compete with several scholars. As long as he can beat those scholars, Kai'er will be considered innocent!"
"What? Why do we still have to take an exam?" Xu's mother exclaimed in surprise.
She originally thought that she could spend some money to get the man released, or that Pei Jingchuan and others would, under pressure, testify to Xu Shikai that this was a misunderstanding, and then release him. However, she didn't expect that she would have to take an exam.
Father Xu was somewhat puzzled by Mother Xu's reaction. He looked at her doubtfully and said, "It's just an exam with a few scholars. It's much easier than the palace exam. What are you afraid of? Do you think Kai'er can't even pass these scholars?"
"I...that's not what I meant. I'm just a little worried. What if there is a scholar with the talent of the top scholar? After all, there are still some risks." Mother Xu lowered her eyes and said.
In fact, Xu's mother was not sure about Xu Shikai. After all, Xu Shikai cheated when he took the exam, which she knew, but Xu's father didn't know. At that time, Xu's father had just been promoted and his status in the family had risen. He had the idea of taking a concubine. In order to make Xu's father feel at ease, she gave up the idea of taking a concubine and having a son out of wedlock, and had to let her son have a better future.
Therefore, Xu's mother spent a lot of money to invest in Xu Shikai, so that he could win the title of the youngest scholar in Daxia. Now, he was asked to take the test in public, could he really beat others?
After hearing what Mother Xu said, Father Xu's relaxed brows suddenly drooped and he said, "You are right to have this concern. Talents emerge in every generation. Who knows if there will be a scholar who is more talented than Kai'er. Besides, since the young master hates us so much, he might secretly go to find those talented scholars."
After hearing what Father Xu said, Mother Xu nodded in agreement and said, "Yes! So, Master, we still have to think of a solution!"
"How about this, I will go and find out which scholars are competing with Kaier. When I know the list, you can go and ask them for help." Father Xu said after he lowered his head and pondered for a moment.
Hearing this, Xu's mother nodded happily and said, "Okay!"
Xu's father went privately to inquire about the scholar who competed with Xu Shikai, and it was all under Pei Jingchuan's ears.
The six young scholars handed over all the money that Xu's mother had bribed them to Pei Jingchuan, not a penny less.
"This is the money Madam Xu gave us. She asked us to lower our level and lose to Xu Shikai in the competition in two days." One of the scholars said respectfully.
"Well! You guys should do as they ask first. You can keep the silver. As for the other two, you..." Pei Jingchuan returned the silver to them, and then told them what to do.
The news that Xu Shikai wanted to compete with the scholars to prove his innocence soon spread. Xu's mother also went to the prison to talk to Xu Shikai and gave him a reassurance, saying that she had already bribed those scholars and told him to go and compete without worry.
The competition was held on an open terrace, and scholars and common people from the entire city were invited to witness it. Everyone watched with the mentality of eating spectators and watching a show.
Two days passed quickly and Xu Shikai was taken to the open-air platform.
Xu Qingyan followed Pei Jingchuan and sat behind the scenes to watch. Xu's father and mother squeezed into the crowd of onlookers. The crowd was divided into several layers, surrounded by fences. The closest ones were scholars, and then the common people who were watching the excitement.
When Xu Shikai was brought out, he looked haggard and his spirit was not as confident as before. Perhaps he had tempered his spirit in prison.
The competition started soon, with the examiner starting to ask questions, which were the same questions commonly used in the examinations for scholars.
Xu Shikai was just a mediocre person, but he had worked hard in the academy and was not a playboy, so he passed the first few exams smoothly. Then, the question was to have him debate with a scholar.
At this time, Xu Shikai began to get a little nervous. However, after he debated with two of the scholars, he suddenly realized that the two scholars really went easy on him. Whenever he felt that he was about to lose the debate, the scholar admitted defeat in front of him.
After these competitions, Xu Shikai gradually gained more confidence, and even felt that he really deserved the title. Yes, except for losing to that person, he was no worse than the others!
"You see, I knew that our Kai'er was wronged! Qingyue's idea is really good. I wonder who dares to throw dirty water on our Kai'er in the future! When we go back later, we have to ask people to prepare in advance. I believe Kai'er will be released home in the next two days. When the time comes, we have to get rid of the bad luck for Kai'er!" Mother Xu couldn't help getting excited when she saw Xu Shikai, who was invincible on the stage.
Suddenly, when Xu Shihui saw the scholar coming out from behind to compete with him, the corners of his mouth froze.
"Why...why is it you?" Xu Shikai couldn't help but be surprised, and there was obviously a hint of fear in his eyes.
I saw that the man who came up was a man wearing a gray gown and had an elegant face. His demeanor was calm and composed, and his whole body revealed the arrogance unique to scholars.
The man straightened his back, walked up to them neither servile nor overbearing, and politely saluted everyone. He then looked at Xu Shikai with an open gaze and said, "It's been a long time since we last met. I didn't expect that we would have such an opportunity to play chess against each other."
"You...why are you here?" Xu Shikai even trembled as he spoke.
"Why can't I come? I heard that you are the youngest scholar in Daxia. Is there any problem with me challenging you? Why are you so scared?" the man said slowly.
However, no one noticed that there was a flash of sarcasm in the corner of his eyes. He was thinking: Xu Shikai, you owe me all this, it's time to pay me back!
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