Chapter 116 On Begonia
After making an agreement, the group of scholars from the north and south finally dispersed.
Su Fengzhang glanced at Meng Ting, who smiled and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Su Fengzhang didn't beat around the bush and asked directly, "Isn't it a coincidence that you came today? If I didn't know Ji Chu was a bookworm, I would have thought this was something you had planned."
Meng Ting laughed heartily and reached out to put his arm around his shoulder as they walked, but because of the height difference, he could only link arms. "Although it wasn't something we agreed on, it's pretty close."
Su Fengzhang raised an eyebrow. Meng Ting continued, "The Scholars' Building is divided into north and south. The conflict between the northern and southern scholars is almost obvious. But this year, the emperor wants to combine the north and south rankings. This contradiction is even greater."
"Actually, the scholars from the north and south have long been interested in a duel, but they just haven't had a good name for it. You're not familiar with Su Qun, but he's a smiling tiger who never does meaningless things. He allowed Lin Yuye to stir up trouble today, so he must have been prepared."
He Tang, who was listening nearby, said sympathetically, "Ji Chu is really unlucky today. He has encountered a normal and unexpected disaster."
Ji Chu himself said, "It was my fault for not being careful enough. I shouldn't have taken that book."
Su Fengzhang consoled him, "When a scholar sees someone else's book being dropped, they will pick it up to see who it belongs to."
Bai Yu glared at him and said, "You just looked and almost took me away. Luckily, they didn't intend to make a big deal out of it. Otherwise, even if they weren't convicted, their reputation would still be bad."
Ji Chu lowered his head dejectedly. He was a bookworm, but he wasn't ungrateful. "It's me who has troubled you all."
"What's the point of talking about being involved or not? If it's just as Brother Meng said, then this is just a matter of time." He Tang comforted.
Bai Yu didn't mention the matter again. He just turned to look at Meng Ting. It was obvious that they were also familiar with each other. "Brother Meng, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to come forward as witnesses for the three scholars."
Meng Ting said without hesitation, "Don't worry, Brother Xu will definitely help with this matter."
As soon as Xu Zifeng's name was mentioned, the southern scholars present felt a little relieved. After all, everyone in the capital knew that the Xu family had a wide network of contacts and was good at making friends. It was not difficult for their family to invite scholars who were willing to serve as witnesses.
Meng Ting followed Su Fengzhang back to the room and complained as soon as he entered: "This place is a bit too simple. It's a good thing you're used to it."
Su Fengzhang raised his eyebrows slightly and asked with a smile: "Brother Meng, now it's just the two of us. If you have something to say, just say it directly."
Meng Ting laughed heartily and said, "Talking to smart people is a relief. Brother Su, I'll need your help in the Northern and Southern Scholars Competition in three days."
Su Fengzhang asked curiously, "Brother Meng is famous, but I am just an unknown person. If I represent the southern scholars to fight, I am afraid everyone will be unhappy."
Meng Ting said, "Brother Su, you are too modest. Everyone in the Scholars' Building knows your great name, Su Fengzhang."
Su Fengzhang glanced at him and asked, "Have you been planning this for a long time?"
Meng Ting touched his nose, not daring to answer directly. He simply said, "It was bound to happen sooner or later. They just discussed it and they all felt that if Brother Su, Brother Bai, and I went out together, we would have a better chance of victory."
"I'm good at poetry, Brother Su, you're good at painting, and Bai Yu is good at calligraphy. Wouldn't it be best if we could come together like this?"
Su Fengzhang once again confirmed that before this incident happened, the southern scholars led by Meng Ting had probably already made plans, otherwise they would not have decided on the candidates for the battle so quickly.
He didn't feel angry, but it was unpleasant to be kept in the dark and have to do the work in the end.
Narrowing his eyes, Su Fengzhang smiled and said, "This doesn't look like your idea, Brother Meng."
Meng Ting laughed and said, "Of course it's not mine. Why would I hide it from you if it were me? It was all Brother Xu's plan. He was afraid that telling you too early would make you worry. So I'll take care of the offending matter."
Su Fengzhang asked directly: "Since it was Brother Xu's idea, why didn't he fight himself?"
Meng Ting said, "He is a member of the Xu family. If he shows up, it will not be good."
Xu Zifeng has a family behind him, and above the family is Concubine Xu in the palace. Concubine Xu also has the fourth prince who is favored by the emperor. If Xu Zifeng stands up on behalf of the southern scholars, it would indeed be a bit inconvenient.
Su Fengzhang looked at Meng Ting deeply. He still remembered that when they were in Qingzhou Prefecture, Meng Ting and Xu Zifeng's relationship was not particularly close, and there was even a vague sense of alienation.
But within less than half a month after arriving in the capital, the personal relationship between the two men had advanced by leaps and bounds.
"Brother Meng, you and the Xu family..." Su Fengzhang asked with raised eyebrows.
Meng Ting opened his folding fan and waved it, answering directly without hesitation: "The Xu family was born in Qingzhou Prefecture. They are a lineage of native southern scholars. They are also the most humble and respectful to others. Sooner or later, we will all enter the court, so it is not a bad idea to be close to them."
After saying this, Meng Ting stared at Su Fengzhang and said, "But listening to what Brother Xu said, after entering the capital, Brother Su, you have become a little distant from him, and your words and deeds are extremely polite."
Su Fengzhang smiled and replied, "A gentleman's friendship is as pure as water. What's wrong with that?"
Meng Ting closed his folding fan and suddenly asked, "Brother Su, do you really not understand what Brother Xu means?"
Su Fengzhang pulled him to the window, pointed in the direction of the crabapple tree, and asked, "Brother Meng, what do you think that is?"
"A crabapple tree." Meng Ting paused and added, "A crabapple tree full of crabapples."
Su Fengzhang turned around and asked, "There are so many fruits, so I guess this tree doesn't care if it has one more or one less."
Meng Ting asked, "How do you know you are the most special one?"
"How special can it be? Is it so special that this tree is willing to withstand the autumn wind and not shed its leaves just for a fruit?" Su Fengzhang laughed, looking at Meng Ting with some understanding in his eyes.
Meng Ting frowned and said, "Brother Su, I understand what you mean, but have you ever thought about this? Li Sanlang and I at least have connections in the court, but you... if you don't have anyone to help you, won't you be unknown for the rest of your life?"
Su Fengzhang asked in return: "How do you know I don't want to be unknown?"
Meng Ting looked at him in surprise. Before this, he always thought that Su Fengzhang was the same kind of person as himself, the kind of person who shines brightly among the crowd and will never be buried.
Su Fengzhang said in a gentle voice, "I don't understand the affairs of the court or the disputes among officials. I took the imperial examination in the first place just to make life better for my family. I really don't want to get involved too much."
Meng Ting's brows knitted together, and he couldn't help but ask, "Is there something wrong with the Xu family?"
After thinking for a moment, he added, "Although Prince Xi insulted the He family for relying on nepotism to rise to power, this is an exaggeration. The current Minister of Revenue is the head of the Xu family, which shows his ability."
"Let's not talk about anything else. Nowadays, most of the powerful officials in the court are arrogant and domineering. It's rare to find someone like the Xu family who is respectful and humble."
"Before we came to Beijing, my father once said that if the Xu family was deliberately trying to win us over, there was no need to deliberately distance ourselves from them. After we came to Beijing, my uncle also praised the Xu family many times. Besides the Xu family, what other powerful people in the capital are worth serving?"
"Even if there are, those officials from the northern faction might look down on us southerners."
Su Fengzhang lowered his head and stared at Meng Ting's expression, and suddenly realized that less than a month after coming to Beijing, this young man who was once full of vigor and looked like a somewhat dissolute talent had changed a lot.
When he was in Qingzhou, Meng Ting seemed to have no worries, and he always acted with a bit of arrogance and casualness in his dealings with others. But now he frowned and spoke for the Xu family, and his former innocence was gone.
Su Fengzhang couldn't help but wonder what exactly happened in the meantime. Is there something he doesn't know?
Seeing him staring at him, Meng Ting couldn't help but ask, "Brother Su, what's wrong with you?"
Su Fengzhang sighed and said, "I've said it before, it's not that the Xu family is bad, it's just that this is not what I want."
Judge Meng sighed deeply, feeling confused for a moment, but he still said, "In that case, neither I nor Brother Xu will force you. Putting aside the Xu family, we are still good friends, right?"
Su Fengzhang also smiled: "Of course."
Meng Ting asked again: "Are you really unwilling to leave this competition?"
Su Fengzhang said, "The scholars from the north and south are competing, so why shouldn't I participate? If everyone has no objection, I would be very happy to do so."
Meng Ting was very surprised to hear this and looked up and asked, "Are you willing? Don't you dislike having any connection with the Xu family?"
Su Fengzhang laughed and said, "What does the competition between northern and southern scholars have to do with the Xu family? Even if they invited the scholars to judge, I'm afraid they wouldn't make it public."
Meng Ting understood at once that this was indeed the case. Not only would the Xu family not show up, but even Xu Zifeng could not show up, because this was a private duel between scholars from the north and the south, and it was a private matter between both parties.
It's not just the case in the South, the same is true in the North. Not to mention how many people are supporting and interfering behind the scenes, no one will come forward openly.
Meng Ting had no choice but to say, "It's good that you are willing to fight. I will go back first and come to discuss it with you tomorrow."
Su Fengzhang saw him off. When they reached the door, Meng Ting couldn't help but say, "Brother Su, as a friend, I still want to tell you that relying on the Xu family is beneficial to you. There are so many people who want to rely on the Xu family, but they won't agree."
"I know." Su Fengzhang just said this, but he didn't give in at all.
Meng Ting could only sigh and leave.
As soon as he left, Su Fengzhang sighed and returned to his room.
If he had known the complicated network of relationships behind Xu Zifeng when he was in Qingzhou Prefecture, he would not have gotten too close to him.
He is not Meng Ting, and he does not have the Meng family behind him. As a scholar with no foundation, it is too difficult for him to make a name for himself by relying on the Xu family. The price he has to pay behind this is definitely not what Su Fengzhang wants to pay.
What's worse is that the Xu family is not just a powerful family. Half of their power comes from Concubine Xu and the Fourth Prince in the palace. You must know that there is a Crown Prince above the Fourth Prince.
The Xu family is a deep pool. Su Fengzhang is afraid that if he, a small fish, rushes in rashly, he will be turned into ashes.
The glory and support brought by the Xu family are temporary, but the troubles they bring may affect his life. Su Fengzhang naturally does not want to continue to deepen this relationship.
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The last update today
There is one more chapter in the manuscript box. Friends who sleep late can wait until midnight.
But I still recommend everyone to go to bed early, anyway, Sheng Ge is too old to bear it
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