Everyone in the room, including the ten judges, raised their heads and looked at Yan Qi with different expressions.
The five judges on the Yan family’s side were naturally not surprised, while the other five judges slowly flashed a smile at Yan Qi.
Although strictly speaking, they may not be on the same side as the Yan family, but at this year’s Spring Banquet, the Yan family was willing to return to the civil service group instead of helping the notorious and belligerent Crown Prince, which was still pleasing to them.
Fan Qi was originally squatting, but now he stares wide and stands up in disbelief. “Impossible, how could Young Master Yan Qi…”
Shi Fang stood with his sword clasped in his arms and said coolly, “Now, Big Brother should know that what I said is true.”
The eldest disciple, Zhao Yan, dressed in a plain robe, stood behind the Left Prime Minister, Jimo Qingyu. He leaned down and said, “Master, the Yan family does not lean towards the Crown Prince’s mansion this year, the Crown Prince’s mansion may not have many chances of winning.”
The Left Prime Minister, Jimo Qingyu, and Sui Heng are known for their incompatibility in court. Zhao Yan believed that Jimo Qingyu should be happy to see such a result.
Unexpectedly, Jimo Qingyu sneered. “Do you think the Yan family is good? Yan Bing is used to being cocky and arrogant. Now that he has shown his authority at the Spring Banquet, this old man would like to see until when this crab can rampage.”
“And you! As the eldest senior brother, you don’t focus on your studies and training yourself every day. You can’t even write a decent article, and you worry about useless things. If you dare to talk about politics again, you can roll back home and copy your lessons!”
His voice was strangely loud, and he didn’t avoid the fact that opposite him sat Yan Bing himself as well as a group of the broad-robed Yan family’s disciples, scolding his own eldest disciple in public.
Zhao Yan is almost thirty years old and has already become a famous scholar at the level of a great scholar outside, so his ears inevitably turn red, and he admits his mistake in a low voice.
Although some of the Yan family’s disciples showed their displeasure and felt that Jimo Qingyu was too arrogant and noisy, but Yan Bing sat in a chair with his eyes slightly lowered, showing no reaction.
Zhao Yan quietly changed the topic. “This year, there are many scholars and talented people from Jiangnan. Master might be able to pick a favorite disciple.”
Jimo Qingyu has a picky eye and has not recruited a new disciple for many years. Zhao Yan often suspects that his master is tired of these people, so he often scolds them for not being ambitious. Zhao Yan really hopes to have a new junior brother to share their pressure.
Jimo Qingyu sneered again. “Amidst the hustle and bustle, all for the sake of fame and fortune, there are only a few who can focus on learning.”
Zhao Yan dared not speak again.
Jiang Yun found a shady place, spread out his seat, sat down on his clothes, and quietly observed the situation in the field.
The first article competition is about to begin, and most literati and scholars from various countries have already entered, except for the people from the Crown Prince’s mansion who have not yet appeared. Those who did not compete today sat on the sidelines, as he did.
Jiang Yun saw both Wei Yun and Luo Fengjun.
It’s just that Luo Fengjun’s wrist was wrapped in bandages, and he didn’t bring that ancient zither that never left his body. His face remained as lonely and aloof as ever, like a crane sitting alone under a willow tree.
Despite the shade of trees, the sun was still very strong. Shi Fang brought an umbrella and supported it above Jiang Yun. Jiang Yun said there’s no need and asked him to sit down, then asked, “Without any disciples of the Yan family, how does Your Highness plan to win?”
This is not an unspeakable secret either.
Shi Fang said, “His Highness still has Military Advisor Chen, who has recruited a large number of talents who were skilled in the Six Arts.”
Sure enough.
Jiang Yun had already guessed that Sui Heng dared to break ties with the Yan family and put the Yan family on the spot in order to take advantage of the Spring Banquet to form his own team of civil officials.
Chen Qi was once the most skilled writer in the Jiangnan region. He had no foundation in the Sui capital and could only rely on the support of the Crown Prince, Sui Heng, for his successful career. This was the most ideal relationship between the ruler and the minister in the world.
This is a risky move. If it fails, Sui Heng may never be able to shake off the shadow of the Yan family in his lifetime. Once successes, a third force of civil officials will forcefully intervene in the Sui Empire’s court. Sui Heng, as the Crown Prince, will no longer have to be controlled and manipulated by the Yan family.
This makes Jiang Yun worried.
Because this also means that Chen Qi will truly enter the core of power in the Sui Empire and become the most important official of Sui Heng, and in the future, he may ascend to the court to be worshipped as the prime minister and reach the peak of power.
Chen Qi is a very sophisticated man. He’s ruthless and is familiar with the situation in Jiangnan. He is a poisonous snake that can not only eat up the Yan family but also the Jiangnan and Jiang Empires. Moreover, this person harbors inexplicable hostility towards him. If Sui Heng ascends to the throne in the future and Chen Qi becomes the prime minister, with their ambition, they will use even more cunning and vicious means to deal with the Jiang Empire.
Shi Fang thought that the young master was worried about His Highness and comforted him with a smile. “Don’t worry, Young Master. His Highness has the wisdom bead in hand, and Military Advisor Chen is also an expert in writing. If we unite, we may not lose to the Yan family. Moreover, I heard that among the talents recruited by Military Advisor Chen, there are many extraordinary talents who specialize in other categories of the Six Arts. As long as His Highness can win half of the project’s top prize, he can win.”
Jiang Yun didn’t speak.
With a sung report from the ceremonial officer, all the people from the Crown Prince’s mansion finally walked in under Sui Heng leadership.
Perhaps due to the literary examination, Sui Heng did not wear a military uniform today. Instead, he wore a black rolled gold border-embroidered qilin-patterned sleeved brocade robe with a red lining. His black hair was still tied high with an ink crown, revealing his sharpness and beauty.
Behind him was a magnificent team of literati led by Chen Qi.
“Today, a group of talented people are gathered here, Gu will rely on everyone to fight for Gu’s reputation.”
He stood with his sleeves down, smiling and muttering.
Everyone arched their hands and answer yes.
Empress Yan sat on the high platform, feeling a heart attack. In front of Emperor Sui’s face, she couldn’t resist and could only silently roll her eyes.
On the Crown Prince mansion’s team, there was indeed no disciples of the Yan family. Rumors were confirmed, and everyone couldn’t help but look at the other party involved, the Right Prime Minister, Yan Bing.
But Yan Bing still squinted his eyes as if he had wandered beyond the sky, unable to see any emotional fluctuations.
Sui Heng sat down on the high platform, and the literati went to pick up their plaques one by one to enter. Yan Qi stood under his umbrella, his gaze following the dark figure for a long time before finally retracting it.
“Young Master Chu.”
When Jiang Yun was lost in thought, he was awakened by a joyful voice.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu walked over with a big belly and a red face. Seeing Jiang Yun is like meeting a relative. “Guaren wanted to say hello to the Young Master yesterday, unfortunately there were too many people, and Guaren couldn’t see where the Young Master was. Is everything alright for the Young Master?”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu had previously received guidance from Jiang Yun in the Chen capital. He resorted to a cruel strategy and led Chen Qi to defend his position. He was deeply grateful to Jiang Yun and felt that he was the living Buddha sent by heaven to save him.
Moreover, Jiang Yun was gentle and had a good temper, never looking down on him like other trusted subordinates of Sui Heng. This made the Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu firmly determined to establish a lasting friendship with Jiang Yun.
The person next to the God of Slaughter’s pillow is good at helping him blow off the stream.
Jiang Yun got up and greeted him.
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu, who dares not accept it, quickly asked Jiang Yun to sit down and say, “Guaren has brought a lot of the Chen capital’s specialties this time. When we return to the palace, Guaren will have people bring them to the Young Master and His Highness.”
Jiang Yun asked, “Doesn’t the Guozhu need to prepare for the competition?”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu waved his hand. “Let them compete on their own. Guaren doesn’t understand those nitpicking things, they sound sour, and it gives Guaren a headache.”
Shi Fang silently rolled his eyes in his heart.
“Moreover, as a subordinate country, being too popular is not beneficial, and one day they may be assassinated.”
Jiang Yun’s expression moved, and he asked, “What does the Guozhu mean? The Spring Banquet is a fair and upright competition, and the judges are all world-famous scholars. How could they harm people without reason?”
“The Young Master doesn’t know yet?”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu leaned closer and said mysteriously, “Last night, the Crown Prince of the Luo Kingdom, Luo Fengjun, was molested by a drunken man on his way back to the palace, and his wrist was slashed. Luo Fengjun is a renowned Prince of Music, his hands are precious. Don’t know how tomorrow’s competition will go with all this going on. Although Luo Fengjun is somewhat attractive, don’t you think this is too coincidental?”
Jiang Yun’s heart sank.
No wonder he saw Luo Fengjun have a bandage wrapped around his wrist just now.
Luo Fengjun is skilled at playing the zither, and playing strings and music requires extremely high strength and sensitivity of the wrists. If Luo Fengjun’s wrist is injured, it may lead to mistakes or a direct inability to play.
There shouldn’t be such a coincidence in the world. The Spring Banquets are not ordinary banquets, they are strictly guarded. How could a drunken man break into them for no reason?
“And that drunkard?”
“He’s already dead. Guaren heard that he was drunk, unconscious, and drowned in the river.”
“However, Crown Prince Luo’s temper is not very good. It is said that since coming to the Sui capital, many high-ranking officials and nobles have invited him to play music in the mansion, but he has been sternly refused. He said he is not a street performer and does not do that kind of entertainment. What time is it now, and he’s still putting up a noble stink?” The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu smashed his mouth and said, “It was said that the Luo Kingdom’s monarch and his wife have been trying to establish relationships and spend a lot of money to reclaim this beloved Crown Prince from His Highness. They probably know that he has a solitary and arrogant personality and is not good at socializing. He is prone to offending others. Unfortunately, His Highness has not been loose.”
“This matter is said to be an accident, but Guaren knows that it is by no means an accident, and not only that, Guaren also knows who the mastermind behind that is too.”
The Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu narrowed his eyes and revealed a deep smile.
Jiang Yun didn’t continue to ask, he already knew the answer in his heart.
Being able to use such sinister means to harm others is nothing more than to remove the stumbling block of Luo Fengjun and win the top spot in the music industry. There is only Chen Qi, whose desire for victory is so great and urgent.
When the Chen Kingdom’s Guozhu left, Jiang Yun asked Shi Fang, “Is there anyone among the talents recruited by Military Advisor Chen who is good at playing music?”
Shi Fang was just a guard, and he’s not very familiar with these things, so he said, “There should be some. I heard that Military Advisor Chen has recruited talents from all aspects for His Highness, and the music competition is an important part of the Six Arts competition. Military Advisor Chen should be prepared. If the Young Master is really worried, how about go and ask His Highness?”
Jiang Yun naturally wouldn’t ask.
Jiang Yun looked at Chen Qi on the field, who was full of energy, appeared polite and refined, but had a malicious heart. In a moment, he had already made a decision.
He couldn’t let Chen Qi get bigger.
Chen Qi is too knowledgeable about the situation in Jiangnan, and he is ambitious. In order to achieve his goals, he will resort to any means and use any sinister tricks. He’s already like this when dealing with Luo Fengjun, who doesn’t have much involvement. What is he going to do against the Jiang Empire?
Jiang Yun said to Shi Fang in a warm voice, “Could you please buy me a collection of articles from previous Spring Banquets?”
Before the annual Spring Banquet, a large number of collections of articles from previous years are printed in the bookstore by Qushui for participating scholars to refer to and learn from. After all, each judge has different preferences, and imitating the writing style of the leader and high-scoring contestants could increase their chances of winning.
Jiang Yun usually likes to read books, and it’s not too strange to want to read a collection of articles.
Shi Fang was just a little moved. He didn’t expect the young gentleman to be so devoted to His Highness’s affairs.
Shi Fang said, “Young Master, wait a moment. I will immediately have someone go buy it.”
When Shi Fang bought back the collection of articles, the article competition had already begun.
The place for writing is right by the waterside, and literati can bring their own brushes, ink, papers, inkstones, and even their own long tables to sit at the designated theme. Based on the designated theme words, they can improvise according to what they see and hear. Some of the unrestrained ones even bare their chests and sit on their knees on the grass, waving their brushes.
There is no fixed requirement for writing time, it can be completed before the deadline.
Jiang Yun spent half an hour flipping through the collection of articles and asked Shi Fang, “Is that all?”
Shi Fang was taken aback.
He thought that the version he bought was of poor quality, so he quickly said. “This subordinate saw other scholars buying this version, so this subordinate followed suit. If the Young Master thinks the reading experience is not good, this subordinate will go and buy another one.”
“No need.”
Jiang Yun looked up and said, “Could you please help me buy another brush, ink, paper, and inkstone?”
**
The most eye-catching ones, of course, are the disciples of the Yan family and the Crown Prince’s mansion. The literati from each side occupy a land of abundant water and grass, with a clear distinction between the two sides, unlike the literati from other countries who sit together.
Yan Qi and Chen Qi stood at the front, both standing and writing. One was dressed in a crimson robe with a jade belt and was a renowned scholar. While the other was calm and experienced, moving like the wind. The two great literary masters, one from the south and the other from the north, gathered together, and a silent smoke filled the field. The others seemed to have become just companions. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on them, waiting for a result.
Chen Qi’s back was actually soaked, and his forehead was sweating. This was his habit of writing for many years, and once he started writing, it triggered a natural physical reaction due to excitement and nervousness.
So the servant standing aside, in addition to adding water and grinding, also held a square towel in his hand, occasionally wiping sweat off his master’s forehead to avoid staining the handwriting on the paper.
Jiang Yun picked up an abandoned pavilion in a remote corner and sat down behind a stone table with a broken corner. He spread out the rice paper, dipped in ink, and after being almost an hour late, he too began to write without slowing down.
This is the first time that Shi Fang has seen Jiang Yun write.
The broken-down pavilion and withered yellow grass cannot conceal the elegant demeanor of the young gentleman.
Shi Fang saw such beautiful handwriting for the first time, a handwriting he had never seen before, as clear as a wandering dragon. Shi Fang asked, “Is the Young Master copying an article?”
Jiang Yun replied gently, “I am composing.”
Shi Fang was surprised and opened his mouth wide.
Does the young gentleman means that he also wants to participate in the competition?
Fan Qi happened to come over and was feeling frustrated. Upon hearing this sentence, he couldn’t help but ridicule, “You know a few words, and you have the audacity to learn to write an article like the others?”
Jiang Yun ignored him.
After writing quietly for a while, he said, “If Deputy General Fan has nothing to do, come and help me grind the ink.”
Fan Qi: !!
Last time, he treated him like a horseboy, but now he is treating him like a bookboy!
Fan Qi snorted coldly. He glared at Jiang Yun and walked away with a gasp of anger.
Shi Fang lowered the umbrella and said, “I’ll help you, Young Master.”
When Shi Fang first came to Sui Heng’s side, he was responsible for helping him organize his book and learning to grind. Jiang Yun smiled at him slightly. “Thank you very much.”
Shi Fang fell into a daze.
Improvisation is not an easy task, it requires not only agile thinking but also keen observation. Even skilled writers like Yan Qi and Chen Qi need to spend some time brainstorming before officially writing.
Participants and judges, including Emperor Sui and Empress Yan, are required to stay on the field for the whole day. At noon, palace attendants presented pastries for everyone to eat and replenish their energy on time.
As Shenshi1Around 3-5pm.approached, Yan Qi was the first to put down his brush and complete the article.
The servant respectfully presented several thick pages of rice paper to the judge, who then circulated them one by one.
Everyone else was already sweating profusely, either writing furiously or with a trembling palm. While he remained elegant, handsome, and spirited, exuding the demeanor of a wealthy young master without any signs of nervousness or fatigue.
There was a saying in the Sui capital that to have a son is to be like gentleman Yan.
Afterwards, other scholars also began to submit their works one after another. Chen Qi was the second-to-last one to submit it because his writing was rigorous and meticulous, and he had to carefully review every stroke several times.
Next is the time for the reviewer to review.
Yan Qi still had his servant holding an umbrella for him, and he went back to the seat where the Yan’s disciples were sitting to rest.
Just as he was about to leave, he was suddenly stopped by someone.
“Deputy General Fan?”
Yan Qi showed a surprised expression.
Fan Qi clenched his fists tightly, his body tense. After a while, he gathered the courage to ask, “Why is the Young Master representing the Yan family in the competition this year?”
Yan Qi froze, then revealed a similarly amused look and said, “I am originally a descendant of the Yan family. It is natural for me to represent the Yan family in the competition. Deputy General Fan’s question is quite strange.”
Fan Qi was stunned for a moment, and his gaze towards Yan Qi became unfamiliar, as if he had met Yan Qi for the first time.
Yan Qi said, “I still have something to do, so I won’t chat with Deputy General Fan.”
He took a step to walk.
“What about three years ago?”
Fan Qi’s fists clenched with a creaking sound as he once again gritted his teeth and spoke.
“Three years ago, was it really because the Young Master was sick that he couldn’t participate in the competition?”
The air fell silent for a moment.
Yan Qi said coldly, “Think as you wish.”
It takes a lot of time for reviewers to circulate hundreds of articles.
Although it was an anonymous review, when the reviewers saw Yan Qi and Chen Qi’s articles, they still showed appreciation and affirmation without hesitation.
Because it’s so outstanding, Yan Qi’s writing style is also unique and highly recognizable.
The five judges associated with the Yan family immediately assigned the highest score to Yan Qi. Chen Qi sat in the seat, his heart beating like a drum in his chest.
He naturally didn’t expect the judges from the Yan family to give him a high score, he closely watched the reactions of the other five judges.
He carefully studied the preferences of the civil service officials represented by Jimo Qingyu, so this year he deliberately changed his previous sharp writing style and added many mystical and conversational elements.
For example, the reverence for nature and the pursuit of oblivion.
He also specifically named the article “You Xian Fu” to cater to the other parties’ preferences.
After reading it, the other five judges were indeed impressed and showed a satisfied expression. But Yan Qi’s “Da Huang Fu” is also very good, and they have always liked Yan Qi’s writing style. In their view, “Da Huang Fu” is likely to become the most advanced article since Yan Qi’s rise to fame.
“You Xian Fu” does not go so far as to crush “Da Huang Fu.”
They only read the article itself and do not care about the identities of the contestants, nor do they care about the troubles of the Crown Prince’s mansion or the Yan family.
The five judges were indecisive.
The field was so quiet that one could almost hear a pin drop.
Even Empress Yan clenched her sleeves nervously.
In addition to observing the judges’ actions, everyone was also observing the expressions and reactions of Sui Heng and Yan Bing. Everyone knows that this is the first direct confrontation between the Crown Prince’s mansion and the Yan family.
Sui Heng looked diffident, and Yan Bing was old and calm.
Finally, the sixth ranked judge was the first to make a decision and gave a high score to Yan Qi’s “Da Huang Fu.”
Everyone was in an uproar.
This means that even if all four remaining judges agree with Chen Qi’s article, the Crown Prince’s mansion will undoubtedly lose.
Yan Qi had arrived in front of Sui Heng at some point.
He was dressed in a crimson robe, standing upright with deep eyebrows and an almost arrogant look at Sui Heng, saying, “I have said, Your Highness needs me.”
With a click, Sui Heng crushed the cup in his hand, raised his eyebrows, and was about to speak when a voice suddenly said, “There is still another article here, just delivered.”
Shi Fang handed over the jade token along with the article.
Jiang Yun sat far away. Shi Fang ran for quite a while before receiving his jade token, finally handing it in before the judging results.
Yan Qi frowned and looked towards the judges.
Sui Heng also looked at the sudden emergence of Shi Fang in great confusion.
Where did he get the article from the Crown Prince’s mansion?
Before everyone could react, the judge who had just given high scores to Yan Qi exclaimed excitedly, “This old man wants to change the result and give high scores to this ‘Spring Ode’!”
“This old man has never seen such a wonderful article before!”
“Ah, it’s so refreshing, like hearing fairy music, like hearing wonderful sounds!”
This is the oldest qualified judge among the Civil Service Academy judges, while the other four showed curiosity and eagerly circulated the article.
And then, at the same time, they revealed stunning expressions.
The theme word for this year’s Spring Banquet’s article competition is “all living things,” and most of the scholars’ ideas were focused on the fate of the people and the country. Yan Qi’s “Da Huang Fu” describes an ideal world of coexistence, friendship, and harmony among sentient beings, while Chen Qi’s “You Xian Fu” uses mystical ideas to imagine the emergence of divine souls and explore the beauty of fairyland beyond.
But this “Spring Ode” does not have these profound themes and only uses a clear and gentle brushstroke to depict the revival of all things in spring and the lushness and flourishing of plants and animals. Compared with other mysterious or profound themes, it appears more realistic and approachable, allowing people to immerse themselves in them. The ingenuity of those words and phrases seems to make people hear the murmuring sound of the Qushui River.
Moisturize things silently.
Silence is better than sound.
The other four judges, almost without hesitation, gave the high score to “Spring Ode.”
This reversal came too suddenly, and everyone was both in an uproar and with different expressions. They didn’t know when the Crown Prince’s mansion had been hiding such an expert, and Yan Qi also frowned in a rare manner.
Sui Heng, however, suddenly relaxed his eyebrows.
‘Spring Ode.’
He smiled. Only one person could write such a new and cute name.
A new problem has arisen again. Half of the judges supported the “Da Huang Fu” and another half supported the “Spring Ode,” achieving a draw, while there’s only one literary leader position and it cannot be divided into two halves.
This situation has not occurred before.
According to regulations, after a draw occurs, a new judge can be temporarily added, who is the true great scholar of the time, the Left Prime Minister, Jimo Qingyu.
The eldest disciple, Zhao Yan, personally presented the article titled “Spring Ode” to Jimo Qingyu.
At first, Jimo Qingyu frowned, feeling somewhat indifferent. He felt that his five old students below were too ignorant and serious and couldn’t even tell the quality of an article.
By the time the eldest disciple spread out the stack of rice papers filled with the clear spirit’s handwriting in front of him, his gaze suddenly became fixed, and his expression underwent a wonderful change.
Jimo Qingyu snatched the article from his eldest disciple’s hand and, for a while, holding back his surging emotions, asked, “Who is the writer?”
Ordinary judges cannot casually turn over the ivory plaque, but Jimo Qingyu can.
Zhao Yan opened the ivory plaque and saw only two words written on it: Wei’s people, Chu Yan.
Just Wei’s people rather than Wei Kingdom.
Jimo Qingyu’s eyes lit up, and he said, “He doesn’t represent any side?”
Zhao Yan nodded and repeatedly confirmed the ivory plaque information, saying, “That’s right, it’s the white ivory plaque. He participated in the competition as an individual.”
Participating as an individual means not being attached to any faction and having no intention of pursuing a career.
