Chapter 53

Great Summer, Capital City of Kyoto.

Xuanwu Street.

Two figures walked side by side, drawing some attention.

Mainly because these two were no ordinary individuals.

One was the current Duke of the State, the foremost military general.

The other was Hu Yong, the Minister of Rites of the Great Summer.

Their gathering together inevitably caused shock and amazement.

At this moment, Hu Yong's voice slowly sounded.

"Your Grace, the Great Summer Academy will begin in two days."

"I have read Gu Jinnian's essay; the phrase 'the people are the most important' is truly the essence of it."

"If nothing goes wrong, after this Great Summer Academy, the court will welcome a capable minister, and the Gu family will truly shine brightly in the future."

Hu Yong spoke, smiling slightly as he praised Gu Jinnian and the Gu family.

"Minister Hu, you are too kind."

"Calling him a capable minister is too much. I only hope that my grandson can do some practical things for the people, and if he becomes a junior minister in the future, I will be satisfied."

The Duke of the State chuckled lightly. In front of his own family, he could be arrogant, but he was much more restrained with Hu Yong.

It wasn't that he was afraid of anything.

But the two were not on the same side. Now that Hu Yong had come, how could he not understand the meaning behind it?

The Crown Prince had been removed from the regency, and Hu Yong was a loyal supporter of the Crown Prince. He knew he couldn't take sides, but Gu Jinnian was different. In the past, there was no opportunity or reason to approach him.

Now it was different.

Gu Jinnian had shown his talent, possessing the qualities of a capable minister in the Confucian tradition, with a bright future ahead. He would eventually enter the court and become a civil official.

Since he would become a civil official, he had to choose a side. Choosing the right team would make his future in the court much smoother.

But the old man Gu was not foolish and wouldn't let Gu Jinnian get involved in the struggle for succession so early.

"Your Grace is too modest."

"Gu Jinnian's talent is more than enough to become a minister, and he might even become the Chancellor of the Great Summer, assisting a wise emperor and achieving a great legacy."

Hu Yong smiled as he spoke.

But when he said this, a hint of unusual emotion flashed in the old man Gu's eyes.

"If that day comes, I will die content. However, Jinnian is still a child, though talented, the court is deep and complex, and he needs to mature more."

"I only hope that Mr. Wenjing will properly manage the Great Summer Academy and let Jinnian face some challenges. Otherwise, this child has been spoiled since childhood, and despite his current achievements, I am still worried as a grandfather."

The old man Gu smiled as he spoke, but the latter part of his words showed some concern.

But such words were ultimately a refusal.

However, Hu Yong's intention was clear. If the Duke of the State chose to support the Crown Prince, after the Crown Prince ascended the throne, Gu Jinnian, still young, would be appointed as the Chancellor of the Great Summer when he was in his sixties or seventies.

This was a deal.

Unfortunately, the Duke of the State was somewhat tempted but ultimately chose to avoid the topic.

Smart people know when to stop. They don't say everything. Seeing the old man's reaction, Hu Yong smiled slightly and said,

"Your Grace, there's a saying that the blue comes from the indigo but is bluer than the indigo. Young people have their own destinies, and we don't need to worry too much."

"However, Jinnian is indeed wise. My master is also very interested. If Your Grace is willing, I can make the introduction."

He didn't continue to press the issue but changed the subject.

"Thank you, Mr. Mingxin, for your kindness. However, Jinnian is about to enter the Great Summer Academy and is approaching adulthood. Let him make his own choices."

Hu Yong's master was a famous Confucian scholar in the Great Summer, as renowned as Su Wenjing. Offering to take Gu Jinnian as a disciple was a good thing, but it involved court politics, so he politely declined.

"Understood."

"Your Grace's intentions are clear. In that case, I hope Jinnian studies well. Regardless, as long as he serves the Great Summer with all his heart, it will be a good thing for both the emperor and us."

Hu Yong smiled and then didn't continue the conversation. When the time was right, he chose to leave.

At this moment.

The Duke of the State's Manor.

Gu Jinnian sat in his room, caressing and eagerly awaiting the fruits of the ancient tree.

This entrance examination.

Two resentment fruits had ripened.

Four talent fruits had ripened.

All were fully mature, and it would be a shame not to open them for rewards.

First, the resentment fruits, then the talent fruits.

Gu Jinnian thought to himself.

The fully mature resentment fruits filled him with curiosity.

Soon, as Gu Jinnian's mind focused, the ancient tree appeared in his mind, radiant and majestic.

As a pure golden resentment fruit fell, a beam of light flashed, and a talisman appeared.

Not a talisman paper, but a talisman.

【Thousand-Mile Sound Transmission Talisman】

The words appeared.

With the information that came, Gu Jinnian immediately understood what it was.

It could transmit sound to anyone within a thousand miles and even imprint the other person's aura, even changing into their voice.

Yes, it could change into their voice.

This was definitely a tool for online romance.

But what was its use?

Gu Jinnian thought for a long time, but couldn't figure out what to do with it.

Transmit sound to someone for what?

Wake them up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom?

To annoy them?

It wasn't impossible.

Feeling a bit frustrated, Gu Jinnian suddenly fell silent again.

This thing wasn't useful for serious matters, but it could be used to annoy people or gain resentment. Better to have it than not.

But for the second fruit, Gu Jinnian hoped for something better.

Otherwise, it would be boring.

Immediately, the second pure golden fruit fell.

This was the second resentment fruit.

As it fell, the resentment fruit glowed with golden light again.

But this time, it wasn't a talisman or anything like that.

It was a colorful beam of light, as fine as a hair, entering his body.

And this time, there was no hint at all.

Yes, no hint at all.

Unlike before, when it would inform him what it was.

"Damn, playing this game?"

Gu Jinnian was stunned for a moment.

The second resentment fruit, just playing this? No explanation?

Giving a strange thing as a reward?

If you can't afford it, just say so. Why do this?

Feeling frustrated, Gu Jinnian didn't know what to say.

It would have been better to just give a random talisman.

This ancient tree was problematic.

After being frustrated for a while, Gu Jinnian didn't continue to fuss.

Switch to the talent fruits.

Open a new blind box.

The resentment fruits had many issues, but the talent fruits were different. They were definitely good.

There were four talent fruits in total.

Gu Jinnian didn't think much and picked the first one.

Immediately, a brilliant golden light shone, and four words appeared.

【A Word Weighs a Thousand】

As they appeared, the golden light entered his body, accompanied by a message.

Using talent to write, each word would weigh as much as a thousand words.

This got Gu Jinnian excited.

He thought it would be a Confucian idea, but it turned out to be a Confucian power.

Talent condensed into words, each word weighing a thousand pounds.

What did this mean? In the future, when encountering enemies, though he couldn't use verbal attacks, he could write an article and throw it at them.

A hundred words would weigh a hundred thousand pounds, a thousand words would weigh a million pounds.

Even a third-level martial arts expert might not withstand it.

But his talent probably wouldn't be enough to write a thousand words, and this power had a time limit, though Gu Jinnian didn't know how long it lasted.

But there was no denying that this was a good reward.

Thinking about it, Gu Jinnian picked the second talent fruit.

As he picked it, an overwhelming surge of righteous energy came, and the words of a sage echoed again.

Just like the first time, listening to the sage's words, enhancing his Confucian realm.

After about half an hour,

Gu Jinnian woke up from his enlightenment.

Though it wasn't a Confucian power, these sage's words solidified his Confucian realm.

He picked the third one.

Again, the sage's words of Confucianism.

He picked the fourth one.

Still, the sage's words of Confucianism.

Gu Jinnian didn't show disappointment. After all, he had just reached the first realm of Confucianism, reading and condensing qi. Compared to many talented young people, he still had many shortcomings. The three talent fruits made up for the blank period of the past ten years.

With three sessions of Confucian sage's words, the righteous energy in his body became much stronger, almost reaching perfection.

One more step, and he would reach the second realm of Confucianism, understanding intent and cultivating qi, also known as the qi-cultivating scholar.

The first two realms of Confucianism could be broken through directly with righteous energy. But the third realm was the real challenge. Each subsequent realm required a test of the heart to break through.

Otherwise, even if he wrote a hundred timeless articles, if he couldn't break through, he still couldn't break through. It was related to the state of mind.

The blind boxes were opened.

Gu Jinnian didn't think much, picked up a book, and started reading to cultivate qi.

Reading was still the key.

Late into the night, the old man came over.

He said some things, the main point being to study well at the Great Summer Academy and to find Uncle Six if anything happened.

Then he said some other things earnestly.

Gu Jinnian listened carefully.

But one thing was certain: he hadn't entered the court yet, and he hadn't even reached adulthood. He needed to be clear in his mind but absolutely not get involved in anything.

What position to do what things.

What situation to make what choices.

This, Gu Jinnian, who had lived two lives, understood clearly.

In this way,

Two days passed in a blink.

In the Yongsheng era, on the tenth day of the tenth month.

The removal of the Crown Prince from the regency, under the strong stance of Emperor Yongsheng, gradually calmed down. The Minister of Rites, Yang Kai, was seriously ill at home, causing some controversy.

But all the controversy was largely overshadowed by the official opening of the Great Summer Academy.

At this moment,

It was still dark.

The jade carriage of the Gu family was already prepared.