Chapter 37

Hate Cloud stood on the dais, scanning the scholars with her eyes. Her expression was blank as she announced, "Second place, 'Westward Gaze of the Exile,' awarding Yu Fan one hundred taels of gold."

"Third place, 'Dongmen Lake Law,' awarding Zhang Zhendong fifty taels of gold!"

She paused and then said, "Is the Stone Pavilion present?"

"I am here," a middle-aged man stepped forward, drawing the attention of the scholars. He was a renowned minister from the old Wei dynasty, now serving in this Dragon Palace.

"Record this grand event, and have a stele erected by the lakeside Plum Rock Mountain."

"Your command will be followed!"

Earlier, when Hate Cloud was joking with Ye Qing, she appeared playful and charming. Dressed in a princess gown, she was serene and graceful. Now, as she issued orders, her eyes were calm and reserved, devoid of any emotion, only distant and profound.

Ye Qing involuntarily held his breath, recalling a True Lord he had seen from afar in his previous life, who was similarly serene and unfathomable.

At that moment, the words "Your command" fell on Yu Fan like ice water.

The vast difference in strength, and now the fair and open competition, left no room for complaint. Filled with anger, he had to suppress it.

"Second place?"

"The Dragon Palace banquet has gained fame across the land, and the most attention is on the champion. The second place is merely a decoration; who would remember the second place in a literary contest? And how much good fortune would it bring? Who would value these hundred taels of gold!"

Though he was seething inside, Yu Fan dared not look at Ye Qing, only narrowing his eyes and staring at him: "Brat... I regret not heeding Mr. Kou's advice to kill you that night..."

Feeling his gaze, Ye Qing turned to look at him. Yu Fan smiled and even bowed in congratulations, hiding his rage. He took a deep breath, his heart cold and calm: "No, I cannot be like a woman. The deed is done; what good is resentment? I admit defeat in this round, but if you dare to take my good fortune, we'll see if you can withstand the fury of the Yu family in the county examination."

Ye Qing smiled and withdrew his gaze, his eyes slightly cold.

"Rare is the gathering of such distinguished guests, and the banquet has been joyful, but all good things must come to an end. Each of you has traveled far, so here are ten taels of gold as a gift. Outside the palace, boats will take you ashore." The Dragon Lord, stroking his long beard, smiled and led the concubines out of the hall.

As the Dragon Lord retired, water maidens presented the gold. Each ingot was ten taels, about the size of a five-tael silver ingot, perfect for carrying in a pouch.

Though these maidens were beautiful, none could match the Dragon Princess. The scholars, who had planned to return empty-handed, felt somewhat consoled by the gold. They dared not hope for the Dragon Princess to serve them again.

However, the mood for the banquet was gone. Some kept the gold, while others dispersed.

The maidens presented a silver tray, different from the others, not containing gold ingots but a stack of gold notes and a sachet, which surely contained a pearl.

Taking the gold notes, each worth ten taels, they put them away.

Seeing the third-place winner, Zhang Zhendong, packing up with a smile, he bowed to Ye Qing: "Greetings, top scholar."

"Brother Zhang, you jest. How can I be called a top scholar? It's just a banquet!"

"Though it's just a banquet, the value is high, and the gold is a welcome addition. It's a great joy!" Seeing Ye Qing's surprise, Zhang Zhendong smiled: "My family is not a noble one. My mother spent all our wealth to get me to pass the child scholar exam. With this income, this trip has been worthwhile."

After they finished packing, they left the hall, descending the steps and turning the platforms.

Ye Qing suddenly smiled and asked, "The dozen scholars who were close to the princess were only given ten taels of gold, with no additional favors. Is that it?"

Zhang Zhendong laughed: "Brother Ye, you are from another county and may not know. The Dragon Banquet is held annually, but it was much smaller in the past."

"Brother Ye's top ranking will spread, and this is public recognition."

"However, in the past, the princess would often send her maids to meet scholars privately. If they fell in love, she would promise them as a wife, with a dowry and a bit of the Dragon Palace's good fortune. This was private recognition."

"However, after the last Dragon Lord's demise, though not officially banned, such occurrences have become rare." As he spoke, they passed a palace wall, and a maid approached, presenting a jade box to Zhang Zhendong: "My princess says this spiritual object can store good fortune, though not enough for the state exam, it will be beneficial for the county exam. It is a token of her regard."

Ye Qing's expression was strange as he watched this.

Just as Zhang Zhendong had said, such occurrences were rare, but it was still unsettling. Opening the jade box, he saw a pearl and understood its meaning, remaining silent for a long time before accepting it.

"Congratulations, Brother Xu. In the coming year, you will surely excel in the Pinghe County exam!" Ye Qing's congratulations were sincere, remembering that this young man later became a scholar.

Indeed, though third place, he still received good fortune. With the pearl and the influence of the stele, even a poor scholar had a chance.

This was one of the few examples of a poor scholar rising in the original world, worth cultivating a deeper relationship.

Zhang Zhendong, unaware of the reason, could sense Ye Qing's sincerity. He gripped the jade box and smiled bitterly: "Not like Brother Ye, whose future is boundless. If not for the times, you might have taken the princess home today!"

Ye Qing was speechless. Though Hate Cloud appeared playful and charming, she was actually transforming into a true dragon. His position did not allow such an opportunity.

Unless he could pass the second imperial exam and gain immortality, there was no chance.

They bowed to each other and parted ways.

Ye Qing did not leave immediately. He turned to a rockery, which, though called a rockery, was fifty meters high, offering a view of the Dragon Palace.

The sky was silent, the water deep, and the stars outside moved in rhythm. It was already evening, and the stars shone through, guiding the stars in the sky to shift.

Under the night sky, the Dragon Palace aligned with the celestial pole, generally higher in the north and lower in the south.

Standing there, the cool breeze was refreshing, and they both stopped to look.

In the great calamity of his previous life, the Da Cai Dynasty and the surrounding vassal states were embroiled in war. Immortals brought disasters, and heroes vied for power, with smoke rising everywhere.

However, this Peaceful Lake area remained relatively peaceful, indicating that this Dragon Lord was extraordinary, or that Hate Cloud played a significant role!

However, in his previous life, he was only a scholar, and his level of contact was too low to know many secrets.

"What are you thinking, Ye Jun?" A female voice sounded from below, clear and calm, and with a new form of address. Ye Qing turned in surprise.

Beside him stood a graceful figure, slender waist, full chest, a golden pearl on her forehead, a clear and serene face, and a calm demeanor.

The mountain breeze was cool, and a faint fragrance lingered.

Her feathered dress clung tightly, revealing an alluring curve.

"Hate Cloud? I was thinking that every time I see you, your demeanor changes, truly making one's head spin..." Ye Qing smiled, avoiding the question.

"Oh..." The beauty smiled, not minding his evasion or teasing, her eyes twinkling with interest. "Which one do you prefer?"

Ye Qing was speechless. Based on his two lifetimes of experience, he had to answer ambiguously: "All are pleasing, but having all is greed!"

This was quite impolite, but she nodded thoughtfully.

After a moment, she asked, "If you obtained something but had to give it up due to circumstances, would you give it up?"

Ye Qing frowned, a difficult question, but after some thought: "What's in the mouth won't be spit out. Circumstances are external forces; without a fight, how can there be a definite outcome?"

"Human and national struggles follow the same principle. Offering one's wife and daughters is cutting off one's roots. Whether revenge is successful or not, it will lead to swift destruction."

"The path can be straight or curved, but what can be bent is the situation, not the path. Once the path is lost, there is no chance of success."

In five thousand years of Earth's history, the struggle for national fortune, without individual transcendent power, has pushed the situation and outcomes to the extreme. The depth of the theories far surpasses the idealistic discussions of scholars in this world.

His two lifetimes of experience transformed into these resounding words, and the beauty was moved, looking at Ye Qing seriously.

In the golden pearl on her forehead, a small dragon lay quietly, its head slightly raised, its eyes golden and majestic. Ye Qing suddenly felt a chill.

The beauty's eyes, black and white, gazed deeply at Ye Qing: "Your words have some truth... I hope your actions match your words."

She turned and gracefully left.

Ye Qing secretly sighed in relief, his hands sweating, watching her slender figure disappear at the corridor entrance. Suddenly, he remembered something and called out, "Hey, when Zhang Zhendong left, the princess gave him a pearl. You are also a princess; why didn't you give me anything?"

She laughed lightly but did not turn back, her fragrance lingering in the wind. Ye Qing was speechless, waiting until she was out of sight before wiping the sweat from his hands.

Is this Hate Cloud?

Even if they look identical, the dragon pearl and dragon shadow, one serene and one active, can he not tell the difference?

Annoying, two identical dragon princesses, taking turns to play the tiger!

However, his smile faded, and he looked into the distance, his gaze distant, pondering for a long time. These two dragon princesses, regardless of their intentions, had made a significant investment.

Even as he descended the mountain, Ye Qing could feel two pairs of eyes watching him. Looking back at the golden pavilion, it was empty.

"How is this so subtle? Carefully considering, it carries a sense of their expectations. What is this feeling?"

Walking along, Ye Qing returned to the palace gate by the lakeside dock.

Perhaps due to the delay, the boats had all returned, and the dock was empty.

Under the blue sky, by the green water, he looked around and heard oars in the lake: "Fellow scholar, we've been waiting for you."

Turning, he saw a man in a straw raincoat on a boat, the same boatman from the beginning, whom he had also seen at the banquet but had not spoken to.

"You jest, I'm not even a scholar, let alone a fellow scholar!" Ye Qing jumped onto the boat and bowed respectfully.

"Not jesting, your poem is worth it..." As he spoke, the boat shook, and a green water wall formed around them, keeping the water out.

The boatman pointed, and the boat shook, moving forward.

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