Chapter 47

A cart pulled by oxen passed along the street, its wheels crushing the frost on the ground. The weather was cold, and the side street was sparsely populated, with only a few vendors still setting up their stalls.

But as they approached the inn where Tongsheng lived, the crowd became dense, with scholars and merchants bustling about, creating a noisy and lively scene. The cart had to gradually come to a stop.

The driver, dressed in rough cloth, lowered his head and asked, "The market ahead is crowded, making it difficult to drive. Shall we walk?"

"Fine," came a faint reply from inside the cart.

When the driver looked up again, he was startled to find that the figure was gone, leaving only a small piece of silver rolling on the table, with the cold wind blowing through the door curtain.

The middle-aged scholar had already reached the crowd, dressed in a blue robe, with slightly white temples and faint wrinkles on his face. Despite this, he still exuded a dignified and handsome presence, with a touch of沧桑 (沧桑 means "沧桑" in Chinese, which can be translated as "weathered" or "aged" in English, but it also carries a connotation of having experienced much in life). At first glance, one might mistake him for an old scholar.

The crowd was heading towards the inn, and the official schedule for the annual exams had inadvertently formed a grand market, complemented by brothels and teahouses, all decorated with lanterns and streamers. The festive atmosphere encouraged the candidates to open their wallets.

The middle-aged scholar smiled at this bustling scene and walked slowly, stopping in front of an inn with a sign that read "Yi'anju."

"Living in the county city is not easy," he murmured, his smile fading as he stepped inside.

Passing through the inn's hall, he saw many diners, with the innkeeper and waiters bustling about. The middle-aged scholar glanced at the spacious hall without rushing, flipped through the menu, and casually ordered a few dishes, then found a quiet corner to sit.

The sound of the crowd surged, and the middle-aged scholar heard street vendors shouting, "Stinky tofu, selling stinky tofu... The prince of the current dynasty eats stinky tofu, and he says it's good."

"Last time, I told you about the Taoist priest who, with a flick of his hand, released a silver silk duster to exorcise demons, emitting a white light that overshadowed the sun and moon, causing the rat spirit in the house to be terrified..." This was a storyteller in the teahouse across the street.

"Sir, please, have mercy. Give us some food, do good deeds, and accumulate virtue." This was a beggar who had become a vagrant, begging for alms.

The middle-aged scholar listened intently, remembering how he had resolutely entered the path of a scholar and then joined a sect, living in seclusion for ten years, dedicating himself to the Yu family, and finally entering a closed retreat, isolated from the outside world. The sudden return to the secular world made him feel both familiar and strange, as if in a daze.

"Red dust... Pingzhi, how long has it been since you last encountered it?" Yu Pingzhi thought to himself, but the melancholy lasted only a moment. He closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and composed himself, knowing that his body could not withstand extreme emotions.

Just as he was lost in thought, he heard a commotion and opened his eyes to look.

A group of scholars were gathered, forming a small circle. A young man asked, "Brother He, what do you think the exam questions will be this time? Will there be other examiners besides the three current ones?"

They were all candidates, naturally concerned about their future.

He, the scholar, chuckled, "Examiners will be sent, as this is the county-level exam. It's different from before. Once you pass and become a scholar, you are a reserve official of the court. If you want to pursue a career in government, you can start as a ninth-rank official, and the court will grant you a rank. Hehe, I heard that cultivation also requires this."

One of the scholars, displeased that He had mentioned cultivation, said, "Let's not talk about that. We are laying the foundation for our studies and should not speak of strange and supernatural things. Cultivation is not something we should discuss now."

This was a reasonable point, and the others could not argue, so they nodded in agreement.

The scholar, now the center of attention, smiled again, "The exam hall has items that suppress qi. When we write our essays, literary talent is the most important, but we also need to consider the preferences of the examiners. This is the prudent approach."

"Brother Li's words are practical. I was too hasty," He said with a smile. "However, after the exam, the suppression is lifted, and only a few will make it to the list. We can't help but pay attention to our qi."

"This is also true."

As they conversed, another scholar asked, "Brother He, who is this Ye Qing you admire?"

"Ye Qing from Pingshou County? It's a remote county, not a well-known place, and I've never heard of any notable scholars there!"

He, whose real name was He Mao, paused to take a sip of tea and then explained with a smile, "It's usually like that, but have you heard of the Dragon Palace Feast?"

The others fell silent for a moment before one of them sighed, "So he's a 'Tong Jinshi.' I've read his poem 'Observing Peace,' and I didn't expect it to be from someone from Pingshou County. It's hard to imagine."

"Great places produce great people, and this is the norm. But who can say for sure about the unpredictable ways of heaven? Who can predict the talent that falls from the sky?"

"Ye Qing is said to be no more than fifteen years old. Brother He, have you had the chance to meet him? What kind of person is he?" someone asked with a hint of jealousy.

He Mao pondered for a long time, "I've interacted with him and observed him closely. He is affable and has a strict character. And I heard he is staying in this inn. We can call him out later."

Yu Pingzhi glanced at him, not particularly interested, and listened casually. The waiter brought the dishes and was about to leave when Yu Pingzhi called out, "Wait a moment."

The waiter responded, "Sir, what can I do for you?"

"I have a few questions. If you answer well, there's a reward." Yu Pingzhi said, tossing a piece of silver onto the table. The waiter, seeing the silver, which looked to be about an ounce, quickly said, "Please ask, sir!"

"Is the scholar Ye Qing staying here?"

"Yes, he is staying in this inn," the waiter replied, thinking to himself that another visitor was coming to see Master Ye.

"Which room?"

"It's on the second floor, directly opposite this one, room number six."

Yu Pingzhi did not comment, finding the information reliable. He asked further, "When does he usually come out?"

"This... Let me think. He usually comes out to eat around this time, sometimes a bit later, and he often brings a woman with him."

"Is she his wife?"

"She always wears a hood, so it's hard to tell her identity."

Yu Pingzhi frowned slightly, thinking, "Could this be the woman?"

He asked more detailed questions, and the waiter, sweating, finally answered, "I understand, sir. You can take the money and go."

The waiter's eyes lit up, and he grabbed the silver, repeatedly thanking him before leaving.

A moment later, a young man descended the stairs.

He had a fair complexion, a slender build, and eyes like cold stars. As soon as he came down, Yu Pingzhi observed him silently, noticing that the world seemed different through his eyes.

"Hmm, this young man has an unusual face and bone structure."

Ye Qing had eyes like ink, a slender build, and a natural grace in his movements, exuding a dignified and elegant aura.

However, upon closer inspection, one would notice that while these traits were not false, they were only superficial. Internally, he was quite empty, a sign of external nobility but internal emptiness, which many fortune-tellers would consider a minor sign. While it might lead to success, it would not last long.

Yu Pingzhi, however, did not think so simply and continued to observe.

"Hmm, he does have some foundation. Looking closely at his inner signs, there are some traces. This is a unique sign, indicating that he was born with noble qualities, which were later diminished, but he has now gained qi."

"I see some changes inside, and I want to understand them clearly."

Ye Qing did not notice him and instead bowed to the table, "Brother He, it was a pleasure to meet you earlier. I didn't expect to meet you again today. Also, please don't mention the 'Tong Jinshi' title. It's fine to joke about it in private, but with the list about to be announced, I don't want to draw the examiners' attention."

He Mao slapped his head, smiling, "I'm too quick to speak. It won't happen again. Come, sit down, and let me introduce you to my friends. Let's have a few drinks together!"

The surrounding scholars were delighted, seeing Ye Qing sit down and eagerly greeting him, taking the opportunity to form connections.

He Mao called out to the waiter, "Add another set of chopsticks and bowls, and bring two more jugs of wine!"

Ye Qing smiled, "If that's the case, I won't be polite!"

"Brother Ye, you're too modest," the scholars all laughed.

Ye Qing had been staying at the inn for a few days, attracting attention due to his literary fame and the Dragon Palace Feast.

With a preconceived notion, he wanted to form connections. Having experienced a previous life, he was accustomed to such banquets and literary gatherings. He would discuss the essence of literature, appropriately showcasing his talents without overshadowing others, maintaining harmonious relationships in the literary world.

"The exam is approaching. Let me drink this cup to wish everyone success!" Ye Qing sat down, filled a cup of wine, and stood to speak.

Upon hearing this, the others were solemn, knowing that the exam was only five days away. They all stood and said, "Wishing us all success!"

They drank the wine in one gulp.

Ye Qing also finished his drink, then sat down to eat, casually asking, "How are your preparations coming along?"

This was a common topic at banquets, and the scholars were accustomed to it. Regardless of whether they were well-prepared, they all appeared confident, with occasional sighs that were hard to distinguish as genuine or modest.

As they conversed, Yu Pingzhi suddenly saw a dragon turtle faintly appear above Ye Qing.

The dragon turtle had a dragon's head, a turtle's body, a snake's tail, and phoenix claws. Though not a true dragon, it was no less impressive. The dragon turtle emitted a faint green qi and a hint of purple qi.

"Indeed, he has a different foundation. Let's see who is behind him!"

As he looked closer, he saw a gray mist spreading in all directions. The only trace was a faint light, which, when followed, led to a towering pillar of light that seemed to reach the sky.

Standing inside the pillar of light was a solid figure. Yu Pingzhi was startled and, suppressing his excitement, looked closely, "This must be his foundation!"

But before he could see clearly, the dragon turtle roared, and everything before his eyes shattered.

Yu Pingzhi felt a sweet taste in his throat, realizing he had been affected by a backlash.

"This dragon turtle is from Taiping Lake. Indeed, this young man has been favored by the Dragon Lord. Probing his qi before it dissipates is taboo. Unfortunately, this is a privilege of the poetry champion."

A sudden realization flooded his mind, "No matter how much he hides, he is a variable! My nephew's fortune has already been partially consumed by this person, but it's not a lot. Should I fight or make peace?"

"If I fight, there might be someone behind him, leading to a fierce battle, which would be undesirable. If I make peace, I will suffer a loss, and there will likely be conflicts in the same exam."

Just as he was about to think further, he felt dizzy, knowing that the backlash had been triggered. He quickly stood up, went outside, and called for a cart, instructing, "To the Yu residence!"

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