Chapter 86

Listening, listening.

"Hehe, what a splendid scene on this Lantern Festival night, with scholars teaching the young. It will surely become a fine tale..." Seeing Hu Guang finish speaking, the provincial governor Zheng, who was said to have also started as a minor official, stood up.

Dozens of dancers came forward with trays, each tray holding a tall footed night cup.

"Fine grape wine in the night cups, come, young people, drink this cup to the brim in gratitude for the scholar's teachings!" He raised his wine cup and smiled as he toasted Scholar Hu.

Hu Guang drank in one gulp, his face beaming with satisfaction. He even felt that it was quite good that Jie Jin had not come out, as he could fully enjoy the role of the literary master.

Governor Zheng also drank in one gulp. The two smiled at each other, looking at the group of young people and urging them to finish their drinks in one go.

The scholars were flattered and hurriedly drank in one gulp, Wang Xian naturally did the same. Only Yu Qian, standing beside him, did not take the wine from the tray.

"Young man, everyone has drunk, why haven't you touched your cup?" Governor Zheng asked.

"Reporting to the venerable sir, I am still young, and my father strictly forbids me from drinking," Yu Qian bowed, his face calm despite facing the governor of the province: "Please forgive me, venerable sir."

"Ha ha ha..." Governor Zheng looked closely and saw that the young man was only fourteen or fifteen, with a fair complexion and a dignified appearance, and he couldn't help but like him: "Drinking one cup is no big deal. If your father asks, just say it was Zheng Tang who made you drink. He won't blame you."

"I dare not disobey my father's command," Yu Qian still shook his head, "nor would I dare to use the venerable sir to pressure my father."

Governor Zheng's face turned red with embarrassment, and he coughed twice: "This young brother has strict family discipline, that's good, that's good."

"Good for what!" The bearded giant mocked. He was Tang Yun, the commander of Zhejiang, a hero of the Jingnan Campaign, and the hereditary Lord of Xin Chang, who wouldn't put a group of scholars in his eyes. He laughed and teased: "This kid clearly looks down on you, old Zheng!"

"I have no such intention, venerable sir," Yu Qian hurriedly defended himself, "it's just that my father's rules must be followed..."

"Change the rules today!" Tang Yun personally stepped in, picked up the night cup from the tray, and pressed it to Yu Qian's lips, grinning: "If you don't drink, I'll throw you into the West Lake to drink your fill!"

No one doubted the truth of Tang Yun's words. This killer, after capturing the Japanese pirates, would bind them with stones and throw them into the mouth of the Qiantang River without trial.

Yu Qian met Tang Yun's gaze calmly, took the wine cup with both hands, and put it back on the tray, then bowed deeply.

All eyes on the boat focused on Yu Qian, making him feel very uncomfortable, but he remained still.

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" Tang Yun extended his large hand, grabbed Yu Qian's chin, and asked coldly.

"Afraid," Yu Qian answered calmly.

"Then why do you dare?" Tang Yun's voice was cold, his gaze chilling.

"Bravery does not yield to force," Yu Qian said a few words.

"Hmm..." Tang Yun grunted heavily, staring at him fiercely. Yu Qian met his gaze without fear.

"Ha ha ha ha!" After a long while, Tang Yun laughed loudly, patting Yu Qian's shoulder, "Good boy, if you say no, it's no, even nine oxen can't pull you back. When you grow up, you'll need this stubbornness to achieve great things!"

This relieved everyone. They were really afraid that Lord Xin Chang would lose his temper and kill the boy, turning this grand celebration of peace and prosperity into a joke.

Wang Xian watched from the side, sighing inwardly, "No wonder you are the future savior of the Ming Dynasty, you have a protagonist's aura from a young age... I, a small character, can only look up to you."

While he was lost in thought, he suddenly saw a flash of ferocity in Tang Yun's eyes and thought it was bad. He heard Tang Yun grin, "But before taking on great responsibilities, you need to learn a lesson that even sages don't teach. Today, I'll teach you..." He raised his large hand and slapped the frail young scholar to the ground like cutting wheat. "What does 'a wise man doesn't take a loss in front of him' mean?"

Amid the uproar, Tang Yun withdrew his hand, not looking at him again, and laughed as he returned to his seat, saying to the middle-aged man with a black beard on his left, "Grand Secretary Hu, do you think my lesson was right?"

The face of Grand Secretary Hu immediately turned sour. Tang Yun was clearly criticizing him indirectly. Hu Guang had a life of great success, winning the imperial examination and becoming the chief grand secretary, but he was not respected because of his lack of integrity...

Governor Zheng hurriedly smoothed things over, "Lord, you really shouldn't take it out on a child." He waved his hand, having someone help Yu Qian to rest. Then he smiled, "Young friends, please take your seats, tonight we will celebrate the Lantern Festival together!"

"Thank you, venerable sir." Everyone followed the maids to their seats at the newly added tables.

After they sat down, the music started again, and the dancers gracefully took the stage, moving elegantly.

After sitting down, the students found the delicacies unappetizing and ignored the dance, each thinking about how to get close to the rare great figures, or else it would be a waste of this opportunity.

Wang Xian, however, was not interested. He thought that for the great figures, evaluating poetry was just an entertainment interlude, and they wouldn't pay attention to these students afterward. The so-called "celebrating together" shouldn't be taken seriously; it was just a free meal.

So he enjoyed the free meal, thinking it might be the last time he would eat such good food in his life. He focused on eating, ignoring the gazes of the other scholars. Being a minor official had its advantages; he didn't have to be as pretentious as the scholars.

However, while eating, his eyes often swept over Grand Secretary Hu's table. The man suspected to be from the Jinyiwei was still standing behind him, but he seemed distracted, gazing at the boats on the lake as if he was yearning for something.

Wang Xian had noticed that the guard was very arrogant last time. Seeing him act childishly this time, Wang Xian was even more puzzled. How could such a bearded, towering man be a brainless fool? And how could a brainless fool be a Jinyiwei and carry out such an important mission?

At that moment, the man seemed to sense something and looked at him warily. Wang Xian grinned at him, and the man paused, then smiled back and turned away.

This isn't a Jinyiwei... Who has such a lackadaisical Jinyiwei? Wang Xian thought, who is he? How could he make Hu Guang so restrained!

While he was thinking, he suddenly saw the scholars around him stand up and bow. Wang Xian came to his senses and saw that the Zhejiang provincial inspector, holding a wine cup, was coming over. He quickly stood up and bowed.

"Sit down," the provincial inspector said, sitting next to Wang Xian and asking, "Is the food to your liking?"

Wang Xian wanted to stand and answer but was pulled to sit down. He straightened up and said, "Reporting to the inspector, this is the first time I have tasted such delicious food."

"Then eat more..." the provincial inspector smiled, "Actually, you don't need to rush. You won the top prize from Scholar Hu today, and you will soon become famous. You won't lack for invitations to meals."

"I am honored," Wang Xian said hurriedly.

"Relax," the provincial inspector smiled, "Just treat it like chatting with an elder at home. Don't think of me as the provincial inspector." Although he said this, he emphasized the last four words.

"I dare not."

"Look at you, so timid," the provincial inspector chuckled, "I ask you, what are your plans for the future?"

"Return to the county and continue being a household clerk," Wang Xian answered honestly, but he was on guard. What is he up to?

"Do you plan to be a clerk all your life?" the provincial inspector asked lightly.

"Who would want to be a minor official all their life?" Wang Xian smiled bitterly, "But I have no choice. My family has the elderly and the young, and we need food to survive."

"Is that so..." The provincial inspector's words of advice were stifled, and after a long pause, he said, "Although that's true, a person shouldn't only look at the present. To be honest, the clerks are morally corrupt, and almost all of them are corrupt. If you stay in this position for too long, you might also pick up some bad habits."

"I agree, venerable sir," Wang Xian said respectfully, "Please guide me, venerable sir!"

"Leave the government and focus on your studies!" The provincial inspector stroked his long beard, adopting a teacherly demeanor, "People gather with those of similar qualities. With your talent, you shouldn't be among the lowly clerks. You should meet more good teachers and friends to improve yourself."

"Is that so..." Wang Xian's face showed enlightenment, but he cursed the provincial inspector in his heart. Do you know how hard it was for me to get this good position? I'm counting on it to live. You want me to quit! Who will support my family if I quit? "But the cost of studying is too high, and I can't afford it."

"I have some connections with the head of the Xiling Academy in Hangzhou and can get you in for free," the provincial inspector said benevolently, "You just need to focus on your studies."

"I am deeply grateful, venerable sir," Wang Xian said, tears welling up in his eyes, "But I can't agree immediately because I need to ask the county magistrate first!"

"That's natural," the provincial inspector nodded slowly, "Do you need me to write a note for you?"

"I don't think it's necessary; I can speak directly," Wang Xian shook his head, "Venerable sir, I have a request..."

"Speak," the provincial inspector nodded.

"After the spring, the once-a-decade recompilation of the yellow register will begin, and our county magistrate takes it very seriously. I have been preparing for the whole winter, and if I suddenly change, it might cause problems and delay the county's important affairs." He bowed sincerely, "I humbly request that the venerable sir allow me to complete this task and leave the county with a clear conscience!"

The provincial inspector considered the timing and decided not to be so urgent, "I only spoke more because I admire your talent. What to do is your own choice, and others can't help you."

"Yes..." Wang Xian wiped his sweat, thinking he almost lost his job...

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