Chapter 96

Tong Li's face darkened; the worst thing he had feared had happened.

Fang Yun had no conflict of interest with the scholars and juren in Yuhai City.

Although his grandfather was a prestigious third-rank attendant and had a good relationship with Li Wenying, and had some influence in Yuhai City, the city was ultimately under the control of the Holy Academy and people like Li Wenying. Since Li Wenying held Fang Yun in high regard, his people would naturally help Fang Yun.

The juren examination was held for the entire Jiangzhou, and it didn't matter which city Fang Yun took the exam in. Therefore, the mid-level scholars in Yuhai City not only did not resent Fang Yun but also hoped that he would leave a great literary reputation in Yuhai City, with many even hoping to benefit from his success.

Tong Li cursed these people in his heart. No wonder they didn't warn him even though they knew Fang Yun was here. They were just waiting for him to fall into a trap and then pretend to be on the same side as Fang Yun.

Tong Li was very clear about his own abilities, so he deliberately delayed taking the prefectural exam for two years, aiming for the title of "Mao Cai" (Outstanding Talent). As for the title of "Jie Yuan" (First Juren), he didn't even dare to think about it.

He had prepared for years to win the title of Mao Cai, and this year seemed to be his best chance. He couldn't accept the sudden appearance of Fang Yun.

Tong Li's face quickly turned from gloomy to sunny, and he smiled, saying, "You all have seen it. You want Fang Yun to participate in the dragon boat race, but he doesn't want to. I came here to try to provoke him, which is for his own good. Can I finish what I have to say?"

"Go ahead," the juren said.

Tong Li smiled and said, "Fang Yun, you may not know, but the rules of the annual dragon boat race come from the Holy Land 'Xuehai' (Sea of Learning), right?"

"I've read about it in books, but I don't know the details," Fang Yun replied.

"That's right. In the dragon boat race in Yuhai City, the Prefect and the Lady of the Academy will use the official seal to gather the talent aura from the Holy Temple to cover the river section of the race. Our dragon boat race is not about who is the best at rowing, but about who writes the best poetry and prose. The more talent aura the poetry and prose have, the more strongly it resonates with the official seal, and the more it can mobilize the elemental energy of heaven and earth, thus propelling the dragon boat. All these rules are adapted from 'Xuehai.' If you participate in the dragon boat race this year, it will naturally be easier for you to fish for the literary heart in Xuehai when you become a jinshi in the future."

No one contradicted him. From this perspective, it was indeed beneficial for Fang Yun.

Tong Li continued to smile, "However, since Fang Yun doesn't seek a false reputation, I will make a bet to provoke him. If Fang Yun can win the first place in this dragon boat race, I will not only give him a holy page that my grandfather gave me, but also kneel and apologize to him in public at Longtou Bridge, and fully clarify the previous incident of抢书山名额 (grabbing the book mountain quota), and give up this year's prefectural exam. If Fang Yun doesn't win the first place, I don't need him to kneel, just to hold a banquet to apologize to me at Jinghai Tower, and then return to Dayuan Prefecture to take the scholar exam. What do you think?"

Even the juren who supported Fang Yun couldn't refute this, as Tong Li was clearly offering a high price, making it seem like Fang Yun was getting the better deal.

Everyone looked at Fang Yun.

Zhao Zhuzhen frowned slightly and gave Fang Yun a look, as if telling him not to agree.

Fang Yun didn't respond to Zhao Zhuzhen. He stared at Tong Li for a while before saying, "Brother Tong, you have a lot of good intentions. If I don't participate in the dragon boat race, I would be letting down your good intentions. Fine, I accept this bet! Which dragon boat team is willing to let me join?"

Everyone hesitated.

Tong Li immediately looked at the juren who had scolded him and said, "Brother Qian, since you are also participating in the dragon boat race, why not let Fang Yun join?"

Qian Juren looked at Fang Yun and asked, "Brother Fang, do you really want to participate in the dragon boat race?"

"Of course."

"Alright. According to the rules, each dragon boat can carry three juren and three scholars. We will replace one person on our dragon boat with you." Qian Juren was very happy, as someone who had no conflict of interest with Fang Yun, he wanted to befriend him.

Fang Yun bowed to everyone and said, "Everyone, please be my witness today. If our dragon boat race fails, I will immediately leave Yuhai City and never step in again." Fang Yun finished speaking and looked at Tong Li.

Tong Li immediately said loudly, "I also ask everyone to be my witness. If Fang Yun can win the first place in the dragon boat race, I will immediately kneel in front of the whole city at Longtou Bridge and give him three loud kowtows!"

Zhao Zhuzhen said, "Tong Li, since you said it, don't blame me for making you kowtow if you can't do it!"

Everyone could see the anger in Zhao Zhuzhen's heart. Most people didn't know who this person was, wondering how he dared to speak to Tong Li like that, while a few people showed a bit of surprise.

"I, Tong Li, am a man of my word! I will go to Longtou Bridge and wait! Goodbye!" Tong Li bowed and quickly went downstairs, with several students following him.

After leaving Yuhai Tower, one of the people behind Tong Li hurriedly said, "Brother Tong, what's wrong with you today? Everyone knows about Fang Yun's poetry and prose, why are you still betting with him?"

"Yes, Brother Tong, it's really unwise."

"I think Tong Li has a confident look, he must know something. Come on, spill the beans!" one person laughed.

Tong Li laughed and said, "Do you know who Qingguo sent to participate in the dragon boat race today?"

"It's said that one of the four great scholars, Shi Jun, sent his disciple. I don't know if it's true. But even if it's true, Fang Yun is no less talented than the disciple of Shi Jun. How can you be so sure you can beat Fang Yun?"

Tong Li still smiled and said, "You only know one side, not the other. I only found out yesterday that the half-saint of Qingguo, Yan Yukuang, also came! The dragon boat race is not a single person's competition, but a team competition of three juren and three scholars. One disciple of Shi Jun may not be as good as Fang Yun, but with Yan Yukuang, what are Fang Yun's chances?"

"Ah? Is it really that Yan Yukuang? It's said that his talent not only surpasses the poet of Qingguo, but is even on par with the century's greatest genius, Yi Zhishi, and is the most likely candidate to become the next half-saint of Qingguo. Why did he come?"

"Is it that three-time genius who became the top scholar at ten, the outstanding talent at twelve, and the first juren at fourteen? It's said that he could have become a jinshi at sixteen, but his half-saint teacher held him back, personally taking him on a tour of the world, and he will take the jinshi exam this year, at the age of eighteen. Last year, people said that Yan Yukuang not only wants to be the top scholar of Qingguo but also the top scholar of the ten countries. If he becomes the top scholar of the ten countries, he will inevitably become one of the five great scholars, and the next four great scholars will be no problem."

Tong Li's smile grew wider, "You only need to know that Yan Yukuang is very talented. Although Fang Yun has a famous teacher, how can he compare to Yan Yukuang, who has been personally taught by a half-saint? His so-called famous teacher might just be a Confucian or a half-saint who gave him some pointers, and he might have just attached himself to that person as a teacher, but that person might not even want to recognize him as a disciple!"

"Brother Tong is right! Fang Yun is doomed this time!"

"Brother Tong is really cunning!"

"No wonder Qingguo was willing to take out the mountain and river chessboard. What a pity." The person sighed, and then others realized the tension between Qingguo and Jingguo, and that Jingguo had even taken a province from Qingguo, so they didn't say anything more.

Tong Li's face darkened, but he couldn't do anything about it.

"Brother Tong, who is that effeminate person?"

"That person seems to be a woman disguised as a man. Brother Tong, who is she?"

Tong Li's face became even darker, "She is a big shot that none of us can afford to offend. I didn't want to offend her, but since she doesn't like me, I might as well compete for the title of Mao Cai. She can't do anything to me!"

Inside Yuhai Tower, Zhao Zhuzhen told Fang Yun about the half-saint's disciple. After finishing, he sighed and continued, "I gave you a look just now to tell you not to fall for the trick, but you still agreed. Just Yan Yukuang alone isn't enough to overwhelm you, but with the disciple of Shi Jun and others, you have almost no chance of winning."

Fang Yun asked, "Why would a half-saint's disciple participate in this dragon boat race?"

Zhao Zhuzhen said angrily, "The half-saint of Qingguo might not have ordered anyone to come, but the royal family of Qingguo has always been eyeing Jingguo. Last year, Jingguo suffered a great defeat at the hands of the Wolf Barbarians, and the situation this year is even more severe. Qingguo will naturally take the opportunity to use the dragon boat literary meeting to pressure Jingguo. To put it bluntly, Qingguo is using this to show their strength to the ten countries and the people of Jingguo, preparing to take over our territory in the future."

Fang Yun carefully observed Zhao Zhuzhen, suddenly remembering that the royal family of Jingguo was surnamed Zhao. Could this Zhao Zhuzhen, who was dressed as a man, be a princess or a duchess?

Fang Yun immediately recalled the members of the Jingguo royal family. There were many duchesses, but only one young princess, who was the sister of the previous emperor and the aunt of the current three-year-old emperor. The other princesses were not so young.

"Indeed. If they only sent the disciple of Shi Jun, it wouldn't be a big deal, but sending a half-saint's disciple is really too much," Fang Yun said.

"Of course! This time they have gone too far! Otherwise, I wouldn't have come personally!" Zhao Zhuzhen was even more agitated, but didn't try to hide her voice, which sounded more like a woman's.

A thought popped into Fang Yun's mind, "Did you ask Li Daren to invite me to watch the dragon boat race?"

Zhao Zhuzhen frankly said, "I asked Uncle Li to invite you, but since you didn't like the dragon boat race, I didn't push you. I didn't expect that bastard Tong Li to provoke you. I don't know whether to thank him or not. Tong Li is well-behaved in the capital, but once he leaves, he becomes a spoiled brat. I really want to teach him a lesson for Uncle Tong."

Fang Yun didn't expect Zhao Zhuzhen to be so straightforward, treating him like an old friend after just meeting.

Zhao Zhuzhen quickly realized she had spoken out of turn and hurriedly explained, "I admire your poetry and prose and have studied it repeatedly. When I met you today, I felt a special connection. Don't misunderstand me."

"Brother Zhao is too polite. I like people who speak their minds," Fang Yun smiled.

"That's good." Zhao Zhuzhen nodded and regained her usual composure, then continued, "I know your talent is no less than Yan Yukuang's, but Yan Yukuang already has a literary heart. Although the true purpose of the literary heart is for battle, as long as the literary heart is in the literary palace, it can improve various aspects such as creativity, literary courage, and the stability of talent aura, which greatly helps in writing poetry and prose."