Chapter 45

"Big Brother, the common people should not fight with officials; Mr. Zhang is also doing this for our own good. I think we should just let this matter pass."

After leaving Zhang Qing's place, Ning Wushuang couldn't help but look at Ning Wuque. As the victim, Ning Wushuang was very angry. Such an unjust accusation, if not for Ning Wuque's commotion at Yixiang Garden, Ning Wushuang and Ning Bo Wu would have been imprisoned, and in the worst case, executed, or at least sentenced to over ten years in prison.

But after these few days, Ning Wushuang had come to understand that they had no power or influence. How could they fight against these people?

Since ancient times, the common people should not fight with officials. This saying encapsulates the relationship between the people and the officials in Chinese history, revealing the deep-rooted flaws and the principle of moderation!

It's not that the principle of moderation is bad, but sometimes, a nation should have more courage and more people who dare to say no.

"People who are too kind are easily bullied. Wushuang, this is a world of natural selection, a world with demons and monsters. If you want to cultivate, you must understand one thing: you can be kind, but you cannot lack a ruthless heart. The path ahead is arduous, full of thorns. Only by cutting through the obstacles can you forge a path."

Ning Wuque took a deep breath, looked at Ning Wushuang, and walked back into the house. These words, he said to Ning Wushuang, were also for himself.

He had let Yang Wenqing go at Yixiang Garden, not because he didn't want to kill him, but because he didn't say he would let him go. Such a corrupt official, when he does evil, is far more harmful than Zhao Lian. He causes suffering to the people, and Yang Wenqing managed to escape this time.

His heart was still not ruthless enough!

"A ruthless heart?"

Ning Wushuang pondered Ning Wuque's words, recalling the torture he endured in prison. If not for Ning Wuque asking Zhang Qing to take care of them in prison, he would still be lying in bed, recovering from his injuries.

A fierce look flashed in his eyes, and Ning Wushuang watched Ning Wuque close the door, "I understand, Big Brother!"

"Hehehe..." Ning Bo Wu scratched his head, smiling foolishly, "Under... understand..."

After a rooster crowed, the sky was already faintly bright. Outside the county yamen in Qingyun County, nearly a hundred scholars were quietly waiting, either in groups of three or two, or alone, or with servants. Laughter occasionally echoed, and some scholars were even reciting classics.

All the scholars would occasionally look at the county yamen gate.

March 15th was the day of the county examination. Qingyun County was a large county. Although there were few scholars in this era, it was easy to gather over a hundred people from one county. Those waiting here, along with those still arriving, totaled nearly two hundred people.

Among the two hundred people, there were nearly forty-year-old old scholars, thirty-year-old literati, and young scholars like Ning Wuque, who were not yet of age. For the county examination, as long as one was under forty years old, they could participate. Achieving success in old age was not uncommon in the ancient imperial examination system, like Fan Jin in "The Scholars" or Jiang Taigong, whose fishing story is a famous tale.

It was nearly the hour of Chen.

A young man in brocade robes, accompanied by two beautiful maids and four guards, swaggered over, fanning himself with a folding fan, his black hair tied with a golden crown, his face slender, exuding an air of arrogance.

As the young man in brocade robes passed, all the scholars at the county yamen gate made way. This person clearly came from a prominent family, and it was unnecessary to offend him.

"Third Brother, go smash the door, why isn't it open yet?" Li Gongtai glared at the closed county yamen gate, fanning himself and pointing, shouting.

The surrounding scholars heard this and were all taken aback. Smash the county yamen gate? Whose son is this?

"Hehe, Young Master, you see, before we left, Master instructed..." A guard behind him smiled awkwardly, blinking his eyes.

Hearing the word "Master," Li Gongtai put away his fan and said helplessly, "Alright, this Young Master will wait. Get me a chair."

"Sure thing!"

Upon hearing that there was no need to smash the door, the guard ran off happily and soon returned with a chair. Li Gongtai plopped down, unfolded his fan, and the two maids gently massaged his shoulders, causing the surrounding scholars to gape in amazement.

Is this a trip or an exam? Having power is truly different!

Ning Wuque came to the county yamen alone and immediately noticed Li Gongtai, who was being pointed at by others. He was slightly surprised, "It's him, he's also a candidate from Qingyun County?"

Although they had met once, Ning Wuque had no intention of getting involved with Li Gongtai. Such a wealthy young man was not his kind of person, just a passerby.

Ning Wuque saw Fu Bo, Zhang He, and a few others in the crowd. They also noticed him but, seemingly embarrassed by the incident at the city gate, pretended not to see him, and Ning Wuque ignored them.

Fu Bo sighed softly. He already knew that Zhao Lian was about to be executed. Without Zhao Lian, the Zhao family would lose its influence, especially since the county magistrate had also been removed. The Zhang family's crisis was resolved, all because of Ning Wuque.

Unfortunately, the Zhang family and Ning Wushuang had missed their chance, and Fu Bo regretted it deeply.

"Hey, that person seems familiar!"

Li Gongtai glanced at Ning Wuque, finding him somewhat familiar. Closing his eyes to think, he folded his fan, got up from the chair, and walked over to Ning Wuque, laughing from a distance, "Mr. Ning, thank you for helping me that day."

Hearing the voice, Ning Wuque knew it was Li Gongtai and turned to smile and bow, "It's Mr. Li, nice to meet you. Mr. Li is also taking the county examination?"

"Alas, no choice, family... you know..."

Li Gongtai chuckled, fanned himself, and whispered, "I heard that Rulan was taken in by Mr. Ning. Impressive! Rulan is unmatched in beauty and talent, on par with Jin Ling'er. Unfortunately, she only sells her art, not herself. Mr. Ning taking in Rulan, I admire you..."

Ning Wuque was taken aback. When did I take in Rulan?

Then, Ning Wuque noticed Li Gongtai's knowing smile. Realizing that Li Gongtai, being such a person, could easily gather information, he understood that Rulan's service to him had been misunderstood.

"Uh, Mr. Li, Rulan..."

Before Ning Wuque could finish, Li Gongtai interrupted with a lecherous smile, "Don't worry, it's just a woman. This Young Master doesn't care. It's her good fortune to be with Mr. Ning. With the support of the Zhang family, Mr. Ning has a bright future."

Ning Wuque wanted to explain, but just then, the hour of Chen arrived, and the county yamen gates opened. The scholars lined up to enter, and Li Gongtai chuckled, "Wishing Mr. Ning success on the list, I'll go in first."

"Also wishing Mr. Li success..." Ning Wuque could only return the wish.

"Definitely, definitely..."

Saying this, Li Gongtai took the document and walked into the county yamen. The guards at the gate, seeing the document, bowed and scraped, and even a few officials were quite attentive.

Li Gongtai had special treatment, but Ning Wuque did not. He had to wait in line. After a while, it was his turn, and he presented his student document.

The guard had seen Li Gongtai and Ning Wuque talking earlier and wondered if Ning Wuque also had a background. Not daring to make things difficult, he gave Ning Wuque a wooden token and said, "Mr. Ning, you are number nine in the Jia examination room. Turn left, and the first room is it."

Saying this, he let Ning Wuque in.

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