Awaken Chapter 147

Great Wei Kyoto.

Wang Xinzhi arrived at the Shouren Academy in a rage.

He was indeed furious.

The civil and military officials had all agreed to make common cause, but what he did not expect was that he would become a clown.

This is fine, the imperial court itself is just a case of you and me, and he is not angry.

What he does complain about is.

Why did the five ministries allocate money for silver, but not my Ministry of Rites?

What is wrong with my Ministry of Rites? Although I am a member of the Great Wei Palace of Literature, I didn’t have any trouble with you, did I?

Besides, I am the Minister of Rites anyway, a member of the imperial court, so why not allocate funds to our Ministry of Rites?

Don’t you know that the Ministry of Rites is in dire straits?

Do the foreign amba*sadors need to be given silver?

Do the imperial family need to replace their ceremonial costumes, and do the great powers need to exchange courtesies with each other?

All these are money.

The Ministry of Penalty and the Ministry of Works both give 20 million taels and 25 million taels, but the Ministry of Rites doesn’t even have a million taels?

I’m not convinced! At least thirty million taels! No matter what, at least thirty million taels.

“Xu Qingnian!”

“Xu Shouren!”

“Come out!”

Wang Xinzhi barged into the Shouren Academy in a rage, attracting some curious students who looked at Wang Xinzhi and found that the visitor was actually the great scholar of the Palace of Literature, the Minister of Rites, and could not help but immediately rise and bow towards Wang Xinzhi.

“We have met Wang Ru.”

The students rose, the only student from Shouren Academy was Li Shouming, the rest wanted to join the School of the Heart, but Xu Qingnian did not accept them, instead he told them to prepare themselves and to understand what the School of the Heart was.

It was not necessary to understand too deeply, at the very least you had to understand what Xinxue was and then be willing to join and then enter the academy.

This approach by Xu Qingnian was even praised by many scholars, as people were indeed angry at the time and wanted to join the Shouren Academy because of Sun Jing’an.

After all, Xu Qingnian had so much talent that he could make up for their loss of re-admission.

It could be said that as long as Xu Qingnian was willing to take in students, there would be no problem with 700 or 800 people, not to mention others.

But Xu Qingnian refused, telling everyone to think it over before coming back.

So much so that the next day, everyone gradually calmed down, feeling somewhat impulsive and grateful that Xu Qingnian had not been blind, otherwise they would have been a disgrace inside and out.

But this act of Xu Qingnian brushed up a wave of goodwill among the literati of Great Wei, so much so that everyone was willing to come over and listen to what Heart Studies was all about.

It is one thing to be in or out, but to come and listen to it is also a way to support Xu Qingnian and increase his popularity.

I just didn’t expect that Wang Xinzhi would come today.

“Where is Xu Shouren?”

Wang Xinzhi asked in an aggressive manner.

“Huh?”

“Wang Ru, you misunderstand, we are not here to betray the Great Wei Palace of Literature, we are just here to listen to the study of the heart”

“Yes, yes, we are just here to hear what the school of the heart is, and have no other ideas.”

The crowd of Confucian scholars spoke up, afraid that Wang Xinzhi had misunderstood them.

“It’s none of your business, I want to find Xu Shouren.”

Wang Xinzhi didn’t bother to look at the group, still yelling for Xu Qingnian to come out.

“Lord Wang!”

“What’s wrong with you?”

It was also at this moment that Xu Qingnian’s voice rang out.

He stepped out of the room and looked at Wang Xinzhi, who had a murderous look on his face, and could not help but reveal a puzzled look.

“Go in and talk.”

Wang Xinzhi didn’t say anything and walked straight into the room, there were still some things that were not good to talk about outside.

Enter the room.

Wang Xinzhi directly closed the door behind him and looked at Xu Qingnian.

“Xu Shouren, I’m asking you three questions, answer truthfully.”

Wang Xinzhi spoke out, appearing somewhat open-minded.

“Lord Wang, you speak.”

Inside the room, Xu Qingnian, on the other hand, appeared very calm.

“First, ask yourself, did I ever offend you in the court?”

This was Wang Xinzhi’s first question.

“No.”

Xu Qingnian gave a quick answer, although Wang Xinzhi was a great Confucian of the Great Wei Palace of Literature, he had not targeted himself in the imperial court.

“Good.”

“Secondly, even as a great Confucian of the Great Wei Palace of Literature, I have only said two words about your arrogance, but this is not excessive, is it?”

Wang Xinzhi continued to ask.

“It’s not excessive.”

Xu Qingnian also answered truthfully.

It was true at all, it was nothing more than saying a few words about your arrogance, and really, this was indeed not excessive.

“Thirdly, has there been any deduction from your official robes and uniforms, including regalia and so on?”

This was Wang Xinzhi’s third question.

“No.”

Xu Qingnian shook his head once more.

“Good then! Since I have not done anything wrong to you, Xu Shouren, why did you inform the whole court but not me?”

Seeing Xu Qingnian’s three consecutive denials, he, Wang Xinzhi, could not help but speak up.

“Notify the whole court?”

“Lord Wang, you misunderstood, in fact, I just forgot.”

Xu Qingnian smiled sarcastically and pretended to forget.

“Don’t play this trick on me, do you think I’m a child of three? You have left no one behind, but you have left me behind in the Ministry of Rites.”

“Xu Shouren, I’ll talk to you to death today, if you don’t give me an explanation, I won’t leave.”

Wang Xinzhi said angrily.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and the more aggrieved he felt.

“Lord Wang.”

“Alright, since you have already guessed it, then my humble servant will not beat around the bush.”

“The reason for not giving the Ministry of Rites silver this time is two things, one, I want to get more silver for the Ministry of Rites, and the other, the subordinate official has a matter for Lord Wang to do.”

Since the words have come to this point, Xu Qingnian simply also open up to the point, not the whole so many messy things.

“You want the Ministry of Rites to take more silver?”

“How?”

Wang Xinzhi was excited to hear about the silver, but he didn’t understand what Xu Qingnian meant by this.

How could he get more silver from the Ministry of Rites?

As for Xu Qingnian’s comment about letting himself do things, it didn’t matter, as long as the silver was given, anything could be done.

“Lord Wang, let me ask you, how much silver was given by the envoy from the Pan State this time?”

Xu Qingnian unhurriedly took out a pot of tea and poured a cup for Wang Xinzhi, but found that the tea was already cold, so he got up and prepared to make a new pot.

However Wang Xinzhi pulled Xu Qingnian back and said.

“First of all, it’s okay to be cold, the tea is not afraid of cold, don’t waste it.”

Wang Xinzhi stopped Xu Qingnian and took a sip, then nodded with some satisfaction and said, “Good tea.”

It had to be said that the six ministries of Great Wei were all poor people, ah, the tang Shang Shu cold tea even found it good to drink.

“This time, the envoys from the Pan States have sent congratulatory gifts before and after, almost 14 million taels of silver.”

Wang Xinzhi gave his reply.

“Fourteen million taels of silver?”

“Heh, these barbarians really dare to think.”

Xu Qingnian laughed coldly, his eyes were somewhat contemptuous and despised the foreign amba*sadors, but Wang Xinzhi did not care about it, because he also despised it.

Fourteen million taels of silver.

Where would they have sent so much in the past? It was just an opportunity for Wei to return more gifts.

He could not be unaware of the wolf’s ambition.

“Then how much does Lord Wang intend to give back?”

Xu Qingnian then asked.

“Ten times five times is impossible, and three times is a bit much, my old man’s idea is to return it twice as much.”

Wang Xinzhi gave his answer, let’s forget about ten times five times, let’s pay it back double, twenty-eight million taels.

“Double? Twenty-eight million taels, can Great Wei take it out?”

Xu Qingnian said calmly.

“Isn’t that how much money was received?”

Wang Xinzhi subconsciously opened his mouth, but Xu Qingnian’s voice rang out directly.

“This is not the silver of the Ministry of Rites, it is currently still the silver of the Ministry of the Household and is not counted in the national treasury.”

“Lord Wang, ask yourself, these people are wolves and ambitious, they know that the treasury of Great Wei is now empty, but they still come to ask for a reward.”

“Don’t you know what kind of intentions they have?”

Xu Qingnian spoke out, the silver of the government and merchants, can not be counted into it, the state treasury has silver, but it is all for the preparation of the water tanker project, where is it for the envoys from the Fan State?

Where is it going to be given to this bunch of white-eyed wolves?

If Wei had been in its prime, you could have given some if you wanted to, as if you were spending money to buy a reputation, and you wouldn’t have been afraid to shout.

But now, if you give them money, they will happily come to the capital, eat and drink well, and even if Wei pays for it, they will go home happily with the money?

If Wei fails in the future, will these foreign amba*sadors come to help? The answer is obvious.

It’s a good thing they didn’t take advantage of the fire.

So Xu Qingnian is certainly not willing to give the money away, ah, their hard-earned silver, to give you to give yourself.

The thing is, Xu Qingnian still hasn’t forgotten it, just the way Pan Bang is, let yourself give money?

You want to eat farts.

“What can I do if I know? What can I do?”

“It’s impossible not to return the gift, right? If we did, where would the face of the Wei Dynasty be? These foreigners would still be cursing us?”

“Nowadays, the Sudden Evil Dynasty and the First Yuan Dynasty send people to meet with them from time to time, if this happens, I am afraid that it will only lead to unnecessary trouble.”

When it came to business, Wang Xinzhi looked very serious and asked questions in a businesslike manner.

“What are you afraid of?”

“Lord Wang, money cannot stabilise relations between the two countries. To put it mildly, if Wei were in real trouble, would these foreign states come to their aid because of today’s gift?”

“Those who should leave will still leave, but those who won’t will not be driven away.”

Xu Qingnian said with certainty.

This was true, speaking as if by giving silver, the other side would submit to Great Wei?

But Wang Xinzhi was still a little hesitant, not knowing what to say.

Xu Qingnian’s voice continued to ring out.

“Lord Wang, it is not the gold, silver and jewels that the nations come to rely on, but the piles of corpses and bones.”

Xu Qingnian spoke.

The reason why the Great Wei Dynasty was able to have the heyday of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms coming to the dynasty was really not the gold, silver and jewels, but the piles of skeletons like mountains.

The bones of the enemy, the bones of one’s own people, relied on force, not financial power.

There is nothing wrong with this statement.

Wang Xinzhi was no longer silent either.

“So what do you mean? Not to accept gifts?”

Wang Xinzhi asked.

“Definitely accept it, His Majesty’s birthday, if we don’t accept it won’t it look like we in Great Wei don’t have the stamina to look down on them?”

“And returning gifts, we also return them, just in a different way.”

Xu Qingnian laughed.

“A different way? Change what way?”

Wang Xinzhi got curious.

“Let me ask you something, Lord Wang, what in this world is more precious than gold and less valuable than chaff?”

Xu Qingnian asked.

This question put Wang Xinzhi on the spot.

Something that is both more precious than gold and less than chaff?

How could there be such a thing?

Wang Xinzhi frowned, unable to figure it out, and Xu Qingnian did not sell himself short, he directly took out a piece of Xuan paper and placed it in front of Wang Xinzhi.

On the rice paper was written ‘General Wine’, and it was all signed.

“Calligraphy and painting?”

Wang Xinzhi came back to his senses, he knew what Xu Qingnian was talking about.

The calligraphy and paintings were indeed more precious than gold, but it mainly depended on who it belonged to, just like Xu Qingnian’s book post, if it was written by Xu Qingnian himself, it would not even be too much to sell it for 10,000 taels of silver.

Even tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of taels are possible.

And if Xu Qingnian becomes a great scholar, or a great scholar of heaven and earth, then the value of the calligraphy will also increase.

But if one day Xu Qingnian really becomes a saint, then it will be a priceless treasure, the saint’s own writing.

Even now, there are merchants in Kyoto, Wei, who want to buy Xu Qingnian’s handwritten calligraphy, offering a price of 50,000 taels of silver.

This is proof of how famous Xu Qingnian is today.

But all the same, such calligraphic posters were actually of no use, and in comparison were not as good as chaff, which at least could be eaten and could pad the stomach.

For the ordinary people, unless it was a sage’s word post, otherwise, they didn’t care even if it was the word post of a great Confucian, a great Confucian of heaven and earth.

It’s completely useless.

“You mean to treat such a thing as a return gift?”

Wang Xinzhi guessed Xu Qingnian’s thoughts and couldn’t help but ask this.

“No.”

“Lord Wang, it’s not that I’m boasting, Xu Mou’s writing post, a word of a thousand gold, as a return gift, it would be a greater loss.”

“What I mean is to have someone from the Ministry of Rites, print my word post, and draw a picture of the Taiping Poetry Festival feast, plus stamp it with my seal.”

“One copy for each amba*sador, and I have calculated that the material will be the best Yangdu Xuan paper, which will cost sixty to seventy taels of silver, counting miscellaneous things.”

“But the main thing is this poem, the famous poem of a thousand years old with the Taiping Poetry Banquet, my humble servant guarantees that in a thousand years, this will be worth at least tens of thousands of taels of silver.”

Xu Qingnian said seriously.

But these words were a little odd in Wang Xinzhi’s ears.

A thousand years later?

Even if it could be preserved, it was still a question of whether their country would still be around.

Are you not treating people like fools and cheating them?

“Shouren, if you do this, aren’t you treating them like fools?”

Wang Xinzhi couldn’t help but say.

But Xu Qingnian also couldn’t help but sneer.

“They don’t seem to treat us as smart people either, do they?”

Xu Qingnian had something to say in these words, the other party had sent so much silver, knowing full well that Great Wei’s treasury was now empty, and that they had easily earned a fortune in silver, only to want to get a little back through this method.

This kind of heart can be put to death.

Sure enough, once this was said, Wang Xinzhi fell silent.

He really did not dare to agree directly, after all, the matter of diplomacy, if you do not get it right, it is easy to get into trouble, and once you get into trouble, it is a war.

He did not want to take the blame.

Seeing that Wang Xinzhi was still a bit hesitant, Xu Qingnian began to add fierce material.

“Lord Wang, I won’t say anything else, as long as Lord Wang agrees, the fourteen million taels will all be allocated to the Ministry of Rites.”

“My humble servant is willing to add another sixteen million taels to make up a total of thirty million taels, all of which will be given to the Ministry of Rites, in that case, at the very least, there won’t be much pressure on the Ministry of Rites in these three years.”

“Of course, if Lord Wang does not agree, then I will not say much more. If Lord Wang can extract 14 million taels from Lord Gu’s hands, then I admire him.”

Xu Qingnian even threatened and enticed.

If you listen to me, thirty million taels will be given to you, the Ministry of Rites will not have any financial crisis for three years, spend it however you want, the meat is rotting in the pot anyway.

Everyone will live a good life for a few years.

If you don’t listen to me, then fine, you can deal with it yourself. If Gu Yan can come up with 14 million taels of silver to give you a gift in return, then count me as Xu Qingnian.

These words of Xu Qingnian almost forced Wang Xinzhi to a dead end.

The reason is simple: who is Gu Yan? If he had dared to ask for 14 million taels, Gu Yan would have slapped him across the face.

But if he agreed to Xu Qingnian, he could get 30 million taels.

With two choices in front of him, anyone who wasn’t a fool would know what to choose.

“Ugh!”

“I don’t know how this group of foreign fangbans have messed with you again.”

“Fine, fine, fine, promise, promise, do as you wish.”

With little hesitation, Wang Xinzhi directly agreed to Xu Qingnian.

There was no other way, if he didn’t promise Xu Qingnian, who would he promise?

It was impossible to really go to Gu Yan to get the money, right? Wouldn’t that be asking for trouble?

Although doing so would be extremely prone to diplomatic trouble, at least the Ministry of Rites has 30 million taels of silver.

As for a real fight, that’s a matter for the Ministry of War, none of my business.

“Lord Wang is wise.”

Hearing Wang Xinzhi’s promise, Xu Qingnian couldn’t help but laugh.

“Wise my a*s, when will the silver be given to the Ministry of Rites?”

Since he had already made his decision, Wang Xinzhi directly asked Xu Qingnian when he would give the money.

He didn’t have that many thoughts right now, he just thought about getting money.

“On the first of September, it will come with the other five ministries to receive it.”

Xu Qingnian gave his answer.

“Good!”

“Xu Shouren, this matter ends here, but there is one thing that old man still wants to tell you in advance.”

“The next time something like this happens, come directly to me to discuss it, there is no need to beat around the bush like this.”

“There is one more point, which is a kind of old man’s reminder to you.”

“The water in the Great Wei Palace of Literature is very deep, if you can, it’s best not to be so standoffish, especially the readers of the Great Wei Palace of Literature, you should not touch them.”

“Now is not the time for a battle of schools of thought, do you understand?”

Wang Xinzhi’s first few words meant simply, don’t isolate him.

But the meaning at the end was a little odd, a reminder rather than a warning.

“The student understands.”

After hearing this, Xu Qingnian could not help but nod his head and bow towards Wang Xinzhi.

The waters of the Great Wei Palace of Literature were deep, this Xu Qingnian understood, and Wang Xinzhi was reminding himself not to wade into the muddy waters.

Especially the matter of the school dispute.

No matter how much he tossed and turned, it was still a personal grudge at the end of the day, such as Yan Lei and Sun Jing’an, who were very upset with him, and the other great scholars only made a token appearance.

However, if one were to really recruit apprentices and start a school battle, it would not be a joke, not that it would not be allowed, but the Zhu Sheng lineage would gather its forces to suppress Xu Qingnian’s school.

After all, Xu Qingnian’s school is completely opposed to Zhu Sheng’s. If it were any other school, it wouldn’t be too intense.

Everyone has selfishness.

Even great Confucians have their own selfishness, and even saints have selfishness, unless they are heartless and desireless.

In the grand scheme of things, there is no darkness in this world, everything is just the opposite of everything.

“Lord Wang, take the stuff, remember it has to be printed, don’t let anyone copy it by hand, just topograph it directly.”

Xu Qingnian handed the other party the poems he had written.

This kind of printed version was of no particular value, and if you really wanted to take it out and sell it, a thousand taels would be the top.

What was the use of a reproduced version? The number of copies is also large, tens of thousands of foreign amba*sadors, one copy for one country, two copies for one more person, if you count, it will cost several hundred thousand taels of silver.

The first thing you need to do is to get a copy of the book.

Xu Qingnian lamented in his heart.

And Wang Xinzhi took the Xuan paper and left the Shouren Academy.

By the time Wang Xinzhi left the academy.

The capital of Great Wei.

In the palace of King Huaining.

A masked man, standing in front of King Huaining, had a slightly arrogant posture, not the kind of posture of a subordinate.

“A court full of civil servants, to change their minds overnight.”

“Great Wei merchant officials, now scrambling to jump into this pit first.”

“Once we wait for merchants from all over the world to send their silver to Kyoto, the waterwheel project is bound to spread smoothly, what exactly is happening in the midst of this? I hope Your Majesty will also tell us.”

The masked man spoke up as he asked Prince Huaining why, overnight, the civil and military officials had changed their minds and supported the government and business ways.

Listening to the other man’s enquiry, Prince Huaining sat down on the tai shi chair, his expression calm as he picked up his tea and took a slow sip.

“It’s Xu Qingnian.”

The cup was put down and Prince Huaining spoke out calmly, telling the truth.

“Is it Xu Qingnian again?”

“This son is really a great talent, he is the one who pushed for the waterwheel project, and he is also the one who made the civil and military officials change their minds overnight.”

“Nowadays, the way of government and business is not agreeable to all the civil and military officials, but Xu Qingnian is able to turn corruption into magic.”

“This man, can he be recruited to serve under our command?”

The masked man was slightly surprised, but at the same time he could not help but speak out and ask if Xu Qingnian could be recruited.

“Can’t do it.”

Prince Huaining shook his head.

“Why? Is it because of Huai Ping?”

The masked man spoke directly.

“No. Although I am sad about Huai Ping’s death and hate Xu Qingnian, my son’s death is nothing before the big things.”

“It’s just that Xu Qingnian has made his words clear, for the people, this man’s heart, solid as iron, he is a truly good official, a truly parental official.”

“Let him join us to the scourge of war, only I fear he will not agree, let alone consent.”

Prince Huai Ning stated the reason.

Although, he hated Xu Qingnian, he did not deny Xu Qingnian’s talent and character.

“So that’s how it is.”

The masked man nodded, and then he continued to speak.

“Since he will not serve us.”

“Then why not get rid of it?”

He spoke out, looking slightly puzzled.

“My lord is joking, my king has long thought of getting rid of him, but the problem is that he stays in Kyoto and it is not easy to do so if you want to.”

“Furthermore, the faint king values this man, and it is not easy to do so, if we really move him, something big will happen to Great Wei and affect our plans.”

“Unless there is a very good reason.”

Prince Huai Ning said so.

He did not want to get rid of Xu Qingnian. It was just that if he wanted to get rid of Xu Qingnian, he needed a reason, a justifiable reason.

a*sa*sination was out of the question.

Once Xu Qingnian died, it was absolutely impossible for the Empress to let them go, and when that happened, it would affect the overall situation, it would completely outweigh the loss.

“A very good reason?”

“Otherworldly arts, does that count?”

The masked man spoke, indifferently and incomparably uttering these words.

“Heteromancy?”

This time it was Prince Huai Ning’s turn to be surprised.

He stood up and looked towards the other party.

“Xu Qingnian cultivates foreign arts, and there is proof.”

The masked man calmly said.

“Cultivating foreign arts? That’s impossible, as a sixth-ranked Zhengru, how could he possibly cultivate foreign arts?”

Prince Huaining was not speaking for Xu Qingnian, but he could not accept this.

He had calculated Xu Qingnian many times, only that Xu Qingnian had always appeared flawless, unable to find a single flaw or shortcoming.

However, he had never thought that Xu Qingnian would cultivate a different art.

“If he cultivates foreign arts, then he will definitely die.”

“Where is the human evidence? Hand it over to me, and I guarantee that he will not survive more than ten days.”

Prince Huaining’s tone was categorical.

The practice of supernatural arts was a taboo in the world, whether it was in the Great Wei, the Tusi Dynasty or the First Yuan Dynasty.

It was something that was taboo in the entire world, so it was impossible to allow someone to practice a foreign art, and if they found it, they would be killed, without giving the slightest chance.

“Rest in peace for a moment.”

“In a few days, the Great Wei Palace of Literature will take the initiative and invite a great Confucian of Heaven and Earth, and then we will be able to prove the truth.”

“But right now there are people who still want to work with Xu Qingnian and are unwilling to turn the tables so early.”

“But looking at the current situation, Xu Qingnian doesn’t even realise the dangers of the foreign arts.”

“I guess he still thinks that with His Majesty’s protection, even if he is found to be practising the supernatural arts, it won’t result in death.”

“It’s a pity, he’s good at everything, but he’s too young and comes from a humble background, otherwise he would have known just how terrifying the supernatural arts really are.”

The masked man spoke out, seemingly looking a little sorry for Xu Qingnian.

“Someone wants to collaborate with him? Cooperate with what?”

Prince Huai Ning became curious.

However, the masked man shook his head and said, “Your Majesty, this is not something you should know about.”

“However, it won’t take long, and when the emissary of the Nations leaves, it will probably be the time of Xu Qingnian’s death.”

“Get rid of this person, and then you will take the opportunity to stop the waterwheel project, and the above has promised the king that he can use foreign pawns.”

He said so, giving Prince Huai Ning a piece of mind.

“Good.”

Prince Huaining nodded his head.

“Alright, I can’t stay for long, so I’ll leave now, and I hope that the next time I see Your Highness again, Your Highness will have become the Emperor of Great Wei.”

The masked man made a slight salute towards Prince Huai Ning, and then his figure disappeared into the spot.

Yes, disappeared directly into place.

It was a supreme immortal technique.

And Prince Huai Ning returned the salute, only after he had gone, Prince Huai Ning fell into deep thought.

Soon.

A message came out from the palace.

The Peace Poetry Competition ends today.

His Majesty’s birthday is on August 30th.

When the news came out, the talented scholars of the ten kingdoms wept with joy, for they had had enough of cold eyes and ridicule in Wei these days.

They had thought that they would be able to leave some days ago, but they had never expected that such things would happen to the dynasty of Great Wei, so that they were forced to stay in Great Wei for some more days.

They had even wondered if the economy of Great Wei had really failed and they had been left behind on purpose to spend money.

But in any case, it was finally over.

And they could finally go home.

Only soon, a rumour appeared in the middle of Great Wei’s Kyoto.

On the day that the Peace Poetry Festival broke up for the feast, Xu Qingnian would also compose a poem to bring it to a successful conclusion.

This news was obviously a rumour, as Xu Qingnian had never said anything of the sort.

But the people did not care about this, they were convinced that Xu Qingnian would write another poem for the ages on the day of the banquet.

Li Shouming was deliberately invited out and was surrounded by hundreds of literati asking whether it was true or not.

Li Shouming said he didn’t know at all, so he ran to ask Xu Qingnian, and after getting the answer, informed everyone that it was just a rumour.

But they didn’t believe him.

On the contrary, they felt that Li Shouming was hiding something, and some of them were even slightly unhappy, thinking that after Li Shouming became a Confucian, he had looked down on everyone.

When this was said, it made Li Shouming feel a bit uncomfortable.

What he didn’t expect was that they wouldn’t let him go and had to ask him what was going on.

He had to say that he was looking down on them.

In a fit of anger, Li Shouming opened his mouth and said.

“Fine, fine, fine, tell you all, tell you all, this time when the banquet is broken up, the teacher has indeed prepared a poem, and when the poem comes out, it will only lead to a greater vision.”

When this was said, everyone was shocked.

In less than half an hour, the whole of Kyoto had spread, and the rumours were more exaggerated than one another.

“Everyone must not drink tonight, Lord Xu is going to make another famous poem for a thousand years at the feast, so don’t miss it.”

“Everyone, you must not miss this night, reliable information, Lord Xu is going to make even more amazing poems than the famous poem of a thousand years tonight.”

“Xu Shouren, Lord Xu, Xu Wangu is going to write the most amazing poem tonight, and it will be famous all over the world.”

Rumours emerged.

So much so that there were already many people occupying positions.

Even this matter had reached the ears of the powerful people of Great Wei, and many of them had moved an hour earlier for fear of missing out.

All of a sudden, rumours spread, causing the great talents of the ten kingdoms to become somewhat frightened.

Xu Qingnian’s seven heirloom poems and three thousand miles of talent were still hanging above the dome of the Great Wei sky.

It was something they couldn’t forget.

Thinking of being hit in the face by Xu Qingnian the other day, they were going over to be hit in the face again today.

They were really a bit overwhelmed.

For a while, the ten great talents of the ten countries thought of all sorts of ways, pretending to be sick, abducting those who had injured their feet, abducting those who had diarrhoea, in short, all sorts of strange and bizarre reasons appeared.

The Ten Great Talents attempted to escape the Peace Poetry Festival by pretending to be sick.

Unfortunately, the people of Great Wei had already seen through everything and dragged the Ten Kingdoms Great Talent to the event.

You say you’re sick? If you are pretending to be sick, then we will spread the word everywhere. If you are really sick, it is fine, we will carry you to Li Yang Palace.

In short, want to get away with it? There is no escape.

The Great Wei Palace.

Inside the Palace of Nourishing Heart.

The Empress was already dressed in her proper dragon robe. As the Empress of Great Wei, she naturally had to attend the last day of the Peace Poetry Festival.

And at this moment, Zhao Wan’er was finishing up her dressing for the Empress. Looking at the Empress in the mirror, Zhao Wan’er could not help but say.

“Your Majesty, your appearance is really the best in the world, this Xu Qingnian really does not know what to do, and does not know to write a poem for Your Majesty.”

Zhao Wan’er opened her mouth, she looked at the empress’ appearance, which did not need any whitewash, but looked extremely beautiful.

“Nonsense.”

“Xu Aiqing’s talent is beneficial to the country and the people, wouldn’t it seem too big for me to a*sign a poem to me?”

The empress spoke calmly and gave Zhao Wan’er a light reprimand.

“That’s right, that’s right, Your Majesty has taught me a lesson.”

“However, my servant heard that Lord Xu has prepared a masterpiece of poetry today, I wonder if it is true.”

Zhao Wan’er continued to speak, saying something about Kyoto.

“Absolute poetry? Where in this world is there any absolute poetry.”

The empress opened her mouth, having only heard of the most famous words, but never heard of the most beautiful poems, a thousand ancient would already be considered the ultimate.

“That slave servant is not sure, but with Lord Xu’s talent, I’m only afraid that today is not destined to be peaceful.”

Zhao Wan’er said seriously.

“You.”

“One bite of Lord Xu.”

“I gave you a marriage, and you didn’t want to.”

“Seeing you like this, could it be that you have moved your heart?”

The empress said so.

And Zhao Wan’er shook her head at that moment.

“Your Majesty, slave servant is willing to accompany you in this life, and will not marry.”

Zhao Wan’er said seriously.

But the empress smiled slightly: “How can there be a woman in this world who will not marry?”

“Forget it, let’s not talk about this matter, go earlier later, so that you can also come back earlier and deal with official matters.”

The empress originally wanted to say something about men and women, but after thinking about it, she did not continue.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Zhao Wan’er nodded, and then began to decorate for the empress in earnest.

And so it was.

It was until the ten o’clock hour.

Liyang Palace.

The Peaceful Poetry Party.

Songs and dances were sung and danced, wine and meat were served, the most beautiful women on earth gathered, and talented men from all countries stood around.

The talented sons of Wei and the people were all smiles.

But the talented scholars of the ten countries looked unusually quiet, looking a bit preoccupied.

It was not that they were afraid that Xu Qingnian would come and compose another thousand ancient poems, but that they had forcibly opened Xu Qingnian’s letter the other day and said one thing.

They wanted to kneel and kowtow to Xu Qingnian.

If Xu Qingnian came today, the Great Wei literati would definitely have a problem, and for a while, they really didn’t know how to face it.

If they really knelt and kowtowed, they would lose face.

If they don’t, they will not keep their word.

Either way, it was a matter of shame.

Now they could only pray that Xu Qingnian would not go to the banquet today.

It was at this moment.

Above the banquet.

As a voice rang out, everyone’s eyes fell over.

“His Majesty has arrived.”

An ear-piercing voice rang out.

Whether it was the six ministries or the great scholars of the Palace of Literature, all those present held their heads high and watched as the empress slowly appeared.

“Long live my emperor!”

A burst of voices rang out, and everyone bowed deeply towards the Empress.

“Please excuse yourself.”

“Today’s feast has no honor or inferiority.”

The Empress spoke.

The next moment, the empress sat on the dragon chair, the songs and dances were played again, and everything remained joyful.

But a full two hours had pa*sed.

At that moment quite a few voices rang out.

“Why hasn’t Lord Xu come yet?”

“Two more hours and the banquet will be over? Why hasn’t Lord Xu come yet?”

“Yes, why hasn’t Lord Xu come?”

The people’s voices rang out.

Everyone was curious as to why Xu Qingnian was late in showing up.

Even above the banquet, the six ministers were somewhat curious.

Even the empress could not help but wonder.

“Why has Aiqing Xu not come?”

She inquired.

“In reply to Your Majesty, someone has been sent to call for Squire Xu.”

Li Zhengru spoke out in reply, informing the empress that she had already sent someone.

“En.”

The Empress nodded her head.

And did not say more.

And at that moment.

The Shouren Academy.

Li Shouming looked at Xu Qingnian with a depressed expression.

“Teacher, you’re not even coming to this last day of the Taiping Poetry Competition?”

“His Majesty is even going, wouldn’t it be a pity if you didn’t go?”

Li Shouming was a little depressed.

He didn’t know if his teacher could compose poetry, but he felt that it was impossible for Xu Qingnian not to go to the last day of the Peace Poetry Fair, right?

But what he didn’t expect was that when he asked Xu Qingnian about it, Xu Qingnian said he wouldn’t go?

The emperor was there, but you wouldn’t go?

Master, I know you’re crazy, but there’s no need to be so crazy.

“What’s the pity.”

“What’s done is done, is it hard for the ten great talents of the ten countries to start screaming again?”

Xu Qingnian asked.

He still had quite a few things left to do right now, so where would he find the time to attend this what-the-hell Peace Poetry Meeting.

He still had to meet with the three merchants tomorrow.

He had to think through all the details himself, so he really didn’t have time to enter.

Besides, seven poems of a thousand ancient names aren’t enough?

What more do I need?

“That’s not true, the literati of the ten kingdoms are so honest that they don’t say a word.”

“The main thing is that the people of Kyoto are now saying that you will write another poem today and give a speech to break up the feast.”

“Everyone is waiting for it, and now you say you won’t go …… This is a bit.”

Li Shouming said cautiously.

Xu Qingnian: “……”

“Who said that?”

Xu Qingnian asked.

“Not me, teacher, I’m not that kind of person.”

Li Shouming shook his head.

And at that moment, a voice rang out.

“By the order of Minister Chen, Lord Xu has been invited to the Peace Poetry Fair, Minister Chen has said that His Majesty is here today, so Lord Xu should not “excuses himself.”

The voice rang out, coming from Li Yang Palace.

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingnian’s brow furrowed.

Another poem to be composed.

Another banquet.

Are you guys bored?

Oh no.

Xu Qingnian really felt annoyed.

Why is it that one thing keeps getting out of hand?

The poetry party could have ended a few days earlier, but it had to be delayed.

It has to be an adjourned meeting.

Thinking of this, Xu Qingnian couldn’t help but get up.

“Teacher, where are you going?”

Li Shouming asked a question that he shouldn’t have asked.

“Where else can I go, to a banquet to write poetry?”

Xu Qingnian was somewhat unpleasant.

At the same time, he walked towards the outside.

Looking at Xu Qingnian walking towards the Taiping Poetry Fair, Li Shouming immediately followed behind.

Again, as on that day, the people on the street gave way when they saw Xu Qingnian coming.

And Xu Qingnian’s pace was fast.

He gave people the impression that he was in a hurry.

It took less than two quarters of an hour.

Xu Qingnian arrived at Liyang Palace.

“Lord Xu is here.”

“Xu Wangu is here, everyone, look.”

“I told you, how could Lord Xu be absent.”

“Hahahahahaha, look at the expressions of the ten talented people of the ten kingdoms, they’re all dark.”

As soon as they saw Xu Qingnian appear, the people couldn’t help but shout out in joy.

And Xu Qingnian walked straight into the banquet.

Turning towards the empress, he spoke.

“I, Xu Qingnian, have met Your Majesty.”

The feast was on.

The Empress nodded her head.

“Aiqing, please excuse yourself, there is no respect above the extreme banquet.”

She still spoke, informing Xu Qingnian that there was no honor or inferiority at the feast.

And once this was said, Xu Qingnian was straightforward.

Sweeping a glance at the ten great talents of the ten nations, the latter all lowered their heads and did not speak.

Xu Qingnian didn’t say anything and walked straight to the front, where a eunuch was holding a pen and paper.

Xu Qingnian held the pen and quickly dropped the words.

“The banquet is chasing the coolness away, and the flat bridge is returning to the moon.”

“The music and songs return to the courtyard, and the lights descend to the rooftop.”

As Xu Qingnian dropped her brush, a golden light appeared once again, and for a moment, the crowd could not help but look at Xu Qingnian once again.

But at that moment, Xu Qingnian put down the brush in her hand and spoke towards the empress.

“Your Majesty, the poem has been composed, I have important matters to attend to, so I will not stay any longer.”

After saying this, Xu Qingnian could not help but turn around and leave, leaving the crowd utterly and completely confused.

Truly confused.

That’s it?

That’s it?

That’s it?

Everyone was expecting you to continue to behave like a bully?

But you just came and wrote a poem, half a poem at that, and then left?

Xu Qingnian, can you not be so crazy?

Brother, what’s your hurry? The emperor is here and you’re in a hurry to leave?

The crowd was shocked.

And dumbfounded.

No one had expected that Xu Qingnian would actually appear in this form and leave in this form?

This pretending technique was truly the first in all the ages.

How could anyone do this?

How could anyone dare to do so?

The great empress of Wei has come, and people are sitting here waiting for the end.

And you want to leave?

You’re even bigger than the emperor?

The crowd was a bit silent, but they didn’t dare to say anything.

Who dared to offend Xu Qingnian now? A great talent from ten countries? Forget it? A great scholar of the Palace of Literature? Come on!

In particular, the empress didn’t even say anything about Xu Qingnian?

The crowd was even more afraid to say anything.

But just then, someone couldn’t help but speak up.

“How come you’ve only written half of it?”

The voice rang out, the voice of the Ten Kingdoms’ great talent, but he was not sarcastic about Xu Qingnian, but simply curious.

After all, he had found that Xu Qingnian had only written half of his poem.

As the voice rang out, Xu Qingnian stopped.

For a moment, the great talents of the ten kingdoms froze, each looking towards this man with great anger in their hearts.

Why did you have nothing better to do than to provoke him?

He’s writing half of his book, what’s it to you?

What’s wrong with you?

Sensing the gaze of the crowd, the latter instantly lowered his head, not daring to speak.

“The reason for writing half of it is that Xu Mou doesn’t want to attract any visions, lest someone gets uncomfortable.”

“Also, Xu Mou has heard that you and others are going to kowtow to Xu Mou.”

“But remembering that we are all scholars, kowtowing is forgettable, one of you write a pledge before you leave tomorrow.”

“How to write it, I will ask Xu’s students to inform you, write the pledge and then leave Great Wei, or not, come to Shouren Academy and kowtow to me.”

“Your Majesty, my minister, let’s go.”

Xu Qingnian came quickly and left quickly as well.

After saying this, he directly left.

Giving people a sense of ……. the feeling of rushing to the next scene.

This is really …… Unheard of ah.

Even the female emperor at the banquet, looking at Xu Qingnian’s action, was a little bit stunned.

The actual fact is that the actual people are not going to be able to get a lot of money for a lot of people.

This was really a bit of a pretence.

However, no one dared to question it anymore.

Because those who questioned it had their faces swollen by Xu Qingnian.

And so it was.

Two hours later.

The Taiping Poetry Competition was over.

Whether it was successful or not was unknown, but the Ten Kingdoms Great Talents were definitely uncomfortable.

The Taiping Poetry Fair was over.

The people went back to consume the last bits of heat.

It was completely quiet in Great Wei Kyoto.

Only, it was until the hour.

There were no clouds for miles.

And a figure appeared outside the Ministry of Punishment.

It was Cheng Lidong.

In his hand, he was holding a dossier.

To be more precise, it was a pleading paper.