spoiled brat

Chapter 144, Section 143: The Sun Flame (Part 3)

"I believe that the essence of military strategy lies in understanding the root cause and achieving victory invisibly. This is not about winning or losing a single city or hamlet, but about destroying the enemy's foundation and crumbling their overall momentum."

"For example, trying to stop boiling water by adding more boiling water is difficult to stop. But if you cut off the fuel and stop the fire, the boiling will immediately stop."

After writing this sentence, Xie Xiaoqing put down his pen. With a thud, like raindrops on a stagnant lake, ripples spread across the surface. His colleagues, who were struggling with their policy proposals, all looked in the direction of the sound. When they saw it was him, they unsurprisingly looked away.

Who doesn't know the talented scholar who received a great reward a few days ago?

Ever since Xie Xiaoqing obtained that luminous pearl, he has been constantly surrounded by people who want to see the pearl again, or ask him if he intends to resell it. Some even try to sell him mansions and luxury horses, wanting to take him to brothels and gambling dens for fun.

Xie Xiaoqing refused them all. He couldn't stand the noisy life, so he deposited the bead in a government-run store, hoping to avoid seeing it and being bothered by it.

He was finally at peace, and his peers' gazes towards him changed—a young man carrying gold through a bustling market, yet not leaving a single penny behind, how could he not incur secret resentment?

Thinking of this, Xie Xiaoqing, who was about to get up and hand in his paper, sat back down. He wasn't stupid; he understood the importance of concealing his abilities.

Looking at the high platform again, Minister Jiang, who was in charge of the examination, had his eyes half-closed, as if he were asleep. Going up now would only disturb the old man.

Xie Xiaoqing picked up his pen again, recalled the Seven Classics of Martial Arts, and added a few more strokes to the scroll. Suddenly, he heard a voice in his ear: "Old Xie."

The voice was very low. Xie Xiaoqing looked over and saw that Pang Xuan at the next table was in a state of panic. His neatly combed hair was half-out of hair. Needless to say, he must be scratching his head and messing things up because he couldn't answer the policy question.

He looked pitiful. Xie Xiaoqing glanced at his mostly blank exam paper and shook his head.

Although the two were friends, Xie Xiaoqing was unwilling to help someone cheat.

He kept his head down, ignoring the calls in his ears, but Pang Xuan was determined to beg him, clinging to him as a lifeline.

He had said all the nice things he could think of, and finally whispered, "I've helped you a lot in the past. You're helping me out this time, so consider it repaying my kindness."

Xie Xiaoqing was stunned. This was true. Although he was different from Pang Xuandao, he had received a lot of help from him. It was only right to return the favor.

Seeing that he was wavering, Pang Xuan glanced at Minister Jiang on the high platform: "Besides, it's just a policy essay test, not the imperial examination..."

Xie Xiaoqing hesitated for a moment, then softened. Just then, a gust of wind came, and he moved the paperweight, causing the scroll to fall to the ground. Pang Xuan, ever the helpful one, brushed a sheet of white Xuan paper down with it.

The two bent down to pick them up at the same time, and successfully swapped them back and forth.

Xie Xiaoqing was uneasy, but he didn't forget to remind Pang Xuan with his eyes not to copy it. Pang Xuan hesitated for a moment, then gave him a reassuring gesture.

Before long, Pang Xuan finished copying. The two tried to use the same trick to exchange their papers, but Minister Jiang on the high platform suddenly coughed.

Xie Xiaoqing looked over in horror. Minister Jiang's eyes were still closed, but he seemed to have seen everything.

After collecting the papers, the students dispersed in small groups.

Xie Xiaoqing declined Pang Xuan's invitation to dinner and walked alone, avoiding the crowd.

He stopped under an empty corridor, silently watching the setting sun, as silent as a tree.

A gentle evening breeze brushed past my ear, carrying with it a soft laugh.

Xie Xiaoqing glanced sideways. In the slanting sunlight illuminating the long corridor, Wu Jiu appeared, casually tapping his palm with the handle of his fan, and recited in a rhythmic, melodious voice:
"It's like trying to stop boiling water by adding more boiling water; the momentum is hard to stop..."

Xie Xiaoqing's face flushed red. This was his answer to the policy question. Wu Jiu was able to recite it from memory, which must have been because he was sitting behind Xie Xiaoqing and Pang Xuan and witnessed all their actions.

Wu Jiu strolled closer and smiled, "Brother Xie is not from a military family, yet you have such insight; it is truly rare." "You flatter me," Xie Xiaoqing cupped his hands in greeting, then moved away, showing no intention of engaging in conversation.

Wu Jiu looked at him with a smile, and after a while sighed, "What a pity. You only understand the principles in books, but you don't understand human relationships."

Xie Xiaoqing was somewhat unconvinced. He was not as shrewd and worldly as Pang Xuan, but he was by no means a pedantic scholar either.

He stared at Wu Jiu and said bluntly, "Young Master Wu, did you come all this way just to say this?"

Wu Jiu liked his decisiveness and said with a smile, "The pearl you received the other day was a gift from His Highness to the Princess. Although she rewarded you, ultimately you are indebted to His Highness. The Crown Prince has shown you kindness, shouldn't you go and thank him?"

It's another attempt to win them over.

Xie Xiaoqing had heard Pang Xuan say many times that many poor children followed playboys and even if they did not do well in the three exams after graduation, they could still become officials under the playboys' fathers and brothers.

Although it's not mainstream, it's still a way out.

"Brother Xie, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's good to take shelter under a big tree; so many people want to serve His Highness but haven't had the chance yet."

Wu Jiu unfolded his folding fan and fanned himself leisurely.

The handle of his fan was made of sandalwood, and the breeze from it smelled wonderful.

Xie Xiaoqing, a country bumpkin, couldn't stand it and stepped back, saying, "I can't accept this; I'd better give it to someone else."

"No hurry, brother Xie."

Wu Jiu smiled as usual, "Even Liu Bei had to visit Zhuge Liang three times to invite him to his thatched cottage. How could you possibly win such a lucky draw on your first try?"

His gaze drifted to behind Xie Xiaoqing, and he suddenly said, "Miss Yuan, what brings you here?"

Xie Xiaoqing had a bad feeling. He had arranged to meet Zhaozhao here to discuss the follow-up matters. If she saw him talking to Wu Jiu, she would be very suspicious.

The words of explanation welled up in my mouth, but when I turned around, I saw nothing but emptiness; there was nothing clear about it.

He was scammed.

Sure enough, Wu Jiu succeeded, saying, "So you really were waiting for that girl. This place is secluded and deserted; you two arranged to meet here—"

"Watch your mouth." Xie Xiaoqing grabbed Wu Jiu's collar and said righteously, "She is my benefactor!"

Just as tensions were about to rise, a young boy in green robes appeared, panting, and asked from a distance:

"Gentlemen, is there anyone among you named Xie Xiaoqing?"

Xie Xiaoqing nodded, and the boy in blue was delighted. He pointed to the library under the evening clouds and said, "My master has read your policy essay and sent me to invite you."

The timing of this invitation was inappropriate, but Xie Xiaoqing couldn't refuse, so he had no choice but to leave Wu Jiu behind and follow the boy.

The sky was dim, and the library appeared gloomy under the shade of the trees.

The boy knocked on the tightly closed door and announced his arrival in a soft voice. A voice responded from inside, and the door opened slightly.

Xie Xiaoqing lifted his robe and stepped over the threshold. A dark shadow loomed down like a mountain, and a clear, melodious voice rang out:
"Thank you, sir."

Xie Xiaoqing paused for a moment, then slowly raised his eyes, his gaze cold and resolute, looking at Li Qingwen, who had a half-smile on his face:
"Long time no see, Lord Li."