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Chapter 591 People are panicked
It's clear that Zhu Yu wasn't the only one interested in hearing gossip.

The man's friend, who was sitting with him, immediately chimed in, "Why does 'the fire in the stove burns through the nine layers of eaves' sound like a bad thing? It's just a nursery rhyme, something a child probably just sang off the cuff!"

"What do you know!" The scholar scoffed. "Isn't this so-called 'stove' similar to 'Zhao'?"
What is this "nine-tiered eaves"? Do ordinary people's houses even deserve to be called nine-tiered eaves? Even the grand mansions of high-ranking officials and nobles wouldn't qualify, right? So what could it be? Need I say more?

"So you mean... inside the palace walls?" His companion suddenly realized, "Then this guy surnamed Zhao setting fire to the nine-tiered eaves... that doesn't sound right at all!"

"What's so strange about that!" The scholar grinned, raising an eyebrow as he asked the others, "You've all heard this nursery rhyme, what's the second line again?"

“The deer startled the abyss, its hooves sinking into the sky…” another person whispered. After speaking, following the line of thought inspired by the scholar, his expression changed slightly. “This deer… isn’t it an allusion to the current emperor’s surname?”

"More than that!" The scholar dipped the tip of his chopsticks into the wine cup and wrote the words on the table. "This 'Deer startled in the abyss, hooves sinking into the sky' means that the 'deer' was frightened and fell into the abyss with its four hooves facing upwards!"
"We've never seen a deer before, but you've seen a horse, right? Stuck upside down in that abyss, unable to move, what good can come of it? It's clearly in dire straits!"

"Oh my... this... this..." The other people at the table were speechless after hearing his analysis, and couldn't help but start discussing it while marveling at it.

Their voices attracted the attention of the patrons at the next table. A bearded man turned around, leaned over, and said to the group of scholars, "I've heard that nursery rhyme on the street before. I didn't think much of it at first, but after hearing you guys say it... it really makes sense..."

Then what about the later part about "cracked iron pot, fried in boiling oil"?

And what does 'the copper liquid on the golden pillar' mean?

"You guys who've studied the classics really know a lot! We're a bunch of roughnecks, and after all this time, we still couldn't tell there was anything wrong with that nursery rhyme!"

The man who spoke had a face full of flesh and pockmarks, plus a big beard, making him look somewhat thuggish. When he first opened his mouth, he startled the scholars.

However, after hearing what the bearded man said, the scholar breathed a sigh of relief. He was in high spirits from drinking and chatting, and since the topics in Yunyin Pavilion would usually end there, in the past, when drinkers here talked about everything under the sun, they had never encountered anyone reporting them or causing trouble. So he quickly relaxed.

"Isn't this simple! The 'iron pot' corresponds perfectly to the 'stove fire' mentioned earlier! It's still talking about the Zhao family! The pot is the cauldron, and the cauldron is the pot. It's the trouble caused by the Zhao family that's going to smash all the pots in the world. In other words, it means the world will be in chaos and the people will suffer!"

The phrase "fried in boiling oil" is even easier to explain; it simply means being in dire straits!
The last line, "The golden pillars were soaked in molten copper," conveys roughly the same meaning: the imperial empire was destroyed, and the palace collapsed!

"My goodness!" the bearded man exclaimed, slapping his forehead. "I knew this trip to drink today wasn't a waste!"
If it weren't for what you brothers said, I'd probably still be completely confused!

Tomorrow morning, I'll have to give my wife a good talking-to and tell her to keep an eye on my little rascals. They better watch their mouths; they can't possibly recite such a blasphemous nursery rhyme!

After expressing his feelings, the bearded man cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to them, turned back, and didn't interrupt again.

The bearded man had no doubts, but the others at the table with the scholar were less composed. "Do we still have a chance to pass the imperial examinations this year?" one of them asked, looking troubled at his companions. "Even if everything goes smoothly and we make the list... I've heard that in the past, who ultimately passed the provincial examinations... was decided by that nobleman surnamed Zhao..."

It is said that no matter how great your abilities are, or how talented you are, if you don't actively seek out a noble person to serve under, you will still have no chance of getting ahead.

Didn't you ask around? The Minister of Personnel is his student... This... If it were in the past, it wouldn't matter, but if you really want to have a chance to make a name for yourself in the future, you'll have to rely on someone.

But... there are so many rumors circulating outside, even the nursery rhyme has made it so clear...

"If we try to curry favor with that influential person at this critical juncture and he succeeds, at least we'll have a way out. But if he fails... then we're completely finished!"

"Hehehe..." The scholar who first brought up the matter laughed, shook his head, and shook his head at his companion, "You usually look so worried, I never expected you to be so optimistic."

"What do you mean by that?!" The man looked completely bewildered by what he said.

"I say, judging by this situation, it's not even certain whether we'll be able to take the imperial examinations this year!" the scholar sighed. "If the situation really gets out of control, let alone fame and fortune, it's questionable whether we can even keep our heads."

Unlike other places, when things really get chaotic in the capital, the more remote and distant the capital is from the emperor, the easier it is to survive.

This capital city may look bright and bustling to you now, but if the world really descends into chaos, it will be the place most in turmoil.

My fellow gentlemen have all studied diligently for so many years, and have accumulated a wealth of knowledge. It is impossible that you do not know that in the past, whenever the world was in chaos, whether it was rebels attacking cities or suppressing rebels, the people would become innocent victims of the sword if the people in charge of the capital changed frequently.

So I've been hesitating all day, but today, fueled by alcohol, I finally made up my mind.

Consider this feast today a farewell party for me, gentlemen. Tomorrow I will leave the inn and begin my journey home.

He paused, seemingly filled with melancholy, and only after much difficulty did he make up his mind. Under the astonished gazes of his companions, he sighed softly before continuing, "I've thought it over. At my age, there's no rush to pass the imperial examinations..."

If the world is at peace, I can take the exam again in a year or two.

If things really fall apart... even if I can't survive, at the very least... I still want to die with my parents and brothers at home, which is better than becoming a lonely ghost in a foreign land..."

Thanks to Minako Tanaka, Book Friend 20250624000424003, Xuanqian Zhuankun, Sweet Salad, Wangce Danni, Shengfei Fangaizhong, Vegetarian Pig, Book Friend 20250621180509907, Book Friend 20230523111757781, Yueyu Xi, Book Friend 20240624195117135, Book Friend 20170517175617279, Qingsi, verenayan, Book Friend 20190901181429006, Rabbit No. 7, Book Friend 20170505000951714, and Chenmi Gu. Unable to extricate oneself from words, PhoenixLXL, annes741111, Book Friend 20241204083231331, Book Friend 20221230215653506, Book Friend 20250701105548128, Book Friend 20240830202952453, Moonlight Heart Rain, S20170823, Sand White Goose Departure Sound, Book Friend 2023090912_ac, hyaline712, Ah Gui Gui Gui Gui Gui, Book Friend 160703215003849, Xuan Xuan Zhuan Zhuan, Like Drunk Starry River, Jenjen's monthly ticket!
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