Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 167 Attending the Night Banquet at the Langya Prince's Mansion?!

The air inside the Confucian Temple was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Jiang Xingzhou and Gu Zhimian stood solemnly in front of the Hall of Sages and Worthies, paying their respects to the seventy-two statues of saints.

Inside the hall, a group of sacred statues stand, some holding bamboo slips from the Spring and Autumn Annals, gazing into the distance, others wielding purple jade brushes, wielding them to depict the clouds and mist.

The most remarkable feature is the statue of Confucius in the center—though cast in bronze, his eyes seem to pierce through a thousand years of time, clearly illuminating the intellectual and artistic talents of those in the hall.

The two burned incense and offered prayers, and as the smoke curled upwards, it seemed as if they were communicating with the ancient sages.

When we left the Confucian Temple, it was still early.

Jiang Xingzhou stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the plaque of the Confucian Temple.

With the imperial examinations approaching, scholars from all over the country will gather in Luoyang. When the "sea of ​​learning" opens, it will surely be a battle of the best, a truly spectacular event.

The two strolled along the Heavenly Street, and there they saw—

On both sides of the bluestone imperial road, vermilion buildings and embroidered doors lined up one after another, and the gold-lacquered signs shone brightly in the morning light.

"Western Region Fire Jade! Ten taels of silver per piece!"

"South China Sea silk! Fifty taels per foot!"

The streets were bustling with activity, vendors gathered in droves, and their cries rose and fell in waves.

The stalls were filled with dazzling treasures:
The coral tree is entirely crimson, the bronze chimes ring out on their own, and there are also boxes of fragrant ink sticks, on which poems and inscriptions flow with light and shadow.

Jiang Xingzhou picked up a purple-haired brush, and the natural patterns on the brush handle formed the four characters "文光射斗" (literary light shines through the Big Dipper).

Suddenly, Gu Zhimian let out a soft cry, as he stopped in front of a pet stall. A demon beast in a cage bared its teeth and growled, revealing its ferocious nature, which startled Gu Zhimian so much that he quickly withdrew his hand.

"Hiss—!" He gasped, and said with a wry smile, "I was quite knowledgeable in Jiangzhou, but now that I'm in the capital, I'm just like a country bumpkin."

"No wonder they say, 'A single shop in the capital city is worth a wealthy family in Jiangnan. You don't know the immensity of the world until you've been to the capital!'"

As the two were chatting, they suddenly heard a dragon-like roar rising from the sky.

In an instant, the crowd in the middle of the street dispersed like waves, hastily retreating to both sides.

A strange beast, its body as white as snow, came flying through the air. It resembled a horse but had the horns of a Qilin. Its four hooves trod through the air, and clouds rose beneath its feet.

With each step, there was a crisp sound of ice crystals condensing and shattering—it was the legendary "Snow-Treading Qilin," a hybrid divine steed.

A noble young man in a moon-white brocade robe sat atop the back of the mythical beast.

The purple aura of the Langya King's pendant at his waist reflected a captivating brilliance in the sunlight.

Although his face was as handsome as jade, the innate arrogance between his brows was even more striking than the jade pendant at his waist.

Before the sound of hooves had ceased, a troop of black-armored cavalry swept past like a black tide.

The Langya Royal Banner, held aloft by the lead guard, fluttered fiercely in the wind; its surface was woven from thousands of golden seal characters.

Upon closer inspection, the words were indeed a war poem, each character sharp as a sword, resounding in the wind.

"Ride a horse on the Imperial Street right under the Emperor's nose—who is this?!"

Jiang Xingzhou's gaze sharpened as he saw the young man in white riding his horse through the air, freezing the road in frost, and causing pedestrians to scramble to make way.

He frowned slightly, his heart filled with surprise and doubt—this was the Imperial Road of the capital, where even dukes and generals had to dismount and walk slowly. How dare this person be so unscrupulous?
Gu Zhimian tilted his head slightly and said in a low voice, "It seems to be the heir of the Prince of Langya." He lowered his voice as if afraid that others would hear him. "I heard that the Langya Kingdom is very powerful, and even important officials in the court have to give way to it. No wonder he is so arrogant."

Pedestrians on the street fell silent, bowing their heads to make way for him, fearing they might offend this important person.

An old man selling candied hawthorns nearby overheard their conversation. His face changed drastically, and he hurriedly leaned closer, whispering, "Young gentlemen, watch your words!" He glanced around to make sure no one was watching before continuing, "This young master doesn't rely solely on the power of the royal family..."

The old man swallowed hard, his voice even softer: "He possesses the 'innate literary talent,' a 'once-in-a-century' genius personally selected by a great Confucian scholar!"
Since His Majesty implemented the policy of "relying solely on the imperial examinations," even members of the royal family, without official rank, have found it difficult to wield real power. But this heir apparent—"

He paused, his eyes filled with even deeper reverence: "It is said that he could recite the Analects at the age of three, understand the Spring and Autumn Annals at the age of seven, and evoke a resonance between literature and the Way at the age of twelve. Now he is recognized by the court and the public as a 'prodigy of literature and the Way'!"

Jiang Xingzhou and Gu Zhimian exchanged a glance, both feeling a jolt in their hearts.

"The Crown Prince of Langya?...A member of the royal family? A literary prodigy?"

Jiang Xingzhou's eyes darkened as he followed the pale figure and the lingering clouds it stirred up.

The Qilin steed strode through the air, frost condensing and refracting into tiny ice crystals under the sunlight, like stardust falling.

Gu Zhimian frowned and lowered his voice: "Under the policy of 'only the imperial examination matters,' even royal offspring have to compete."

It seems that this year's imperial examination is not only a competition among scholars from all over the country, but also forces members of the royal family to participate...

The voice has not fallen,

"what?"

A soft exclamation, like the clinking of metal and jade, clearly reached everyone's ears.

But then, the Prince of Langya galloped past, and seemed to spot someone in the crowd. He immediately reined in his horse, turned around, and looked proudly at Jiang Xingzhou.

The steed, which should have sped away, suddenly let out a long neigh and reared up on its front hooves.

The Qilin Steed exhaled frost mist from its nostrils, which condensed into tiny ice flowers in the air.

The Crown Prince of Langya, holding the reins with one hand, surprisingly turned his horse around and looked back in full view of everyone.

The handsome prince looked down at them, his gaze sharp as lightning, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.

"Could this be Jiang Xingzhou, the author of 'Farewell to My Friends in Jiangnan'—'[Do not worry about having no friends on the road ahead, for who in the world does not know you?]'?"

Jiang Xingzhou's pupils suddenly contracted.

That seven-character quatrain was merely an impromptu piece he composed to bid farewell to his classmates after the results of the autumn imperial examinations were announced.

It is the least remarkable piece among all the poems and articles he has written so far.

This nobleman, who lived deep within the Langya Prince's Mansion, was so familiar with even such "cold ink fragments"?

Jiang Xingzhou straightened his sleeves, raised his eyes, and met the gaze of the Prince of Langya on horseback. He cupped his hands in a salute and said, "My humble work is crude and shallow, yet it has troubled Your Highness to memorize it. I am ashamed."

His tone was calm, yet the aloofness and pride in the phrase "Who in the world does not know you?" were subtly ingrained in his very being.

In the blink of an eye, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine—

If even such an insignificant article is being scrutinized, then my other, more famous poems and articles must have been thoroughly read and examined long ago, right?
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince of Langya laughed loudly, his silver whip drawing a rainbow in the air as the tip lightly touched the direction of the riverboat.
Brother Jiang, there's no need for such modesty.
The lines, "Do not worry about having no friends on the road ahead, for who in the world does not know you?" have stirred up the entire Langya Prince's Mansion.

He raised the corners of his lips slightly, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes: "That day, when my Langya Prince's Mansion invited a great Confucian scholar to give a lecture, he mentioned this sentence and actually put down his scripture, sighing three times, 'What spirit!' His lofty aspirations are truly admirable."

The Qilin seemed to sense its master's emotions, raising its head and letting out a long neigh, with clouds surging beneath its hooves.

"From that day on—"

With a wave of his wide sleeves, the Prince of Langya declared, “From the young children to the white-haired old servants of my Langya Prince’s Mansion, who doesn’t know the name ‘Jiang Jieyuan’?”

Even my personal page stayed up every night copying Brother Jiang's articles.

Jiang Xingzhou was startled.

I was far away in Jiangnan, never imagining that my poem would reach the deep courtyard of the Langya Prince's Mansion.
He calmly straightened his blue robe: "I am far away in Jiangnan and only arrived in the capital yesterday. How could you recognize me at a glance, Your Highness?"

"Hahaha!"

The Crown Prince of Langya suddenly laughed loudly, his jade crown dangling with tassels, and the Langya jade pendant at his waist trembled: "Does Jiang Jieyuan not know?"

The portraits of the top-ranked candidates in the ten provincial examinations of the Great Zhou Dynasty were sent to the Ministry of Personnel by express courier from the local governments.

Not to mention this young master, I'm afraid even officials from the three provinces and six ministries could recognize him at a glance!
Moreover, someone like Brother Jiang—handsome young man, the youngest ever recipient of the "Three Scholars' Award" in the history of Jiangnan Province, stands out from the crowd!

The Crown Prince of Langya's gaze burned intensely, a sharp glint suddenly appearing in his eyes. He swiftly wrapped the silver riding whip back around his wrist, but his tone abruptly turned somber:

"But I don't know—"

His voice was like an ice blade piercing the air, "Brother Jiang has already won the top score in the provincial examination. Now that you're coming to the capital, do you intend to win the top score in the metropolitan examination and the top score in the imperial examination, achieving the rare feat of 'Triple Crown'?"

Or perhaps

The prince suddenly chuckled, his fingertips brushing against the silver mane of the Qilin beast, “Choose another shortcut to officialdom.”
With Brother Jiang's talent, if you wish to join the staff of the princes and kings of Langya, you would be very fortunate.

No need for the imperial examination; I can receive the official title of Langzhongling tomorrow.

These words immediately sparked whispers among the surrounding crowd.

This was clearly a test of Jiang Xingzhou's plans, to see if he wanted to compete for the pinnacle of the imperial examinations: the top scholar in the provincial, metropolitan, and imperial examinations! To achieve the highest honors in all three categories was obviously extremely difficult!

Having such ambitions must mean that one intends to serve as an official in the Great Zhou Dynasty!
Or, perhaps, seek an official position in Luoyang? — That would be much easier. For those who have passed the provincial examinations or the imperial examinations, all they need to do is go to the Ministry of Personnel, smooth things over, and arrangements can be made.

Furthermore, each of the vassal states and prefectures had its own set of official positions, resembling a miniature imperial court, which were easier to obtain than those in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Suddenly, the sound of clinking cups echoed from the second floor of a teahouse on the street.

Jiang Xingzhou's blue robe fluttered slightly.

When he raised his head, his eyes were clear and bright. He smiled faintly and said, "Your Highness flatters me! I am just an ordinary scholar. I have come to the capital only to see the talents of the world in the imperial examination."

—Neither admitting nor denying.

Before he could finish speaking, the Crown Prince of Langya suddenly clapped his hands and laughed. The Qilin beast beneath him stood upright, shattering the ice crystals on the ground.
"Wonderful! What a wonderful way to 'see the best talents in the world'!"

Suddenly, a gilded name card flew out from his sleeve, drawing a brilliant golden arc in the air. "Now, the candidates from all provinces have arrived in the capital one after another."

Tonight, the Langya Prince's Mansion has prepared a 'banquet,' inviting the scholars from the ten provinces of the Great Zhou Dynasty to attend—"

The gilded name card instantly floated three inches in front of Jiang Xingzhou, faintly exuding an aura of literary elegance.

"Brother Jiang, why don't you come over!"
If you have any close friends or acquaintances, you can invite them to the banquet as well!
Look at how many people there are! Who in the world doesn't know you?!

This young master eagerly awaits Brother Jiang's arrival!

The Crown Prince of Langya turned his horse around, his snow-white cloak fluttering in the wind, as he prepared to leave.

"Ha, riding horses on the main street, what a grand spectacle."

On the second floor of a teahouse on the street corner, a clear, cool voice suddenly rang out, like a cold spring striking jade, instantly drowning out the noise of the entire long street.

A scholar in a blue robe lightly tapped his knuckles on his teacup, causing the Biluochun tea in the cup to ripple, reflecting a hint of mockery in his eyes.

He gazed at the cloud trails shattered by the Qilin beast, downed the remaining tea in one gulp, and let out a half-sneer: "The Great Zhou Law clearly stipulates that no one may ride a horse on the Imperial Road of the Divine Capital except for the imperial carriage—this is blatant disregard for the law at the Langya Prince's Mansion?"

The sound was neither hurried nor slow, yet it was like the clear ringing of a jade chime, seemingly carrying some invisible power, which instantly quieted the noisy crowd around.

A scholar in a blue robe sitting next to him was so startled that he dropped his teacup. He hurriedly grabbed Huang's sleeve and said, "Brother Huang, be careful what you say! Are you out of your mind? That's the Crown Prince!"

"He dares to ride his horse recklessly in the Heavenly Street, yet I cannot speak out against it?"

The scholar in the blue robe flicked his sleeve, pushing the other man away with a disdainful expression.

The tea on the table suddenly rippled three inches, reflecting the cold glint in his eyes.

"Three years ago, there was a snow disaster in the northern border. In order to save money, the court even cut half of the silver thread charcoal in the Hanlin Academy."

"Now, how can the Langya Prince's Mansion allow a Qilin, a rare and exotic beast, to consume half a year's worth of food for an ordinary person in a single day?"

The guards and cavalry downstairs all changed their expressions, and the swords at their waists suddenly rang out.

The teahouse fell into a sudden, deathly silence.

The scholar in the blue robe turned ashen-faced with fright. He hurriedly threw down the tea money—ten copper coins—with a "clink," and fled in a panic.

"Tell the Langya Prince's Mansion—"

"Tonight's banquet will be held. Huang Chao has come uninvited, but he will attend."

The man in the blue robe stood against the wind, and the light outside the window suddenly dimmed, as if intimidated by his sharp and intimidating aura.

A sudden uproar erupted in the teahouse.

The crowd was shocked, finally recognizing the madman in blue robes before them!
"It's the Yellow Dynasty!"

Someone exclaimed, "That arrogant young man Huang Chao, who came from a salt merchant family!"

"Is he the one who boasted that he had the potential to be the top scholar, yet failed the imperial examination for three consecutive years?"

This eccentric Huang Chao was born into a salt merchant family in the Central Plains. He was skilled in riding and archery, poetry and prose, and loved chivalry and making friends with heroes.

I once fought against the culture in Luoyi.
This man single-handedly fought against seven prominent families who had passed the imperial examinations, ultimately forcing a Hanlin scholar to intervene and mediate.

Rumor has it that on that day he threw down his pen and laughed wildly: "Even if one's writings cannot break the imperial lineage, one's pen and ink cannot quell the hardships of the world!"

Perhaps because of his reputation as an eccentric scholar and his unconventional writing style, he failed the imperial examinations three times in a row.

As a result, he earned the mocking nickname of "the failed top scholar".

This man is quite famous in Luoyang—but notorious!
The Prince of Langya had obviously heard the teahouse's sarcastic remark. He suddenly reined in his horse and turned around, his eyes flashing with a cold light like lightning, piercing straight at the man in the blue robe above the teahouse.

A mocking smile curled at the corner of his lips, and with a sharp crack, he snapped the tassels of the wine flag three zhang away!
“Who do we have here—” The prince’s voice was like an ice blade, deliberately grinding the words between his teeth, “So it’s Brother Huang Chao, the ‘failed scholar’.”

The Crown Prince of Langya deliberately emphasized the words "failed the exam."
"Last time during the imperial examinations, Brother Huang's essay 'On the Policy of Aristocratic Families' was brilliant, but unfortunately, when the Ministry of Rites opened and reviewed the papers, the entire ink was inexplicably smudged."

These words caused an uproar throughout the street!

Huang Chao didn't know who he had offended—or perhaps he had offended almost all the powerful clans and aristocratic families in Luoyang, and no one was protecting him.

As a result, the ink on the exam paper inside the exam bag inexplicably became smudged.

If the examination paper is not clean, one will naturally be rejected in the imperial examination.

By bringing this up in public at this moment, the Crown Prince of Langya is clearly reopening old wounds of the Huang Dynasty!
Upon hearing this, Huang Chao's face turned furious, and the teacup in his hand suddenly shattered. "Society corrupts talent, and corrupts the country while stealing wealth!"

The Crown Prince of Langya's expression finally changed.

"presumptuous!"

The Crown Prince of Langya roared and jerked the reins sharply.

The jade unicorn raised its head and let out a long roar, its scales radiating a dazzling golden light, and a dragon-shaped phantom appeared around its body!

Huang Chao was not afraid at all, and his protective energy burst forth.

Both of them held the rank of Juren (a degree in the imperial examination system).

Two invisible forces of talent clashed fiercely in the sky above the long street, and the onlookers heard the illusion of thousands of iron cavalry charging into battle.

The century-old locust tree by the street moves swiftly without wind, its fallen leaves fluttering like rain, but instantly turning to dust upon touching the blue light.

A sudden gust of wind caused the eaves of the teahouse to crack!
"Good! What a conceited and arrogant Huang Chao is!"

Tonight's banquet, come if you want!

"I, the young master, want to see if your bones, you failed scholar, are as hard as your mouth!"

The Crown Prince of Langya suddenly withdrew his attack, and the golden light and dragon shadow all disappeared into the Qilin horn.

He flicked his whip and pointed it at the teahouse.
On both sides of the long street, countless people retreated in fear.

The scabbards of the cavalry guards vibrated and hummed on their own, as if they were sensing some kind of great power of heaven and earth clashing!

Before he finished speaking, the Prince of Langya stopped arguing with Huang Chao, suddenly pulled on the reins, and the jade unicorn raised its front hooves, drawing a dazzling arc in the sunlight.

Ice crystal patterns that stretched for ten feet instantly solidified on the bluestone slab.

Then, the Qilin Steed let out a long neigh and carried its master across the long street like a shooting star, leaving only frost on the ground.

The small squad of cavalry guards followed closely behind and disappeared at the end of the Imperial Street in the blink of an eye.

When the smoke and dust cleared, Gu Zhimian, pale-faced, let out a long sigh and whispered, "Brother Jiang, are you really going to the banquet tonight?"

Holding the gilded name card, Jiang Xingzhou gazed in the direction where the Prince of Langya had left, his eyes gleaming like a sword drawn from its sheath.

No banquet is ever a good banquet!
However, since we've been invited, wouldn't it tarnish the reputation of us scholars from Jiangnan if we didn't go?
Let's go and take a look!

As the top scholar in the provincial examination of Jiangnan, he naturally could not show weakness in front of the Taoist scholars!

Jiang Xingzhou turned around and stared at the teahouse railing. The scholar in the blue robe standing by the railing was surrounded by a visible aura of refinement, like a blue flame scorching the sky.

This Huang Chao dared to mock the Prince of Langya in the street; he truly is a madman!

"Huang Chao greets Jiang Jieyuan!"

The scholar in the blue robe stood by the railing of the teahouse, addressing Jiang Xingzhou with respect, and met his gaze.

His gaze was piercing, seemingly radiating a cold light. When his eyes met Jiang Xingzhou's, it was as if an invisible literary energy collided between heaven and earth!

However, Huang Chao did not dare to be arrogant at this time.

Although he resented the social standing of the noble families,
Despite his absolute literary talent and ability to become the top scholar in the Jiangnan region's provincial examination, he failed to become the top scholar in the Central Plains region, even though he often boasted of his talent as a top scholar.

"Brother Huang Chao!"

Jiang Xingzhou narrowed his eyes slightly, cupped his hands in a smile, and said, "Let's go to the Langya King's banquet together tonight!"

(End of this chapter)