Di Ming

Chapter 156 Poisonous Moon and Poisonous Sun
May is a month of rampant poisons and the rise of evil spirits; it is known as the month of poison.

The fifth day of the lunar month is considered the most poisonous day of the month, and the Dragon Boat Festival is also a poisonous day of the month.

Therefore, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month was designated as the Dragon Boat Festival. People would avoid the five poisonous creatures, insert mugwort, eat zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), drink realgar wine, hang Zhong Kui (a mythical figure associated with evil spirits), and hold dragon boat races to drive away evil and disasters and to pay homage to ghosts and gods.

The young Taoist disciples from Qingyun Temple also came to deliver talismans to ward off evil spirits.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, every household in Jiangnan begins to collect mugwort, placing the collected herbs on door lintels, window frames, and well platforms, and weaving mugwort figures and tigers to ward off evil spirits.

Everywhere in the village, people are boiling glutinous rice, picking bamboo leaves, and preparing to wrap zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).

According to custom, married women must return to their parents' home on the Dragon Boat Festival, a custom known as "shooting the Dragon Boat Festival."

Qingqiao is a large rural area outside Nanjing city, with a large population, and it is especially lively during festivals.

Today, women returning to their parents' homes, whether poor or rich, ride donkeys or carriages, are all heading to their parents' homes. Whether on official roads or rural paths, there is a constant stream of women returning to their parents' homes.

Even small vendors, itinerant doctors, performers, monks, and Taoist priests would take advantage of these festivals to earn more money.

“Amitabha! Dear benefactors, the Dragon Boat Festival is a time of evil spirits. Would you like to recite the true sutra three times to ward off disasters and misfortunes? It only costs a copper coin.”

"Layman, please wait! Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable, I bow in reverence. I have a peace talisman and the Nine-Character Mantra to ward off evil and dispel malevolent influences, for only one tael of silver."

Peddler carrying loads on shoulder poles also sold Zhong Kui paintings printed on paper in the village, calling out as he went from village to village:

"The 88-year-old temple keeper of the City God Temple personally painted the portrait of Zhong Kui, and only 999 copies were printed! It is the most efficacious!"

"Dragon Boat Festival sachets, round fans, colorful bracelets, mugwort figurines and tiger figurines...we have everything!"

The wine seller drove an oxcart, with grass rings woven from mugwort hanging from the ox's horns. Inside the oxcart were barrels of realgar wine, and hanging from the barrels were mugwort figures and tigers.

The wine seller called out, "Realgar wine from Wu's Winery in town! Only twenty-nine coins a pound! It'll keep you safe from snakes and insects!"

There were also down-on-their-luck itinerant doctors, dressed in blue robes, carrying medicine bags, wandering from village to village, ringing their bells and singing:

"The sky is vast and the earth is boundless. The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival. The five poisonous creatures are rampant."

"Centipedes climb walls, toads leap, scorpions lurk, geckos hide, and even more fearsome are poisonous snakes climbing onto roof beams!"

"My name is Ye Miaoshou. My ancestors were imperial physicians during the Yuan Dynasty, and my great-grandfather treated Emperor Zhengde! He can cure snake and insect bites instantly!"

……

The Zhu family mansion was also filled with freshly cut mugwort.

Jin Yunniang and the others were still wearing mugwort rings, and their clothes were decorated with mugwort figures and tigers.

The entire courtyard was filled with the fragrance of mugwort.

In the Zhu family's backyard, the sun shines brightly, and bees and butterflies flutter about.

Several swallows flitted and played among the red-lacquered buildings, chirping incessantly, occasionally dropping a feather or a mouthful of swallow mud.

Under the courtyard wall.

The orchids are graceful and the peonies are charming, their fragrance mingling with the scent of leaves and earth, creating a lingering and enchanting atmosphere.

"Chirp...chirp..."

On the pomegranate tree in the corner, the cicadas, which had just emerged from the ground, were chirping even more merrily, seemingly without getting tired.

"Croak, croak..." In the half-acre clear pond, the croaking of frogs rose and fell, refusing to yield to the chirping of cicadas.

The pond water is covered with lush green algae, the lotus flowers are as blue as jade, the lotus leaves sway gently, and the water droplets are exquisite.

The lotus buds stand tall and graceful, ready to bloom, their reflections shimmering in the water, like a lady sitting idly by the water, a scene straight out of a painting.

Ning Caiwei sat by the pond, practicing calligraphy, copying the regular script of the "Tao Te Ching" by Wu Zetian, a calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty.

Wu Zetian was a calligrapher who embraced diverse styles. Her regular script was dignified and elegant, with extraordinary charm, combining strength and gentleness, and balancing squareness and roundness. It deeply captured the essence of the Wei and Jin dynasties and can be considered a first-class model of calligraphy.

Ning Caiwei seems to have made the fastest progress in copying Wu Zetian's regular script, and she's now able to directly emulate the styles of the Jin and Tang dynasties.

As summer approaches and the weather gradually warms up, it's almost the Dragon Boat Festival.

Ning Caiwei wore only a pink silk robe and a plain silk moon-shaped skirt. She wore her hair in a high bun, tied up with only a jade hairpin, and her eyebrows and lips were unpainted.

She was truly born with natural beauty that was hard to conceal. Even without makeup, at a young age, she already possessed extraordinary charm.

A butterfly fluttered in and lingered on her hair, as if the girl was more beautiful and fragrant than any flower.

The young lady from the Ning family practiced quite diligently, each stroke full of sincerity, and fine beads of sweat were already visible on her delicate, fair nose.

But to say that she was completely focused on her work would be a stretch.

Because every time she copied a few characters, she would involuntarily raise her head and look at the courtyard gate.

Nanyong dismissed school early today, so Little Tiger should be back soon, right?
Ning Qingchen, with her hair sticking straight up, looked adorable and rosy-cheeked. She was standing in front of a flowering tree that was over five feet tall, stroking the green leaves with an expectant look on her face.

He said in a childish voice:
"Clear Dust Tree, grow up quickly. When you grow up and bear seeds, I can cultivate seedlings. Then I can make Clear Dust Frost to treat many malaria patients."

The cinchona tree has been named the "Cleansing Dust Tree" by Zhu Yin.

This unique Qingchen tree is Ning Qingchen's most precious treasure.

After arriving in the Ming Dynasty, her greatest wish was to improve the medical standards of ancient times, increase the average lifespan, and alleviate the suffering of patients.

My sister is devoted to imperial ambitions, and my brother-in-law aspires to the rejuvenation of China. She doesn't have such grand ambitions; she simply wants to practice medicine and benefit all people.

But she also knew that without her brother-in-law and sister's success, her medical career would not have been successful.

Ning Qingchen longs to grow up.

Such a small body couldn't even be delivered with forceps. Even if she invented forceps, it wouldn't solve the mother's problem.

Ugh.

The little tiger and his sister created a truly peaceful and idyllic living environment. But time was moving too slowly.

Just then, a large, glossy black dog, exceptionally handsome, ran into the inner courtyard, panting and sticking out its tongue.

"The little tiger is back!" Ning Qingchen immediately smiled sweetly.

Black Tiger now accompanies Little Tiger to and from school every day. Whenever Black Tiger appears, Little Tiger is sure to follow behind.

Ning Caiwei looked up and saw a handsome and refined young man walking calmly through the ceremonial gate, his steps graceful and elegant.

The young man, dressed in a simple blue robe, had clear and bright features. He possessed both an elegant, scholarly air and a spirited, dashing appearance.

Truly, "a gentleman is one who is refined and cultured."

When Ning Caiwei saw the young man, it was as if she were seeing him for the first time. She was momentarily dazed, and her starry eyes looked a little blank.

Wow, the tiger cub is really beautiful.

Zhu Yin walked up to Ning Caiwei, looked at her handwriting, and smiled:

"I didn't expect you to have some talent in calligraphy. Hmm, practice hard, and in ten or eight years you'll be able to catch up with me now."

"Heh." Ning Caiwei chuckled, wrinkling her delicate nose. "So you're saying my calligraphy will never be as good as yours?"

As Zhu Yin helped her grind the ink, he smiled and said:
"Even Xu Wei, Master Shen, and my adoptive father said that my calligraphy has already reached a certain level of mastery. If you catch up with me now in ten years, that will be considered a certain level of mastery. Aren't you satisfied yet?"

“Alright.” Ning Caiwei smiled brightly. “Yunniang and the others have already wrapped the zongzi. They’ll cook them as soon as you get back. We can eat zongzi tonight.”

"Also, Qingchen is waiting for you to come back and paint the portrait. She won't let me paint it and insists that you paint it. It turns out I'm not her biological sister after all, that's why she dislikes me so much."

Ning Caiwei's tone was a little sour. The older her younger sister got, the closer she became to the little tiger.

Ning Qingchen immediately shouted at Zhu Yin in her childish voice, "Little tiger, draw me the king! Draw me the king!"

Zhu Yin then dipped cinnabar in realgar and painted a tiger's forehead on Ning Qingchen's forehead, and drew the character "王" (king) on ​​her forehead.

This is the King of Painting.

Drawing the character "王" (king) on ​​children's foreheads during the Dragon Boat Festival is a custom in the Jiangnan region. This is because realgar can ward off poison, and a fierce tiger can suppress evil spirits.

All the children had to draw, and Zhu Yin certainly couldn't make Ning Qingchen an exception.

As for him and Ning Caiwei, they were already teenagers, so there was no need for a painting.

"You drew me as a little tiger too!" Ning Qingchen, sporting a tiger-patterned forehead, giggled happily.

"Little tiger, I want to swing on the swing!"

Zhu Yin picked up Ning Qingchen, placed her on the swing, and laughed, "Hold on tight, I'm going to swing you high up."

The two had just played for a short while when Gu Hongxiu walked in with her half-grown feet and an unpleasant expression.

She first gave Zhu Yin a perfunctory greeting and simply called him "Young Master".

Her elder brother, Gu Qiyuan, was Zhu Yinan's classmate in Yong, and her sister-in-law, Zhao Chan'er, was Ning Qingchen's wet nurse, so there was no need to be too polite.

"Sister Hongxiu, what happened?"

Ning Caiwei put down the book in her hand, turned her delicate face, as beautiful as a lotus flower, and her features were exquisite.

Gu Hongxiu said, “Some people are trying to stop us from hiring. There are rumors in the village that our workshop is a scam, and that if people come here to work, they will have bad luck. Someone is threatening them.”

Gu Hongxiu is fifteen years old this year. She has bright eyes, white lips and red teeth, and is very sunny and cheerful.

The villagers said she was crazy. In fact, what they called madness was simply that she was unrestrained by rules, did things her own way, and was unconventional.

She always secretly loosened her feet herself, which led to the failure of foot binding, leaving her feet neither fully grown nor fully unbound.

After meeting Ning Caiwei, she completely abstained from foot binding, burning all her foot-binding cloths and declaring, "I would rather not marry than bind my feet again in this life."

Gu Qiyuan and Zhao Chan'er were helpless and could only let things take their course.

Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei, however, admired Gu Hongxiu's rebellious spirit. Coupled with her intelligence and quick wit, she quickly gained their trust.

In the Zhu family today, Gu Hongxiu and Ding Hongying are collectively known as the "Double Reds." They are also the people who most resemble modern girls in Zhu Yin's eyes.

Ning Caiwei posted a job advertisement almost two days ago, but no one has applied yet, which shows that someone is interfering.

Gu Hongxiu knew this, which shows that she was good at seizing upon contradictions.

Ning Caiwei, wanting to test her, asked, "So, what do you suggest we do?"

Gu Hongxiu said, "President, we need to recruit 800 people, all of whom are young men and women aged 15 to 20. We're practically trying to recruit all the young men and women in Qingqiao. How can the Zhang and Liu families agree to that?"

"This is taking people from them! How could they not hate us? They are local tyrants, deeply rooted and powerful, and have amassed their influence for many years. How dare we, the common people, resist them?"

"Although there are rumors that the young master and the village head have a relationship with the chief eunuch, it is just a rumor and few people actually believe it. Just because of such rumors, the villagers do not dare to rebel against the Zhang and Liu families and instead turn to us."

"What I mean is, spend money to go into the city, hire a few eunuchs, and have them come to Qingqiao Lane to congratulate the workshop on its grand opening. Then, deliberately spread rumors that our backer is the Grand Eunuch..."

Zhu Yin chuckled, "Red Sleeve Lady, your method is excellent and indeed feasible. However, I cannot use this method right now."

"Can't we use it?" Gu Hongxiu was taken aback. Although she didn't understand why this method couldn't be used, she didn't ask.

A smart person is one who observes words and expressions, listens to the underlying meaning, and doesn't ask questions they shouldn't.

Gu Hongxiu was a clever person.

Zhu Yin couldn't use this method because he needed to keep a low profile, play dumb to outmaneuver Wang Ruifang and Jushe. His relationship with Tian Yi was a secret to outsiders; only a very few people knew about his connection with the Tian family.

If Wang Ruifang and the others knew that Tian Yi was his powerful backer, they definitely wouldn't have attacked him again.

He had waited so long; he couldn't let Wang Ruifang back down again.

The Chrysanthemum Society, which appeared prematurely as the "Donglin Society," should also be eliminated as a stepping stone for the Propaganda Society!
In the future, there can only be one most powerful literary society in Nanjing and even the Jiangnan region, and that is the Xuan Society!
But Ning Caiwei said, "I expected the local gentry to cause trouble. Population is power, it is the foundation. How can they let us shake our foundation?"

"My large-scale recruitment drive this time is to make the Zhang and Liu families make the first move."

"Go to the three estates of the Zhu family first and recruit people from among their tenants. You'll probably only be able to find a little over a hundred qualified workers. We'll use these hundred-odd people for now; when they receive their wages in real money, that'll be a hundred-odd reputations..."

After listening, Gu Hongxiu laughed and said, "The president has a good strategy! Only by waiting for the Zhang and Liu families to take the initiative can we cut off their claws and uproot them completely!"

Ning Caiwei smiled enigmatically, “The people of this village have suffered under the tyrants for too long. What family can last forever? They’ve been rich for generations, but they’re all destined for the winds and rains. This local tyrant is universally despised.”

Zhu Yin laughed and said, "A person who is too domineering will eventually face retribution. Isn't that what happened to the Wang family? Withered grass and dry willows, once a stage for song and dance."

Gu Hongxiu stood up. "I'm leaving. I'm going to the estate to recruit people!"

"Don't rush." ​​Ning Caiwei took her hand. "We cooked some zongzi at home today, with several kinds of fillings. Eat some zongzi before you go. After the Dragon Boat Festival, let Susu go with you."

Gu Hongxiu didn't stand on ceremony, "Then I'll eat a few more today and drink a few cups of calamus wine!"

During the Dragon Boat Festival, ordinary families drink realgar wine, while wealthy families drink calamus wine.

Calamus wine is a precious medicinal herb, and ordinary people cannot afford to drink it.

Ning Caiwei added, "During the Dragon Boat Festival, we will also give everyone fans, sachets, and handkerchiefs, and we will also shoot willow branches and offer sacrifices to Qu Yuan."

"Huh? We also have to shoot willow branches and commemorate Qu Yuan?" Gu Hongxiu was quite surprised, not expecting the Zhu family to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival so grandly.

Of course she knew about shooting willow branches. According to custom, there should be a willow-shooting performance during the Dragon Boat Festival. But that's an old custom from over a hundred years ago, isn't it?
My brother told me that more than a hundred years ago, people used to shoot willow branches as a game during the Dragon Boat Festival. More than sixty years ago, when Emperor Zhengde came to Nanjing, it was the Dragon Boat Festival, and he personally shot willow branches.

Nowadays, it's rare to hear about shooting willow branches during the Dragon Boat Festival.

As for the worship of Qu Yuan, it is an old custom and rarely mentioned.

Zhu Yin said, "The day after tomorrow, on the fifth day of the lunar new year, I will be offering sacrifices to Qu Yuan in Lishui. Not only will I offer sacrifices, but I will also hold a grand ceremony. The Xuan Society has already prepared the offerings and the sacrificial text."

"After paying homage to Qu Yuan, we will also have a game of shooting willow branches by the river, which is also hosted by the Xuanshe (a local folk organization). Villagers can also participate."

Zhu Yin did this for many reasons, including promoting Chinese traditions and taking the opportunity to expand the influence of the Propaganda Society.

Whether in the city or the countryside, launching and organizing events is a great opportunity to build influence.

Gu Hongxiu asked, "Are we still having dragon boat races?"

Zhu Yin shook his head and said, "Many families hold dragon boat races, the Zhang family and the Liu family both do, but I won't make do this year."

Once the zongzi were cooked, Zhu Yin set up a banquet in the courtyard, serving delicacies from mountains and rivers, as well as seasonal fruits. Everyone gathered together to eat zongzi and drink calamus wine.

Now that the Zhu family is wealthy, their food, clothing, and daily necessities are all of a grand style. The only difference is that they don't have private opera troupes, musicians, dancers, or the like.

The late Ming Dynasty was characterized by a pursuit of fine clothes and delicacies, luxurious mansions and pavilions, and an addiction to extravagance and pleasure. The social atmosphere was magnificent, with "people taking pleasure in debauchery and the social atmosphere valuing extravagance."

The saying goes, "Nowadays, when people in the countryside hold a banquet for guests without a reason, the guests must have a special table, or a lotus root table. There is never a table with three or four people."

In other words, when wealthy families entertained guests, each person sat at one table, and at the very least, two people sat at one table. It was absolutely impossible for more than three people to sit at one table.

Tonight's banquet at the Zhu family's residence is also a one-person-one-table affair.

Zhu Yin had not forgotten the tenants of the three manors, the farmers of the eight medicinal gardens, and the soldiers and civilians of the Bright Camp of Baohua Mountain.

They sent people to deliver the rewards to each of them.

After the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, Zhu Yin and Ning Caiwei personally rewarded everyone.

Whether they were guards, students, or servants, they were all given sachets, fans, and colorful bracelets as gifts, in accordance with the Dragon Boat Festival customs.

The entire Zhu family was immersed in the festive atmosphere.

As for Qi Jiguang and Xu Wei, they had already traveled south to Zhejiang with Shen Yiguan a few days ago to revisit their old haunts.

.........

May 4th.

Zhu Yin had long ago invited a group of his classmates and friends who had joined the Xuan Society to come to Qinmao at the Zhu Family Manor for a poetry and wine gathering.

Today, the Xuan Society has grown to more than seventy members, almost all of whom come from impoverished backgrounds.

Although the Propaganda Society has few members, the entry requirements are very strict, requiring members to be talented, virtuous, and idealistic.

Zhu Yinding's rules for the society were very strict, and the selection of members was rigorous, preferring to have fewer members than to have unqualified ones.

Of course, compared to the Chrysanthemum Society, which has already surpassed a thousand members, the Xuan Society's influence is negligible.

The Chrysanthemum Society has become more than just a literary society; it has grown into a powerful force among scholars, encompassing many scions of prominent families.

Zhu Yin finally understood that the butterfly effect he had created had prematurely given rise to an organization similar to the Donglin Party!

However, the Chrysanthemum Society was founded by a group of wealthy young men, and its original intentions were not good. In terms of purpose and vision, it was even inferior to the hypocritical Donglin Party.

at this time.

In the Qinmao Mountains, beneath the ancient pines, distinguished guests and scholars had already gathered.

Zhu Yin, Ning Caiwei, Gu Qiyuan, Mo Shao, Shang Yang, Han Shang, and others all wore mugwort rings on their heads, sachets around their waists, and small mugwort tigers on their bodies.

Of the more than seventy members of the Propaganda Society, most were present, except for a few who couldn't get away.

This is the most formal and largest gathering of scholars since the establishment of the Xuan Society.

For today's Qinmao gathering, Ning Caiwei, the autumn envoy in charge of the Xuan Society's finances, spent thirty taels of silver from the Xuan Society's accounts, which can be described as a generous sum.

Amidst the Qinling Mountains, the sound of a zither resonates. Zhu Yin is beneath an ancient pine tree, intently playing the Tiger Roar zither, performing "Guangling San."

Under Tian Yi's guidance, Zhu Yin, who already had some basic skills, made great progress in his qin playing and was already quite proficient.

Today's gathering of scholars and musicians, featuring the piece "Guangling San," has even elicited nods of approval from Gu Qiyuan, Shang Yang, and others who are well-versed in the art of the zither.

"Hmm, Zhihu is only eleven years old, yet his zither skills already possess an extraordinary quality, which is truly rare."

"Excellent! This piece, 'Guangling San,' evokes a leisurely and refined atmosphere, with a refined and unconventional spirit. The music is like a gentle whistle, and the true meaning is vividly conveyed."

"Excellent! Above the seven strings, the heart of Tao is open and honest, like white clouds and gentle breeze."

Even Ning Caiwei, who had only recently started learning the zither, could tell that Little Tiger played "Guangling San" very well.

However, Ning Caiwei also knew that among the more than fifty people present, the little tiger's piano skills were only at an average level.

The reason why everyone praised him so much was because he had such a high level of skill at such a young age.

Gu Qiyuan said, “The current literary style is simple and unrestrained, imitating the Jin and Song dynasties but failing to achieve it. Ornate and flamboyant language is even more excessive, following the Qi and Liang dynasties. However, although Zhihu is young, he truly has the style of the Wei and Jin dynasties.”

“Take this zither playing for example; it also has the style of the Wei and Jin dynasties.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Today, many people in Nanyong know that Zhu Yin was unrestrained and unconventional, his calligraphy was elegant and refined, his poetry was like that of a scholar from Luoyang, and his speech was in the style of the Zhengshi era, truly embodying the spirit of the Wei and Jin dynasties.

What they didn't know was that Zhu Yin's Wei-Jin style wasn't intentional; rather, it was because Zhu Yin was a time traveler from later generations, with an open and free mind, and acted in a free and natural manner.

That's why it exudes the "Wei-Jin style".

Now that they know Ning Caiwei, they feel that Ning Caiwei also has the demeanor of the Wei and Jin dynasties, and they praise her for her carefree and cheerful expression. In fact, this is also because Ning Caiwei comes from a later era.

After Zhu Yin finished playing the piece, he drank calamus wine with everyone and chatted idly.

Gu Qiyuan said, "The three Yuan brothers of Gong'an and Master Zibo are famous throughout the southeast. They have now arrived in Nanjing, and I have heard that officials and gentry are flocking to them."

"I wonder which of these four will favor. Their arrival in Nanjing will make this year's gathering even more refined."

Shang Yang nodded and said, "The most famous of these Jiangdong gatherings is the Lanting Gathering, which has lasted for a thousand years. It's a pity that we are not qualified to participate."

Gu Qiyuan said: "Back then, the Wang Xiyuan Gathering, the Qian Weiyan Xikun Poetry Exchange, the Ouyang Yongshu Pingshan Hall Gathering, the Gu Ying Yushan Gathering... were all grand occasions and timeless tales."

"If in the future we can make the Qinmao Gathering famous throughout Jiangdong, it will be a wonderful story."

Zhu Yin nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of anticipation.

If one wishes to gain fame and prestige, one must pay homage to the elegant gatherings of Jiangdong.

The main difference between Eastern and Western cultural activities lies in the fact that the East has elegant gatherings, while the West has dances.

Shang Yang continued, “Speaking of gatherings, I am already half-old, and Mr. Wenchang is over sixty. We could learn from Bai Juyi, ordering by age rather than official rank, and emulate the gathering of the Nine Elders of Xiangshan, and have a gathering of the Nine Elders of Qingqiao.”

"Hahaha!" Han Shang laughed loudly, "Brother Zhouming, you're only fifty. What are you trying to emulate by the Nine Elders of Xiangshan? Even if you're old enough, you can't be compared to Bai Juyi and the like."

Zhu Yin laughed and said, "Wang Shouren said that scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants are different professions but share the same path. How much more so for scholars? No matter how famous Bai Juyi is, he can still emulate his elegance."

Gu Qiyuan was very learned, and immediately said:

"When Zhihu mentioned Wang Yangming, it reminded me of Li Zhi. I heard that he questioned Confucius's status as the supreme sage and teacher, saying that if everyone is a sage, then scholars are no different from ordinary people, and are even worse than common people in the marketplace."

"Although the person is absurd, his words should not be entirely dismissed."

When everyone heard the name Li Zhi, their expressions changed slightly.

Shang Yang nodded and said, "His words should not be entirely disregarded. For example, his contempt for the eight-legged essay system and the abuses of the imperial examination system are relatable."

He put down his wine cup, looking somewhat indignant. "The selection of candidates for the imperial examinations is no longer fair. Anyone wishing to be selected must seek a recommendation from a gentry member, and each recommendation costs a hundred taels of gold."

“In Jiangnan today, there are countless scholars who have failed the imperial examinations and have no way to serve their country. They are corrupt and vulgar, and some hold a skill but cannot sell it for their entire lives. There is already a trend of scholars abandoning their jobs.”

"Hmph, who knows, maybe one day I'll also abandon this turban."

Zhu Yin looked at Gu Qiyuan and asked:

"I've heard that Li Zhi was a child prodigy, writing 'On Old Farmers and Old Gardeners' at the age of twelve. Brother Taichu, do you know where Li Zhi is now?"

He was very interested in Li Zhi.

“Li Zhi…” Gu Qiyuan pondered for a moment, “I heard that he is currently in Macheng, Huangzhou. Some say he has become a monk, while others say he is a lay Buddhist.”

Zhu Yin was about to ask another question when he suddenly saw Kangxi walking over.

"My lord," Kangxi said in a low voice, "I have something to report in secret."

Zhu Yin put down his wine cup and said with a smile, "I apologize to all of you brothers. I'll be right back."

The crowd said, "Young Tiger, just go ahead and do what you need to do."

After Zhu Yin got up and went to the ancient pine tree, Kang Xu immediately reported:

"Breaking news! Wang Ruifang has devised a treacherous plan to frame our lord!"

P.S.: Thank you, goodnight. Speechless, feeling depressed. Please give me reviews and votes. Those who are reading this should subscribe automatically. This chapter describes Dragon Boat Festival customs; please be scathing if you don't like it.

(End of this chapter)