This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

Jiang Ping'an immediately swallowed back what he was about to say and craned his neck to look on.

Wang Yangming looked up, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, then turned and walked back.

Jiang Ping'an was taken aback, then quickly chased after him.

"Why are you leaving? The results have been released, why don't you take a look before you go?"

Wang Yangming didn't say anything, but just walked back on his own.

Just then, a gasp came from the entrance of the examination hall behind them:

"Wow... Wang Yangming, the top scholar from Anyi County, Lijiang Prefecture..."

"It really was him..."

"Last year I was the top scholar in the Kyoto provincial examination, and now I've become the top scholar in the metropolitan examination. Next month, I'll take first place in the palace examination as well, making me the first person in over two hundred years of the Great Zhao Dynasty's imperial examinations to achieve the triple crown..."

"Wang Yangming, is my brother there?"

"I didn't see him... He didn't come?"

......

Hearing the exclamations behind him, Jiang Ping'an couldn't help but show surprise.

He glanced at Wang Yangming and asked:

"You already knew your grades?"

Wang Yangming shook his head.

Jiang Ping'an was taken aback and asked in surprise:

"If you don't know, why aren't you curious?"

Wang Yangming smiled faintly and replied:

"Because I don't care..."

Jiang Ping'an paused, his expression stiffening.

She instantly understood what Wang Yangming meant.

As scholars, it's impossible for them not to care about their imperial examination results.

Wang Yangming didn't care because he had seen through the inside story of the imperial examination system.

Ultimately, who stands out does not depend on their own knowledge, but on who stands behind them.

Of course, Wang Yangming became the top scholar in the imperial examination because he had the ability to do so.

However, if the Crown Prince hadn't been informed beforehand, his abilities would have been labeled as cheating.

After experiencing this series of sordid events, Wang Yangming had long since lost all interest in the imperial examinations of the Great Zhao Dynasty.

The only reason he continued to participate was because of that last bit of obsession in his heart.

He still hasn't forgotten why he traveled thousands of miles to Kyoto.

Even if there is only a sliver of hope, he will not give up easily.

However, the youthful passion for pursuing fame and fortune had faded considerably compared to before.

That's why he can be so calm.

Jiang Ping'an looked at Wang Yangming, who remained calm even after learning that he had won the imperial examination, and suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

Some words that were stuck in my heart almost slipped out, but in the end I held them back.

After returning to Wang Yangming's residence, Jiang Ping'an stood at the door, hesitant to speak.

Wang Yangming saw through her thoughts and sighed, saying:

"Let's go, I'll go with you to see the Prince of Jin."

Clearly, Jiang Ping'an came here today with a purpose.

Wang Yangming could tell from her appearance that the Prince of Jin had sent her.

Jiang Ping'an looked embarrassed and didn't dare to look at Wang Yangming.

Jiang Ping'an led Wang Yangming into the inner city, and they arrived at a quiet and elegant villa.

Strangely, the gate of that villa was empty.

Upon entering the gate and seeing the southern-style layout of the villa, so different from that of Kyoto in the north, Wang Yangming immediately had a guess.

The villa was very large; according to the rules of etiquette, only officials of the third rank or above were qualified to live there.

A courtyard of this caliber would cost at least several hundred thousand taels of silver to afford in Kyoto.

Jiang Ping'an seemed to be here for the first time as well, curiously looking at the unique scenery of the South along the way, and occasionally asking the maid who was leading the way some questions.

After navigating countless corridors and passing through numerous houses, we finally arrived at our destination.

A pond in the garden, which is about four or five acres in size.

In a pavilion in the middle of the pond, Prince Jin sat upright, holding a fishing rod, seemingly fishing.

Wang Yangming followed Jiang Ping'an to the outside of the pavilion, stopped, bowed, and said:

"Student Wang Yangming pays his respects to His Highness Prince Jin."

The Prince of Jin turned around, smiled amiably, and waved his hand, saying:

"Fame is here! Come, come, come, come fishing with me!"

As Wang Yangming entered the pavilion, a servant immediately brought him a fishing rod, but there was no bait on the hook.

Wang Yangming naturally knew that this so-called fishing was just an excuse, and he didn't care.

The Prince of Jin patted the spot next to him and said:

"Sit here, I've already prepared my camp."

Wang Yangming hesitated for a moment, but finally sat down as instructed and cast the unbaited fishhook into the pond.

The Prince of Jin seemed to have genuinely come to fish, remaining completely silent and focused.

Not long after, his float began to move.

"Hey, they've taken the bait..."

The Prince of Jin raised his hand and flicked the rod, causing it to bend into a large bow. The taut fishing line cut through the water, producing the most captivating sound for anglers.

"Wow, it's a big one..."

"Make a name for yourself quickly, help me catch some fish..."

Wang Yangming glanced around; there was no net nearby.

The Prince of Jin was still urging him on.

"Hurry up, or it'll get away..."

Wang Yangming frowned and immediately understood what the Prince of Jin meant; he wanted him to jump down and help him catch the fish.

Of course, catching fish is not the key point; the key point is Wang Yangming's attitude.

His hands unconsciously clenched into fists, veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes were full of resistance.

But this is the Prince of Jin, the most powerful person in the Great Zhao Dynasty besides the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Offending him means that forget about passing the imperial examinations to enter officialdom and benefit the world; you might not even be able to live.

Jiang Ping'an, standing to the side, watched this scene with eyes full of reluctance.

There's no doubt that she likes Wang Yangming.

So even though she knew very well that this was a test by the Prince of Jin against Wang Yangming, she couldn't care less about anything else at this moment.

"I'll do it..."

Jiang Ping'an put down his long sword, walked to the edge of the pavilion, and was about to jump down.

However, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Jiang Pingan turned around and looked at Wang Yangming.

Wang Yangming pursed his lips tightly, shook his head slightly, and said in a hoarse voice:

"I'll do it..."

After saying that, Wang Yangming leaped into the pond.

Seeing this scene, Jiang Ping'an felt a tightness in her chest, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

She knew better than anyone how arrogant Wang Yangming was despite his seemingly calm demeanor.

Such an action is undoubtedly a ruthless trampling on Wang Yangming's dignity.

Jiang Ping'an clutched her chest tightly, holding back her tears, not wanting to show her vulnerable side at this moment.

When the King of Jin saw Wang Yangming finally jump down, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

But he immediately put on a panicked expression and said:

"Oh dear... Yangming, why did you jump down?"

Turning to his servants, he angrily said:

"Are you all dead? Where's the net? Hurry up and pull him up!"

Upon hearing this, the guards nearby immediately prepared to jump down.

Wang Yangming floated in the water, one hand already gripping the large grass carp, and said coldly:

"No need, I can come up myself."

Having said that, he circulated his inner energy, stomped his feet hard in the water, and his body soared into the air, landing in the pavilion.

Wang Yangming held the fish in both hands, bowed, and said:

"Your Highness, here's your fish."

The Prince of Jin grasped his arm and said apologetically:

"Hey, Yangming, what are you doing? It's just a fish, why did you have to go down and catch it yourself?"

"These idiots, they don't even know how to prepare a landing net."

"Why aren't you taking Wang Huiyuan downstairs to change his clothes?"

Wang Yangming pursed his lips and remained silent.

The maidservant quickly stepped forward to lead the way, taking Wang Yangming downstairs to change his clothes.

Jiang Ping'an hesitated for a moment, then bowed to the Prince of Jin and said:

"Second brother, I'll go take a look..."

The Prince of Jin smiled and nodded.

"Go ahead, don't let him catch a cold."