"I have heard a little about Lingyan Pavilion. Starting from Juren, each literary position has a 'Ten Sons Portrait' in Lingyan Pavilion. I heard that everyone who becomes one of the Ten Sons has the opportunity to get a temporary literary heart. Sima Xiangru, Cao Cao, Cao Zhi and others in those days all got temporary literary hearts, and Yan Yukong's temporary literary heart seemed to have been obtained in Lingyan Pavilion. However, he was able to become one of the 'Ten Sons of Juren' in those days, and his semi-saint mentor seemed to have contributed to it. As for the rest, I don't know." Fang Yun said.
"Yes, all the scholars in the past dynasties went to Lingyan Pavilion to compete for the 'Ten Portraits'. Take the 'Ten Scholars of Lingyan Pavilion' for example, they were not selected from the people of Jingguo, or even just the ten countries, but the top ten of all the scholars in the eight hundred years since the Lingyan Pavilion was established!"
Fang Yun said: "Doesn't that mean that all the ten sons of the Juren are semi-saints?"
"No. Yan Yukong and Yi Zhishi are not semi-saints, and neither are Han Xin and Cao Zhi. However, the other six are semi-saints, and they were all canonized within the past two or three hundred years."
Fang Yun nodded and said, "Although our race has not produced any sub-sages in recent years, it is mainly due to the limitation of talent. If we do not count Confucius or sub-sages, our race has been growing stronger. These scholars are better than those of the same age hundreds of years ago, which shows that our race has been making progress."
"That's natural. Since he can become the last of the Ten Juren, then you can't be worse than him. When you enter the 'Ten Juren Portrait', he will have no choice but to withdraw."
"That's not what I want."
"The difference is clear, and he won't blame you. Maybe he can get a higher position before the Jinshi exam. But... he has a semi-saint mentor to guide him, and you can't compare to him, so you don't need to be too anxious to become one of the top ten candidates. You will definitely be sure of it in a year." Zhao Hongzhuang said.
Fang Yun blinked and said, "I want to participate in this year's Jinshi examination."
"Do you really want to be the unprecedented 'same year' title?" Zhao Hongzhuang widened her eyes.
"It's not that I have to compete with my peers for the title, but I want to become a Jinshi as soon as possible!" Fang Yun said.
Zhao Hongzhuang was silent for a moment, then said, "Okay. Actually, we have already foreseen that with your ability, it won't be difficult to pass the imperial examination this year, but... it might be difficult to pass the imperial examination, and it's even more difficult to pass the imperial examination."
"This year, becoming a Jinshi is the most important thing. As for the top scholar or the first place in the imperial examination, that will be next year. There is still a long time to come, and I have enough energy to compete."
"That's right. Now you just need to be careful about others competing for the upper house. As for the Double Ninth Festival literary gathering on the ninth day of the first lunar month, just write a poem to handle it and leave the county. There's no need to worry too much."
Fang Yun smiled and said, "Even leaving the county is not easy. It's not as easy as you say."
"It's not easy for others, but for you, leaving the county is a very low requirement." Zhao Hongzhuang said.
"Let me think about it. If one can write good poems, he certainly can't write bad ones." Fang Yun said.
Zhao Hongzhuang nodded and said, "There is an urgent letter." After she looked down, her face changed drastically.
Fang Yun didn't want to pay attention to Zhao Hongzhuang's private message, but her expression changed drastically, and he couldn't help asking: "What's wrong? What happened?"
Zhao Hongzhuang gnashed her teeth and said, "King Kang invited a great scholar from Wu State to participate in the Chongyang Literary Festival."
Fang Yun's heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath and said, "Which great scholar?"
Zhao Hongzhuang raised her head, looked into Fang Yun's eyes, and said slowly: "Nangong Leng."
Fang Yun's pupils constricted, then quickly recovered.
"The Wu Kingdom and the Kang Palace really spared no expense in suppressing me. They even sent the poet from three generations ago to take action! Compared with this old poet, the current poet from the Qing Kingdom is nothing but a piece of rotten wood."
"It's good that you know this man's name. He is known as the Saint Hand of the Frontier. He spent his entire life fighting against the barbarians. He is a great war poet! He even created a war poem handed down by the Grand Secretary, "The Song of Breaking the Formation". On the day the poem was completed, yellow sand filled the sky. The wind was blowing wildly. This poem destroyed a large barbarian tribe of 100,000 people! It is a poem that all Grand Secretary must learn."
Fang Yun smiled helplessly and said, "Of course I know "Song of Breaking the Formation", especially against the Shaman, this war song is simply invincible. His poetry is so famous that it caused a discussion in the Saint Academy a few years ago about whether to give him the title of Virtual Saint Poet Saint, but later he refused, saying that he was not qualified to be named Poet Saint, and no one mentioned it again. However, I know that he is an upright person and cannot embarrass me!"
Zhao Hongzhuang said: "This man is indeed a rare wise man. He did not participate in the disputes between Wu and other countries. When he was a university scholar, he even took off his official hat and robes in the Golden Palace and walked away because of his disagreement with the king of Wu. However, he must have owed favors to others. King Kang may use this to persuade him."
Fang Yun nodded and said, "It seems that this is the only possible reason. If he didn't owe someone a huge favor, he would never target me. However, maybe he came to Jingguo to see his old friend."
Zhao Hongzhuang sighed and said, "You think too highly of him. I'm not saying that Nangong Daru is bad, but everyone has helpless moments. However, with Nangong Daru's character, at most he will suppress you in terms of poetry reputation, and he will never maliciously slander and attack you like the people of Qing. After all, he is a great scholar, and he knows his limits. Wu Guo may not be able to do anything about it. Even the poet of this generation has been suppressed by you. In terms of poetry reputation, except for this Nangong Daru, no one below the semi-saint can beat you. What Wu Guo wants is that your brilliance in this literary conference is completely overshadowed, and the myth that you will definitely win the literary conference is broken."
Fang Yun smiled carefreely and said, "If the poetry of the great scholar Nangong is better than mine, I will naturally admit defeat. It's not a big deal. But... is it too much to ask a great scholar to deal with me? Is there any other reason, and suppressing my literary reputation is just a convenience?"
Zhao Hongzhuang nodded and said, "I have the same doubt in my heart. After all, he is a great scholar. It is impossible that he came here just to suppress your literary reputation. However, you should not be careful of the great scholar Nangong, but the counterattack of the hostile forces after your poetry reputation is suppressed! Criticizing your poems and comparing them with the famous poems of the great scholars, no matter how they are belittled, as long as they don't attack you, it is allowed."
"Don't worry, I will use them to hone my literary talents!" Fang Yun said.
"The problem is, since this has happened, they probably have a series of back-up plans, one after another. This is the scariest part!" said Zhao Hongzhuang.
Fang Yun's carefree attitude completely disappeared, his face was somewhat gloomy, and he said: "Indeed, being suppressed in the literary meeting is nothing, but if it becomes the fuse of firecrackers and my upper residence is taken away again, then if I am not careful, my literary courage will be severely damaged, and I will have to give up the imperial examination and slow down my growth."
"Yes. But... even if you are taken away from the upper house, you will only be dormant for a year or two at most. While dormant, even if you can't fly, you will definitely soar into the sky!"
"Don't worry, I'm mentally prepared. Even if I fail, I can safely get through the silent period." Fang Yun said.
"No matter what, you have to go to Lingyan Pavilion, so I will tell you about Lingyan Pavilion..." Zhao Hongzhuang told everything she knew, and finally said, "Your zither and calligraphy are probably not inferior to mine. I can't teach you, but your painting and chess skills don't seem to be obvious. It's just that you have a different understanding of painting. Starting today, I will teach you painting for one hour and chess for one hour every day. For the rest, you have to rely on yourself."
"I've heard that the eldest princess learned from a great master in the palace. She is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and her poetry and prose are no less than those of scholars of the same age. Fang Yun is lucky enough to be taught by a female teacher." Fang Yun said with a smile.
Zhao Hongzhuang sighed and said, "I was born a girl, so what if this is the case?"
Fang Yun smiled and said, "The human race has been making progress. Perhaps all of this will come in handy in the future. It never goes wrong to learn more."
"Maybe. I remember you comforted me like this when we were in Yuhai City. Don't worry, I won't give up studying. This is my lifelong love!" Zhao Hongzhuang's eyes quickly became firm.
"Okay, this is Princess Hongzhuang!" Fang Yun sighed in his heart. With Zhao Hongzhuang's literary fame and talent, if he were a man, he would at least be a university scholar.
"I also have a letter." Fang Yun said and lowered his head to check the letter. His friends in Shengxu reminded him that the great scholar Nangong was about to go to the Chongyang Literary Meeting in Jingguo. Some people even cursed Nangong Leng.
The carriage was getting closer and closer to the first house where Fang Yun lived. The driver whispered, "Your Highness, Lord Wenhou, there are hundreds of people gathered in front of the first house. But unlike yesterday, they are very happy and seem to be here to congratulate you."
When Fang Yun heard that there were hundreds of people, he did not stick his head out directly, but slightly lifted the door curtain and looked forward through the gap. He saw that most of them were black-robed Juren, some white-robed Jinshi, and occasionally a few blue-robed Xiucai.
Some of the candidates shouted, "The red rope and the sword are the carriages of Her Royal Highness Princess Hongzhuang! Marquis Fang Wen must be inside."
"Haha..." Many people laughed.
Fang Yun smiled and looked at Zhao Hongzhuang. She glared at Fang Yun, then boldly opened the door curtain and walked out of the car. She stood at the front of the car and looked at the people in front of her. She put her left arm behind her waist and said, "What do you want to do here?"
A Jinshi hurriedly said, "Princess, please don't misunderstand. We are different from yesterday. Today, we heard that Fang Wenhou moved into the first dormitory. We were so excited that we skipped classes to come here. I am not here to curry favor with him. I just want to see him and thank him for his outstanding literary talent! Because several of my uncles died at the hands of the people of Qing. My grandfather once wrote to me, saying that if I meet Fang Wenhou, I should treat him as an elder and a benefactor!"
"We are the same. We will never compete with Fang Yun for the upper house! Look, I have worn this black robe for less than three years. If I compete with Fang Yun for the upper house, wouldn't it be like teaching the Analects in front of Confucius or playing with an axe and saw in front of Lu Ban?"
Zhao Hongzhuang smiled and said, "Hey, isn't this the crazy student from Mizhou? Why aren't you crazy today?"
"When a mad man meets a mad king, he naturally doesn't dare to be mad. I am a mad man, not a fool."
Everyone laughed.
Fang Yun then came out and glanced at the crowd, and found that everyone was filled with joy, completely different from the people standing at the door yesterday.
"Jiangzhou Fang Yun, nice to meet you all my classmates."
When everyone heard the word "classmate", it was as if they had eaten frozen longevity fruit in the dog days of summer, and every part of their body felt comfortable. Fang Yun was now famous all over the world and held a high position, but he was so humble that he could put down his airs. It was really gratifying.
"Greetings, Lord Fang Wen!" Everyone bowed, even dozens of Jinshi scholars bowed without the slightest hesitation. (To be continued...)