Things are getting intense, brothers.

Scholar Qiu had indeed arrived, but Xia Lin claimed that the scholar was getting old and had endured a bumpy journey, suggesting it would be better to rest for a day and do battle the next. Then followed a round of banquets and gift-giving in the scholar's honor. Officially, the pretext was that "the scholar's fame is known across the four seas, and it is the utmost fortune of three lifetimes to have the privilege of seeing him." However, everyone knew full well what the purpose of such attentive flattery really was.

Yet, there was no way to object when the other party's manners were so impeccably proper. Therefore, while it was obvious that they were currying favor with Scholar Qiu, no one had any room for complaint. After all, Scholar Qiu was only forty-one years old, which had precisely nothing to do with old age. Besides, more than one person had witnessed Xia Daosheng quietly slipping things to Scholar Qiu, only for the upright and honorable scholar to refuse them.

"What did you give him?"

"I gave him a pretty pebble from our riverbank."

Taking advantage of a break in the meal, Xia Lin reclined lazily against the riverbank, soaking up the sunshine, while Old Zhang walked over stealthily, looking for all the world like two secret agents meeting at a drop point. This was, however, their secret hideout—situated in a river bend surrounded entirely by withered reed grass, where one could squat to relieve oneself without a soul in sight, only catching glimpses of cattle and sheep when the wind swept low through the grass.

"That style favored by the little princess? You have no idea how much she treasures that stone of yours. She specifically had someone commission a stand for it, and you know what? She even asked me to paint a picture of that worthless rock. I am the most famous painter across four townships and eight villages, yet I never imagined I would one day be painting a common pebble," Old Zhang complained. "And another thing, why did you send Scholar Qiu an egg-shaped pebble?"

"What else was I supposed to send? Gold? He isn't worthy of it," Xia Lin said, crossing his legs and speaking with utter nonchalance. "Send a stone; if he accepts it, he accepts it. If he refuses, he refuses. Acceptance has its interpretation, and refusal has its own explanation."

"Ah, I see. If he accepts it and you win in the end, I'll start a rumor that this old dog Qiu took bribes. And if he refuses, well, then no definitive winner or loser can be concluded."

"Precisely! In literature there is no first place, in martial arts no second. Those four carp heads want to beat me? Truly laughable."

Xia Lin sat up, turned his head to glance at Old Zhang, and then took a deep breath. "The people for this time were all carefully selected, right? There are no mental defectives among them, are there?"

"They are all mental defectives," Old Zhang said, his eyes narrowing with a smile. "As you know, there are no good licentiate academies in the Hongzhou prefecture. Those of appropriate age went to surrounding academies long ago, and you already know what kind of dross is left over. They're on par with your backwater academy anyway."

"Hahaha, rising from the lowest tier to the first tier is a mere breeze. The little princess wrote to say that the young prince seems intent on holding imperial examinations every single year starting this year, though the number of successful candidates will be slightly reduced." Xia Lin straightened up. "You can be number one for a year, and I can be number one for the next. We'll just take turns monopolizing the top spot."

「You make it sound so effortless—taking turns monopolizing the top spot? Do you think the other academies are already dead?"

Xia Lin did not answer; he merely offered a disdainful smile, crossed his legs, and began to hum a tune. Old Zhang was far too familiar with him. Seeing that deadpan expression of his, Old Zhang knew he already had a scheme brewing, so he asked curiously, "Spit it out if you have something to say. Don't force me to beat you up in such a scenic place."

Xia Lin cast a sideways glance at Old Zhang. "My good young master, when studying for these exams, you first have to study the people. Right now, the imperial house is launching an all-out counterattack against the aristocratic clans. The throne holds more than half of the military power, and the young prince has clearly gained the upper hand in recent years, pulling quite a few people into the imperial faction. Last year's joint trial of the Six Ministries in Yangzhou meant that the aristocratic clans took three steps back, announcing to the entire realm that they would no longer interfere in the imperial examinations, leaving the selection of officials entirely to the royal house. Now that the young prince, Tuoba Jing, is serving as regent, and considering the current health of the emperor, Tuoba Jing will likely ascend the throne this year or at the latest the next. Once he becomes emperor, the likes of us will be his direct confidants. Do you even know what a direct confidant is?"

"Hold on, what on earth does that have to do with our academy's exam scores?"

***

Old Zhang could be immensely smart when he wanted to be, but when he was dense, he was unfathomably foolish. Especially when it came to worldly matters, he behaved like an supreme idiot who could drive someone to sheer exasperation with his conversation.

Yet what could be done? The young master was still his own young master, so he simply had to accept his stupidity.

"Do you know why the wealthy and powerful clans everywhere so easily withdrew from this contest over the imperial examinations? To put it bluntly, they already monopolize educational resources at the root. Their people win either way, so why fall out with the emperor over a mere pathway for selecting officials? That is why our two academies are bound to be number one year after year."

"The emperor leaks the exam questions and commits fraud?"

"How can you call a royal affair fraud, for heaven's sake? That is called weighing pros and cons. Human affairs are politics. Without people moving through official circles, no matter how good a reform is, it can never be pushed through. Therefore, what the young prince urgently needs is people—people who are utterly loyal to him."

"What if someone exposes it and reports us?"

"Expose what? One year you hit the winning topics, the next year I do. You and I are locked in a bitter rivalry, just two geniuses matching wits." Xia Lin let out an "ayyo" sound and rotated his ankles. "Of all the talent under heaven, you, Zhang Zhongchun, claim two tenths, while I, Xia Daosheng, claim the remaining eight tenths alone."

"No way, give me a larger share. Let's do a four-six split—you get four, I get six."

"Fine, fine, fine. The young master shall claim six tenths of the world's talent."

That evening, as usual, a fireworks display would be held at the township dock. Although the people from Yuzhang Academy had come looking for trouble, it did not stop them from spending money and watching fireworks in the township. The fireworks of Xinping Township were quite famous in the surrounding area; every festive season, they would attract groups of young men and women who willingly trudged dozens of miles just to eat a bowl of rice noodles here, watch the boundless fireworks bloom across the sky, and make private, verbal vows of eternal love with their sweethearts.

Naturally, Xia Lin brought Chuntao out for a stroll to watch the fireworks. Since she was a young girl, Chuntao naturally enjoyed such things. Their spot was the absolute best in the entire venue—aboard a small painted pleasure boat. With oars gently dipping, they drifted across the river. Above them, tens of thousands of floral sparks condensed into a silver river, while below, shattered starlight painted the water's surface. It truly was a magnificent spring scene of shimmering lakes and emerald mountains.

"Sir, won't you compose a poem for such beautiful scenery? I can record it for you."

Xia Lin held his wine cup, glanced at Chuntao, and smiled with narrowed eyes. He reached out with one arm and pulled Chuntao close to his side. "Only those who are unrecognized in their prime compose poems. As for me... I am full of ambition, so I won't compose a poem, I won't compose a poem. Better yet, let's stop the boat to admire the maple woods in the evening."

Chuntao nervously glanced at the boatman steering at the front, her face blushing so brightly it seemed ready to burst into flame. She knew Xia Lin had drunk too much again, but how was it that whenever he got drunk, his boldness grew...

Of course, by this point Chuntao could also feel that it wasn't just his boldness that was growing; the sensation against her hand certainly did not lie.

Still, today was definitely out of the question, because Xia Lin had to deal with the challengers bright and early tomorrow morning. If he didn't rest well today, the reputation he had worked so hard to accumulate would scatter to the winds.

Therefore, Chuntao simply fed him a few more cups of wine. Before long, Xia Lin was sleeping like a log, completely limp from head to toe except for his stubborn tongue.

Dragging Xia Lin back to his room while he kept shouting "I am not drunk," Chuntao finally managed to set her mind at ease.

Early the next morning, Xia Lin woke up bright and early. It was still only just dawning, and he felt as though his head was about to split open. At that moment, Chuntao walked in from outside carrying a bowl of hangover-relieving herbal soup.

"Sir, drink this to clear your hangover first."

Xia Lin pinched his nose and chugged it down in one go, then reached out to poke Chuntao on the forehead. "You spiked my wine yesterday, didn't you?"

"I..." Chuntao's lips curved into a smile. "I was just worried sir would delay important business."

"I'll deal with you when I get back."

After dressing neatly and washing up, Xia Lin took Chuntao and headed to the academy. By then, Old Zhang had already arrived, accompanied by the students of Yuzhang Academy and the Four Talents of Jiangnan. They had waited quite a while before Scholar Qiu finally appeared, looking thoroughly refreshed. That old codger clearly had spent at least three extra rounds drinking last night, otherwise it was simply impossible for him to be in such high spirits.

Once Scholar Qiu arrived, the competition officially commenced. Xia Lin arranged for both parties to enter the academy grounds, opening the gates wide to allow the villagers to enter. With students bringing their parents along, the place was packed to the brim, and everyone was waiting for the results of today's contest.

Tables were carried out one after another, lined up in two rows across the central courtyard of the academy, creating an atmosphere as solemn and stern as two opposing armies. In the middle were the judges' seats. Scholar Qiu sat there as steady as a mountain, picked up a porcelain cup, took a sip of rich black tea, let out a thoughtful "hm," inspected the cup for a moment, and then set it back on the table.

"Since everyone is here, let us begin. The first round of competition will be policy essays, taking agriculture and sericulture, metallurgy, urban construction, fishing and hunting, water conservancy, and textile manufacturing as the subjects. Choose any three to compose practical solutions. Since this is a challenge to the academy, the defenders shall make the first choice."

Xia Lin stepped forward and plucked the plaques for metallurgy, fishing and hunting, and textile manufacturing. Naturally, the remaining three were left for Old Zhang. Three students from each side drew lots to begin the contest, while the others waited peacefully on the sidelines.

It wasn't just them waiting; the parents and villagers down below were also standing on tiptoe in eager anticipation. Every single person standing there felt like each second was a year. The students on Old Zhang's side seemed somewhat more confident, seeing as they had the backing of the Four Talents of Jiangnan.

However, the first round didn't require the Four Talents to step up just yet; they would wait until the juniors finished their bout.