The capital, Zichen Hall.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Minister Shen is here with joyous news!"
Wu Qi was overjoyed. With the prince and the princess absent from the capital, the emperor's mood had been rather dull, and as a servant, he had suffered alongside him.
"Joyous news?" Emperor Yuanyou raised his head. Last time, Shen Mingwen had brought him bad news—what could possibly be joyous this time?
The Great Qi Dynasty was at peace across the land—what kind of joyous news could there be?
Suddenly, Emperor Yuanyou seemed to recall something, his eyes lighting up. Could it be...?
"Quick, let him in at once!"
Moments later, Shen Mingwen strode into Zichen Hall, his face glowing with excitement:
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty. Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
"Has Prince Qin passed the imperial examination?"
Seeing Shen Mingwen nod with a smile, even Emperor Yuanyou—who had never been one to put much faith in religious matters—silently recited a Buddhist prayer in his heart:
"Amitabha, the ancestors have blessed us."
"Your Majesty, passing the examination is only one piece of joyous news. There is another that will bring you even greater delight."
Shen Mingwen's words made Emperor Yuanyou hold his breath. "What other joyous news?"
"His Highness has achieved the rank of Provincial Champion."
"What?" Emperor Yuanyou's voice nearly cracked.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! His Highness has become the Provincial Champion, his brilliance now renowned across the land."
Shen Mingwen was equally thrilled. As the one who had tutored and guided the prince, once His Highness's true identity was revealed to the world, he, Shen Mingwen, would be known as the teacher of a top scholar!
And in the future... he would be the Imperial Tutor!
As for Ye Shijie? He could go sit somewhere far, far away.
"Excellent, truly excellent!"
Emperor Yuanyou leapt up from his seat, pacing excitedly around the throne. "A Provincial Champion—he actually became the Provincial Champion!"
"My son has achieved the rank of Provincial Champion."
Shen Mingwen nodded once.
"My son, despite being assigned to the worst examination cell, still became the Provincial Champion, shattering the superstition that those in foul cells always fail?"
Shen Mingwen nodded twice.
"The one who became the Provincial Champion is the very prince the world once deemed the most unpromising of my sons?"
Shen Mingwen nodded a third time.
Then, realizing his mistake, Shen Mingwen hastily shook his head like a rattle-drum:
"Your Majesty, the people no longer see His Highness as unpromising. His reputation for benevolence has already spread throughout the Great Qi."
He had nearly been led astray by the emperor's words.
"Splendid!"
Emperor Yuanyou exhaled deeply. "Wu Qi, warm some wine for me."
Today, even if Mei Zhilin were to weep himself to death in this very hall, he would still drink in celebration!
......
While Emperor Yuanyou enthusiastically shared drinks with Shen Mingwen, the atmosphere at the Deer Cry Banquet grew increasingly peculiar.
"What's the matter, Brother Lu? Do you not wish to compose poetry with me?"
Song Yu wore an expression of wounded pride, then turned to Zheng Fang beside him. "Brother Zheng, it seems you were right. Brother Lu appears to have some grievance against me."
"N-no, that's not it."
Lu Wenchao stammered, his heart pounding. Deep down, he despised this impoverished scholar, but the man was, after all, the Provincial Champion. Offending him was unwise.
"Brother Guo, please go first." Lu Wenchao gestured deferentially, his pulse racing.
Song Yu smiled at this.
Already slightly intoxicated and the center of attention at the banquet, Song Yu straightened his robes and raised his cup once more.
Tilting his head back, he downed the wine in one swift motion.
The liquor spilled from the corners of his lips, tracing a path down his elegant neckline. The onlookers were momentarily spellbound.
Arrogant, yet not haughty.
How could this Guo Feng, a mere commoner, possess such a uniquely commanding presence?
"At the Deer Cry Banquet, the spring breeze writes with my brush."
Song Yu parted his lips slightly, his gaze fixed on Lu Wenchao.
"Painting the poetry of ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains."
Though Song Yu's voice had faded, the audience remained entranced.
"What a magnificent line—'painting the poetry of ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains'!"
Ling Ming hiccuped loudly. "With these two verses, this Deer Cry Banquet has already achieved greatness."
Even the officials in attendance regarded Song Yu with newfound fervor. A Deer Cry Banquet graced with such exquisite poetry would be remembered as a testament to Ji'an Prefecture's divine inspiration.
"Such lofty ambition!"
Ye Shijie led the applause. "As the Provincial Champion, your aspirations should encompass the world."
For a moment, the hall echoed with clapping.
Song Yu casually wiped the wine from his lips with his sleeve and turned back to Lu Wenchao. "Brother Lu, your turn."
"Brother Guo's verses are peerless. I could never hope to match them."
Lu Wenchao's eyes darted about. Since everyone agreed Guo Feng's poetry was exceptional, admitting defeat wouldn't be too shameful.
"My crude verses would only offend your ears. Here, let me toast you instead."
He attempted to evade the poetry challenge altogether.
"Very well."
Song Yu agreed readily, not wishing to disrupt the banquet Ye Shijie had so carefully arranged. He didn't press Lu Wenchao further.
Yet the suspicion in his eyes deepened.
This Lu Wenchao... something was off about him.
......
After the banquet, Song Yu strolled leisurely back with Zheng Fang and Ling Ming.
"Brother Guo, that Lu Wenchao is strange," Ling Ming slurred, still drunk. But Zheng Fang remained sharp.
"Why do you say that, Brother Zheng?"
"Any ordinary scholar would leap at the chance to compose poetry with you. A well-crafted verse could spread their fame. Yet Lu Wenchao acted as though he couldn't write at all." Zheng Fang recalled Lu Wenchao's every move. "He resents you but dares not confront you directly. His nervousness betrays him—he's hiding something."
Song Yu was inwardly delighted. Zheng Fang was proving to be another Shen Qingping in the making.
But he kept his expression neutral.
"I agree. We should keep an eye on him from now on."
Zheng Fang nodded in agreement.
Upon returning, Song Yu immediately relayed the events of the banquet to Song Shihuan and Shen Qingping.
"Guanzhang Prefecture?"
Song Shihuan's brow twitched. "Yue Qing left for Guanzhang Prefecture days ago and still hasn't returned."
"Why did Yue Qing go there?"
"The deceased in one case was originally from Guanzhang Prefecture, so the burial took place there. Yue Qing went to examine the body. Given her usual efficiency, she should have finished by now." Song Shihuan's expression darkened. "Liuxi, send someone to Guanzhang Prefecture to check on her."
"Lu Wenchao, a scholar from Guanzhang Prefecture, had no reason to attend Ji'an Prefecture's Deer Cry Banquet. Yet he came to Ji'an immediately after the results were announced to arrange a marriage proposal." Song Yu pondered. "Only because he was a newly minted scholar was he invited as a courtesy."
Thus, no other scholars from Guanzhang Prefecture had attended.
"He came to arrange a marriage proposal right after the results?"
Shen Qingping, who had been idly adjusting his sleeves, paused, his expression turning odd. "Most scholars rush home in triumph after passing the exams to bask in glory. Why would he leave Guanzhang Prefecture so quickly?"
Hadn't even His Highness returned to Yong'an County to revel in his success?
The three exchanged glances, all sensing something amiss with Lu Wenchao.
Perhaps... even Guanzhang Prefecture itself was involved.
Their expressions grew increasingly grave.
