So that's how it is.
The corner of Wei Yiyuan's mouth quietly curved into an arc.
He couldn't help but feel a trace of interest in the scene before his eyes.
This trip really was worthwhile.
Jieyuan, what will you do?
Everyone was completely dumbfounded.
To be precise, it was all the students except for Han Zhongchen.
Even Fan Wuji, who had always been known as 'refined and courteous,' was startled into some restlessness.
Especially given the seating order he found himself in, which gave him a sense of invisible tension.
This Minister Sun!
When Gao Yunyi was assigning positions, he had sensed something was wrong. And now, he only felt disgusted.
His indignation at this malicious targeting was secondary.
Rather, as the fourth-place finisher in the examination, he had been dragged into it too!
It was as if he'd joined the ranks of those insulting the jieyuan.
If this got out, his presence at this banquet ostracizing the jieyuan would be enough to earn him the title of 'petty man.'
But if he stood up for Song Shi'an, he would certainly be resented by the Sun clan.
We've all been made into chess pieces.
Thinking this, he turned his head anxiously to look at Song Shi'an.
Only to discover that this person's expression hadn't changed at all—not the slightest shock or anger.
On the contrary, he even wore a polite smile.
Raising his head to look at Minister Sun, who seemed completely unconcerned by this and sat there as immovable as Mount Tai, Song Shi'an raised both hands and bowed with upright posture: "Thank you, Minister, for bestowing this seat."
He endured it?!
Gao Yunyi was utterly shocked.
What man could endure this kind of thing?
Even if he were pretending, it couldn't possibly look this natural!
And his reaction left Sun Heng, who had been ordered to 'set this up,' somewhat at a loss.
No, this isn't the reaction it should be?
Is this Song Shi'an just feigning composure?
Thinking this, he shot a glance at Han Zhongchen, who sat in the middle order.
The other quickly understood and nodded slightly.
"Then let the banquet begin."
Minister Sun said casually, his eyebrows slightly lowered.
Following this, the attendants began serving food to everyone.
Although the seating was different, everyone's meal was the same—otherwise it would be too deliberate.
Of course, deliberately giving Song Shi'an a small table was already deliberate beyond measure.
After the meat dishes were served, maids successively brought copper kettles to each table.
"This is Lang liquor from Liang Prefecture, brewed with the sweet spring water of Wumeng Mountain."
Minister Sun spoke, then looked toward the Prince of Zhongping and said with a smile: "This wine is mellow, clean, and refreshing, elegant and delicate, with a long-lasting aftertaste—even empty cups retain their fragrance."
"I've heard of it long ago." Wei Yiyuan smiled in response.
Following this, the maids poured Lang liquor full to the brim for everyone.
"Today is not only this old man's birthday, but also the day our soldiers at the front fight against the Qi bandits."
Minister Sun slowly raised a cup of wine.
Everyone hastily raised their cups toward him as well.
Only Song Shi'an, before he even spoke, brought the wine to his lips and began drinking.
So he is angry after all.
Catching this detail, Minister Sun raised his voice: "With this Lang liquor, I wish the Liang Prefecture soldiers an early triumphant return!"
Everyone drank it all in one gulp.
The curtain of the banquet was raised in this manner.
Next came the song and dance performances that had been prepared in advance.
From beginning to end, Song Shi'an just sat there drinking.
At this moment, Han Zhongchen suddenly smiled and teased: "I remember that what Shi'an-xiong loves most is listening to songs at the brothels. Is this Chu dance too proper, so you're not interested? Why are you drinking alone?"
As soon as he finished speaking, someone across from him laughed out loud with a "haha."
And it wasn't because he was amused by the joke.
But rather in agreement.
Fan Wuji and Gao Yunyi looked at that person and understood completely.
Han Zhongchen, this fawning wretch, had indeed coordinated this in advance, but that person laughing across from them wasn't part of the rehearsal.
It was a pledge of allegiance.
Today, as long as they insulted Song Shi'an, they would receive Minister Sun's patronage.
"Song-xiong's romantic escapades—I've heard of them long ago."
Hu Yu, who sat next to Sun Qian, also joined in.
The Song blood buns—the feast had begun!
It was simply shameful, simply like stupid pigs.
Gao Yunyi understood these people's psychology of wanting to climb upward, but he sneered at them for completely failing to understand the importance of one's reputation.
This Minister Sun was using the insult of the jieyuan to protest to His Majesty.
But Fan Wuji understood the subtext.
Military farming harmed the interests of the Jiangnan aristocratic families most of all.
The Sun clan of Yangzhou was opposing the implementation of military farming. By ostracizing Song Shi'an, who had written the "Strategy for Military Farming" proposal, they were making their position clear.
Gripping his wine cup with his hand, watching Song Shi'an being collectively attacked, Fan Wuji didn't know how this farce would end.
Jieyuan, what will you do?
As the others laughed and joked, Song Shi'an picked up his wine cup, looked around slightly to see everyone, and said completely unconcerned: "I didn't expect Shi'an to be so famous. I'm quite humbled. Thank you all."
Having said this, he drank the wine in one gulp.
He actually became thick-skinned.
This guy is covering up his embarrassment!
Han Zhongchen bit his teeth, feeling genuinely dissatisfied with his incomprehensible attitude.
What is he pretending at?
"Minister, sir."
Standing up and lifting a large box, after the dance ended, Han Zhongchen took the initiative to say: "This student doesn't know your preferences and wouldn't dare show off before a great sage. I specially used Yangzhou hall paper to reverently transcribe all of your lordship's published works and classic famous quotes into one volume, to express this student's endless respect like the waves of the ocean. And to wish Minister Sun a joyful birthday."
"Oh, you transcribed all of them?" Minister Sun asked curiously.
This was indeed a pleasant surprise.
"Only what this student knew of, worked hard to collect, and then verified everything." Han Zhongchen said with a beaming smile.
Following this, a maid used a wooden tray to bring the box before Minister Sun.
Taking out the thick volume, Minister Sun flipped through it while nodding: "You're thoughtful."
Han Zhongchen's heart was already wild with joy, and he couldn't help but let it show on his face.
And his wave of 'throwing out a brick to attract jade' made everyone else feel both pressured and disgusted.
It had only been less than five days since the exam ended—how did he prepare this?
He'd been planning to use this opportunity to become Minister Sun's disciple all along.
The others, although they had also hurriedly searched overnight for precious gifts, not one could match this 'sincerity.'
"Very good, very good." Minister Sun nodded in approval.
Following this, it naturally came to the gift presentation segment.
"This is what my father had this student bring."
But Fan Wuji wasn't flustered at all, still graceful and refined as he placed his gift on the wooden tray and said: "This is a pair of horse sculptures made from red jade."
"What is the meaning?" Minister Sun asked.
"Minister Sun's dragon-horse spirit has always inspired this student."
"Haha." Hearing this, Minister Sun laughed and waved his hand, "Good, go back and convey my thanks to your father for his kind intentions."
"This student will certainly relay it all."
Han Zhongchen had set the tone too high from the start, but Fan Wuji used gentle refinement to correct the atmosphere.
At this moment, it was about flattery, but flattery could still be done without servility.
All ancient gentlemen shared one thing in common: they had a bottom line.
So next, everyone just normally presented gifts, adding polite greetings and congratulations.
From front to back, one by one displaying and introducing.
Gold, silver, jade, stone, embroidered masterpieces, scholarly treasures—even some whose family circumstances weren't particularly good tried their best to offer the finest, most expensive things they could produce.
This was the Sun clan of Yangzhou after all.
Minister Sun had everything, lacked nothing.
What he valued was only your sincerity.
Even if the out-of-town examinees weren't fully prepared, each sub-yuan offered their greatest sincerity.
All the way until it came to Song Shi'an in the corner at the very end.
Holding his wine cup, the Prince of Zhongping was extremely interested.
Looking at him like this, even insulted to this degree, he still wants to please this old bastard?
The other students' gazes also focused on Song Shi'an alone.
Before entering the estate, everyone else had been carrying things.
But this Song Shi'an had nothing.
Under the gaze of all eyes, he slowly reached his hand into his sleeve.
This person really is casual—couldn't even provide a nice little box for his gift?
Han Zhongchen had already prepared his mockery.
The others were also full of curiosity. Insulted to this degree and he still wants to give a gift?
Until Song Shi'an's slender, thin hand emerged from his sleeve.
Raising two fingers, he crisply placed a square-holed copper coin on the solid wood gift tray.