Throwing out a brick to attract jade.
The jieyuan casually invented a classic little phrase.
And everyone who heard it—their first reaction was to think: what a humble way of putting it.
Only in the next moment would they realize just how arrogant and offensive this bastard was being.
All ten sub-yuan talents were present. Were the rest just bricks, while he alone stood a cut above as jade?
Good. This is exactly what our Great Yu's jieyuan should be like.
Wei Yiyuan had been waiting far too long for Song Shi'an to explode.
Unable to help himself, he glanced sideways at Minister Sun.
Sure enough, the man's brows were furrowed, his face like an angry tiger. He was truly furious.
But his anger was mainly directed at this boy's disrespect toward Sun Heng.
Even someone of imperial bloodline wouldn't dare offend the Sun family like this.
Sun Heng was definitely furious, his fists clenched tight.
We're screwed... Father and elder brother are both angry.
Sun Jinhu could sense the atmosphere right now was absolutely terrifying.
She'd never liked this kind of environment. In Yangzhou, things were at least somewhat free and easy, but in the capital, there were far too many invisible "blades and swords."
Even now, she still didn't think targeting the jieyuan was right.
Targeting someone who had done nothing wrong.
Of course, this also targeted the students present.
After all, he'd directly called them bricks.
Even those who had maintained neutrality couldn't help but sigh with emotion, harboring considerable anger toward Song Shi'an.
"Song Shi'an, are you drunk?"
Han Zhongchen stood up, following the momentum of the situation to speak for everyone: "Why are you throwing a drunken tantrum?"
"I'm drunk, while you alone remain sober."
Sitting casually, lifting a finger to point at the man, Song Shi'an said lazily: "When the cunning hares die, the hunting dogs are cooked."
"..."
Those six characters left Han Zhongchen speechless and red-faced.
He had cursed directly, while the other still casually produced classics.
"Hunting dog!" And before he could figure out how to retort in his fury, Song Shi'an raised his finger again, enunciating each word: "Cooked."
Those two words—hunting dog—felt like they'd punctured his lungs. The veins on his forehead were already bulging.
And Gao Yunyi, who'd long been dissatisfied with this idiot, didn't wait for him to think of a rebuttal before laughing out loud on the spot: "Hahaha—"
With this laugh, everyone looked over.
Laughing at a time like this was far too bold.
"My apologies, my apologies. This one will punish himself with a cup."
Gao Yunyi hastily admitted his fault, his attitude extremely proper.
"Since the jieyuan is the one with the highest learning among us, we should all take him as our standard." Fan Wuji spoke with a somber expression: "Then borrowing Song-xiong's phrase, I'll be the first to throw out a brick to attract jade. May I?"
Though Sun Heng was furious, he suppressed his emotions, his tone cold: "Please."
Slowly, Fan Wuji walked to the center, facing Minister Sun and the Prince of Zhongping.
Both men had favorable impressions of this person.
Someone who didn't curry favor with power at a time like this could be considered to possess a gentleman's bearing.
Gao Yunyi seemed similar, but was actually completely different.
Reckless.
Because he simply hadn't clarified his own thoughts, blindly choosing sides based solely on his personal likes and dislikes.
If he'd truly committed to a side clearly, that would be one thing.
But this was just youthful impetuousness.
"This one is not skilled in the way of poetry. I make a fool of myself."
Fan Wuji bowed with cupped hands to Minister Sun, then after a brief moment of gathering his thoughts, slowly began: "Crane hair and dragon beard, spirit like a rainbow / Pine bearing and cypress bones, naturally composed."
"Once upheld the pillars of state that held up heaven / Now rests on books of poetry as the bell that stabilizes the sea."
Four lines of seven characters each—concise and direct, yet magnificent in spirit, stirring to the heart.
It even echoed the gift presented earlier, the red jade horse sculptures.
Nothing more than four characters.
Dragon-horse spirit, robust despite age.
Moreover, this poem wasn't one just anyone could deserve.
For his decade-plus career as minister, in terms of status, Minister Sun was more than worthy.
Not long after he finished, the Prince of Zhongping slowly applauded, smiling as he commented: "Fan-sheng's words are sincere and true, Minister Sun truly lives up to his name."
Minister Sun, who had already been beaming with delight upon hearing this poem, waved his hand modestly after the Prince of Zhongping praised him as well, then said to the students: "I'm old, no longer useful. This Great Yu's state and altars—in the future they'll still depend on all of you putting in the effort."
It was flattery, but it hit all the right notes perfectly.
Moreover, Fan Wuji had been arranged in the most 'honored' seat from the very beginning, showing how much Minister Sun favored him.
Now, at this moment for displaying talent, he'd performed so excellently.
Minister Sun's youngest daughter—there was a ninety percent chance she'd be married to him, right?
Wei Yiyuan had actually known it would turn out this way from the very start.
The reasoning was simple.
Military general's descendant, dignified bearing.
What he was more curious about was: if this Song Shi'an weren't the illegitimate son of a maidservant, would Minister Sun try to win him over?
After all, in terms of family background, talent, and appearance, he was no weaker than Fan Wuji.
One could even say that in terms of looks, Song Shi'an exceeded him by quite a bit.
That might be possible too.
After all, this military farming—whether he opposed it or not, the Emperor was going to implement it.
After finishing his recitation, Fan Wuji slowly bowed to Minister Sun, then retreated back to his seat.
On his way back, he saw Sun Jinhu.
After their eyes met, she smiled faintly at him.
Shallow dimples appeared.
Fan Wuji's cheeks reddened slightly, and upon sitting down, he casually drank a cup.
Lang liquor—its strength was kicking in.
Damn, looking at this, if nothing goes wrong, the Minister's youngest daughter is going to end up with Fan Wuji!
Han Zhongchen was getting anxious.
He'd been acting as Minister Sun's dog... no, his blade! Not just for wealth and status, but also for the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan.
That's why he'd been so energetic.
Already a sub-yuan, his future would naturally be bright and smooth—why ruin his reputation and be attacked by those who saw themselves as the pure stream?
It was to show his loyalty to the Minister, so he'd marry his daughter to me!
"Then I, this brick, will also make a fool of myself."
Upon taking the stage, after glaring at Song Shi'an, he faced Minister Sun and the Prince of Zhongping, revealing an extremely respectful and solicitous smile.
The hunting dog was about to begin.
Everyone looked forward to it.
That plagiarized book gift just now had already been trying really hard.
Now directly presenting a poem of praise—let's see what kind of performance he can pull off.
"Barely startled by temples invaded by snow too soon / Again frightened by eyebrows where frost falls quietly."
Slowly, Han Zhongchen began.
His intonation rose and fell beautifully in his recitation.
Though he was a hunting dog, he was still a sub-yuan after all—his literary level naturally couldn't be underestimated.
Just these first two lines made Minister Sun listen seriously, even feeling somewhat melancholic.
Wasn't this exactly the truest mentality of the elderly?
Growing old was like frost descending.
Lonely and desolate.
So this is what he prepared all night? Not bad at all.
Sun Heng had gained a somewhat better impression of Han Zhongchen.
When he'd first entered officialdom, there had been the imperial examinations. It had taken him two attempts just to pass as an ordinary juren.
As for jinshi—forget it, that was impossible to achieve.
Yet everyone present here was a sub-yuan without exception.
His own younger brother was even the first among sub-yuan, second in both examination subjects.
To say he wasn't jealous would be a lie.
But when someone's abilities far exceeded his own, what could he do?
After reciting the first two lines, Han Zhongchen slowly took another step forward, raised his head, and under everyone's anticipation, said: "Would steal the peach of a hundred years from Jasper Pool / Secretly move the sun's shadow to continue spring's glory."
After these two lines were read, all the students were dumbfounded.
Sun Heng and Sun Qian even widened their eyes.
No way.
This bastard—is he acknowledging a father?!
Hilarious.
Just let time slow down, don't let you grow old anymore~
Song Shi'an almost started singing it out.
And Minister Sun, who'd just been feeling melancholic, instantly couldn't hold it together. His eyes narrowed into slits as he started laughing: "Hahaha..."
"Haha." The Prince of Zhongping even pointed at him, then said to Minister Sun: "This scholar is truly overflowing with filial devotion, Minister Sun."
The Prince's words made Minister Sun laugh even harder.
Too ridiculous.
Even if his own son said such things, he'd find it nauseating.
"Good poem, good poem." For the first time, the Prince of Zhongping's expression was this animated—he wasn't even pretending.
Han Zhongchen, praised like this, also bowed with a beaming smile, overwhelmed by the favor.
Then, with a fawning smile the entire way, he retreated back to his table.
Minister Sun is very pleased!
But when he looked back, he discovered the other scholars were also laughing away.
And they seemed to look down on him considerably.
You bunch of bastards, just be sour about it!
With Han Zhongchen making such a spectacle, those after him basically couldn't surpass it.
Moreover, the top ten were mainly experts in policy essays—not everyone was equally strong in lyrical composition.
Some, coupled with inadequate preparation, performed rather mediocrely.
After returning to their seats, they awkwardly drank.
Until finally, only two people remained.
"Qian will refrain, to avoid suspicion of leaked questions. Moreover, today is originally for choosing a husband for little sister."
Sun Qian proactively declined—partly for the reason he stated, and partly because he didn't want to be a 'brick.'
So in the end, only Song Shi'an remained.
All eyes in the hall focused on him.
Even Minister Sun personally spoke coldly: "Then Jinshi-lang, please begin."