Shipin Dalizheng

Chapter 229 Linjiang Immortal

The Imperial College was the highest institution of learning in Dai Viet. In the words of the common people, those who graduated from it were the potential prime ministers and would inevitably enter the officialdom in the future.

Of course, the students here include both top students who have been admitted from various prefectures, and also those who are uneducated and have entered the university through their father's official position. Obviously, Wen Jue belongs to this category.

The table to the west of them all had haughty demeanors, their chests puffed out and their heads held high, looking at Wen Jue with sneers on their lips. They must have been first- and second-class Jujian students and Gongjian students. Even the regular Jian students who had paid a fortune to enter the Imperial College were not qualified to attend the Xie family banquet.

Wen Jue couldn't answer the scholar's question and wanted to leave in shame, but Rong Tang stopped him. "It's almost time for dinner. It's too cruel to let people go on an empty stomach. Old sir, why don't you give me some face and recite the article in the afternoon?"

The old man was a seventh-rank academician at the Imperial College. He held rites and hierarchies in high esteem, and particularly despised those who broke the rules. He was a staunch defender of morality. Rong Tang had a mixed reputation, and when he was around him, he automatically dismissed his good qualities and only remembered his bad ones.

"It's you who's led my students astray. Listen to the heinous deeds you've committed. You've murdered your father and brother, forcibly sold your father's bloodline, forced your father to sign a waiver, and squandered our ancestral heritage. How can someone like you even have the dignity to live in this world?"

Rong Tang fanned himself, his mouth wide open. "Yohoo, you're criticizing me. I deny all your accusations. If you have evidence, go to Jingzhao Prefecture and file a complaint. If you don't, I'll sue you for slander."

"You..." The old scholar's beard trembled with anger. "You think that what Miss Jin, Mr. Xie's concubine, said with her own mouth is false? Don't even think of deceiving the whole world."

Rong Tang smiled even brighter. "Old Master, it's really strange. Let's not talk about how you hooked up with a concubine of the Xie family, no, we contacted each other. Why did you believe her every time she said it, and didn't come to ask the truth? This concubine of Master Xie, Jin Xiangxiang, is really a misfortune for her family. The father of that Japanese prince, who is also her father, fell ill and lay in bed after learning that Jin Yaoyang is not his biological son. This prince repeatedly begged her, his spoiled daughter, to visit him and serve him for even a day, but she didn't go. This prince wants to ask, old master, who is unfilial? If this prince was unfilial, her biological father would have starved to death long ago. Taifu Xie, this prince will not tolerate this kind of grievance. Let your concubine explain why she slandered me."

Seeing that the Xie family was about to be implicated, the others came to dissuade him. Rong Tang peppered the old scholar with questions, leaving him dizzy, but the most crucial point was why he had become involved with the Xie family's concubine. This was a matter of reputation, and he had to explain it clearly.

His old face flushed red as he said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Jin Shizhao is my student, so of course I have to speak up for him."

"Great, great, so it's you who taught someone like him. I was saying, such moral corruption! Without a teacher, a good person wouldn't do such a shameless thing. There's a poem that describes your character: 'My virtuous wife helps me reach the sky, but when I'm proud, I'll kill the one I love. One day, when he's in power, he'll step on his wife's grave to welcome the bride. Old sir, is this how you educate your students?"

"you……"

The old scholar was so angry that he was about to spit out a mouthful of blood. He staggered. The teacher, who had his favorite student, immediately came over to support him, "Teacher..."

Rong Tang pointed at the man and said, "Everyone here, remember this face. If you have a daughter who is looking for a marriage, avoid the risk. No matter what, your daughter is your own daughter. Don't let her lose her life in the hands of others."

The man's hand that was supporting the old scholar stopped in mid-air, and the old scholar lost his support and fell to the ground with a thud.

The teacher was in a state of panic. Several people came to help, complaining that the first one had made a mistake. After a lot of confusion, the old scholar was carried away and the dishes were served.

Wen Jue ultimately didn't stay for dinner. His teacher was so pissed he could still eat, and his father was going to beat him to death. But soon, another guy came over. He had a big head, a birdcage, and a funny look on his face.

Gu Zhongxun was extremely disgusted. Although they were also playboys, they were all playboys with class, handsome and unrestrained. This guy's appearance lowered their average level, making him feel a level down.

But the person who came obviously had a strong background, and even though he was unwilling to sit together, he still endured it.

Big Head introduced himself, "Prince Rong, I am Ge Huan, and my father is the Minister of War."

Rong Tang gave a polite smile and turned away silently. When he turned his head, he found that someone was staring at him, and he couldn't guess what was going on.

Their eyes met, and the man stood up and walked towards him, bowing and saying, "I am Chu Chen, the nephew of Concubine Hui."

They were all nephews from the concubines' families, but Concubine Chu Hui gave birth to a grown-up prince, who is now Prince Yong. Rong Tang did not want to make enemies for his aunt, so he greeted them politely.

Chu Chen said, "Prince Rong's poems... are profound. Although they may sound a bit harsh to a man, their irony is indeed well-founded. We believe that Prince Rong must be extremely accomplished in poetry. Could he please show off his literary talent at Xiaoxingxuan after the banquet?"

What a show of literary talent! This is a deliberate attempt to embarrass him. Rong Tang nodded with a forced smile, and Chu Chen bowed and retreated.

He Qilin folded his arms and lowered his voice, saying, "Chu Chen is not a good person. Don't get in touch with him."

Speaking of which, He Qilin is Prince Yong's brother-in-law, and Chu Chen is Prince Yong's cousin from his mother's family. To a certain extent, the two belong to the same camp and have common interests.

But He Qilin felt that he and Rong Tang had been cellmates and were now card-playing friends. Their shared hobby had built a small paper boat of friendship. In the absence of a conflict of interest, a reminder was appropriate.

Rong Tang smiled. Is he a good person?

After the banquet, Chu Chen and others were indeed waiting for Rong Tang. Seeing that he couldn't refuse, he had no choice but to go to Xiaoxingxuan with them.

Chu Chen took out a painting, spread it out in front of him, and said sincerely, "This is my humble work. I respectfully ask Prince Rong to compose a poem to complement it."

Rong Tang pointed at the painting and said, "Are you all unable to write it and are looking for me because you have no other choice?"

Chu Chen and the others were very embarrassed. If they admitted it, they would be telling others that they, a bunch of talented people from the Imperial College, couldn't come up with a poem and had to find a playboy to make it up. If they didn't admit it, it would seem like they were deliberately trying to trick Rong Tang.

Chu Chen said vaguely: "I have recited poems before, but they are not suitable for the occasion. Rong Shizi is very talented and must be able to write beautiful sentences."

"Did I really write it? Are you sure you won't blackmail me if you ruin the painting?"

Chu Chen laughed it off, "I don't cheat anyone."

Rong Tang was about to make up a few random words and ruin the painting, but after a closer look, he realized it was beautifully done. A figure stood on a mountaintop, facing the wind. In the distance, clouds and mist covered the mountains, and the sunset glowed brightly. Below the mountain, a river meandered into the distance, its banks adorned with flowers and shaded by green trees. In the river, a boat floated, and on it sat a young man, playing the qin, while a figure in white danced with a sword on the bow.

Looking more closely, the person on the mountain, the person playing the piano, and the person dancing with the sword all seem to be the same person. This person is either extremely narcissistic or has a longing in his heart.

"Why does this scene look so familiar?"

He remembered the scene he saw on the cliff while walking in the mountains.

He picked up his pen and wrote in the blank space:

"Take the spring water of the river to the southeast,

Watch the clouds and the sunset roll in leisurely.

Climb to the top of Mount Tai with hands behind his back.

Listen to the breeze playing the piano,

Watch the sword dance in white.

Cut off the mortal world, is it not an immortal?

Taste the ups and downs of life.

I have a lot of beautiful things in my mind waiting to be put into words.

Dip a few drops of rich color,

Books describe the vast mountains and rivers.

——Linjiangxian"