The literary gathering venue was not far from Bi Bridge. Outside the venue, there was already a sea of people.
Not many could squeeze to the front of the venue. Most had come for the excitement. Outside, vendors from all directions took the opportunity to gather and hawk their goods. There were also many scholars, which attracted quite a few women who were trying to hide their shyness.
The venue was missing one side, like a barrel. Both sides and the bottom were three-storey buildings. It was actually the entrance to a ward, and the space looked large enough.
A stage had been set up in the open space inside. Around the stage on the upper floors were terraces, each with seats arranged. These were the seats for the participating clans.
On the stage, a backdrop wall had been erected. Many wooden plaques hung on the wall, all bearing the names of the clan descendants participating in the literary gathering.
In front of the backdrop wall, a row of seats was placed for the renowned literary figures of Ningzhou to sit in. They were also the examiners for the literary gathering.
From the front of the stage to the exit of the ward, people stood everywhere. A buzzing hum of discussion filled the air. People constantly pointed at the names on the plaques on the backdrop wall. The name “Yin Jizhen” was mentioned repeatedly.
On site, the authorities had also dispatched quite a few troops to maintain order.
Dong dong dong dong dong…
Suddenly, the drummers in one corner of the stage beat their drums urgently without stopping.
On the terraces on both sides, the main figures of each clan appeared one after another.
On the best viewing terrace in the centre of the left side, Clan Head Wen Mao of the Wen Clan appeared. With him were several branch elders of the Wen Clan. Steward Wen Kui guided them to their seats.
Directly opposite, on the best viewing terrace in the centre of the right side, an old man with grizzled hair and beard, a face full of whiskers, wearing a black robe with gold embroidery, came out looking somewhat aggressive. He had a broad back and a thick waist, looking quite fierce. This was Clan Head Wan Qingtao of the Wan Clan.
As soon as he sat down, he stared at Wen Mao across from him and let out a cold snort. The meaning of disdain and dissatisfaction was obvious.
The clan members who followed also took their seats beside him one after another.
On both sides below the stage, five renowned literary figures of Ningzhou made their entrance amidst respectful greetings. After mounting the stage, they took their seats in the examiner seats one by one.
A staff member inserted a stick of incense into the burner in the centre of the stage, then shouted to the people on the terraces to the left and right, “One stick of incense’s time. Please let each clan finalise their participants for the last time.” He turned back and pointed at the plaques hanging on the backdrop wall.
Wen Mao glanced at the names of the five clan descendants from the Wen family, then looked at the Wan side and saw that the name “Yin Jizhen” was indeed displayed. His expression was somewhat grave. Yuwen Yuan had been in a daze and unable to attend, which basically meant they had lost their chance of winning. They could only hope that the clan descendants could perform beyond expectations.
The other elders’ faces also showed no joy. They all knew that the Wen Clan had little hope of victory this time. They were purely here to serve as a foil.
Basically, no one from the other clans made a sound either. The names on the wall had long been confirmed by each clan’s people.
Everyone drank their tea or waited as they should, waiting for everything to be ready to begin.
The chattering discussions below the stage continued.
When the incense in the burner had burned to one third, Wen Xin and her party finally arrived.
The carriage stopped briefly by the roadside outside the venue. After the few of them got off, Wen family members who had been waiting here led the group into a shop beside them. They passed directly through the house to the front of the stage in the venue, then came out from one side.
Wen family members below who had already secured positions made way for them. Those who yielded their positions quickly retreated.
Yu Qing, who was hiding behind Wen Xin and the others, looked around the venue from time to time, already pondering how to slip away. After all, Wen Xin’s guards could not follow them here.
However, he could sense that Song Pingping was always watching him, intentionally or unintentionally, or rather, guarding against him, constantly positioning herself between him and Wen Xin.
“With so many clans participating, why don’t we guess which clan will win this time and become the chief officiant of the grand sacrifice.”
“Brother, is this your first time here?”
“Indeed. Uh, how did you know?”
The moment these words came out, a chorus of snickering laughter rose.
Someone whispered, “Is there even a need to guess? It will either be the Wen Clan or the Wan Clan.”
“So many clans are participating. Why can you be so certain it is those two?”
“The reason is simple. Apart from those two, the other clans are all putting on airs as foils. Many clans originally rely on those two to survive.”
“Exactly. Even if a clan has an outstanding descendant whose abilities surpass the Wen and Wan clans, they wouldn’t dare. Just playing along is enough.”
“What is a chief officiant? It represents status, a status that leads the various chambers of commerce in Ningzhou, standing head and shoulders above the Wen and Wan clans. To go and be the chief officiant, making the clan heads of those two great clans stand by as assistants and foils, someone would have to dare. Unless they no longer want to get by in Ningzhou?”
“Speaking of which, what is the point of holding this literary gathering?”
“Of course there is a point. It can settle matters peacefully. In the early years, those two great clans would not yield to each other. They really fought with real swords and spears. They even mobilised forces from the cultivation world. No one knows how many people died. It even affected the normal commercial dealings of the entire Ningzhou, causing panic among the people. Later, the Prefect’s office stepped in to suppress it forcefully and mediate, changing the martial contest into a literary contest.”
“Actually, it is quite interesting. After all, they are all outstanding literary talents from each clan. Poetry and prose are not completely worthless. It is still possible to observe and learn a thing or two. Look, even last year’s new second-place graduate Yin Jizhen has come to participate. This is a true talent. Being able to observe a bit should be instructive.”
“Eh, I heard that the Wen Clan’s future son-in-law Yuwen Yuan was also coming to participate. I have looked for ages. Why is his name not on this wall?”
“What are you joking about? A contest that is not fair at all. What kind of figure is Old Master Yuwen? How could he let his grandson get mixed up in this?”
The group behind kept chattering in low voices. Yu Qing looked back from time to time, mostly pricking up his ears to listen.
Wen Xin also heard it. She bit her lip silently, feeling ashamed. She did not know what Ah Qing would think after hearing it.
On the terrace on the right, Wan Clan Head Wan Qingtao was chatting with the clan members to his left and right. Behind him, his grandson Wan Shengqun suddenly walked out and leaned down to whisper in his ear, “Grandfather, please step over here for a moment.”
Wan Qingtao turned back and said, “If it is not urgent, put it aside for now. First deal with this literary gathering today. I just want to see how embarrassing it will be for that old Wen.”
Wan Shengqun had no choice but to say in a low voice, “Something has happened on Yin Jizhen’s side. He wants to withdraw from this contest. I could not persuade him no matter what. If Grandfather steps in, perhaps it can still be salvaged.”
The muscles on Wan Qingtao’s face twitched. He quickly got up and left.
The Wan Clan members to his left and right looked at each other. Most of them had heard something. They had not expected that at the last moment, something like this would happen.
On the Wen Clan terrace opposite them, Wen Mao seemed to sense something. He turned back and said, “The people on that old Wan’s side seem somewhat abnormal.”
“Understood.” Wen Kui behind him understood and left. He walked into the room behind him, called someone over, and arranged for them to go and inquire at the Wan side.
Bang!
A door was kicked open by Wan Qingtao.
Yin Jizhen, who was looking at the street view by the window, was startled. He turned back and saw Wan Qingtao coming in a rage. He immediately saluted and said, “Grandfather.”
Wan Qingtao raised his hand to stop him, his voice booming, “No need. You are a second-place graduate on the golden list. You are my elder. I cannot accept your great courtesy. Speak. I heard you suddenly do not want to participate in the literary gathering anymore. What do you mean?”
Yin Jizhen looked speechless, then said helplessly, “Grandfather, I have thought it over again and again. My current status is really not suitable for participating in this kind of literary gathering. I truly cannot participate.”
Wan Qingtao’s big bearded face turned fierce. “What status? A seventh-rank sesame official. Scum like you, I can grab a handful in Ningzhou city at random, and any one of them would be stronger than you. Shake my hand, and what falls from between my fingers would be fifth or sixth ranks. We support you, respect you, give you face, and you grow a temper, is that it?”
Yin Jizhen did not know whether to laugh or cry. He knew this man’s temper.
Wan Shengqun beside him broke into a slight sweat and hurriedly stepped forward to persuade and block. “Grandfather, let’s talk properly.”
Wan Qingtao glared with his big eyes. “Talk properly? Didn’t I talk properly with him? How did I beg him before? I personally begged him for half a day before he agreed. Now he goes back on his word. What does he mean? Intentionally watching the Wan Clan’s joke? If it won’t work, don’t agree from the start. If you agree, you must do it. This is also the principle of how I, Wan, conduct myself. Just four words: keep one’s word.”
He turned back and glared at Yin Jizhen again. “You are leaving me in the lurch now. Where am I supposed to find a replacement at short notice? What do you mean by unsuitable? Your little feelings count for nothing. I tell you, I do not accept this reason of yours. Grandson, I am very easy to talk to. I have always been a reasonable person. I never force others to do what is difficult. As long as you can present a reason that convinces me, withdraw if you want. If you cannot speak proper reason, it is useless for you to say withdraw. When it is time to go on stage, you will be directly escorted onto the stage. If we lose face, we lose face together. Otherwise…”
He suddenly lifted one foot, pulled a dagger from his boot, and with a thud, stabbed it into the table beside him. “Unless you stab me, step over my corpse and leave.”
“…”
Yin Jizhen stared dumbstruck at the gleaming dagger stuck in the table. Although he knew this Old Master Wan was fierce, today he had truly seen it. At this great age, what did it mean to hide a dagger in his boot?
Seeing the other party watching him like a tiger that would not let go, he also lost his temper. After hesitating repeatedly, he finally smiled bitterly and said, “Grandfather, I will tell you the truth. It is not that I do not want to help the Wan Clan, but this time I really cannot help. Even if I go on stage, I will only humiliate myself. The Wen Clan has invited an expert.”
Wan Qingtao raised his eyebrows. “What expert? Did he grow wings or claws?”
Yin Jizhen said clearly, word by word, “A Shiheng.”
At this point, he had no choice. He could only expose Yu Qing to deal with the situation. Otherwise, there was no way to end it.
“What shit and piss, what nobody popped out of nowhere, you… eh? A Shiheng…” The fiery Wan Qingtao suddenly choked and fell silent for a moment. Then he cautiously asked, “Who? That third-place graduate ranked behind you?”
Yin Jizhen sighed. “Correct. It is him.”
Wan Shengqun beside him was greatly shocked. “You mean, that A Shiheng who scored a once-in-a-century full marks in four subjects in the metropolitan exam, whose three characters written in a wine house made the whole world flock to it, and who threw away his official cap and left the capital, the number one talent under heaven?”
Yin Jizhen nodded. “It is him.”