"Miss Cui, did you come here specifically to find me today?"
Since Pei Zhaolin didn't move for a long time, the dean was momentarily puzzled. He shifted his gaze.
At first glance, he didn't recognize Cui Jintang wearing a veil hat, but he recognized Qi Xutao who was munching on pastries beside her.
The dean's gaze fell on Chu Yingfeng, who was standing there in a daze. His puzzled look deepened.
Was it possible that Lord Pei had chosen this young man, Chu Yingfeng, when he came to select talents today?
"Take your seats," he said through gritted teeth.
The dean immediately plastered a smile on his face.
Among the three examiners today, apart from these two, there was also an imperial censor named Wang.
After nodding to each other, they all took their seats.
The occasion of this year's autumn academic event was much livelier and grander than in previous years.
The dean had changed into a dark blue crane cloak today. There were silver - threaded cloud patterns embroidered on the collar. He leaned on a purple bamboo staff and stood in the center of the lecture hall.
He looked down at the dense crowd of students standing in front of him.
"For today's autumn academic event, all of you students should show your full capabilities. Don't hold back," the dean's voice echoed through the eaves and arches of the academy.
He stepped aside, revealing Pei Zhaolin and the Grand Tutor Wang.
"Whether you can be selected to enter the Censorate or the Office of the Imperial Censor depends entirely on yourselves!"
All the students bowed and saluted in unison, "We will surely remember the dean's teachings."
Hearing the word "Censorate", Cui Jintang, who was about to leave, turned back.
She stood by the railing and craned her neck to look.
Imperial Censor Wang slowly waved his palm - leaf fan and carefully sized up the students participating today.
The dean sipped his tea with a smile, his face full of appreciation.
Only Pei Zhaolin had a gloomy face.
He remained silent, just staring. The sense of oppression rushed in like a tide, making people feel suffocated.
Many students felt uneasy under Pei Zhaolin's stare and stood there stiffly, not daring to move.
Chu Yingfeng, who stood upright, stood out from the crowd.
Meeting Pei Zhaolin's gaze, Chu Yingfeng bowed politely, looking very calm.
Even Imperial Censor Wang nodded, full of admiration, "This Chu Yingfeng has a stable mind."
When Pei Zhaolin from the Censorate just stared without saying a word, even he, at his age, couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
It was really rare for this young fellow, Chu Yingfeng, to be able to act so calmly.
Pei Zhaolin indifferently picked up a tea cup and used the lid to push aside the floating tea leaves.
The steaming hot air blurred his cold eyes.
His eyebrows furrowed, showing a hint of angry hostility.
When the time was up, the dean stood up and walked towards the box covered with a black cloth.
Under everyone's gaze, he took out today's debate topic.
"Debate topic: In the debate between righteousness and profit, should righteousness come first or profit?" The dean's voice was loud.
All the students in the hall stood up and bowed in unison. The fluttering of their robes carried a faint fragrance of osmanthus.
Pei Zhaolin sat upright in the examiner's seat, his fingertips gently tapping on the table. His eyes scanned the heads moving in the hall.
After some thought, the students chose their sides and sat in the east and west camps according to their stances.
Surprisingly, the much - watched Chu Yingfeng chose profit, while Chen Mingyuan chose righteousness.
Before the debate even started, the atmosphere was already boiling.
A student wearing a square cap in the east corridor shouted to the students in the west corridor, "If there is a famine year, should we first open the benevolent granary for relief (righteousness) or first collect taxes to fill the national treasury (profit)?"
Before his voice faded, someone in the west corridor retorted, "But if the national treasury is empty, what can we use for relief?"
The whole hall immediately buzzed with discussions.
The reason was simple. Currently, the Yan Kingdom was indeed suffering from a disaster, and the national treasury was empty.
All the debates in the hall gave Qi Xutao a headache.
Her mind only worked when it came to beating back the invading Shu people.
She glanced at Cui Jintang beside her, who hadn't moved at all, and was full of confusion.
Was this girl really listening?
She stepped closer and followed her gaze. When she saw Pei Zhaolin, she rolled her eyes, "Everyone else comes to watch the students, but you come to watch the examiner?"
Cui Jintang quietly shifted her gaze, "I just suddenly remembered something."
Qi Xutao looked at her with a "look at your pathetic state" expression and said bluntly, "Oh, busybody, what did you remember this time?"
Cui Jintang quickly turned her head and stared intently at Qi Xutao through the veil.
"Does Sister Rou know that we came out today?"
Qi Xutao: "?"
At the same time.
Xie Rou, who was carrying a bunch of portraits of eligible young men and looking for Cui Jintang and Qi Xutao: "..."
She gave a faint smile, then turned around and gently asked Zhu Er, "Where's Tangtang?"
Then she turned to the deputy general of the Golden Wu Guards, "Where's Xutao?"
The two men, who knew nothing, "..."
Xie Rou looked at those portraits and let out a long sigh.
---
While the students in the east and west camps were debating vigorously, the pageboy waited for the incense to burn out and then struck the gong hard.
He shouted, "Time's up!"
The students, who were red - faced and neck - thick from debating, all bowed and stood still.
The second and third floors, which had been quiet all along, suddenly became lively.
Some merchants were shouting, taking the last bets.
"Make your bets and don't change them, everyone! It's all up to this moment to see who will win between Chen and Chu today—"
The shouts were so loud that they annoyed the pageboys of Qingyun Academy.
One of them glanced at them, walked away with a disgusted look on his face, and muttered, "I don't know why the dean allowed these merchants to watch today's debate! They smell of money. Can they understand it?"
Qi Xutao's fists tightened.
Cui Jintang reminded her, "If you cause trouble in Qingyun Academy, what will Sister Rou do?"
"Can we just let him talk nonsense here?" Qi Xutao was indignant.
Cui Jintang drawled, "Can't you put a sack on him and take him out to beat him up?"
Qi Xutao immediately snapped her fingers, her eyes bright.
"—The winner today is Chen Mingyuan!"
The dean's powerful voice echoed through the entire academy.
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
The first to react were the common people who had bet on Chen Mingyuan.
The whole venue erupted into the most enthusiastic cheer.
Chen Mingyuan, who finally came to his senses, let out a long sigh of relief.
He had finally won.
Chu Yingfeng beside him also said, "Congratulations, Brother Chen."
On the second floor, Cui Jintang hooked her lips, showing a smile as if she had expected this.
Literati didn't like to be labeled as putting profit first.
Since Chu Yingfeng had chosen profit, he had already lost half the battle.
She directed Qi Xutao, "I bet on Chen Mingyuan to win. Hurry up and get the silver."
Qi Xutao grumbled and ran off.
Thinking that she was about to make a fortune, Cui Jintang couldn't stop the corners of her mouth from rising.
However, in Pei Zhaolin's eyes, her expression meant something else—
She had only glanced at Chu Yingfeng and then laughed happily?
The more Pei Zhaolin thought about it, the more annoyed he became. He slammed the tea cup on the table.
---
Just before Cui Jintang was about to step out of the Minglun Hall, "Miss Cui—"
The voice was very faint against the noisy background.
Cui Jintang hesitated for a moment and then turned around.
Chu Yingfeng must have run all the way here.
His eyes that looked at Cui Jintang were bright, and there was a kind of high - spirited look on his face. There was not a trace of the loss and helplessness that a defeated debater might have.
Chu Yingfeng first bowed to her.
Then, without waiting for Cui Jintang to say anything, he stepped forward and walked towards her. His tone was gentle, with a hint of expectation, "Miss Cui, did you come here specifically to find me today?"