Martial Saint through Reading

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Hidden Motives and Forced Promotion

All the officials present immediately stood up and saluted, and Xiang Yue was no exception.

Behind the two princes, there were three other people.

On the left was an old man, the County Magistrate of Xirong County, Xiao He.

Behind the old man was a tall, elegant, and amiable-looking middle-aged man, the County Governor Baili Xinghua of Xirong County.

On the right was a robust figure with a cold expression, comparable in status to Xiao He’s Governor’s Office, An Hengying.

The two princes seated themselves in the hall, with the Fifth Prince overlooking the assembly below.

”Everyone, please be seated.”

”Thank you, Your Highness.” The officials replied respectfully and sat down in unison.

”Commander Xiang.” The Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince first looked at Xiang Yue.

Xiang Yue cupped his hands in salute, ”Your Fifth Highness, Your Seventh Highness.”

”Please sit, Commander Xiang.” The princes showed a noticeably different attitude toward Xiang Yue than to others.

Xiang Yue sat down, and only then did Huo Buyan and the others follow suit.

The Fifth Prince then raised his cup, laughing, ”Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and my Seventh Brother and I toast to you all.”

”Thank you, Your Highness.” Everyone echoed, raising their glasses in agreement.

What followed were mostly perfunctory words, which Chu Ming found somewhat boring.

As the cups were exchanged and the wine flowed, after three rounds, the Fifth Prince took a sip of osmanthus wine and laughed heartily, ”The osmanthus wine of Xirong County is the most delicious I’ve tasted over the years.”

He put down the wine cup, adjusted his sleeve, and a servant brought up a golden lantern.

”I just wonder if the person who wins tonight’s golden lantern will also impress me.”

The poetry contest with the lantern was held during the banquet.

”Let’s begin.”

The Seventh Prince clapped gently, and at once, maids dressed uniformly and charmingly presented each official with pen, ink, and paper.

Xiang Yue, Huo Buyan, and the others were no exception, possibly by design.

Not only in the main hall but also in the side hall, pen and paper were distributed.

The poetry was not recited one by one but first written on paper and then evaluated.

Among the approximately fifty people present, upon hearing the Fifth Prince announce the start, all showed joy on their faces and eagerly picked up their pens to write.

The poetry contest with the lantern was an excellent opportunity for them to showcase their talents and knowledge in front of the princes.

The golden lantern symbolized great honor and the recognition of the princes.

For a while, aside from Xiang Yue and others, everyone was writing on white paper.

Shen Yu glanced at Chu Ming, seemingly reminding him not to make his poetry too outstanding.

Chu Ming nodded slightly, picked up his pen, and casually wrote two lines: ”People admire the full moon together, sharing its light across seas and continents.”

Shen Yu glanced at it and felt assured.

These two lines were quite ordinary, merely expressing the sentiment of moon appreciation, with not much depth in word choice.

Once they were done writing, the others were also nearly finished.

By then, the two princes had already left their seats, and Xiao He quickly bowed and followed.

Xiao He was a judge, not participating in the poetry with the lantern contest.

The three first arrived at the table of the County Governor Baili Xinghua, looking down.

”The vast azure sky mirrors the clear moon, the Milky Way pours down its golden glow...”

”Good!” The Seventh Prince praised, ”Lord Baili’s elegance remains unchanged; the golden lantern tonight seems to have a rightful owner.”

The Fifth Prince laughed and said, ”Lord Baili should join Lord Xiao in judging; otherwise, it might be a bit unfair.”

”Yes.” Baili Xinghua replied respectfully.

Then it was the two princes, Xiao He, and Baili Xinghua evaluating the poetry of the officials in the hall.

The evaluation was quick, and it wasn’t long before it was Shen Yu and Chu Ming’s turn.

”Mr. Shen.” The Fifth and Seventh Princes maintained their usual smiles: ”The bright moon rises and illuminates the rivers, the silver waves stretch vast to reflect the frosty glow...”

”Mr. Shen’s lines are somewhat similar to Lord Baili’s.” The Fifth Prince praised, ”No wonder Mr. Shen taught our Eldest Brother poetry.”

Deep in Shen Yu’s eyes, there was a trace of disdain; he had just made up those lines casually. If he were to show his true skills, what is one Baili Xinghua?

But he only thought so in his heart, outwardly still bowing respectfully.

The Fifth Prince noticed Shen Yu did not argue, was slightly stunned, then smiled at Chu Ming, ”Are you Chu Ming?”

Chu Ming bowed and cupped his hands.

”There’s a rumor among the people that you are the greatest talent in Xirong County in a hundred years.” The Fifth Prince smiled amiably, picking up Chu Ming’s poem: ”People admire... ”

The Fifth Prince only read a few words, then suddenly stopped, his eyes revealing a peculiar light.

These two lines... can’t be called poor, but they aren’t particularly excellent either.

”Seventh Brother, Lord Xiao, Lord Baili, take a look.” The Fifth Prince didn’t continue reading, instead letting the Seventh Prince, Xiao He, and Baili Xinghua review.

The Seventh Prince saw the lines and showed a satisfied expression in his brows.

The lines were quite average, indicating Chu Ming understood the situation, not putting the Seventh Prince in an awkward position.

Xiao He, seeing this, also breathed a sigh of relief. He had informed Shen Yu earlier not to write too well, or it would cause trouble.

Baili Xinghua took a glance, and a note of appreciation appeared on his gentle face: ”Your Fifth Highness, Your Seventh Highness, for Imperial Scribe Chu to write such lines at his age, I believe, is quite commendable.”

It sounded like praise, but on closer examination, the compliment was not about the poem but about Chu Ming’s talent at his age, offending no one, a perfect move.

Upon hearing this, the officials showed varied expressions, all secretly admiring why Baili Xinghua could become the County Governor in his forties.

”What does Seventh Brother and Lord Xiao think?” The Fifth Prince wore a hint of a playful smile on his face.

”Not bad.” The Seventh Prince said mildly.

”My view is similar to Lord Baili’s.” Xiao He remained expressionless.

They were indeed old foxes.

The Fifth Prince’s eyes shimmered as he took the piece of paper, weighed it for a moment, seemingly contemplating something.

Suddenly, he laid the sheet on the table, picked up the pen nearby, dipped it in ink, and seemed about to write something.

”Fifth Brother...” The Seventh Prince looked on in surprise and doubt.

Outsiders believed that Chu Ming was promoted by Xiao He, but in fact, it was at the Seventh Prince’s behest.

This was something the Fifth Prince knew.

Would the Fifth Brother turn a blind eye?

The Seventh Prince’s brows slightly furrowed, staring at the pen and ink, feeling a foreboding premonition.

In a few moments, next to the original poem, three additional words appeared.

When the Seventh Prince saw these three words, anger flashed across his face because those three words were a government position.

The Fifth Prince gently put down the pen, looked at those three words, and said in a deep voice, ”Lord Baili, how many years have you concurrently held the position of Chief Clerk of Xirong County?”

The Chief Clerk’s Office, these were the three words the Fifth Prince had written on the page.

”Reporting to Your Highness, it has been five years.”

”Five years, huh...” The Fifth Prince turned his gaze to Chu Ming, smiling softly, ”According to the rules of the poetry contest with the lantern, whoever’s poem receives the approval of Lord Xiao and my Seventh Brother becomes a seventh-grade Official.”

The hearts of the officials jumped; was the Fifth Prince going to promote Chu Ming to Chief Clerk?

The Seventh Prince’s anger was even more momentary but still fleeting.

Shen Yu and Xiao He heard these words, their hearts lifting with anxiety.

The Chief Clerk’s Office is a Senior Seventh Grade Official, managing the governance and development of agriculture, mining, animal husbandry, and canal transportation in Xirong County.

However, being Chief Clerk of Xirong County wasn’t an easy position; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been vacant for five years, with Baili Xinghua, the County Governor, filling in.

If the Fifth Prince truly elevated Chu Ming to this position, it would be troublesome.

”Just now, my Seventh Brother and Lord Xiao both felt that Chu Ming’s poem was quite good, so...” The Fifth Prince maintained a peaceful smile, ”I believe that Chu Ming should assume the position of Chief Clerk.”