My Emperor Father Can Read Minds

Chapter 288 Qionglin Banquet

Those who decided to participate felt amazed, and those who received sponsorship also thought that the Wise King was incredible.

Xu Duan was a person from Youzhou. In that vast and sparsely populated area of Youzhou, it was not easy for him to reach where he was today, coming from a poor family and struggling to study.

Xu Duan wanted to distinguish himself, to become an official—not only because he did not want to waste the many years of hard study, but also because he did not want to disappoint his relatives.

Although he failed the spring imperial examination this time, Xu Duan firmly believed that he would succeed next time. Therefore, he refused the invitation to serve as a tutor at an academy.

It was surprising enough to have someone come to invite him to be a tutor, but what shocked Xu Duan even more was that the person inviting him was none other than the Ninth Wise King of the current court!

The Ninth Wise King not only was not annoyed by his refusal but even sent someone to give him twenty taels of silver as travel expenses!

Twenty taels wasn’t a lot.

But for a poor scholar carrying only a few taels of small change in his pocket, it was like sending charcoal in snowy weather—timely help in dire need.

Xu Duan, though embarrassed, accepted it. Though he accepted, in his heart he silently vowed that if he could achieve success in life, he would certainly repay His Highness for this timely assistance!

There were very few powerful figures like the Ninth Wise King who respected scholars and understood people so well.

Even if this was a way to win hearts, so what?

Just this act made Xu Duan willing to submit to His Highness!

Many others shared Xu Duan’s sentiment; almost every scholar who received silver from Wei Yu was touched and silently vowed to repay the Wise King’s kindness in the future.

Especially some who were still disheartened after failing the exam, Wei Yu’s gesture warmed their hearts, moved them to tears, and greatly inspired their fighting spirit. Some resolved that they would not disappoint the Ninth Wise King next time and would surely succeed in the imperial examination!

The next day, some, carrying their belongings and full of excitement, set off to study, their determination unshaken and not wasting any time.

Wei Yu did not pay attention to the scholars’ comings and goings.

After sponsoring people, he turned his attention to the Qionglin Banquet.

After all, it was the celebratory banquet for the newly successful imperial examination candidates. His father and other ministers would appear, and as a prince of the current court, naturally, he could attend too.

Of course, this was not because he was idle; it was purely because he wanted to introduce Dong Sheng to his father!

After the palace examination, Dong Sheng ranked nineteenth, so he had no opportunity to meet his father alone.

Although Wei Yu had shown his father’s a copy of Dong Sheng’s essay before, he hadn’t asked about what his father thought of Dong Sheng.

He needed a private place to let the two of them talk properly.

—

The Qionglin Banquet was one of the grandest banquets Dong Sheng had attended in all his few occasions.

Dong Sheng sat kneeling before the table, carefully smoothing the wrinkles on his sleeves, afraid of dirtying the new clothes issued by the Imperial Court.

After straightening his sleeves, he looked up and saw Zhou Qingfang sitting several rows behind, diagonally opposite.

Zhou Qingfang was also one of the second-rank successful candidates, but unlike Dong Sheng’s relatively high rank, Zhou Qingfang barely made it, ranking second to last in the second rank.

Both Dong Sheng and Zhou Qingfang felt fortunate about this.

Unlike Dong Sheng’s reserved demeanor, Zhou Qingfang was more relaxed.

After sitting down, he chatted and laughed with colleagues nearby, and upon seeing Dong Sheng, he raised his cup and cheerfully greeted him.

With Zhou Qingfang, this outgoing fellow townsman present, Dong Sheng relaxed a little after smiling back.

The Qionglin Banquet, after all, was a celebration for the newly successful candidates. Newcomers greeted each other, and when officials from the Imperial Court arrived, those who knew how to behave approached to salute and pay respects.

People chatted and tried to break the ice, but soon a voice rang out:

“The Emperor has arrived—His Highness the Wise King has arrived—”

Everyone stopped socializing and quickly knelt to greet.

“Salutations to Your Majesty, salutations to Your Highness the Wise King.”

Following his father’s footsteps, Wei Yu passed through the ministers and finally took his seat beneath the dragon throne at the head of the hall.

Emperor Wei said: “Rise.”

“Thank you, His Majesty.”

Upon hearing the Emperor’s words, Dong Sheng, who had only seen the Emperor once during the palace exam, respectfully stood up.

He did not dare look up toward the throne, and even after sitting down, he respectfully only looked toward the steps beneath the throne.

Seeing Dong Sheng’s respectful and proper manner, Wei Yu couldn’t help but smile.

[Dad, look at how obedient and polite the person your son recommended is. Don’t you want to take a good look?]

Even before entering, Emperor Wei had been repeatedly hearing about Dong Sheng from Wei Yu, so he naturally knew who was being referred to.

Although Emperor Wei never expressed his opinion of Dong Sheng to Wei Yu, he had actually sent someone to investigate Dong Sheng’s background after reading his essay the first time and even had an image of him.

Emperor Wei glanced in Dong Sheng’s direction but did not linger; quietly, he continued speaking to others: “Today is the Qionglin Banquet, to have all you newly successful candidates here brings me great comfort…”

Listening to his father’s official speech, Wei Yu sat looking at the crowd below, his gaze involuntarily roving over each face.

Hm, that person is handsome, looks like a pretty boy; this one is a bit old, passing the exam at such an advanced age is not easy; this one… huh, that one is looking at me?

Noticing the shocked gaze from someone, Wei Yu focused and arched an eyebrow.

A face he had never seen before. Why was this person so shocked looking at him?

Suddenly locking eyes with the Wise King, and seeing the change in expression, Zhou Qingfang realized he had been noticed.

He quickly lowered his head, not daring to maintain eye contact, fearing to anger the Wise King.

Zhou Qingfang lowered his head, startled, raised his wine cup, his mind in a jumble.

At this moment, one question filled his mind.

—That youth is actually the Ninth Wise King?!

If Zhou Qingfang wanted to describe how he recognized Wei Yu, it had to go back to the day of the gathering of scholars in the club.

That day, Lu Xiuhan set the essay topic, and everyone wrote under the corridor. Although Zhou Qingfang and Dong Sheng were not in the same spot because they were writing essays, after finishing Zhou Qingfang did go look for Dong Sheng.

However, he saw a youth standing next to Dong Sheng, dressed in splendid clothes with an imposing manner, clearly not an ordinary person.

Zhou Qingfang was initially surprised but saw the two seemed to be chatting happily, so he did not dare to interrupt and gave up.

That day, Zhou Qingfang thought privately that the youth’s status was noble, but only today upon seeing him again did he realize he had underestimated it.

This was not just noble!

This was supremely honorable!

The current Ninth Wise King, now a hotly supported official of the capital, praised by everyone secretly, an incomparable prince of the age!

Zhou Qingfang felt his hands tremble.

He deeply regretted it.

Why didn’t he go over that day?

If he had, he could have spoken personally to His Highness the Wise King!!!