Poor but talented scholar

Chapter 90 Flower-Haired Banquet

Lord Zhou paused slightly in his hand holding the teacup lid, then a slow smile crept onto his lips, eventually turning into laughter.

"This lad..." Lord Zhou shook his head, his eyes full of admiration. "I originally just wanted to give him a warning and see if he would stumble in the allure of wealth and power. I never expected that he would use my name to establish himself as an incorruptible and virtuous man."

"Sir, isn't this young master Lu going a bit too far? That's nearly a hundred taels of silver! Given his family's terms, they just gave it up like that?" Steward Zhao said, somewhat puzzled.

"However," Lord Zhou put down his teacup, "he is making long-term plans. A hundred taels of silver cannot buy the trust of this government, much less the awe of the scholars of the entire city."

"By stepping down, he not only cleared his name but also blocked the path for those students who wanted to take shortcuts. From now on, anyone who dares to test him with money will be slapping the face of this government."

Lord Zhou stood up and sighed softly, "This boy's temperament far surpasses his talent. I'm afraid this small place like Yingnan Prefecture can't keep this prodigy in check for long."

In the afternoon, Lu Shouye returned with an empty cart.

Although he had walked all morning and was covered in sweat, he was in exceptionally high spirits.

After entering the house, he gulped down a large mouthful of cold tea and grinned at Lu Chuan: "Chuan'er, it's all settled. You don't know, those families originally wanted to use their big talk to put me down, but as soon as I mentioned Lord Zhou, they all fell silent and had to politely see me out."

Lu Chuan brushed the dust off his father's shoulders and said with a smile, "Dad, thank you for your hard work. Now we can finally live in peace."

Looking at the remaining food on the table, Lu Shouye asked, "So, what do we do next?"

"Read a book and wait for the flower-adorning banquet." Lu Chuan sat down at the table and spread out a new sheet of white paper.

Although he closed his doors to visitors for the past three days, it did not mean that he did nothing.

He knew that returning the gift was only the first step, to establish his persona; the flower-adorning banquet three days later would be the real turning point.

The officialdom of the Great Qian Dynasty was like a vast, turbulent sea.

He is now like a small boat. Although he has benefited from Lord Zhou's favorable wind, if he does not steer the boat well, he could be capsized by a wave at any time.

"Father, please rest for the next three days. Once the Flower-Adorning Banquet is over, we'll move to the Prefectural School. Life there may be a bit austere, but it'll be filled with the fragrance of books."

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, barely enough time for the swallows to fly back and forth under the eaves, and the day arrived for the government office to hold a banquet to thank the newly enrolled students.

The sky was clear and blue that day.

In the garden, pavilions and towers are scattered in a well-organized manner, and the waterside pavilions and corridors are filled with carefully trimmed exotic flowers and plants. Although it lacks the extravagance of a mansion, it exudes elegance everywhere.

The constables moving about were all dressed in brand-new black uniforms, with swords at their waists and their eyes fixed straight ahead.

The newly appointed students arrived in twos and threes, some dressed in conspicuous silks, others in coarse cotton that had been starched until it turned white, their faces filled with a mixture of smugness and trepidation.

Among the group of adult or semi-adult students, Lu Chuan stood out.

He was the youngest and shortest, but when he stood with his hands behind his back, the title of the top scholar attracted frequent glances from those around him.

At 2:45 AM, the sound of orderly and steady footsteps came from outside the garden.

The students who had been whispering just moments before stopped talking instantly and spontaneously formed two lines.

Lord Zhou entered slowly, surrounded by a large retinue.

He was dressed very heavily today, his crimson official robes of a fourth-rank official standing were dazzlingly red in the sunlight.

The fabric shimmered with the unique sheen of silk as it undulated, and the collar and cuffs were pressed down very firmly.

What's most eye-catching is the cloud and wild goose patch on the front and back of the official robe.

Lord Zhou's gaze was gentle as he surveyed the room, finally lingering on Lu Chuan for a moment before revealing a deep, knowing smile.

With a clear and resonant command from the master of ceremonies, Lu Chuan took a deep breath and steadily stepped forward.

He stopped, turned around, gave a slight bow to the fifty classmates behind him with complicated expressions, and then led the way in kneeling on the ground.

"Student Lu Chuan, leading all the students, expresses his deepest gratitude to our revered teacher for his guidance and cultivation. May our teacher's literary career flourish and his blessings extend to Yingnan."

Lu Chuan's voice was resounding and echoed throughout the garden.

The students behind him echoed in unison.

Lord Zhou smoothed his sleeves and raised his left hand in a gesture.

"Students, please rise. You are the seeds of Yingnan's future. Your entry into this school today is the result of your years of hard work. From now on, you must guard against arrogance and impetuosity, cherish your scholarly heart, and live up to the expectations of your family and country, as well as the hopes of this institution."

After the pleasantries were finished, the banquet began, and Lord Zhou's main event officially commenced.

He did not sit down, but instead looked around the room and suddenly raised his voice.

"Gentlemen, in this year's prefectural examination, the literary talent of Yingnan has been so outstanding that it has even alarmed the Provincial Administration Commission. In particular, Lu Chuan from Qingyang County, at only eleven years old, has achieved the highest rank twice. Such a prodigy is a pillar of our Great Qian Dynasty and a testament to the edification of our region."

Lord Zhou emphasized the words "eleven years old" and "pillar of the state" very much.

The seasoned veterans present understood that this was not just praise, but a high-profile political investment.

Lord Zhou told all the wealthy and powerful people in the city that this child was someone he, Lord Zhou, had taken a liking to.

The further Lu Chuan goes, the more remarkable his mentor becomes.

Immediately afterwards, Lord Zhou behaved more like an elder.

He stepped down from the platform, took Lu Chuan's hand, and walked towards the tables of wealthy merchants and renowned scholars who controlled the economic lifeline of Yingnan Prefecture.

"Elder Lin, this is the exceptionally talented Lu Chuan. In the future, if he does anything wrong while studying at the prefectural school, please give him your guidance out of respect for our prefecture."

This seemingly casual introduction and handshake was actually a way of giving Lu Chuan a top-tier pass to Yingnan.

After several rounds of drinks, Lu Chuan maintained his perfect balance of humility and aloofness.

Unlike ordinary children, he wasn't blinded by his emotions.

Whenever a wealthy gentleman raised his wine cup, trying to inquire about his family background or hint at future favors, Lu Chuan could always politely deflect the question with official etiquette.

He always mentioned Lord Zhou's teachings; he was always grateful to the seniors for their support of Yingnan's literary style.

This slippery response secretly alarmed many old foxes who wanted to win him over at this moment: How could this be like an eleven-year-old child?

Lord Zhou chatted and laughed throughout the banquet, but his gaze kept glancing at Lu Chuan, seemingly casually.

Seeing that the child could not only catch it but also remain as steady as a mountain, my admiration for him grew even stronger.

This tacit understanding reached a balance amidst the clinking of glasses.

The banquet was drawing to a close.

Before leaving, Lord Zhou gave Lu Chuan a heavy pat on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Lu Chuan, this wine with flowers in your hair is easily chilled, but the lamp on your desk will always burn. Remember, from today onwards, your every word and action will not only concern the reputation of your Lu family, but also the face of this old man."