Back upstairs, it was late at night, and the audience changed one after another, and the long-lasting super competition was still going on.
Chen Ke and Liu Ji have solved a total of 1,913 poems from the Xuanji Pictures.
The mental and physical exertion of this competition was something that Liu Ji, a weak scholar, could not bear. He could no longer hold on for a long time. He felt as if his insides had been hollowed out. He was dizzy, sweating all over, and could only rely on one breath.
Holding on.
"The slanderous and traitorous people have destroyed my loyalty; the cause of the disaster is the source of pride!" When he wrote the last poem, he felt that the world was spinning for a while, he gave up his hand and threw the pen and fell on his back.
When he woke up, he found that he had returned to his residence, surrounded by a group of friends. Seeing that it was still dark outside, he asked: "How many hours have I slept?"
"How many hours?" Friends laughed and said, "You slept for two whole days."
"Ah..." Liu Ji said in surprise: "So long?"
"It's no wonder, such a fierce war of attrition." My friend admired: "The spirit is naturally very low."
"It's a pity that we still lost..." Liu Ji felt sad.
"No, you didn't lose." His friends told him a piece of news that surprised and delighted him: "After you fainted, people shouted at you, but Chen Zhongfang didn't even solve another song. So, you have more answers than him."
Even if you solve one song, you still win."
"Of course, in the big score, it was a tie one to one." someone added.
"Really?" After a brief moment of rejoicing, Liu Ji fell into memories. He remembered that when he was exhausted, Chen Ke was still calm and composed, as if it would not be a problem to defeat more capitals. How could he let go of the victory that was so easy to come by?
, just don’t want it?
Recalling that Chen Ke only defeated him by a slight advantage in the first question, Liu Ji suddenly realized something in his heart, covering his face with his hands and saying: "I am ashamed, Chen Zhongfang has the style of an ancient gentleman, but I am obsessed with being strong and winning.
It's the way of a villain..." Liu Ji was ashamed and ashamed. How could he not know that in fact, he should have suffered two disastrous defeats, but now he could end up with dignity because of Chen Ke's refusal to win and save his reputation. (
"")
"Oh, Brother Zhidao..." In fact, all the people in the Taixue Literary Society also had a good impression of Chen Ke. They were just worried that Liu Ji would not like it, so they kept saying the opposite. Now that they saw that he had no resentment, they also persuaded him.
: "Everyone is going to attend next year's Spring Festival, and it is very likely that we will be studying in the same year, so why should we have any conflicts?"
"It sounds like I want to create a confrontation." Liu Ji got up depressed.
"What do you want to do?"
"Go to him and admit defeat." Liu Jidao said, "They are trying to save face for us, so we can't just pretend to be stupid."
"Who are you looking for in the middle of the night? If you admit defeat, wouldn't it be against Chen Zhongfang's good intentions?" The friend advised: "I think it's better to set up a table of wine another day and invite people from the Jiayou Society to sit together.
Sit down, just pay him as much respect as you want at the table."
"That's right." Liu Jixiang nodded and said, "Let's make arrangements quickly."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Chen Ke's side, there were naturally people complaining about him. How could he let Liu Ji let go of the victory that was within reach and let Liu Ji continue to deceive the world and steal his reputation?
"Liu Ji is not cheating the world and stealing his reputation. He has real talent and learning." Chen Ke shook his head and said: "Such a person should be left with dignity." He paused and then said: "Besides, why do you have to insist on winning or losing? It's just a cut.
A false reputation will make you countless enemies."
"Yes, you will naturally be laughed at if you fail, but being able to win without showing off is admirable." Su Che, who doesn't like to talk much, spoke for his brother-in-law this time: "This is the golden mean!"
"Actually, Brother Zhong Fang has already made money." Zeng Bu said with a smile: "Liu Ji has been famous for a long time and has already served as a stepping stone for you. There is no need to go over his head."
"No matter what words come out of your mouth, they are so harsh." Chen Ke smiled and said, "But this is exactly the reason."
After calming down a group of people, they dispersed.
After returning home, Song Duanping said to Chen Ke: "You have changed. In the past, you would definitely leave no room."
"People are subject to change." Chen Ke sighed softly: "The tree wants to be quiet but the wind does not stop. Now that you have stepped into this world, don't think about being alone."
"That's right." Song Duanping nodded and said, "I used to worry about your temper and whether you would make too many enemies."
"Oh, I wanted to live a free and easy life." Chen Ke smiled bitterly: "But now I realize that how can people be truly free and easy in this world? If you want to live freely, you must first have no enemies. I have already
It’s enough to make people hate you, but you can’t make any more enemies.”
"It's good if you can figure it out." Song Duanping said with a smile: "I don't have to worry in vain." Thinking that he was tired, Song Duanping said no more and left to let him rest early.
But Chen Ke had trouble falling asleep. Firstly, his brain was highly excited and could not stop immediately. Secondly, he could not help but miss his fiancée in Meizhou. It was shameful to say that after he came to Beijing, he hardly thought about his little sister.
.Although she will become his wife next year, Mr. Chen Ke has not been able to get over the relationship between brother and sister.
But today, when solving the "Xuanji Picture", Su Hui's affectionate and sentimental love poems made Chen Ke extremely envious of Dou Tao. However, he soon realized, why should he envy Dou Tao? He also has one
A wife with unparalleled intelligence and deep love, her name is Su Xiaomei, she is no worse than Su Hui!
His ownerless and turbulent heart seemed to be tied to a red rope in an instant. The other end of the rope was connected to Meizhou City, which was far away from the mountains and rivers.
Before he got married, he finally found that heart-racing feeling, so he jumped out of bed, polished the paperweight, and prepared to write a less formal reply... Although he and his younger sister kept writing letters for three days.
, but he had to admit that he was basically dealing with official matters.
Thinking of marrying Xuanji Tu today with his little sister, Chen Ke turned his feelings into fourteen words;
'I have been thinking quietly for a long time, but I have been waiting for a long time to return home, and I remember what I heard and missed when I left.'
Then put it into the envelope and seal it, waiting for it to be sent out tomorrow.
There was nothing to say all night. The next day, when Chen Ke was having breakfast, the guard Yuhou Li Zhong came in with a pile of invitations. He said with a flattering smile: "My lord, you have become famous in one fell swoop this time. Look, just this morning, there are
More than a dozen invitations were sent."
"Push it." Chen Ke's throat was a little hoarse, so he asked the kitchen to use fresh lotus roots, mung beans, white rice and rock sugar to cook fresh lotus root throat porridge to eat. Yesterday was also a drain on him, and he felt like he had taken another exam.
It was like an imperial examination, so he was listless: "My father is going to get married the day after tomorrow, so I have to get busy."
"Really? That's such a pity." Li Zhong picked out a few fragrant invitations and said with a lewd smile on his face: "The invitations from the top ten courtesans in Bianjing are worth a lot of money, not to mention there are more than one.
"
"Oh." Later generations of psychologists said that lust is the driving force behind men's progress. Chen Ke suddenly became energetic. But then he thought of the story of Su Hui and Dou Tao and thought to himself, if I am too romantic, the news will be spread back to Sichuan.
Go ahead, even if you don’t want to make your little sister resentful, it’s better to keep a low profile first.
He smacked his lips with regret and said, "Forget it."
"There is one more." Li Zhong took out an elegant navy blue invitation and said, "You still have to make your decision."
"Whose?" Chen Ke said casually as he picked up a delicious crystal radish with his chopsticks.
"Zhao Zonghui." Li Zhong replied.
"Oh?" Chen Ke put down his chopsticks, took them and glanced at him: "The third child of Zhao Yunrang's family?"
"Exactly." Li Zhong nodded and said, "Zhao Zonghui is learned and talented, and his daily dealings are with literati and celebrities. People say that being invited by him to visit Boyixuan is a clear proof that a scholar has become a celebrity."
He said with a flattering smile: "It seems that you have made a lot of money this time and will finally become a celebrity."
"Are celebrities rare?" Chen Ke put it down casually, picked up the porridge bowl and said, "I'm not curious."
"Sir." Li Zhong was hesitant to speak, but finally spoke: "There are some things that I shouldn't say because of my humble position, but you are very interested in us. I would like to say a few words at the risk of offending you."
"Please speak." Chen Ke put down the bowl again and said seriously: "I'm listening."
"I think that if you don't look at the monk's face and look at the Buddha's face, you should go too."
"oh?"
"Your Excellency, it seems that you don't have a good impression of the people in Runan Palace." Li Zhong said softly.
"Yeah." Chen Ke nodded, there was nothing to hide from someone like this who protects him personally.
"But now, Zhao Zonghui's thirteenth brother Zhao Zongshi is very likely to become the prince. If no more dragons are born in the official family, he may even become the crown prince." Li Zhong lowered his voice and said, "Actually, Zhao Zonghui certainly likes to associate with literati.
, but privately, this is also a way to build connections for his younger brother. So this invitation can be regarded as a solicitation for the adults. Even if the adults don't want to get close to them, they can't offend them."
These words were obviously exchanged for people's hearts. Chen Ke was a little moved, nodded and said with a smile: "I understand, you go ahead and do your work first, wait for me to think about it before talking."
"Yes." Li Zhong straightened up, hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "Also, your Excellency has a bright future, so you shouldn't get involved with that Zhao Zongji."
"Why, does the court have a taboo against middle- and low-level officials interacting with the clan?" Chen Ke frowned slightly. The clan's children all live in the capital, and officials also live in the capital. It is inevitable that the two sides will intersect. Many people call them friends, and even get married.
There's nothing to shy away from.
"That's not true. It's just that the person from the Runan Palace is taboo..." After Li Zhong finished speaking, he secretly thought what happened to him today? Why did he say everything he should and shouldn't say?
This is actually a by-product after Chen Ke became famous. Because he seemed to be on the verge of rising up, naturally many people would consider him and make suggestions for him. And Li Zhong and other guards were also destined to be with him, of course.
I hope he can achieve great success and have a backer to lean on in the future.
