Zhao Yao didn’t let the attendant leave, but instead asked him about the famous personalities in Jinling City.
When it ca to the famous people of Jinling City, the attendant got even more enthusiastic. He chattered away, telling Zhao Yao and the others about the five great talents and five beauties of Jinling.
Song Jicai and the others listened with great interest. As Zhao Yao listened, he lanted in his heart that no matter where one is, people love to hear gossip about talents and beauties.
As they were speaking, a commotion ca from downstairs. Then, they heard many people shouting ’Mr. Li.’
Upon hearing that Mr. Li had arrived, the attendant’s expression beca sowhat excited and he quickly inford Zhao Yao and the others that the Mr. Li downstairs was none other than Li Jue, the foremost of the five great talents of Jinling.
Listening to the repeated calls of ’Mr. Li’ from downstairs, Zhao Yao was a bit curious about what kind of person this ’Mr. Li’ truly was.
In a short mont, Mr. Li ca upstairs. The attendant promptly reminded Zhao Yao and the others.
Zhao Yao glanced over at Li Jue and was startled. It was the first ti he’d seen soone even more handso than his eighth brother. Most importantly, this Mr. Li had an immortal-like aura, appearing as if untouched by earthly dust.
Li Jue sensed the gaze from Zhao Yao and his group, and naturally looked over. When his eyes landed on Zhao Yao, there was a hint of surprise in them.
The attendant who led Li Jue upstairs escorted him to a private room.
"Mr. Liang, isn’t our Jinling City’s Mr. Li a godly figure?" The attendant spoke with a tone and attitude full of pride and smugness.
"Indeed a godly figure." Zhao Yao praised generously, "It’s the first ti I’ve t soone so handso."
"Mr. Liang, let tell you, Mr. Li is also very talented..." The attendant went on and on about Mr. Li, eager to exalt him to the heavens.
The attendant spoke so more and, seeing that Zhao Yao and the others were about to have their al, withdrew.
After he left, guests at other tables also started talking about Mr. Li.
Zhang He and the others listened but were quite unimpressed: "Isn’t it just that he’s a bit better looking? What’s the big deal?"
Chu Huan glanced at Zhang He and the others, saying, "This Mr. Li is not a simple man."
Shen Sen scoffed and said, "These noble family sons just love doing this sort of thing." After speaking, he sneered, "Truly, whether it’s the noble sons of the capital or the noble sons of Jinling, they’re all the sa."
Seeing Zhao Yao lost in thought, Chu Huan asked with concern, "Boss, what’s wrong?"
Zhao Yao snapped back to reality and said to Chu Huan, "It’s nothing, just amazed that soone could be even more handso than my eighth brother." Just now, when their eyes t, he felt a chill. For a mont, he felt as if he’d been eyed by a venomous snake.
Song Jicai, while eating at, said, "Boss, what does a man need to be so handso for?"
"Exactly, we n rely on our abilities, not on our looks."
Chu Huan mockingly retorted, "You two are just jealous because you’re ugly."
This remark angered Song Jicai and the others, and they began to argue with Chu Huan.
Zhao Yao quickly intervened to calm them down, urging them to eat properly.
Guests at other tables started talking about other talents, and gradually the topic shifted to the imperial examinations.
From their conversation, there seed to be a hesitant attitude toward the imperial examinations. They also ntioned that the five great talents, led by Li Jue, were unwilling to participate in the exams. On the other hand, many scholars from impoverished backgrounds were eager to take them.
Many noble family sons were reluctant to take the imperial exams alongside scholars from poor backgrounds, feeling it deaning to their status.
Although reading scholars held high status, there were distinctions among them. Scholars from noble families looked down on those from impoverished backgrounds, feeling there was a shabby air about them and thinking they shouldn’t even pursue studies.
Zhang He and the others wanted to say sothing but were stopped by Zhao Yao’s glance.
While scholars from noble families were unwilling to take the imperial exams, those from humble backgrounds participated enthusiastically.
After finishing their lunch, Zhao Yao and the others didn’t linger long at the First Tower.
Zheng Xilin thought Zhao Yao and the others would play until nightfall, but they unexpectedly returned in the afternoon.
"Third Uncle, did you know that the scholars from noble families in Jinling are unwilling to take the imperial exams?"
Upon hearing Zhao Yao’s question, Zheng Xilin wasn’t surprised at all. With a gentle tone, he replied, "You’ve heard?"
"Is this a tactic used by the Jinling Family to resist the imperial exams?" Zhao Yao said coldly, "They claim that taking the exams deans their status. They really do think highly of themselves."
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