That night, Qing Yu visited room number one at the Xuanzi Courtyard where Feng Jiu resided again.
During this period, Qing Yu had to make this trip every night. Ostensibly, it was to seek knowledge from his senior brother, but in reality, it was to recharge Feng Jiu with a wave of electricity, lest he be killed by the "Black Sky Tribulation".
In recent days, Feng Jiu had really made a na for himself. Among the ordinary scholars, he was the only Core Scholar who would often attend classes with them. Even the students who enrolled a year before him ca to him for advice.
Moreover, he was approachable and obliging, ready to answer any question and fulfill any request, thereby winning over a great number of hearts.
Feng Jiu was also shrewd, seeking guidance from the ordinary scholars in the Six Arts, an area where he was not particularly skilled. This not only made people feel that Feng Jiu was not above the rest but also a re mortal with things to learn. It also allowed him to truly integrate into their group and beco one of them.
Besides, with the miraculous power of Tribulation, Feng Jiu’s learning progress was incredibly swift, greatly satisfying the sense of achievent and vanity of these ordinary scholars.
After infusing True Qi and dissolving the "Black Sky Tribulation", Qing Yu looked at Feng Jiu’s face, which was enthralled by Pure Land and seed about to ascend to the heavens, with sheer disgust. After their last conversation, Feng Jiu understood that life is like "XX", and if he couldn’t resist it, he might as well close his eyes and enjoy it. Since then, he had completely let go, showing this very attitude each ti after the transfer of True Qi.
This thoroughly nauseated Qing Yu, as having one man witness another man assu such a posture was an extre challenge to the eyes and to the heart.
And yet, Qing Yu had to face Feng Jiu at this very mont. Because this was the best opportunity to carry out hypnosis on Feng Jiu. Although it seed that Feng Jiu had already given up resistance and resigned to his fate, the necessary precautions still had to be taken. Hypnosis had played a significant part in Feng Jiu’s quick surrender.
After another brainwashing session, Qing Yu waited for Feng Jiu to wake up and asked, "Do you know who Han Wenxin is?"
"Han Wenxin, yes. With a regal bearing and impressive appearance, not inferior to Duke Wenxin from the past, he has quite a reputation!"
Whilst speaking highly of Han Wenxin, Feng Jiu’s lips curved into a mocking arc.
"Oh," Qing Yu raised an eyebrow slightly, "His na sounds sowhat similar. Ha, he seems to be an interesting person..."
With Feng Jiu’s obvious display, how could Qing Yu not grasp his implication.
This world also had its share of similarly nad dynasties and individuals, like Emperor Shi from three thousand years ago and his legendary Wang Dynasty, Qin.
Duke Wenxin, Luu Buwei, a legendary opportunist, whose most outstanding investnt in life earned him the powerful position of Chancellor.
"It seems," Qing Yu chuckled, "that our contemporary Duke Wenxin sees the Sixth Prince as a Qin Yiren."
"How could you not know that he might regard the Sixth Prince as Emperor Shi instead," the mocking color in Feng Jiu’s eyes intensified, "and besides, our contemporary Duke Wenxin would certainly not praise himself as being no less than Duke Wenxin."
"Is he seeking death with such actions?"
Qing Yu was genuinely astonished. Who was Luu Buwei? The founder of the Zajia, blending Ru and Mo, esteed for ’integrating nas with enforcent’—the wealthy Chancellor of the great Qin. It was one thing for others to lavish him with praise, but for Han Wenxin to indulge in self-aggrandizent was shalessly arrogant.
Besides, no matter how legendary Luu Buwei’s life was, he was still a rchant by birth. The hierarchy of scholar, farr, artisan, and rchant had been upheld by the Confucian school for thousands of years.
Han Wenxin, a scholar himself, comparing himself to a rchant, in the Confucian-dominated Northern Zhou, was practically creating enemies everywhere.
"What’s more interesting is that this Han Wenxin has also cultivated the Confucian Vast Righteous Qi. Tell , isn’t that amusing?" Qing Yu said with a raised eyebrow and a smile.
"So, you want to accept this invitation?" Hearing the string play the music, Feng Jiu also picked up on Qing Yu’s implication.
"Yes," Qing Yu nodded, "In the past half month, we’ve also kept the Sixth Prince hanging for quite so ti. If we continue to ignore him, it might be overdoing it."
"Indeed." Feng Jiu had also considered this.
His sixth brother was patient, but no one’s patience is infinite. For the Sixth Prince, with the dignity of his position, to keep showing warmth to Feng Jiu, the down-and-out Ninth Prince, was sothing rare, but it would not remain rare forever. If you keep responding coldly to soone’s warm gestures, don’t bla the Sixth Prince for getting angry out of embarrassnt.
If Feng Jiu were truly without desires and an authentic Confucian scholar, that would be another matter, but he wasn’t. The cold deanor was just for maintaining his persona. The Sixth Prince wanted to support Feng Jiu against the Eighth Prince, and Feng Jiu also wanted to ride the east wind provided by the Sixth Prince to propel himself to greater heights.
"However, you can go to the banquet, but you need to think carefully about how you’ll face your sixth brother."
"What do you an?" Feng Jiu asked.
"Your sixth brother likely wants to use kindness and familial affection to win you over, to help him against the Eighth Prince. And also to gain support from the Mountain River Academy, helpful for his future claim to the throne."
"So, you can play along with his line of thought, showing a longing for family affection, making him think he has succeeded, setting his mind at ease. Attend the banquet not because of any benefits but because the Sixth Prince was the first brother to show you good intentions. This point, you must rember clearly."
"If he gives you any benefits, by all ans, accept them, but you need to appropriately show how moved you are by his kindness, and you must never reveal your ambition. Understand? Rember, you are a Confucian disciple who has cultivated the Vast Righteous Qi, not a villain with ulterior motives."
At this point, Qing Yu chuckled, "The Confucian Vast Righteous Qi really is a good thing!"
Having cultivated the Vast Righteous Qi, it’s like obtaining the production label of a gentleman, proudly stamped on your forehead with the words "gentleman". This is a recognition of the Confucian tradition that has been passed down for thousands of years.
Han Wenxin, who deaned himself to a rchant, spoke words that appeared haughty to outsiders, yet was known as a magnanimous madman. On Feng Jiu, it also served as a very good guise and protection.
"It is indeed a good thing..." Feng Jiu deeply agreed.
Previous disdain and mockery scattered overnight after he had cultivated the Vast Righteous Qi. Even those he had offended under a heart of despair, adopting an attitude of ’if I die you can’t live well’, now believed his previous actions were unintentional, and in reality, he still was a good person.
"Overnight the heavy makeup is washed away, revealing a brilliance thousands of feet tall," "A prodigal son turning back is worth more than gold"... All kinds of praise transford Feng Jiu into soone he himself didn’t even recognize.
"With this ’gentleman’ label, it would be hard for the Sixth Prince not to trust you. Just wear this label of a good person, enjoy being courted by all the princes, and slowly develop."
"That’s right." Although Feng Jiu did not know the word "label," it did not prevent him from understanding its aning by combining the context of the conversation.
"Oh yes..." Qing Yu suddenly clapped her hands, "This is the reading comprehension that Han Wenxin bribed with today. Maybe from this, we can glimpse so clues about him."
Qing Yu took out a small booklet with a not-so-healthy-looking cover from her sleeve and handed it over to Feng Jiu to examine.
If anyone could glean insights into Han Wenxin from this little yellow book, it would be Feng Jiu. Qing Yu, who relied on answer keys to enter the Mountain River Academy, did struggle sowhat with Math.
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