Chapter 176: Prelude to the Imperial Examination (Part Two)
Inside the cloud sedan, Jiang Cai Zhi held the envelope, looking at the Seal on it. The servility on his face had vanished, replaced by a cold sneer.
He recalled what He Shilang had just said.
"This is the culmination of five days and five nights of continuous discussion between Wen Shoufu, our Ministry of Rites' Li Shangshu, the Ministry of Works' Ling Shangshu, and Your Majesty."
When speaking of "Your Majesty," He Shilang even bowed remotely towards the direction of the Imperial Palace.
"Remember, you are to tell Mei Yuanzheng exactly this, not a single word wrong, not a single word missing," He Shilang instructed, his gaze fixed intently on Jiang Cai Zhi.
Upon hearing this, how could Jiang Cai Zhi not understand what was inside the envelope?
His breathing hitched, and his hands trembled slightly as he took it.
The envelope was light, yet at the same time, incredibly heavy, carrying the fate of thousands of Xuezis in this year's examination.
"This humble official will surely not fail the Shilang's trust!" he replied, his voice trembling.
"It's not just my trust; Li Shangshu also said that this matter cannot be done without you," He Shilang said, patting Jiang Cai Zhi's shoulder in a seemingly cordial manner.
"Yes, this humble official will surely not fail the Shangshu and Shilang's trust."
Jiang Cai Zhi's face flushed, looking both surprised and delighted as if a great responsibility had suddenly fallen upon him.
"Indeed, still a young man. Remember to keep this confidential externally. You understand the gravity of the matter."
"Go now," he said with a light chuckle, indicating it was time to leave.
Having received such an important task, it was best to complete it as quickly as possible.
Moreover, this item in his hands was practically a hot potato.
Jiang Cai Zhi quickly left without delay, boarding the Ministry of Rites' official cloud sedan to carry out his mission.
Jiang Cai Zhi was still looking at the envelope, recalling everything, when suddenly, another fair and well-defined hand took the envelope away.
"Aren't you afraid appearing here?" Jiang Cai Zhi dared not look at the person, fearing some mechanism in the official sedan. He gritted his teeth and forced out this sentence.
"I'm not afraid; my main body is still in class," the person's voice was also clear and pleasant. "Don't worry, I've already lifted the Restriction here. We can talk freely."
Jiang Cai Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and looked towards that person.
Although half-illusory and half-real, the person's white robes were whiter than snow, and his appearance, between reality and illusion, was even more handsome, like a banished Immortal.
"As you expected, I got it," Jiang Cai Zhi sighed softly. "After you've read it, hurry and leave. The National Academy will be here very soon."
The person smiled calmly and actually transformed into a thin wisp of mist, drilling into the envelope through the gap in the Seal.
After a while, the mist floated out and reformed into a human shape.
"I don't know where you get so many strange weird objects from," Jiang Cai Zhi said with a hint of bitterness.
"Ancestral collection," the person simply stated.
Jiang Cai Zhi was speechless. Although his Family was an official Family, compared to the Family of the person in front of him, they were at most a new noble, and their accumulated wealth was naturally inferior.
Not to mention his maternal Family...
"How is it?" Jiang Cai Zhi asked with concern.
He was, of course, asking about the contents of the letter.
The person smiled indifferently, "You want me to tell you?"
"Yes," Jiang Cai Zhi nodded, his eyes full of greed, calculating that he might even secretly sell it to someone else and make a profit.
"That's a different price. I helped you, and you helped me. We've already settled the transaction," the person said expressionlessly.
"Are you that heartless? I've always treated you like a younger brother!" Jiang Cai Zhi gritted his teeth.
"Being your brother doesn't seem... like a good thing, does it?" the person chuckled softly.
Jiang Cai Zhi was momentarily speechless.
"If you want to read it, open it yourself," saying that, the person's figure gradually faded, turning into a wisp of mist that dispersed from the cloud sedan and disappeared.
"Hmph, this brat, does he really think he's amazing just because he became a favored son of heaven? He's getting more and more arrogant!"
"If I could open this Seal without triggering the Restriction, would I still need you?"
Jiang Cai Zhi cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he remained calm, not daring to reveal any abnormality.
...
The renowned National Academy was located on a green mountain outside Chang'an City.
When Jiang Cai Zhi arrived at the National Academy's gate, the gatekeeper, seeing Jiang Cai Zhi's official uniform and the cloud sedan marked with the Ministry of Rites' insignia, dared not neglect him. He hurried forward to greet him.
In these unusual times, people from the Ministry of Rites coming to the National Academy could only be for one matter. The gatekeeper, who had watched the National Academy's gate for decades, knew this well.
As soon as Jiang Cai Zhi said he was looking for Mei Yuanzheng, the gatekeeper hastily assented, called for the Immortal Crane specifically for greeting distinguished guests, and told Jiang Cai Zhi to ride the Immortal Crane.
The Immortal Crane flew swiftly and steadily, and with its Immortal Qi, it had always been Jiang Cai Zhi's favorite flying spiritual creature. However, buying one would cost a lot of Lingtual, not to mention that it was difficult to raise, requiring both effort and money. He could only enjoy it on such occasions.
Unfortunately, he didn't enjoy it for long before Mei Yuanzheng's office was reached.
Bamboo rustled, streams gurgled, and a small building appeared faintly amidst the clouds and mist.
Jiang Cai Zhi reluctantly climbed off the Immortal Crane's back and walked towards the small building.
However, after only a few steps, he saw an old man sitting by the stream, fishing.
"Excuse me, elder, are you Mei Yuanzheng?" Jiang Cai Zhi bowed respectfully and asked.
Jiang Cai Zhi was not entirely sure, as Mei Yuanzheng was always elusive, and no one had ever seen his true face.
But who else could appear in this place besides Mei Yuanzheng?
"Yes, it's me," the old man said calmly, lowering his head to adjust the earthworm on his hook.
"This humble official is..."
Jiang Cai Zhi was about to introduce himself, but the old man cut him off, saying directly, "You are Jiang Cai Zhi, who graduated in the 231st batch. I know."
With a flick of his hand, the fishing line swung in a full circle and landed in the deeper part of the stream, the float bobbing in the current.
Jiang Cai Zhi hadn't expected Mei Yuanzheng to know him and was immediately overjoyed. It seemed his previous eagerness to be a prefect and his active performance had been useful.
However, Mei Yuanzheng's next sentence poured cold water on him: "I remember every Xuezis who has come out of the National Academy."
"Moreover, your Qi is very turbid, especially noticeable."
Suddenly, Mei Yuanzheng, who had been looking down, sharply sniffed, as if he had smelled something.
"Oh, you even have a trace of golden Qi on you. Who did you come into contact with just now? That person... a child of Luck..."
Jiang Cai Zhi dared not answer and quickly returned to the main topic.
"Mei Yuanzheng, this humble official is here to deliver something."
As he spoke, he respectfully took out the envelope, offered it with both hands, and said with lowered head, "This is the culmination of five days and five nights of continuous discussion between Wen Shoufu, our Ministry of Rites' Li Shangshu, the Ministry of Works' Ling Shangshu, and Your Majesty."
With a "Pfft," Mei Yuanzheng burst out laughing.
"How amusing. So many people, yet none dare to face me directly, instead sending a minor official like you."
As he laughed, a powerful aura was released.
Jiang Cai Zhi, being only in the early Mingzhen Realm, felt fear grip his heart under this unfathomable pressure. Cold sweat poured down, and his bones creaked under the immense force.
He didn't understand what was happening, nor what Mei Yuanzheng meant, and could only brace himself, not daring to speak.
His knees, however, were pressed lower and lower until he knelt on the ground with a thud, and it felt as if his kneecaps were about to shatter.
"Alright, put the letter down. You may leave," Mei Yuanzheng said faintly, and the pressure receded.
Jiang Cai Zhi felt a huge sense of relief. He placed the letter on the ground, kowtowed, and shakily pushed himself up, his knees aching. He limped, scrambled, and half-ran back to where the Immortal Crane was resting, urging the Immortal Crane to take him away.
After flying for a while, he finally let out a long sigh of relief. His hands, gripping the saddle, were sweaty and somewhat slippery, making it hard to hold on.
He wiped the sweat from his hands and re-gripped the saddle's handle, when he suddenly thought of a question: What did Mei Yuanzheng actually look like?
He had just met him, so why couldn't he remember anything at all?
