Chapter Forty-Five Osmanthus

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  The miserable classification recommendation list is still sixteen, and it's tens of votes away! After being trampled and kicked down several times, I'm seeking encouragement.

  Thank you to the nine big brothers 'Left is anti-party / Good books should not be too monitored / Dada, / Tuber demon / Fragrant language leaving fragrance / Eight Precepts cannon Chang'e / Lover without tears / Minjiyu / Unlimited 1' for their rewards. Thank you to Big Brother 'Unlimited 1' for becoming the first disciple of Yu Shi!

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  Wei Zhuo's eyes narrowed slightly, stroking his chin, his gaze flashing as he stared at Qin Yun, seeing him avert his eyes, couldn't help but chuckle and ask: "Is there a result?"

  Qin Yun was taken aback for a moment, his face slightly pale with surprise, but he immediately forced a calm tone and said with a hint of a bitter smile, "What result is the young friend talking about? The debate has not even started yet?"

  She raised an eyebrow, murmured a sound, and suddenly nodded as if she had realized something. She looked at Qin Yun carefully again, turned her head to look towards the high platform, put another melon seed into her mouth, and started cracking it open with a nonchalant expression.

  Qin Yun's face turned bright red as he held his breath. He had only been looking for an excuse to change the subject, but somehow it ended up being about the main topic instead! Qin Yun looked at Wei Zhao's "I see" expression and felt so frustrated that he wanted to bang his head against the wall.

  What's the point of bringing up Buddhism now!

  Xiangliang and Fu Yang appeared to be enjoying the high platform, but in reality they were both perked up their ears to listen. Although they couldn't hear clearly, they still caught the two words "debate on Buddhism". Both of them lit up with excitement, exchanging a sly smile.

  There are still three people left on the high platform: Chu Han, Zhou Shao Yang and Lian Bei.

  The murmurs of discontent that had been rising and falling just now were suddenly drowned out, as everyone shouted out Chu Han's name in unison, their voices rising and falling in perfect synchrony, completely drowning out any mention of "Zhou Shao Yang".

  Chu Han's face was excited, his clenched fists kept shaking heavily, cheering himself up. His eyes searched around the stage, looking somewhat urgent.

  Zhou Shao Yang's face was calm and smiling, but his eyes occasionally flashed with a cold light, and he vowed in his heart to bring this champion back to Wu Zhou!

  With a gentle wave of his fan, he appeared calm and composed, but his eyes would occasionally sweep over the other two people, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

  The sudden change in the rules of this Buddhist conference has triggered strong opposition from the scholars below, but with two Hanlin standing above, it is clear that this is a nod from the cabinet or even the emperor. They are bold, but they dare not make trouble at this time.

  Wu Fangyuan sat steadily in the chair, with pen and ink on the table, acting as a recording clerk. Zhao Yuankui had empty sleeves, sitting in the chair, looking at the three young talents standing in front of him, nodded his head in satisfaction. Although Feng Youli hadn't come, he added a point in his heart. Not being tempted by fame or fortune, he was indeed a man with a firm mind.

  The sun moves slowly, and the shadows of people on the ground also gradually change direction.

  Qin Yun composed the awkwardness on his face, turned his head to look at Wei Zhao, and still couldn't help but blush, stiffening his scalp and saying in a low voice, "Young Master Wei, I suppose you also understand that this is a great opportunity for rapid advancement and prosperity."

  Wei Zhuo slowly cracked melon seeds, turned his head and looked at him, saying in a strange tone: "Lord Qin, why do you become an official..."

  "Of course, it's for the heavens..." Qin Yun almost blurted out "for the sake of all living things, the country and its people", but immediately afterwards, he awkwardly smiled wryly. This kind of reason could only deceive those ignorant and fanatical scholars, but was useless against Wei Zhao.

  Wei Zhuo blinked his eyes and looked at him again.

  Qin Yun's eyebrows furrowed in concern, a thoughtful expression on his face.

  "For what rights?"

  "For the people?"

  "For the sake of the country?"

  "For the Emperor?"

  He should have been able to say this with a clear conscience, but facing Wei Zuo, he didn't know why he always felt a twinge of guilt, as if everything was being seen through.

  The smile on Wei Zhao's face was eerie, his voice like a ghostly whisper, as he said slowly: "Sir, do you want what you're looking at? Is this really what you want......"

  Qin Yun's expression was slightly dazed, his eyes drifting aimlessly, and suddenly he remembered that the dozen or so years of preparation were all for the sake of returning to the imperial court one day.

  "Is this really what I want?"

  Qin Yun's mind kept echoing with this sentence, his expression dazed and confused as he gently shook his head, but suddenly his face changed, his eyes wide open, a feeling of horror creeping up from the bottom of his heart, making his back icy cold and his forehead dripping with sweat.

  He swallowed hard, looking at Wei Zhuo who was still leaning against the high platform with an air of nonchalance, a hint of horror flashing in his eyes. Just now, he had felt himself half asleep and half awake, his eyelids twitching as he almost fell asleep, dazed and confused, he vaguely understood that at this moment, no matter what others asked him, he would answer whatever they asked!

  Wei Xiao's mouth corners slightly curled up, this hypnotic technique he had used for the first time in over a month, although the effect wasn't very good, but it still made him quite excited.

  Qin Yun's heart was racing non-stop. If he had any mental advantage over Wei Xiao before, it had completely disappeared at this moment.

  Qin Yun carefully recalled the old man's words, no matter how he listened to them, they didn't seem that simple, and there was a certain deep meaning hidden inside. Thinking of this, his gaze towards Wei Zhao changed once again. Forgetting the fear from earlier, he had the intention to get closer, but lost the excuse, and couldn't help but appear extremely awkward standing there.

  Wei Zhao ignored Qin Yun and looked towards the high platform, his expression changed slightly.

  Only then did Chu Han and the other two sit down, each of their tables equipped with complete writing utensils, all four treasures of the study.

  It's clear that the conference has truly begun.

  All that was seen was a middle-aged man-like figure on the high platform taking out a lacquered envelope, opening it in public, and pulling out a white paper. He looked at it seriously for a moment, then seemed to say something to the three of them, and the three immediately bowed their heads and began to think deeply.

  The crowd immediately surged and all sorts of discussions rose and fell, spreading out in all directions like a tidal wave.

  Wei Zhuo pricked up his ears and occasionally furrowed his brow.

  Some said it was a couplet, some said it was a poem, and others said it was a discussion of politics. All sorts of strange things were happening, and Wei Xiao couldn't make head or tail of them either.

  Fu Jiong and Xiang Qiang also perked up their ears to listen, but unfortunately, they didn't hear anything remarkable either. Just as the three of them furrowed their brows, Qin Yun on the side chuckled and said: "Young Master Wei, I know the question that Zhao Xue Shi asked."

  Wei Zhuang was taken aback, looking at the extra figure behind him, and nodded with a smile.

  Qin Yun didn't think it was strange either, and smiled: "The topic that Scholar Zhao came up with is a poem about osmanthus flowers!"

  Wei Zhao hadn't moved, but Fu Yang and Xiaoying suddenly became urgent. Xiangxiang pulled on Wei Zhao's arm and said in a soft voice: "Young master, you do one, you must be better than them."

  Wei Zhao stared at her with an expressionless face and continued to look towards the high platform.

  The little girl pouted her small mouth, somewhat resentfully hanging her head, but her big eyes were rolling around.

  Not long after, on the high platform, a figure in black stood up first, blew dry the ink marks and handed it to Zhao Yuan Kui.

  Fu Jiong turned his head to look at Wei Xiao, his face slightly red as he hesitated and said "Teacher, why don't you do one? I think whatever teacher does will definitely be better than theirs."

  Weizao looked at Fu Yang, then glanced at Xiangqian who was pinching a melon seed shell and said: "At this time you should be looking at the high platform with tears in your eyes, and then cry while eating melon seeds. This will arouse my sympathy, otherwise it's just embarrassing for Young Master." After finishing speaking, Weizao felt somewhat helpless, what was the point of teaching them these things anyway.

  Xiao Yatou's face turned red as soon as she heard it, and she hugged her head in distress, saying "Young Master..."

  Wei Zhuo glanced at Fu Yan and smiled, "Got it. People are idle when the osmanthus flowers fall, the night is quiet with empty spring mountains. The moon rises to startle the mountain birds, and they chirp in the spring brook." He indeed only remembered this one poem about osmanthus flowers, fresh and elegant, with a carefree mountain spirit flowing between the lines, extremely refreshing.