Chapter Twelve: Hemoptysis (Please collect~~)

  Fewer than five people in the entire state of Qi have been allowed to enter Master Yinzong's chamber, and even the powerful King of Jin has been refused multiple times. Yet now, a mere merchant's son has not only been invited in but also offered a game of chess! Being invited by Master Yinzong to play chess is an honor that belongs solely to Wei Xiangzi.

  But Wei Zhao's answer made everyone even more shocked.

  I'm not very good at playing chess.

  Chen Zhuo glared at Wei Zhao with bulging eyes, his face twisted in a ferocious scowl, as if he could swallow him whole. All of this should have been his: it was he who entered the meditation room of Master Yin Kong, and it was he who received the most beautiful smile from Yi Yun! But now everything had been snatched away by Wei Zhao, all of it! His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was deathly pale with rage. Even someone as cunning as him couldn't calm his mind at this moment.

  "Wait a minute!" Chen Zhuo suddenly shouted loudly before everyone could react to Wei Xiao's words.

  Everyone was stunned, and they all turned their heads to look at Chen Zhuo. Wei Xiao remained calm and composed, as if he were an outsider looking down on the crowd. The nearby Yin Kong Master nodded repeatedly, with a look of appreciation and even more kindness.

  Chen Zhuo's eyes met those of the crowd, and he couldn't help but hold his breath. In his panic, he saw Jiang You and suddenly changed color, pointing at Wei Zao and shouting loudly: "He plagiarized! He plagiarized! This poem wasn't written by him at all! Master, Miss, don't believe me? Ask Brother Jiang, they're close friends. Brother Jiang, tell them, isn't it true that he plagiarized? This poem wasn't written by him, right? Right?"

  Jiang You's expression faltered, and he looked at Wei Zhao, his former close friend who was now completely unrecognizable. He furrowed his brow, then subconsciously nodded. Based on his understanding of Wei Zhao, the latter was not skilled in poetry, but rather excelled in the classics of the Four Books and Five Classics.

  As Jiang You nodded, everyone's eyes focused on Wei Zhao. Suspicion, doubt, and all sorts of misgivings arose.

  Xiao Yatou Xiangxiang's small face turned bright red, and she rolled up her sleeves as if to charge towards Chen Zhuo. Wei Xiao didn't know what she was going to do, so he hastily pulled her back, gazing calmly at the crowd with an air of innocence. This skill of feigning ignorance with one's eyes open, he had mastered it through years of experience.

  Master Yin Kong's eyes could see through a person, and after a moment of astonishment, he didn't look at Wei Zhao again. He lightly swept his gaze and turned to Chen Zhuo, his expression unchanged, with a slight frown.

  Her eyebrows slightly raised, she pursed her red lips and didn't speak. But those who knew her understood that this was a sign of Yiyun's dislike and distaste.

  Chen Zhuo saw that everyone had no reaction, and immediately stared at Wei Qiao with a fierce gaze, shouting "You say, are you plagiarizing? This is not something you did at all! Is it or isn't it!"

  Wei Zhuo's eyes narrowed slightly, the corners of his mouth curled up, and he said: "The Yangtze River flows eastward, its waves washing away heroes. Right and wrong, success and failure, all become empty in the end. The green mountains remain, the sunset is red after several times. An old fisherman on the riverbank, accustomed to seeing the autumn moon and spring breeze. A jug of turbid wine, joyful reunion, countless things past and present, all paid for in laughter. Chen brother, you've arrived."

  Stillness. Unprecedented stillness. Wei Xiao closed his eyes and muttered to himself, "I plagiarized, I was wrong, I repent."

  Xiangliang's big eyes shone brightly, and without hesitation, she rushed straight towards Master Yinxu's Zen room. Master Yinxu's expression was slightly stunned, his lips moved, but he didn't stop Xiangliang.

  Xianglian stepped inside, paused for a moment, then rushed in quickly, picked up the brush and paper, and rushed back out. She ignored the stunned expressions of the crowd, put down the inkstone, grabbed the brush, and started writing.

  "What's the next line, young master?"

  "Master, is this character correct?"

  "Master, what's your name?"

  "Master, how do you write this character?"

  Xiangliang crouched on the ground, occasionally raising her small head to ask a question. Wei Xiao glared at her with an air of annoyance, but still told her the truth.

  Chen Zhuo muttered to himself in a low voice, his eyes filled with a dull grayness. Chu Yu had wanted to applaud and cheer, but he didn't have the qualifications to comment here, so he just stood there with a red face, feeling anxious. Jiang You's eyes twitched violently, his face looking extremely ugly, his heart feeling very uncomfortable, thinking that he might have made a huge mistake, one that could never be rectified for the rest of his life.

  In the midst of everyone's shock, Master Yin Kong came back to his senses, joined his palms together and devoutly said to Wei Zhao, "Amitabha, Wei Shi's poetic talent should be the first in Jinling. In the mundane world, he has a carefree and joyful view of life. Congratulations are in order."

  With a charming smile and sparkling eyes, she slightly lowered her head and softly said: "Young Master Wei's talent is overflowing, his conduct is humble and modest, he should be the number one talented scholar of Jinling."

  "Hmm"

  Suddenly, Chen Zhuo, who had been forgotten by everyone, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes turned blood red and rounded, his fingers straightened and pointed at Wei Zhao, let out a low cry, and fell backwards with an extremely twisted and unwilling expression.

  He knew that with the reputation of Master Yinquan in Daci, as soon as this sentence was spread, even without taking the imperial examination, the emperor would directly grant him the title of Jinshi. With these two poems and someone's recommendation from the court, getting a third-class honor would be easy.

  Jiang You's chest heaved, a mouthful of air stuck in his throat, and his eyes were filled with regret. Several times he wanted to step forward and say a few words to Wei Zhao, but as soon as he met his gaze, which was like that of a stranger, he hesitated and retreated.

  Chen Zhuo's body fell straight down, unexpectedly, no one went to help him. He fell heavily to the ground with a thud.

  Yin Kongzi said a Buddha's name, waved his right hand and smiled: "Please, Mr. Wei, I have some of the finest Longjing tea in my humble abode, let us savor it together."

  Wei Zhao watched as Xiao Yatou Xiangqiang carefully folded the paper and put it in her bosom. She thought for a moment, then nodded slightly towards Yin Kong. Since they had invited him three or four times already, Wei Zhao couldn't decline again. Besides, it was still early, and Old Master probably found it quite boring too, so she might as well accompany him for a game.

  "Yiyun girl, please come in too." Master Yin Kong looked around and smiled at Yiyun.

  Xiangxiang seemed to suddenly remember something, just as she was about to speak, Yin Kong smiled lightly at her and then turned his head towards the Chan room. Xiangxiang's small mouth opened slightly, furrowing her small brow, looking at the door of the Chan room with a hesitant expression.

  Two little girls and Chen Zhuo were left outside, while Wei Zhao followed Yin Kong Master towards the Zen room. Yiyun walked elegantly beside Wei Zhao, her steps small and delicate, a whiff of fragrance wafting over, and Wei Zhao couldn't help but glance at her sideways. Her face was soft and charming, tender and delicate, with curves that were both subtle and striking, her legs long and slender, a rare beauty indeed.

  Yi Yun saw Wei Zhao look at her, lightly turned her head and smiled gently, instantly like pear blossoms falling all over the sky, refreshing and pleasant.

  Wei Zhao smiled lightly and nodded, looking elegant and composed, without any awkwardness.

  "Hehe, two donors, please." Master Yin Kong walked to the front of the door, turned sideways and smiled at Wei Xiao Yinyin.

  Wei Zhao and Yi Yun exchanged a glance, looking at the small door in front of them, which was no less formidable than a dragon's lair or a tiger's den. With a faint smile, they stepped inside.

  "Huh?" The two of them were stunned as soon as they entered the door.

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