Chapter 113: Find Someone Else

The Capital was shaken.

Emperor Hongzhi’s self-criticizing imperial edict had already spread to every corner of the Capital.

The current His Majesty was a Sage Monarch, so it was not surprising that he issued an edict to blame himself.

The only surprise was why Fang Jifan was the one who gave the advice?

This was a bit awkward.

But the inside story was kept tightly sealed in the Imperial Palace, airtight. Those who knew would never mention it, and those who didn’t know could only guess in secret.

Fang Jifan suddenly became the rising star, and his image improved all at once.

But it takes more than one cold day for the river to freeze three feet deep—more people felt doubtful.

After returning from fertilizing at the Eastern Palace, the watermelon vines had already borne fruit, but they were only the size of walnuts and very ugly. It would still be a long time before they grew into mouth-watering shapes.

Because he had been turning soil and fertilizing, Fang Jifan was covered in dirt. He began to question his life. Wasn’t the original intention of this Young Lord to make money? How did he end up actually farming while trying to earn?

Although he yearned for the beauty of the countryside, it should be like a pastoral idyll, like the virtuous scholars of the Western Jin Dynasty who boasted, lay in their manors or deep mountains, picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, and gazing contentedly at the southern mountains. How did he end up working the fields himself?

The Crown Prince… was a troublemaker.

As soon as he returned to his residence, he saw the entire Fang Family was solemn.

When he entered the hall, he saw Manager Yang, Ouyang Zhi, Liu Wenshan, Jiang Chen, Tang Yin, and Xu Jing were all there.

They greeted Fang Jifan with admiring eyes.

Although Fang Jifan’s entrance was not impressive—he had no hair wax, no cigar, no dashing coat, was covered in dirt, and even emitted a scent of ‘natural fertilizer.’

But in an instant, Xu Jing stepped forward without hesitation and knelt at Fang Jifan’s feet. He said excitedly, “Thanks to my Benefactor’s righteous words, this student has regained his status as a Tribute Scholar. I am deeply grateful!”

“Oh.” Fang Jifan nodded. He was used to being thanked by others. It felt quite comfortable and good. “I know.”

Seeing Fang Jifan’s coldness, Xu Jing’s eyes shone with warmth. He bowed again at Fang Jifan’s feet and said, “This student admires Benefactor’s character and wishes to become Benefactor’s disciple to serve Benefactor.”

Become… a disciple…

At this point, Fang Jifan could not help but size up Xu Jing.

Xu Jing was different from the others in background. He came from a prominent family in Jiangnan. What Fang Jifan disliked most were those who, like himself, were handsome, came from wealthy families, and were full of knowledge.

This Young Lord is the flower; disciples are just the green leaves. You, with your delicate skin and tender flesh, coming forward like this—are you trying to steal the spotlight?

Of course… the real reason was… young masters from prominent families had many flaws. Although Tang Yin also had many flaws, he could paint.

As for Xu Jing, from this Imperial Examination scandal, it was clear that as soon as he arrived in the Capital, he went around meeting friends, drawing attention. He seemed impressive but didn’t know that the outstanding tree in the forest would be destroyed by the wind. If he were just flamboyant, that would be one thing—Fang Jifan was also flamboyant—but Xu Jing foolishly went to visit Cheng Minzheng. It was one thing to visit, but after visiting, he told everyone, as if afraid people wouldn’t know about his relationship with Cheng Minzheng. After Cheng Minzheng was appointed as an examiner, he should have quickly avoided suspicion, but he did not. He even went to ask for calligraphy, and after receiving it, promptly sent a fee.

This… was clearly a living idiot.

For such a person to stay alive was already not easy, purely due to luck. But becoming a disciple…

This disciple could not be accepted! At least not now. He needed to first grind away Xu Jing’s edges. Xu Jing had been in the Imperial Prison and indeed had become steadier than before, but it was not enough.

So…

Fang Jifan narrowed his eyes and said very bluntly, “Not accepted. Find someone else.”

Everyone thought the next scene would be a harmonious and joyful one, but who knew the Fang Family’s Young Lord would give no face at all?

Xu Jing was stunned. Fang Jifan’s righteous act had moved him to tears; he had cried many times. Now that he had regained his status as a Tribute Scholar and the Palace Examination was approaching, he thought that since Bohu had already become a disciple, and this Fang Family young lord had three disciples, and he himself had received such great favor, he should also become a disciple. He had never thought Fang Jifan would refuse, but Fang Jifan refused so decisively.

It was roughly the attitude of… ‘get lost.’

Xu Jing then said tearfully, “If this student becomes your disciple, he will serve Benefactor well. Please, Benefactor… do not dislike…”

He was unwilling.

Fang Jifan became annoyed. “I said no means no. Originally, with just one Jiang Chen, who only ranked eighth in the Metropolitan Examination, I already felt too ashamed to show my face, with no place to hide…”

Jiang Chen, who was standing to the side, felt as if a knife had stabbed his heart.

Fang Jifan showed an apologetic look and said to Jiang Chen, “Little Jiang, your mentor speaks rather bluntly. You won’t mind, will you?”

Jiang Chen’s eyes were hazy, as if misty, almost about to cry, but he tried hard to shake his head and said, “I don’t mind, I don’t mind.”

Fang Jifan nodded and then said to Xu Jing, “See, with just one Jiang Chen, I, Fang Jifan, already feel ashamed and humiliated. You tell me, what rank did you get?”

“…” Xu Jing could not help but look ashamed.

He ranked even worse—in the twenties.

Although ranking in the twenties in the Metropolitan Examination, and given Xu Jing’s age, as long as he performed decently in the Palace Examination, he was almost certain to become a Second Rank Jinshi. Moreover, he was good-looking—the Great Ming’s official appointments were based on appearance. Although he was now beaten beyond recognition in prison, by that time, he would likely have recovered his handsome appearance. Entering the Hanlin Academy was also almost certain.

Such a person, anywhere in The World, would be a future Hanlin Academician with great prospects. But here with Fang Jifan, he actually felt he could not hold his head up.

Xu Jing still wanted to try again, so he said, “This student loved reading since childhood. My grandfather Xu Yi and my father Xu Yuanxian were both Great Scholars in Jiangnan…”

Xu Jing seemed to feel that this was the only thing he could offer.

He came from a famous family, the Wucheng Xu Family, which was renowned and widely known since the early Ming.

Fang Jifan laughed. “What does your grandfather and your father have to do with you?”

Xu Jing felt even more ashamed, wanting to find a crack in the ground to hide in. He could only take a deep breath and said, “Under the influence of my grandfather and father, this student loved poetry and books since childhood, enjoying learning tirelessly. All household matters were handled by my mother and wife, while I buried myself in Imperial Examination studies. I usually never left the neighborhood and never looked at the market.”

Fang Jifan showed a very dismissive, scornful expression. “Just a bookworm.”

“…”

Originally, these things were a source of pride for a scholar—loving to read, coming from a prestigious family. Which of these wasn’t something to boast about?

But Fang Jifan scorned them all.

Xu Jing’s eyes turned red. He kept kneeling on the ground, unwilling to get up. He was not reconciled. In this world, was there any teacher Xu Jing could not become a disciple of? In the past, many people had begged to take him as a disciple.

He took a deep breath, thought for a moment, and felt that his Benefactor was an extraordinary person. Since he didn’t like bookworms, then… He composed himself and said, “My family has a rich collection of books. The ‘Ten-Thousand Volume Tower’ built at home houses a large number of ancient documents that survived the chaos of the Song and Yuan dynasties. Among them are many works on astronomy, geography, travelogues, and the like. Since childhood, I have memorized them all. The Four Books and Five Classics, to this student, are just for the Imperial Examination. I know everything about astronomy, geography, classical texts, and historical records.”

This was his trump card.

Actually, regarding this point, he was not boasting.

The Xu Family had been a family of Great Scholars since the Southern Song Dynasty. Xu Jing’s grandfathers had collected countless ancient documents. This was also why, in history, Xu Jing’s grandson Xu Xiake was called a geographer of the Central State—there was a family tradition behind it.

Fang Jifan intended to humble Xu Jing and just sneered, “Can astronomy and geography be eaten?”

“…”

At this moment, Xu Jing felt so grief-stricken and indignant that he wanted to die.

Fang Jifan then said, “Your level is not even enough to be my disciple’s disciple. I already have one inferior disciple, Jiang Chen. Do not mention becoming a disciple again.”

Jiang Chen: “…”

Manager Yang watched with wide eyes. But since the Young Lord was speaking, he did not dare interrupt, afraid of making the Young Lord lose face in front of outsiders. But… in his heart, he was pounding his chest and stamping his feet. Young Lord, Young Lord, such a fine young talent wants to kneel at your feet. Why must you humiliate him like this?

Feeling emotional and melancholic, he could not help but glance at Tang Yin, Ouyang Zhi, and the others. He couldn’t help but feel resentful. The Scholars these days, their heads are all broken, all broken.

That night, Xu Jing looked bitter. He had packed his bags, ready to move out the next day. He and Tang Yin shared a room. As parting approached, in this spotless study, a dim lamp flickered, shining on Xu Jing’s bruised and scarred face.

He let out a long sigh, full of unwillingness. Then, he shook his head bitterly and said, “Bohu, sometimes I really envy you. A person like Benefactor, although he speaks too directly, his words are like knives, he is a person of great wisdom and courage. How outsiders view him is not important. But for me, Xu Jing, if I could become his disciple, even if I didn’t learn any principles from him, just being able to serve him would make me content.”

Xu Jing held immense gratitude toward Fang Jifan.

Back then, the trouble he caused was too big.

The Xu Family was a prominent family in Jiangnan, and they did have connections in the Capital. But after being implicated in the fraud and sent to the Imperial Prison, those old friends in the Capital were all fearful and uneasy. No one dared to lend a hand.

Actually, Xu Jing did not blame them. There was really no one to blame. In such an imperial case, whoever got involved would die. Even close relatives could only utter a cry of sorrow.

But when Tang Yin begged Fang Jifan, Fang Jifan actually agreed without hesitation.

As Tang Yin’s Mentor, just because Xu Jing was Tang Yin’s friend, Fang Jifan stepped forward.

Look, such a Mentor is hard to find even with a lantern.

Not only that, Fang Jifan also accomplished the task. Not only did he get Xu Jing out of the Imperial Prison alive, but he also restored Xu Jing’s Imperial Examination Degree, and even… the Son of Heaven issued a self-criticizing imperial edict.

What is this if not great wisdom and courage?