Chapter 475: Aftermath of the Imperial Examination (Part 2)
Gu Dongqiao did not think about concealing his intentions, nor was he afraid that his words would be spread. This is called conspiracy.
The feedback from both Xu Wei Gong and Xu Jinyi was also very quick, but their feedback attitudes were completely opposite.
Xu Wei Gong declined the sincerity requested by the old alliance leader Gu and was unwilling to remove Qin Dewei's poem from Fangshu Tower by Mochou Lake.
Probably Wei Guogong relied on his status and did not bother to put on a posture of flattering the superior and suppressing the inferior.
Perhaps it is also because the artistic value of Qin Dewei's poems written in Fang Shu Lou is higher and irreplaceable.
On the other side, Xu Jinyi showed sincerity and was willing to remove the original stone carvings of Qin Dewei's poems from the East Garden and replace them with poems by Xu Gu of Huiyuan.
In the ninth year of Jiajing's reign, the East Garden was renovated and the elegant gathering was held. It was the time when Qin Dewei first came out of the house. Xu Gu also participated and left poems.
So the words are all ready-made, and you just need to translate them out and carve them into stone again.
The results of the joint examination were sent to Nanjing in mid-March. When Mr. Gu returned to Nanjing to preside over the celebration, and after another preparation process, it was early April.
Qin Dewei's serious relatives and family members don't have any feelings about other people's publicity.
Qin Dewei's uncle Qin Xiang is only worried about two things now. The first is that Gu's delivery time is only a month or two, and the second is how to repair the Jinshi Memorial Arch.
As for the hustle and bustle of the literary world, Qin Xiang remained unmoved. He was a government official and did not mingle with the literary world, so he was not sensitive to matters in the literary world.
No matter how arrogant Mr. Gu is, he seems to be completely unable to affect Qin Chaoyi's social circle.
As for Mrs. Gu, apart from the increasingly restless fetus in her belly, what else could she care about?
As for the bank, since I know that my younger husband's Jinshi is secure, there is no need to worry for the time being.
But Qin Dewei's peripheral friends, such as Xu Laosan, Gao Changjiang and others, were all filled with indignation, but they were unable to stop the general trend.
By the time of the gathering, the original iconic huge carved stone in front of the main hall of Xu Jinyi's East Garden had been removed.
However, the new stone carvings have not yet been completed, so a temporary colorful pavilion can be built here, and the poems written by Xu Gu of Huiyuan for the East Garden are hung.
Those who participated in today's gathering were led here first and gradually gathered, while Gu Lin, the old alliance leader, stood next to Caiting.
On his left is Yan Song, the Minister of Rites of Nanjing, and on his right is the local master Xu Jinyi, forming an obvious chairman.
The host Xu Jinyi stared at Caiting, wondering what he was thinking.
Gu Lin first comforted Xu Jinyi, the big benefactor, and said: "Don't worry! From today on, Xu Shicheng will be the business card of Nanjing!
I, Gu Lin, have been working hard in the literary world for decades. How can I still lose my appeal?
As long as we use the momentum of Huiyuan to rise up, it will be enough to make Qingxi Poetry Society's position in Nanjing unshakable. We will cooperate with you for a long time in the future and we will get what we need!"
When the number of people was almost there, music started playing on both sides.
Then Gu Lao, the leader of the Alliance, officially spoke: "Today's grand gathering is originally to celebrate Xu Shicheng's Huiyuan, but I also have a few things that I would like to take the opportunity to tell you!
First, over the years, I have been promoted by various gentlemen to lead the literary world in Jinling, but now I feel that I am not doing what I want.
Seeing that in recent years, new talents have emerged one after another, I have the intention of giving way to the talents."
Then Gu Lin pointed to Xu Gu's poems in Caiting and said: "Xu Shicheng is number one on the A-list and shines in the Southern Capital. Isn't he the chosen one?
Therefore, I ask Uncle Zong to be my witness. I would like to entrust Xu Shicheng with everything regarding the Nandu literary world and my identity as the head of the Qingxi Poetry Society from now on!"
"Hahahaha!" Suddenly someone laughed rudely, interrupting the old leader Gu.
When everyone looked at him, they saw that he was actually a handsome young man, with an aura of playfulness all over his body.
I saw this dandy boy pointing at Mr. Gu and saying, "What an old fool! There are champions elsewhere, but when you see a champion in Nanjing, you praise him like this. I'm afraid it will make our Nanjing literary circle a laughing stock in other places!"
Then the young man raised his arms and shouted: "Only Qin Dewei is a unique figure in our Nanjing literary world!
If you, an old man, insist on supporting a Hui Yuan to support your appearance, who in other places will take it seriously? It’s like you are blind!"
Most people couldn't figure out the origin of this arrogant young man for a while, but Xu Jinyi's expression was not very good, and he scolded: "Xu Shi'an! Stop meddling in other people's business! Otherwise, I'll kick you out!"
Xu Shi'an, a member of the idle Qianhu family who finally managed to sneak in, Xu Laosan shut his mouth angrily, still feeling very unconvinced.
Gu Lin continued: "Secondly, I want to say a few words about literature.
I think Jinling’s cultural context originated from the Six Dynasties. The imagery of the Six Dynasties is the foundation of Nanjing literature and a unique feature that distinguishes it from other places. It must not be thrown away!
Therefore, the new Jinling trend that has been circulating in the past two years is simply forgetting one's ancestors. In my opinion, it is all heresy! Our Qingxi Poetry Society will never tolerate this kind of trend!
From now on, any local literati who advocates a new Jinling will not be a fellow friend of the Qingxi Poetry Society!
Those who are stubborn and unrepentant should cut ties with each other and abandon them outside!"
Hearing this, the literati attending the meeting looked at each other. In all these years, they have never seen the old alliance leader be so ruthless.
The new Jinling style was advocated by Qin Dewei. The old alliance leader wanted to force everyone to follow the trend by using either friends or enemies. Didn't he just want to isolate Qin Dewei?
Xu Shian sneered loudly again: "You old man, you only show off your power in the city of Nanjing, and I don't think you have any reputation outside!
People like you would rather drag the entire Nanjing literary world to become the laughing stock of other places than lose your status in the Nanjing literary world!
My nanny brother Qin Dewei once said that some people have such a temperament that they would rather fight with foreign enemies than family members, and I think he is talking about you!"
Gu Lin said with a stern face: "Whatever you say, what does the matter in the literary world have to do with you, a world official?"
Then he said to everyone: "If anyone disagrees, you can leave!"
Most of the people did not move. The situation is unclear now. Whoever leaves at this time will be very conspicuous.
People like Qin Dewei can ignore any rules, but ordinary people can't.
But there is always someone else. I saw a young scholar walking out of the crowd, bowed deeply to the old leader, and then left without saying a word.
After everyone saw this person clearly, they were all shocked. He turned out to be Wang Fengyuan and Wang Jishan, a close disciple of Gu Lao Alliance Leader!
Although it has long been heard that the master and apprentice have parted ways, the two have not broken up in public.
Unexpectedly, Wang Fengyuan openly "betrayed" his apprenticeship today in full public view.
Then several more people stood up, said "poof" to the old alliance leader Gu, and left together. These were scholars from Jiangning County, such as Gao Changjiang and others.
Leader Gu glanced around again. Even if those few were gone, there would still be hundreds of people left! This was the appeal he had accumulated over decades!
You are always the mainstream. As long as you strengthen your sense of opposition and stir up heterodox controversy, no one wants to be left out of the mainstream if they want to join the mainstream!
Xu Shi'an couldn't help but mocked and said: "If Qin Dewei is in Nanjing and you, old man Gu, dare to do this, I will admire you as a hero!"
Just like in the past few years, although you were beaten by Qin Dewei every year, no one looked down on you. After all, others were not even qualified to be beaten.
My brother-in-law once said a poem, "Your body and name will be destroyed, but the eternal flow of rivers will not be destroyed! What's so great about a mere Huiyuan!"
The old alliance leader Gu sneered a few times and said to Xu Jinyi: "You don't care about such troublemakers?"
When it came to his own interests, Xu Jinyi couldn't bear it anymore and waved his hand decisively, regardless of his family ties.
Then several domestic slaves swarmed up to him, shouting "Master An is offended", lifted Xu Shi'an and walked out.
The venue was finally cleared, and the old alliance leader Gu spoke again: "There is a third thing, Qingxi Poetry Society wants to expand its allies!
Those who are willing to join our Qingxi Poetry Society can send me poems and articles for viewing today."
Suddenly a servant rushed over and reported to his master Xu Jinyi:
"Outside, there are government officials all over the city beating gongs to announce the news! The government office has just received the news that the new champion is Qin Dewei from Nanjing!"
One sentence immediately went viral. For everyone, they had never heard such an incredible thing in their lives.
This horse-riding man can actually produce the number one scholar in Nanjing? Did the emperor take the wrong medicine in his elixir?
But this kind of thing cannot be deliberately false, right? After everyone was shocked, they all looked at Gu Dongqiao again, how could this old gentleman step down now?
There is an urban legend in Nanjing that Qin Dewei slaps the old alliance leader Gu in the face every spring, which can be regarded as an annual repertoire in the Nanjing literary world in recent years.
Everyone originally thought that this year would probably be discontinued, but they didn’t expect that the inertia would still be so tenacious!
Mr. Gu used Huiyuan as a gimmick to control public opinion today, but Qin Dewei became the top pick.
I don't know who took the lead. The crowd was digesting the huge shock and walked out one after another.
Many people are still secretly glad that the news came in time and they have not yet joined the Qingxi Poetry Society.
Not long after, there were only a dozen or so people left at the grand gathering, all of whom were true hardcore Gu Lao leader.
The big sponsor Xu Jinyi's face turned even more ugly. He finally felt that the so-called appeal of the old leader Gu might be a bit weak.
He shouted to the servant: "Move the previously carved stone back quickly!"
But the servant helplessly pointed at Xu Shi'an and responded: "The master said to deal with it casually, but then Mr. An spent money to take away the carved stone, which is the one that was carried out just now."
Xu Jinyi: ""
All the elite literati in the city gathered here today. Everyone had fantasies about the No. 1 Scholar, but they didn't expect that the No. 1 Scholar would arrive in Nanjing unexpectedly.
But the number one winner is not him, but the person who has been reciting poems and lyrics since he was twelve years old, pretending to pick up girls, cracking down on gangsters, fighting evil and fighting in the officialdom. He seems to be the person who has least studied hard.
After seeing the huge crowd, they walked out of the East Garden in confusion and dispersed into various streets. Then they discovered that the whole city of Nanjing might be in a state of explosion.
A new record is circulating, this is the youngest number one pick in history!
It was originally a very peaceful day. Ms. Jiang was entrusted by her husband to go to Gu's house on Sanshan Street to visit her "niece-in-law" Mrs. Gu, who was about to give birth.
Then Mrs. Jiang got a little jealous. When she returned and entered the house, she coyly said to her husband Qin Xiang: "How about you and I try harder?"
Qin Xiang and Qin Baotou were indifferent, pretending to be stupid and said: "What are you working hard for?"
If the efforts were effective, the results would have been achieved in the past ten years or so.
Jiang was dissatisfied and pushed Mr. Qin hard into the bedroom, "What if you try for a few more years? Are you counting on your nephew?"
When Capt. Qin had nowhere to hide, someone suddenly slammed the door hard, resolving Capt. Qin's predicament.
There was a servant outside the door, panting and saying: "The master asked me to invite you over!"
Then he added: "Your eldest nephew won the top prize!"
Qin's head and legs went weak and he couldn't stand while holding on to the door. This was so scary!
It took a month for the eldest nephew to become a Jinshi, so how could he become the No. 1 again?
The officer continued: "The county magistrate asked me to breathe a sigh of relief and said that you should just resign as a police officer and stop being a head catcher in the future."
"Why?" Qin Baotou woke up suddenly.
The messenger explained: "Now Duke Zhuangyuan has no other elders in Nanjing. Speaking of which, you are the only one. But you are a lowly servant and it doesn't look good to you."
So what the county magistrate wants is for you to find a successor, and then you will get rid of your humble status so as not to embarrass the No. 1 Scholar."
Qin Captou: ""
In the old courtyard of Qinhuai, Wang Lianqing, without makeup, was sitting in the hall in a daze. Madam Chen was talking to her:
"Have you thought about it? If you really don't have the heart, I won't advise you, but please find a remote courtyard to live by yourself and free up space here."
Suddenly a maid rushed over and said to Old Madam Chen: "There are a lot of people outside! They are clamoring to see what the number one confidante is like!"
Madam Chen was puzzled: "What number one scholar?"
The maid replied: "I heard from our guests that Mr. Qin won the first prize!"
Madam Chen was stunned for a moment, then she tried her best to smile and said to Wang Lianqing: "My dear daughter, look at this, everything here is money!
Just like in the past, just drink tea with me!"
Wang Lianqing suddenly woke up and walked out. Madam Chen quickly stopped her: "Where are you going?"
Wang Lianqing showed the key in his hand and said with determination, "Didn't you ask me to find another place?
I'll move to Qinxi's house and not occupy the courtyard here. Anyway, he gave me the key before leaving. Then I'll find a way to get to the capital!"
Outside the door of Mr. Xu, the commander of the left guard in Nanjing, there is a very obstructive boulder, which was moved from Dongyuan. It is engraved with Qin Dewei's debut work in the ninth year of Jiajing.
The main reason is that the boulder cannot be moved into the main gate of Conductor Xu, so it can only be temporarily placed beside the wall outside the door.
Wei Guogong Xu Pengju suddenly remembered visiting relatives, so he ran to Commander Xu in a condescending manner, touched the boulder and looked around.
Commander Xu and his son stood behind the Duke and heard him say: "Three times the price, I bought it!"
Commander Xu was helpless. He covered Xu Laosan's mouth and replied: "If you like it, Lord, just move away! But I'm afraid that my God-given brother will come and make noise again."
Wei Guogong chuckled, "I'll put it in the family history to see if uncle still has the nerve to ask for it!"
No, there is no Xu family to study, now it is called the Zhuangyuan Academy! After all, it is the place where the number one scholar has been produced!"
Commander Xu: ""
Overnight, Nanjing suddenly had many places named after Zhuangyuan.
The private school of Qin Dewei's master Wang Yijing has a plaque of "Zhuangyuan School".
Taibai Tower in Wudingqiao, where Qin Dewei often went to eat and drink, was directly renamed Zhuangyuan Tower.
The square where Qin Dewei's Qingxi residence is located was renamed Zhuangyuanfang, and the nameless alley in front of the house was also renamed Zhuangyuan Lane.
Dakongfang Social Science, which had driven out Qin Dewei, shamelessly changed its name to Zhuangyuan Social Science.
Even Miss Wang, who became famous again, got a new nickname, called Zhuangyuanhong