I want to make progress

Chapter 92: Sky-high Price Invitation
Annan's arrival really gave her more power. In just a few days, she had investigated everything that happened between those students taking the spring examination.

There were too many candidates taking part in the spring examination, and the news was complicated and numerous. Among the numerous messages, Annan did find some useful information.

The people of Liangyi Sect did intend to take action in this spring examination, but the specific circumstances are not yet known. However, Annan discovered that several students in this autumn examination who were strong and could compete for the top spot had people from Liangyi Sect around them.

But whether the Liangyi Sect is going to do anything is unknown.

There are three days left before the Spring Examination, and on this day there is a much-anticipated poetry reading taking place at Jiuchonglou, a famous teahouse in the capital.

Why is it so highly anticipated? Because three days before each Autumn Examination, a poetry gathering would be held in the Nine-Storied Tower. Not only would students participating in the Autumn Examination be invited to display their talents and ambitions, but also important officials and respected Confucian scholars from the court would be invited to serve as judges, attracting many students and court officials.

Over the years, poetry gatherings have been held countless times in Jiuchonglou, and everyone has surprisingly discovered that any student who has performed well at the gathering has obtained very good rankings in the autumn examination.

Even though some of them didn't rank very well, they were still given important positions.

It is said that the boss behind the Jiuchonglou is a highly respected figure in the court. The reason why this poetry meeting was held before the autumn examination was to select talents for the court.

Therefore, the students who took part in the Autumn Examination attached great importance to this poetry gathering in the Nine-Storied Tower and were even proud to receive the invitation from the Nine-Storied Tower. It also attracted many court officials and wealthy merchants. It can be said to be a very important poetry gathering.

Since we are going to check the autumn examination, this poetry meeting is a good opportunity.

After staying in the mansion for so many days, Shu Yunfu was almost tired of it. After thinking about it, she gritted her teeth and asked Qiutang to make her a suitable men's suit. She wrapped her chest and put on makeup, turning into a handsome young man. She waved a white paper fan and went out with Dayu, a servant who was equally handsome and thin as her, to join in the fun in the Nine-story Tower!

However, her lazy life for many days and the smooth progress during this period made her lose her vigilance. She did not notice at all that when she left the house, a shifty-looking man was following her.

"Ah! The smell of freedom!"

Walking on the busy street, smelling the aroma of food coming from the street stalls, Shu Yunfu couldn't help but smile, and she jumped around like a rabbit that had just jumped out of a rabbit hole, wandering around everywhere.

She holds a piece of cake in her left hand and a sesame seed bun in her right hand. If her mouth is too sweet, she eats the bun; if her mouth is too salty, she eats the cake. She does not have the grace of a woman at all. She is so free and easy that even Yuyan, who is standing next to her, cannot help but sigh that it would be better to be a man.

The two of them strolled all the way to the Nine-Storied Tower. There were many people there at the moment. Not only were there many students participating in the poetry meeting, but there were also many people watching the fun, as well as many dignitaries. It could be said that the guests came like clouds.

Looking at this lively scene, Shu Yunfu straightened her clothes, fanned herself with a paper fan, and was about to walk into the nine-story building with an invitation in her hand.

That’s right, the Jiuchonglou Teahouse, which was once frequented by ordinary people, has been upgraded today. For today’s poetry gathering, only those with status who want to attend need an invitation to enter.

Dayong has such a vast territory, and the number of students taking the imperial examinations is as numerous as stars in the sky. Although Jiuchonglou is considered one of the best teahouses in Beijing, it has a large area and can accommodate many guests, but compared with those students taking the imperial examinations, it is not good enough.

The students had all heard about the importance of this poetry gathering, and who wouldn't want to enter this nine-story building and participate in the poetry gathering to show off their talents? Not to mention making a splash, it would be good to show off in front of the dignitaries who were watching and leave a slight impression. It should be noted that before this, it was difficult for them to even meet those high-ranking officials, let alone show off their talents.

Today, the Jiuzhong Tower provides a place for them to display their talents and attracts the powerful and influential. How can these students who have studied hard for ten years and climbed the thorny mountain of the imperial examination let go of such a good shortcut?

There are only two ways to get an invitation to Jiuchonglou. One is that Jiuchonglou personally distributes it. Any student with a good reputation will receive a real-name invitation from Jiuchonglou, an invitation that only the person himself can use. The dignitaries in the capital can also receive invitations.

The second method is to go to Jiuchonglou to buy invitations. One invitation costs five hundred taels, no cheating!
The first method prevented those students with real talents but no family background from being excluded, thus ensuring the purpose of this poetry reading.

The second method is purely for making money. What is the purpose of all the efforts made by Jiuchonglou? Of course, to make money.

The invitation card cost five hundred taels each, which was so expensive that many people cursed the businessman for being unscrupulous. However, Jiuchonglou was not afraid at all and collected money generously, saying that if you can afford it, you can buy it, and if you can't, you can leave.

But even so, there were so many people who wanted to buy the invitations, and even though five hundred taels was really painful to pay, there were still countless people waving silver bills to grab them.

So before the poetry reading began, there had been countless open and covert struggles and conspiracies for this small invitation.

Naturally, those who received the invitation would be the envy of others.

Shu Yunfu was not a student taking the imperial examination, nor was she a noble. Naturally, what she had in her hand was not a real-name invitation issued by Jiuchonglou, but one that she had bought with a large sum of money.

And it was not bought from Jiuchonglou. Instead, Annan spent a lot of effort, favors and money to buy it from a scalper for eight hundred taels of silver.

Seeing the guy taking the invitation away, Shu Yunfu gritted her teeth in pain. She spent eight hundred taels just to buy an invitation, she had to get value for money, otherwise she would be really taken advantage of. Jiuchonglou really knows how to do business!

"Son!"

As soon as they stepped into the ninth-story building with Yuyan, Annan, who had been waiting for a long time, came over with a smile.

As the person who manages all the properties under Shu Yunfu's name and has considerable business ability, Annan is indeed calm and sophisticated, but unexpectedly young.

Compared to other men who are strong and sturdy, Annan is shorter and thinner, with soft facial lines. He does not give people a feeling of being cunning and treacherous, but rather makes people feel very comfortable.

"It must have cost a lot of money this time."

Sitting in this elegant private room, holding a small teacup in his hand, the light green tea in the cup was rippling, the emerald green tea leaves were stretching in the water, the curling tea fragrance was rising, the nose was full of the light tea fragrance, and he asked, trying to suppress the heartache.

(End of this chapter)