Cultivating Immortality Begins with Selling Oneself

Chapter 202 Flower Appreciation Banquet

Shen Mengning stood there at a loss, begging for help. She looked at Shen Fuyu for help, trying to get Shen Fuyu to help her out. Unexpectedly, Shen Fuyu smiled and made a goodbye gesture to Shen Mengning.

"Sister, please go ahead and do your work. We won't stay here any longer. Let's go pack up first."

Shen Mengwu smiled and threw down a few words, leaving Shen Mengning to face this situation alone. Looking at the backs of Shen Fuyu and Shen Mengwu walking away, Shen Mengning rubbed her brows with a headache, trying her best to calm everyone down.

"It's getting late, everyone go back and rest. If you have any questions, you can ask me during class tomorrow, okay?"

"I'm a dull person, and it's only by luck that I came up with such a good idea. I want to see if I can help Your Majesty solve his predicament. It's all based on luck."

Shen Mengning evaded the issue with a few words and finally managed to squeeze out of the crowd and leave the place of trouble.

Back in the dormitory, Shen Mengning looked at Shen Fuyu with resentment.

"Shen Fuyu, are you afraid of encountering this kind of situation, so you gave me your good reputation?"

Shen Fuyu was amused. He patted Shen Mengning on the shoulder and said calmly, "How is that possible?"

"Miss, don't think too much. I just think you need these false names more."

Shen Mengning sighed, but didn't know what to say.

Perhaps it was because His Majesty rewarded Shen Mengning one after another and praised Shen Mengning in front of everyone as a promising talent, which led to Shen Mengning's fame. People in the academy often found Shen Mengning, wanting to see what she looked like and catch a glimpse of her style.

Shen Mengning quickly got used to this situation. After all, during her years as a genius girl, Shen Mengning also spent her time in the midst of public opinion storms.

After finally getting her day off, Shen Mengning had no time to catch her breath before her personal maid told her that people often sent her invitations to attend poetry gatherings.

Scholars often hold activities to show off their talents, exchange knowledge, express their inner feelings, and increase their knowledge.

In the past, the Shen sisters kept a distance from the public and were not invited to such events. But now that Shen Mengning has become famous, she has received more invitations.

Even Shen Fuyu was a little shocked. He never expected that Shen Mengning would become so popular just by writing an essay.

Sensing Shen Fuyu's puzzled gaze, Shen Mengning sighed and patiently explained to Shen Fuyu, "Fuyu, natural disasters and refugees have always been a major problem for the court. His Majesty solicits opinions from the people all year round. If you have any ideas, you can write a policy paper and submit it. Then, the Shangshu will screen them through various levels before presenting them to His Majesty."

"However, most of these proposals are just empty talk and lack practical application, and they can't solve the refugee problem. Your ideas, on the other hand, can fundamentally address the refugee problem, and can be considered to have solved a major problem for the court."

If a court official had submitted a policy paper, His Majesty would surely have offered a very generous reward. However, Shen Mengning was still a student, a mere student, and many rewards were unsuitable for her.

However, everyone knew very well that as long as Shen Mengning became an official and entered the court.

Your official career will be very smooth.

The reason for inviting Shen Mengning was not just for the purpose of learning, but more importantly, he wanted to establish a good relationship with Shen Mengning. In the future, when he entered the officialdom, he might be able to stand on the same front with Shen Mengning.

Forming cliques and factions exists in all dynasties.

Shen Fuyu nodded in understanding, took the invitation in his hand and played with it, his eyes fell on Shen Mengning.

"Are you ready to participate?"

"Shen Fuyu, do you think I should participate?"

Shen Mengning doesn't like crowded places, but she also knows that frequently attending poetry gatherings and building good relationships with people will only benefit her. However, she doesn't know whether she should do so.

“You can join.”

"Humans are social animals. We can't live alone forever."

For Shen Fuyu, building good relationships with others was secondary; the most important thing was for Shen Mengning to learn to flatter and curry favor as soon as possible. Shen Mengning was destined for a career in government. Once in the imperial court, she would encounter officials who would speak politely, with the less sophisticated likely to misunderstand the underlying meaning. If Shen Mengning didn't learn to adapt, she would be eaten alive. It would be better for her to start learning from her student days.

"Then I'll ask the librarian to reply."

Shen Mengning nodded seriously. She always respected and obeyed Shen Fuyu's suggestions.

……

The next day.

Flower viewing feast.

Young boys and girls gathered together, full of vigor, holding books in their hands, or communicating in groups of three or five with new toys. The scene was very lively. It was not the first time that Shen Fuyu participated in such an occasion, but every time he saw it, he was moved. The entertainment activities of the ancients were different from those of modern times.

The entertainment activities of the ancients were not only pleasing to the eye, but also very elegant, perhaps to suit their status as scholars.

Shen Fuyu glanced around. It was spring and the peonies, roses and lilies were blooming in a rush, as if they were competing to see who was more beautiful.

The girls gathered in groups of three or five to admire the flowers, and wore red flowers on their heads. Each one was pretty and beautiful. Shen Fuyu felt that her eyes were highly respected.

"How about we write a poem about flowers?"

"Okay, okay. I've been locked up at home by my grandmother these days, and I've read a lot of books. I'm sure I can surpass you in talent."

In this dynasty where both men and women could take the imperial examinations, young girls were no less talented than young boys, and many even ranked among the top.

Students from various colleges gathered together.

The tall and thin young man was the one who had previously falsely accused the Shen sisters of improper conduct.

Later he was thrown into prison and was only released after his relatives pleaded for him.

The tall and thin young man clenched his fists when he saw the Shen sisters, and his eyes were filled with strong hatred. If he had a knife, he would have wanted to stab the Shen sisters to vent his anger.

He was not wrong. Was it something worth showing off or complimenting that the Shen sisters drank with a strange man in public? He had merely raised a reasonable suspicion, and the Shen sisters had indiscriminately sent him to jail, along with Lu Mingtang and Cheng Ziqi.

Xiao Changfeng sneered, his eyes like a poisonous snake tightly entwining the Shen sisters.

Shen Fuyu keenly sensed the strong murderous intent and became alert immediately. He looked around but did not find any suspicious persons.

who is it?

Doubts gradually arose in his mind, but Shen Fuyu did not say it out loud at the banquet to avoid causing panic.

When Lu Mingtang and Cheng Ziqi saw the Shen sisters, they naturally surrounded them.

Apparently, several of them formed a small group.

"Shen Mengning, you are excellent."

Lu Mingtang waved his folding fan and looked at Shen Mengning with admiration.

After receiving compliments one after another, Shen Mengning had already become numb. She smiled at Lu Mingtang and said nothing.

Only Meng Yuan rubbed his cheeks and wailed, "Before us, it seemed that I was the only one with average knowledge."

(End of this chapter)