Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 75 A Stain on Literary Reputation, A Killing Intent in Jiangyin! (Third Update)
in a moment,

With Du Qingyin, the top scholar in the Kunshan case, becoming timid and abandoning her studies...
Throughout the entire Zhaixing Pavilion, none of the six top scholars from the five counties of Jiangzhou dared to pick up their pens and compose poems for the delicate feet of the courtesan Xiaomannu.

The other scions of prominent families and students from various counties looked at each other, none daring to respond.

If you don't write well, you'll embarrass yourself on the spot and be ridiculed.

Writing too well would bring her a notorious reputation, which would be even more embarrassing.

The joy in Xiao Mannu's eyes gradually faded.

She glanced around at the expressions of the other students, as if she understood something.

None of the young scholars dared to write about her jade feet, ultimately deeming the topic too obscene and fearing it would tarnish their literary reputation and jeopardize their chances of becoming successful candidates in the prefectural examination.

"It's all my fault for being so abrupt, causing you gentlemen such a predicament..."

The little slave bit her red lips, her eyes glistening with tears, her expression on the verge of weeping. She curtsied and prepared to leave.

The top scholars from five counties of the prefecture gathered for a poetry banquet, a golden opportunity that she missed entirely because she wrote the wrong essay topic.

Zhao Zilu was also quite annoyed.

He originally intended to take this opportunity to overpower the top candidates from the five counties, especially Jiang Xingzhou, the Imperial Scholar from Jiangyin County—his biggest rival in the prefectural examination for the title of Xiucai.

But now all five judges have admitted defeat and are unwilling to write this erotic article.

If he can't outmaneuver Jiang Xingzhou tonight, he'll only tarnish Jiang's literary reputation!
Although the methods were despicable,

However, in order to seize the top spot in the imperial examination, all rivals must be suppressed.

Back then, Chen Changqing of the Yingchuan Chen family crushed countless rivals in his quest to become the top scholar in three consecutive examinations.

They made countless enemies, but the gains were also immense!

Zhao Zilu's eyes flickered slightly, and he gave Liu Jian, a young man from a prominent family in the prefecture, a wink.

Proceed according to plan!
Liu Jian understood and immediately clapped his hands, laughing, "It's one thing if others can't write it, after all, their talents are limited. But Brother Jiang, as the only student in this prefecture to write an essay on 'leaving the county,' how can you remain silent?"

Before he finished speaking, a burst of snickers erupted from the table of several young scholars from prominent families in the prefectural city.

"What 'Imperial Judgment Scholar'? He probably just got a hollow title by luck during the county examination. Now his mind is empty, and he can't even squeeze out a single erotic poem!"

"A poor scholar is ultimately shallow in knowledge. His meager knowledge was probably exhausted and completely depleted during the county examination, wasn't it?"

"Is this the Jiangyin Imperial Judge Child Scholar?"

"To have lived up to his reputation, perhaps he has run out of creative talent?"

Several scions of wealthy families, dressed in fine clothes, chimed in, each offering their own barbed words, chattering and gossiping.

"With such limited skills, you still want to compete for the top spot in the Jiangzhou Prefecture examination?"

"Ah, Lord Zhou, considering his nominal title of 'Imperial Scholar' from Jiangyin, granting him the title of Xiucai (a lower-level scholar) is not entirely unreasonable."

"Qiang!"

Before the words were finished, at the large table where the young scholars from Jiangyin were seated,

Suddenly,

A cold light suddenly appeared.

Lu Ming stood up, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

The three-foot-long sword has already been drawn.

With a flick of his finger, the sword transformed into a streak of azure light, aimed directly at the face of Liu Jian, the scion of a noble family.

"We, the three hundred students of Jiangyin, respect Brother Jiang as an elder brother! How dare you, an ant, slander him!"

"Those who have insulted my brother Jiang's literary reputation!"

"die!"

The sword's cry, like a thunderclap, resounded within the Star-Picking Pavilion, startling all the young scholars and guests present into pallor.

Liu Jiandu had never seen such a scene before.

He was merely relying on his status as a scion of a prominent family in Jiangzhou to indulge in some verbal sparring, believing that within Jiangzhou Prefecture, the other party could do nothing to him!
Unexpectedly, Jiang Xingzhou did not make a move.

Lu Ming, the heir of the Lu family in Jiangyin, actually drew his sword at this poetry banquet and attacked with a single strike.

Green mangoes on the face!

A cold glint pierced my eyes.
Liu Jian's legs were already trembling uncontrollably from fright. "Whoosh!" A wet, hot liquid leaked from his crotch. He stood there, frozen in place, forgetting even to dodge.

"boom--!"

The sword's edge suddenly shifted.

The cold light vanished in an instant, and the originally sharp sword blade flipped in the blink of an eye, using the hilt instead of the blade, and slammed hard into Liu Jian's chest!
This strike was incredibly powerful.

Liu Jian was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing to the ground ten feet away, raising a cloud of dust.

"Wow!"

He groaned, his sternum caved in, his ribs shattered, and he collapsed like a limp rag doll. He couldn't even let out a scream before his breath became barely a whisper.

"He—this Lu family heir, Lu Ming—seriously injured Liu Jian over a mere disagreement. Isn't he afraid that Lord Lei Wanting, the prefectural constable of Jiangzhou, will bring his constables to arrest him?!"

Zhao Zilu, who topped the list of candidates for the imperial examination, along with more than ten other spoiled young men from prominent families in the surrounding prefecture, were all dumbfounded.

The room fell silent. The scholars who had been gossiping just moments before were now deathly pale, frozen in place, trembling, and not one of them dared to move an inch.

Chaos erupted instantly inside the Star-Picking Pavilion.

Dozens of courtesans covered their faces in panic, young scholars cowered under the table, and pimps trembled and curled up under the table.

Although the burly men guarding outside Zuixianlou came upon hearing the noise, they only dared to peek through the door, and none of them dared to cross the line.

These scions of prominent families in Jiangzhou Prefecture have always been unruly and reckless. Even if they cause a huge mess, it is ultimately just a private feud between powerful clans.

The little barbarian was stunned for a moment, and forgot how to respond.

The top-ranking students and fifth-ranking students from Jiyang, Taicang, Liangfeng and other counties looked at each other in bewilderment, their faces ashen.

Why is this young scholar from Jiangyin County so murderous?
He is clearly a scholar from the water towns of Jiangnan, yet he has none of the gentle warmth of the apricot blossom rain of Jiangnan.

The young master of the Lu family seemed like a wild scholar who had come from the northern frontier, with a murderous aura between his brows and a sense of danger in every gesture!
"I thought he was a tough nut to crack, that's why he dared to be so foul-mouthed!"

With a flick of his wrist, Lu Ming sheathed his sword with a clang, looking down at the limp Liu Jian with disdain in his eyes.

He chuckled and glanced at the other man's soaked clothes.

"I never imagined he'd be such a coward who wets his pants!"

kill you?
"You even complained that it sullied my sword!"

As he spoke, he dusted off his sleeves as if to wipe away something dirty, then turned to the guard outside the door and waved, saying, "Take him down to find a doctor. While he still has a breath left, he can still be saved!"

"This guy, he's so foul-mouthed, he deserves to be taught a lesson!"

The students from Jiangyin laughed and didn't take it seriously at all.

The bloody battle that took place on the riverboats half a month ago.

They were all slain by the claws of hundreds of demon soldiers, their intestines ripped open, their bodies riddled with bloody holes, and their scars stretching for feet. They barely escaped death.

I've already died once, so I'm indifferent to life and death. If you're not convinced, then fight me!

The swordplay and dancing at this poetry banquet are nothing but child's play compared to the frenzied battle with the demon soldiers that day, which stained the river red.

The Jiangyin students watched as Lu Ming beat the most despicable Liu Jian half to death without even raising an eyebrow.

Jiang Xingzhou's gaze darkened slightly as he pondered to himself.

He looked inward into his sea of ​​consciousness, and among the bronze bamboo slips in the Tongsheng Wengong Palace, a string of new data stood out.

Zhao Zilu's malice level has soared to its maximum, completely exceeding 100!

"Ha, what immense hatred."

Jiang Xingzhou sneered inwardly.

He now understands that this level of malice usually stems from a huge conflict of interest.

Even though he and Zhao Zilu had never exchanged a single word before, it didn't affect the soaring malice level.

Li Yunxiao's malice level was once as high as 80.

However, as Li Yunxiao became completely convinced after the county examination, this malice value dropped to zero and disappeared.

This person harbors such deep hostility towards him; he must find an opportunity to deal with him!
However, Jiang Xingzhou's gaze then swept over the little barbarian slave beside him—her data was completely clear, with no malicious values ​​appearing.

"Just a pawn..."

She was clearly pushed out by Zhao Zilu to set a writing prompt, and accidentally got caught up in this conflict; it wasn't her intention.

"The most beautiful courtesan in Jiangzhou three years ago, in the year of Gui Si!"

Jiang Xingzhou weighed the options in his mind.

Ancient Chinese poetry is a priceless treasure that should not be wasted; it must be used effectively for important purposes such as the imperial examinations and literary gatherings.

But at this moment,
But a poem came to mind—"Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet".

This was written by Su Shi when he served as the Vice Prefect of Hangzhou. It was originally a social poem written during a banquet, a romantic and frivolous piece, which could not be considered for the refined purpose of the imperial examinations.

"I can't possibly use this erotic poem for the imperial examinations, and I'll basically never need it in the future!"

Xiao Mannu mentioned writing an essay on the topic of 'Jade Feet'.

It was just the right time; it was fate!

He already had a plan in mind.

"Bring me a pen!"

Jiang Xingzhou flicked his sleeves and said.

"Brother Jiang, you mustn't!"

Han Yugui's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly stepped forward and lowered his voice, saying, "This is a place of pleasure! If we rashly write a poem about jade feet, it may tarnish our literary reputation!"
They will definitely seize this opportunity to spread this article widely!
Tomorrow, the whole of Jiangzhou Prefecture will be buzzing with the news!

(End of this chapter)