I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 118 Help
Xue Xiang followed Mengde slowly forward, and after passing a screen, he saw a winding stream with floating wine cups, a gentle breeze swaying the bamboo, and a pavilion not far away where there were quite a few guests.

Madam Qian, Mengde's aunt, was the first to come out to greet him. She was wearing a gold-embroidered wide-sleeved jacket, had a plump figure and fair skin, and her gentle eyes immediately fell on Xue Xiang.

Xue Xiang was dressed in an ordinary blue robe, his sideburns were a little messy, but he was handsome and extraordinary, and his healthy wheat color exuded a wild aura.

Having grown accustomed to refined scholars, Madam Qian's eyes lit up.

"Who is this?"

"This is my close friend, Xue Xiang. Brother Xue, this is my aunt."

"Meet Madam."

"Isn't it Wei Wendao, the top scholar in Yunmeng?"

Madam Qian frowned slightly.

It turns out that this peony festival coincided with the county examination, so naturally many scholars and celebrities were present.

Gradually, it became a social phenomenon within the circle of wealthy women that whoever invited the most famous scholar gained prestige.

Lady Qian, having long been confined to her chambers, knew little about the scholars, but could only passively join the game. So she asked Mengde to invite one or two talented young men to help him out.

At that time, Xue Xiang was nowhere to be found, so Meng De's first thought was Wei Wendao, and he praised Wei Wendao to Madam Qian.

This sound immediately heightened Mrs. Qian's anticipation.

Now, instead of Wei Wendao, it was Xue Xiang, whom Madam Qian had never even heard of, who came. She was inevitably disappointed.

"Brother Wendao has something to ask me to come. If Madam has any requests, I will certainly do them well."

Xue Xiang cupped his hands in greeting.

He could refuse to give face to Madam Qian, but he had to save face for Mengde.

"Thank you."

Madam Qian smiled awkwardly. Although she was dissatisfied, it was too late to change the person now that things had come to this.

But this face-saving is about to be lost.

With this thought in mind, she glared at Mengde and walked toward the pavilion.

Meng Decai was about to chase after him to explain, but Xue Xiang grabbed him, saying, "Brother Meng, even if you sing my praises now, I don't think your aunt will approve."

We'll do our best and leave the rest to fate.

Meng De nodded helplessly and led Xue Xiang into the pavilion, where a delicate fragrance of orchids wafted towards them.

Plain silk palace lanterns hang from the four corners of the pavilion, swaying gently in the breeze, while bronze bells hang from the sky-blue eaves, their soft chimes like a spring.

The pavilion is covered with fine bamboo mats, and in the center is a sandalwood lacquered table with an incense burner on it, from which wisps of smoke rise. Around it are round sandalwood stools, all inlaid with mother-of-pearl plum blossom patterns, exuding a refined and ancient charm.

Several noblewomen sat in the pavilion, all dressed in fine silk robes and adorned with pearl hairpins and jade ornaments, their sleeves fluttering gracefully, their demeanor gentle and elegant.

On either side sat two elderly scholars, both renowned Canaanites. The one wearing a dark blue crane cloak was named Chen Qingfo, and the one wearing a light yellow robe was named Kong Baiyun.

The entire pavilion exudes a serene atmosphere; stepping inside, it feels as if time itself has slowed down.

Xue Xiang and Meng De bowed together, saying, "Xue Xiang, a junior scholar, greets all the ladies and gentlemen."

Mengde followed closely behind, smiling humbly, and added, "This is my nephew's good friend, a man of exceptional talent and knowledge, who has come to pay his respects."

The reactions of the people in the pavilion were rather indifferent. Several noblewomen merely nodded perfunctorily, one of them whispering and laughing with someone else, seemingly not taking the two men seriously.

The two elderly scholars glanced at each other but said nothing more.

The atmosphere wasn't cold, but it carried a hint of disdain and scrutiny.

Meng De's smile froze slightly, and Madam Qian's face immediately darkened. She secretly regretted asking Meng De to do this, and even more so regretted bringing Xue Xiang into this place.

If Wei Wendao isn't coming, he's not coming. Why bring an unknown nobody to embarrass us?

Just then, a noblewoman in purple robes in the pavilion rose slightly, smiled and waved to the outside of the pavilion: "Shaobai has finally arrived, come and sit down."

Before the words were finished, a young man in a brocade robe strolled in. He was handsome and composed, with a jade pen case hanging at his waist, exuding an air of scholarly refinement.

It was Li Shaobai, the chief editor of the Yong'an Times, who recently gained a great reputation among scholars for his sharp commentaries and fluent writing.

"Shaobai greets all the ladies and gentlemen."

His voice was gentle and his demeanor composed; a simple fist salute was enough to attract the attention of the entire pavilion.

The ladies all smiled, as if they had heard of him long ago.

One of them murmured with admiration, "It was he who wrote that essay, 'On the Grain Law of the Four Borders.' What a brilliant young man!"

Even the two elderly scholars nodded slightly in agreement.

Unlike Xue Xiang's indifference when he entered, Li Shaobai's arrival caused a slight commotion, and the atmosphere became more lively, as if even the sandalwood incense had gained some vitality.

Meng De's expression froze for a moment, and he said in a low voice, "It's said that enemies are destined to meet, Brother Xue, be careful."

He had a close relationship with Xue Xiang and knew all too well about the entanglement between Xue Xiang and Li Shaobai.

On that day, Li Shaobai's attempt to seize the Yunmeng Times failed, and he was humiliated by Xue Xiang, retreating to Yong'an and losing face.

Today, the two of them are meeting, and I fear the situation will not be peaceful.

When the noblewoman in purple saw Li Shaobai enter the pavilion, her expression became even more intimate. She glanced at Xue Xiang and Meng De and said with a smile, "This pavilion is a bit small. Shaobai, you've come at just the right time. You two young friends, please move outside."

The atmosphere became slightly tense as soon as he finished speaking.

Meng De's expression changed slightly, and he was about to explain when he saw Li Shaobai's gaze sweep towards the pavilion. Suddenly, he paused—he saw Xue Xiang.

Their eyes met, and Li Shaobai was startled, memories flooding back—that old confrontation, in which he was left humiliated and still held a grudge.

Now that they've met on a narrow path, hatred ignites in his heart. He thinks to himself: Today, I'll make you suffer.

Li Shaobai glanced at Xue Xiang with a half-smile, then suddenly said to the noblewoman in purple, "Madam, you have recently been holding elegant gatherings, and even those from humble backgrounds have been invited to attend. It is truly a sign of the refined spirit of our times."

His words were light and easy to understand, but they were actually loaded with hidden barbs. Several noblewomen in the pavilion exchanged subtle glances upon hearing this; some chuckled softly, while others subtly observed Xue Xiang's attire.

Confucianism has flourished for over ten thousand years, and the imperial examination system still allows a steady stream of sons from farming families to rise through the social ladder.

However, similarly, large and small aristocratic families, powerful clans, and noble classes had already been formed.

Those who can chat and laugh freely here are naturally not from poor families.

Meng De's expression changed slightly, and he was about to speak up to defuse the situation, but Xue Xiang remained calm, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said in a low voice, "Even those from humble backgrounds can study, and the ancient sages were also born into commoner families."

After speaking, he simply cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, neither humble nor arrogant, as if nothing had happened.

The atmosphere froze for a moment, and Mrs. Qian was so embarrassed that she wished she could disappear into the ground.

At this juncture, she had no interest in seeing any scholarly integrity; she only cared about saving face.

After all, he was the one who brought the person here. No matter what Xue Xiang does, people will only think she's clueless.

The noblewoman in purple glanced at Madam Qian indifferently, and was about to tell her to send them away when a loud voice suddenly came from outside the pavilion: "Brother Xue is here? I've been looking for you for a long time!"

A young man in a green robe strode in, his demeanor elegant and his expression excited. He disregarded etiquette and went straight to Xue Xiang, bowing deeply and saying, "During the Qingyun Platform trial, thanks to Brother Xue's help, I was able to condense my literary energy. I am deeply grateful!"

I'm so lucky to see you again today, so lucky! "

As the pavilion fell silent, the expressions of the several noblewomen changed simultaneously, and one of them blurted out, "Is that the young master of the Shen family?"

"The Shen family, who have produced officials like the Prefect?" another person murmured, their tone surprised. The noblewomen who had been scrutinizing Xue Xiang's clothes and background immediately changed their expressions, their eyes showing shock. Even the two old scholars couldn't help but raise their eyes, exchange a glance, and their expressions became more solemn.

The smile on Li Shaobai's face froze instantly, his heart sank, and his eyes flickered.

He never expected that Xue Xiang would have such a connection with the young master of the Shen family!
Xue Xiang also recognized the person, remembering that his name was Shen Lian, one of the few learned scholars in Yong'an City.

Xue Xiang simply cupped his hands in a calm and composed manner: "So it's Brother Shen. In the Qingyun Platform trial, we help each other out, so there's no need for such formalities, Brother Shen."

They do not compete or show off, yet this only makes their character stand out even more.

Before the people in the pavilion could recover, another loud voice rang out: "Brother Xue, I've been searching for you all over the world since I entered Yong'an! I've been looking for you so hard!"

A young man dressed in a moon-white scholar's robe walked slowly towards them, with the Wei family crest embroidered on his waist. His speech and manners exuded an innate nobility.

Upon seeing Xue Xiang, he strode forward and bowed deeply, saying, "It's been a year since we last met. Brother Xue, you are even more impressive than before."

Before everyone could react, another scholar in black robes stepped into the pavilion and laughed loudly, "Brother Xue, you look down on people. No matter how successful you become, we are still old acquaintances. Even if you, Brother Xue, want to neglect us, we will still come to greet you with enthusiasm."

Behind him were seven or eight distinguished scholars, all of whom greeted Xue Xiang warmly.

“Those are members of the Wei family of Anlu!”

"That one is Elder Wan's grandson!"

"A member of the Ming family of Huacheng!"

"A member of the Zhao family of Jingshan!"

"..."

The noblewomen in the pavilion gasped in surprise, their eyes, which had previously looked down on Xue Xiang, now filled with astonishment and disbelief.

The noblewoman in purple could no longer hide her shock. Her fan fell limply to the ground as she muttered to herself, "These people... even Li Shaobai couldn't summon a single one."

Madam Qian's eyes were filled with shock mixed with a hint of pride. Her initial unease had been replaced by surprise, and her gaze was full of the proud radiance of "this is the person I invited."

Meng De was also dumbfounded. He knew that Xue Xiang was well-known among the new graduates of Yunmeng City, and even Wei Wendao had to give way to him. However, he never expected that Xue Xiang would have such a reputation among the new graduates of the entire prefecture.

Li Shaobai's face froze completely, and he couldn't even manage a smile.

He hadn't been unaware of the commotion Xue Xiang had caused lately.

But in his view, this was just a momentary act of bravery. In the government, what mattered most was people and connections.

He thought he could easily humiliate Xue Xiang in Yong'an City, but he never expected that Xue Xiang would have fallen to such a state.

First it was Young Master Shen, then a string of sons of powerful families and talented young men from prominent clans, all of whom addressed Xue Xiang as brothers and spoke with great respect. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would have almost doubted whether he was in a dream.

He sat sullenly in the pavilion, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. He felt that the ladies he used to know were now all looking at him—not with admiration, but with comparison.

"How could someone from a poor family..."

Li Shaobai's throat moved slightly, and the corner of his lips twitched involuntarily. The flames of revenge that had once burned were now reduced to ashes.

Despair spread silently through my heart, turning into a devastating defeat.

"Ladies and seniors, we still have time to reminisce about our time together, so we won't disturb you any longer."

Xue Xiang bowed respectfully, nodded to Meng De, and took his leave.

Li Shaobai and his ilk, Xue Xiang had indeed thought of taking revenge for every grudge and every wrong done to him.

But now that we're not on the same level, let's not force ourselves to get mixed up.

Xue Xiang left with his classmates, and they gathered by a flower bed to reminisce about their parting.

After chatting for about half an incense stick's time, Xue Xiang and the others agreed to meet again after the major exam before parting ways.

As night deepened, the moonlight, like water, spilled onto the bluestone paths of the manor, making the surroundings appear dreamlike.

A gentle breeze rustled through the bamboo grove, causing the reflections in the pond to ripple, creating a scene as graceful as a flowing painting.

Xue Xiang casually picked up a soft, flaky pastry from the cold dining table by the waterside and took a bite.

Beneath the flaky pastry lies a rich red bean paste filling, golden in color and with an enticing aroma;
He was hungry, and eating this food aroused his cravings.

He had just slipped over to a cold dining table by a rockery to pick up a piece of osmanthus cake when suddenly, his back went limp. He turned around and exclaimed in surprise, "Master's wife, what are you doing here?"

But it was Madam Wei who bumped into him.

"Oh, it's Young Master Xue! What brings you here?"

Madam Wei pursed her red lips, lowered her eyes, and looked at them with a gentle shyness. She wore an elegant blue gauze dress, the hem of which fluttered slightly in the wind, outlining her graceful figure.

“I came to Yong’an to participate in the county examination, and I came here with my companions.”

Xue Xiang was secretly shocked. The Madam Wei of the past, dressed in a red dress, was passionate and charming. Now, she had changed her style and exuded a mature and gentle charm.

"I have come here to attend the Peony Festival."

"Teacher, you may come along. I must go and pay my respects to him."

"What old man? You make us sound like we're all in our seventies or eighties. There's a lot going on in Yunmeng, he can't come, so I'm just here to make an appearance and keep things going."

Madam Wei said with a smile, her starry eyes lowered, as if she did not want Xue Xiang to see the hint of shyness and secret joy in her heart.

"Please go ahead, Master's wife."

Although Xue Xiang's body is inhabited by a mature soul, Madam Wei, who is in her early thirties, is also in the prime of her life, so he naturally has the perspective of a mature man to appreciate her.

However, he did not forget their identities and would avoid them as much as possible.

"Please don't hesitate, it's a rare opportunity. You can be your teacher's protector for one night."

I won't let you work for nothing. Most of the people attending the banquet are ladies from prominent families in the state and county. If you make connections with them, you'll have a network of contacts.

You will eventually enter officialdom, so you must understand the importance of connections.

Madam Wei's smile was as beautiful as a painting.

Although she had experienced "several times dreaming of being with you," she never thought of crossing the ethical boundaries.

But she was fascinated by the thrill of walking a tightrope.

Having said that, Xue Xiangwan had no choice but to act as her protector.

Madam Wei, however, was in no hurry and insisted that he eat his fill before leaving.

Xue Xiang didn't stand on ceremony. He moved a brocade stool over and sat down at the dining table, leisurely enjoying his tea and snacks.

The moonlight, like water, poured its soft glow onto Madam Wei's blue gauze skirt, causing it to sway gently. She walked slowly to Xue Xiang's side, her movements light and graceful, like a night breeze brushing across the water.

She gently picked up the teacup and poured more tea for Xue Xiang. Her fingertips lightly touched the rim of the porcelain cup, and her gentle movements seemed to unintentionally reveal her delicate concern.

Xue Xiang was secretly anxious. He lowered his head and took a sip of tea. His gaze inadvertently met hers, and their eyes met, carrying a hint of warmth in the background.

Madam Wei lowered her eyes slightly, a smile playing on her lips, her long eyelashes trembling gently, as if unconsciously revealing a hint of shyness. "I'll go get you a few egg yolk pastries, a famous delicacy of Yong'an. It would be a shame not to try them."

As she spoke, she turned and left, her skirt brushing gently against Xue Xiang's trouser leg. A faint floral fragrance filled the air, and the moonlight painted a soft halo around her.

Xue Xiang's gaze paused slightly, his heartbeat seemed to slow down involuntarily, and he cried out inwardly, "Help!"

(End of this chapter)