I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 62 Coming at You
"What are the Xue family of Jiangzuo doing here?"

The woman in the yellow dress was startled.

Xue Jian said, "It's because of Xue's father and mother. In short, the Xue family of Jiangzuo no longer recognizes them."

However, once Xue Xiang rises to prominence, the old master Xue of Jiangzuo will not allow him to grow unchecked.

"A young scholar, with a tragic past."

The woman in the yellow dress said, "I only have this one student, and I can't let anyone take advantage of him. I'll have Elder Tu keep an eye on Yunmeng."

"promise."

.........

When Xue Xiang stepped into the main room, it was already three-quarters past midnight.

Liu Mei continued to study while waiting for him. When Xue Xiang returned, she brought him hot food. Seeing him eating with relish, her eyes sparkled, and she took out a notebook.

The book was filled with notes, which were the questions she had encountered while reading recently, and she had sought Xue Xiang's advice on them.

After answering her questions, Liu Mei was satisfied. She quickly prepared the foot bath water and slipped back to her room to study.

After washing up, Xue Xiang completed the process of guiding the spirit into his body on the bed and then fell asleep.

Nothing happened that night. When he woke up early the next morning, he rushed to Jiahe's refinery.

As soon as his mind sank into the literary palace, he discovered that his talent had increased, guessing that it must be the effect of the poem "Clouds Think of Clothes" from last night.

He knew that as the song became more popular, his talent would only grow even more.

After inspecting the text, Xue Xiang spread out the writing material and began refining the characters.

An hour later, his spiritual power showed signs of exhaustion again, and his talent was also greatly depleted. He then refined eight more characters.

He felt that this rate of progress was acceptable.

After all, that wisp of golden literary energy had become even more refined.

After leaving the refinery, he bought two bottles of wine and five catties of pig's head meat on the front street and went straight up Jiufen Mountain.

Pushing open the door to the gatekeeper, Old Xie, I found him still fast asleep.

Xue Xiang didn't believe that Lao Xie wasn't a relative.

This guy, who sleeps more than he's awake, is actually guarding the gate of Jiufen Mountain.

Xue Xiang only unscrewed the wine bottle and unwrapped the oil paper wrapping the pig's head meat when Lao Xie suddenly woke up.

After a short while, Xue Xiang got the information he wanted, bowed, and took his leave.

This time, he inquired about the city magistrate, Wei Yang, including but not limited to his background, resume, wife, hobbies, and social standing.

Old Xie was very open with his knowledge; although there were no core secrets, the basic information he provided was quite solid.

Xue went down to Jiufen Mountain, bought some gifts, and went to see Mr. Yin Chuan.

Mr. Yin Chuan teaches for a fee, and the Confucian scholars of Zhaoyewu have very little connection with him.

Xue Xiang needed his help, so he still brought generous gifts to his door.

Mr. Yin Chuan is a worldly man; Xue Xiang's gifts were generous enough, so he acted swiftly.

That evening, Xue Xiang arrived at the back of Jiufen Mountain and came to a red-lacquered gate. There were no couplets in front of the gate, only a horizontal plaque that read "Wei Residence," without even using the word "mansion."

There were no stone lions in front of the gate, nor was there a lintel; only two jujube trees stood out, growing very lushly.

Xue Xiang knocked on the door, and a young man in plain robes came out to greet him. After Xue Xiang explained his purpose, the young man paused for a moment, told Xue Xiang to wait a moment, and then ran towards the backyard. When the young man in plain robes arrived at the backyard, Wei Yang was playing with two bronze balls that were nearly three feet in diameter. With his breathing, the two giant bronze balls were vibrated by the airflow and kept hitting his steel-cast body.

Thirty breaths later, he stopped breathing, and the two copper balls landed with a thud.

"My husband's Purple Mansion Divine Skill has improved again."

Madam Wei, who had been waiting for a long time, stepped forward with a snow-white towel and carefully wiped Wei Yang's sweat. She glanced at the gatekeeper and immediately frowned. "Didn't I tell you? Tell anyone who comes that the master is not here."

Hong Tianxia and the Su family are really too arrogant. Su Ziming made a stupid mistake by rudely disrupting the examination and ended up getting caught in the crossfire.

With everyone watching, how can I explain to the world if my husband doesn't punish him?

The verdict has been changed to "phlegm and qi clouding the mind," a crime that should have landed one in the deepest prison, but has been replaced with the confiscation of official titles and the destruction of all writings written since birth.

This is already the limit, why are they still coming in waves to pressure us?

The gatekeeper said timidly, "Madam, the visitor claims to be the master's student. I thought he probably wasn't invited by the Su family, so I dared not fail to report it?"

"student?"

Wei Yang was taken aback. "Could it be that someone from our hometown has come?"

"Quickly, bring them in."

Madam Wei, with her radiant beauty, quickly helped Wei Yang change into her robes.

Before long, Xue Xiang was invited in.

Upon seeing Xue Xiang clearly, Wei Yang was stunned, while Madam Wei's eyes lit up, "What a handsome child!"

Xue Xiang bowed and said, "This student greets the teacher and the Queen."

He did not know Madam Wei's identity and dared not address her as such.

"Judging from his accent, he's not from the north. Husband, when did you take on your student?"

Madam Wei looked puzzled.

Wei Yang stared at Xue Xiang, "I'm also wondering, when did I become your teacher?"

Xue Xiang cupped his hands and said, "Teacher, you are the chief examiner of this city examination. According to etiquette, you are naturally my mentor."
The student, fortunate enough to pass the exam, dares not neglect proper etiquette and has come to offer tuition fees.

As he spoke, he took off the backpack from his back, spread it out, and put out ten neatly arranged pieces of cured meat.

Madam Wei's face paled, and she finally couldn't hold back her laughter.

She clung to Wei Yang's shoulders, panting, "Husband... Husband, someone... brought you... cured meat..."

Worried that Madam Wei might laugh herself sick, Wei Yang quickly patted her back to soothe her, saying, "You've come to the wrong person. I am not a scholar and do not follow those rules."

This wasn't his first time serving as the chief examiner for the city examination, but it was only because of his position as the city magistrate that he was naturally the chief examiner.

Because he was not a Confucian scholar, none of the scholars who were selected during his tenure came to pay their respects to him or acknowledge him as their teacher. Even Wei Yang himself had gotten used to it.

Therefore, Xue Xiang's arrival this time felt particularly abrupt to him.

Xue Xiangdao said, "The etiquette of respecting a teacher has existed since ancient times and does not change because the teacher is a Confucian scholar or not."

Since the teacher is both the chief examiner for this subject and I have passed the exam, the teacher-student relationship is already established.

Regardless of whether a teacher acknowledges a student or not, a student cannot disown their teacher.

Regardless of whether Wei Yang was willing to be his teacher, Xue Xiang approached him with overwhelming sincerity.

"Young master, you must be in trouble. It's not easy to have this kind of courage."

Madam Wei smiled and said, "I've made the decision. As long as it's not excessive, I'll agree on behalf of your master. It won't be in vain that you made me laugh so much."

Xue bowed and said, "So it's Master's wife. I was presumptuous earlier."

The student asked for nothing in return, only to express his gratitude to his teacher.

"I won't bother you any longer, teacher and teacher's wife. I'll take my leave."

After saying this, he bowed, slid a visiting card from his sleeve, placed it on the coffee table, and backed away.

"This young man is quite interesting."

Madam Wei took the visiting card, opened it, and said, "Huh, why is Mr. Yin Chuan's name on it?"

Wei Yang took the visiting card, glanced at it, and was shocked. He whispered, "Could it be that I've misunderstood him?"

"How to say?"

Madam Wei gazed intently.

"If he had come quietly, he would undoubtedly have wanted to curry favor with me. But this visiting card not only listed my mentor and his name, but also had Mr. Yin Chuan sign it personally as a guarantor. It was as if it had been made public."

Wei Yang said, "Judging from this, he really is very sincere."

"Wait, Xue Xiang..."

Madam Wei pointed to the name on the visiting card and exclaimed in surprise, "This young man is Xue Xiang, the Flower-Viewing Gentleman Xue Xiang?"

(End of this chapter)