Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Although Jiang Jibai was dressed in plain clothes, he was a renowned Confucian scholar. Although Zheng Ying was the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, she would not put on airs in front of him.

"Mr. Jiang, please."

Jiang Jibai smiled politely, "Chancellor, please."

The two took their seats in the private room.

The waiter served tea to the two of them.

Zheng Ying said half-jokingly, "Mr. Jiang is a free spirit, his whereabouts are elusive, it's not easy to meet him."

Jiang Jibai responded calmly: "I'm used to being idle, I'm just hiding away in a quiet place. I hope you won't laugh at me, Master."

"Teaching students at Songjian Academy and shirking your duties?" Zheng Ying's tone was teasing, perfectly measured. It sounded like banter between friends, without sounding like an overbearing fourth-rank official.

Although he used an alias while teaching at Songjian Academy, it was impossible to hide it from a high-ranking official like the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy if he wanted to investigate.

Jiang Jibai was not surprised. "It was just an invitation from an old friend, and he had done me a favor, so I couldn't refuse. Now that the palace examination is over, my business is done."

Before the conversation even began, the other party had already guessed the deeper meaning behind his invitation.

He knew that the old friend Jiang Jibai was referring to, who had been kind to him, was Yu Tingyuan, the headmaster of Songjian Academy.

Back then, when discussing philosophy at Mangshan, I admitted my inferiority and acted as a guiding wind to send the river soaring straight up.

Zheng Ying understood his underlying meaning: going to Songjian Academy was at the invitation of his benefactor, and he had even declined the invitation from his benefactor before, but he just couldn't refuse. So it would be perfectly reasonable for him to refuse now.

Zheng Ying then stopped hiding her intentions and said regretfully, "Although the Imperial Academy's collection of books is not as good as that of the palace, it is still among the best. If Mr. Jiang is willing to take a position at the Imperial Academy and teach the students, he can browse through all the books in the collection. Are you really not going to reconsider?"

He knew that for a great Confucian scholar like Jiang Jibai, wealth was nothing but fleeting clouds. Only by tempting him with his collection of books could he scratch his itch and make his resolute attitude crack a little.

Jiang Jibai was not unmoved by the offer, but for him, the freedom to come and go as he pleased, without being bound by official duties, was more important than the library at the Imperial Academy.

"It's not that I'm unwilling to enter the Imperial Academy, but rather that I'm used to being lazy. If I were to accept an official position, the daily routine of reporting for duty and socializing would consume my energy, and I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to write books, lecture around the country, and travel all over the country as I am now."

"I suppose the rare books in the Imperial Academy's collection..." He sighed regretfully, paused slightly, and looked into the eyes of the Imperial Academy Chancellor, "They are not meant for me in this life."

Chief Minister Zheng: "..."

Don't think I can't see through your hints.

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You don't want to come to our Imperial Academy to work, but you still want to see the rare books from our Imperial Academy?

How could you be so optimistic?

However, I'm not afraid that the great scholar Jiang is eyeing my books at the Imperial Academy; I'm afraid that the great scholar Jiang has no other desires, then he'll truly be impervious to reason.

He immediately lowered his demands and continued to tempt him with books: "As long as you are willing to teach at the Imperial College for ten days a month, oh no, five days, you can borrow all the books in the collection."

To everyone's surprise, Jiang Jibai wasn't fooled at all. "The Imperial Academy has its own rules. How can you make an exception for me? I appreciate the Chief Chancellor's kindness."

Zheng Ying was about to persuade her again when she suddenly heard a burst of cheers from the private room next door.

Pingxin Yashe boasts a tranquil and pleasant environment.

To ensure that the scholars who come here can enjoy themselves to the fullest, the private rooms are not separated by just a wall, but are shaded by green bamboo and have flowing water, which naturally separates the private rooms, ensuring both privacy and elegance.

It was just that the place next door was quite lively; you could hear loud cheers even through the bamboo grove.

Zheng Ying beckoned to a servant: "Go and find out who's gathering over there?"

The servant obeyed and left, returning shortly to report: "It is the newly appointed scholars from Songjian Academy, who are composing poems and making merry here."

"Songjian Academy?" Zheng Ying smiled. "What a coincidence!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Gu, aren't several of these your students from the Si Ding Zhai school?"

Jiang Jibai smiled and said, "I've only taught them a few times. They can't be considered my students. It's all thanks to their hard work over the years that they've accumulated knowledge and skills."

"You're being too modest," Zheng Ying said, stroking her chin. "Although Songjian Academy is a renowned academy, I've never heard of a single class producing four scholars who passed the imperial examinations."

"Since he's your student, why don't you go take a look next door?"

Jiang Jibai shook his head: "The palace examination just ended, and the candidates are relaxing and having small gatherings. If we go, they will feel uncomfortable."

Zheng Ying remarked with emotion, "Mr. Jiang is a role model for us all, being both a teacher and incredibly considerate."

He instructed his servant: "It is fate that we are drinking tea next to the young scholars, and that they are all students taught by Mr. Jiang. Since Mr. Jiang does not wish to be disturbed, you should go and tell the shopkeeper to send some good wine, fruits and snacks to the private room next door and put it on my tab. This is my way of expressing my congratulations on their success in the imperial examination."

After giving his instructions, he asked another question: "Why was it so lively next door just now?"

The servant replied, "When I asked the waiter next door, I vaguely overheard a few words."

It seems that a scholar surnamed Pei was inviting a man named Jiang San to a poetry contest.

Jiang Jibai, who initially had no interest in going next door: "..."

Jiang Daru, who had been calmly dealing with the situation, seemed to twitch his eyelids.

Zheng Jijiu hurriedly asked, "Jiang San? The one who outshone Master Zhao's beloved disciple at the Mangshan Poetry Gathering? Isn't he Master Zhao's personal disciple?"

At the Mangshan Poetry Gathering, the young disciple became famous overnight. Now, the pseudonym "Jiang San," which seemed like a joke, has passed through the ears of countless high-ranking officials and powerful figures.

Jiang Jibai smiled with a mixture of indulgence and helplessness: "It is indeed my little apprentice."

"He wasn't a student at Songjian Academy. The reason he was here was probably because he became acquainted with Mr. Zhao's disciple after a fight."

The contrast between his previous statement that he "couldn't be considered my student" and his current statement that he is "my apprentice" is stark.

Intrigued, Chief Minister Zheng sat up straight. "Such a remarkable young man, since he's right next door, how could we not want to see him?"

"Since Mr. Jiang does not wish to disturb the scholars' enjoyment, why don't I have someone invite your esteemed student here alone?"

He smiled and said, "What do you think, sir?"

...

Second update delivered. I didn't reach yesterday's goal; I'm still two or three hundred short. Single update tomorrow~ The event continues~