Chapter 99: Examination 2/2

Of course, he only praised him; he didn’t say anything negative.

Although Peng Jingliang’s articles were not perfect, he had written them when he was only fifteen or sixteen years old!

For someone of that age to write such articles was already very impressive.

Moreover, being a young man, he definitely couldn’t dampen the other party’s spirits and had to praise him continuously.

Peng Jingliang blushed when he heard this.

He touched his face and said, “I’m not that amazing… Wait, let’s not talk about this now. I want to test you!”

“I hope Master Peng will go easy on me.”

“I won’t go easy on you!” After saying that, Peng Jingliang began to ask Li Qingzhi to recite articles.

Reciting books was Li Qingzhi’s strong point, so naturally, he made no mistakes.

Seeing this, Peng Jingliang asked Li Qingzhi to explain the meaning of a sentence.

As a scholar, understanding this sentence wasn’t that easy for him.

But precisely because of this, when Li Qingzhi was reading the annotations written by his predecessors, he had come across an explanation for this sentence.

Li Qingzhi immediately explained the meaning and even mentioned whose interpretation it was, as well as how another great scholar had a slightly different interpretation of the sentence…

Seeing this, Peng Jingliang immediately changed to another question.

After Li Qingzhi answered several questions in a row, Peng Jingliang couldn’t help but ask, “With such profound knowledge, why did you only participate in the county exam at such a late age?”

Li Qingzhi said, “A few years ago, I encountered some accidents and even suffered from a serious illness, which delayed me for several years.”

Although Li Qingzhi’s complexion had improved a lot recently, he still looked thinner than the average person. Peng Jingliang said, “I see, no wonder you’re so slim!”

As Peng Jingliang and Li Qingzhi began to chat on the platform, Yao Zhenfu couldn’t stand it anymore. “You two must have colluded! Last summer, Li Qingzhi couldn’t even recite the ‘Three Character Classic’ and borrowed it from me to read. How could he possibly know so much?”

Li Qingzhi replied, “…What is brother Yao thinking? Why would he say this now?”

But since Yao Zhenfu had already spoken, Li Qingzhi said, “Brother Yao, I told you before. I borrowed the book to teach children.”

“And what about your handwriting? There’s no way these are your words!” Yao Zhenfu crumpled up the manuscripts Li Qingzhi had written with his right hand.

Li Qingzhi said, “These are indeed my handwriting. I can write a passage publicly.”

“Good, please write publicly!” Peng Jingliang was excited and ordered someone to bring in tables, chairs, brushes, ink, and paper.

These items were readily available in the inn, and the shopkeeper quickly brought them over.

Li Qingzhi took a pen and simply began to write the “Three Character Classic”: “In the beginning, …”

“Great handwriting!” Peng Jingliang had only seen Li Qingzhi’s handwriting now and couldn’t help but exclaim, “My teacher has always criticized my handwriting. If he saw your handwriting, he would definitely be even more dissatisfied with me!”

Although Peng Jingliang was very knowledgeable, he hadn’t practiced his handwriting well due to his carefree personality and young age.

After Li Qingzhi finished writing a sheet, Peng Jingliang even showed his handwriting to the people below the platform, saying, “Look at his handwriting. Someone who can write such words, how could his knowledge be bad?”

“Yes, based on this handwriting alone, he could be the top scholar of the county!” The Gu Xiucai, who loved calligraphy, wanted to ask Li Qingzhi for a calligraphy masterpiece!

The people below who had received Li Qingzhi’s manuscripts also took out their manuscripts, saying, “I am inferior to his handwriting!”

“This handwriting is truly amazing!”

“I have read this article; every word is like a precious gem!”

…

Seeing this, several of Li Qingzhi’s classmates spoke up, “I’ve said it before. Li Qingzhi’s knowledge is very good, but you didn’t believe me!”

“If Brother Li can’t become the top scholar, then who can?”

“Magistrate Guo has always been fair. You guys actually think he’s biased, which is outrageous!”

…

Upon hearing this, those who had previously doubted Li Qingzhi couldn’t help but feel ashamed, and some even apologized to Li Qingzhi, “Li Xiucai, I misunderstood you before; I’m sorry!”

Some people started apologizing after someone set an example, but Yao Zhenfu still didn’t apologize. Those who were part of Hong Hui’s group also wanted to sneak away.

It was at this moment that Li Qingzhi raised his voice, “Hong Hui, why have you been targeting me repeatedly? What do you intend to do?”

Hong Hui’s subordinates had already started to sneak away, but Hong Hui himself stayed put.

He also wanted to leave, but leaving at this moment would attract too much attention. Moreover, Peng Jingliang and the others were brought by him. He couldn’t just leave them behind.

Hong Hui stood on the platform with a smile on his face.

He suppressed his resentment towards Li Qingzhi, and those around him couldn’t detect anything unusual. A scholar from the capital who hadn’t gone up on the stage even smiled and spoke to him, “I didn’t expect Li Qingzhi to be so outstanding! Brother Hong, you must help me introduce him!”

Hong Hui almost bit his tongue off.

He had plotted against Li Qingzhi, but now Li Qingzhi had done nothing wrong and was stealing the limelight!

Hong Hui was feeling uncomfortable when he heard Li Qingzhi’s words. His heart shook, and he looked at Li Qingzhi and asked, “What are you saying, Brother Li? When did I target you?”

Hong Hui looked puzzled, as if he were innocent and had done nothing wrong.

But Li Qingzhi looked even more innocent as he questioned Hong Hui, “Hong Hui, I have never offended you. On the contrary, during last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, I was at your house and your brother almost broke my arm, which almost prevented me from writing again… Why have you been targeting me repeatedly?”

After Hong Hui threatened Wu Baichuan to harm Jin Xiaoye, Li Qingzhi began to consider how to deal with Hong Hui.

But given the circumstances at the time…

He had no evidence, only Wu Baichuan’s testimony. Even if he brought it to Magistrate Guo’s attention, Magistrate Guo couldn’t do much for Hong Hui.

After that, Hong Hui remained still, making it difficult for him to find any fault.

Even this time, Hong Hui was acting cautiously, but Li Qingzhi didn’t intend to wait any longer.

Today, Hong Hui had plotted to ruin him, and he would give Hong Hui a “big gift.”

“Brother Li, you’re overthinking it…”

“Hong Hui!” Li Qingzhi looked at Hong Hui sternly. “You previously threatened Wu Baichuan to harm my wife, and now you have gone to great lengths to try to frame me for cheating… You have gone too far!”

Hong Hui’s expression changed. “Brother Li, don’t speak nonsense. I have never done what you said!”

Li Qingzhi asked, “Hong Hui, you arranged for people to steal my manuscripts before. I had already noticed that something was wrong. Today, you specifically invited Mr. Peng and others to this banquet to make things big, right? Previously, you were involved when Sun Juren framed Magistrate Guo, and as far as I know, you have been damaging my reputation! You are highly respected in Chongcheng County. I have always wanted to befriend you, but I didn’t expect you to be such a person.”

Li Qingzhi looked at Hong Hui with a look of regret.

So what if Hong Hui didn’t admit it? The people present would believe what he said.

The previous incidents were obviously incited by someone.

In fact, by now, everyone had realized, “I said before that those who spoke ill of Li Qingzhi were not right!”

“Today’s matter is obviously incited by someone!”

“I didn’t expect Hong Hui to be such a person! Could he have been the one who instructed the attack on Li Qingzhi’s arm?”

“Previously, Hong Hui and some other scholars specifically wrote poems to criticize Magistrate Guo… They were in the same group as Zhang Chuqian!”

…

The scholars present all looked at Hong Hui with disgust.

As they spoke, they also praised Magistrate Guo: “Magistrate Guo is truly a good official. The person who brought in the manuscript written by Li Qingzhi’s left hand to question him was Sun’s disciple. He was dissatisfied with Magistrate Guo, but Magistrate Guo still let him pass the county exam!”

“Magistrate Guo is truly fair!”

“No wonder Magistrate Guo always mentions Li Qingzhi’s title. Li Qingzhi’s knowledge is so outstanding; who else’s title should he mention?”

…

As they spoke, Peng Jingliang suddenly spoke up, “Hong Hui, I told you that I have no relationship with you. Why did you invite me to Chongcheng County… It turns out you wanted me to help you deal with Li Qingzhi!”

Several scholars around Hong Hui also took a step back, not wanting to be associated with him anymore.

Li Qingzhi’s face was full of anger, but he was in a very good mood.

Hong Hui wanted to target him, but now he was just like Sun Juren, reaping what he sowed.