Chapter 304: Money Grubber

Chapter 304: Money Lover

Her maid, Cui Liu, crouched on the ground, picking up the broken pieces of porcelain. Lifting her head, she cautiously tried to console her.

"Second Miss, please calm down. Third Young Master is just nervous about the upcoming competition—he didn't mean to avoid seeing you."

"Think about it: as soon as he returned, he gave you ten thousand taels of silver to buy the Xishi Rouge you've been longing for. Third Young Master did this because he cares about you—he treats you so well!"

"If he can win the top prize this time, he'll be the Laureate of the Canglang Poetry Talk, and you'll be the Laureate's sister. Won't that bring you honor too?"

Ji Qingqing pouted and mumbled, "But he still can't ignore me! I'm his most beloved sister—how could he treat me like this?"

Cui Liu was speechless. Even she, a maid, could see how much Ji Zihang valued the Canglang Poetry Talk.

Why couldn't Ji Qingqing see that?

Meanwhile, at the Prince Ye's mansion.

Ji Yuntang also heard about the Canglang Poetry Talk from Wang Sheng.

It was said that this was also a way for the Qingyun Hall to select talent for the royal families of various nations, and Emperor Jingyang placed great importance on it.

Thinking Luo Junhe probably knew more about it, Ji Yuntang went to find him.

"A He, tell me about the Canglang Poetry Talk."

"Canglang Poetry Talk?" Luo Junhe put down his book and looked at her in surprise. "A Tang, why are you suddenly interested in this?"

"Wrong. I'm not interested in the Canglang Poetry Talk itself—I'm only interested in the first-place rewards."

Ji Yuntang hadn't forgotten that last time she participated in the medical competition hosted by Prince Qi, she easily won twenty thousand taels of gold.

This Canglang Poetry Talk was jointly organized by Emperor Jingyang, the Qingyun Hall, and the Royal Academy.

Moreover, the Qingyun Hall, as the organizer, was not subordinate to the Dongchen Kingdom but was a literary organization jointly elected by the four nations.

Ever since the headmaster of the Royal Academy, Cheng Rushan, proposed the phrase "Culture knows no borders," culture had gained great prominence.

The main purpose of the Qingyun Hall was to inherit and promote the culture of the four nations, spreading the cultures of various countries through scholars and poets by hosting the Canglang Poetry Talk.

With that in mind, Ji Yuntang felt that the rewards for the competition would surely be even more generous than those of the previous medical competition. How could she miss out on such a good opportunity to make money?

Luo Junhe: "..."

The corners of his mouth twitched slightly. Indeed, she was still the Ji Yuntang he knew well.

A total little money lover!

Luo Junhe knew that since Ji Yuntang was asking, she must have already understood most of the rules and format of the Canglang Poetry Talk, so he told her some things she didn't know.

"In fact, six years ago, the Canglang Poetry Talk originally had six assessments. Based on law, arithmetic, woodwork, calligraphy, and poetry, it also included martial arts."

"However, because most scholars were physically weak and helpless in martial arts, what was supposed to be a proper martial arts competition turned into a brawl like street thugs—scholars pulling each other's hair, tearing clothes, and wrestling on the ground, which was very undignified. So the Qingyun Hall canceled the martial arts assessment."

Ji Yuntang thought to herself, isn't this similar to the modern nine-year compulsory education's all-round development of morality, intelligence, physique, aesthetics, and labor?

But compared to martial arts, physical education is still far too tame!

Ancient martial arts involved real weapons and combat, and if you weren't careful, you could lose your life.

Luo Junhe took a sip of tea and continued.

"The Canglang Poetry Talk usually lasts three consecutive days. The first two days are for the five assessments, and the third day is a celebration banquet for the laureate, along with rewards. The emperor and empress may also come to inspect at any time."

"In previous years, the laureates basically entered the Six Ministries to serve. They didn't need to participate in the metropolitan and palace exams of the spring civil examinations, but their status was no different from that of the new top scholar. This attracted a large number of scholars to participate."

"But over such a long time, almost no scholar has passed all five assessments. Usually, passing three is already extremely rare. If someone scores above ninety in all four subjects, then that person is undoubtedly the laureate."

"If I remember correctly, the laureate from two terms ago in the Dongchen Kingdom now serves in the Ministry of Rites. His Majesty rewarded him with a large mansion with five courtyards, a thousand taels of gold, and a hundred bolts of silk."

"As for the previous term's laureate, he now serves as a Director of the Ministry of Works, responsible for city repairs and public works. His Majesty's rewards to him were also quite generous."

"The Emperor first personally wrote an inscription and bestowed a golden plaque reading 'Morning Diligence and Evening Vigilance', then betrothed County Lord Chun Ning to him."

"In short, the laureate of the Canglang Poetry Talk carries great weight. Because it's an open and transparent competition, people from all over the country can come and watch, so there's no possibility of favoritism."

Ji Yuntang suddenly became very interested. She told herself she wasn't attracted by the rewards but wanted to spread the five-thousand-year-old culture of Huaxia.

Her eyes sparkled, and she propped her chin on her hands to ask, "A He, how do I register?"

Luo Junhe looked at Ji Yuntang's bright eyes, which almost had the words "all the money goes into my pocket" written on her face.

He chuckled and reached out to tousle Ji Yuntang's jet-black hair.

"A Tang, don't even think about it. In all previous Canglang Poetry Talk competitions, there has never been a precedent for a woman signing up. You can't register."

After all, scholars who become laureates usually choose to stay in their home country and enter government service.

Among the four nations, there has never been a precedent for a woman becoming a government official.

In their view, women should stay in the inner courtyard, take care of their husbands and children, and serve their in-laws.

Becoming an official is something men should do.

The light in Ji Yuntang's eyes dimmed, and she felt somewhat disappointed.

She had no interest in being an official, but she had to admit that since ancient times, women's status had been inferior to men's, an unchangeable fact.

The only thing that attracted Ji Yuntang to the Canglang Poetry Talk was the generous and alluring rewards.

Ji Yuntang had thought she could once again use the Canglang Poetry Talk to fill the little treasury in her space.

Unexpectedly, she didn't even have the qualification to participate.

Ji Yuntang had a positive outlook and was very open-minded. She was only downcast for a moment before cheerfully heading to the back mountain to tend to her herb garden.

Luo Junhe's deep, captivating peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the woman's retreating figure, a warm smile spreading in his eyes, filled with tender affection.

After Ji Yuntang left, Luo Junhe took a bracelet out of his sleeve. It was the huanghuali wood he had been carving specifically to avoid Ji Yuntang's notice these past few days.

It consisted of thirteen beads, now newly completed.

A small, exquisite jade ruyi was added in the middle of the bracelet.

Luo Junhe's slender fingertips gently stroked the polished huanghuali bracelet with a ruyi ornament in his hand, his thin lips parted slightly as he whispered.

"A Tang, I hope you can always be this happy."

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