Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 28 Win-win
"I was unaware of the arrival of the Duke of Yiguo and have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me."

Yan Maoqing pulled himself out of his tangled thoughts. Although he didn't know why the Duke of Yi had suddenly come to visit him in person, he still went outside to greet him.

Congratulations?

It's definitely not that simple.

He had been living in the Liu family's courtyard for some time, and by then he had already passed the imperial examination. If Guo Xun really intended to win him over, why would he have only allowed Manager Liu to associate with him before, and only come to see him now?
Could it be because of his current status as a junior scholar, which is now considered an added bonus?
This doesn't make sense either.

For someone of Guo Xun's status, there was no essential difference between a Jinshi (进士) and a Shujishi (庶吉士), at least not enough to cause such a change in his attitude.

As for whether the inside story of this selection process is related to Guo Xun.

Yan Maoqing also held a negative view.

As far as he knew, although Guo Xun held a high position in the court, his influence over the cabinet, the Ministry of Rites, and the Hanlin Academy was actually extremely limited.

Especially under the influence of Grand Secretary Xia Yan, the cabinet and the Hanlin Academy probably still regard him as an irreconcilable enemy. Otherwise, how could so many censors and officials from the Hanlin Academy have submitted memorials to impeach him over the years?
Under these circumstances, Guo Xun simply did not have the means to manipulate the selection process...

"Young friend Jingqing, there's no need for such formalities."

Guo Xun, now a white-haired old man nearing seventy, addressed Yan Maoqing by his courtesy name with great familiarity, and even condescended to grasp his hand and smile warmly.

"I had heard from Manager Liu that a talented writer with exceptional literary skills had come to Luming Pavilion, and that he was also a promising new scholar who had passed the imperial examination."

"I am also a person who appreciates talent, and I have long been eager to make your acquaintance. However, I was too busy with official business to get away, so I had to instruct Manager Liu to treat you well. I only had time today and came to see you immediately."

"Now that I've met you, young friend Jingqing, you are indeed a man of great talent. I truly regret not having met you sooner! Hahahaha."

Showing courtesy for nothing is either cheating or stealing!

Feeling this unusual enthusiasm, Yan Maoqing silently reminded himself while humbly saying:
"You flatter me, Duke Yi. I have been impolite and should have gone to pay you a visit. I am truly ashamed to accept such praise."

"Young friend, you're being too polite with me, aren't you?"

Upon hearing this, Guo Xun deliberately put on a stern face and winked at the servant behind him.

Immediately at the servant's call, a dozen servants waiting outside the courtyard filed in, carrying or lifting items with their hands, and quickly filled the small courtyard to the brim.

Yan Maoqing looked at it carefully.

The servants brought in a wide variety of items: thick, soft brocade quilts, smooth, reflective brocade, old, clay-sealed wine jars, and even two large sacks of rice and half a pig—it was as if they were setting up a whole estate for him…

"Being away from home is not the same as being at home. I wonder if my young friend Jingqing is comfortable staying here. I can only do my best."

As he spoke, Guo Xun glanced at Manager Liu, who was standing beside him.

Manager Liu understood immediately and took out the house deed he had prepared beforehand, presenting it to him with both hands with great respect:
"This is the property deed for this property. Please accept it, Scholar Yan. From now on, this will be your home."

"This……"

Whether Yan Maoqing could withstand the test given Guo Xun's rigorous approach to his work was another matter, but he became increasingly wary of him.

In later years, he learned an article called "Fan Jin Passes the Imperial Examination" in his textbook. It described how, after Fan Jin passed the imperial examination, neighbors and gentry came to give him silver, houses, land, rice and meat.

However, perhaps it is because times are different, or perhaps it is because the countryside and the capital are different.

In any case, Yan Maoqing had never personally enjoyed such treatment since he transmigrated.

The only time he refused was when Yan Song's servant brought him twenty taels of silver, which he resolutely rejected.

This time... Yan Maoqing did a rough mental calculation.

Property prices in this area aren't low; a small courtyard like this would cost around forty or fifty taels of silver. If you add the things that were just brought into the courtyard, especially the valuable brocade quilts, satins, and aged wine, the total value would probably be several dozen taels of silver.

By this calculation, Guo Xun's modest gift was already close to a hundred taels of silver.

Consider the newly appointed top scholar who was recommended to become a compiler in the Hanlin Academy of the sixth rank. His monthly salary was only a little over four taels of silver. He would have to save up for two years without eating or drinking just to earn what he had today.

and so……

Yan Maoqing looked at Guo Xun and immediately remembered that he would be imprisoned in the imperial prison in four or five months and eventually die there.

Could it be that Guo Xun is going to great lengths to win me over because he has already been exposed, or he senses the impending crisis and intends to use me to do something in order to save himself?

After all, many things don't happen overnight; there's always a process of development, and naturally, there will be some signs.

Moreover, according to historical records, although Emperor Jiajing imprisoned Guo Xun, he did not actually intend to put him to death. Soon after, he issued an edict ordering Guo Xun's release on the grounds of old age.

As a result, Xia Yan, on the one hand, used the name of the cabinet and the rule of law to obstruct the issuance of the imperial edict, and on the other hand, ordered the censors to further gather charges against Guo Xun, forcibly keeping him imprisoned in the imperial prison and determined to sentence him to death.

After a period of stalemate, Guo Xun finally succumbed to his illness and died in prison, bringing the matter to a close.

Since Emperor Jiajing did not intend to put Guo Xun to death.

Before ordering his imprisonment, it's entirely possible that someone deliberately leaked some information to him beforehand, giving him a chance to make amends and admit his mistakes...

I made this guess in my mind.

Yan Maoqing then deliberately adopted a respectful and humble posture, and tentatively said:

"I am deeply humbled by the Duke of Yi's high regard. However, I cannot accept such a reward without merit. If I have not rendered any service to you, I would not dare to accept even a minor position."

"Young friend, your noble character and integrity are truly rare in this world!"

Upon hearing this, Guo Xun's eyes lit up, and his smile widened.

"It's quite a coincidence, actually. I have a win-win plan in mind. If you, young friend, are willing to work together with me, we will surely achieve a perfect harmony like the story of Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya sharing the gold!"

Guo Xun is indeed in a predicament, just as Yan Maoqing had predicted, and it is a perilous situation that could be a matter of life and death:

—Duan Chaoyong, the alchemist he had personally recommended to the Jiajing Emperor, was suddenly imprisoned and is now being interrogated by the Northern Garrison Command!
This is no small matter.

If all the secrets between him and Duan Chaoyong were exposed, he would probably be guilty of deceiving the emperor. Even if he survived by chance, he would completely lose the emperor's trust, which would be equally fatal for him!
However, Duan Chaoyong was secretly imprisoned this time, and the Northern Garrison Command kept their mouths shut, so to this day he still doesn't know the whole story.

However, sitting idly by and waiting for death is not in his nature.

So, after thinking it over, he naturally thought of Yan Maoqing and his novel, "Breaking Through the Heavens," which he was serializing in a periodical format.

Presenting such a remarkable book to the Emperor should be considered a meritorious act.

In this way, even if Duan Chaoyong said something he shouldn't have, he might still have a chance to make amends.

And if the emperor has read this extraordinary book, he will most likely summon Yan Maoqing.

If we can collude with Yan Maoqing in advance to cultivate him into a new favorite of the emperor, we can work together to say a few good words for him at crucial moments.

What surprised him even more was that Yan Maoqing was behaving so sensibly.

This lad is a remarkable person; I like him!

(End of this chapter)