They've all become top scholars in the imperial examinations, and you're telling me this i

Chapter 37 A Cheng Yaojin appeared out of nowhere!
After the giant dragon head formed by condensed water vapor collapsed, only a strong smell of water and a suffocating silence remained in the dilapidated woodshed.

The flame of the oil lamp struggled and flickered in the cold wind, illuminating Yuan Shoucheng's still-shaken, withered face and Chen Guangrui's tightly furrowed brows.

"He...he's really gone?"

Yuan Shoucheng peeked into the doorway, and only after confirming that the terrifying pressure had completely disappeared did he breathe a sigh of relief.

His cloudy eyes immediately turned to Chen Guangrui, filled with urgency and intense suspicion.

“Scholar Chen! You…you’ve already found the official in charge of personnel, so you made a promise to that stupid dragon? Don’t be lying to him…and don’t lie to me either…”

His voice sharpened, revealing a sense of being fooled and a deeper unease.

The Dragon King was angered and left, and the connection with the Jinghe aquatic tribes was almost severed. If Chen Guangrui continued to talk nonsense, he would really be in deep trouble.

Chen Guangrui calmly raised his eyes, his gaze like a deep pool, clearly reflecting Yuan Shoucheng's panic.
"It's true. The official in charge of personnel is in Chang'an. I already know who he is."

"Do you know who that official Cao is?!" Yuan Shoucheng suddenly sat up straight.

Chen Guangrui merely curled the corners of his lips slightly, avoiding the topic of his name.
"The time is not right, so we cannot say."

"You!" Yuan Shoucheng stamped his foot in anger. The fear he had felt earlier was dispelled by a surge of anger, and a deep sense of doubt appeared on his gaunt face.

"Stop your nonsense! In this world, my lineage has severed its ties to immortality to specialize in discerning heavenly secrets and manipulating destiny! Even celestial officials may not be able to see through the illusions, but we can still risk our lives to glimpse a sliver of them! I have exhausted all my methods and still cannot find even a trace of that 'Human Official,' and you? You are just a mortal scholar burdened with death, who has only been in Chang'an for a few days. How could you possibly find him? Who would believe that?!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, spitting everywhere. Rather than interrogating Chen Guangrui, he was using his sect's supernatural powers to forcefully comfort himself and deny Chen Guangrui's words.

After all, if Chen Guangrui could really do what he couldn't, it would be a huge blow to his belief in survival.

Chen Guangrui looked at Yuan Shoucheng, who was all bluster and no substance, and his face showed no anger at being questioned. Instead, there was a calmness that seemed to understand his thoughts, and even a hint of barely perceptible mockery. "You don't believe me?"

He stood up and dusted off non-existent dust from his robes. "Then that's fine. It's getting late, I should go."

Having said that, he ignored Yuan Shoucheng, who was jumping up and down in a panic, and pushed open the wooden door that had been knocked askew by the Dragon King. His figure disappeared into the deep night outside.

Stepping out of the alley, the streets were much quieter, though the embers of the daytime hustle and bustle still lingered. Chen Guangrui was pondering how to overcome the approaching and more dangerous romantic entanglement when he suddenly heard a familiar voice calling him from behind.
"Chen Zhuangyuan?"

Chen Guangrui turned around, and in the dim light of the lanterns, stood Li Jing, the Minister of War.

Today, however, his brows were furrowed in a deep frown, and his face was filled with lingering worry. Gone was the pretense of "thinking it over carefully" he had on the street yesterday; only genuine exhaustion and anxiety remained.

"General Lee."

Chen Guangrui cupped his hands in greeting.

Li Jing strode closer, sighed deeply, and cut to the chase.
"Alas! Scholar Chen, you're new to officialdom and don't yet understand the cutthroat nature of the bureaucracy! You insisted on getting close to that Clerk Wei, and now look what's happened! Once Clerk Wei's memorial was submitted, you've stirred up a hornet's nest!"

"Oh? Clerk Wei's memorial has been submitted?"

Chen Guangrui didn't need to inquire about the specific content of the memorial to know what Wei Zheng wanted to say.

In his view, given Wei Zheng's cautious nature, he should have waited a few more days until he was absolutely certain of the situation before submitting this memorial.

It seems that the pressure from the former officials of the Prince of Qin's mansion has been too great these past two days, forcing him to take action.

Li Jing rubbed his face irritably, his voice low.
"Those former high-ranking officials from the Qin Prince's mansion have been making a ruckus all day, every word of which is a veiled attack! They're saying the remnants of the former crown prince are restless, wielding their power like chicken feathers, trying to interfere in military affairs and shake the foundations of the state! Every word they're saying is aimed at Wei Zheng! That guy surnamed Fang has a sharp tongue, and that guy surnamed Changsun is even more veiled, their words implying that Wei Zheng is a scourge to the country... Judging by this, Wei Zheng is going to be in big trouble, and next..."

He paused, his face growing even more worried.

“Next… I’m afraid it will be my turn.” Li Jing’s worry was palpable; he was genuinely afraid of being purged by the former officials of the Prince of Qin’s mansion.

After all, those who purged the Hidden Crown Prince were people like him who were centrists.

Upon hearing this, Chen Guangrui's expression remained unchanged; he simply spoke calmly.
"General Li, please don't worry. The sky won't fall, you'll be fine."

The certainty in his tone startled Li Jing for a moment.

Immediately, Li Jing seemed to have heard the funniest joke, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"Relax? Scholar Chen, you're still young and impetuous, unaware of the true nature of things! Once the infighting in officialdom starts, it's a bloodbath! Those people's methods are far more complex than just a few words of abuse! They can easily lead to disgrace, ruin, and even death! In their eyes, my head... might not even be that important!"

Looking at Chen Guangrui's calm face, he felt that this newly appointed top scholar was either fearless and naive, or he simply did not realize the seriousness of the matter.

Chen Guangrui didn't explain further, he simply said,
"Let's talk about it when we get back to the inn."

Seeing Chen Guangrui's calm demeanor, Li Jing felt inexplicably relieved and had no choice but to follow him towards the post station. They walked in silence, Li Jing still deeply worried.

Just as Li Jing stepped into the courtyard of the post station, and was about to explain his possible predicament, his eyes suddenly widened.

Under the old tree in the courtyard, there stood a person!

Wearing a faded old blue official robe, his back ramrod straight, his face gaunt and serious, his brows furrowed as if deep in thought—who else could it be but Wei Zheng?!

"Wei...Wei, the registrar?!" Li Jing exclaimed, completely unexpected to meet Wei Zheng here, and even more unexpected to find him waiting for them at the post station at this time.

Wei Zheng was startled awake by Li Jing's voice. He turned his head, his gaze first sweeping over Li Jing's face, which was filled with shock and sorrow, and his brows furrowed even more unconsciously.

But then, his eyes, which were always sharp as knives, suddenly fixed on Chen Guangrui, who was standing next to Li Jing!
Almost simultaneously, two beams of light, almost tangible, burst forth from Wei Zheng's eyes! They were filled with astonishment, disbelief, and a wild joy that had been forcibly suppressed after a tremendous shock!

It's him! Li Jing, the Minister of War!
Did Scholar Chen only take one day? No, perhaps it was just last night, after he left the post station, that he actually found this general who could both avoid the constraints of the old officials of the Prince of Qin's mansion and had the ability to conquer the Turks at such a critical moment?
Why didn't I think of that before?
Li Jing! Yes, it's Li Jing!
He possesses immense ability and considerable prestige, and more importantly, he has always maintained a low profile and observed from the sidelines. In the eyes of the new crown prince, he has become an important pawn to balance the meritorious officials of the Qin Prince's Mansion! He is indeed the most suitable candidate!

Wei Zheng suppressed the turbulent emotions surging within him, but the shock in his eyes and the astonishment at Chen Guangrui's almost monstrous "ability to get things done" were impossible to conceal.

He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady, but with a barely perceptible urgency:

"Minister Li, Scholar Chen, it's good you've returned. I've already delivered that memorial to the throne today..."

He looked at Li Jing with a meaningful gaze, "...It's been submitted."

"Memorial to the throne? What memorial to the throne?"

Li Jing was completely bewildered and simply pretended to be stupid; this was not the time to respond.

Because of that memorial incident, you've already been targeted by the Prince of Qin's mansion. Why are you bringing this up with me now? Are you trying to drag me down with you?

At this moment, Li Jing wished he could cover his ears and run away. "I don't want to hear it! Don't tell me anything!"
"that is……"

Wei Zheng was overjoyed. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that Li Jing was the best candidate to lead the campaign against the Turks. Therefore, he wanted to explain his thoughts in detail in his memorial to the throne.
But just then, a thunderclap sounded outside the door.
"Wei Zheng!! You damned old man Wei!! Get out here right now!!"

A thunderous roar, like a hurricane, shattered the tranquility of the inn! The courtyard gate was slammed open with a loud crash!

A towering figure, imposing as an iron tower, charged in like a raging brown bear, radiating boundless fury and a strong smell of alcohol! Though his signature Xuanhua axe remained unsheathed, he swung it high with one hand, the whistling wind it generated carrying a chilling rage!
The newcomer had a leopard-like head and piercing eyes; it was none other than Cheng Yaojin, the Duke of Lu!
He stepped into the courtyard, his bloodshot, wide-open bull-like eyes instantly locking onto Wei Zheng, who stood under the tree, like searchlights! He was still cursing under his breath.

"You pedantic old scoundrel! How dare you stab me in the back in the imperial court?! If I don't crack your skull open today so you know how many eyes the Emperor has, I, Old Cheng, will take your surname!!"

(End of this chapter)