Chapter 85 - 82: Dad’s Mockery

Chapter 85: Chapter 82: Dad’s Mockery

"Ahem, appearances are but passing clouds. The most important thing for a person is inner beauty and kindness," Zeng Anmin waved his hand modestly.

Seeing his performance, Wang Yuanhao’s eyes lit up. A subconscious feeling of mutual appreciation welled up in his heart. Just as he was about to agree with Zeng Anmin’s words, he heard the Crown Prince’s slightly displeased voice:

"We are here today to study, to discuss poetry and essays." At this point, a troubled look appeared on his chubby face, and he added, seemingly unintentionally, "Since Fourth Brother is a follower of the Martial Art..."

This was an implicit order to leave.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuanhao’s face darkened slightly. He hurriedly looked at Zeng Anmin. He knew full well that followers of the Confucian Dao had always looked down upon Martial Artists.

However, Zeng Anmin showed no reaction at all, even nodding at him with a smile. The anticipated disgust and aversion were nowhere to be seen on his face. This brought a surge of joy to Wang Yuanhao’s heart. The more he looked at Zeng Anmin, the more pleased he felt.

"I also read a bit of poetry occasionally." Wang Yuanhao waved his hand nonchalantly. "I happen to have some questions about poetry today that I’d like to consult with Zeng Liangjiang." His eyes were fixed on Zeng Anmin as if admiring a rare treasure, and his voice softened. "You wouldn’t mind this Prince being an uncultured man, would you?"

"How could I?!" Zeng Anmin gave a dry laugh and waved his hands.

He thought, "I don’t know jack shit about poetry... In fact, I’m even more uncultured than you."

Wang Qianzhi took over the conversation at this moment. He slowly stood up, a smile on his face, and bowed to the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince. "Since we are studying together, why don’t we change to a larger desk?"

Hearing this, the Crown Prince fell into a slight silence. He frowned inwardly and cast an imperceptible glance at Wang Qianzhi.

"Indeed, what’s wrong? Could it be that Eldest Brother isn’t even willing to accommodate this? If it really won’t work, we can go to my Qianqing Palace," Wang Yuanhao said, extremely adept at seizing opportunities. He blinked, a highly uncomfortable smile appearing on his effeminate face. He stood up, making a gesture as if to pull Zeng Anmin away.

"Fourth Brother, please don’t joke around. I have desks of any size right here!" The smile on the Crown Prince’s chubby face was a bit stiff, but he ultimately didn’t drive them away directly. As the Crown Prince, he had to embrace the world and be broad-minded. If he drove Wang Yuanhao away today, the Grand Preceptor would come over tomorrow with a ruler to lecture him.

Having said that, he waved his chubby hand, and a eunuch directed people to move a desk from the room. Obviously, the cramped corner of this courtyard was no longer suitable.

The Crown Prince took a deep breath and walked slowly toward the center of the courtyard. "Let’s do it here. It’s more spacious."

"Yes." Wang Qianzhi hurriedly followed behind the Crown Prince.

"Tsk." The Fourth Prince, Wang Yuanhao, raised an eyebrow slightly and also walked over.

Zeng Anmin prepared to step forward with the three of them into the courtyard. However, before he could even lift his foot, he suddenly heard a miserable scream from Wang Qianzhi.

Huh? Zeng Anmin subconsciously stopped and looked toward the source of the scream.

He saw that Wang Qianzhi had been careless while walking and tripped over a rock in the courtyard.

BAM!

He fell flat on his back, his limbs spread wide. In an instant, the back of Wang Qianzhi’s head started bleeding. He twitched twice and fainted!

All of this happened in the blink of an eye, leaving everyone overwhelmed. It was clear that this was a very hard fall. Zeng Anmin even felt a bit of schadenfreude in his heart.

But immediately after, a loud CLICK sounded. It sounded like a stone being slotted into a hole. After this sound echoed, the expressions of the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince changed drastically at the same time!

"Watch out!!!" The Crown Prince’s pupils contracted sharply. He abruptly looked up at Zeng Anmin, his voice extremely urgent. "Quan Fu, dodge quickly!!"

Huh? Zeng Anmin was somewhat bewildered by this sudden turn of events.

However, it was too late! He only saw a fierce flash of cyan light before his eyes.

WHOOSH!!!

First, a cyan line flashed right through Zeng Anmin’s position. The next moment, the cyan line suddenly transformed into a massive net, sweeping down over the area where Zeng Anmin stood. The speed was so fast that Zeng Anmin couldn’t possibly dodge in time!

SWISH!

The giant cyan net enveloped Zeng Anmin tightly, floating in mid-air like an inverted bowl. Zeng Anmin’s body trembled slightly, and then he involuntarily sat cross-legged on the ground. He closed his eyes, completely rigid like a wooden stump, with only the rise and fall of his chest proving that he was still alive.

"This..." Seeing this scene, the expressions of the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince turned incredibly ugly.

Wang Yuanhao stared fixedly at the Crown Prince, his voice dark. "The Illusion Array Spirit Stone, why didn’t you remove it?!"

The Crown Prince’s face was pale. For a moment, he was panicking and subconsciously answered, "Installing and removing the Spirit Stone consumes too much Spiritual Power. I just wanted to save some..."

However, his voice grew weaker and weaker. Clearly, at a time like this, no one cared whether his intentions were good or bad.

No one noticed that a fleeting, imperceptible sneer flashed across the corner of the unconscious Wang Qianzhi’s mouth as he lay on the ground.

In the Imperial Palace, within the Imperial Study.

"In that case, this minister will take his leave first." Zeng Shilin stood expressionless and bowed to Emperor Jianhong, who sat on his chair. Since entering the palace today to seek an audience with His Majesty, Emperor Jianhong had kept him there to reminisce.

The Imperial Study was effectively a small court assembly. At this moment, aside from Zeng Shilin, there were over a dozen figures standing in the Imperial Study. All of them were prominent officials in the current imperial court. Clearly, this small court assembly was meant as a welcoming ceremony prepared for Zeng Shilin, serving to express Emperor Jianhong’s regard for his minister.

"Minister Zeng, why the rush to leave? Please share more of your governing experience so that we may learn from it," an official enthusiastically bowed to Zeng Shilin.

Just as Zeng Shilin was about to politely decline, he noticed a young eunuch with a grave expression. The eunuch took quick, quiet steps toward Emperor Jianhong and whispered a few words softly into his ear.

"Oh?" After listening to the eunuch’s whisper, Emperor Jianhong narrowed his eyes slightly and abruptly raised his head. The moment he looked up, an oppressive atmosphere congealed throughout the entire Imperial Study.

Emperor Jianhong cast a glance at Zeng Shilin. That look left Zeng Shilin utterly bewildered.

"May I ask Your Majesty, what has happened?" an official stepped forward and asked respectfully with a bow.

Emperor Jianhong said nonchalantly, "The assessment Illusion Array in the Eastern Palace has been activated."

As soon as these words were spoken, the officials in the Imperial Study all breathed a sigh of relief. It was just a trivial matter. Zeng Shilin didn’t think much of it either and prepared to take his leave, but then Emperor Jianhong’s voice rang out again:

"The person participating in the assessment is Minister Zeng’s son, Zeng Anmin."

What?!

Zeng Shilin’s pupils trembled violently. But his years of emotional cultivation prevented him from losing his composure. He merely looked up slowly, frowning slightly as he asked, "My son?"

Emperor Jianhong nodded calmly.

"Oh? Could it be the Zeng Liangjiang who comprehended Literary Qi in just fifteen minutes?" An official’s eyes lit up as he looked at Zeng Shilin. "Young Lord Zeng’s Two Rivers Ode is unparalleled in the world. I was deeply moved by it, and I often sigh in admiration at the young lord’s brilliant poetic talent at home."

"Indeed. When I first heard the Two Rivers Ode, I was truly touched. The sense of desolation within it makes one sigh."

"Why don’t we all go and observe the assessment together?"

"Excellent! It’s a perfect opportunity to witness Young Lord Zeng’s literary talent!"

"..."

Zeng Shilin remained expressionless, but his hands, hidden beneath his sleeves, clenched tightly. He had never expected that his precious son would be led to the Eastern Palace by the Crown Prince today of all days. It all happened too suddenly. He had absolutely no preparation.

"What’s wrong? Why isn’t Minister Zeng answering? Could there be some hidden circumstances that make it inconvenient for us to observe?" a deep, resonant voice rang out.

Everyone turned to look at the speaker.

They saw a dark-faced, muscular man with a sneer on his face slowly stepping out from the crowd. He was nearly ten feet tall, moving like Mount Tai. A brocade robe was stretched taut over his bulging muscles. A ring of coarse beard framed his face, standing on end like steel needles. His very stride carried an unparalleled sense of oppression.

He crossed his arms over his chest, using his towering height to look down at Zeng Shilin. This person was none other than the Commander of the North Imperial City Department, Prince Qi, Wang Xianhe!

Zeng Shilin couldn’t be bothered to look up at him. His voice drifted slowly into the room. "The assessment for a disciple of the Confucian Dao naturally focuses on literature. Can Prince Qi even understand it?"

His tone held absolutely no emotion, yet it was filled to the brim with mockery. A vulgar Martial Artist, trying to put on airs? What do you know about the words of the Saints?

Prince Qi’s face darkened completely.