Chapter 505

That newspaper described it in a light‑hearted tone……Many pillars of the scholar

The aristocratic clans were not without designs to take advantage; they sent some old people, thinking the King, a young child with a tender face who needed reputation, would surely not dare to offend elders and would likely have to support them. They also felt that even if the matter ultimately fell apart, sacrificing such half‑dead individuals for the clan's eternal interests would still be worthwhile.

Unfortunately, they considered everything, but they failed to consider that the King is no ordinary person and his actions cannot be judged by common sense.

Anyway, the Northern Border's newspaper wrote that the aristocratic clans of the Great Jin had offered valuable opinions on the new examination system, that the Northern Border King had specially made time to listen to everyone's views, had come to understand the diverse opinions of his subjects, placed great importance on those valuable opinions, and would further improve the examination system in the future.

Between the lines, the article subtly praised the King's magnanimity—look, he even published this matter and announced it to the world; what breadth of mind, a wise ruler!

Below the article, they specially thanked the attendees by name. What a bunch— they copied the signatures from the joint protest letter, but the content wasn't copied at all! Those unaware would think these people had gone to cheer the King's examination reform.

This report appeared on the newspaper's front page; throughout, there was not a single word of condemnation or criticism of the matter or the participating aristocrats, treating it as a trivial affair in the Northern Border and writing it straight out. If you claim the Northern Border paper is spreading rumors, that's not the case— you can't find a single erroneous sentence.

The accompanying picture was even better— it was a genuine scene of the silent sit‑in protest at the South Plaza.

Soldiers on guard at the perimeter, stalls steaming with heat, peddlers scrambling all over the ground, protesters eating and drinking…

However you look at it, the picture seems odd, but if you say it's untrue, it isn't— that day it really was like that.

Yet however you view that picture, it always gives a sense of absurd amusement, which clashes with the aloof tone of the article above.

The King looked at the sample issue and burst out laughing: "Hahaha, this picture— the spring wind of reform blows everywhere, those old aristocratic heads are really striving! Xie Tu, you've done a splendid job— a reward!"

Xie Tu waved his hand, disregarding decorum: "Your Highness, no need, really no reward. Just one thing— this picture and article were written… created under the King's guidance; could we avoid putting the commoners' names on it?"

The King replied even more politely: "No way! It's all your merit—"

Xie Tu: ……

Xie Tu instantly felt life was not worth living.

The King exclaimed anguishedly: "Don't you know? Among the folk, the ranking of noble young masters already has the saying 'Southern Xie, Northern Yang.' Before, it was all you dominating alone! Although that Northern Yang is suspected to be my cousin, I refuse to accept it and support only you— you must feel the urgency of being caught up soon; we can't lose, think of your fans!"

A ranking of noble young masters? What on earth is that?!

And what's this about fans— who actually wants them?!

However…… Xie Tu was delighted: "Since he is the Prince's cousin, could you also bring him to our newspaper?" Since they are equally renowned, how could we let only him bring disaster!

Huh?

The King really hadn't considered this question: "There's some sense to it. I've heard he's a year older than Wei Ke, in his prime— what fine labor… how could we let him go?"

Just as Xie Tu curled the corner of his mouth, the King said: "The person must stay, but the newspaper is too important; for now I only trust you."

Xie Tu: ……

Should we thank the lord's grace? No thanks.

Yang Fang, who was constantly stationed on Zhuque Street and well‑informed, soon received the King's handwritten decree;

【Having heard that the Yang family's cousin is learned enough to fill five carts, and has come specially to the Northern Border to support the King's examinations? Please, cousin, study diligently, avoid arrogance and rashness, achieve good results, we look forward to your name on the golden list— do not disappoint the King. — Bai Li Jing】

Below, in smaller print: 【Otherwise, I will personally go to the grave of your maternal grandmother in Changzhou and weep! (the kind of thing a newspaper editor would do)】

At that very moment, it happened to be the day the newspaper was issued; the streets were full of cries selling papers: "New issue out! A two‑hundred‑person aristocratic troupe is heading north to watch the examinations~"

Yang Fang bought a copy, finished reading, and fell silent, gaining a new awareness of how formidable the Northern Border newspaper is. The parenthetical note about the newspaper editor really is a serious threat.

The Northern Border newspaper— that kind of 'niche literary work' that inverts black and white and leaves no evidence for rebuttal.

Yang Fang also encountered for the first time the King's pure, unpretentious 'tough character.' Originally he had been debating these days whether to wait for the King's summons or go himself to the palace to pay respects; now it's fine— the King has no intention to see him, nor to let him leave. Originally his grandfather had sent the poorer branch with good grades to take the examinations to find a livelihood…

The King holds that once something has fallen into his bowl, there's no reason to pick it up again; he has already ordered the Youzhou guards not to let Yang Fang leave Youzhou.

"... Running into someone like Me who cherishes talent, he's fortunate." This guy sincerely praises himself, alas with no one echoing him.

Wei Shen couldn't even bring himself to look, but he had learned to restrain himself from speaking. Xie Tu also couldn't bear to listen, still waiting for Wei Shen, who always dared to tease the King's tiger whiskers, to give a talk— who knew today this person would learn to keep silent and be stunning.

Everyone sat at one table eating; Wei Shen roughly saw Xie Tu's expectant gaze and smiled: "Don't dare to speak recklessly— I've got a separate volume just for the King's grudges; if you have different ideas, say them yourself!"

The King looked at Xie Tu, who dropped to his knees in a sliding kneel: "... A commoner like me is not worthy of a separate volume."

The King: …… Hmph!

The article on the newspaper about the aristocrats' protest made the clans' teeth ache; the plain‑spoken Great Jin folk, untainted by PR journalism, had never seen such a scene, they felt uncomfortable all over yet could find no obvious flaw.

Those who participated in the protest rally that day wanted to tell each aristocrat who had not shown up for the united front: "It's not me, I didn't do it!"

The newspaper reached Chang'an, and the Jianzhang Palace again changed a batch of porcelain.

Bai Li Jin had displayed impotent fury, redirecting his anger toward the Huang Gan of the High Ping garrison: "I set up the High Ping Pass just to look at it? How did these two or three hundred people get to Youzhou?!"

An edict of blame sent from Chang'an to High Ping revealed that High Ping now consisted only of an empty pass, not worth mentioning.

As for the twenty‑thousand troops of High Ping, they were gone; the Shangdang Prince had known this early, yet sent not a word to Chang'an, causing Bai Li Jin to break down again. Unfortunately his enemies are everywhere, and he cannot keep up with the reproaches.

Human joys and sorrows are not shared, but the King was quite pleased. These days he sat at home, wealth pouring down from heaven. The Xianbei envoy that had gone to Chang'an to seek marriage with a princess and a Wang clan daughter finally returned.

Just a while ago, the officials of the Honglu Agency once again asked the Xianbei marriage envoy how long they intended to eat and drink for free at their place; Bai Li Jin finally grew impatient and sent them away.

He received the envoy and said that Princess Fenyang had been ill for days with no improvement, likely unable to marry into Xianbei, while the Wang clan's legitimate daughter already had a marriage pact, so the court planned to select a clan woman, grant her the title of princess, and use her to marry the two Xianbei tribes.

Though said so, everyone knew full well that unmarried imperial clan women were certainly stationed in their fiefdoms; the capital had no proper clan ladies, so Bai Li Jin simply picked two palace maids and gave them the princess title.

Thus these two 'princesses' were quite basic, so their dowries had to be non‑basic.

The court ultimately put together two sets of dowry that were just barely presentable, intending to send off the envoy peacefully and amicably.

Chang'an also didn't want to offend both Xianbei tribes at once; although there was Bai Li Jing guarding the north, who knows if he can remain human all the time?

Bai Li Jing…… indeed will intermittently cease to be human.

His subordinates took only the two sets of dowry and left, tossing the two false princesses outside Chang'an's city gate…

The reason given by the owl cavalry was also plain: what if they were spies or assassins? Better to do less than more, so they were thrown away.

Bai Li Jin learned of this, and at the court assembly he immediately broke down, scolding the King for a full fifteen minutes; even the Xianbei who swindled money ended up behind him.

The King, in the far north, sneezed twice and then declared himself ill, refusing to go discuss the examination questions…