Chapter 102: Foes Cross Paths Again, Misunderstandings Arise Once More

Outside Luoyang city, the river embankment was indeed quite old. The massive stone-built embankment was sturdy in itself. However, with the river’s erosion, the binding material used to lay the stones—yellow clay mixed with straw—was gradually washed away by the water, necessitating frequent reinforcement and repairs.

Wei Renshi stood atop the embankment, which was now uneven and riddled with cracks of various sizes, clearly in need of restoration. Yet, the task of repairing the embankment had been assigned to the Dream Pavilion, and the prefectural government refused to provide funds. Consequently, the money originally allocated by the court for the repairs was intercepted by local officials.

Restoring the embankment was not a task for amateurs; Wei Renshi dared not draft the blueprints himself this time. The only true experts in such work were at the Metropolitan Water Authority.

After bringing some fine white wine as a gift, Wei Renshi left his home and headed toward the Jixian Hall Academy. Inside the academy, many scholars still gathered to read books. Wei Renshi entered boldly through the front gate, and the guards inside turned a blind eye to his presence.

The Jixian Academy’s collection of books was vast, arguably the largest in the realm. It was a stroke of luck for scholars to study there, made possible by the patronage of the academicians within. Wei Renshi was there to seek out Scholar Zhang, so he walked deeper into the complex.

Beyond the third courtyard, ordinary scholars seldom ventured. Wei Renshi, having been here many times, had never seen other students beyond that point. But today was different. Just past the third courtyard, he noticed a group of seven or eight young men dressed as scholars standing neatly under an archway, listening intently to an older man lecturing them.

Squinting, Wei Renshi recognized the speaker—it was none other than Fang Xuezhen, the head scholar from the county school in Fuchang County, who had appeared during the poetry gathering at Lianchang Palace.

Since Fang Xuezhen was giving instructions, Wei Renshi dared not interrupt and waited behind, planning to proceed once the group dispersed.

Fang Xuezhen spoke firmly: “You must cherish this opportunity. Thanks to Scholar Wang’s past service as head scholar at Fuchang County School, you are permitted to visit the Jixian Hall Academy and have the chance to seek guidance in person. Beyond this point is where the Jixian scholars reside. When you enter, you must not act rashly. Humbly seek instruction. If any scholar tests you, remember you are among the best students of Fuchang County School—do your best to impress. Should any of you win the favor of a Jixian scholar, the benefits in the future need no further explanation.”

The young men bowed in unison and replied, “Thank you, Head Scholar Fang. We will follow your advice diligently!”

After dismissing them, Fang Xuezhen entered the inner area. Wei Renshi waited a while longer until the area was clear, then proceeded further inside.

At the entrance, two guards stopped him. “Please inform the scholar inside that Wei Renshi has come to pay respects to Scholar Zhang,” he said.

Ordinary students coming to read would not dare to seek an audience with the scholars directly. Since Wei Renshi spoke so plainly, the guards recognized him from previous visits and made no objection, promptly notifying those within.

Shortly after, a guard returned and allowed Wei Renshi to enter. To find Scholar Zhang, he had to venture even deeper, crossing the courtyard with some trepidation, hoping not to encounter those students from Fuchang County again.

Yet, the more he wished to avoid them, the more likely he was to run into them. Just as he walked through the courtyard, he suddenly saw a group approaching. Leading them was the very same impulsive student who had publicly confronted him at the poetry gathering in Lianchang Palace.

“Fate truly has a cruel sense of humor,” Wei Renshi muttered, shaking his head.

The group had clearly noticed him and stopped. The leading student exclaimed suspiciously, “Is that you? What are you doing here?”

Wei Renshi couldn’t recall the student’s name and did not want to engage further. “Reading books,” he replied curtly, stepping aside to continue on.

“Wait!” another unfamiliar student from the group called out behind him. “You’re the little fraud who had someone else write your poem for the Lianchang Palace poetry gathering! How did you get back here?”

Only now did the others realize this was the inner courtyard, guarded closely, a place off-limits to most.

“If you can enter, why can’t I?” Wei Renshi retorted, about to walk on.

“Why are you so eager to leave? Are you following us, pretending to belong here, sneaking in?” the first student accused. “This place isn’t for just anyone.”

Wei Renshi ignored their noisy accusations and kept moving forward.

Unexpectedly, one of them stepped forward and grabbed his arm. “You’d better explain yourself. If you’re pretending to sneak in with us, I’ll report you to Head Scholar Fang! Don’t offend the Jixian scholars by sneaking in and cause trouble for us, wasting this opportunity!”

At that, the others hurried over and surrounded Wei Renshi.

“You’re misunderstanding me,” Wei Renshi sighed calmly. “Why do you have to be so harsh?”

Suddenly, a voice came from nearby: “Young brothers, perhaps this junior is here on a legitimate errand?”

They all turned to see a familiar face—the same student who had helped them previously.

He strolled over, waving his folding fan with a smile. “Let’s not cause a scene and disturb the scholars. That would only harm us all.”

“Miao Yuanqi, if this little fraud has sneaked in, that’s a serious offense. The scholars would be displeased, and we’d suffer the consequences too,” the first student, Huì Yuán, said sternly. “This kind of matter cannot be taken lightly; it’s best to hand him over to Head Scholar Fang.”

“Miao Yuanqi,” the helper replied, “Head Scholar Fang might be busy paying respects to another scholar right now. If you drag him there now, you’d only be offending the scholars yourself. In my opinion, we should accompany this junior together. If he truly is here to find someone, once he meets them, we can all go together. If we’ve misunderstood him, we can apologize in person. And if he really sneaked in, then as his fellow scholars from the same county, shouldn’t we help him avoid being discovered and punished, so he doesn’t lose his chance at study?”