Du Xuan was thrilled.

The event notice specified that it wasn’t just the first-place winner who would receive a prize; there were rewards for second and third place as well. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The second-place prize was half-price dining at Ming’s Restaurant for ten days. Third place would receive a twenty-percent discount.

"Then I have to enter!" Du Xuan declared boldly.

Ming Lingyi smiled and nodded, reminding him, "Mr. Du, there’s no need to rush. The rules are written very clearly: each person can only submit one poem per round, and it cannot be changed. If you wish to compete, Mr. Du, perhaps you should think it over carefully first. Once you’re certain, then you can register. That way, you won’t have any regrets later, since you won’t be able to change it."

Du Xuan let out a hearty laugh. "Thank you for the reminder, Boss Ming."

Ming Lingyi’s competition was like a "themed composition"; the rules for each round were different.

For instance, the notice Du Xuan was currently holding clearly stated that the theme was "Summer," and contestants had to compose one poem on this topic.

All participants had to adhere to this theme.

After getting the answers he wanted, Du Xuan didn’t rush to leave the restaurant. Instead, he sat down and started a discussion with Ming Lingyi.

"Boss Ming, it says here the judging will happen in ten days. Who are you planning to get?" Du Xuan was genuinely looking out for Ming Lingyi. He thought her event was a great idea, and even though he wasn’t confident he could take first place, it was still something to look forward to. "Forgive me for being blunt, but while this is a great event, if the judges aren’t convincing, you might get very few participants."

What Du Xuan left unsaid was that even if some people, drawn by the novelty, came to Ming’s Restaurant to leave behind their "ink treasures," a lack of credible judges would deter anyone from participating in the future.

After all, most scholars have a certain "integrity" and would disdain to associate with those who "pass off fish eyes as pearls."

Ming Lingyi could tell Du Xuan was genuinely concerned about her proposed event. She smiled faintly. "Don’t worry, one of the judges this time will be a top scholar of our dynasty. What do you think, Mr. Du? Is that enough? If not, hmm, I can go find someone else."

When Ming Lingyi mentioned the title "top scholar," Du Xuan’s eyes went wide.

"For real?!"

"Of course," Ming Lingyi said.

When Jiang Yuchuan came to apologize yesterday, Ming Lingyi hadn’t expected it at all.

However, his timing was perfect.

Ever since she learned from Li Yun who the boss of Wangxian Building was and why he was targeting her, she had been thinking of a counter-strategy.

After Jiang Yuchuan arrived at the restaurant, Ming Lingyi asked if he could help out at the restaurant during his next day off.

Jiang Yuchuan agreed in a heartbeat.

’But one judge is indeed too few. There should be at least three to be convincing.’

’As for the other two, Ming Lingyi actually had one person in mind, but she wasn’t sure if she could get them to come.’

’After all, in her eyes, this person was now also someone of high status and great power.’

At this, Ming Lingyi inevitably thought of her older brother, Ming Chengyu.

’Her brother possessed once-in-a-generation talent, yet he never involved himself in court politics.’

Her brother had been the third-place scholar in his year. The late emperor was still alive back then. In that same imperial examination, her brother should have been first, but the second-place finisher was a middle-aged man whose hair was already graying. The late emperor simply couldn’t bring himself to bestow the title of third-place scholar, traditionally given to the most handsome scholar, upon a man who wasn’t particularly good-looking, so he gave it to Ming Lingyi’s brother instead.

’Not only was her brother handsome, but his literary talent was also first-class.’

Even though he resigned from his post to travel and was away from the capital for long periods, whenever he returned, he would effortlessly draw a crowd of friends.

Many people willingly gathered around her brother.

’If only brother were in Shangjing...’

Ming Lingyi sighed inwardly. How could she possibly worry about finding someone to be a "judge"?

「Meanwhile, on the banks of a river in Quzhou, a young man in an indigo robe was boarding a boat.」

An old man was on the shore seeing him off.

The man boarding the boat seemed a bit exasperated. "Father, you should head back now."

Although the old man on the shore had a full head of white hair, he seemed to be in high spirits.

If anyone from Shangjing City had been there at that moment, they would certainly have exclaimed, "Grand Tutor Ming!"

Compared to five years ago, Grand Tutor Ming’s hair had gone completely white, and the lines between his brows had deepened. However, it was only a person’s appearance that aged; the spirit did not grow old with the years.

Grand Tutor Ming stroked his beard. "I know, I know. I came to ask if you brought the candied bayberries for your little sister."

His youngest daughter loved bayberries, but they were very delicate. Back in the Great Desert at the border, such things were rarely seen. After returning to Shangjing, a large quantity was sent to the palace each year as tribute, and his daughter absolutely adored them.

Now, news had come from Shangjing City. Although it wasn’t confirmed, of the three members of the Ming Family, both Father Ming and Ming Chengyu wanted to go see for themselves, leaving only Mrs. Ming, who couldn’t handle the emotional shock.

’The news was uncertain, but Father Ming thought, what if his eldest son really did find his youngest daughter when he returned to the Capital City this time?’

’A long-awaited reunion shouldn’t be met with empty hands.’

His daughter’s favorite bayberries weren’t in season, but Quzhou had plenty of candied bayberries, so he had specially reminded Ming Chengyu not to forget them.

Ming Chengyu said, exasperated, "I brought them, I brought them, I won’t forget. Father, you should head back. I will bring my little sister home."

Ming Chengyu didn’t want to consider the other possibility.

His mother’s health had improved a lot after years of recuperation, but she was still far too frail compared to how she used to be.

His little sister’s death had always been a thorn in his mother’s heart. Ming Chengyu knew this was a wound that would likely stay with his mother for the rest of her life. But then, in a sudden turn of events, news came from Shangjing City that his little sister might still be alive.

’If I can bring Yuan Niang back,’ Ming Chengyu thought, ’Mother might finally be able to find true happiness. From then on, our family can live well together, stop worrying about the conflicts of the outside world, and just live our own quiet lives behind closed doors.’

At this thought, a faint smile appeared on Ming Chengyu’s lips.

He didn’t realize that in this moment, he looked more relaxed and at ease than he had at any time in the past five years, just like the young master of the Ming Family he once was.

It was impossible to say how many eyes he had attracted.

Jiang Yuchuan planned to visit his maternal uncle at the Xie Mansion after work today.

He hadn’t even walked out the gates of the Ministry of Justice when he saw a few of his familiar subordinates gathered in small groups, holding paper and brushes, and discussing something amongst themselves.

Jiang Yuchuan was not a particularly curious superior. As long as his subordinates weren’t breaking the law, he wasn’t curious about what they did after work, nor would he ask.

So, Jiang Yuchuan prepared to just leave.

However, as he passed by, he overheard their not-so-quiet discussion.

He initially paid it no mind, but when he heard the name "Ming’s Restaurant," Jiang Yuchuan couldn’t help but stop in his tracks.