Zheng Shangming finally seized the opportunity to call upon Jiang Wang, specially inviting him for a meal with wine.

Jiang Wang, in turn, played the mediator, introducing Zheng Shangming to Lian Que.

Once the wine party ended, all the guests dispersed in high spirits.

Zheng Shangming was keen to make friends with Jiang Wang and was very enthusiastic towards his friends from humbler times. Lian Que, too, needed to build his influence in various circles as swiftly as possible to secure his position as the young master of Lian’s family.

Of course, the nature of their relationship would depend on their future collaborations.

...

On the 20th of May, the list of candidates for the Yellow River Gathering drafted by the Political Affairs Hall had been presented for the Emperor’s review.

This was not a matter requiring secrecy; therefore, the list that was distributed in the morning was already common knowledge in Linzi by the afternoon.

The three candidates from the Inner Mansion Realm were Jiang Wang from Qingyang Town, Lei Zhanqian the young master of the Lei Family, and Deputy General Cui Zhu from the Prisoner Electric Army.

The three candidates from the External Building Environment were Bao Bozhao, eldest son of the Shuofang Marquis, Xie Baoshu, the nephew of Imperial Court Adviser Xie Huaian, and Chao Yu, the general of the winter silence army.

The likes of Bai Zhi Mo Liancheng and Bi Wu Yang Jing had no chance of even qualifying for the candidates list.

As for the unrestricted showdown for those under thirty, the Political Affairs Hall put forward only one name—

Ji Zhaonan.

Without office, without title, having rarely appeared within the country, he also didn’t have much fame.

He had but one identity, the second disciple of Great Qi’s God of War.

Great Qi’s War God Jiang Mengxiong had three disciples remaining.

The eldest disciple Chen Zeqing was his strategic heir. The closed-door disciple Wang Yiwu continued his martial valor. The former, known as the army adviser of the Nine Soldiers, had experienced every troop within Qi’s nine, commanding respect from those proud soldiers. The latter contended for first place in every Realm, both figures being extremely well-known.

It was only the second disciple, Ji Zhaonan, who was known by few.

But if the Political Affairs Hall sent up only this one name, it certainly wasn’t a collective lapse of sanity, presumptuous enough to deny Emperor Qi a choice.

It was because everyone in the Political Affairs Hall, from the State Minister to the nine Imperial Court Advisers, recognized him as the foremost cultivator under thirty in Qi Country!

An undisputed selection.

And only for that reason had they dared to present it solely to Emperor Qi.

This one fact alone conjured an image of Ji Zhaonan’s formidable strength.

How highly anticipated was the Yellow River Gathering?

On Qi’s side, Emperor Qi had yet to finalize the last candidate— the Political Affairs Hall had merely put forward a provisional list.

Those on the list instantly became highly sought after!

Since the disclosure of this list, visitors nearly broke down the doorstep of Xia Shan Villa.

Jiang Wang was forced to announce an early retreat to avoid offending too many people. Meanwhile, in the Taixu Illusion Realm, he urgently signaled Zhongxuan Sheng to return and deal with these social affairs. After all, some visitors were directly linked to the prosperity of the De Sheng Trading Company; retreating and refusing meetings altogether wasn’t ideal.

Zhongxuan Sheng, filled with Resentment Qi, spitefully mocked Jiang Wang through numerous paper cranes, old grudges and new bubbling to the surface... yet eventually, he dropped his business in Heavenly Mansion City, returning to Linzi.

Of course, Jiang Wang didn’t read a single one of those corpulent paper cranes sent to the Taixu Illusion Realm.

With so many sent at once, he could guess they were anything but pleasant. If there was anything urgent, Zhongxuan Pang would have met him in the Star River space.

Hence, when they met in Linzi, they were still very cordial. One had already vented to his heart’s content, while the other was entirely oblivious to what had been said.

Once the well-versed Zhongxuan Pang returned to Linzi, the world suddenly seemed much quieter.

What was a headache for Jiang Wang was nothing more than a trifle for Zhongxuan Sheng, who, day after day, entertained an endless stream of guests, all of whom were handled with utmost care.

Of course, that didn’t stop him from incessantly chattering in Jiang Wang’s ear.

He lamented things like, "I, a noble son of the Chongxuan Clan, the future Marquis of Bowang, actually have to play gatekeeper for you..."

Jiang Wang suddenly remembered something that day and interrupted, "Right, before I went to your Zhongxuan Clan’s territory, Bao Zhongqing sent someone to find me. I have no idea what it was about, but you told me to be wary of him, so I ignored him."

"His subordinate came to find you?" Zhongxuan Sheng asked.

"Yeah, it was that what’s-it-called ’Fuhai Hand’."

At the time, he had ignored it, but nothing further had come from the matter, which truly left him somewhat baffled.

He did not know why the other party had contacted him, and it seemed to lack sincerity.

He did not feel that he had any possible connection to Bao Zhongqing.

The Zhong Xuan Family and Bao family were political enemies. And he and Zhongxuan Sheng had long been known for standing together through thick and thin.

Zhongxuan Sheng appeared to understand and shook his head, "It’s not that Bao Zhongqing intentionally wanted to offend you. He wouldn’t fall short on formalities, but he simply couldn’t come to find you himself."

"What do you mean?" Jiang Wang asked.

"Why do you think he sought you out?" Zhongxuan Sheng said with a smile, "The answer should be found at this Yellow River Gathering."

Jiang Wang frowned, "The more I listen, the more confused I get."

"You really are dull!" Zhongxuan Sheng didn’t mince words and openly mocked him, "No wonder others say you’re easily deceived. Indeed, you’re quite susceptible to being fooled!"

Now Jiang Wang was completely lost, "Who has deceived me?"

Of course, Zhongxuan Sheng could not expose his own shortcoming, so he snorted coldly, avoiding the topic, and changed the subject, "Are you only concerned with your own little patch? Have you not noticed Bao Bozhao on the Outer Building candidate list? Bao Zhongqing didn’t want to find you then, he wanted to get to Yan Fu through you!"

The hefty man had only heard a few sentences but seemed to understand as if he had been there in person, "He wanted to use Yan Fu’s influence to prevent Bao Bozhao from getting on that list. If he visited you in person, his purpose would have been too obvious, so he could only send a subordinate to make the request. And he couldn’t be straightforward about it. After all, blocking his own brother from making a name for himself would be unsavory if word got out... I take it you were somewhat cold in your response?"

"There was a bit of that," Jiang Wang admitted, touching his nose, unable to deny that the hefty man was truly clever. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Zhongxuan Sheng laughed again, "If you had met with him then, I bet you could have gained quite the benefit. But as for a slot at the Yellow River Gathering, don’t count on Yan Fu anymore."

"Why?" Compared to Zhongxuan Sheng, Jiang Wang felt like he might truly be a bit slow. He couldn’t figure this out or that.

Zhongxuan Sheng countered with a question, "Do you know why Bao Zhongqing didn’t come looking for you later?"

"How would I know if you don’t tell me!" Jiang Wang was both annoyed and embarrassed.

"Hahaha..." Zhongxuan Sheng finally chuckled, "No matter how influential the Yan family is in the Political Affairs Hall, in the matter of the Yellow River Gathering, they can interfere with one slot at most. It’s not that they can’t do more, but they must not do more. If the Yan family meddles in this and that, what are they trying to do? Yan Fu is a sensible man and won’t do anything foolish."

Jiang Wang suddenly realized, "Yan Fu helped me get on the list, so he can’t move to bump Bao Bozhao off. And vice versa?"

"Alas." Zhongxuan Sheng leaned back lazily, "You see, even a pig-brained guy like Bao Zhongqing can see things crystal clear, yet you..."

"Our hearts are clean, so isn’t it normal that we can’t see through these cunning schemes?" Jiang Wang retorted indignantly.

Zhongxuan Sheng burst into laughter, "This is the first time I’ve heard someone describe stupidity in such a fresh and elegant way! It’s not hard to understand if you have even a bit of brain, hahaha..."

As for why Bao Bozhao was so desperate to get on that list and why Bao Zhongqing was trying so hard to stop it... a look at the number of people visiting Jiang Wang these days said it all.

Whether or not one could ultimately go to the Yellow River Gathering or unfurl their banner at the Guanhe Platform, simply being on that list meant recognition by the Political Affairs Hall as one of Qi Country’s top three. The significance was huge!

However, as logical as the analysis was, being mocked over and over like this was not something Jiang Wang was going to indulge.

He turned his head to look at Shisi, his smile warm, "Miss Shisi, could you please step out for a moment? I feel it’s necessary to have a private chat with Zhongxuan Pang."

Zhongxuan Sheng scoffed derisively.

How could Shisi... wait, Shisi?

Watching Shisi’s determined departure, he hurriedly stood up, "Shisi, wait, just..."

Jiang Wang had already pushed him back down into his seat, pushing the words "Don’t go" back down with him.

That day, their conversation was very pleasant.

At least for Jiang Wang, it was.