Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 477 - 313: The Threshold of Jinghong Literary Society

"Not just anyone can enter the Jinghong Literary Society. Inside are people of longstanding fame, and even quite a few court officials. There are very few young scholars, mostly the elders bringing the younger generation to gain insight. Our gatherings are incomparable to theirs. Gu Chengyu is truly on a path to great success."

Everyone understood the person’s implication. Though the gathering supposedly had no threshold, it’s not something you can enter just by having status.

The attendees of the literary society are Great Scholars and high-ranking officials. If Gu Chengyu attends and aligns with a powerful figure, would this not be the foundation for securing a place in the court? No wonder they felt envy and jealousy!

Feng Sheng listened to the admiration directed at his master’s family and then straightened his posture, raising his head as if others were speaking of him.

Gu Chengyu originally did not know there were such intricacies, but hearing others speak now, he began to speculate about Lu Chen’s intent.

Why did Lu Chen hand over the lyric to Mr. Dong Yuan? Mr. Dong Yuan doesn’t like advising others casually and generally doesn’t appreciate commonplace poetry. Normally, people would choose Fu Ming and Wei Yilin because they are easier to talk to. Could it be just because Lu Chen knows Mr. Dong Yuan?

Gu Chengyu glanced at Lu Chen, who returned a smile, yet Gu Chengyu felt there was some deeper meaning to that smile. He recalled how Lu Chen persistently sought poems from him today, claiming it was for a friend, and later vied with him for Hua Lian. It seemed to force his hand for poetry, yet Gu Chengyu now felt this person might be deliberately trying to get close to him.

But he was merely a poor student, with no prominent status or position, aside from his teacher having some reputation in the Capital, and only having some relations with his three senior brothers. Was Lu Chen using his connections to get close to his senior brothers?

No, he was a Marquis Mansion’s son; why would he need to go through him? Gu Chengyu thought about it and realized he currently had nothing worth scheming over, so he dismissed these thoughts and faced Feng Sheng.

"I am humbled by Mr. Dong Yuan’s kindness to invite me to the Jinghong Literary Society, and I am greatly honored." Such a good opportunity would not be refused by Gu Chengyu. He wouldn’t harbor any lofty notions, as Mr. Dong Yuan’s aloof demeanor was expected from a Great Scholar.

Feng Sheng was very pleased with Gu Chengyu’s discernment.

"I have conveyed my sincere intentions, and I will take my leave. A few days before the Jinghong Literary Society, I will deliver the invitation to Mr. Gu’s residence." Feng Sheng finished speaking, bowed to Gu Chengyu, greeted Lu Chen, and then turned to leave.

Once Feng Sheng left, everyone came forward to congratulate Gu Chengyu. Even though tonight Gu Chengyu won first place, accompanied by a beauty, and played a duet with Miss Xi Yan, it all paled compared to the significance of the invitation to the Jinghong Literary Society. Most importantly, Gu Chengyu’s lyric was affirmed by Mr. Dong Yuan.

"It seems Brother Gu’s literary talent has even impressed Mr. Dong Yuan. Until now, the number of young talents who have received invitations is fewer than five. Brother Gu earning such honor simply makes it hard for anyone present to even look up to his back!"

This student sighed sincerely, as now Gu Chengyu had earned the qualification to discuss scholarly matters with Great Scholars. Even if not on an equal footing, he was not in the same realm as them. The prospect of him becoming a Great Scholar was not a distant thing.

As Gu Chengyu matures, the title of Great Scholar will surely be inescapable. Among the three Great Scholars, which one is not past the age of knowing destiny? Everyone looked at the high-spirited Gu Chengyu and felt that with his talents, it wouldn’t be long before he became a Great Scholar.

Gu Chengyu could not have imagined that just a single invitation could arouse such envy from these people. He had underestimated the Jinghong Literary Society!

Min Feng no longer harbored the desire to compare his literary talent with Gu Chengyu. He had to admit that Gu Chengyu was slightly superior. However, he took a deep breath, considering that Gu Chengyu had a shallower foundation than him. At least he had the backing of Chief Minister Xia, who valued him greatly. As long as he planned well, he could firmly rely on Xia’s Mansion as a backing.

Recently, he had also clearly sorted out the complicated relationships in the Capital, while Gu Chengyu was still caught up in romantic affairs. Future officialdom relies on strategy and court connections, areas where he had more advantages than Gu Chengyu. He refused to believe that he would lose to Gu Chengyu in the court.

What does being a Great Scholar matter? They are reclusive individuals with little influence on the court. Thinking this, Min Feng’s lips curled again. Gu Chengyu! We’ll see who proves themselves on the court!

Seeing the gathering was concluding and the remaining students all congratulating Gu Chengyu, Min Feng did not wish to stay and add to his annoyance. Thus, Min Feng approached Lu Chen and the others, greeted them, and prepared to leave Tianxiang Pavilion.

"I don’t deserve it, I don’t deserve it. I was just lucky." Gu Chengyu only replied simply with these two sentences. At this moment, he couldn’t afford to be overly modest, or people might assume he was being arrogant. Regardless of what was said, it couldn’t stop others’ envy and jealousy. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Junior Brother Gu, I congratulate you on gaining recognition from Mr. Dong Yuan. It seems Junior Brother Gu’s talent is truly evident. I hope someday you’ll also become a Great Scholar."

Min Feng looked at the prideful Gu Chengyu, his anger rising again. Although earlier he thought that Gu Chengyu could not surpass him in the officialdom, he finally swallowed his pride and couldn’t help but make a sarcastic remark.

Gu Chengyu smiled, "Thank you for your kind words, Senior Brother Min. I appreciate your blessing."

Min Feng was exasperated—did Gu Chengyu not hear the underlying sarcasm in his words? Judging by the bright smile on Gu Chengyu’s face, he probably didn’t understand, right?

Min Feng then bid farewell to Lu Chen and others before walking out of Tianxiang Pavilion.

Seeing this, Huang Junheng had no choice but to greet them and quickly follow. Huang Junheng was very displeased, thinking Min Feng must have treated him as a servant. He left without notifying him, and ever since gaining favor from his uncle, he summoned him at will and dismissed him just the same.

Huang Junheng followed out with his people, looking at Min Feng’s back, his face darkened.

Min Feng, who had been overshadowed by Gu Chengyu tonight, naturally felt unhappy and didn’t notice Huang Junheng’s resentment towards him. However, even if he did notice, he wouldn’t care, as Huang Junheng was merely a distant relative of Xia Qing, not someone he had to consider.

Watching Min Feng’s departing figure, Gu Chengyu smiled, intending to bid farewell to Lu Chen. Of course, he heard the implicit meaning in Min Feng’s words; he was saying that he could only become a Great Scholar outside and wouldn’t be able to make it in the court, even suggesting wanting to become a Great Scholar was just wishful thinking.

It seemed Min Feng was so discouraged by him that he completely abandoned his previous self-restraint. Or did he think that by associating himself with Xia Qing, he no longer needed to tread carefully?