Chapter 115 – Unexpected Turns (3)
Jiang Pengji and Feng Jin came over the wall, but when they left, they did so quite openly, with Wei Yuan even preparing a carriage for them.
However, the carriage’s shock absorption was no match for that of the Liu Residence’s, making the journey quite bumpy and uncomfortable.
Feng Jin sighed, “I didn’t expect Meng Heng to be such a gentleman, yet he has such a vile younger brother.”
“Does your choice of friends depend on whether their brothers are gentlemen?”
Jiang Pengji curled her lips, her gaze flashing with a hint of cold light.
“It’s just a pity for Meng Heng,” Feng Jin, being sensitive to others’ emotions, could sense Jiang Pengji’s displeasure and felt the need to explain, “Lan Ting probably doesn’t know, but although Meng Heng is the legitimate son of the Meng Clan, he doesn’t receive much attention from his parents and isn’t very invested in life’s affairs. I’ve been classmates with him for a few years; if I hadn’t accidentally found out he was the eldest legitimate son, I’d still think he was from a side branch of the Meng family.”
Jiang Pengji turned her head to look at Feng Jin as he continued, “The assessments happen every three years. Meng Heng’s family background, knowledge, temperament, looks, and abilities are all commendable; however, his brother’s behavior will inevitably have a significant impact on his moral evaluation…”
The Dongqing selection system resembles the Nine Ranks system but has substantial differences.
Family background, knowledge, temperament, looks, abilities, and morality are the six main evaluation criteria.
Since the establishment of Dongqing, the system classified knowledge, ability, and morality as the top three categories, while family background, temperament, and looks were considered lower three categories.
The scoring standard is 60% from the top three, 30% from the lower three, and 10% from the evaluators for a composite result.
This standard didn’t last long; under the influence of major clans, the top three categories shifted to family background, morality, knowledge, while the lower three changed to looks, ability, temperament, increasing the weight of the top three and further strengthening the evaluators’ authority.
Morality fell into the top three. Because of Meng Liang, even if Meng Heng could originally score high, it would be turned into a low score.
Feng Jin’s prior reaction stemmed not only from disbelief at the existence of such a vile person but also from pity for his friend.
Being included in the overall assessment meant that 90% were scions of noble families, and their standings were closely related.
What impact does the category of morality shifting from excellent to poor have?
It’s enough to drop Meng Heng, who originally had hopes of placing in the top three, to an average level, blending in with the rest.
Such a pity, but who told him to have such a dragging younger brother?
In this era, one person’s actions don’t just implicate one person; Meng Liang’s lack of morality means there are issues with the morality of all the Meng Clan’s males, and the closer one is to Meng Liang, the more likely they are to be impacted. Thus, it stands to reason that Meng Heng would be doomed.
“Why are you so worried about him? He’s at least a legitimate son of the Meng Clan. As long as the Meng Clan doesn’t fall, he can always make a comeback. It’s just an assessment; what can it prove?” Jiang Pengji rolled her eyes, scoffing at Feng Jin’s concern, “If you have time to think about this, you’d be better off thinking of a way to cover for my father. I left Yingchun Tower without even a word…”
Feng Jin: “…”
That made a good point; he found himself unable to counter even a single word.
The assessment results can only influence the initial bureaucratic positions and can’t affect future career paths at all. No matter how unloved Meng Heng is by his parents, he’s still a legitimate heir of the Meng Clan and has their backing; it wouldn’t be too bad for him in the future.
Jiang Pengji secretly glanced at Feng Jin’s expression, suppressing a smirk.
With various families manipulating the throne, how could Dongqing remain stable?
Cangzhou Mengjun, that’s just a small spark.
Though weak and small, who can say it doesn’t have the potential to ignite a raging wildfire?
“The Liu Governor is not an ordinary person; how could we conceal this from his eyes?”
Feng Jin shook his head, trying to persuade Jiang Pengji to accept the reality.
Jiang Pengji snorted, “Since you speak so earnestly, I have an idea. Just tell my father that Huai Yu said there are courtesans nearby, pushing me to join in the fun, and I left in a hurry, fearing his reprimand, which is why I didn’t report it.”
Feng Jin’s little partner was taken aback, feeling that all the blame was being dumped on him.
Can friends even keep joking around anymore?
“Lan Ting!”
Feng Jin’s cheeks turned red with anger; he had never met such an unscrupulous person.
“I was just joking, does Huai Yu really think I would do that?” Jiang Pengji put on a look of deep disappointment, waving her hands in a feigned motion, leaving Feng Jin exasperated—angry but couldn’t be mad, betrayed by a terrible friend!
“People say Liu Zhi’s son is wild and unruly, and there’s indeed some truth to it.”
“Young people should be reckless; if you don’t have fun now, when you’re old, you’ll regret it.” Jiang Pengji, seemingly oblivious to Feng Jin’s taunts, proceeded to lecture him shamelessly, “I’m not saying you, but you look like you’ve seen through the world at such a young age. You talk and act like an old sage, your steps are even daintier than a girl’s, and you speak so gently…”
A life of sailing through waves without paddles, all relying on the currents.
Feng Jin’s mouth twitched before he shot back defiantly, “If that girl is you, then I am indeed overly delicate.”
Jiang Pengji: “…”
The viewers in the live stream silently munched on their snacks, watching the two “pretty boys” banter back and forth, all expressing how they were force-fed a mouthful of sugar.
[Lan Cuiyu Bu Zhe]: Hahaha, Feng Jin finally stood up to the host after being bullied for so long!
[This Year Are You Brain Dead?]: What are you saying upstairs? The host is clearly looking at Feng Jin with a doting smile while he retorted!
[I Am Ye Liangchen]: I ship the host, the rogue top, x Feng Jin, the delicate bottom. This CP can’t be split, host will always be the top.
[I Am Long Aotian]: Indeed, indeed. Any little bottom trying to fight back is just a paper tiger.
[Old Driver Alliance]: Host x Huai Yu, this pairing, combined with the host’s doting smile, is simply delicious.
[Poor Dao Looks at You, Flower, You Poisonous]: Heretic! The host’s CP is my baby; she’s so cute, a night of nine times (/ω╲)
Faced with these toxic viewers, even Jiang Pengji occasionally found herself speechless.
Honestly, this was the first time Feng Jin had openly referred to Jiang Pengji’s gender.
“Huai Yu, I actually have a question I don’t quite understand. Since you know I’m a woman, why do you still choose to befriend me?”
Feng Jin took a long, uninterested look at her and bluntly replied, “Apart from this body, where else do you resemble a woman?”
He could hardly be blamed for often ignoring her gender and treating her like a man.
A friend is a friend; who cares about gender? It only matters if personalities match.
Jiang Pengji looked at the stream of “hahaha” flying past the screen, raising an eyebrow, “Coarse language.”
Feng Jin countered, “It’s subjective.”
Jiang Pengji: “…”
Could this kid have taken the wrong medicine?
So troublesome?
Fortunately, Jiang Pengji was strong-minded; Feng Jin’s mere teasing couldn’t impact her much.
As for that gaggle of delightfully toxic viewers in the stream, she decided not to comment further.
