Many people at the Literary Assembly silently watched this unfold. Almost everyone had realized that this assembly was primarily aimed at Zhang Longxiang.
Both the Deer Gate Marquis and Gou Bao held positions too lofty to trade barbs with Fang Yun in public, but the prefect of Guangzhou was different. His Literary Rank and official position were both lower than Zhang Longxiang's, so whatever he said, no one would see it as an attempt to suppress Zhang Longxiang.
As Fang Yun watched the prefect of Guangzhou, he understood their strategy. From the outset, the prefect had been provoking him, repeatedly drawing him into speaking. After all, Zhang Longxiang had done some outrageous things in the past, and Fang Yun himself had smashed up the Qishan Marquis Residence a few days earlier, nearly killing Gou Bao's son. These people did not need to defeat him on every front. They only needed to find a single mistake, magnify it, then combine it with the suspicion that he belonged to the Rebel Species. That would give Gou Bao or the Deer Gate Marquis grounds to act, reclaim the Qishan Army's great banner, and leave his name mired in disgrace.
Unfortunately, I am not that Zhang Longxiang...
With that thought, Fang Yun smiled faintly and said, "Lord Prefect, let us not make things difficult for this young man. Please read the next poem."
The prefect of Guangzhou smiled. "My lord, you have yet to answer my earlier question. I am the host of this Literary Assembly, after all. You cannot use your title as Pearl River Marquis to overrule this humble official. Let me ask you again: do you believe this One-Character Poem can take first place at this assembly?"
Fang Yun tapped a finger lightly against the table. "Since you insist on pressing