"A Provincial Graduate?"
The gatekeeper reported the visitor's arrival, and Jian Qu, who had just come out, received the news. He smiled in mild surprise, thinking, Though my lord has now risen to the rank of imperial prince and has a firmer footing than when he first entered the capital, his foundations are still shallow. A Provincial Graduate has come to pay his respects-what if he is a useful talent?
Perhaps he is worth meeting.
The highest-qualified advisers who had accompanied his lord into the capital were only Provincial Graduates themselves. At that thought, Jian Qu said, "Show him into the small reception hall. I'll meet him."
With that, he went ahead to the small reception hall. By the time he arrived, the household guards had already ushered Provincial Graduate Bai inside.
As soon as they met, Jian Qu gave an inward nod.
Provincial Graduate Bai had a thoroughly scholarly air. He wore a robe that was neither new nor particularly old, and his bearing resembled green bamboo, perfectly suited to the tastes of the day.
That bearing alone won him some of Jian Qu's favor. Once Jian Qu invited him to sit and they exchanged a few words, he was even more delighted.
There was no other reason: the man truly spoke with substance. Jian Qu had spent years in the southwest and now assisted Prince Dai; naturally, he could distinguish empty generalities from genuine talent.
"Mr. Bai, you are a talented man!"
Moreover, Provincial Graduate Bai said he had ancient books to present to Prince Dai. Jian Qu could naturally see that the man intended to enter his lord's service. Of course, he saw nothing wrong with offering books; it was a courtesy. Smiling, he said, "If you are willing, Mr. Bai, shall I take you to see