TFWYH – Chapter 540 Golden Scale Skills

This examination was extremely important. Out of several thousand candidates, only about two hundred would remain in the end.

Jin Lin knew his own limits and simply claimed illness and didn’t go.

With so many candidates, how many truly talented people would there be?

As for him—someone who relied purely on rote memorization—being able to pass the provincial exam was already like smoke rising from his ancestors’ graves.

As for becoming a gongshi?

Those were the talents selected from all under heaven to be presented to the Emperor.

If, at that time, the examiners discovered he was actually empty-headed, it wouldn’t just be deceiving the Emperor— even the prefect of Weng City would be implicated, and it would also drag down Ling Yu, who had helped him predict exam topics.

So… better forget it.

He could only go this far.

Ling Yu, knowing his plan, didn’t try to persuade him—he only suggested that he stay in the capital.

Jin Lin originally wanted to go back, but Ling Yu pointed out that the capital was, after all, under the Emperor’s direct authority. Although all land ultimately belonged to the empire, staying in the capital would be much safer.

After thinking it over, Jin Lin agreed. Now that he had a degree, and since the capital was the Emperor’s territory, even if people from the martial world knew his whereabouts, they would think twice before acting rashly.

With that in mind, he was somewhat tempted.

However, he still had many businesses in Weng City that needed to be handled.

There were also the brothers who had been following him—if they were still willing to stay with him, he couldn’t just abandon them.

So on the day Ling Yu entered the examination hall, Jin Lin and Tang Wan saw him off, and then Jin Lin set off back to Weng City.

Before leaving, Jin Lin introduced the steward of his residence in the capital to Tang Wan, telling her that if she ever needed help, she could go to him.

Tang Wan rolled her eyes. “What could I possibly need your help with?”

Jin Lin smiled meaningfully. “Maybe you don’t—but what about that lady from Qingyuan Elegant Pavilion, the one with jade-like skin and a beauty that could topple a nation?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Tang Wan’s face remained calm, but inwardly she was shocked.

Ever since Yuan Yuan had gone off to open a brothel, they had only kept in touch privately.

How did Jin Lin know?

Jin Lin pointed his fan toward the pleasure district and chuckled. “You don’t really think I made my fortune running shipping businesses, do you? That’s far too slow to make money. I’ve got plenty of people under me to feed!”

“…So you’re basically the boss of the brothel business?”

“Ahem…” Jin Lin nearly choked on his own saliva.

What kind of term is that?

But after spending so much time with Tang Wan, he had grown used to her unique way of speaking.

“Anyway, the entire pleasure district in the capital is under my control. Nothing that happens there escapes my notice. While I’m away, if you run into any trouble you can’t handle, go find Brother Rui—he’ll help you resolve it.”

The steward, addressed as Brother Rui, smiled and nodded, greeting Tang Wan.

After giving him a few more instructions, Jin Lin boarded the boat and left.

After he was gone, Tang Wan asked curiously, “How did he know about my relationship with Yuan Yuan?”

Brother Rui glanced at the bracelet on her wrist and then explained with a smile, “Master Jin has a unique skill—he can identify jade. No matter what kind of jade it is, he can tell at a glance. Madam Ling, the jade bracelet you’re wearing isn’t particularly valuable, but it’s exactly the same as the one worn by Miss Yuan Yuan, who has recently become very famous. After Master Jin came to the capital and heard about her, he originally intended to bring her into his establishment. But when he saw she was wearing the same bracelet as yours, he left her alone.”