However, the numbers were noticeably sparse, and those who submitted poems were mostly ordinary students without official ranks or any real talent. But over the past few days, things had clearly taken an unusual turn. It wasn't just scholars from humble backgrounds anymore; even students from prominent clans with glorious ancestral legacies were participating. There was even no shortage of officials holding important positions in the imperial court. Yet, Zeng Shilin only selected youths from Jiangnan and the Zeng Family's ancestral home of Feng Commandery to cultivate.
