My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 694: Chapter 694: Zhi Beiyou

Speaking of the imperial examination, no scholar would remain uninterested, and all held their breath, waiting for what would follow.

At this moment, Wu Junren paused briefly and looked around the crowd: ”Do you know why?”

”Why?”

Wu Junren said: ”It’s because Qin Siyuan’s poetry is too mediocre, lacking any spirit. Lord Sacrificial Officer tried countless methods to teach him, but it gained no improvement.

At first, I didn’t believe it, but later, after seeing his poetry, I believed.”

Qin Siyuan couldn’t help but lower his eyes.

The crowd was in an uproar.

Poetry plays a significant role in the imperial examination. If it’s not done well, no matter how solid one’s scholarship is, it’s hard to achieve good rankings; avoiding falling into the scholar category would be a blessing of Amitabha Buddha.

Everyone felt a sense of regret.

But soon, someone realized, ”How is that possible? Qin Siyuan’s poetry became well-known after being included in the ”Poetry Collection of Traveling in Yuyuantan,” and what is included in the ”Firefly Collection” is even more excellent.”

Wu Junren said: ”Exactly, all of us familiar with Qin Siyuan’s studies were very surprised. When did Qin Siyuan suddenly gain poetic insight to such an extent?”

Lin Ziqi immediately said sternly: ”What is this matter? Siyuan once gained poetic insight from Young Master Nantang’s guidance, which I know very well. On the day we traveled to Jade Spring Pond, I and Sixth Master Gu from the Dingbei Marquis Mansion witnessed Siyuan composing poems firsthand.”

What a sight to witness firsthand.

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but slightly curl her lips.

Indeed, Wu Junren sneered and asked, ”You witnessed him composing poetry, but did you witness Young Master Nantang guiding him in poetry?”

Lin Ziqi was stunned: ”What do you mean by that?”

”What do I mean?” Wu Junren said loudly, ”His poetry and his past works are worlds apart. Young Master Nantang doesn’t usually like to see people. Could occasional guidance make such a change? If he had such comprehension, would he be unable to learn no matter how Qin Jijiu taught him?”

”That’s what you said,” Lin Ziqi immediately replied, ”Perhaps it was Young Master Nantang’s good teaching, the right teaching just at the right time.”

Qin Siyuan interjected: ”No matter how Brother Wu says it, I truly was fortunate to get guidance from Young Master Nantang and gained poetic insight.”

Wu Junren sneered a few times: ”Not necessarily. I would rather believe you and Young Master Nantang conspired to deceive the world and steal fame.”

As soon as he said this, the crowd erupted again.

The accusation of deceiving the world and stealing fame was too serious.

Lin Ziqi stood there dazed, seemingly too scared to speak.

Marquis Gu was extremely angry, and Mr. Songshan hurriedly said: ”Marquis, calm down, don’t fall for their trick.”

Qin Yuan also said, ”If he breaks his teeth later, I won’t stop you, but not now.”

”Hmm,” Marquis Gu responded heavily from his nose, his eyes fixed intently on the two people below the stage.

Daring to provoke his people, how bold!

Princess Fuyun looked troubled, her clear black and white eyes filled with worry, said to Prince Qi, ”How could it be like this?”

Why are these scholars so unpleasant to look at?

If Young Master Nantang wanted worldly fame, why hide from the world?

Prince Qi frowned and said, ”This matter is aimed at the Qin Family, perhaps even at the Dingbei Marquis Mansion. Unfortunately, the Qin Family has an internal traitor...”

Princess Fuyun asked in shock: ”You mean... it’s them?”

Prince Qi nodded.

Princess Fuyun’s eyes filled with tears: ”They, they have gone too far.”

Gone too far?

Prince Qi couldn’t help but smile.

His sister, after all, was young; the fight for the throne has always been so.

The so-called victor becomes king, the vanquished becomes a bandit. When one fails, what is lost is not just life and belongings; even death means being twisted and mocked without end.

”Stay calm, Qin Jijiu is an upright man, the head of the Pure Stream. Presumably, his nephew is no worse, and Young Master Nantang, with extraordinary talent, wouldn’t conspire to do vile deeds.”

Princess Fuyun still looked worried: ”But people are foolish, always believing whatever others say. Young Master Nantang’s rising fame already invites envy, and this storm with Mr. Qin ultimately stems from us.

If we cause trouble for them, my heart will be uneasy.”

Prince Qi, after a moment of silence, said: ”If the Dingbei Marquis Mansion cannot even protect them, then you and I would also...”

Our alliance with the Dingbei Marquis Mansion would become a joke.

At that time, unable to protect ourselves, where would be the thought to worry about others?

Princess Fuyun’s eyes slightly reddened, speechless.

Prince Qi then flatly said: ”A few days ago, I read from the outer Chapters of ”Zhuangzi,” ”Zhi Beiyou,” which deeply touched me: Your body is not yours, it is the form given by heaven and earth; life is not yours, it is the combination given by heaven and earth.

The body is but a shell temporarily borrowed by heaven and earth, life is the harmony of energy by heaven and earth, and when gathered by fate, it forms a self.

Fuyun, you and I, as brother and sister, are merely a fate in this life. In the next, even if circumstances allow us to meet again, we wouldn’t be the you and I of now.”

Such words, under such vibrant and splendid street scenes, seemed all the more poignant.

Princess Fuyun looked at her brother in confusion, clearly not understanding why he spoke such words at this moment.

Prince Qi raised his head to the pavilion and said: ”Everyone here is because of this fate; you only need to remain true to yourself and should not be excessively cautious, as excessive caution won’t change the outcome at all.

In any struggle, if someone wins, someone else loses, and even in loss, it is deserved, so why be sad about that?”

Princess Fuyun also turned to look at the pavilion, sighed softly.

After a moment, she said, ”Yes.”

On the pavilion, Qin Siyuan asked: ”Mr. Wu, you accused me and Young Master Nantang of deceiving the world. What evidence do you have?”

Everyone said: ”Yes, such a big matter, how can it be said without evidence?”

Wu Junren sneered: ”Although we haven’t roomed together long, you should know I am not one to act frivolously. If I didn’t have solid evidence, how could I say this in public?”

Qin Yuan whispered a few words to Qin Siyuan.

Qin Siyuan said: ”To ascertain the truth is rather simple... But since you claim to have evidence, please present it for everyone to see.”

Lin Ziqi hurriedly said: ”This matter is no trivial matter, and we are all fellow schoolmates and friends. How can it escalate to this point? Perhaps both of you could consider my feelings...”

Wu Junren shouted sternly: ”Lin Junren! Were your earlier words just farts? You just said in front of everyone that you wouldn’t favor Qin Siyuan due to kinship, supporting reason and not kin! Why now, seeing me about to produce real evidence, do you want to gloss over it?”

Lin Ziqi angrily said: ”Truly, he doesn’t know a good heart. You’re a mere scholar, escalating matters to this magnitude, what do you intend to achieve? Have you been instructed by others?”

Ostensibly protecting, but actually inviting criticism.

The eyes Qin Siyuan cast at Lin Ziqi grew more disappointed.

Upon hearing it, everyone began to exclaim: ”What do you mean a mere scholar escalated matters to this magnitude? Could it be we can’t speak?”

”Yes, who said you are just a small scholar!”

Someone brought up the previous matters again.

”The Dingbei Marquis Mansion likes to silence people; just before wasn’t Mr. Songshan saying scholars were numerous, unable to see through political memorials presented to the court, speaking in the same tone.”