The meaning of this statement couldn't be clearer; it's obviously mocking him for always hiring someone to take the exam for him in previous years, but this year he has to take the exam himself because of the new policy.

"I'm just here to test the waters and see what's different about this year's new policies," said Fatty Wu.

"I don't know who came up with this idea, but it's said that every candidate who passes the exam has to have their portrait drawn at the government office. It's for future records. It's quite a strange thing. The court painters who used to only paint portraits for the royal family can now paint portraits for us too," said Young Master Chen.

"If you ask me, Prince Yong, who is in charge of this autumn examination, is like this!" The young master had his back to Fourth Master and Lanqin, but Lanqin saw the thumbs-up he raised.

"They're praising you!" Lanqin winked at Fourth Master.

Fourth Master ordered a pot of Longjing tea and some of the local specialty pastries for Lanqin. He was slowly sipping his tea!

Seeing Lanqin wink at him, he winked back at Lanqin!

Lanqin rarely saw Fourth Master like this, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Just then, Wu Dapang, who was speaking across from him, heard someone laughing and assumed it was a joke about him, so he said unhappily, "Young master, what are you laughing at?"

When Lanqin saw that she had been called out, she didn't want to speak up to explain, because if she did, she would give herself away.

Wu Dapang was the son of a merchant. Although his family was very wealthy, he felt somewhat insecure in front of these sons of powerful officials.

Seeing that Lanqin was ignoring him, he felt a little embarrassed, so he stood up and walked over to Lanqin's table.

The crowd looked at Wu Dapang with a sense of amusement, and seeing that he was about to find fault with a very handsome young man, they all became interested in watching the show.

"Hey, what were you laughing at just now?" Wu Dapang, a burly man, stood in front of Lanqin, his massive body almost completely engulfing her.

Fourth Master looked at the pleading look in the young woman's eyes, but he rudely ignored her.

"Damn it! Fourth Master, are you just going to watch your woman get bullied by this fat man?" Lan Qin glared at Fourth Master hatefully.

"Hey, if you don't say something, I'll take it as you mocking me!" Fatty Wu was a little annoyed. This seemingly frail young man dared to laugh at him, and moreover, he had never seen these two before, so they probably weren't officials from the capital, which emboldened him even more.

Helpless, Lanqin had no choice but to think of something quick. She dipped her finger in the tea in front of her and then wrote a few words on the table with her finger: "Laugh on your own, it's none of your business!"

Fatty Wu was stunned by Lan Qin's way of expressing herself. He stared at the words on the table several times with his beady eyes before finally saying, "You're a mute? A mute person like you is taking the exam?"

This time, Lanqin was furious. She had already explained, but this fatso wouldn't let it go, even claiming he was mute. What was worse, the lecherous man opposite him was grinning wickedly.

"This autumn imperial examination is really something else, even a mute person has come to take the exam! Haha!" Wu Dapang laughed loudly, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

"You!" Just as Lanqin was about to lose her temper, a voice suddenly came from somewhere, "They're laughing at themselves, they didn't provoke you, it's none of your business; whether they're mute or not, whether they come to take the exam or not, it's none of your business!"

Lanqin immediately felt that this person was a real lifesaver, far better than the other four. She looked towards the voice and saw that it was a scholar sitting alone reading a book, several tables away from Lanqin.

"Who, who just said that! Come out here!" Wu Dapang felt even more humiliated this time, and angrily abandoned Lanqin and went to find the source of the voice.

“It was you! You were the one who said that!” Fatty Wu said.

"It is indeed me. I only said a few words, what's wrong?" The young man had handsome features, but the heroic spirit between his brows gave him a unique aura.

"You're new here, aren't you? I've never seen you before!" Fatty Wu was startled by the young man's gaze and didn't dare to step forward, taking a few steps back instead.

"Hmph! Nonsense!" the young man said dismissively.

Lanqin chuckled again, because the exchange between that person and the fat man was truly hilarious! Moreover, Lanqin was drawn to the young man sitting there who was speaking up for her, and she had already stood up from her seat and looked in that direction.

The Fourth Master was slightly annoyed and coughed a few times, but Lanqin ignored him and stared straight at him.

"You, you believe I won't let you participate in this year's autumn examination? You brat, how dare you talk back to me!" Wu the Fatty was insulted by this young stranger and started cursing angrily.

"I'm in the capital, and I need to take the imperial examination this autumn. Why are you preventing me from taking it?" the young man said.

"You won't be able to leave this place today, believe it or not?" Wu Dapang said. Everyone looked at the young man with some sympathy, and some even began to advise him to apologize to Wu Dapang, otherwise he really might not be able to leave this place.

For some reason, Lanqin continued to watch them talk.

“You’re just a merchant, yet you speak so arrogantly. You have absolutely no respect for the law,” the young man said.

"Hmph, today I'll cripple you, believe it or not?" Wu Dapang's fat face was filled with anger as he waved his hand at several men who looked like servants.

"Teach him a lesson, you bastard! Drag him outside and beat him up!" Wu Dapang said angrily.

Lanqin was getting a little anxious. She quickly winked at Fourth Master, signaling him to take action. She didn't want the people who had helped her to suffer here!

Seeing how much Lanqin cared about a stranger, Fourth Master grew even more jealous. However, seeing Lanqin about to rush over to save him, he immediately stood up and said, "The autumn imperial examination is just around the corner, and you all still have the mind to fight and cause trouble. The Prefect of the Capital will be coming to inspect soon. If you fight here, you'll all be in jail in a moment."

These words were like pouring cold water on a piece of firewood that was about to burn, immediately extinguishing much of the anger in everyone's hearts. Wu Dapang knew that if he caused trouble now and something bad happened, he probably wouldn't be able to take the exam.

"You brat, come here and apologize to me a few times, and I'll spare you since you're new here," said Wu Dapang.

"Come here and apologize to me a few times, and I won't hold it against you," the young man said defiantly.

"You, you, fine! You just wait!" Wu Dapang angrily pointed at the man with his chubby finger, then stormed off with his two servants.