It's like composing poems and reciting lyrics just to attract the presence of that person in the distance.

Qingyin was oblivious to the various gazes that were subtly directed at her, her attention drawn to a blooming orchid.

In the distance, however, it caused a riot.

—

"Shen Zhiming, what's there to be proud of? You're just a lowly tofu seller. What makes you think you can outperform me in the exam?"

The young man in the red robe cursed viciously, his face contorted with jealousy, making even his once handsome features look unsightly.

The other, thin young man being scolded by the man was dressed in a plain blue robe, his handsome face expressionless, but his fists were clenched tightly in his sleeves.

He glanced coldly at the people around him.

The young men around him instinctively avoided his gaze, and some even glared at him maliciously and cursed him, following the lead of the red-robed youth, Jiang Lixu.

"Haha, Young Master Jiang is right. This person's skills might even surpass Young Master Jiang's!"

Someone was eager to curry favor with Jiang Lixu, whose family had a concubine as an older sister. The current emperor was not one to have many children, and it was said that Consort Ling, who had just been sent to the Jiang family to become a concubine, was pregnant. If she gave birth to a prince, it would be quite a feat.

The crowd thought meaningfully, and those who were interested in the matter looked down on the young man in the green robe standing next to them even more. In the eyes of these noble young men from the capital, a candidate who might not even pass the palace examination was no different from a poor man.

More and more people were casting malicious glances at Shen Zhiming, thinking of taking advantage of his misfortune.

Shen Zhiming remained silent, unable to offer any reply.

He still had the imperial examination to take, and he had a mother who hoped he would pass and be proud of him. He couldn't be willful and rebel against the son of the Minister of Rites.

Shen Zhiming remained silent, but that didn't mean Jiang Lixu would let this bitch go.

From that day on, when he saw the man selling tofu on the street, who was chosen by his teacher to study at the academy, Jiang Lixu felt utter disgust for this lowly commoner. Despite his lowly status, he was forced to stand on territory that didn't belong to him, which made him feel nauseous.

In his opinion, trash should stay where trash is.

Jiang Lixu looked at the spot where Shen Zhiming was standing, near the deep pond, his eyes darkening with malice.

To Shen Zhiming's astonishment, Jiang Lixu forcefully pushed him into the water.

The clear pond was instantly splashed by the huge figure.

Shen Zhiming struggled desperately, but it was no use in the water; instead, he sank deeper and deeper.

Everyone was startled by Jiang Lixu's sudden push that caused someone to fall into the water.

The observant person's brow twitched.

This is blatantly pushing someone into the water. Isn't this young master Jiang going too far?

And this is happening right here in the Prime Minister's residence.

The servants present, upon seeing Shen Zhiming struggling in the water, immediately thought of rescuing him.

But they were stopped by Jiang Lixu as soon as they made a move.

Jiang Lixu's eyes hardened: "Let's see who dares to go down and rescue people. All we Shen Gongshi will do is give him a good bath in the water. You don't want to offend the Jiang family because of people, do you?"

The group looked at each other, but ultimately dared not make a move.

The servants present were quick-witted enough to secretly run off to find their young master to handle the situation.

...

The maid, looking flustered, hurriedly ran to the pavilion in the garden.

They happened to run into Qingyin, who was admiring the flowers.

Although she was momentarily stunned by the young master's stunningly handsome face, the little maid was preoccupied with the crucial news that Jiang Lixu was going to drown someone and had to find the young master.

She forced a smile and greeted Qingyin, then her eyes lit up when she saw the young master in the pavilion.

The little maidservant cried out with tears in her eyes, "Young Master, something's happened! Someone's going to die!"

"That young master Jiang from the Ministry of Rites' residence kicked a young man into the pond, and the man was drowning! The young master wouldn't let anyone save him..."

Upon hearing this, Duan Ruyi's expression turned cold.

He didn't care about the person who fell into the pond, but Jiang Lixu causing trouble in his mansion was a clear disrespect to him.

Moreover, Jiang Lixu can do whatever he wants, whether it's murder or coercion, but he just can't do it in his own residence.

"Come on, lead the way."

Upon hearing the young master's order, the young maid relaxed, breathed a sigh of relief, and strode ahead to lead the way.

As Qingyin listened to these words, she made a connection with the faint sounds she had heard in the distance.

He followed them.

This large group of people then marched towards the pond in a grand procession.

Upon closer inspection, Qingyin realized that a group of young men were standing to the side, smiling and coldly watching the young man struggling in the water.

Jiang Lixu didn't restrain himself when he saw someone coming. His gloomy eyes looked at Duan Ruyi, who was leading the way. Because of the angle, he couldn't see Qingyin behind him. He smiled meaningfully and said, "Oh, this maid still went to see Young Master Duan."

Duan Ruyi frowned. Consort Ling was pregnant and favored by the current Crown Prince, yet Jiang Lixu was already acting so arrogantly. If the child were born, wouldn't the Jiang family be thrown into chaos?

He looked coldly at Jiang Lixu, "Young Master Jiang, this is my Prime Minister's residence."

Jiang Lixu nodded perfunctorily.

"Yes, it's your Prime Minister's residence. I just asked this scholar to take a bath in the water. You can fish him out later."

If a person falls into the water and plays in it for a while, they won't die, but they might get a serious illness.

I heard that some people were rescued too late and ended up becoming mentally disabled.

The scheming Jiang Lixu silently hoped that if the man surnamed Shen became an idiot, he would generously spare his life.

Duan Ruyi rubbed his temples. He didn't recognize the face of the person who had fallen, and figured it wasn't anyone important. It wouldn't be worth offending the Jiang family for him. Thinking this, Duan Ruyi suppressed the servants who were about to help.

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