After slowly finishing his long speech, Guo Xun felt thirsty and quickly lowered his head to take a big gulp.

When they looked up, several faces were filled with surprise, only King Zhao and Xu Yunci seemed relatively calm.

"So that's how it is. What's the name of that student? If I find out, I'll definitely help Grand Tutor Qin get justice."

"That's right. Miss Qin is not yet married, and she speaks recklessly. Are we going to let her ruin her reputation?"

"This man is truly unworthy of being a scholar, unworthy of being a dignified young man. He is incapable of doing anything truly great, how could he possibly do such a despicable thing?"

Yang Ke nodded, echoing the words of the three young men.

“I think so too, but that scholar is still at the manor.” Xu Yunci put down his empty teacup and looked into the courtyard.

Looking past the group of young men under the corridor, Xu Yunci's smile deepened as he watched a figure in bright yellow enter through the door. Turning to the group, he said, "Now that everyone's here, let's go see what's going on."

When Li Shiyue and Xu Lingzi returned to "Fanyuan" together, they did not see Qin Wanyin beside Madam Qin.

Just as he was about to ask, he heard a loud commotion coming from the corridor, which startled the ladies inside the house.

Xu Lingzi and Li Shiyue exchanged a glance, feeling uneasy. Without the slightest hesitation, they bypassed the other women and hurried towards the source of the commotion.

"I'm talking about you. You've ruined the reputation of Grand Tutor Qin. The daughter of a first-rank Grand Tutor actually fell in love with a poor scholar, and I don't know where she learned to talk back to her parents for a lover."

"I thought you were such a good lady, but I never expected you to be such a good pretender, Qin Wanyin. I really look down on you. You come from such a prominent family, how can you be so shallow?"

"How cheap is the affection of a student from a poor background? I'm afraid it's not for the Qin family behind you, but to use Grand Tutor Qin to get an official position, to take a shortcut."

"How could you believe such sweet talk from a young man? You even argued with your parents while surrounded by a stranger. Don't you feel ashamed of being so eager to get married?"

The woman who spoke was named Xue Jinzhao. She was from the household of the Grand Commandant of the current dynasty. She was a very direct person. No matter who it was, if she didn't like something, she would say it.

That's why she doesn't have many close female friends. Qin Wanyin is already considered a very good friend, but these words are really blunt.

Xue Jinzhao's eyes were filled with disappointment and frustration. He felt as if his clenched fists were about to rush to Qin Wanyin and knock them open to see what was going on in her head.

It was as if Xue Jinzhao could conjure up a palm strike and knock Qin Wanyin down the moment Qin Wanyin uttered a single good word about that student.

"No, I have no relationship with him whatsoever. It's just a rumor, a slander. I've never even met him."

Although Xue Jinzhao's temper was unbearable for most people, Qin Wanyin still liked this friend very much, as she cherished talent the most.

Xue Jinzhao has a sharp tongue but a soft heart; no matter how harsh his words are, they are all out of concern for people.

Before she could stop them, a maidservant came running in and shouted, "Mistress, His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Crown Princess have arrived in person and request that all the ladies also come to 'Ping Garden'. The Master has already set up the screens; you only need to lead the ladies there."

The ladies who came out of the house afterwards looked slightly confused, and before they even realized what had happened, they all went to "Ping Garden".

In front of "Pingyuan" is a small flower hall, with the young men on the left and the ladies on the right. A row of screens is placed in front of them, since it is not only their own young men who are sitting opposite them.

"Your Majesty and sister-in-law have arrived at just the right time. I wonder what important matter this is that you brought everyone here so solemnly. This is not Your Majesty's Chonghua Palace after all. If this were a family matter of the Guo family, wouldn't it be a bit too grand?"

King Zhao sat in the first seat to the left of the Crown Prince, followed by Xu Yunci and Yang Ke, with the rest of the people sitting in the seats behind them in order.

He was still playing with his folding fan, speaking seemingly casually, but his eyes couldn't help but scrutinize the prince's expression, secretly wondering what kind of trick he was up to.

"This matter is neither a big deal nor a small deal."

The crown prince did not give a direct answer. He casually patted his clothes, and when he looked up, the smile in his eyes disappeared, and his gaze swept coldly around the room.

"I wonder if the student Fan Heng is here?"

The Crown Princess sat on the other side, smiled slightly, and asked a question. Her figure could be vaguely seen sitting behind the screen.

The area on the left was crowded with people when suddenly someone stepped forward and knelt in the very center.

Fan Heng dared not raise his head and could only remain kneeling in greeting, which is why he could not see the coldness in the Crown Prince's eyes.

"This humble citizen, Fan Heng, pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Crown Princess."

Before he entered the court as an official, he could not call himself a subject; he could only refer to himself as a commoner or a lowly person.

Through the screen, Xu Lingyu could not see clearly; she could only make out a vague outline.

"Remove the screen and let me see what kind of person is capable of spreading such rumors."

Xu Lingyu glanced indifferently at Fan Heng kneeling in the center, then withdrew her gaze and shook her head slightly, but said nothing.

"Recently, I've heard palace servants gossiping that a happy event is approaching at the Grand Tutor's residence, and Miss Qin may be getting married. I was curious about what kind of husband my Qin family sister, whom I've watched grow up, would marry, but I never expected to be so disappointed."

"However, I have also heard something interesting, and I hope you will listen to it, Young Master Fan."

Although Xu Lingyu asked this question with a dignified smile on her face, there was no smile in her eyes.

Fan Heng, however, remained oblivious, not realizing that he hadn't heard the commotion and couldn't look up to see the expressions of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. He kept his head down, smugly pleased with himself, thinking that things had gone smoothly.

Thinking back to the wedding banquet at the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, which was also a marriage bestowed by the palace, if he had also gained the favor of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, he would not only have become the son-in-law of the Grand Tutor's Mansion, but also have the honor of being married by imperial decree. Who would dare to laugh at him for being just a poor scholar?

"Miss Qin is indeed engaged, but not to you. What is your intention in spreading rumors and ruining Miss Qin's reputation?"

The Crown Prince slightly raised his eyes, his tone of voice not as gentle as that of the Crown Princess, but with a hint of coldness, his gaze coldly approaching the kneeling Fan Heng.

His gaze swept over the group of people in the room, and the Crown Prince said again, "I heard that my teacher had lost weight and was feeling wronged. After investigating the truth, I also wanted to give my teacher and Miss Qin an explanation today."

"I hope Guo Shaoqing won't blame me."