"Did you copy what I was told to copy?"
Shen Jinchen looked coldly at Cen Xi, his eyes churning with unspoken tension.
Feeling Shen Jinchen's gaze, Cen Xi inexplicably felt as if he were her husband who had caught her cheating on him.
Cen Xi nearly vomited blood, but in public, she had to follow the rules. Even if she was angry, she was still a student on the surface. So she could only force a smile and say:
"Reporting to Prime Minister Shen, I've copied some; I'll bring it to you later."
“Your attitude toward learning needs guidance. A scholar should maintain the integrity of a scholar. Your remarks yesterday were too eager for quick success and instant benefits. You may suffer in the imperial examination. Since you are Wen Lao’s last disciple, I should personally teach you. Go back to your courtyard now and get paper and pen. Copy books in my courtyard.”
Shen Jinchen glanced at her, then lightly glanced at Xiao Qiliang beside him and said.
"How could a poor scholar like myself dare to set foot in Prime Minister Shen's courtyard so easily, let alone receive instruction there? I am deeply grateful for Prime Minister Shen's concern. I will personally present the copied scroll to you later. Please excuse me from going to your courtyard for instruction. Brother Xiao and I have other matters to attend to. Farewell, Prime Minister Shen."
Cen Xi, unable to bear it any longer, cut him off and retorted, then strode towards Xiao Qiliang's courtyard, not giving Shen Jinchen a chance to speak again.
Shen Jinchen saw her running fast and wanted to stop her, but he unexpectedly saw Xiao Qiliang's surprised look as he turned around. His raised hand stopped. Well, some things and some people have to be resolved eventually. He and she have a long future ahead of them.
"The two of them hit it off immediately, and they got together in just one day."
Wen Qiyu also walked out of the courtyard at some point, and looked at Cen Xi and Xiao Qiliang walking side by side with emotion.
Seeing that his clothes were neat and tidy, Shen Jinchen's dark aura grew even stronger. His gaze was fixed on Feng Qin, making Feng Qin almost kneel down on the spot.
“Young master, I deserve to die. Last night, I was so shocked by something that I forgot to report it. Please give me another chance to make amends.”
Feng Qin glanced sideways at the culprit and immediately stood in front of Shen Jinchen to apologize.
"oh?"
Shen Jinchen's voice was drawn out, and his eyes seemed to be able to throw knives, tearing Feng Qin to pieces.
"Prime Minister, what is this? Did you, my little guard, defile the beautiful lady you've taken a fancy to?"
Wen Qiyu, fanning himself with a folding fan and looking like a spoiled brat, approached Shen Jinchen and asked.
Shen Jinchen didn't answer him, but stared at him intently with deep eyes for a long time before asking:
Why didn't you go to class today?
"Oh dear, for some reason, a lot of venomous snakes came to my room last night, and I spent a lot of time dealing with them. I didn't sleep well and didn't get up this morning. My great-uncle has never really taken care of me, so I didn't go. Don't mind me, Mr. Shen, it's not that I'm deliberately disrespecting you."
Wen Qiyu yawned repeatedly and explained nonchalantly.
“You are a spoiled brat who has no manners and no discipline. The Wen family has spoiled you so much that you have become lawless. Go back and copy the ‘Zhou Yan Ce Lun’ five hundred times and hand it to me first thing tomorrow morning.”
Shen Jinchen looked at him coldly, with a look of disappointment and frustration, displaying the demeanor of an elder.
“Brother Shen, you know what kind of person I, Wen Qiyu, used to be. I have no intention of passing the imperial examinations and entering officialdom, so can’t you just turn a blind eye? The Shen family and the Wen family are related by marriage, after all, so please stop putting on airs.”
Wen Qiyu was immediately overwhelmed by the idea of copying books. He usually just loafed around at the academy and had never studied seriously. This was like forcing a cow to drink water—don't make things so difficult for him! Ah!
"Wen Qiheng's reputation is renowned in Jinling! As for you, every time Lord Wen mentions you, he either sighs or frowns. Can't you be any more promising? Today, as your teacher, I have to teach you a lesson. If I don't, I won't be able to explain to Lord Wen when I return to the capital. Since that's the case, it's only right that I discipline you. Now hurry back and copy it. Shangse, you take Young Master Wen back and keep an eye on him until he finishes copying it."
Shen Jinchen ignored his bitter and resentful look. After giving Wen Qiyu a good lesson by using Wen Qiheng as an example, he instructed Shang Se, who was following him, that he would teach this guy a lesson today no matter what.
"Ah, no! Shen Jinchen, you heartless bastard, I curse you to have children without an anus."
Wen Qiyu yelled and turned to run, but his mediocre skills were no match for Shang Se. Shang Se effortlessly carried Wen Qiyu away and disappeared from Shen Jinchen and Feng Qin's sight.
After they disappeared, Shen Jinchen turned and gave Feng Qin a cold look, then asked:
Why wasn't the matter finished last night?
Under Shen Jinchen's piercing gaze, Feng Qin hesitated for a moment before finally telling Shen Jinchen about the astonishing scene he had witnessed the previous night.
Finally, he added that Shang Se was terrified of snakes, and there should still be a bunch of snakes in Young Master Wen's house, which might ruin the job.
Shen Jinchen raised an eyebrow after hearing this, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared as he calmly gave the order:
"Since you put it that way, then you go. If you mess things up again this time, you know the consequences."
"Yes! I will handle this matter properly this time, so that he will never have the chance to bother the mistress again."
Feng Qin understood perfectly why her young master had said so much. She had thought that after their argument a few days ago, her young master had come to his senses, but she hadn't expected that the woman's charm was still so great. From now on, she would cling to that woman's coattails no matter what.
As for the gossip about Wen Qiyu that Feng Qin mentioned, if Cen Xi were here, she would definitely laugh so hard she'd fall over. Perhaps one night, she'd even go to Wen Qiyu's roof to watch how he dotes on a snake—interspecies romance, truly a rare sight indeed! And she'd probably scold Shen Jinchen for being so boring, lacking any curiosity whatsoever.
However, Shen Jinchen was a dull person and would never understand such novel things, much less the wicked sense of humor in Cen Xi's heart.
Seeing Feng Qin walk away, Shen Jinchen looked in the direction where Cen Xi and Xiao Qiliang disappeared and followed them. They all looked like bait, but he wondered who would be able to catch a fish.
In the small courtyard where Xiao Qiliang lived, Cen Xi watched as Xiao Qiliang beckoned to the servants, who came and went. Soon, a small table was set up on the kang (a heated brick bed), and an unfinished chess game was being reviewed by them. Next to both Cen Xi and Xiao Qiliang were a box of chess pieces and some fruits.
Why set up a half-finished game?
"I've been pondering this endgame for ten years, and today I'm really itching to play it with you, my dear brother. Perhaps we'll have some unexpected insights."
Xiao Qiliang then instructed his servants to bring a pot of good wine, explaining with a smile.
Cen Xi nodded with a smile, looking very accommodating. She couldn't very well stop someone from singing if they wanted to act, but she didn't know which play it was.
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