The news of him composing poems by the lake quickly spread.
Lin Shixuan's two poems spread throughout Bianjing with lightning speed.
The students all praised him, saying that he was destined to be the top scholar in the future.
Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Zhenbei was overjoyed.
He'd be fearless if his child became the top scholar in the imperial examination; what did it matter if the warehouse was empty?
If Shixuan becomes the top scholar, he will most likely become a highly sought-after figure in the imperial court. At that time, will he still have to worry about not having enough money?
Just then, Lin Rui'an walked in through the door, his cold gaze vanishing in an instant.
"Ruian, it's a holiday today. Why aren't you studying in the yard? What are you doing outside?"
Lin Rui'an had barely stepped across the threshold, before he could even process what was happening, when his father questioned him.
He remained calm and said indifferently:
"Dad, it's a rare holiday, let your son go out and relax."
"You're only thirteen years old, what makes you so careless? You're not well right now, and if it weren't for your mother, I would never have let you go to Fenghua Academy and embarrass the Marquis's mansion. And now you're going out there swaggering around?"
“Learn from your older brother. He’s already famous right after the New Year. In the autumn examination six months from now, I don’t expect you to be the top scholar. If you just get last place, we’ll be incredibly lucky.”
The Marquis of Zhenbei pointed at Lin Rui'an's heart with every sentence.
Upon hearing this, Lin Rui'an's long-held admiration for him vanished completely.
He clenched his fists, forcing back the nausea. "So, Father means that his son is inferior to his elder brother, is that right?"
"Do I even need to say it?" he said angrily.
If it weren't for the fact that now is not the right time, he would definitely kick them out of the manor.
Now Shixuan still needs Ye Lanyin's protection, and he needs her as his noble stepmother.
Once Shixuan becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination, he will then frame Ye Lanyin for a crime.
As the eldest son, Lin Rui'an would naturally suffer as well, while Shixuan, being an adopted son, would not be implicated.
He would definitely not let Ye Lanyin take the younger ones away!
Just then, Lin Chang'an came in through the door carrying Lin Wanwan and overheard the conversation between the father and son.
Lin Wanwan was lying contentedly in Lin Chang'an's arms, savoring the aroma of the candied hawthorn and meat.
The words of the Marquis of Zhenbei left him feeling utterly dejected and disillusioned.
She grimaced, no, she clenched her little fists.
[That damn scumbag, you insulted my brother!]
I'll bite you to death, I'll bite you to death!
"Waaaaah..."
It hurts so much, her little hands hurt so much.
When Lin Chang'an heard his younger sister crying, he quickly comforted her, "Don't cry, don't cry, little sister."
Upon hearing this, both Marquis Zhenbei and Lin Rui'an turned their heads to look over.
Lin Chang'an was seen holding a string of candied hawthorns in his hand, standing at the gate with Lin Wanwan in his arms.
For no apparent reason, the Marquis of Zhenbei felt a surge of disgust from the bottom of his heart.
His Wanqing had never been so unreasonable before; she had almost never cried since birth.
That little slut is just as wanton as her mother.
They please men and openly pamper these children.
"Chang'an, why did you take your sister out?" Lin Rui'an walked up to Lin Chang'an and took Lin Wanwan in his arms.
Lin Chang'an then realized that he hadn't used any connections, and thought to himself, "Oh no."
Sure enough, he saw his mother walking towards him from afar, carrying a wooden stick.
"Big brother, I'm entrusting my little sister to you!"
Before he could reply, Lin Chang'an ran off without looking back.
Ye Lanyin was furious and walked over with a wooden stick in her hand.
"Ruian, where's your brother?"
"Mom, my brother ran away." Lin Rui'an's face was full of black lines.
When the Marquis of Zhenbei saw her posture, a flash of disgust crossed his mind.
“Father, even if I am not as good as my elder brother, I am still your son. You are being too biased.” Lin Rui’an turned to correct him.
Ye Lanyin hadn't even caught her breath when she heard Lin Rui'an's words, and her heart tightened.
"Your dad said that?"
Seeing his mother's displeased expression, Lin Rui'an slowly said, "Mother, Father said that I am not as good as my eldest brother, and that it is a miracle that I was able to get the last place in the exam."
Unexpectedly, these words were overheard by a man in black robes at the door.
The man sneered and his imposing figure flashed past.
Upon hearing this, Ye Lanyin looked towards the doorway, but only saw the hem of a garment embroidered with gold thread.
She turned around.
"Lin Dehong, he is your son, why are you hurting him like this?"
“Madam, when did I hurt his feelings? Rui’an is in poor health and has never been normal since birth. I just feel that we already have Shixuan who can bring honor to the Marquis’s family. How can we force him to study when he is in poor health? I will accept it even if he is mediocre.”
The Marquis of Zhenbei flicked his sleeves, refusing to look at her.
Lin Rui clenched his fists and took a deep breath.
"Master, Shixuan is an adopted son, while Ruian is your biological son. Please get this straight. Do you think Shixuan is your biological son and Ruian is the adopted son?" Ye Lanyin's face was unusually grim.
The Marquis of Zhenbei felt a tremor in his heart, but dared not utter a sound.
Shixuan is of course my biological son.
Not only Shixuan, but also Shiming.
All the others are bastards, bastards born of you, you lewd and shameless woman!
Thinking of Lin Wanwan made him even angrier.
Over the years, he felt guilty towards Ye Lanyin. Seeing her working so hard for the Marquis's mansion, he felt compassion and wanted to have a child with her.
Unexpectedly, this slut got drunk and started having sex with another man in the yard.
He truly regretted it; he shouldn't have gotten her drunk in the first place!
In the end, it even led to another man's happiness!
He spoke softly, "Madam, what are you saying? Rui'an is naturally my biological son. How can an adopted son be as close as a biological son? I just feel sorry for my own son."
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