Xu Mo had already made up his mind before coming.
Honestly, he had a good eye for people, and his friendship with Zhu Sihuan was quite deep.
Leaving aside the fact that he harmed Zhu Zhi, the act of kicking someone in front of the Wenchang Pavilion and providing two hundred taels of silver as a timely help were both acts that could have been omitted, yet they were genuine acts of kindness.
In life, those who come to you during your glorious moments are the ones who will share the spoils, while those who extend a helping hand during your downfall are the ones who will truly lend a hand.
Perhaps they are separated by powerful families, vested interests, and generations of parents and ancestors.
But a sincere heart is hard to change.
Xu Mo had prepared for two scenarios on this trip: one was to engage in a war of words with Zhu Sihuan, and the other was to make each other compromise.
He pondered the romantic tale for a long time, both to awaken the young man's conscience and to pave the way for his shattered reputation.
When this poignant story becomes known to countless people, the young man who strives for love will always be admired, though there may also be slander or condemnation, but it is still better than his current miserable state.
Zhu Sihuan suddenly realized that the moment he bravely proved himself had not only helped Xu Mo, but also himself.
"Brother Xu," the young man choked up, unable to speak for several moments, "I've already treated you like this..."
“What you said is indeed the truth; the ghostwriting did happen.” Xu Mo steered the conversation back on track. “This is the only thing I’ve ever done that I feel guilty about, and I’m willing to bear the consequences.”
Even if he faces criticism and potential stains on his life, he is fearless.
What's done is done, and what's done is done; if you have to take responsibility, then take responsibility.
But don't expect him to admit to things he didn't do, things that didn't happen, or nonsense!
"I never expected that Young Master Qingzhu would also ghostwrite for others. He is unworthy of being one of us." Sure enough, indignant voices arose from the crowd.
Qi Huai and An Jun were both furious, but before they could utter a sound, an even bigger uproar broke out.
"Young Master Qingzhu was also doing this to help others achieve their goals."
"To help a loving couple achieve their happiness is a greater merit than a fault."
"If you're so capable, try writing a poem to bring together a couple."
Scholars cherish romance and believe in unparalleled true feelings.
Perhaps ghostwriting will indeed become a blemish in Xu Mo's life, but helping others achieve their goals will also bring him new heights and praise.
The old saying "a loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise" is perfectly exemplified here.
In particular, the praise overwhelmed the indignation, and the entire Wenchang Pavilion was filled with harmony, as if the cheating in the imperial examinations and the filth of ghostwriting had been forgotten.
Jiang Sheng was overjoyed and was about to rush out to buy a candied hawthorn to celebrate.
A girl in a pale yellow dress walked in from outside the Wenchang Pavilion. Her clear voice, like an ice sheath shattering everything, pointed directly at Xu Mo, "What a hypocrite, making writing for someone else sound so elegant and refined."
The originally cheerful atmosphere immediately fell silent.
The girl in pale yellow pressed her advantage, "Only a habitual ghostwriter like you could so easily take this kind of thing on a high pedestal and let it go so easily. So many people's praise, so many friends' trust, don't you really feel guilty?"
After saying that, she looked at Zhu Sihuan with pity and said, "Young master, please wake up. He won over your sincerity with just a few words. This person's scheming is really not what you think."
His words were full of accusations.
Some people tried to refute her, but found that what she said actually made a lot of sense.
Originally, it was thought that there would be a big battle today, but Young Master Qingzhu persuaded Young Master Sihuan with just a few words, and the other party was willing to testify for him.
Well... no matter what, she can't escape being accused of being cunning.
Zhu Sihuan stood there, stunned, his pupils darting left and right, clearly deep in thought.
Qi Huai and An Jun were furious and retorted in unison, "Who are you to spout nonsense here?"
The girl in pale yellow avoided answering, but spoke with a hint of something, "It seems that Young Master Qingzhu is truly remarkable. Not only has he managed to win over Young Master Zhu, but even the eldest son of the Minister of Rites is at his beck and call. What kind of poor scholar is this, that he can be so powerful?"
Her words were meaningful and implied, stirring everyone's emotions.
Jiang Sheng, who was in the crowd, could no longer hold back and clenched her fists, wanting to start cursing.
Xu Mo quickly regained his senses, covered his sister's mouth, and said casually, "Who do we have here? It turns out to be an old friend from Anshui County. Miss Wang, how is Brother Fufeng?"
Back then, it was because of Wang Yuyao's endless schemes that they left Anshui County ahead of schedule.
I never expected to see him again in Fengjing after nearly three years.
It's still a cunning and ruthless scheme, but with added far-sighted planning, making it seem more comprehensive and meticulous.
For example, having Zhu Sihuan reveal the original writing style would damage Qingzhu Gongzi's reputation and lead to subsequent questions.
For example, he brought Zhu Sihuan to the Wenchang Pavilion for a confrontation, knowing full well that Zhu would be persuaded. Instead, he used this persuasion to highlight Qingzhu Gongzi's deep scheming and sparked a new round of questioning.
The Fang family never intended to expect Young Master Sihuan to bring down Xu Mo; all they wanted was to smear Xu Mo's image and create more doubts and confusion.
The person involved had obviously thought of this as well, and his face was full of surprise and uncertainty.
Xu Mo gave him a look and then gently shook his head, which finally made Zhu Sihuan hold back.
"You still have the nerve to ask about your brother?" Wang Yuyao sneered. "You petty thief, you despicable person who deceived my brother, you used our brotherhood to trick my cousin into writing for you, and you've gained fame and fortune over the years, even reaching the top of the imperial examination. How dare you mention my cousin?"
"What do you mean by that?" Xu Mo frowned.
Wang Yuyao said, word by word, "What I mean is, my brother is bedridden and on his deathbed, and it's all your fault. He should have been the more outstanding Young Master Fufeng, he should have been remembered in history, but you stole half of his fame! You hypocrite! You thief who steals fame!"
He said a lot, but only the key points remained in Xu Mo's mind.
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