Cui Ming smiled too.
The two had been harboring resentment for a long time because of the pepper incident.
Qin Yuan said, "The score between the Xu family and the Sixth Madam... is still undecided."
Hongye laughed lightly, "It's just dogs fighting each other. Don't be so kind, Miss. I haven't forgotten how they were fighting over the pepper back then. They were so smug when they were trying to win over those steward mothers."
Qin Yuan ignored her.
Hongye then asked, "Young Master Tang and Young Master are coming over, should we invite them to stay for a meal?"
Looking at the sky, there's still time to start preparing in the small kitchen.
Qin Yuan said, "No need. They've been boating and eating and drinking with Sixth Master in the lotus pond today, so they don't need to eat here. Just prepare a few dishes that the Marquis likes."
As the sun set in the west, Qin Siyuan and Qin Heng arrived at Wutong Garden.
Qin Heng asked, "Big sister, why hasn't brother-in-law come back yet?"
He came to the Marquis's residence today specifically to see Gu Jinghui. He was dressed in a short outfit with the cuffs rolled up, just so he could ride a horse with Marquis Gu.
Unfortunately, I never had the chance.
Qin Yuan said, "Your brother-in-law went to the palace to meet the emperor. It's not something you can just do whenever you want. The emperor only has time to meet with his ministers after court. Which official from the six ministries doesn't have something to ask the emperor for? There are also many who try to curry favor with the emperor and flatter him."
Qin Heng looked suspicious and asked, "Big sister, you've never been to the palace or been an official, how do you know these things? Are you taking advantage of my youth and lying to me?"
Qin Siyuan couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Qin Yuan said, "If you don't believe me, go back and ask your father."
Qin Heng said, "Go ahead and ask."
Qin Yuan ignored him, pushed two plates of pastries over to him, and said perfunctorily, "You can eat slowly, my brother and I have something to talk about."
Qin Siyuan said, "I am your disciple. Master, do you have any instructions for your disciple?"
Qin Heng's eyes darted around.
Qin Yuan then asked, "Did Shen Chang Le send the poetry collection to the Imperial Academy?"
Qin Siyuan said gratefully, "Yes, Ziqi and I both received it. The poetry collection is printed very well. Even the professors who teach here asked me to take a look, saying they wanted to read the poems of the two gentlemen. I just heard from Sixth Master that many of the ideas in this collection were yours. I never expected my cousin to be so capable. She can be my teacher in every aspect."
After this battle, Qin Siyuan's reputation at the Imperial Academy soared.
Qin Heng said, "Elder sister, my cousin is a celebrity at the Imperial Academy now. Father walks with a swagger. People say that the nephew and son-in-law of the Imperial Academy Chancellor are exceptionally talented and will surely pass the imperial examination."
Qin Yuan asked, "What did Lin Ziqi say?"
Before Qin Siyuan could speak, Qin Heng exclaimed, "That's my second brother-in-law! Why are you asking about him, eldest sister? He's such a good man, you can't be thinking about someone else!"
Qin Yuan got annoyed and turned to scold him: "You're already in elementary school, why are you so impetuous and absurd in your words and actions? Instead of asking me why I asked about my second brother-in-law, why don't you go back and ask Dad why he wrote me those strange letters when he sealed the mansion? He has ulterior motives."
Qin Heng dropped the pastries in his hand, jumped up and cursed: "What? I knew Lin Ziqi was still up to no good. He married my second sister and was still eyeing my eldest sister. He kept asking me about her at the Imperial Academy, but I couldn't be bothered to pay him any attention."
Qin Siyuan scolded, "If someone hears your nonsense and spreads rumors behind your back, what will happen if it ruins your sister's reputation?"
Qin Heng sat down, straightened his posture, glanced at Qin Yuan, and said in a weak voice, "I... I was just worried that my eldest sister would suffer a loss. My eldest sister's husband is so good. Every time Mother and Father talk about it, they say that my eldest sister's marriage is excellent. My second sister and Lin Ziqi's mother are having a big fight. Mother says that my second sister has a bad temper and is mentally ill, but the Lin family is also bad, which is why it's like this."
Qin Yuan said, "Don't tell your second sister about this today, lest she overthink things again. Even Father and Mother can't do anything about her, so you can't control her either. It might even make her resent me and think that I still have feelings for Lin Ziqi."
Qin Heng reluctantly agreed.
Qin Siyuan said, "Lin Ziqi was a little unhappy, but he still said that we had taken advantage of Sixth Master. The sale of this poetry collection would be of great benefit to our reputation. However, his words were quite different from before."
Qin Yuan glanced at Qin Heng and said, "You must have been making quite a splash these days. But the tallest tree catches the most wind. You should be careful."
The implication was that Qin Siyuan should be careful around Lin Ziqi.
Qin Siyuan nodded.
Qin Yuan stopped talking and changed the subject, saying, "Yesterday, the Marquis invited a storyteller from the entertainment district to tell him stories about the Three Kingdoms and the Spring and Autumn Period..."
Qin Siyuan couldn't help but laugh when he heard this.
Qin Yuan smiled and continued, "This gentleman is extremely talented; he can be considered a reclusive Confucian scholar. If you can find a way to gain his favor..."
Qin Siyuan was shocked: "A great Confucian scholar telling stories?"
Qin Yuan nodded.
Qin Siyuan asked, "Did the Marquis know his background and specially invite him back from the entertainment district?"
Qin Yuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"The Marquis found it by chance. He wanted to invite someone back to teach, so he wouldn't have to deal with my father. You know my father's personality; whenever he has free time, he'll keep asking the Marquis if he's studying hard."
Qin Siyuan laughed and said, "What kind of luck is this? I wonder how my cousin knew?"
Qin Yuan said, "It's just a coincidence. I had heard of his name and appearance, and I didn't expect it to match up."
Qin Siyuan said happily, "Then I will go back and organize the policy documents I have been working on recently, and find a reason to visit you for advice."
“That’s exactly what’s troubling me,” Qin Yuan said. “He must have his reasons for hiding in the entertainment district as a storyteller. What if I expose him and he leaves in shame and anger? Besides, I know nothing about his likes and dislikes, so I have no confidence at all in keeping him here.”
This stumped Qin Siyuan.
Qin Yuan shrugged, unable to help.
"You'll have to figure that out yourself."
Qin Heng, who was stunned, suddenly said, "Father said you were comparable to Zhuge Liang, but you couldn't even come up with this idea."
"So what's your idea?"
Qin Heng raised his chin and said, "These so-called scholars and great Confucianists are just like Father. They love to give pointers. Just let them recite their teachings and offer some insights to challenge them. See how they argue back and forth. Wouldn't that make things more natural? I've seen all the tricks of Father's students and disciples."
Qin Yuan smiled upon hearing this and said, "That's not a bad idea either."
The three discussed the matter and agreed to come to the Marquis's residence the next day to see what the situation would be like.
As they were preparing to take their leave, Qin Siyuan suddenly remembered to ask, "Cousin, what is the name of that reclusive scholar?"
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "I didn't even mention it, and you didn't ask either."
Qin Siyuan was stunned for a moment, then said, "I've been following my cousin's orders all these days, and I've gotten used to it. I only just remembered it."
Qin Heng laughed like a duck, quacking loudly.
Qin Yuan smiled and said, "It is Mr. Songshan. I wonder if my cousin has heard of him."
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