Qin Wan lowered her eyes, seemingly lost in thought.
Lin Ziqi released his embrace and said in a distant tone, "I know it's unfair to make you try to please my sister. But I'm useless and don't have any official position yet. It's inevitable that you'll feel uncomfortable when you're with these noble ladies."
His desolate brows were furrowed with a hint of resentment.
Qin Wan's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly explained, "How could my husband say such a thing? If I had cared about these things, how could I have married you?"
Lin Ziqi frowned, then smiled and said, "I knew my Wan'er wasn't that kind of opportunistic person. I was just mistaken. Back then, you abandoned the Marquis and chose me, a poor scholar. How could you care about these worldly opinions? You only have me in your heart and eyes. When I rise to prominence, I will definitely not let you down. You and I are destined to be a harmonious and loving couple."
The words that were on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back. No matter how unwilling Qin Wan was, she could only nod in agreement.
Lin Ziqi held her tightly, whispering in her ear, "Your cousin's fame has soared because of the best-selling poetry collection. Even the Vice Minister is begging to marry his daughter to him. The Marquis's mansion is holding a poetry competition this time, and your father-in-law says he wants to compile an unprecedented collection of poems. This is an excellent opportunity. Your brother-in-law is now favored by the Emperor, and all the civil officials and scholars are seeking his help. He might even get some assistance in getting an official position after the imperial examination next spring. You should make an effort to reach out to him. We are related by marriage, so it's not a big deal if you benefit a little. Don't you think so?"
In short, with just a little help, his future will be bright.
Qin Wan softened her body and said with a coquettish smile, "My husband has many thoughts and ideas, so I will do them. Fortunately, I married you early on, otherwise, once your poems spread throughout the world, I'm afraid even a princess could marry you."
“Fool, you are a lifesaver, marrying the princess is the icing on the cake. I will always be Qin Wan’s husband, and I will never be moved even if the princess asks for my hand in marriage.”
Qin Wan nestled in Lin Ziqi's arms and closed her eyes happily.
Lin Ziqi will be in high school next year, and her good days will begin.
Although Qin Yuan was even more glamorous and successful than in her previous life, which made her feel uneasy, Lin Ziqi was going to be the youngest prime minister in the Great Xing Dynasty, with a reputation that spread throughout the world. He also respected and loved his wife deeply. How could such a good person be compared to that rude and indifferent soldier?
What's the point of being wrapped in silk and satin yet looking like a withered tree?
Qin Yuan had no idea what she had missed!
Qin Wan quickly calmed herself down.
People came and went at the Marquis of Dingbei’s residence, and many members of the direct line remained to help.
After Qin Siyuan spoke with Master Gu for a while, he was invited away by Mr. Songshan.
The two talked about poetry for a while, and then about the midnight hour.
Qin Siyuan recalled what he had seen and heard on his way from Jinling to the capital, and asked Mr. Songshan: "The world has been at peace for a long time, and the people are becoming richer and richer, especially in the Jiangnan region, where wealthy merchants are everywhere, the market is bustling, and every family is happy. Why is it that on my way from my hometown, I still encounter many poor people selling their children, and some even going to the mountains to build strongholds and rob to make a living?"
Mr. Matsuyama slowly shook the feather fan in his hand and chuckled, "May I ask what you study for?"
Qin Siyuan said, "Naturally, it's for passing the imperial examinations and bringing honor to our ancestors."
Mr. Songshan sighed and said, "Do you know why the scholars at the beginning of the Daxing Dynasty studied?"
Qin Siyuan narrowed his eyes and said, "Most likely it's for the sake of scholarship, to become a sage."
Mr. Songshan stood up, took a few steps, stretched his neck, put his hands behind his back and looked into the distance. After a long while, he said in a low voice, "My first teacher was a retired Grand Tutor who returned to his hometown. After returning home, he took out all the salary he had earned in his life to open a school. He could only eat meat and vegetables once every ten days."
“My family has been tenant farmers for generations. It wasn’t until my grandfather’s generation that we managed to buy several dozen acres of good land. For five generations, we didn’t divide the family property and all lived in one place. In my father’s generation, we not only preserved the land that my grandfather had passed down, but also added seventeen acres of paddy fields. If there are no accidents, I should be able to add some more in my generation.”
Qin Siyuan was clueless and just stared at him blankly.
The Qin family was once a large clan, but it was gradually declining and its land holdings were dwindling. To support his studies, his widowed mother would sell a piece of land every few years. Fortunately, he was diligent and ambitious, and he passed the imperial examination. He was able to register tax-exempt land under his name, and the county officials and gentry were willing to befriend him and provide him with financial assistance. Even so, when he came to the Qin family for help, life was not easy.
It is extremely difficult for someone from a family like Mr. Songshan to succeed in his studies.
Sure enough, Mr. Songshan said, "If it weren't for my teacher's generosity in opening a school for the benefit of the village and allowing us to study, I would not have been able to complete my studies. The school provided all the books, writing materials, clothing, bedding, and food during my studies. It was only after I passed the imperial examination that the school stopped supporting me."
Qin Siyuan sighed, "What a magnificent feat! The old gentleman is truly a benevolent man."
Mr. Songshan said, “I once asked you why you did this. You said that your teacher did the same thing. At the beginning of this dynasty, gold and silver were worthless, but rice was valuable. Your teacher was a second-rank official with a salary of 500 shi of grain per year. He often lamented that the world was not easy. Even a high-ranking official of the second rank could only earn such a salary. How could the poor survive? As a scholar, one should cultivate one's own virtue when poor and help the world when successful. Therefore, he distributed his salary to the students in his hometown. You received the grain, survived the hard times, became successful, and kept your teacher's words in mind. You did the same.”
Qin Siyuan lowered his head and remained silent.
Mr. Songshan said, “In the past, there were fewer scholars, and everyone valued integrity. Great Confucian scholars would only give their poems and paintings to those who appreciated their character, caring nothing for status or money. But now, from the court to the common people, extravagance is growing. The regulations for travel and the expenses for weddings and funerals are staggering. There are more and more scholars, but the friendship between people is becoming increasingly weak. It is now difficult to obtain a single poem or painting by a great Confucian scholar without spending thousands of gold pieces. People chasing after empty fame and fleeting profits are everywhere. What is the purpose of studying? If it is not for the people, if scholars fill the court, how can the people live a good life? Don't you think so?”
Qin Siyuan blushed and sighed, "Yes."
Mr. Matsuyama then fell silent.
Qin Siyuan remained silent for a long time before getting up to take his leave.
Back at the Imperial Academy, Lin Ziqi asked him, "Why are you back so late? I was planning to wait for you, but the Marquis's residence arranged for a carriage to take Wan'er, so I went home with her."
Qin Siyuan said, "I spoke with Sixth Master for a while, and then Mr. Songshan called me over."
Lin Ziqi then tentatively asked, "Is it Mr. Songshan, who is defending the ring?"
Qin Siyuan nodded.
Lin Ziqi was both jealous and envious, and said, "I don't know when you met such a person, brother. Why am I completely unaware of it?"
They were all relatives, so why could Qin Siyuan explain Mr. Songshan's situation, but he couldn't?
Before Qin Siyuan could reply, Lin Ziqi continued, "When the Yuyuantan Poetry Club was established, my brother was the first person I thought of. I heard that the poem for defending the title was written at the Marquis's banquet. Why don't my brother and Sixth Master think of me?"
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