Madam Cui casually picked up some melon seeds from the table and cracked them open, laughing, "What you say is very true. People's fortunes change every thirty years, and a period of good luck can last for ten years! Your maternal grandfather used to say at home, 'When fortune comes, heaven and earth lend their strength; when fortune goes out, even heroes are powerless.' The Cui family of Qinghe has been declining in recent years. We are a branch of the Cui family and cannot rely on the main branch, so we must seize the opportunity and work hard. When fortune comes, we should manage it well; when fortune goes out, we should lie low. Only in this way can we not blame heaven or others, and be worthy of our ancestors and our children and grandchildren."
Qin Wan listened patiently.
Madam Cui continued, "Your cousin Siyuan worked so hard when he was studying, and now he's really on a roll. Your second aunt was so heartbroken and lonely when she brought him to our family. If Siyuan passes the imperial examination, she can finally enjoy the blessings of her children and grandchildren. Qin Siyuan should make the most of this good fortune to be worthy of the Qin family's ancestors!"
Qin Wan smiled and said, "That's natural. Ziqi and my cousin Siyuan are about the same in talent, so why don't they have the opportunity to be guided by someone? Alas, he just happened to be sick. If he had been on the field yesterday, he might have been able to get to see the Emperor. We don't know when our Ziqi will have good luck."
Cui threw down the melon seeds in her hand and let out a cold laugh.
"I don't think you've come back to see me; you've come back to gather information."
Why did Mother say that about me?
Qin Wan felt a little uncomfortable.
Cui poked her head with her finger and spat, "You're my son, I know what you're going to do the moment you bend over. But Lin Ziqi is complaining at home? What kind of man cowers behind a woman! No wonder your father doesn't want to mention him anymore. The other day when you went to help out at the Marquis's mansion, your father said he spends all his time thinking about these crooked and unorthodox things. Why doesn't he use his time to prepare for the imperial examination? I thought he was too old-fashioned, but now I realize he was right."
As she got up to leave, Qin Wan quickly hugged her mother and pleaded with her.
“Mother, I had no other choice. My cousin Siyuan has gained the Emperor's favor, who wouldn't be envious? We're all family, I just wanted to find a good teacher to guide Ziqi. Seeing these poetry collections being published one after another, and the Emperor taking them to heart, who wouldn't want to become famous through poetry and catch the Emperor's eye? If Ziqi does well, it's good for your daughter, and if your daughter does well, it's good for Hengge, right?”
Cui's attitude softened slightly, but she was still not quite satisfied.
“Let me tell you, he shouldn’t have asked you this kind of question in the first place. Why didn’t he ask Qin Siyuan or your father? He can’t even bring himself to ask, yet he makes you inquire. He has no integrity whatsoever. If your father finds out, wouldn’t he think he’s even more incompetent?”
Qin Wan said softly, "If Father had taken care of Ziqi in every way, would he have gone to such lengths?"
Cui turned around and said to Qin Wan sternly, "You used to be spoiled and arrogant, but now you've become so arrogant. Didn't you say that Lin Ziqi would definitely be second only to the emperor in the future? What are you panicking about now? Don't you even believe what you said?"
Qin Wan was speechless for a long time before finally saying, "...I, I was just thinking that if Ziqi could get some guidance..."
Cui interrupted, "If there is anything you don't understand about Ziqi's poems, ask Siyuan. I think Siyuan will not make excuses. But if you insist on asking who guided Siyuan, I have mentioned it before, but your father avoided the topic. It is clear that this person does not want to be mentioned."
Qin Wan sighed and stopped asking, thinking she would ask her second aunt during the banquet later.
Before long, all the women had arrived.
Qin Siyuan's mother, who was staying at the Qin family mansion, arrived the fastest and helped with some chores.
Qin Wan pestered her for quite a while, leaving Qin Siyuan's mother somewhat at a loss.
After the banquet, Qin Siyuan returned to his room intending to rest for a while before studying again, when his mother came in.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
His mother said, "Son, does your head hurt? Do you want me to make you a bowl of hangover soup?"
Qin Siyuan shook his head.
"No need. I didn't drink much to begin with. The sixth wife of the Marquis's mansion hasn't been laid to rest yet. My uncle said we should focus on eating and chatting."
His mother asked, "Did a lot of people praise you today?"
Qin Siyuan immediately understood what his mother had heard the women say, and said, "It's nothing, just asking about yesterday's audience with the Emperor. Your son is a junior scholar, and it's naturally a good thing that he has caught the Emperor's eye."
His mother was relieved and said, "Your cousin said the same thing. She said that everyone is praising your poems now, and that they have caught the emperor's eye. She's afraid you'll rise to prominence in the future. Don't forget how good they are to each other. You know your cousin is spoiled and pampered; she wouldn't have spoken like that before."
After a moment's thought, Qin Siyuan asked, "What else did she ask?"
His mother glanced at him, somewhat uncomfortably, and said, "I'm just asking who guided your poetry and scholarship, and I also want to find a good teacher for my son-in-law. I'm thinking that since we've come to live with your uncle, we should find a way to repay him."
Qin Siyuan hurriedly shook his head.
“That won’t do. If you ask again next time, just say that I was fortunate enough to meet Young Master Nantang and received her guidance by chance, which led to this good fortune. This person’s talent is a hundred times greater than mine, but he doesn’t like to show himself and doesn’t care about fame or fortune. It would be extremely difficult for me to introduce him.”
His mother sighed and said, "Now that you're better, just don't forget your uncle's family."
Qin Siyuan nodded and said, "Mother, don't worry. I will repay your kindness tenfold. If I hadn't come to my uncle's place, how would I have received guidance from Mr. Songshan and Young Master Nantang, how would I have met Master Gu, and how would I have had the opportunity to make a name for myself?"
Along the way, he went from an unknown junior scholar to catching the emperor's eye. Regardless of how he fared in the palace examination, his future career would be much smoother.
This was something he would never have dared to dream of back in his hometown.
His mother smacked him and scolded, "Don't forget how good your younger sister is. Didn't you say that Shen Changle helped you become famous? Shen Changle only did that because she got permission from your younger sister."
Then she sighed, "Yuan'er is truly a kind-hearted person. Even while raising her brother-in-law, she didn't forget her own brothers. Even Heng-ge'er now remembers her kindness in every way, whereas before he mostly sided with Wan'er. With such a broad mind and kindness in everything she does, it's no wonder she married the Marquis and became the Marquis's wife."
Qin Siyuan smiled.
"Don't worry, Mother, your son will never forget how good my younger sister is to you."
His younger sister helped him on his path to success; he will surely repay her kindness in the future.
As for Lin Ziqi...
Qin Siyuan frowned slightly.
Qin Jijiu was helped back to the inner courtyard by Qin Heng. He was quite happy to see his daughter. After exchanging a few words, he complained to Cui Shi, "Look at the good son-in-law you've chosen."
Madam Cui retorted angrily, "You were the one who chose both of these sons-in-law, and now you're blaming me?"
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