17. Discussion Meeting (Part 3)
"It made me think I had actually written something groundbreaking."
Zhan Boyan felt that such a person was not worthy of arguing with him. He wanted to rebuke her, but he felt that he was too old to hold a grudge against a young girl, which would be suspected of bullying the younger generation.
He then pointed the finger at Shen Jinghe, saying, "This girl is so young, yet she is so unhumble. Lord Shen bears the responsibility for failing to properly guide her."
"My daughter is still young..." Shen Jinghe tried to help Shen Suqin get out of trouble.
Upon hearing this, Pei Tingxue quickly interrupted, saying, "Elder Zhan, you may not know this, but Miss Shen has been raised in the countryside since she was a child. Even if Lord Shen wanted to teach her, he would be too far away to do so."
“Exactly, just a country bumpkin,” someone agreed.
"Miss Shen should go home and wait peacefully for her marriage. Why bother making a scene here?"
"Bang!" In the corner, Xiao Pingchuan got up at some point and kicked the rocks at his feet, shattering them. After everyone looked over, he said coldly, "If I hear anyone else say another word of nonsense, I'll make sure they can never speak again."
Everyone fell silent instantly.
Looking at this man exuding a fierce aura, everyone remembered that he was engaged to the General of the Cavalry.
"Isn't the general ashamed?" someone sneered.
"Haha, to marry such a woman..."
Just as things were about to descend into chaos again, Shen Suqin, standing in the center of the arena, chuckled leisurely and slowly took out a white jade seal from his pocket, handing it to Zhan Boyan and saying, "Elder Zhan, I have something for you to look at."
"What is that?"
Zhan Boyan took it, turned the seal over with a puzzled look on his face, squinted and looked closely, and saw that the two large characters "Anonymous" were engraved on it.
Instantly, everyone saw his expression change drastically, and he hurriedly leaned down to ask Shen Suqin, "Where did you get this seal?"
Since the publication of "Ode to the Eastern Liang Dynasty," its author has remained elusive, with only an author's seal and the inscription "Anonymous" on the original manuscript. The world has never seen his true face, only speculating that he was a reclusive scholar who wished to remain anonymous, at least nearing seventy years of age.
Shen Suqin avoided answering, only saying, "It's good that Elder Zhan recognizes this seal; could he possibly confirm its authenticity?"
Zhan Boyan just confirmed that it is exactly the same as the one printed on the manuscript of "Dongliang Fu".
“It’s true! There’s no faking it,” he said. “Have you met this gentleman? Where is he? Could you introduce me to him?”
Shen Suqin reached out and asked him for the seal, smiling as she said, "Of course."
Zhan Boyan handed the seal back to her with both hands, saying, "Then let's go now."
He turned to get down as he spoke, for he truly admired the gentleman's talent.
“Elder Zhan,” Shen Suqin called out to him, “Elder Zhan, there’s no need to be anxious, Mr. Anonymous is right here.”
"Right here?" Zhan Boyan stopped and looked around. All the people around him were familiar faces. "Don't try to fool me. I know everyone here. There's no one named Anonymous among them."
"I didn't lie to you."
"Then tell me where he is?"
“Isn’t this right in front of you?” Shen Suqin smiled, tossing the seal in her hand up and down, saying, “I am but a humble person, and the ‘Ode to Dongliang’ is indeed my own work. I am grateful for your kind words.”
The moment Shen Suqin finished speaking, a rare crack appeared on Zhan Boyan's solemn face.
Xiao Pingchuan also suddenly looked over.
The crowd erupted in uproar.
"Nonsense!" Zhan Boyan said seriously. "The 'Eastern Liang Rhapsody' is a work of great power; how could a mere young girl like you possibly master it?"
"Exactly, how could you possibly have written the 'Eastern Liang Rhapsody'?"
"It's a scam, it's definitely a scam!"
Shen Suqin remained calm and composed: "If I were a fraud, where did this seal come from?"
"You must have stolen it."
Shen Suqin smiled, “As you all know, I come from Fuliang Mountain. The ‘Ode to Dongliang’ was written on Shuxing Cliff on the east side of Fuliang Mountain, where Yanyou Villa is located.” She looked around and asked loudly, “I don’t need to tell you who lives in the villa, do I?”
After saying that, she turned to look at Zhan Boyan and said, “Elder Zhan, I have been close to Senior Brother Hongming since childhood. If you have time, you might as well ask him for confirmation yourself. He has been saying that you never visit him.”
"By the way, this is a letter that my senior brother Hongming asked me to give to you when I went north. I haven't had time until now, so I'm giving it to you today."
As she spoke, she took a letter from her sleeve pocket and handed it to him.
Everyone stared intently at Zhan Boyan, hoping he would say the letter was fake.
But after he opened the letter, everyone saw that his face grew increasingly pale, and finally his hands holding the letter began to tremble.
"Master Aunt," Zhan Boyan said respectfully, bowing his head.
The renowned scholar with a full head of silver hair actually bowed his head and addressed a young girl with yellow hair as "Master Sister," leaving everyone looking at each other in bewilderment, unsure of what to say.
The secluded scholar Ji Weiya lived in Yanyou Villa. He was a pillar of strength in the literary world of the Liang Dynasty. Master Ji had a disciple named Qin Hongming, who was the mentor of Zhan Boyan.
Since Shen Suqin had been calling him "Brother Qin" repeatedly, then the highly respected Elder Zhan Boyan in front of her must be her junior apprentice.
At this moment, Yinshan Residence was deathly silent.
So the person they were verbally attacking and relentlessly pressuring was actually the closed-door disciple of Ji Xianlin, a contemporary scholar comparable to the two great masters. They were even forcing him to admit that his writing was the best in the world; if he didn't, he would be considered a traitor and a fame-seeker.
this……
There are such ridiculous things happening in the world.
For a moment, everyone's faces burned with embarrassment, and they dared not look up at Shen Suqin again.
However, some people still tried to make a last-ditch effort, asking Mr. Zhan, "Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Zhan Boyan nodded with difficulty: "I have always known that my grandmaster took in a disciple, and my teacher also mentioned it. However, they have lived in seclusion for many years and have been communicating with each other mostly through letters. They rarely meet, so I didn't even know that my uncle was a girl."
Yinshan Residence was once again eerily silent.
"Damn it!" someone muttered under their breath.
Shen Suqin chuckled and spread his hands, saying, "You all praised the 'Dongliang Fu' to the skies with just one sentence each, making me think I had actually written some earth-shattering masterpiece. Don't I know my own level? From now on, let's not mention it again; it's embarrassing for me."
At this point, no one in the room dared to speak.
The more fiercely they clamored and belittled them before, the more humiliated they are now.
Only Xiao Pingchuan finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, saying, "Miss Shen is far too modest."
Shen Suqin winked at him; she couldn't really offend him too much.
So, changing the subject, he said, “Mr. Zhan, I have no intention of making things difficult for you. I’ve come to this meeting today because I really want to use your place to say a few words.”
Zhan Boyan: "Please do as you please, nun."
Shen Suqin stood proudly, “Gentlemen, if you understand what I said at Xingyuan Restaurant, you should know that I was not targeting the ‘Dongliang Fu’ itself. I was targeting the current trend of empty talk and the fact that idle talk is harming the country.”
"You should all open your eyes and take a look at the entire Liang Dynasty, and see what kind of lives ordinary people are living. When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact; when the great building is about to collapse, neither you nor I can escape."
She was truly absorbed in her studies when she was learning from her teacher. Although her heart wasn't in the subject, the scholarly spirit she had cultivated over the years remained. She couldn't help but remain silent, as if she were speaking on behalf of her teacher, saying what he wanted to say but hadn't yet.
"Gentlemen, please listen for now," Shen Suqin said. "Elder Zhan, shall we continue discussing the 'Eastern Liang Rhapsody'?"
What's there to talk about? Zhan Boyan thought, but he didn't know how to start the conversation.
Fortunately, Shen Suqiu spoke up for him at this moment: "Little sister is joking. Since this 'Eastern Liang Rhapsody' is your masterpiece, you can say whatever you want."
Shen Suqin really liked her quick-witted older sister.
"In that case, I'll take my leave."
"Please, sir," Shen Suqiu said.
Shen Suqin looked around and saw that everyone avoided looking at her directly, except for Xiao Pingchuan.
"General Xiao, it's time to go."
Xiao Pingchuan walked over with his chin slightly raised, as if he had won a battle.
Shen Suqin remained calm as they walked out the door side by side. Once they were out of the crowd, neither of them could help but burst into laughter, displaying an extremely carefree attitude.
The people in the room listened to the hearty laughter, looked at each other with awkward expressions, and were speechless.
They suddenly wondered what the point of all this solemn trip was. Was it just to be humiliated by this so-called village girl?
No, we can't call her a village girl anymore.
She is the author of "Ode to the Eastern Liang Dynasty". In the future, not only will the position of the most talented woman in the capital change hands, but she can also sit on the position of the most talented woman in the Great Liang Dynasty.
When everyone went to look for Miss Shen, they found that she had already hurriedly left with her teacher.
Back at the rest area, Zhan Boyan unleashed a torrent of anger on her.
"What's wrong with you? Didn't you know to find out more about her background beforehand? Do you know how many people will laugh at me after today!"
"Ji Weiya, you've been retired for over ten years, yet you still manage to outdo me."
"And you, why did you provoke them for no reason? If you're so capable, write something that's no worse than 'Dongliang Fu' so I can make myself look good too."
Shen Suqiu bent down to listen to the reprimand, and after a long while she said gently, "Teacher, don't get upset and harm your health, it's not worth it."
"Not worth it? You still dare to say it's not worth it? Dragging the capital's powerful families down with us and losing face is a matter of utmost importance!"
"Anyway, it can't be blamed on us. We can only blame Shen Suqin for having ulterior motives and deliberately trying to embarrass us," Shen Suqiu said.
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Just shift the blame to another teacher, I'll get revenge for them."
"snort."
After finally settling the teacher in, Shen Suqiu came out.
Pei Tingxue had been waiting in the courtyard for a long time. As soon as she saw her, she immediately complained, "Just now, that Wen Baichang cried loudly in front of everyone, saying that he shouldn't have slandered the true god. Does being able to write an article make you a true god? What a joke."
Shen Suqin's face was grim.
"Speaking of which, is there really nothing wrong with that seal?"
"The teacher said it's true."
Pei Tingxue was speechless for a moment.
After a long pause, she continued, "She certainly knows how to put on an act, tearing everyone's faces off and trampling them on the ground, without fear of being hated."
"My aunt will probably step in and teach her a lesson."
Shen Suqiu looked into the distance, where Shen Jinghe was standing. "Yes, we will. After all, we have to give an explanation to the aristocratic families."
"You're letting her off so easily!" Pei Tingxue said indignantly. "You're just going to let her go like that? She's got the upper hand over you now! She's stolen all the limelight, humph!"
Shen Suqin withdrew her gaze and did not answer her directly, but asked, "I remember that my aunt's birthday banquet is this month. Let's invite Shen Suqin to the banquet as well."
"Why would I invite her? Her lowly feet are not worthy to set foot on your esteemed land."
"If you want to deal with someone, it's easier to do it on your own turf."
Pei Tingxue suddenly realized, "Don't worry, I'll personally send her the invitation."
“Okay,” Shen Suqiu turned to leave, “You should go back, I still have some things to do.”
After saying this, she straightened her clothes, smiled, and went to the door, respectfully seeing everyone off as she had come.
"Please take care, Lord Quan."
"Madam Li, I'll see you another day."
Seeing her calm expression and gentle tone, as if nothing had happened at the discussion, everyone secretly admired her, thinking that she was indeed a product of the Imperial Academy, acting with composure and dignity, neither arrogant nor humble.
"Uncle Yang," Shen Suqiu greeted.
The person opposite smiled and nodded, then said to Shen Jinghe beside him, "Now the Shen family has produced two talented women. Brother, you are truly blessed."
Shen Jinghe laughed heartily.
It was only at this moment that he finally felt relieved. "I never knew that my Zhaozhao could win the favor of Elder Ji."
“That’s Master Ji,” the man said with some envy. “His calligraphy and paintings are priceless… Your youngest daughter is only so old this year. “The Ode to Dongliang,” tsk tsk, you’ll be enjoying the good life from now on.
Shen Jinghe laughed.
"Father, wait for me. I'll go back with you later," Shen Suqiu interrupted the two.
“Alright.” Shen Jinghe turned to the man and said, “Brother Yang, take care.”
After the people left, Shen Jinghe stepped behind Shen Suqiu and waited for her to finish seeing them off.
"Father, let's go." Shen Suqiu said to Shen Jinghe after she finished.
The two boarded the carriage to return to the mansion, and throughout the journey, Shen Suqiu kept her eyes slightly lowered.
Shen Jinghe hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
"Will Father dislike me because my younger sister is more outstanding?" Shen Suqiu suddenly whispered.
Shen Jinghe quickly denied it, "How could that be? No way."
“Father clearly prefers my sister. You would personally buy her pastries, and when she went out to play, you would wait for her to come back at the door. You never waited for me.”
“I… Zhao Zhao is still young.”
"But I'm only a few months older than her."
"Qiu'er".
"Father can't be so biased, it's not fair," Shen Suqiu whispered.
Shen Jinghe murmured, "I owe her so much."
Shen Suqiu's expression grew increasingly grim as she failed to achieve her goal.
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