Qin Wan asked, "Who is it, visiting at this hour?"

Yanhong, shaking off her anger, smiled through the window, "It’s the young master here to see the lady."

Qin Wan leaned forward and saw Qin Heng, newly dressed, entering the courtyard, followed by several attendants carrying gift boxes, which made her eyes well up with tears.

It was her mother’s way of thinking of her; the family never came empty-handed, even if it was just a child like Qin Heng, he would bring all kinds of gifts.

Qin Heng first greeted Mrs. Lin, who stood in the courtyard with her hands on her hips.

Mrs. Lin asked, "Young master, coming by so early, is there something going on with the family?"

Qin Heng smiled, "No big matter, dear family elder. It’s just that yesterday, Brother-in-law won the ball game against Yelv Guza at the Imperial College. The Emperor was pleased, and my cousin and I had the honor to meet him, making my father very happy. Coincidentally, the Imperial College has a holiday for a couple of days. We’re planning a gathering at home, and I’m here to invite Brother-in-law and Second Sister to come over for some fun."

Mrs. Lin was anxious upon hearing this, "Oh dear, what’s this all about? Your Second Brother-in-law was sick and didn’t go to the Imperial College yesterday, so how did such a good opportunity not come his way?"

As if her son could see the Holy Emperor if he went there.

Qin Wan smirked coldly in her heart.

At this moment, the sound of breaking cups and plates came from the study, interrupting the conversation in the courtyard.

Lin Ziqi’s voice came out, "Young Brother has come, come in and talk."

Qin Wan tidied her hair in front of the mirror and said to Yanhong, "Pack up, I’ll be going back to my parents’ home with Brother Heng in a while."

Yanhong asked, "Is there anything you need to prepare to take with you?"

Qin Wan raised her voice lightly, "Every time my family visits, they’re never empty-handed, so it’s not like we’re taking nothing back this time. Since the family is having a gathering, let’s bring along the stinky mandarin fish I pickled a few days ago, so it’s not just my mouth going back there."

Stinky mandarin fish is a dish favored by the Southern people and requires a few days to ferment and prepare. Qin Wan planned to bring it to the family feast as a returning gift.

Mrs. Lin’s face turned unpleasant upon hearing this but said nothing.

Lady Yu, on the side, sourly commented, "Sister-in-law goes back to her parents’ home quite freely. I’ve been here for a long time, yet never been to Sister-in-law’s family home."

"The Imperial Palace, you haven’t been there either. Do you plan on going?" Qin Yuan asked with a cheeky grin.

Lady Yu’s face drooped.

Qin Wan continued, smiling sarcastically, "When your cousin passes the exams, matching you with a highly ranked advanced scholar may end up with luck even better than mine. Someday you’d follow your husband into the palace to meet the Holy Emperor. Then remember to pull me along to broaden my horizons. Don’t be like those women with no sense of finer things, ending up as a concubine never hoping to enter the mansion of a grand family to be the primary wife."

Lady Yu was bewildered, wanting to say something but unsure where to start, so she turned to Mrs. Lin, "Aunt."

With Qin Heng around, Mrs. Lin couldn’t bear not to save face for Qin Wan, so she said, "Why talk about this? Ziqi is about to take the advanced scholar exam, don’t let these trivial matters disrupt his focus."

Qin Heng had already entered Lin Ziqi’s study by this time.

Lin Ziqi, after instructing the young maid to clean the study, shook his head, "Letting my young brother witness a joke; women are just like that, constantly talking over trivial matters."

Qin Heng blinked his eyes.

"Second Brother-in-law, my second sister isn’t like that at home."

Lin Ziqi was stumped, furrowing his brows, changing the topic, and asked, "You mentioned yesterday that the Marquis played ball with Yelv Guza at the Imperial College, what was that about? How did you meet the Emperor?"

Speaking of which, Qin Heng’s eyes lit up with excitement.

The more Qin Heng spoke, the paler Lin Ziqi’s face became, his fingers tightly clutching his sleeves, filled with mixed emotions inside.

Qin Siyuan and Sixth Master Gu both received the Emperor’s commendations.

How unjust the heavens are!

Why did he happen to fall ill at this time?

Lin Ziqi was extremely frustrated, yet his young brother-in-law kept on talking beside him: "Father said Cousin’s previous poetry was commendable, gaining fame, this time Cousin and Brother-in-law should continue to work hard and compose good poems, which will benefit greatly in the future."

Then lowering his voice he continued, "The people from Book Sea Pavilion have recently spent a lot of money hiring great poets to challenge, and the Emperor heard about it, showing how much he values the poetry contest. Second Brother-in-law, you should write some startling pieces. My dad said I am not the scholarly type; in the future when you and Cousin both become advanced scholars, you must take good care of me."

Qin Heng spoke happily, utterly oblivious to Lin Ziqi’s pale face and the large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

Qin Wan walked in wanting to talk to her brother. Seeing this, she hurriedly asked, "Is husband having a severe headache?"

Lin Ziqi waved her concern off weakly, "It’s nothing, chatting with Brother Heng seems to lessen the ache."

Qin Wan was still doubtful.

Qin Heng was talkative, sitting there continuing to speak without needing prompting, soon talking about Qin Yuan being praised by the Emperor, and even mentioned the Emperor’s regret that if he had seen Eldest Sister’s talent earlier, he would have invited her into the Eastern Palace.

Qin Wan snorted lightly, curling her lips, "That’s just the Emperor saying nice things, considering the Marquis and Father."

Qin Heng, seeing his second sister’s gaze, wisely didn’t say anything more.

Qin Wan then asked in detail how the Emperor praised Qin Siyuan and Sixth Master Gu. Upon learning that the Emperor commended Qin Siyuan’s high ambitions, she said, "I didn’t expect Cousin’s poetry, previously criticized by Father for being too rigid and lackluster, would be praised like this by the Emperor. Seems his luck has changed."

In her previous life, Qin Siyuan’s poetry had fallen short, barely making it to the second rank.

But this life, he unexpectedly blossomed in his talents.

Lin Ziqi sourly remarked, "Isn’t it because he had the guidance of a master, his poems used to be much worse than mine, but during the advanced scholar exam, that may not be the case."

Qin Wan suddenly realized, "Right, the advanced scholar exams require impromptu poetry."

Qin Heng quietly curled his lips.

Say what you might, Qin Siyuan’s poems for the challenge were created on the spot, he knew this very well.

Only saying it out loud would surely displease Second Sister and Brother-in-law.

Qin Wan further asked how Sixth Master Gu discussed poetry with the Emperor, probing into every detail, and after asking, she ridiculed.

Qin Heng was unable to hold back any longer and said, "Second Sister, why ask about him, his poetry still follows Cousin’s lead. The Emperor also noticed because the poetry collection was seen first."

Lin Ziqi hearing this said, "Brother Heng is right, the Emperor discussed poetry with him just to honor the Dingbei Marquis Mansion. Why care about it? His inclusion in the poetry collection is due to spending silver, along with some inexplicable luck, thus becoming renowned. What else would the Emperor discuss with him if not this?"

Speaking of Qin Siyuan, Lin Ziqi, despite his envy, had to admit the scholarship was decent.

As for Sixth Master Gu, Lin Ziqi was quite disgruntled.

A dandy posing as refined and cultured, helped from behind the scenes, is now gaining fame in the Capital City.

Even the champion of the Qixi Festival said the Poetry Collection of Traveling in Yuyuantan was a must-have for every girl in the world.

This Jade Spring Pond was instigated by him!