Chu Yu came empty - handed but left fully loaded. The commotion was so great that it even reached Jiang Ning'an, who had just woken up.
"Fu Qingya got those things for her," Lin Ji said.
"Really Fu Qingya?"
Jiang Ning'an couldn't help but shake her head with a clicking sound.
What about the so - called childhood sweethearts with deep affection?
However, something seemed amiss.
Jiang Ning'an frowned and said, "I've heard that the Fu family has strict family teachings, and every step of Fu Qingya's life has been pre - arranged. In that case, how did he get to know Chu Yu?"
"I've tried to find out, but with no results," Lin Ji said calmly.
Anything related to Chu Yu couldn't be explained by common sense.
"However, now that we know they often meet at the Hidden Bamboo Pavilion, we might find something if we start from there."
Jiang Ning'an nodded. "Then go and investigate."
Lin Ji responded but didn't leave.
"Is there something else?"
Lin Ji said, "This morning, the Ink Fragrance Inn announced that the Young Master Jiang is going to hold a poetry competition. The top three will be rewarded with silver. In the next two days, those scholars probably won't target you."
Scholars from poor families were most in need of silver. Even if some of them had been instigated by Xu Linchuan, they wouldn't be able to watch others take the silver away. They would surely participate.
As a result, they wouldn't have the time to bother Jiang Ning'an.
"Jiang Ye?"
"Yes."
Jiang Ning'an suddenly smiled. "My mother has good taste."
She had chosen such a reliable husband for her.
It was a pity that they had no fate.
Meng Chun said with a smile, "Your Highness, the Young Master Jiang has been keeping himself clean for so many years. There isn't even a chambermaid by his side. He's pure and clean. Besides, your marriage with the Young Master Jiang was arranged by the Princess. If you could be with him, there wouldn't be any trouble from the Probing Scholar Xu!"
Meng Chun got more and more excited.
Wasn't this a way to break the deadlock?
But Jiang Ning'an shook her head after hearing this. "Forget it. With my health, I'd be a burden anywhere."
Only the emperor could afford to support her.
Getting married?
She had never thought about it.
Hearing her words, the light in Meng Chun's eyes suddenly dimmed.
Lin Ji tightened his lips and returned to the shadows.
Only Jiang Ning'an didn't care. "Lin Ji - why are you running? Send someone to keep an eye on the poetry competition. If there's anything interesting, come back and tell me."
"… Yes."
---
In the Heavenly Chamber No. 1 of the Ink Fragrance Inn, Xu Linchuan also learned about Jiang Ye's plan to hold a poetry competition. For a moment, his face turned black with anger.
How could it be such a coincidence!
He had spent money and effort last night to gather those people together, and they were going to go to the Princess Mansion to protest in the next few days. But this happened!
Now it was fine. Who would have the time to help him?
Just as Xu Linchuan was getting anxious, Chu Yu actually came.
Recently, Chu Yu had been busy tidying up her small courtyard. If she hadn't gone out today, she wouldn't have known that such a big thing had happened outside.
As soon as she heard the news, she didn't even care about arranging those precious flowers and plants, and left Fu Qingya behind. She rushed here directly.
"Brother Linchuan, we can't wait any longer."
That Marquis Mansion was holding a poetry competition at this critical moment, and they had set the date exactly five days later. Weren't they deliberately trying to make things difficult for them?
If this poetry competition was successfully held, her mission would be ruined!
Xu Linchuan sighed. "Don't I know how urgent it is? But on your way here, you must have seen that no one has the time for me."
"Brother Linchuan, there will be so many people participating in the poetry competition, but only three people can get the rewards. In that case, why don't we pay them so that everyone can get something? Then they won't care about the poetry competition."
Hearing Chu Yu's words, Xu Linchuan was stunned.
There was actually such a way.
It was feasible!
Chu Yu continued, "Brother Linchuan, do you still have any silver? If you're short of it, I can ask Young Master Fu for help."
"No need," Xu Linchuan said. "Don't worry. I have enough silver."
If necessary, he could just pawn another thing.
Anyway, Jiang Ning'an had given him a lot of things.
Chu Yu nodded. "Then Brother Linchuan, I'll go back and wait for your good news?"
"Don't worry," Xu Linchuan twitched the corner of his mouth. "There will be results within two days."
For some reason, Chu Yu always felt that Xu Linchuan's smile was eerie and made her feel cold.
Chu Yu nodded and said that her yard hadn't been tidied up yet, then got up and left.
After Chu Yu left, Xu Linchuan didn't move for a long time.
It was not until noon when someone came to bring him lunch.
"Probing Scholar Xu, you've just recovered from a serious illness. You can't eat anything too greasy. This dish is light. You should eat more."
Xu Linchuan recognized him.
That night, this man had been the most excited.
So Xu Linchuan said, "Xiao Fei, thank you for speaking up for me that night."
"Probing Scholar Xu, you actually know me?!" Zhang Xiaofei was overjoyed.
Xu Linchuan nodded and then stuffed a silver note worth a hundred taels into his hand.
Zhang Xiaofei had never seen such a generous gesture. For a moment, he was flustered. "Probing Scholar Xu, what are you doing! I spoke up for you because the Princess Zhaoyang was too excessive, not for your silver!"
"I know, but you've treated me so sincerely. I have to show my appreciation," Xu Linchuan said firmly and directly stuffed the silver note into his hand.
Zhang Xiaofei was from a poor family. In his life, he had only seen a few taels of broken silver at most. This was the first time he had held a silver note worth a hundred taels in his hand.
The paper was thick and stiff, with a unique flexibility. When his fingers ran across it, he could feel obvious unevenness...
All in all, it felt great!
"I've heard that there will be a poetry competition in a few days, and the top - ranked participants will get rewards. I wonder how spectacular the scene will be then."
Zhang Xiaofei quickly came back to his senses. "By then, I'm afraid all the scholars in the city will go. No matter how generous the rewards are, they're only for the top - ranked ones. For most people who go there, they'll be lucky if they can get a meal."
"I see," Xu Linchuan sighed. "Xiao Fei, you can go and do your work outside. I'll clean up by myself later."
Zhang Xiaofei responded, carefully tucked the silver note into his chest, and then turned to leave.
He opened the door and subconsciously looked back into the room.
He saw Xu Linchuan sitting alone at the table. His thin figure exuded a sense of loneliness.
Zhang Xiaofei pursed his lips. He vaguely felt that the silver note in his chest was getting hot.
The Probing Scholar Xu was an extremely good person. Not only was he highly learned, but his character was also excellent. Why should such a person be wronged?
Since he regarded the Probing Scholar Xu as his role model and now he had the silver, he must stand up for the Probing Scholar Xu!
Zhang Xiaofei walked out of the door and casually closed it, but he didn't leave.
His eyes became extremely determined.
"Probing Scholar Xu, I know you don't want to make things too big, but I really can't just watch you being so wronged. So... I'm sorry!"
Leaving this sentence softly, Zhang Xiaofei ran away.