My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"certainly!"

Lin Fengshuo nodded slightly, then took out the rolled-up Xuan paper from his sleeve.

After reading it, Li Bingzhang immediately got up and went over, took it with both hands, and slowly unfolded the Xuan paper.

The lobby fell silent for a moment.

Jiang Jingcheng's gaze couldn't help but fall on it as well.

He wasn't very knowledgeable about literature, so he would have to wait and see how Li Bingzhang would evaluate it.

Shen Yun shared the same thought and looked at Li Bingzhang with the same curiosity.

A moment later, the expression on Li Bingzhang's face suddenly froze, gradually turning into surprise.

Then, that surprise completely turned into shock, and finally... disbelief was written all over his face.

"This...this..."

Li Bingzhang's lips moved slightly, his gaze fixed on the words on the paper, his breathing becoming slightly labored.

Yes, the further you look, the wider those eyes seem to open.

When Li Bingzhang saw the phrase "regardless of rank or age, wherever the Way exists, there the teacher exists," he finally couldn't hold back any longer and blurted it out.

"Great article!"

"Great article!"

"I, Li Bingzhang, have read countless articles, but this is the first time I've ever seen one like this!"

"Beautiful, truly beautiful!"

As he spoke, even Li Bingzhang's hand, which was holding the Xuan paper, visibly trembled.

Yes, this is not just good.

Rather, it's the kind of beauty that, at first glance, takes your breath away.

The opening statement directly addresses the fundamental principles of the teacher's role.

The text progresses layer by layer, its language devoid of embellishment, yet each word is powerful and each sentence penetrating to the core.

In particular, the atmosphere of "where the Way exists, the teacher exists" made even the current prime minister feel a slight tremor in his chest.

This is not something a teenager could write to show off his vocabulary.

It's not an article that an ordinary talented person can produce in a flash of inspiration.

This is the kind of writing that only a truly learned, insightful, and spirited person could produce!

For a moment, Li Bingzhang held the Xuan paper, reluctant to put it down.

Then, he slowly raised his head, his gaze falling on Jiang Xiaobai, the shock in his eyes almost undisguised.

"This...did you really write this?"

As Li Bingzhang finished speaking...

Li Zhiwei finally couldn't resist any longer. She took two steps forward, her gaze falling on the article, and began to read it carefully.

Just a moment.

Her expression was also filled with surprise.

Yes, although she had witnessed Jiang Xiaobai's poetic talent yesterday, she also knew that he was no ordinary person.

But poetic talent and literary talent are ultimately two different things.

Poetry can be inspired by a moment of inspiration, but prose best reveals one's skill.

Especially articles with lofty ideals, sound structure, and substantial content are not something that ordinary people can write.

The essay "On Teachers" before us is clearly beyond what can be described as merely "not bad".

For a moment, when Li Zhiwei looked at Jiang Xiaobai again, her eyes were filled with a strange light.

Jiang Xiaobai stood there, being stared at by so many people, and couldn't help but mutter to himself, "I copied it..."

Of course, he would never say such a thing.

So Jiang Xiaobai simply nodded slightly, his expression remaining relatively calm.

"I wrote it."

Jiang Xiaobai nodded.

Inside the lobby, the atmosphere shifted slightly once again.

Li Bingzhang stared at Jiang Xiaobai for a moment, then took a deep breath and slowly said, "But since you have such literary talent, why... do you still need to buy the title of top scholar?"

As soon as those words were spoken...

The entire lobby fell silent.

Because this is the root of all the problems we face today.

Yes.

If Jiang Xiaobai truly possessed such talent and writing skills, then he could have rightfully competed for the top scholar title.

Why go to such lengths as to buy an official position?

Faced with Li Bingzhang's gaze, Jiang Xiaobai's smile gradually faded.

next moment.

Jiang Xiaobai's expression gradually became serious.

"Then I'll tell you the truth!"

"Our Zhenbei Marquis family has been loyal and brave for generations, and our entire family is made up of soldiers. Over the years, we have lost countless lives and shed countless blood to defend the borders of the Great Hua and resist the enemy."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai paused slightly, and his gaze darkened: "My eldest brother Jiang Yunce and second brother Jiang Linquan died in battle in the northern border three years ago."

"Outsiders only know that they died heroically, a glorious sacrifice for the entire Jiang family!"

"But in my opinion... this matter may not be as simple as it seems!"

As soon as Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, Jiang Jingcheng's face darkened instantly, and his hands clenched involuntarily.

Because he had his doubts too!

Shen Yun, sitting to the side, had slightly red eyes and pursed lips, but ultimately said nothing.

Jiang Xiaobai glanced at his parents, then continued, "After my eldest and second brothers died, I was left as the only son in the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion."

"But unfortunately, I am a spoiled brat, a good-for-nothing, a good-for-nothing who spends his days eating, drinking and having fun."

"If I were the one orchestrating this... I would also think that the Jiang family is the easiest to manipulate."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai even curled up a faint, cold smile: "But the problem is, if they only want to test my Jiang family, then so be it."

"But this time, they even dared to buy my way into the top score!"

"Then I understand. They weren't trying to test me; they... they wanted to drag the entire Zhenbei Marquis's mansion into the mud!"

These words were spoken.

The air in the entire lobby seemed to grow heavier.

Standing there, Li Bingzhang felt a jolt in his heart.

Yes, he originally thought it was just a case of bribery and corruption in the officialdom.

But now, after hearing Jiang Xiaobai say this, he suddenly realized that there might be something deeper behind this matter than he had thought.

If what Jiang Xiaobai said is true, then this scheme is not just targeting a spoiled young master.

It was the entire Zhenbei Marquis's mansion!

Thinking of this, Li Bingzhang couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

As the prime minister, who is in charge of the civil officials, he should be well aware of the political situation and should be able to detect any unusual activity.

He had even been thinking about how to use this incident to definitively confirm the problems within the Jiang family.

If his daughter hadn't brought up the matter on the day of the poetry gathering, wouldn't he have unwittingly become someone who pushed the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion forward?

Lin Fengshuo, standing to the side, shook his head slightly: "Alas, the court is a very complex place."

"Some knives are visible, but some are hidden in sleeves or smiles. By the time blood is drawn, it's often too late."

After Lin Fengshuo finished speaking, his aged eyes became much deeper.

During his time as Grand Tutor, he witnessed too much of the wickedness of human nature and too many situations that appeared calm on the surface but were turbulent underneath.

That is why he withdrew from the court and returned to the plains!

He was so tired!

"The teacher is right!"

Jiang Xiaobai nodded slightly after listening to Lin Fengshuo's words, and then said again, "So, I can only go along with what they want."

"Since they want me to be the top scholar, I will be. Since they want to use me to push the Jiang family into the limelight, then I will stand on that stage."

"I'd like to see who's behind all this!!!"