I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

Chen Chengbo stood up, looked out the window, glanced at the sky, and said in a somewhat sinister tone.

"Xu Qing... that's Song Yao's fiancé. That poor scholar, I rejected him three times."

Chen Shijin's eyes widened suddenly: "What? Is that so? Why is that? Does he have an old grudge against our family?"

Chen Chengbo walked back, leaned back in his chair, and slowly unearthed an old grievance.

"Back then, Xu Qing's father had written articles publicly mocking Prince Jin, and was later purged by Prince Jin. Although he wasn't directly killed, he was essentially killed because of that incident."

His family has never been able to turn their lives around. When Xu Qing takes the county exam, do you think I'll let him pass?

He paused, then continued, "Even if I don't stand with Prince Jin, I can't go against him. Back then, if Xu Qing had any real talent or ability, I would have found a reason to dismiss him. And later..."

He smirked. "That kid is hopeless. He gets worse and worse on his exams. He's hopeless. I don't even need to dismiss him; he writes terribly on his own. I didn't expect him to improve after all these years."

Chen Chengsong's complexion did not improve.

He picked up the now-cold teacup, took a sip, and, intending to curse, smashed the cup.

But after a moment's hesitation, he placed it on the table and turned his gaze to Chen Shijin:

"Why hasn't Song Yao's matter been settled yet? Didn't you promise your grandfather that you'd bring her into the family before the end of the year?"

Chen Shijin's back tensed again: "Father, that Song Yao is a sickly woman, very weak, always coughing, and lacking energy. Even if we marry her..."

"Even if she dies a few months after we get married, she'll still be a lucky charm." Chen Chengsong interrupted him, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Your grandfather personally issued the order in the capital that you must marry Song Yao. He said... even if something happens to her after she marries you, she must still be your lawfully wedded wife, Chen Shijin. There is no room for negotiation on this matter."

Chen Shijin gritted his teeth and replied in a low voice, "...I understand."

Chen Chengbo spoke slowly from the side, his tone gentler than before, but still unquestionable.

"Your grandfather has served as an official in the capital for so many years, and he has never personally issued such an order. Since he has spoken up, he must have his reasons. You just need to get this done, and you don't need to worry about anything else."

Chen Shijin lowered his head and repeated the name "Xu Qing" twice.

Why should a poor scholar who has been dismissed three times hold onto Song Yao?

If we bring him down, Song Yao will naturally lose her support, and then the Chen family will be in charge.

His expression gradually darkened. The humiliation of being publicly humiliated at the Zhuangyuan Tower and the frustration of being scolded by his father and second uncle after returning home all coalesced into a smoldering fire in his heart.

"I understand." He bowed and left the flower hall.

Chen Chengsong and Chen Chengbo exchanged a glance.

Chen Chengbo picked up the newly poured teacup, took a sip, and said something unhurriedly.

"That Xu Qing, I want to see if he can still cause trouble in my hands when he takes the county exam this year."

Chen Chengsong did not respond.

He looked out the window; the night was deep, the moonlight was thin, and a few scattered lights shone in the distance.

He was silent for a moment before speaking.

"Keep an eye on Shijin, don't let him do anything out of line. That kid Xu Qing... seems to have someone backing him lately. That fat guy from the Xiao family is getting close to him, and even Su Man was speaking up for him today."

Chen Chengbo hummed in agreement: "The Xiao family? Just a merchant family. Su Man? A mere woman. She can't cause much trouble."

Chen Chengsong did not refute, but he also did not nod.

He simply stared at the few lights outside the window, pondering for a while...

"If Jin'er still can't do it, then we'll bribe Xu Qing."

Chen Chengbo frowned slightly: "Bribery?"

Chen Chengsong's lips curled into a smirk: "Tell him that as long as he gives up Song Yao, he can pass the county examination."

Chen Chengbo nodded: "That makes sense. Their family is obsessed with passing the county-level exams. If they really can't get into officialdom, then they'll resort to this tactic. But I believe he can do it..."

After saying that, Chen Chengbo got up and left.

Chen Chengsong then looked at the lights in the distance, as if trying to figure something out.

Then he withdrew his gaze, got up, and walked into the inner hall.

……

……

On the other side, the Xu family.

When Xu Qing pushed open the courtyard gate, the lights in the courtyard were still on.

Mrs. Xu was clearing the dishes in the kitchen when she heard the noise and poked her head out: "You're back? Have you eaten?"

"have eaten."

"Yaoyao has been waiting for you for ages, she just got back."

Xu Qing hummed in agreement and went into the study to light the oil lamp.

He took out the short note from the Prince of Zhao from his sleeve, and then took out a new piece of paper. He went through the events that had happened at Zhuangyuan Tower that day from beginning to end, listing the key people and events in several lines.

Chen Shijin's every step today was blocked.

First, his poem was crushed by Mr. Zhang, then Li Yan's three couplets made him lose face even more, and finally Xu Qing's three couplets completely sealed off any chance of him turning the tables.

When he gets home tonight, Chen Shijin will definitely complain to his father, Chen Chengsong.

Although the Qian family was initially intimidated, the Chen family certainly has other plans. They've only temporarily contained them.

Xu Qing put down her pen, dried the paper, folded it, and tucked it into the book.

After finishing, he realized he still had plenty of time, so he decided to go visit Song Yao.

The moment Xu Qing pushed open the door, she sensed something was wrong.

The courtyard was much quieter than usual.

A sense of unease crept into his mind.

The alley was deep and much quieter than usual.

Xu Qing paused at the alley entrance.

He listened intently, and all he could hear was his own heartbeat pounding against his chest.

Something's not right.

Song Yao lives alone. As a young woman, she would usually have turned off the lights and gone to sleep by this time.

But today, a little light still shines through the courtyard.

The light is wrong too.

Xu Qing's heart skipped a beat.

Song Yao usually lives alone, using only an oil lamp with a very thin wick, so that through the window it's just a tiny speck of light the size of a soybean.

But now, the light shining through the window paper indicates that at least two lamps are burning, making it bright and illuminating half of the courtyard wall.

Something happened...

Xu Qing walked forward, hugging the base of the wall.

He moved very quietly, scanning the surrounding darkness as he went...

The walls on both sides of the courtyard were pitch black and he couldn't see anything, but he always felt that something was watching him from the shadows.

As he walked to the corner of Song Yao's courtyard wall, he suddenly heard a crisp "crack" under his feet.

The sound wasn't loud, but it carried far in the deathly still night.

Xu Qing tensed up and almost instinctively squatted down.

Just as his shoulders slumped, he heard a soft "whoosh" above his head...