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

Xu Qing looked down and found a stack of copied poems and couplets.

The top is labeled "Zhuangyuanlou Manuscript," and the bottom is covered with numerous annotations...

"Upon hearing this couplet, everyone present was astonished."

"Mr. Zhang from Beijing was completely captivated by it."

"The pageboy answered three questions in a row, while Mr. Zhang declined three times in a row."

Another line of annotation reads: "Hengyang has always been known for its talented people; a mere pageboy's anger shook the capital."

Xu Qing turned the pages one by one, and the more she read, the more her lips twitched.

Goodness...

The copies were circulated much faster than he had anticipated.

Moreover, the exaggerated and embellished description was clearly the work of a storyteller.

They were practically calling it a battle between two literary stars.

"It's only been one night..." Xiao Mingyuan smiled smugly.

"These stories have spread throughout Hengyang County. Let me tell you, go to your teahouse now, sit down, and you'll hear everyone talking about what happened at Zhuangyuanlou yesterday. But..."

He raised his eyebrows smugly: "They only know that the one who showed his face was Xiao Mingyuan's pageboy, not Xu Qing. You said yourself that you wanted to keep your name a secret, so I didn't tell anyone."

After Xu Qing finished reading the copies, he returned them to Fatty Xiao.

"Then let's keep it hidden. Let the people outside guess for a while longer."

"You really don't plan to become famous now?" Xiao Mingyuan asked, scratching the back of his head. "If people knew it was you, Xu Qing, who wrote it, how glamorous that would be! Tsk tsk, just thinking about it is exciting!"

Xu Qing shook his head:

"If I were to spread my name now, people would start to doubt your previous poems. If someone were to investigate, tracing back from your poems all the way to the couplets at the Zhuangyuan Tower, the investigation would only go deeper and deeper. So..."

He patted Xiao Mingyuan on the shoulder and smiled slightly.

"I'll step forward once you've demonstrated your abilities. Until then, this identity as a page is the best cover."

Xiao Mingyuan blinked twice: "Then what kind of achievement do I need to get? A poem that can compare to yours?"

"Ahem, well... at least pass the county exam first."

Xu Qing almost choked.

He then adjusted his tone, remaining calm yet assertive:

"As long as you study according to my method, passing the county exam will be no problem at all."

Xiao Mingyuan stroked his double chin, paused for a moment, and then nodded emphatically: "Okay, we'll do it your way. You mean what you say!"

After he finished speaking, he added the weight, lowering his voice:

"However, there is something else... Li Yan sent someone to deliver a message early this morning, saying that he would like to invite you and me to sit in the pavilion at the academy at noon. He has something to say."

Xu Qing thought for a moment: "Go."

He looked up at the sky; the sun had already risen…

There are still some things to do today, but the most important thing right now is to find out what Li Yan is up to.

The two arrived at the entrance of Songlin Academy. As soon as Xu Qing stepped across the threshold, someone ran away quickly.

Xiao Mingyuan glanced at the retreating figure and snorted, "Another one of Chen Shijin's men, quick on their feet."

They ignored them and walked straight through the front yard to the back yard.

As soon as I reached the moon gate leading to the back of the academy, I was stopped in front of someone.

Zhou Kang and two others blocked the doorway, arms crossed, noses in the air:

"Halt. The backyard is where the students of the academy stroll and read; unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter."

Xiao Mingyuan frowned: "What are you doing? Get out of my way!"

Zhou Kang slowly took half a step forward and pointed at Xu Qing with his nostrils:

"He... a mere pageboy, to put it bluntly, is allowed into the backyard? Young Master Xiao, it's one thing to bring a pageboy to the academy, but is the backyard a place your pageboy should be in?"

Xiao Mingyuan's face darkened: "How come I didn't know the academy had this rule?"

There are many rules you don't know.

Zhou Kang's henchman chimed in with a grin:

"Young Master Xiao used to skip classes every day and didn't even know which way the school gate faced. The backyard of the academy is for proper scholars. You brought a scribe here, aren't you afraid of making a mess of the ground?"

Xu Qing stood behind Xiao Mingyuan without saying a word.

He remained calm and stood quietly, seemingly oblivious to the commotion caused by Zhou Kang and the others.

Xiao Mingyuan didn't have Xu Qing's patience. He took a step forward, his chubby face close to Zhou Kang's:

"Zhou Kang, you embarrassed yourself at the Scholar's Pavilion yesterday, and now you're running back to the academy to make amends? Why don't you go and ask the headmaster to settle this with you and see if it was me who shouldn't have entered the back courtyard, or if you, Zhou Kang, are unworthy of being a student?"

Zhou Kang was taken aback by his words, his face turning pale: "You..."

Another lackey quickly chimed in:

"Young Master Xiao, we're not targeting you, we're targeting the person behind you. A companion follows you everywhere; anyone who doesn't know better would think you're his servant."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mingyuan clenched his fist tightly, ready to strike...

Suddenly, a voice came from behind.

This immediately silenced everyone.

"What are you doing here?"

Everyone's heart skipped a beat when they heard that voice.

Zhou Kang and the others, in particular, visibly trembled.

They turned around and saw that Zou Linchuan, the headmaster of Songlin Academy, had walked over at some point.

He was wearing an old blue robe, was thin, had gray hair, and was leaning on a bamboo cane.

Those eyes were piercingly sharp; a single glance from them upon entering the room made one feel uneasy.

Zhou Kang was taken aback at first, then forced a smile on his face, thinking that his scheme had succeeded.

He stepped aside, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and seemed to be asking for credit.

"Headmaster, you've come at the right time. This study companion is insisting on causing trouble in the backyard, and we're trying to stop him. According to the academy's rules, study companions are not allowed in the backyard, so as not to disturb the students..."

"Oh?" Zou Linchuan raised his eyelids and glanced at him. "Is that so?"

Zhou Kang thought the headmaster was affirming his words, so he straightened his back even more:

"Exactly! Xu Qing is just a pageboy, yet he insists on sneaking into the backyard. If word gets out, people will think that Songlin Academy doesn't teach manners."

His henchmen echoed in agreement:

"Your Excellency is wise. This Xu Qing, a mere study companion, spends all day flaunting himself with Young Master Xiao. We don't know whose influence he's relying on. We're only thinking of the academy's rules."

"Rules? Heh..."

Zou Linchuan chuckled, a sound that inexplicably made Zhou Kang's heart tighten.

Zou Linchuan looked at him. "You're right, the academy does have rules... the study companions shouldn't disturb the students, right?"

Zhou Kang nodded repeatedly: "Ah...yes, yes, that's the rule!"

"Do you know what the purpose of this rule is?"

Zhou Kang was stumped by the question and paused for a moment: "With...intention?"

Zou Linchuan took two steps forward, leaning on his bamboo cane, his tone becoming solemn and stern:

"This rule was set to prevent some people from using their status as study companions to bully other students... to have their study companions help fight, and to bully others by taking advantage of their numbers. No one has ever said that study companions are not allowed in the backyard."

He turned his head, looked at Zhou Kang, and his gaze sharpened...