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

Xu Qing gently pressed Xiao Mingyuan's hand from the side, and then spoke frankly.

"Headmaster, since you asked, I won't hide it from you. It was Chen Shijin who tried to frame us, but he ended up shooting himself in the foot. After the matter was exposed, he made Sun Decai take the blame."

Zou Linchuan didn't respond immediately. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down, his tone becoming much heavier.

"Hmph, I knew it. Otherwise, why would Chen Chengbo refuse to give any poetry or couplet questions today? He's afraid you'll outdo him in those areas."

Xu Qing's mind raced; he hadn't expected Zou Linchuan to see things so clearly.

Zou Linchuan seemed to see through his thoughts, put down his teacup and continued speaking.

"Chen Shijin used to be arrogant, but with Li Yan standing up for him, the two of them would go back and forth, and I couldn't be bothered to interfere. But things are different now... He's gone to extremes now, it's no longer just friendly rivalry between classmates."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the two people's faces.

"I asked the county magistrate and learned that the person who was bumped into that day was not just a passerby, but also the current princess."

Chen Shijin ordered his men to throw filth at the princess's carriage in the street. Regardless of whether he knew who it was, this act was utterly disloyal and unfilial. "Having mastered both literary and martial arts, one sells oneself to the imperial family. Scholars can contend and fight, but they must not lose their fundamental principles."

Xu Qing understood perfectly. Zou Linchuan was a scholar of the Qingliu school, and he couldn't tolerate any wrongdoing. The Chen family's methods had just hit the spot he found most unacceptable.

Xu Qing tentatively asked a question.

"So, what do you mean, Headmaster?"

Zou Linchuan stroked his beard.

"I originally wanted to expel Chen Shijin from the academy, but the county magistrate said that Sun Decai could not testify yet, and there was no conclusive evidence to definitively smear the Chen family."

Even if I expel him, Chen Chengbo can use his position as an instructor to get him into another academy. They have no shortage of connections when it comes to official titles.

The more Zou Linchuan spoke, the more he shook his head.

"Therefore, we cannot take action against him right now. We can only wait for Sun Decai to make progress, or for them to reveal their own weaknesses."

After he finished speaking, he gave the two of them a meaningful look.

"Let's put aside these scheming matters for now. Don't worry, at least the county magistrate and I are here to support you. Right now, your most important task is to quickly address your weaknesses and achieve good results in the county examination."

"As long as you do well on the exam, no one can push you out. On the contrary... if you do poorly, even if I wanted to help, there wouldn't be much I could do."

After Zou Linchuan finished speaking, he replaced the cold tea with a hot one and resumed his instructions to the students.

"Go quickly, the Chen family won't let this go."

"Yes, student understands!"

After they both said their thanks, they left the living room and walked along the corridor outside.

After walking a dozen steps, Xiao Mingyuan suddenly slowed down, looked down at the corners of the stack of books in his hand, and remained silent for a while before speaking, his voice hoarse and undisguised.

"I've lived all these years. This is the first time... the first time... that someone has taken me so seriously."

He looked up at the sky, gazing at it sideways. Then he quickly lowered his head and wiped the corner of his eye, as if afraid that Xu Qing would see the tears welling up in his eyes.

"Brother Qing, it's all because of you. If I hadn't met you, I would still be that fat Xiao wandering the streets, called a good-for-nothing by people."

Xu Qing didn't answer, but just patted him on the shoulder.

"Alright, stop getting sentimental. It's getting late. Let's go buy some food and wait for that monkey."

Xiao Mingyuan sniffed and nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes, let's go quickly. I really want to go down and see what's down there."

The two quickened their pace and headed towards the market.

As we walked through two alleys, a quarrel suddenly broke out ahead.

A crowd gathered on the street.

Inside, a young woman in a blue cloth shirt was tugging at the sleeve of a young man in a silk robe.

A dark-skinned young man stood nearby, clenching his fists.

Xiao Mingyuan squeezed in and was stunned for a moment.

The young man in the silk robe was none other than Zhou Kang, who had disappeared for a while.

He stood in the middle of the crowd, his sleeve being tugged by a young woman who wouldn't let go, his expression a mixture of annoyance and frustration.

"Zhou Kang, you've sold all my family's fields, at least leave us some money to eat."

The girl's voice trembled, her eyes were red, but her hands were clenched tightly, refusing to let go.

The dark-skinned young man next to him also stepped forward, his voice somewhat restrained.

"Brother Kang, we don't care how much money we got from selling the land, but since you took all the money, you should leave some for us siblings to get by. My sister hasn't eaten for two days."

Zhou Kang tried to shake his sleeve, but failed, and said impatiently.

"All the money was used to bury your parents, where is there any left? Can't you earn your own food? What kind of person are you, blocking my way here begging for food?"

The girl's face paled slightly, but her voice grew even louder.

"Zhou Kang, you used to coax my brother into doing corvée labor for you, always saying that your studies were more important and couldn't be neglected. Later, you made my brother join the army, saying that you had connections that could get him an official position."

My brother just left, and you immediately tricked my parents into selling the land, saying it was to save money for him. Now the money from selling the land is all gone, and you tell us it's all spent.

Zhou Kang flung her hand away, enraged and embarrassed.

"Bullshit! They did it voluntarily, what does it have to do with me? I'm warning you, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart."

The dark-skinned young man stood in front of his sister, his tone hardening.

"Brother Kang, my parents are still your uncles..."

Zhou Kang interrupted him directly.

"Shut up, you peasants! I don't recognize you! Get out of here right now, or I'll call the authorities."

Upon hearing this, the dark-skinned youth clenched his fists in anger, grabbed Zhou Kang by the collar, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged.

Zhou Kang was forced to stand on tiptoe by being pulled, but he still stubbornly shouted.

"I'm a student at Songlin Academy. If you dare hit me, you'll be going to jail."

His younger sister, who was behind him, quickly stepped forward and grabbed her brother's wrist, saying in a tearful voice.

"Brother, forget it. He's a student at the academy; we can't hit him."

Zhou Kang straightened his disheveled collar, resumed his arrogant demeanor, and muttered some foul language under his breath.

"With your peasant background, just seeing me is an eyesore, it's an affront to my clothes. Your presence is an eyesore to my eyes. If you dare come again, I'll break your legs. You filthy peasants, get lost!!"

He finished speaking and was about to turn around.

Snapped! !

A crisp sound.

A hand slapped him from the side, landing squarely on Zhou Kang's face.

It only made him stagger two steps to the side.

Zhou Kang covered his face and roared angrily.

"Who dares to hit me? I'll skin him alive today!"