Lin Feng truly never expected things to turn out this way.
Chen Hao was actually plagiarizing!
But Chen Hao had clearly told him that he wrote it himself, assuring him a thousand times over!
That was why Lin Feng had trusted Chen Hao, yet he never imagined that Chen Hao’s talent would be so lacking before Chen Fan that he couldn’t even compose a single poem.
Moreover, he was even exposed as a plagiarist!
What was Lin Feng supposed to do now?
This was one million taels of silver!
With a helpless expression, Lin Feng could only look toward Lin Sanqian beside him.
Lin Sanqian, however, remained silent, merely giving a slight nod. Seeing this, Lin Feng had no choice but to speak reluctantly.
“Fine! You win!”
Upon hearing this, Chen Fan paid it no mind and simply stood up. “Xiao Ke, Xiao Ai, collect the silver notes.”
The two young maids, Xiao Ke and Xiao Ai, wasted no time. They stepped forward, gathered the one million taels in silver notes, and then picked up the brush that Chen Guogong had offered as the prize. Xiao Ke asked, “Young Master, what about this brush?”
Before Chen Fan could respond, Chen Guogong looked at him and said, “Third Son, since you’ve won, this brush shall be my reward to you. I hope you will continue to strive…”
But before Chen Guogong could finish, Chen Fan spoke coldly, “Don’t you know what kind of person your young master is? A profligate good-for-nothing—does he deserve to use such a fine brush?
Throw it away immediately. And remember to wash your hands when you get home, or you won’t be allowed to have dinner!”
Hearing this, not only Chen Guogong but everyone present was taken aback. That was the priceless Literary Sage’s Divine Brush, and Chen Fan was telling them to throw it away!
Telling them to throw it away was one thing, but ordering Xiao Ke to wash her hands upon returning—what was that about?
“Okay!”
Xiao Ke, however, was very obedient. With a simple “okay,” she casually tossed the brush onto the ground, hugged the silver notes, and ran toward Chen Fan!
She didn’t care what Literary Sage’s Divine Brush it was. All she knew was that her young master told her to throw it away, so she threw it away.
But everyone else was stunned.
He actually threw it away!
This was the Literary Sage’s Divine Brush!
Meanwhile, Chen Guogong’s expression turned extremely grim.
He wasn’t a fool—how could he not understand what Chen Fan meant?
He had given Chen Fan an opportunity, yet Chen Fan had the audacity to reject it!
Just a mere illegitimate son—who gave him the nerve?
Writing two poems was all he had done, and he already dared to act so arrogantly!
And to call his brush dirty—who gave him the courage!
“Brother Lin, I shouldn’t need to teach you what to do, should I?” Chen Guogong whispered to Lin Sanqian beside him.
“Can I kill him?” Lin Sanqian asked quietly.
“Yes,” Chen Guogong replied with a dark expression.
But Chen Fan, as if nothing had happened, wrapped an arm around Lian Yue, led the two young maids, and turned to leave.
Just then, Xue Ying suddenly appeared before Chen Fan. “Young Master Chen, my master requests your presence!”
Everyone, including Chen Fan himself, looked puzzled.
“Your master?”
“Yes! My master admires Young Master Chen’s talent and specially invites you upstairs for a conversation. I hope you will honor us with your presence!” Xue Ying said respectfully.
Chen Fan, however, frowned slightly. He knew all the young masters in Jinling City. If it were one of them, they would never invite him in such a manner.
Especially since he had just slighted Chen Guogong—no one would risk offending Chen Guogong to befriend him.
But the master this woman spoke of seemed to have no such reservations, directly inviting him. This piqued Chen Fan’s curiosity.
“Please lead the way!” Chen Fan said, then put his arm around Lian Yue and prepared to follow Xue Ying.
However, Xue Ying did not move. Instead, he glanced at the three people beside Chen Fan. “Young Master Chen, please forgive me. My master said he wishes to see only Young Master Chen alone, so they…”
“But rest assured, Young Master Chen, I have already prepared an elegant room for the three of them.”
Hearing this, Chen Fan grew even more puzzled. However, judging by Xue Ying’s attitude, there shouldn’t be any issues.
“Lian Yue, take Xiao Ke and Xiao Ai and wait for me there!”
With that, he directly followed Xue Ying and left.
But the onlookers were all bewildered, unable to understand who could possibly disregard Chen Guogong so openly and invite Chen Fan.
Chen Guogong’s expression also turned extremely grim. “Brother Lin, remember what I said. Spare no cost. I do not wish to see him again!”
After saying this, Chen Guogong flicked his sleeve and left.
Led by Xue Ying, Chen Fan arrived upstairs in the pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, Ji Qianxue, disguised as a man, sat gracefully before a tea table, leisurely brewing tea.
Ji Qianxue was exceptionally beautiful, but as the Female Emperor, she carried an imposing and dignified aura of one who ruled the world. Thus, even disguised as a man, she looked every bit the noble young master, making it difficult for anyone to detect her true gender.
Yet as Chen Fan looked at her, he felt a sense of astonishment, thinking that Ji Qianxue appeared far too delicate, almost like a girl.
So much so that Chen Fan even began to wonder how there could be such a handsome young master!
If those infatuated women were to see him, who knows how captivated they would be.
“Young Master Chen, I am Hua Qiancheng. Having just heard your three masterpieces, I was utterly amazed. I specially invited you upstairs for a chat. If I have offended in any way, please forgive me!”
Seeing Chen Fan arrive, Ji Qianxue lowered her voice and spoke.
“Young Master Hua, you flatter me. My literary skills are crude, my words humble and vulgar, merely for amusement!” Chen Fan replied modestly.
“Young Master Chen’s masterpieces are witnessed by all. There is no need for modesty. Please, take a seat!” Ji Qianxue gestured for Chen Fan to sit.
Without hesitation, Chen Fan sat down opposite Ji Qianxue.
“Young Master Hua, you seem unfamiliar. May I ask where you are from?” Chen Fan inquired curiously.
“I am from the capital. With autumn’s loneliness, I travel to enjoy the mountains and waters. Coincidentally, I encountered Young Master Chen participating in the Literary Gathering, displaying extraordinary talent. I wished to make your acquaintance and befriend you. I hope you do not mind!” Ji Qianxue poured a cup of tea for Chen Fan.
“Young Master Hua, you speak too highly of me. But are you not aware of my situation?” Chen Fan asked.
“Young Master Chen, please elaborate!” Ji Qianxue said.
“I was originally the third young master of Chen Guogong Mansion but was recently expelled from the family. Just now, I publicly humiliated Chen Guogong. Everyone avoids me, yet you wish to befriend me. Are you not afraid of offending the Guogong Mansion?” Chen Fan explained.
“What of it? If I dared not befriend you for such reasons, what right would I have to do so? Moreover, you knew full well the consequences of humiliating Chen Guogong, yet you did it anyway. As an outsider, what should I fear?”
Ji Qianxue spoke with an air of indifference, then deliberately added, “Rather, with such rare talent spanning ancient and modern times, how could you have been expelled from the Guogong Mansion?”
“It seems Young Master Hua has indeed just arrived in Jinling City. Everyone in Jinling knows I was expelled from my home because I was too much of a profligate and was rejected in marriage by the current Female Emperor!” Chen Fan said.
“Rejected by the Female Emperor?”
Ji Qianxue feigned confusion and added, “Young Master Chen is exceptionally talented, conducts himself with propriety, and is modest and courteous. Forgive me, but I truly cannot see where Young Master Chen is profligate!”
“Haha!”
Upon hearing this, Chen Fan smiled candidly, “Young Master Hua flatters me. My profligacy is known throughout Jinling. But that’s all in the past, no need to mention it!”
“As the saying goes, ‘Past disgrace is not worth boasting, today’s unrestrained thoughts know no bounds.’ Free and unrestrained, with no one to control me—how wonderful!”
“Excellent verse! Excellent verse!”
Ji Qianxue was somewhat surprised. “It seems Young Master Chen truly is a carefree and unrestrained person. If it were anyone else, they might not be able to let go of the wealth and status of the Chen Guogong Mansion.”
“I just wonder, Young Master Chen, do you harbor any regrets about being rejected by the Female Emperor?”