Night fell, and Liangling City was illuminated by the glow of lanterns.
In the rear courtyard of Yipinxuan, the finest inn in the capital, many scholars, poets, and talented young men had gathered.
The crowd chatted and laughed, raising their glasses in toasts.
However, most of the conversations were filled with praise and admiration for Chen Hao, the second son of the Chen Guogong Mansion. Chen Hao himself was basking in the glory, his every gesture feigning humility and righteousness.
He seemed to revel in the flattery and adoration, as if he were the moon surrounded by stars.
“Female Emperor, do you think Chen Fan will come?”
In an elegant pavilion by the water, Ji Qianxue leaned to one side, her gaze fixed on the collection of writings attributed to Chen Hao. Hearing Xue Ying’s words, her expression remained calm and indifferent.
“Why wouldn’t he come?”
“Didn’t the Chen Guogong Mansion provide evidence? Those two articles were plagiarized by Chen Fan! How could he dare to show up today?” Xue Ying said.
“Do you also think he plagiarized?” Ji Qianxue suddenly looked up at Xue Ying.
“Isn’t it obvious? The evidence from the Chen Guogong Mansion is so clear and detailed, including the background and creative process of those two articles.
Besides, Chen Fan is nothing but a profligate. If he didn’t plagiarize, how could he possibly write such excellent pieces?” Xue Ying argued.
Ji Qianxue stood up, placed the collection of writings aside, and walked to the window. “He didn’t plagiarize! Although Chen Hao’s collection shows some literary talent, it’s nowhere near the level of Chen Fan’s two articles!”
“Moreover, Chen Fan will definitely come.”
“How can you be so sure, Female Emperor?” Xue Ying asked.
Just as Xue Ying finished speaking, a sudden exclamation erupted from below.
“Chen Fan! Chen Fan is here!”
Instantly, everyone’s eyes turned toward Chen Fan, including Ji Qianxue’s.
Xiao Ke and Xiao Ai, two exquisitely delicate little girls, held Chen Fan’s arms, while Lian Yue followed quietly by his side. Led by Chen Fan, they made their way into the gathering.
This was only the second time Ji Qianxue had seen Chen Fan. Dressed in snow-white robes, he carried himself with grace and elegance, exuding the aura of a noble young master.
His face was truly handsome, ranking among the top five she had ever seen among young gentlemen.
However, seeing Lian Yue, who was also breathtakingly beautiful, standing beside Chen Fan, Ji Qianxue’s expression suddenly darkened considerably.
The atmosphere at the gathering grew noisy and chaotic.
“Hmph!”
“A plagiarist actually dares to show up!”
“Not only did he plagiarize, but I heard he still refuses to admit it. How could someone like him write such articles?”
“He’s completely disgracing the reputation of us scholars!”
“If I were him, I would have been so ashamed that I’d hang myself. How does he have the nerve to come here!”
…
The crowd looked at Chen Fan with disdain and disgust, their voices loud and unafraid of being overheard.
Seated in the main seat, Chen Hao watched Chen Fan’s arrival with a face full of contempt.
Even though he knew better than anyone whether Chen Fan’s two articles were plagiarized, in his eyes, Chen Fan was nothing but a profligate waste, a mere illegitimate son who could never compare to him.
Perfect timing—tonight, he would step on Chen Fan to rise higher and become the heir of the Chen family!
With this thought, Chen Hao gave Lin Feng a meaningful glance.
Lin Feng understood immediately. Seeing his dream lover, Lian Yue, following Chen Fan, he could hardly contain his eagerness.
Without another word, he stepped forward and blocked Chen Fan’s path.
“Tsk tsk!”
“Plagiarizing dog! I underestimated you. I never thought you’d actually dare to show up!”
Yet Chen Fan wore an expression of cool disdain. “For a chance to earn a million taels, why wouldn’t I dare? More to the point, have you prepared the million taels?”
“Such arrogance!”
“You think a plagiarizing dog like you can win a million taels from me? Do you really believe that just because you copied the Second Young Master’s essay, it becomes yours?” Lin Feng’s face was twisted with anger.
But Chen Fan seemed utterly indifferent, as if he couldn’t be bothered with Lin Feng. He said coolly, “So, you’re saying the million taels isn’t ready?”
“Then why am I here? To listen to your barking? Lian Yue, let’s go, back home to sleep! We’ll come back whenever he manages to scrape together a million taels!”
As he spoke, Chen Fan deliberately wrapped his arm around Lian Yue’s waist and turned to leave.
Seeing this, everyone’s expressions changed, and Lin Feng’s face grew even uglier.
“Plagiarizing dog! You stop right there! Who said you could leave?”
“Hah!”
Chen Fan let out a cold laugh. “If I want to leave, who needs to give me permission? And don’t forget, I only came because you said you’d bet a million taels with me! Now you can’t even produce the money, so why should I stay here listening to your barking?”
“If you want to gamble, show me the capital! Otherwise, if you lose and refuse to admit it, who am I supposed to go to for the million taels?”
“Or are you scared? Afraid I’ll prove I didn’t plagiarize? Or afraid I’ll expose your new master’s lies and embarrass him in front of everyone?”
Hearing this, not only Lin Feng, but even Chen Hao’s expression turned ugly.
Wasn’t Chen Fan’s remark just a roundabout way of saying he was afraid?
Now, in front of all the scholars of the land, how could he possibly show fear?
Besides, facing a profligate good-for-nothing like Chen Fan, would he be afraid?
“Lin Feng! Since you want to gamble, produce the capital. Do you think you’ll lose? He’s just trying to use this as an excuse to escape, betting that you can’t come up with a million taels!”
Chen Hao spoke up directly, then added, “Today, I intend to expose this plagiarizing dog in front of all the scholars of the land! To show him what true talent and learning really are!”
Hearing this, the crowd nodded in approval, but Lin Feng’s face remained grim.
Losing a hundred thousand taels to Chen Fan last time had already wiped out all his savings and most of the capital he used for grain purchases. How was he supposed to produce a million taels now?
And it wasn’t just him. Even though his Lin family was the wealthiest in Liangling, coming up with a million taels was no easy feat!
How could he possibly produce a million taels now?
But just then, a voice suddenly rang out: “A mere million taels? My Lin family can certainly produce that!”
Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Lin Feng’s father, Lin Sanqian, walking over alongside Chen Guogong.
Upon seeing them, everyone immediately bowed in respect to Chen Guogong. But Chen Guogong appeared completely at ease. “No need for such formalities, everyone. I’m just here today with nothing better to do, to join in the fun. Pay me no mind!”
Lin Sanqian, meanwhile, looked directly at Chen Fan and said, “So it’s a bet of a million taels? Here are banknotes for a million taels. I’ll place them right here. If you can win, take them!”
With that, Lin Sanqian directly pulled out a stack of banknotes and placed them on a nearby table. Yet he didn’t spare Chen Fan another glance. After speaking, he gestured to Chen Guogong, “Chen Guogong, this way, please!”
Chen Guogong didn’t mind either and simply followed Lin Sanqian toward a private booth on the side.
Seeing this, Lin Feng also stepped forward directly, “Chen Fan, is it okay now? Didn’t you want to prove that you didn’t plagiarize? Then prove it to me!”
Chen Fan, however, looked completely unconcerned, “He says he wrote it, I say I wrote it! How can that be proven?”
“Hmph!”
Lin Feng snorted coldly, “Tonight is a literary gathering, so let’s compete with real talent and learning. Each of us will compose poetry and prose, and everyone will judge to see who writes better! Whoever writes better wins, and whoever wins gets the copyright to those two articles! Do you dare?”
Chen Fan still looked completely unconcerned. He simply pulled Lian Yue over to sit beside him, placing her on his lap, and said calmly.
“What’s there to fear?”