The person who spoke up was none other than
Qin Ziyin’s
older brother,
Qin Huai
.
Qin Ziyin
was the youngest in her family, with two older brothers. The eldest,
Qin Wu
, was a martial arts escort, responsible for the Qin family’s external security and escort business.
Qin Huai
, the second son, was the only scholar in the family, having passed the imperial exams to become a
xiucai
(scholar). He was seven or eight years older than
Su Qi’an
.
Qin Huai
had earned his
xiucai
title five or six years ago. While he couldn’t compare to
Su Qi’an’s
former brilliance, he was still considered one of the talented young men of Lingbei County.
The Qin family was in the textile business, and over the years, their business in Lingbei County had grown significantly, making them one of the wealthiest families in the area. With
Qin Huai’s
scholarly achievements, the family had gradually built connections with the local gentry. Thanks to his outstanding abilities and high emotional intelligence, coupled with the Qin family’s behind-the-scenes efforts,
Qin Huai
had become a leading figure among the scholars of Lingbei County three years ago. If he could advance further and pass the provincial exams to become a
juren
(provincial scholar), the Qin family would truly shed their merchant status and become a respected noble family in Lingbei County.
However, all of this had little to do with
Su Qi’an
.
Ever since
Su Qi’an
had failed the imperial exams repeatedly, the Qin family had long given up on him. At one point,
Qin Ziyin
had even returned to her family to ask for financial support, which was considered a disgrace for a wealthy family. They had tried to persuade
Qin Ziyin
to leave
Su Qi’an
, but she stubbornly refused. This led to the Qin family’s deep disappointment in her, and they had cut off contact for nearly seven or eight years.
When
Su Qi’an
saw
Qin Huai
standing up for him, he was initially surprised. However, he didn’t reveal their relationship or acknowledge it publicly. After so many years, even the other influential families in Lingbei County were unaware of the connection between
Qin Huai
and
Su Qi’an
, let alone someone from another county like
Wei Yun
.
Qin Huai’s
intervention was calm and measured. He sat across from
Su Qi’an
and said softly, “Yes,
Xiao Yin
is doing well.”
This simple statement carried a coldness that
Qin Huai
could clearly sense.
However,
Qin Huai
didn’t take it to heart. He looked deeply at
Su Qi’an
and said, “Brother-in-law, you’ve really changed. You’ve become someone I can’t quite figure out anymore.”
Su Qi’an
smiled faintly. “After going through some things, I’ve gained some perspective. Change is inevitable.”
Qin Huai
nodded but didn’t continue the conversation, leaving the room in an awkward silence.
To be honest,
Su Qi’an
had mixed feelings about the Qin family. Although he had taken over the original host’s body, after spending so much time in this world, he had not only accepted the body but also been influenced by its lingering emotions.
The Qin family’s coldness during
Su Qi’an’s
lowest moments was something he could understand, but it wasn’t something that could be resolved with a few pleasantries. At most,
Su Qi’an
didn’t hold a grudge against them, but he also had no intention of going out of his way to help them. He would find an opportunity to repay
Qin Huai’s
kindness and leave it at that.
Qin Huai
, being perceptive, could guess
Su Qi’an’s
thoughts. He took a sip of tea and sighed. “Brother-in-law, I know you resent the Qin family. I won’t deny that we were opportunistic, and I have no excuses for that. But the reason I’m helping you isn’t just because of your talent. It’s also for
Xiao Yin’s
sake.”
“Back then, I didn’t have enough influence in the family to protect her, and she suffered a lot because of it. I feel deeply ashamed. Now, all I can do is do my best to ensure your safety in Lingbei County.”
“Whether you pass the exams or not in the future, as long as you still recognize me as your brother-in-law, the Qin family’s doors will always be open to you.”
Qin Huai’s
words were sincere and heartfelt. He was one of the few members of the Qin family who hadn’t kicked
Su Qi’an
when he was down. If it weren’t for that,
Su Qi’an
wouldn’t have even bothered sitting down to talk with him.
Seeing that
Qin Huai
had spoken so openly,
Su Qi’an
also decided to be honest. “Brother-in-law, I understand what you’re saying, and I appreciate it.”
“I’m not a petty person. I don’t hold any grudges against the Qin family. When I have the time, I’ll take
Xiao Yin
back to visit.”
This wasn’t just
Su Qi’an’s
true feelings; it was also something
Qin Ziyin
had always wanted to do. Despite having left the Qin family for so many years,
Qin Ziyin
had never stopped thinking about her parents. On many nights, she had murmured their names in her sleep.
No matter how far children go, they never stop missing home.
Su Qi’an
, despite his grievances, wouldn’t stop
Qin Ziyin
from returning to her family. Resolving the past with the Qin family and taking
Qin Ziyin
home would also help
Su Qi’an
let go of the lingering regrets in his mind.
Hearing this,
Qin Huai
was visibly moved. For
Su Qi’an
to say such things was a significant step toward mending the relationship with the Qin family. Given
Su Qi’an’s
display of talent at the Moonview Pavilion,
Qin Huai
knew that the genius who had once shaken Lingbei County had returned.
Qin Huai
laughed heartily and said to
Su Qi’an
, “Brother-in-law, based on your performance earlier, I’m confident you’ll pass the county exams with flying colors.”
“But I must warn you, your actions at the Moonview Pavilion have likely made enemies of
Wei Yun
and
Song Wen
.”
“
Song Wen
isn’t a big deal. I can handle him for you. But
Wei Yun
is a different story. You should know that one of the chief examiners for the county exams is
Wei Yun’s
uncle, the assistant magistrate of Chuandu County.”
“Are you worried they’ll tamper with the exams?”
Su Qi’an
asked.
Qin Huai
nodded. “Brother-in-law, don’t underestimate
Wei Yun
. The Wei family of Chuandu not only holds significant influence locally but is also one of the top three families in the entire Chuandu County.”
“If they want to manipulate the exams, it wouldn’t be difficult for them.”
Qin Huai’s
expression was grave, and
Su Qi’an
now understood the seriousness of the situation. He had indeed underestimated the Wei family’s power. In the current state of the Great Liang Dynasty, while imperial exams were still held every year, ostensibly for fair selection, the system was thoroughly corrupt.
At the higher levels, such as the provincial and palace exams,
Su Qi’an
wasn’t sure, but at the lower levels like the county exams, as long as one had strong connections and backing, it was entirely possible to manipulate the results. In some regions, there had even been cases where all the
tongsheng
(county-level scholars) and
xiucai
(prefectural-level scholars) positions were allocated according to the instructions of a powerful family.
It was no exaggeration to say that the noble families held all the power. This was why, every year, so many commoners groveled before the influential families, hoping to secure a powerful patron who could help them rise through the ranks. Over time, this had become an unspoken rule.
The poetry competition at the Moonview Pavilion had already demonstrated this reality.
Although
Su Qi’an
knew the consequences, he didn’t regret his actions. Passing the county exams and becoming an official had never been his ultimate goal. He had come to the exams partly to see the world and partly to fulfill
Qin Ziyin’s
expectations.
If he were to fail due to behind-the-scenes manipulation,
Su Qi’an
wouldn’t be too concerned. He could always return to Dongshan Village and rely on his exceptional archery skills to make a living. Moreover, this would give him the opportunity to properly develop the village, ensuring he had the means to protect himself if anything major happened.
Su Qi’an’s
silence made
Qin Huai
think he was worried. He patted
Su Qi’an’s
shoulder and reassured him, “Brother-in-law, don’t worry. Since I’ve run into you at the county exams, I’ll do everything in my power to ensure you’re treated fairly.
Wei Yun’s
background may be strong, but if he dares to act so blatantly, I’ll make sure he understands the consequences of crossing the scholars of Lingbei County.”
Qin Huai’s
voice was calm but carried an air of authority that was both commanding and reassuring.
Su Qi’an
didn’t explain further. He simply nodded and said, “Thank you, brother-in-law.”
Qin Huai
waved his hand dismissively, as if it were no big deal. He stayed in
Su Qi’an’s
room for another half an hour before finding an opportunity to slip away quietly.
Su Qi’an
and
Qin Huai
had agreed to keep their relationship under wraps for now. This would be beneficial for both of them. If anything were to happen, it would give
Wei Yun
a big surprise.
At this moment,
Su Qi’an
, sitting alone in his room, had no idea how much of a stir his actions at the Moonview Pavilion would cause in Lingbei County.
If his first six lines of poetry had made the scholars, gentry, and officials take notice of his youthful arrogance, the next four lines would cement his reputation as a legend. It was no exaggeration to say that the entire county was abuzz with discussions about
Su Qi’an’s
Moonview poems. Even his background and personal history were being dug up.
In the main hall of the county government office,
Fang Jingzhi
, the county magistrate, was beaming as he held a copy of the Moonview poems. Even at his age, the verses stirred something deep within him.
After savoring the lines,
Fang Jingzhi
couldn’t help but exclaim, “Excellent! Truly excellent!”
“This
Su Qi’an
is truly a rare talent bestowed upon our county. The brilliance of these four lines is something even I, as the county magistrate, cannot match.”
“
Liu Shiyi
, have
Su Qi’an’s
poems from the Moonview Pavilion been sent to
Marquis Xie
?”
Fang Jingzhi
suddenly asked, turning to his advisor.
Liu Shiyi
, standing beside him, nodded. “Your Honor, rest assured. As soon as
Su Qi’an
recited those lines, I had them transcribed and sent to
Marquis Xie
. By now,
Marquis Xie
must be as impressed as you are.”
“Good, very good.”
“Your Honor, with
Su Qi’an
displaying such extraordinary talent at the Moonview Pavilion, he’s undoubtedly made an enemy of
Wei Yun
. I’m afraid it won’t be long before they…”
“Hmph, it doesn’t matter. The depth, breadth, and grandeur of the Moonview poems are worthy of praise even from the highest officials in the court. Even if
Wei Zhentang
is protective of his nephew, he should understand the gravity of the situation.”
“Send someone to the prefectural capital immediately to inform
His Excellency
about the Moonview poems. With such a talented scholar emerging from Lingbei County, our county is sure to make a splash in this year’s exams.”
Fang Jingzhi’s
gaze then shifted to
Wang Xiaowei
, who was kneeling below. “
Wang Xiaowei
, you’ve done well this time. During
Su Qi’an’s
stay in the county, you must ensure his safety. If even a single hair on his head is harmed, you know the consequences.”
“If necessary, spread the word that
Su Qi’an
is under the county’s protection. Anyone who dares to cause trouble will answer to me at the county government office!”
[--------------------------------------------]
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