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A hundred acres of good land was a considerable sum of money, and Tang Jinghong agreed to the task, “I will try.”

The Emperor waved his hand, his heart filled with anticipation. “Go, but the civil and military officials are pressing so hard. 1 hope Minister Tang can reply to me as soon as possible.”

Tang Jinghong cupped his fists. ‘TH try my best.” He turned around and left the palace.

The Emperor leaned back in his chair, sighing wearily. Couldn’t things be peaceful for a while? What a headache!

In the Chu Residence.

At the entrance, Chu Qingzhi dismounted.

The workers took down four barrels full of river crabs from the cargo horse, placing them next to Chu Qingzhi. Crabs crawled out of the barrels continuously…

Tang Jinghong approached, “Qingzhi, did you go crabbing?”

Chu Qingzhi replied, “I went to help Master Zhou with his oysters. 1 saw so many river crabs by the river, so 1 collected some to bring back.”

Tang Jinghong was confused, “Are river crabs a medicinal ingredient?”

“Have you never eaten crab meat?”

“No, is it edible?”

“River crabs are delicious. Come to my house for dinner tonight; I’ll prepare a river crab feast for you.”

“Okay.”

Chu Qingzhi asked the guards at the door to take the crabs to the kitchen for her to deal with later. Then she turned to Tang Jinghong, “You coming to find me at this time must mean you have a matter to discuss, right?”

Tang Jinghong nodded with a smile, “Nothing gets past you.”

“What is it?”

Tang Jinghong got straight to the point, “The Emperor doesn’t want to hold a selection for consorts. Do you have any way to stop the civil and military officials from urging him?”

Chu Qingzhi brought Tang Jinghong into the residence. “Why did the civil and military officials send their daughter to the palace? It’s very simple. They want their daughters to win power for them. Just let the civil and military officials feel that there’s no profit to be gained by sending their daughters to the palace.”

Tang Jinghong was suddenly enlightened. Why did such a troublesome issue seem so trivial to Qingzhi?

“Qingzhi, I’ll get a hundred acres of good land back for you.”

After saying this, Tang Jinghong hurriedly left.

Chu Qingzhi watched his departing figure, “What hundred acres of good land?”

Chu Xuyuan and Chu Xuyao returned home.

Li Qingyu asked with concern, “Xuyuan, what place did you get?”

Chu Xuyuan puffed out his chest and looked very proud. “Mother, I made it to the top four.”

Li Qingyu was surprised and delighted, “Top four?”

Chu Xuyan smiled triumphantly, “Yes, I’m impressive, right?”

Li Qingyu smiled broadly, “Impressive indeed, my son. Here, Xuyuan, I made your favorite crispy pork. Come and eat.”

Chu Xuyuan cheered. “Thank you, Mother.”

Chu Xuyao felt neglected and asked dejectedly, “What about me, Mother?”

Li Qingyu rubbed her younger son’s head and laughed, “You eat with your brother.”

“Mother, didn’t you make my favorite dish?” Chu Xuyao sounded plaintive, “Is it because I didn’t get a good place, you’re not happy with me?”

She had never had such thoughts. Seeing that her son was sad, Li Qingyu quickly tried to salvage the situation. “I will make it for you immediately, okay?”

Chu Xuyao shook his head, feeling downcast, “No need to bother, I don’t feel like eating anything right now.” He went back to his room alone.

The family’s mood quickly dampened.

Li Qingyu was puzzled, looking from one to the other, “What’s wrong with Xuyao?”

Chu Qingyue suggested, “Maybe he feels we’re all focused on Xuyuan and not paying attention to him?”

Chu Qingning nodded, “Probably.”

Feeling sorry for his brother, Chu Xuyuan said, “I’ll go see him…”

Chu Xuyao returned to his room, opened the window facing the garden, climbed up, and sat on the windowsill. He looked out at the gnarled old tree and spoke to himself.

“Am 1 too stupid?”

“Seventh Brother relied on his smart brain to enter the top four, but 1 only got a

B-Middle ranking. Compared to him, I’m far behind.”

“I really wanted to get an A-Upper.”

“Should 1 also find a master to learn from?”

Chu Xuyuan walked into the room just in time to hear the last two words spoken by Chu Xuyao, “What master are you talking about?”

Chu Xuyao turned to look at Chu Xuyuan, “Weren’t you going to eat crispy pork? Why did you come?”

Chu Xuyuan walked over, leaning his hands on the windowsill, teasing with a smile, “Eating crispy pork? 1 came to see you being jealous.”

Chu Xuyao didn’t know what to say.

With his thoughts being exposed, Chu Xuyao became awkward, denying it, “Am 1 such a petty person?”

Chu Xuyuan nodded affirmatively, “Yes, you are.”

Chu Xuyao didn’t know what to say.

Chu Xuyuan reached out to pinch Chu Xuyao’s slightly puffed-up cheek, “1 didn’t expect my little brother to be such a little jealous kid, even jealous of your own brother.”

Chu Xuyao turned his face away, “Who’s jealous of you? Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Why aren’t you happy then?”

“I didn’t rank well in the competition.”

“Is that all?”

“What else would it be?”

Chu Xuyuan advised, “Xuyao, the others you competed against have been practicing for over ten years. You’ve been practicing for less than ten months and already achieved a B-Middelranking. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

Chu Xuyao did not say anything. In his opinion, he was still not good enough.

As Chu Xuyuan was about to say more, Li Qingyu entered the room, “Xuyao, 1 made sweet dumplings for you, come and eat.”

Chu Xuyuan picked Chu Xuyao up from the windowsill, “Stop being upset, let’s go eat.”

Chu Xuyao knew when to stop and walked over happily. “Thank you, Mother.”

Li Qingyu gently ruffled Chu Xuyao’s hair, “Sometimes Mother can be neglectful, forgive me.”

Chu Xuyao immediately felt guilty. His mother was so busy with household and affairs, and yet he was throwing a tantrum, which was totally inappropriate, “Mother, I’m sorry for causing you worry. I won’t do it again.”

Li Qingyu spoke gently, “It’s okay for a child to throw a tantrum, I understand.”

And just like that, the family became harmonious again.

In the restaurant.

Zeng Ruijie, a student from the Imperial College, rushed into the private room, his face full of anxiety, “There’s big trouble!”

Yan Jingkui frowned, “What big trouble?”

Zeng Ruijie said quickly, “The couplet that Jisheng brought back was written by Chu Qingzhi.”

Luo Jisheng’s heart sank, unable to believe this fact, “Are you joking?”

Zeng Ruijie urgently said, “I’m not joking, 1 heard it myself.” He had a friend studying at Yunfei School, and everyone was talking about this matter, which he happened to hear.

Luo Jisheng felt a chill, “How is that possible? Chu Qingzhi is just a teenager, how could she have written such a couplet?”

Chu Qingzhi’s reputation was well-known – a person who could even take on a princess. His background was no match for a princess. If he encountered Chu Qingzhi, wouldn’t she beat him to death?!

He was filled with fear and unease.

Zeng Ruijie said, “Don’t underestimate her because she’s a young girl. Her abilities are beyond your imagination.”

“Zhuang Yukun really couldn’t come up with that couplet. After returning yesterday, he gathered the students of Yunfei School to brainstorm, but no one could come up with a good line. Later, Chu Xuyuan said he would go back and ask his elder sister for help.”

“Chu Qingzhi initially didn’t know either, but she borrowed six books about couplets from Zhuang Yukun, saying she read them all night, and then wrote the couplet early the next morning.”

“It was the very couplet you switched..”