MYSIOAMEWTMMAlTWOAM: Chapter 99

 Glossary

· Qin Yuan (秦鸢): The female protagonist, the Marquise of Dingbei.

·Qin Siyuan (秦思远): Qin Yuan's cousin.

·Lin Ziqi (林子奇): Qin Wan's husband.

·Shen Changle (沈长乐): A clever servant from Qin Yuan's dowry entourage.

·Hongye (红叶): Qin Yuan's loyal maidservant.

·Cuiming (翠茗): Qin Yuan's other maidservant.

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Chapter 99: Scholars Have Many Layers of Thought

Cuiming and Hongye couldn't help but exchange a look, both feeling somewhat suspicious.

Lin Ziqi was already the husband of the Second Young Lady. Shouldn't he observe proper boundaries? Why on earth would Cousin mention Lin Ziqi?

Hongye asked, "Young Lady, what about Mr. Lin?"

Qin Yuan gave a cold snort. "My cousin says Lin Ziqi invited him to join a poetry society. The meeting place happens to be Jade Abyss Lake, on the very day I mentioned. He's wondering if Lin Ziqi also got wind of the news and is asking me whether he should tell Lin Ziqi."

Hongye breathed a sigh of relief.

Cuiming asked, "Wouldn't this be a good thing for Cousin? Why do you look disdainful, Young Lady?"

Hongye also widened her eyes, waiting for an explanation.

Qin Yuan said, "He learned the news and rushed to invite Cousin, but he didn't share the actual information. In literary circles, there's no clear 'first place,' unlike in martial arts where the winner is obvious. If he formed a society with others of equal talent, how could he stand out? He knows Cousin's poetry isn't strong, so he's inviting Cousin to serve as a foil, to make himself shine brighter. If I'm not mistaken, he probably also invited others who aren't skilled in poetry to accompany them."

This was about being the tallest among dwarves, forcibly making oneself appear superior by comparison.

Hongye clicked her tongue. "And Cousin kindly wanted to give him a heads-up? A scholar's mind is truly complex. If you hadn't explained, Young Lady, we'd never have thought of that layer."

Qin Yuan said, "That's just how he is. Forget it, let's not mention him anymore."

Cuiming quickly agreed, "Right, right. We should mention him less in the future."

Checking the time, it was nearly dinner. Qin Yuan said, "Have the maid go order the meal. I'm running late today, and I'm covered in this scent—even my hair is perfumed. I won't go to Mother's place."

Cuiming sent someone to order the meal and lit a small lamp.

It was still light outside, but the room was somewhat dim. It wasn't impossible to read, but back at the Qin residence, they would never have lit a lamp at this hour.

Qin Yuan smiled slightly. Cuiming was getting more accustomed to life in the Marquis's household.

That was a good thing.

Qin Yuan carefully examined her cousin's drafts. Qin Siyuan lacked some innate talent for poetry, but he was always diligent, with a very solid foundation. On several sheets, he had listed common poetic themes from past years for this season and, as she suggested, marked those likely to be used as topics at Jade Abyss Lake.

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Qin Yuan nodded.

Her cousin's conscientious attitude was evident in everything he did.

Qin Yuan then looked at the poems he had written. They were very proper but generic, with unoriginal wording and lacking in artistic conception.

She reached out, picked up the inkstick on the table, added a little water, and ground it haphazardly in the inkstone. Dipping the brush, she circled several characters in each poem.

These characters were the "eyes" of each line.

They needed to be replaced with better ones to make the lines more elegant.

The rest was about artistic conception. Qin Yuan thought this couldn't be rushed. She rolled up her own writings and tucked them into Qin Siyuan's papers, then circled a few of the topics he had marked to indicate they should focus on discussing those.

She then sent for Shen Changle and told him, "Take these poetry drafts to Cousin Siyuan. He needs them urgently. Remember, don't let anyone else see them."

Shen Changle assented.

Qin Yuan continued, "Tell my cousin this: In the past, when Master Su Dongpo was appointed chief examiner, he gave a newly written essay to a friend on his way to the examination hall. The friend happened to be out. Su Dongpo's servant was in a hurry to return, so he gave it to the friend's servant, who casually left it on the table in the main hall. It was seen by two brothers who came to visit. They thought it was excellent and took it without permission to study carefully. Su Dongpo's friend never saw that essay. When the exam was held, the topic Su Dongpo set was indeed related to that essay. Those two brothers passed with high ranks, while Su Dongpo's friend almost failed."

Shen Changle, being quick-witted, immediately said, "This humble one will find Master Qin and hand it to him personally. I will also urge him to be cautious."

Qin Yuan nodded. "You handle matters reliably. I have full confidence in you."

Shen Changle relaxed slightly.

Qin Yuan added, "Tell my cousin: 'If a matter is not kept secret, it will fail.' He must not let anyone else know what I told him."

Shen Changle's heart tightened again. He didn't know what major affair his mistress was involved in, but the seemingly weightless roll of paper in his hand suddenly felt heavy. He promptly said seriously, "This humble one will definitely convey the message. Please rest assured, Madame."

Qin Yuan said, "Good. You may go."

Shen Changle, hearing her grave tone, didn't fully understand the situation but guessed it concerned the young master's future. He didn't rush out immediately. Instead, he returned to his quarters, changed clothes, took out a woven bamboo basket, wrapped Qin Yuan's papers in oiled paper, then wrapped that in cloth, and placed it at the very bottom. On top, he placed some pastries and fruits before shouldering the basket and heading to the Qin residence.

Qin Siyuan had waited all afternoon. Not receiving a reply from his cousin, he thought it wasn't coming and picked up his bundle to return to the Imperial College. Just as he exited the back gate, he was stopped by Shen Changle, who had been waiting outside.

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Qin Siyuan was startled. "Who are you?"

Shen Changle said, "This humble one is a dowry servant of the Eldest Young Lady. I came back to deliver some things to friends. The Eldest Young Lady asked me to bring you something and to tell you a few things."

Only then did Qin Siyuan realize this was a servant who had accompanied Qin Yuan to the Marquis's household. He said, "Thank you for making the trip. Why didn't you come find me in the side courtyard instead of waiting here?"

Shen Changle said, "There are reasons. This humble one is merely being cautious."

He then repeated what Qin Yuan had said and handed the now-empty bamboo basket to Qin Siyuan. "Underneath this cloth is what the Young Lady sent you. This humble one doesn't know what it is; it's wrapped in oiled paper. Should the Young Master take the basket as well?"

Qin Siyuan thought for a moment. "Thank you for your thoroughness. I'll take it for now and return it to you when I visit the Marquis's household another day."

Shen Changle smiled. "The Eldest Young Lady gives generous rewards. This basket was woven by my wife; it's not worth much. The Young Master need not bring it back to the Marquis's household. I don't have many proper things at hand, only this. Please don't mind its simplicity."

"Not at all, not at all," Qin Siyuan said. "You handle matters with such care and reliability. It is I who have never paid attention to such details. Please take a message back to your mistress: say I understand and will act with utmost caution, not leaking a whisper."

Shen Changle then bowed and took his leave.

Qin Siyuan reflected inwardly that his elder cousin was meticulous in her actions; he still had much to learn from her. He placed his own bundle into the basket, bought a few kinds of snacks along the way to put on top, and then proceeded to the Imperial College.

The dormitory at the Imperial College housed three people. Fortunately, his roommates hadn't returned yet.

Qin Siyuan finally had a moment to open Qin Yuan's papers. He looked at the annotations, then read Qin Yuan's written insights.

A "buzz" filled his head. He suddenly felt that all his years of study had been in vain.

(End of Chapter)

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