Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Could that bastard... possibly be me?
Su Changqing and Ling Si, upon seeing each other, were stunned in place.
They couldn’t believe they’d see each other in this place.
The straightforward Brother Er Niu completely failed to notice the oddness between the two.
Seeing Su Changqing, he immediately beamed with joy, pulling Ling Si over to meet him,
"Come on, Qing Qiu, let me introduce a friend."
Ling Si was dumbfounded, being pulled forward like a lost soul.
"Qing Qiu, this is my brother. In the field of Confucianism... well, he has insightful views."
Unable to detail explicitly, Brother Er Niu transmitted quietly to Ling Si:
"My brother is really powerful! Don’t be deceived by the lack of mighty aura; his talent in Confucianism is absolutely terrifying!"
Ling Si blankly nodded; how could she not know if Su Changqing was strong?
To say who had the most authority in this area, it was none other than her.
"Chang Qing, this is my... well, friend."
After he spoke, Brother Er Niu turned to Chang Qing and angrily said:
"Not long ago, some bastard competed in literature with Qing Qiu, and as a result, Qing Qiu was almost in tears!"
"I don’t understand this scholarly stuff, so I’m asking you for help."
"In a few days, I’ll have Qing Qiu set up a meeting with that kid for you to fiercely..."
Brother Er Niu hadn’t finished speaking when Ling Si’s face flushed crimson. She tugged at Brother Er Niu’s sleeve, murmuring:
"Please stop, I’m begging you... don’t say anything more!"
At this moment, Su Changqing also wore a strange expression, wanting to laugh but afraid to hurt them, feeling quite uncomfortable.
"Sigh, young lady is shy, embarrassed to speak."
Seeing this, Brother Er Niu patted his chest and said: "Don’t worry, Qing Qiu! Chang Qing is a good brother of mine; he’ll certainly help with this."
Ling Si felt like she was about to split apart, her face so red she wished she could find a hole to hide in.
"Brother Er Niu..."
Su Changqing, seeing this, helplessly said: "This matter... I’m actually unable to help."
"Hmm?" Brother Er Niu was taken aback, "Is it because the master won’t let you go out?"
As he spoke, he furrowed his brow, "This is indeed a problem."
The Young Master’s status is special; he can’t leave at will. He forgot about this point.
"Hey? Chang Qing, Er Niu, you two are here... huh?"
Just as Su Changqing and the group were talking, Shu Han, who had gone to send off the carriage, happened to return, smiling and greeting the group.
But halfway through his words, upon seeing Ling Si, his eyes widened.
When Er Niu saw Shu Han coming, his eyes also lit up.
Chang Qing couldn’t go, but Shu Han could!
Though Shu Han’s skill with the four arts was no match for Chang Qing, to beat up some random scholar, wouldn’t that be a piece of cake?
"She..."
Shu Han pointed at Ling Si, just about to ask something, when Er Niu threw an arm around Shu Han’s shoulder, laughing:
"An old friend of mine, haven’t seen for a long time, came to play."
Shu Han had a strange expression, "You? Friend?"
"Yeah, you jealous or something?"
Er Niu gave a smug laugh, then solemnly began: "Right, I need a favor from you; can you..."
Beside them, Ling Si seemed on the verge of going mad as she urgently clutched Er Niu’s hand, shaking her head, trembling:
"Don’t... don’t say anymore."
Ling Si felt like she was breaking; her mind was a mess, all she wanted was to quickly escape this mortifying atmosphere!
"It’s alright, Qing Qiu; this bookworm has skills too and can definitely help you vent your anger!"
Out of a desire to help the one he had feelings for regain face, Er Niu was determined. He looked at Shu Han earnestly, "Qing Qiu came to the Southern Domain these days for a literary competition with some jerk and was bullied badly."
"This is your strong suit; in a few days, I’ll get that kid out, and you can give him a lesson, okay?"
Shu Han froze for a second, then his eyes suddenly widened, and his mouth opened.
He glanced at Su Changqing, who was face-palming in silence, and then at Ling Si, whose face was flushed like blood, and finally couldn’t hold back his laughter.
"Why are you laughing? I’m being very serious with you," Er Niu said dissatisfied.
"Hahahaha."
Shu Han clutched his belly as he laughed, patting Er Niu’s shoulder jocularly:
"You said, is there a chance that the jerk is actually Chang Qing? Hahahaha."
Hearing this, Er Niu froze, then took a sharp breath.
After Shu Han’s words, he realized that Chang Qing also went out these days, and the literary competition started then too.
Looking at the seemingly smirking Chang Qing and the red-faced, embarrassed Ling Si, Er Niu was completely dumbfounded.
"Whoa!"
Er Niu grabbed his hair with both hands, "So you’re saying the ones in the competition were Chang Qing and Qing Qiu?"
"That means..."
He looked dumbfounded at Qing Qiu, "That poem I gave you... you used it against Chang Qing?"
Before Ling Si could speak, Shu Han who was laughing suddenly stopped, and with a shocked face, said:
"You’re saying the poem Ling Si used was provided by you? You can write poetry?"
Er Niu lamentably said: "I can’t write squat, I had Chang Qing ask the master for it."
"But..."
Hearing this, Shu Han was taken aback, "But the teacher never composed any poetry, if he did, it wouldn’t have been that expression back then."
The always socially dead Ling Si seemed to understand something upon hearing this, raised her head in shock and looked at Su Changqing,
"That poem... was written by you!!!"
No wonder Su Changqing reacted so strongly at the time, and why wouldn’t he, since it was his own work!
Beside them, Shu Han also showed a shocked face, dumbly looking at Su Changqing.
He and the teacher thought that Chang Qing couldn’t do well in poetry and lyrics, but it turns out... those exquisite verses were all by Chang Qing?
"Uh..."
Facing their voracious glares, Su Changqing helplessly spread his hands,
"Actually, I didn’t plan on making it known to everyone."
...
Cyan Mountain Village, the study room.
"Is that the reputed recluse of the Confucianism master ahead?"
Coming from another path near the study, Wei Cang adjusted his somewhat disheveled clothes.
This place forbade the use of Divine Sense, so after visiting the Su family’s elders, he inquired.
Upon learning he was visiting a Confucianism master, the villagers nodded in understanding and pointed him in the right direction.
Recalling the respect on the Su family elders’ faces when mentioning this person, Wei Cang couldn’t help but feel a touch of nervousness.
He came before the study, respectfully bowed, and called out:
"Wei Cang of the White Deer Academy from Central Province City, here to see the senior."
Inside the study.
Li Qingchen was quietly sipping tea, reading an essay by a literary Emperor.
But upon hearing the voice from outside, he froze.
"Senior Brother Wei? Paying respects to the senior?"
Li Qingchen was perplexed; he heard the words clearly but couldn’t understand them together?
Senior Brother Wei... would even salute him?
And why, Senior Brother Wei... would he come to Cyan Mountain Village?
Li Qingchen prided himself on his intelligence, but this sudden visitor left him baffled.
After a moment of puzzlement, he stood and opened the door.
"Senior Brother Wei, what brings you here to such a place, and even to greet me?"
Seeing the silver-haired, all-too-familiar figure, Li Qingchen couldn’t help but ask.
And Wei Cang, bowing lowly, upon hearing that familiar voice, raised his head and stood frozen.
Li Qingchen???