My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

what?

Upon hearing Fan Xinghe's words, Li Bingzhang's face immediately showed surprise.

Jiang Xiaobai's expression also changed slightly.

Not only him, but even Zhang Xinnian and Tang Ningshuang standing behind him looked visibly surprised.

Testing Jiang Xiaobai?

Where did this story begin?

"Mr. Fan, you can't joke like that."

Li Bingzhang frowned and looked at Fan Xinghe, saying, "The reopening of Lanting Tower has never been a trivial matter."

"Why is this assessment specifically targeting Xiaobai?"

Indeed, the Qingshan Society's writer's arrival in the capital and the reopening of the Lanting Tower were, in theory, traceable events.

Jiang Xiaobai is keeping a low profile now, so it seems unlikely that the spotlight will fall on him.

"Heh, it seems Prime Minister Li truly doesn't know!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Xinghe gave a cold smile.

As he spoke, Fan Xinghe glanced at Jiang Xiaobai again: "And... it seems your good son-in-law has been hiding his true feelings for you quite well!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai's lips twitched slightly, his expression showing a hint of speechlessness.

No, what did he hide?

He himself is still completely bewildered!

As soon as the old man came in, he started treating him like dirt.

Now they're even directly saying the Lanting Tower assessment is aimed at him?

He also wanted to know what exactly happened!

"Mr. Fan, please stop being so mysterious and explain things clearly!"

Li Bingzhang sighed.

He's completely baffled right now, and he really can't figure it out.

Therefore, it's best to let Mr. Fan explain things clearly.

"Okay, then I'll make it clear!"

Fan Xinghe continued speaking with a cold face, glaring at Jiang Xiaobai again as he said, "You, this so-called good son-in-law, are nothing but a fraud!"

As he spoke, Fan Xinghe paused, "They actually attributed the two most famous articles from the Imperial Academy to themselves!"

"Two articles?"

Li Bingzhang raised an eyebrow: "What article!"

"Regarding 'On Teachers' and 'On Horses'."

At this point, Fan Xinghe's voice grew even colder: "Could a playboy like him have written such an article?"

The Master said that it was posted by Master Lin, but the author behind it is unknown.

Ma said that it was posted by Lin Qinrou, and the author behind it is also unknown.

But no matter how unclear it was, he knew one thing: this could absolutely not have been written by Jiang Xiaobai.

what?

Upon hearing this, Li Bingzhang looked slightly surprised.

He knew about "On Teachers," but "On Horses"... was something he had never heard of before.

Could it be that Jiang Xiaobai also did this?

Thinking of this, Li Bingzhang looked towards Jiang Xiaobai.

Jiang Xiaobai nodded first, then shook his head helplessly.

Ma said he wrote them, but... he has never done anything to spread rumors that he wrote these two articles.

Seeing Jiang Xiaobai nodding and shaking his head, Li Bingzhang roughly understood what he meant.

His brows furrowed even deeper immediately, then he looked at Fan Xinghe again: "Old Fan, where did you hear about this?"

"Where did you hear that from?"

Fan Xinghe snorted coldly: "Everyone at the Imperial Academy is talking about it now!"

"If you were to visit the Qinglou Pavilion in your Prime Minister's residence, you would likely hear some rumors."

"Oh?"

Li Bingzhang's expression turned serious.

Is everyone at the Imperial College talking about it?

Even the Qinglou (a type of brothel) is rumored to be involved?

If that's true, then the news has spread incredibly fast.

Jiang Xiaobai's brows furrowed as well.

Who spread this rumor?

Not many people know that he wrote these two articles.

Elder Lin would never do that, nor would Lin Qinrou!

It's even less likely that the Jiang family would agree.

Besides that, there was his father-in-law and Li Zhiwei.

But the two of them... obviously aren't anymore!

This is clearly something someone did on purpose behind the scenes.

Lost in thought, Jiang Xiaobai suddenly narrowed his eyes.

Yes, he thought of Zhao Sheng, who had appeared when he went to Chen Zhanqiu's residence.

He felt there was something wrong with this guy back then.

Could it be... that Zhao Sheng intends to splash this water on him?

If that's the case, then that would be interesting!

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiaobai shook his head and couldn't help but chuckle.

Li Bingzhang pondered for a moment, then looked at Fan Xinghe and said, "So... Elder Fan is angry because of this, isn't he?"

"Exactly!"

Fan Xinghe didn't mince words, coldly stating, "What I hate most in my life are those who deceive the world and steal fame!"

As he spoke, Fan Xinghe looked at Jiang Xiaobai again, his expression growing increasingly dissatisfied: "Jiang Xiaobai bought the top scholar title, ruining the reputation of the Zhenbei Marquis's mansion."

"All of this is bad enough, but now they've gone so far as to steal other people's work—it's utterly despicable!"

These words immediately sombered the atmosphere in the inner hall.

Jiang Xiaobai hadn't reacted yet, but Zhang Xinnian, who was standing behind him, suddenly couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Oh……"

The laughter was not loud.

But in the quiet inner room at this moment, it seemed exceptionally clear.

That's right, Zhang Xinnian really couldn't resist.

Because he knew that those two articles were indeed written by his own heir.

Especially "On Horses," which his son wrote on a whim, right in front of Lin Qinrou.

Now, listening to this old man Fan repeatedly accuse Jiang Xiaobai of plagiarism and of deceiving the world, he really couldn't hold back anymore.

Upon hearing the laughter, Fan Xinghe's gaze immediately turned cold. He turned to Zhang Xinnian and angrily demanded, "What are you laughing at?"

Zhang Xinnian opened his mouth, about to explain.

But remembering the lesson Jiang Xiaobai had taught him to shut up, he ultimately held back.

But his expression suggested he was somewhat holding back.

"snort!"

Seeing this, Fan Xinghe's face darkened even further: "Like master, like servant!"

After saying that, Fan Xinghe turned his gaze and glanced at Tang Ningshuang again: "What a fine girl, why did she have to follow him of all people!"

"..."

Tang Ningshuang frowned.

She stood to the side, listening attentively, never expecting to be dragged into it herself.

For a moment, Tang Ningshuang gritted her teeth.

But facing a senior like Fan Xinghe, she couldn't just lash out directly, so she could only give Jiang Xiaobai a cold glare.

Jiang Xiaobai looked helpless under the glare.

No.

What does this have to do with him?

Old Fan started making sweeping generalizations, but how come he ended up being the one getting glared at?

"Old Fan."

Jiang Xiaobai finally spoke, looking at Fan Xinghe with a somewhat helpless expression: "If that's what you're saying, then I have to say a few words."

"What's wrong?"

Fan Xinghe looked at him coldly: "You still want to explain? Are you trying to say that nothing like that happened?"

"Or perhaps you're suggesting that it's all a misunderstanding?"

"Or are you saying that all those rumors about the Imperial Academy are just someone deliberately slandering you?"

"Oh, no, no, no."

Jiang Xiaobai listened and shook his head: "I wanted to say..."

"This is true!!"