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

On the carriage.

Zhang Xinnian couldn't help but turn around and look, his expression full of amazement: "Young Master, you are truly amazing!"

"I thought you hadn't answered a single question correctly!"

Yes, Jiang Xiaobai rose quickly, but fell even faster.

That speed was far too easy to misunderstand.

The results of it?

Jiang Xiaobai not only answered all the questions, but got all three right!

Inside the carriage, Tang Ningshuang looked at Jiang Xiaobai with a similar expression of surprise.

Over this period of time, her impression of Jiang Xiaobai has been constantly changing.

At first, she only thought that Jiang Xiaobai was a marquis's son with a terrible reputation.

Later, she learned that "On Teachers" and "On Horses" might have been written by Jiang Xiaobai.

Later, Jiang Xiaobai used his calculation skills to acquire half of the rights to Tianji Workshop.

And then there's Dream of the Red Chamber; the story is so captivating that you find yourself drawn into it without even realizing it.

She believes that if such a story were to spread, it would also cause quite a stir.

Furthermore, she never believed that Jiang Xiaobai bought the top scholar title in order to investigate the Ministry of Rites.

But now, she's starting to believe it.

This guy is incredibly skilled.

It seems... I really don't need to buy it.

"Miss Tang, why are you looking at me like that?"

Jiang Xiaobai noticed Tang Ningshuang's gaze and raised an eyebrow slightly: "Is there something on my face?"

"no."

Tang Ningshuang withdrew her gaze and said calmly, "I just feel that you are a very secretive person."

"Tibetan?"

Jiang Xiaobai smiled and said, "I've always been an honest person."

"Oh."

Tang Ningshuang gave a cold laugh and didn't reply.

Honesty?

Hearing these words from Jiang Xiaobai, she didn't believe a single one of them.

Just then, Zhang Xinnian's voice came from outside again: "Young Master, where are we going now?"

"oh."

Jiang Xiaobai thought for a moment and said, "Let's find a restaurant or teahouse nearby on this street."

"Alright!"

After Zhang Xinnian responded, he drove his carriage and began searching the street.

This area is, after all, the location of the Orchid Pavilion, and there are quite a few restaurants and teahouses to be seen.

Some doors have poems hanging in front of them, and some people sit reading by the windows.

Of course, some shops also have writing brushes and inkstones displayed outside, allowing people to write calligraphy on the spot.

After driving the carriage around for a while, Zhang Xinnian finally stopped in front of a teahouse.

The teahouse stood facing the street and built beside the lake, with blue curtains hanging in front of the door.

On either side of the entrance, two plain lanterns hung.

The small characters written under the lamp reveal at a glance that this place must have been frequented by literati and scholars.

"Your Highness, how is it here?"

Zhang Xinnian turned around and asked.

Jiang Xiaobai lifted the curtain and glanced at the teahouse's signboard.

There were three characters written on it: Tinglan Tower.

"Tinglan Tower?"

Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow slightly: "The name is not bad."

After saying that, Jiang Xiaobai bent down and got off the carriage, and Tang Ningshuang naturally followed suit.

After Zhang Xinnian parked the carriage, he quickly followed.

The three of them entered the teahouse.

As soon as I entered, a shop assistant quickly came to greet me.

"Young master, are there three of you?"

"Yes, the three of you."

Jiang Xiaobai nodded and said, "Let's find a good spot."

The shop assistant noticed Jiang Xiaobai's impressive attire and immediately greeted him warmly, "Please come upstairs, young master!"

After saying that, the shop assistant led the way, taking Jiang Xiaobai and the others upstairs.

There were quite a few people on the first floor.

But most of them are ordinary tea drinkers.

The sounds of storytelling, laughter, and the clinking of teacups mingled together, creating a lively atmosphere.

Once we got to the second floor, it was noticeably quieter.

Many people were sitting by the window, some talking in hushed tones, others writing.

Jiang Xiaobai glanced around and found that the view here was indeed quite good; he could see the lake outside from the window.

Just as Jiang Xiaobai was about to find a seat, he suddenly discovered that there was actually a staircase upstairs.

"The third floor?"

Jiang Xiaobai looked up and then prepared to head towards the third floor.

But before he could take more than a few steps, the shop assistant quickly stepped forward to stop him: "Excuse me, sir."

"You can't go straight up to the third floor."

"What's wrong?"

Jiang Xiaobai looked at the shop assistant: "Any rules?"

"Of course, there is."

The shop assistant explained with a smile, "Our third floor of Tinglanlou is usually a gathering place for literati and scholars."

"So if you want to go up to the third floor, you need to leave a poem. If the poem catches the eye of the gentleman in the building, you can go up."

The clerk paused, then added, "Of course, if you have a Lantinglou voucher, you can go up to the third floor."

"Entry pass?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaobai raised his left hand: "This one?"

The shop assistant glanced at Jiang Xiaobai's left handprint and his eyes widened immediately.

"First?"

The shop assistant was stunned, and then his attitude clearly changed.

What was originally just politeness has now become more respectful: "Young master, I'm so sorry, I was blind!"

"You can not only go up to the third floor, but with this 'A' mark, you can go up to the fourth floor too!"

"Can we go up to the fourth floor?"

Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow.

He hadn't thought anything of it at first, but now it seems...

This character "甲" (jia) actually carries some weight.

"Please, young master!"

At that moment, the shop assistant gestured and personally led Jiang Xiaobai upstairs.

Upon arriving on the third floor, Jiang Xiaobai glanced inside.

This floor is noticeably more spacious and quieter than the second floor.

But there were quite a few people.

Indeed, several tables of tea drinkers were seated by the window, and several long tables were placed in the middle.

The long table was fully equipped with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Some people were writing, some were painting, and others were standing around with folding fans, offering their comments.

On the wall, there are also many poems and paintings, which at first glance give the impression of a literary gathering.

Moreover, there are clearly more people talking about Lanting Tower here.

Jiang Xiaobai had just steadied himself when he heard someone speaking softly not far away.

"Have you heard? Jiang Xiaobai will be going to the Orchid Pavilion tomorrow!"

"Does this even need to be heard? It's all over the capital now."

"If 'On Teachers' and 'On Horses' were truly written by him, then tomorrow... we'll have something to read."

"Heh, if it's fake, that would be even more interesting."

Jiang Xiaobai listened to these words with a smile in his eyes.

It seems the news has indeed spread far and wide.

Seeing Jiang Xiaobai stop, the shop assistant assumed he wanted to stay on the third floor and immediately smiled and said, "Sir, why don't you stay on the third floor?"

"It's more lively here, and most of the tea drinkers in the building are people who are going to Lanting Tower tomorrow."

"If you'd like to hear some news, this is the perfect place for you."

Jiang Xiaobai was indeed somewhat tempted.

He just wanted to see what the outside world was talking about.

The third floor is indeed a good choice.

But soon, he looked up at the building again: "What about the fourth floor?"

"On the fourth floor, there's only one table of customers right now."

The shop assistant was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "There are too few people. It might be a bit boring if you go up there, sir."

"Just one table?"

Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow slightly.

According to the shop assistant, only those with a "甲" (jia) badge can go up to the fourth floor.

That means the requirements for the fourth floor are even higher than those for the third floor.

It's normal that there are few people.

But precisely because there were fewer people, Jiang Xiaobai became even more interested.

The person who can sit on the fourth floor must be quite extraordinary.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiaobai smiled slightly: "Can I go up to the fourth floor and take a look?"

"Of course you can, but... you can't bring people up to the fourth floor!"

The shop assistant glanced at Tang Ningshuang and Zhang Xinnian behind Jiang Xiaobai, looking embarrassed: "This is also to ensure the safety of the customers upstairs!"

That's right, anyone who can get to the fourth floor must be someone of considerable status.

"Can!"

Jiang Xiaobai nodded, then looked at Zhang Xinnian and Tang Ningshuang and said, "You two stay here, I'll go up and take a look!"

After saying that, Jiang Xiaobai walked upstairs.