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

"A...a marriage?!"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhiwei's face instantly turned red.

For a moment, her clear eyes showed obvious panic as she quickly glanced around.

Fortunately, no one around noticed this, which allowed Li Zhiwei to breathe a sigh of relief.

Immediately, Li Zhiwei lowered her voice, gritted her teeth, and glared at Jiang Xiaobai: "Jiang Xiaobai, what...what nonsense are you talking about!"

"I'm not making this up!"

Jiang Xiaobai smiled broadly, then blinked and continued, "Also, you can't call me Jiang Xiaobai or Young Master Jiang anymore. From now on... I'm afraid we'll need to use a different title!"

"Jiang Xiaobai!"

Li Zhiwei looked somewhat embarrassed and annoyed: "We...we're not married yet!"

Chinese women value their reputation highly, and even if they change their form of address, they will wait until after marriage.

"Huh? What I mean is, I've become an apprentice myself now, so you should call me junior brother!"

Jiang Xiaobai looked surprised: "This...does it have to be after we're married?"

"oops!"

Li Zhiwei was taken aback, and then realized that she had been teased by Jiang Xiaobai. She stomped her foot lightly and then turned around.

How come she never noticed before how annoying this guy was!

"Ha ha!"

Jiang Xiaobai couldn't help but burst into laughter when he saw Li Zhiwei's expression.

Their most talented woman in the capital is actually quite interesting.

"Okay, okay, I'm just kidding!"

Jiang Xiaobai spoke again, his expression turning serious, and said softly, "Thank you very much this time!"

"Thanks?"

Li Zhiwei turned around, her expression shifting: "Thank me for what?"

"Of course, thank you for helping me get started!"

Jiang Xiaobai smiled at this moment.

He wasn't stupid; Li Zhiwei's presence here said a lot.

Moreover, although Master Lin made things difficult for him on the surface, he eventually agreed to join the sect, which must have involved Li Zhiwei's mediation.

Otherwise, it would never have been so easy.

Of course, there are many reasons why he is so certain.

For example, he and Zhang Xinnian burst out laughing one after another, and... surprisingly, Elder Lin did not react on the spot.

This shows that Master Lin knew that these four poems were written by him.

Secondly, he asked Master Lin to give him a question, and Master Lin actually answered it, which is enough to show something.

"I……"

Li Zhiwei's expression flashed with unease: "I didn't help you!"

"Okay, okay, I didn't help!"

Jiang Xiaobai smiled and said, "Then, please tell me about the rules, Senior Sister. I'd like to hear your thoughts."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhiwei's expression turned serious, and she adopted the demeanor of a senior sister, saying, "Listen carefully, there are actually only three rules for those under the master's tutelage."

"Firstly, after you start, you need to submit one article every month for the teacher to review. The content is not limited, but you must not be perfunctory or irresponsible."

"Secondly, if the teacher summons you, no matter what the matter is, you must not refuse."

Thirdly…

Li Zhiwei paused, looked at Jiang Xiaobai, and her expression became slightly more serious.

"When a master accepts a disciple, he never considers their social status. However, there is one condition: if a disciple goes astray and does something that damages his reputation, the master will personally visit him and expel him from the school."

"Just these three?"

Jiang Xiaobai paused for a moment after hearing this, then nodded: "Simple."

"Simple?"

Seeing Jiang Xiaobai's nonchalant attitude, Li Zhiwei couldn't help but frown: "Do you know that what your teacher means by 'damaging one's reputation' is not just a matter of ordinary moral failings?"

As she spoke, Li Zhiwei softened her voice, but her tone remained exceptionally serious: "The results will be released in two days. If you don't handle things properly here, then the teachers might..."

"I know."

Jiang Xiaobai responded earnestly, "Therefore, I will handle this properly and try my best not to waste Senior Sister's good intentions!"

Li Zhiwei was taken aback.

Jiang Xiaobai, who is usually playful and carefree, is surprisingly calm and composed right now.

"So...so what exactly are your plans?"

Li Zhiwei blurted out the question as if possessed, then paused before adding, "Poetic talent alone isn't enough!"

Indeed, although she recognized Jiang Xiaobai's extraordinary talent, it was not so easy for him to live up to the title of top scholar.

If any aspect is lacking, it will give those with ulterior motives an opportunity to take advantage.

"Well... don't worry, senior sister!"

Jiang Xiaobai smiled and said, "Instead of talking about that, let's talk about when my father-in-law will be visiting, so I can make preparations in advance!"

"Jiang Xiaobai, you...you!"

Li Zhiwei was annoyed again, but Jiang Xiaobai jumped away laughing.

Li Zhiwei pursed her red lips, her face beneath the veil already flushed red.

……

Before we knew it, it was noon.

At this moment, outside the gate of the Lin residence, with Elder Gu and others leaving one after another, only Jiang Xiaobai and Li Zhiwei remained outside the gate, apart from Lin Fengshuo.

"noob!"

Lin Fengshuo looked at Jiang Xiaobai and said, "Wei'er should have already told you my rules, right?"

"You know exactly what to do. Also... I'll give you half a month. Send me the first article!"

"It won't even take half a month!"

Jiang Xiaobai smiled and replied, "I'll have someone deliver it to you tomorrow!"

"Oh? That's even better!"

Master Lin was initially surprised, then nodded slightly.

"Then... I'll take my leave!" Jiang Xiaobai said.

"Okay, go ahead!"

With Lin Fengshuo nodding, Jiang Xiaobai cupped his hands in a respectful gesture before leaving with Zhang Xinnian beside him.

But as he left, Jiang Xiaobai didn't forget to wink at Li Zhiwei.

Li Zhiwei noticed this, her gaze darting away slightly before finally settling on Lin Fengshuo: "Teacher, what do you think of him?"

"This child is exceptionally intelligent; he is indeed quite different from what has been said!"

Watching Jiang Xiaobai's departing figure, Lin Fengshuo said, "Although he bought his way into the top scholar position, he still deserves the title!"

As he spoke, Lin Fengshuo's gaze deepened: "So, let him borrow my name if he wants!"

Thank you, teacher!

Li Zhiwei smiled and gave a slight bow.

Lin Fengshuo shook his head, then smiled and continued, "I see there's some tacit understanding between you and him. You sent someone to deliver a poem last night, and today you've come to me to ask for my name!"

"And this kid just happened to come today. If I didn't know your personality, I might really think you two were in cahoots!"

"No, it was just a coincidence!"

Although Li Zhiwei said this, a strange light flashed in her eyes.

Yes, Jiang Xiaobai's appearance here today surprised even her.

Moreover, Jiang Xiaobai's goal even coincided with hers!

This shows how meticulous Jiang Xiaobai is!

Moreover, she believed that even without her secret help, Jiang Xiaobai might still be able to become Master Lin's apprentice!

"Ha ha!"

Lin Fengshuo laughed heartily twice and said, "So, I'm quite looking forward to seeing what kind of content his first article will have!"

Li Zhiwei's eyes flickered slightly as she listened.

Jiang Xiaobai's thoughts are hard to fathom, yet his writing demonstrates his skill.

So let alone Lin Fengshuo, she was curious too!

"Teacher, then I'll take my leave too!" Li Zhiwei said at this moment.

Go!

Lin Fengshuo nodded slightly, but then, as if remembering something, he added, "By the way, when you have time, go to the Imperial Academy and try to persuade that girl Qin'er!"

"Even if you're angry with me, you can't not come home!"

"It's a teacher!"

Li Zhiwei smiled and nodded, then turned and left.

……

As dusk settles, the long street bustles with people, the cries of vendors mingling with the sounds of traditional music drifting from distant restaurants, making the entire capital city's night lively and bustling.

Jiang Xiaobai walked in front, with Zhang Xinnian following behind, their steps much lighter than when they arrived.

"Young Master, we have a carriage, why do you insist on walking back!"

Zhang Xinnian couldn't help but speak up.

He was a martial artist, so he was used to it, but he was worried that Jiang Xiaobai wouldn't be able to keep going after walking such a long distance.

Jiang Xiaobai listened to Zhang Xinnian's words and smiled, "Only by traveling around can I know whether this world is worth my trip."

"Looking at it now, it's pretty good, haha!"

what?

Zhang Xinnian was surprised to hear Jiang Xiaobai's exclamation and didn't understand what Jiang Xiaobai meant by saying that.

But soon, Zhang Xinnian seemed to realize something and couldn't help but say, "However, on the other hand, Your Highness's actions today... I truly didn't expect them!"

"Who is Elder Lin? He was the former Grand Tutor and the literary master of the current dynasty. He hasn't taken on any students for many years, and you just... just let him in like that!"

"Heh, actually I could have gotten in even if I hadn't done anything special today!"

Jiang Xiaobai paused, then said, "It's just a show, to silence the gossip!"

what?

Zhang Xinnian was puzzled, but he didn't think much of it and continued, "Hey, I wonder what the Marquis's reaction will be after hearing this..."

When Jiang Xiaobai heard Zhang Xinnian mention his father, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

In fact, he could guess Jiang Jingcheng's reaction to some extent.

Although he said he wasn't angry at the time, once he actually prayed, there was no turning back.

So, if Jiang Jingcheng really found out, he'd probably want to kick him to death...