My Sister Insisted on Swapping Marriages, and I Became a Marchioness Instead

Chapter 695: Chapter 695: Handing Others Leverage

Originally, Mr. Songshan was watching the commotion and trembled at the words. How is it that such matters involve me?

It’s really stretching things a bit.

Mr. Songshan’s beard twitched.

Qin Siyuan couldn’t stand it any longer and loudly said, "If I truly am like Brother Wu says, deceiving the world, then won’t I be exposed in next year’s imperial examinations? And furthermore, does it mean I’ll never write poetry again?"

Only then did everyone calm down and looked at Wu Junren, waiting for his response.

Wu Junren snorted coldly and said, "That’s where your Qin Family’s cunning lies, first borrowing others’ poems to make a great name, reaching heavenly heights, even having your names in front of the Holy Emperor. Later in the palace exams, you could climb the ranks because of this. Once appointed as officials, you can buy some poetry to put up a front, isn’t that so?"

He spoke passionately among the crowd, stirring up many students from the Imperial College, all clamoring that Qin Jijiu was unworthy, unfit to be the National Academy Sacrificial Officer.

Qin Yuan stepped forward, approaching the railing, with Marquis Gu closely following and protecting her. Wu Junren then called out, "Even though Dingbei Marquis has achieved great accomplishments, he cannot unfairly side with the Yue Family, it’s unjust!"

Marquis Gu’s cold face flickered with a hint of murderous intent as he said to him, "Oh? You have also found a crime for this Marquis?"

Broad-shouldered and tall, he stood high like a deity, leaving those below momentarily speechless.

Wu Junren hastily replied, "How dare this young student accuse Dingbei Marquis?"

"I see you have quite the nerve, simply dissatisfied with Qin Siyuan’s poetic reputation and then accusing the Qin Family, and this Marquis, inciting students of the Imperial College to disdain the Sacrificial Officer, that is quite something."

Marquis Gu’s tone was cold, and his content even more so.

"Do you know what crime it is to defy the superior? Since you are a scholar admitted to the Imperial College, surely you know what punishment awaits those who disrespect academic officials and this Marquis?"

Upon hearing this, everyone remained silent.

Wu Junren became a bit frightened, not daring to make a sound.

Lin Ziqi quickly jumped out: "Brother Wu, how can you say such things without proof? If Lord Sacrificial Officer reports to Lord Academic Administrator to revoke your scholarly title, it’s completely justified."

These words provoked the scholars again.

"The matter has not been clarified yet, are you already using force to suppress people?"

Marquis Gu coldly laughed a few times and said, "Just for fabricating charges to slander this Marquis, I can petition the court to revoke his scholarly title."

Wu Junren turned and pushed through the crowd, hastily stepping towards Prince Qi and the others, suddenly kneeling and crawling a few steps, crying out, "Prince Qi, Princess, Princess Fuyun, Dingbei Marquis is about to convict me in front of the Imperial Family members, I beg the nobles to stand up for me."

The Ninth Princess was about to speak but saw Prince Qi say, "I see you convict Dingbei Marquis, Qin Sacrificial Officer without hesitation, yet this matter began with you, all of it are your guesses, how can it be verified?"

This reply is considered fair.

The Ninth Princess felt slightly uncomfortable.

Brother Ximen whispered, "Although what the scholar says is not impossible, but without evidence, isn’t that just baseless accusations? And being a small scholar, daring to publicly criticize the Sacrificial Officer and Dingbei Marquis, isn’t that too bold? I can’t believe there’s no one behind this."

The Ninth Princess heard it and immediately understood.

If someone was behind him, wouldn’t that someone be on her side, this is worth helping.

But her mother has always wanted to win over Dingbei Marquis.

So she said, "Prince Qi is very right, you, a small scholar, openly disrupted my interest in hearing Young Master Nantang’s poem reviews, and also charged Qin Sacrificial Officer and Dingbei Marquis with such serious accusations. You must have evidence for it to stand. If it’s truly baseless, your scholarly title might not be retained."

Princess Fu Yun also said, "Since you want to uncover this matter before us, how can you convict someone with just a few simple words? If everyone were like you, the court ministers would not know how many times they would die in a year."

Everyone calmed down, and they all said, "Indeed, court disputes frequently say who should be punished, who should be punished, but if convictions were made so easily, who knows how many would survive."

The Ninth Princess turned to Brother Ximen with a smile: "You truly have insight."

Brother Ximen quickly said, "As a commoner, I’ve seen countless lawsuits among people, where the troublemakers begin with a laundry list of the other’s wrongs, truly heinous, yet speaking of themselves, they’re full of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith. If truly believed, even the officials would be led astray."

The Ninth Princess found it amusing and laughed out loud.

A nearby maid said, "The Princess hasn’t been this happy for a long time. With Mr. Ximen accompanying her, the Princess can enjoy more happy days."

Brother Ximen laughed and said, "I naturally am willing to accompany her, just afraid the Princess might grow tired of me being dull."

"How could that be," The Ninth Princess tugged Brother Ximen’s sleeve and whispered, "You’re so charming and interesting, how could I tire of you?"

Brother Ximen showed a strained expression and said, "Naturally, I wish to stay by the Princess’s side for a long time, only..."

"Only what?"

Prince Qi asked the hesitating Wu Junren.

Wu Junren said, "...It’s not that I have no evidence, just afraid it will be destroyed by others. I only wish to give to Prince Qi and the two princesses for verification."

"There really is evidence?"

Everyone whispered softly.

Prince Qi was a bit surprised, and raised his eyebrows, "Present it."

Wu Junren reached into his sleeve, took out a roll of paper, and handed it to the Chief Historian serving Prince Qi.

Qin Siyuan saw this and couldn’t help but gasp.

Mr. Songshan anxiously asked, "Siyuan, do you have any handle in his possession?"

Qin Siyuan slapped the railing, gritting his teeth, "Ruined! Young Master Nantang once gave me a sample poetry draft for me to ponder. After reading it, I couldn’t bear to destroy it, so I stored it in my book box, thinking to study it in the future. Could it have been stolen by him? I can’t believe a scholar could do such a disgraceful thing."

Mr. Songshan sighed, "What can I say? You were so careless; if in the examination hall, you were framed, you wouldn’t even know why. If you became an official, I fear you wouldn’t even realize if someone stole your seal."

Qin Siyuan faced red with shame, not daring to look at Qin Yuan.

Back then Qin Yuan instructed Shen Changle to carefully deliver the poetry draft to him, repeatedly reminding him of discretion.

Now...

Qin Siyuan quietly said, "What should I do? Isn’t this dragging all of you down?"

The Qin Family and Gu Family have been implicated.

Mr. Songshan and Young Master Nantang’s reputations are also hard to preserve.

Big sister was planning to make a big move, if her reputation is tarnished, how can she succeed?

Qin Yuan sighed faintly, "I regret having Shen Changle teach you the story of Su Dongpo being an examiner, I didn’t expect you still lacked caution, giving others ammunition."

Qin Siyuan felt even more ashamed.

Qin Yuan said, "Now that it’s come to this, let’s see how it unfolds. Your poetic skill has been awakened; he must accept it, whether he likes it or not."