Chapter 2: First Volume, Chapter 2: You Dare Come to the Poetry Contest Again?

First Volume, Chapter 2: You dare come to the Poetry Contest again?

His body stiffened; he immediately reacted, slapping Qin Xiaofu on the head and quickly corrected himself loudly:

"Xiaofu! Am I the kind of person who would do that? I already said I'm under house confinement—dare you tempt me again, and I'll break your dog legs…"

Before he finished speaking, Qin Feng felt his ear tighten as someone twisted it into three hundred?"

"Sister… sister… it hurts, it hurts…"

Qin Feng winced, tilting his head as he circled around Liu Hongyan.

His second sister was a true monster.

Though his four older sisters were all orphans adopted by his father, each one was formidable.

Take his second sister: a woman, yet after taking charge of finances, she built a powerful commercial empire in the cutthroat capital of Jingdu in just four years, becoming the undisputed female richest person.

Facing such a monster, Qin Feng had nothing but to beg for mercy.

"I told you to stay indoors and reflect on your sins—this is how you obey?"

Liu Hongyan wore a crimson long dress, her face icy with anger—this little rascal truly refused to repent; even under house arrest, he found new ways to cause trouble!

"Sister, it's not my fault! I'm the victim too…"

Qin Feng knew Liu Hongyan's temper—admitting guilt now meant certain death. His eyes darted around, then he dumped all blame onto everyone else.

"It's all those servants' fault—they insisted on giving me silver!"

"I stood on stage for hours, dry-mouthed, begging them not to, but they wouldn't listen! Said my stipend was too low, not enough to spend, so they voluntarily gave me their own salaries to fund some grand endeavor…"

Everyone: "..."

Young Master, can you be any more shameless…?

Liu Hongyan laughed bitterly at this lie—did he think she was blind? Didn't he see the three characters "Donation Box" on the chest?

"You've really grown bold—now you even exploit your servants? How brazen you are—I'm embarrassed for you!"

She released his ear and slapped him across the head. "Enough nonsense—I ask you: the Poetry Contest starts soon. Did you memorize the poem I gave you?"

"Poem? What poem?"

Liu Hongyan's face darkened instantly.

"Uh… cough, cough—just one poem? How could someone as gifted as me not memorize it?"

Only then did Qin Feng remember—he was to attend the Shenglin Academy Poetry Contest today.

To ensure Qin Feng would win first place, Liu Hongyan had sent him a poem days ago to memorize.

But the original body hadn't finished memorizing it before he died…

Fortunately, Qin Feng had an exceptional memory. Seeing Liu Hongyan angry, he shuddered and immediately recited the poem.

"Last year when we parted, flowers blazed red; laughter echoed on the homeward path. Misty waves urged us to laugh; winding streams painted rainbows. Now I return, flowers fallen, I've betrayed that year's vow. Clouded wine reveals pretense; lone shadow follows the horizon."

After hearing it, Liu Hongyan's expression softened slightly. "Hmm, not bad. Not wasted the ten thousand liang I spent to beg this poem from Scholar Xie!"

"What? Ten thousand liang?!"

Hearing this, Qin Feng leapt up, his face stretching into a horse-like grimace.

"This trash poem? Ten thousand liang?! Sister, you got scammed! This poem's nonsense—doesn't even follow tone patterns, utterly awful!"

"Even my offhand verse would be a thousand or ten thousand times better than this!"

Qin Feng strutted and blustered, completely oblivious to Liu Hongyan's face turning ashen, her teeth clenched.

To obtain this poem, she had stood outside Scholar Xie's mansion for an entire day—now he dismissed it as worthless?

"Shut up!"

Liu Hongyan glared at Qin Feng, exasperated:

"You? With your pitiful knowledge—you can't even recognize all the characters—how dare you judge poetry?"

"Besides, even Elder Sister said this is a rare masterpiece. Stop causing trouble! At the Poetry Contest, just recite this poem!"

Elder Sister Shen Qingci was a famed literary talent of Jingdu—graceful, learned, and beautiful. Hearing even she praised this poem, Qin Feng was speechless…

If this counted as a good poem, where did the masterpieces in his own mind stand?

But then Qin Feng understood: Liang Kingdom was new, founded only twenty-odd years ago; its literary scene was in revival, much like the early Tang—rhythmic rhyme schemes were just emerging.

Thinking of this, Qin Feng's eyes lit up!

Damn, this trash poem is worth ten thousand liang—then what about the masterpieces in my mind? Ten times that? A million liang?!

This Poetry Contest? It's a perfect sales pitch!

"Rich! Rich!"

Qin Feng rubbed his hands, excitedly spun twice, then turned to Liu Hongyan: "Second Sister, how about we team up for a big business?"

"Today, your little brother will make a name for himself—crush every hero underfoot."

"I'll make them lose even their underpants."

Liu Hongyan's face turned black.

You brat, are you trying to overthrow heaven? How much talent do you even have?

You think you can make others lose even their underpants?

I think you'll bankrupt the Qin Family down to the last hair!

She didn't believe him for a second. "Dare you cause trouble? This Poetry Contest decides whether you keep studying at Shenglin Academy—and it affects the Qin Family's reputation! If you mess it up, wait until Father makes your buttocks bloom!"

"Now go prepare. I'll have Fu Bo ready the carriage—we're leaving for Shenglin Academy soon."

She spoke and walked away without even glancing at Qin Feng.

Qin Feng sighed bitterly—I told the truth, why won't anyone believe me?

But fine—wait until later, and you'll see just how powerful your little brother, as a man, truly is…

Under Xiao Xiangxiang and two maids' care, Qin Feng quickly changed into white clothes, tied his long hair high, and held a folding fan—transforming into a graceful, elegant Young Master.

Seeing this, Xiao Xiangxiang's cheeks flushed pink.

"Grab one on the way out, bring the champion home!"

Qin Feng wrapped his arm around the beautiful maid's shoulder and grinned slyly:

"Xiao Xiangxiang, wait for me at home, alright? I'll go earn you a mountain of gold! Hahaha…"

Shenglin Academy, located south of Jingdu, was the first academy established in the founding year of Shedynasty.

It had imperial backing and held an exalted status in Jingdu.

The academy's Poetry Contest was held once a year, and the champion of each session not only gained fame throughout Heaven, but if their poetry was truly astonishing, they might even be summoned by the Emperor and granted an official title and noble rank directly.

Even those who failed could gain immense prestige, leaving an impression on the examiners or the literary world of Heaven, so many high-ranking officials scrambled to send their children here to "gold-plate" their reputations.

But this year's Poetry Contest was unlike any before—many had come specifically to watch Qin Feng's humiliation.

Shenglin Academy had already spread word that any student who failed to strive, relied on family influence, and engaged in misconduct to tarnish the academy's reputation would be expelled and never readmitted.

Everyone knew the "certain students" referred to Qin Feng.

After all, as the foremost of the Capital's Four Scourges, Qin Feng's misdeeds over the years were too numerous to record.

Arm-in-arm with courtesans, ruining the academy's name, burning down the academy's library—these were basic operations.

The academy had long resented him.

But they had endured in silence, out of respect for Qin Feng's father, the Minister of War.

Now, suddenly striking back, their patience had finally run out.

But the most important reason was surely someone stoking the flames behind the scenes!

Just use your toes to think—it had to be Li Rui's doing.

Once Qin Feng was expelled, not only would the Minister of War's reputation be ruined, but the stigma of being a wastrel son would spread throughout Heaven.

Although the Minister of War himself wouldn't be investigated, the Qin Family's official career would end here.

Once the Minister of War fell out of favor, the only ones to benefit would be the Li Family.

Qin Feng's participation in this Poetry Contest was of great importance, truly tied to the entire Qin Family's future.

Even without Liu Hongyan forcing him into it, Qin Feng would have come to probe the situation and see what role Li Rui was playing at Shenglin Academy!

At this moment, the gates of Shenglin Academy were heavily guarded, with many people lining up to verify their invitation letters, required to prove authenticity before entry.

These were all noble families of Jingdu—undoubtedly wealthy!

Qin Feng looked at these people, his eyes gleaming as if they were mountains of gold.

Seeing this, Liu Hongyan's face turned black; she feared Qin Feng would go cause trouble, so after showing the invitation, she dragged him into the academy.

"Oh? If it isn't Young Master Qin? Tsk tsk… You actually dare show up for the Poetry Contest?"

As he was lost in thought, a mocking laugh came from beside him.