The five senior literary figures on the stage were stunned, their eyes blank.
The audience below the stage, including Yu Qing, all could not understand what was happening.
However, both Wen Xin, and Song Pingping and Xiao Hong, recognised Wan Shengqun who was following beside Wan Qingtao. This was tantamount to verifying Yin Jizhen’s identity from another angle. Apart from Wen Xin who knew the truth in her heart, Song Pingping and Xiao Hong were both horrified, increasingly certain that a spy sent by the Wan family was hidden beside them.
The Wan family steward hurriedly welcomed Wan Qingtao who had descended from the other side of the stage, also wanting to understand what was happening. Whether the so-called Wan family withdrawal was a momentary fit of anger or genuine had to be clarified.
After confirming it was a complete withdrawal, people were dispatched to communicate with the literary gathering organisers about withdrawal matters.
The organisers were also somewhat bewildered. They had been watching the incense stick timing burn down to the point where the literary gathering was about to begin. Who would have thought the Wan family patriarch would kick over the incense burner with one foot. What timing was there now? With the Wan family also withdrawing completely, what were they to do?
The key point was that the Wan family was withdrawing. The literary gathering naturally could not start on time. The organisers needed to urgently communicate with the other participating families.
Very quickly, the area below the stage erupted in uproar. Voices of discussion arose everywhere, all discussing why the Wan family patriarch had so publicly lost his composure and announced withdrawal from the competition.
On the terrace, facing countless gazes of suspicion cast toward him, Wen Mao let out a cold snort, flicked his sleeve, and entered the room.
Coincidentally, Wen Kui also returned with hurried steps. Seeing that other Wen family elders were still present at the scene, he showed obvious hesitation.
Master and servant for many years, Wen Mao knew what this meant. He lifted his chin to signal, and the two left the room together.
Entering another room inside the building, once the door was closed, Wen Kui urgently reported, “Master, Wan Shengqun was not lying. Just today, not long ago, Yin Jizhen indeed made contact with someone from our side. Wan Shengqun was also present at the time. It was someone from Third Miss’s side, that Niu Youqing.”
“He is A Shiheng? Kui, you are not muddle-headed from old age, are you?” Wen Mao was astonished and suspicious, while also unable to avoid suspicion. “You only just went out, how could you have investigated the situation so quickly?”
“At the time, Third Miss and the others were enjoying themselves at Jade Bridge…” Wen Kui roughly narrated the situation at that time.
The source of the information came precisely from those guards protecting Wen Xin, both overt and covert. Yu Qing and Yin Jizhen’s meeting had aroused Song Pingping’s suspicion. Song Pingping had instructed people to follow and investigate Yin Jizhen and their party’s origins. The result was that they happened to follow them all the way to the venue here.
When Yin Jizhen arrived here and made contact with the Wan family people, the situation was obvious. The followers found the people and asked around, immediately clarifying Wan Shengqun and Yin Jizhen’s identities.
The followers were about to return to report the situation, and happened to run into Wen Kui who was asking Wen Xin’s guards whether what Wan Shengqun said was true. The two sides collided, asked and explained, and the process immediately became crystal clear. Even the results matched up.
Having clarified the course of events, Wen Mao was dumbstruck, muttering to himself, “The world’s number one talent is working as a servant in our home, this…”
He had seen much in his lifetime, but had never imagined encountering such an absurd matter. He was wooden for quite a while, still unable to believe it. “How is this possible? Did he not injure Zou Yunting?”
Wen Kui tried to remind him, “That Tanhua scholar seems to cultivate both literature and martial arts. Is it not rumoured that he abandoned literature for martial arts?”
“Then why did he inquire about the Wenshu Pavilion… for what… for what…”
Wen Mao’s question trailed off as he asked it. At his advanced age, he had asked himself into a corner. The Wenshu Pavilion contained countless books and numerous precious ancient texts. For such a great talent to want to enter and read books, was it not normal to have designs on the Wenshu Pavilion?
Doing so secretly was also normal. He did not want to expose his identity.
If this was the case, then the previous suspicions about some connection with Qinglian Mountain were surely a misunderstanding?
If it truly was the Tanhua scholar, it would be more than a misunderstanding. I am afraid it would be a great mistake, completely wrong in direction.
After a long while, he exhaled. “Kui, why does this matter feel like a dream to me? Furthermore, why would he help us force Yin Jizhen to withdraw?”
Wen Kui said, “Master, I just looked. The person is still beside Third Miss. Is not Fifth Young Master about to arrive soon? Once Fifth Young Master arrives, a face-to-face meeting will tell whether he is the Tanhua scholar or not.”
Wen Mao patted his forehead. “Good, good. Wait for Yan’an to come. Have Yan’an come quickly.” Having slightly recovered, he rapidly fell into contemplation again, then slowly said, “Kui, it is not appropriate for him to be beside Xin’er. If word gets out, there will be no way to explain to the Yuwen family. By then, Xin’er’s lifelong reputation will also be ruined. Do not cause a disturbance. Take the person away. This matter must be strictly sealed off afterwards.”
In this instant, he had already thought very far ahead.
After brief consideration, Wen Kui understood his meaning.
If he truly was just a servant working at Jade Garden, then certain matters were unavoidable. Many things were simply suitable for men to do. But if that servant was the Tanhua scholar A Shiheng, that was another matter entirely. The Tanhua scholar residing in Third Miss’s garden, what kind of matter was that?
Moreover, the Tanhua scholar himself was extremely storied, a character easily sung about by people. Living in seclusion beside a beautiful woman, I am afraid even without any incident, people would gossip about amorous affairs.
“Yes.” Wen Kui immediately accepted the order and left, not daring to delay. This was no small matter. Before anyone in the crowd recognised that person, he had to quickly take him away, avoiding the possibility of a public uproar.
After going out, he quickly found several people and secretly gave instructions. Subsequently those several people went straight to the area below the stands in front of Wen Xin. When they stood before Wen Xin and fixed their eyes on Yu Qing, Yu Qing knew he had been sold out by Yin Jizhen, that he had been exposed.
He was not stupid. Yin Jizhen withdrew from the competition, the Wan family people then stormed out from the Wen family side, and then Wen family personnel fixed their eyes on him. If this was not being exposed, what was it? He could only secretly curse that Yin Jizhen was far too unreliable.
One person slightly nodded to Wen Xin, silently signalling her to step aside.
Recognising them as trusted men from beside Wen Kui, Wen Xin did not quite understand the situation, but moved forward to make way.
Subsequently, Song Pingping and Xiao Hong were also signalled to step aside.
That person then arrived beside Yu Qing and said in a low voice, “The steward invites you for tea. Please come with us.”
Knowing he had been exposed, Yu Qing was instead no longer afraid. He slightly nodded and simply followed them.
The large crowd gathered below the stage did not notice this scene, or rather did not pay much mind to it.
Wen Xin, however, was alarmed and uncertain. She also lost the desire to continue watching this chaotic literary gathering, and followed them as well. Song Pingping and Xiao Hong naturally followed too.
Inside a door at the side of the stands, Wen Kui smiled in welcome. Before absolute confirmation, he said nothing more, extending his hand to indicate to Yu Qing, “Please, upstairs.”
His attitude was neither servile nor overbearing, but he could not help his curiosity, examining him a few more times. He discovered that this person did not have the true temperament of a literati. Was this really that world’s number one talent?
In his heart he also guessed that it might be due to abandoning literature for martial arts.
Since matters had reached this point, Yu Qing no longer pretended to be a servant. He straightened his back and went upstairs.
Wen Kui glanced at Wen Xin who had followed from outside, quickly muttered a few words to the men beside him, then rapidly went upstairs.
Outside, Wen Xin who was blocked lifted her hat brim to reveal her face, and the guards immediately let her pass.
Yet just after entering, she was again blocked by Wen Kui’s trusted man. “Third Miss, this way please.”
“You all busy yourselves, no need to mind us.” Wen Xin was about to go upstairs to chase Yu Qing, wanting to see what was happening.
That person said, “Third Miss, rooms have been prepared here for you to rest temporarily. It is the patriarch’s wish.”
Hearing it was grandfather’s wish, Wen Xin who had obeyed arrangements for everything including her marriage since childhood dared not act rashly. She bit her lip and silently accepted the arrangement. The three were led to a room at the side. The door closed, isolating the three inside.
Xiao Hong said alarmedly, “I just saw the steward talking to A Qing. Was he taken away by the steward?”
Song Pingping snorted. “In my view, he was exposed, he was arrested!”
Wen Xin’s ten fingers intertwined, pacing back and forth anxiously, somewhat at a loss, worried that Yu Qing would suffer some misfortune. She knew to some degree that bloody matters stained the feet of a family standing for a thousand years, yet she dared not defy grandfather’s wishes.
She was hesitating whether to expose Yu Qing’s identity.
Upstairs, Wen Kui pushed open a door and extended his hand, “Please, tea inside!”
Yu Qing walked in. Wen Kui waved to indicate the people behind him to enter and brew tea, then afterwards smiled, “Please wait a moment. It is somewhat chaotic outside. Once the patriarch has finished handling matters, he will come to see you.”
Yu Qing made no comment. He walked to the tea table and slowly sat down, calm and composed, not speaking.
Wen Kui turned and left, leaving two people to guard inside watching him…
On the terrace, Wen Mao stared indifferently at the terraces opposite, discovering that the people from the various families on the opposite terraces had disappeared, naturally including the Wan family.
Wen Kui who pushed open the door to enter nodded to the family elders tasting tea inside, not lingering, directly arriving at the terrace to report, “The person has been invited to a room for tea.”
Wen Mao said, “How long until Yan’an arrives?”
“People have already been sent again to hurry him.” After Wen Kui replied, he also noticed the abnormality opposite, and could not avoid worrying, “Will the Wan family not incite a collective withdrawal from that side? If that truly happens, then even if we win, can it count as winning?”
Wen Mao said, “Rest assured, the sky will not fall! That old Wan is cunning and crafty. He still does not dare to completely make matters big. It is merely venting his spleen. If he dares to open this precedent, if he dares to break this balance, next time if we cannot win, we can also play this way. At minimum, the Prefect Governor would be difficult for him to explain to.
If the Tanhua scholar is confirmed as genuine, that old Wan will be even less likely to make matters big. Yin Jizhen’s active withdrawal is probably not merely out of fear of the Tanhua scholar’s literary talent. Some forces, even if they do not speak out or intervene, are not ones that old Wan dares to try offending. Also, Yan’an is withdrawn, no need to participate.”
Wen Kui pondered, “Good.”
Before long, people from the various families on the opposite terraces appeared again one after another, only the Wan family was missing.
The delayed literary gathering finally began. Wen Mao had already lost interest in this lively celebration. With the Wan family’s withdrawal, the result was already determined. Matters without suspense also lacked anything worth watching. Added to other matters weighing on his mind, he was in no mood.
He returned to another room to rest. Before absolutely confirming the Tanhua scholar’s identity, he would not meet with Yu Qing, because he did not know how to discuss matters.
Fortunately, under urgent urging, Wen Yan’an arrived from the Wen residence as quickly as possible.