Chapter 273: Was it all just my own wishful thinking?

“This poem was written for a girl named Wang Xing.”

Lin Xun spoke slowly, his tone sounding extremely sincere.

To a young maiden who had long remained unmarried in her chambers, it sounded like an inexpressible depth of affection.

Although Lin Xun did not look at Jiang Qingshang and Wang Xing again, he could feel that Wang Xing was already incredibly shy, even somewhat at a loss for what to do.

However, why did he feel like Qingshang had been staring at his knees? What was going on?

“However, while this poem was written for Wang Xing, it was also not written for Wang Xing.”

Lin Xun added.

This caused many people to let out a confused “Hmm?”

What did that mean?

Was he speaking in riddles?

Jiang Qingshang also tilted her head in confusion, her gaze finally leaving Lin Xun’s knees for the time being, granting them a temporary reprieve.

The custom wheelchair order could wait until later.

“Wang Xing is my friend, and today is my friend’s birthday.”

Lin Xun shook his head toward the courtesan in the center of the lake.

“Miss, perhaps there is a slight misunderstanding. This poem is a gift for a friend, but what I wrote is not about romantic love.

The imagery of the ‘person’ in the poem is actually complex and does not contain only one layer of meaning.

The ‘fair lady’ I am searching for so bitterly is both my lonely self and, even more so, the distant Imperial Capital, Dream City.”

As he spoke, Lin Xun let out a soft sigh.

“The Qian Kingdom is currently in a golden age, unprecedented since its founding. The current Empress is a wise ruler of this prosperous era! It is only a pity that I cannot enter the Imperial Capital to share Her Majesty’s burdens.

Thus, today in the Poetry Garden, looking up at the starry sky, I felt a sudden burst of inspiration.

I wrote ‘where the lights are low’ to express my longing to serve Her Majesty and my frustration at being unrecognized; this is truly more than ‘BMW-drawn carriages’ can carry.

Therefore, this poem is a gift for a friend, but also an expression of my sincere devotion!”

Lin Xun’s tone was impassioned and his expression serious, showing both the helplessness of being unable to serve the Empress and the sigh of a talent unrecognized.

Lin Xun looked up at the stars. Those nearby could vaguely see a glint of tears at the corners of his eyes, a moving sight.

Sikong Wangxing also looked up, her small hand pressed against her heart, blinking as she watched Lin Xun.

So that was how it was?

This poem was a birthday gift for her.

But the last line of the poem Big Brother Lin wrote didn’t mean what she thought it meant?

“Actually, Big Brother Lin doesn’t feel that way about me at all.”

Just thinking about it, Wang Xing felt a faint pain in her chest, as if she were being bitten by ants.

“So, was it all just my own wishful thinking?”

At this moment, Wang Xing’s chest felt heavy.

In fact, as long as tonight passed and she calmed down, the clever girl would realize that Lin Xun’s words were full of holes.

As a demonic sect Disciple, why would Lin Xun be willing to assist a monarch?

Not to mention making the Qian Kingdom even more prosperous—wasn’t that just nonsense?

It was just that Wang Xing had experienced too much tonight, and her emotions were fluctuating so wildly that she temporarily lost her ability to discern the truth.

Jiang Qingshang, meanwhile, looked at her husband with a smile.

Others might believe her husband’s nonsense, but she certainly didn’t!

Although she had been married to her husband for less than a year, they had been together for three years.

Given her husband’s Salted Fish personality, he wouldn’t want the trouble of entering the imperial court as an official.

Which meant her husband was covering something up.

But today was indeed Sister Wangxing’s birthday. Not just her husband, even she had prepared a gift, though she hadn’t sent it herself, instead entrusting someone to deliver it to Tianji City.

So it seemed reasonable for her husband to write a poem as a gift for Sister Wangxing.

However, there was still that last line.

Was it truly her husband’s “unrecognized talent” looking at the “dimming lights” of the Imperial Capital?

Or did her husband, in the heat of writing poetry, look at Sister Wangxing and suddenly feel a stirring in his heart amidst the dimming lights?

She would have to ask him properly about that.

But regardless, everyone else was stunned into belief by Lin Xun’s bluff.

Because, let alone in the Qian Kingdom, it was very common in secular dynasties to give a good poem to a friend as a gift.

Especially verses about “unrecognized talent” or “expressing one’s ambitions”—anyone could send those.

Lin Xun’s words moved many scholars, who stood up one after another to say, “Brother Lin, do not give up! You will surely pass the high exams in the future, assist the Empress, and create a prosperous era! The future is bright!”

Lin Xun could only bow in return, expressing his gratitude with congratulatory words like “You are all warriors of the future.”

For a moment, what was originally thought to be a poem about romance was elevated to a matter of great righteousness, feeling much more sublime.

The courtesan on the lake also curtsied, comforting Lin Xun and telling him not to lose heart. If he ever felt discouraged, he could visit them anytime; they were willing to soothe his soul in the deep of the night.

The flower boat withdrew, and as the matter drew to a close, Old Sun and the others were also reminded of their own pasts by Lin Xun’s words, feeling very emotional.

Indeed, back then, after passing the exam to become a Provincial Graduate, who didn’t want to strive for further honors and assist the current Sage Emperor to create eternal peace?

But in the end, after failing time and time again without being appointed to a vacancy, they could only stay here in Luo City, inheriting vast family fortunes and living the life of wealthy magnates with over a dozen concubines, never thinking of taking the exams again!

What was this? This was their own degradation!

Old Sun gripped Lin Xun’s hand tightly: “Old Lin, next spring, we’ll go and try the Metropolitan Exam!”

“That’s right, Old Lin! We can’t go on like this!” Old Qian was deeply moved. “We must also contribute to the Qian Kingdom!”

“Perhaps, I should pick up my original intentions once more.” Old Liu stood up with his hands behind his back, letting out a soft sigh.

The imperial examinations in the Qian Kingdom were a bit different. Once a Provincial Graduate, you could take the Metropolitan Exam for as long as you wanted. However, to enter the Palace Examination, you needed to be within the top two hundred and thirty in the written test. Once in the Palace Examination, an official post was basically guaranteed.

Regarding their sudden seriousness, although Lin Xun felt their enthusiasm was fleeting, he still gave them some verbal encouragement.

As for whether his words tonight would reach Sister Mimi’s ears, Lin Xun didn’t care.

He wasn’t taking the exams anyway; could Sister Mimi really force him to become an official in the court?

How would that convince the public?

This matter was settled; the poem was still a gift to Wang Xing.

But it was a birthday gift, and what he expressed was “unrecognized talent,” not romance.

Qinger would surely understand. Even if she didn’t, he would just flatly deny it and then coax her a bit more.

Soon, the Hour of the Rat arrived. Everyone gathered their thoughts to release the Ice Lanterns.

But Qi Yu was different!

In a Long Pavilion, Qi Yu looked at Lin Xun, his eyes burning with fervor!

He was talented! And a School Teacher!

He was handsome! But not ridiculously so!

He wanted to serve the country, and his heart was extremely righteous!

He had a wife, and their affection was like glue!

If he didn’t assist Her Majesty, who would?

Qi Yu wrote a letter, along with the poem, and had a guard deliver it urgently to the Imperial Capital!

He believed! Within a few days, the Imperial Decree would arrive, and he could return to the capital with this Little Brother Lin to report on his mission!