Chapter 142: Chapter 142: We Shouldn’t Poke at His Sore Spot Here

“Husband couldn’t attend the spring examination this time, but Mr. Fu did, though who knows how the results will turn out,” Lin Qingqing mocked, “Whether he can make it to the list is yet uncertain.”

Madam Fu was furious. Lin Qingqing dared to curse Fu Changqin!

“Qingqing is right,” Xiao Fengxing finally vented a little anger, nodding in agreement.

Who in the capital doesn’t know that Fu Changqin is a wastrel? Even if he attends, he won’t make it to the list.

“My husband is different from Mr. Fu. Husband is renowned for his talents; if he were to compete, he would surely make it to the list. Unlike Mr. Fu, who is a…,” Lin Qingqing said, “Otherwise, how could you be ridiculing my husband here?”

“Lin,” Xiao Chengyu said coldly, “To recklessly speak falsehoods and to stir up gossip—is this the way the Lin family educates their people?”

Lin Qingqing blushed, feeling wronged, “I was merely standing up for my husband.”

Fu Shinian sat beside Xiao Yingyue, leaning lazily on the table, “Second Madam, were you just trying to say that my brother is a wastrel?”

“That’s what you say, Second Young Lady. I didn’t say that,” Lin Qingqing pulled a sarcastic smile.

It’s well-known all over the capital.

Does Fu Shinian even need to ask?

“To attend the spring examination, one must first pass the provincial examination to be eligible,” Fu Shinian spoke lazily, “Has Second Madam ever seen a wastrel pass the provincial examination?”

Lin Qingqing was completely stunned.

Indeed, Fu Changqin could attend the spring examination because he had already passed the provincial examination.

How old is Fu Changqin now?

At the youthful age of twenty, he is already a provincial examinee.

Why hadn’t she considered this before?

It’s just that when speaking of wastrels in the capital, Fu Changqin’s name would often surface, distracting her from this point.

Fu Shinian tilted her head, “At what age did Lin Siye pass the provincial examination?”

“With the promotion system of Great Xi, even with mediocre ability, one can advance in five years. If he joined the officialdom early, why would he only be a sixth rank now? It can only imply that Mr. Lin’s age when passing the provincial and metropolitan examinations must have been considerable,” Fu Shinian questioned, “Second Madam, why not urge Mr. Lin a bit instead of talking about my brother here?”

“Either way, my brother is much more competent than Mr. Lin.”

Fu Changqin really hadn’t thought from this angle before.

At this moment, he deeply felt that Fu Shinian’s reasoning was quite sound.

He couldn’t help straightening his back a bit.

He was proud!

Even Madam Fu unconsciously sat up straighter.

Now that it’s mentioned, it’s true.

Her son is a young provincial examinee.

If he makes the list this time, he would be a young metropolitan graduate!

As for Lin Qingqing and Xiao Fengxing, how dare they look down on Fu Changqin?

Xiao Fengxing gritted his teeth, “Nonetheless, the eldest son has not yet made the list, so let’s not become cocky prematurely.”

“As the eldest son said, I am also a provincial examinee now, not just a commoner,” Xiao Fengxing said in a deep voice, “Moreover, the eldest son is like me; hence, there’s no reason to mock me.”

“If the eldest son comes, there wouldn’t be a decent seat for him.”

“Who says that? I have my father, Mrs. Gu certainly has to consider my father’s face and arrange a good seat for me,” Fu Changqin argued, “Besides, my two sisters are titled ladies; how could I be disadvantaged?”

“As for the second son, people indeed look up to the Marquis’ face,” Fu Changqin asked Xiao Chengyu, “Would the Marquis not give Xiao Fengxing that face?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to, but my younger brother stated several years ago that he didn’t want people to see him differently because he’s the Marquis Changping’s brother. He wants to rely on himself,” Xiao Chengyu smiled, “As his elder brother, I fully support such ambition, definitely not allowing others to favor him because of me.”

Fu Changqin pounded his fists, “The second son is truly spirited, unlike me, who is content relying on my father and sisters.”

Fu Changqin grinned, “My father is capable, my two sisters are capable, and there’s no shame in that as a brother.”

Fu Shinian sincerely said to Fu Changqin, “Brother’s broad-mindedness is unmatched by ordinary people.”

“Some narrow-minded individuals, if in brother’s situation, would probably blame the family for stealing their spotlight and pressuring them too much,” Fu Shinian concluded, glancing faintly at Lin Qingqing and Xiao Fengxing.

These two are the quintessential examples of not being able to stand out themselves and yet envying others, aren’t they?

Madam Fu,” just then, Mrs. Gu arrived.

Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing hurriedly greeted her.

Mrs. Gu held the imperial decree, and General Gu had military power. She was not someone one could slight.

Madam Fu rose and heard Mrs. Gu say, “I saw the second son and second madam from afar earlier and wanted to invite Madam Fu for a talk.”

“I specifically arranged Madam Fu’s seat beside my family, making conversations convenient,” Mrs. Gu explained, “It’s just that the Marquis here seems quiet, so I wanted to invite your son to chat.”

“As of now, I find the Marquis lively, while my side appears rather quiet. Would Madam Fu be willing to come over for some lively talk?”

Madam Fu knew Mrs. Gu aimed to talk about Fu Mingzhu; it was just unclear when the Gu family changed their minds.

But since Mrs. Gu personally asked, Madam Fu couldn’t refuse.

So she replied, “With Mrs. Gu’s invitation, I am certainly pleased.”

Fu Shinian then said to Xiao Yingyue, “I’ll accompany Mother first.”

Xiao Yingyue, not wanting to sit with Lin Qingqing, immediately said, “I’ll join you.”

“Mrs. Gu, I’d like to go look for Lingyi as well.”

“Good, good,” Mrs. Gu agreed.

Xiao Chengyu: “…”

Xiao Chengyu glanced at her faintly.

Instead of finding a way to keep Fu Shinian, she was also leaving.

Where was the sibling affection?

As Fu Changqin was about to say his farewell, Xiao Chengyu calmly interrupted, “In that case, Mr. Fu, you stay. I have some matters to discuss with you.”

Fu Changqin: “…”

Madam Fu, most favoring discussions on studies with Fu Changqin, immediately nodded, “Changqin, stay and exchange scholarly knowledge with the Marquis.”

Then, she left with Fu Shinian and Xiao Yingyue, along with Mrs. Gu.

Fu Changqin: “…”

Why did it feel like he got sold?

Fu Changqin couldn’t help but say woefully, “Marquis, do you really want to discuss this exam’s topics with me? Isn’t that inappropriate?”

“Why?” Xiao Chengyu countered.

“The second son couldn’t attend this time; he must feel terrible. It’s unkind to point it out here,” Fu Changqin bluntly said in front of Xiao Fengxing.

Xiao Fengxing: “!!!”

Xiao Chengyu: “…”

At that moment, he deeply felt that Fu Changqin and Fu Shinian were indeed related, brothers, born of the same mother.

In the art of piercing someone’s heart with ostensibly innocent words, the siblings were truly unmatched.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep