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

Chapter 697: Chapter 697: Severing Robes, Breaking Ties

The crowd erupted in uproar upon hearing the words, their voices rising and falling.

A fleeting smile flashed across Lin Ziqi’s face before quickly disappearing.

Qin Siyuan really had no sense of propriety; despite admitting guilt, he still called for severe punishment for Wu Junren, only further inciting public anger.

Now, Qin Siyuan’s reputation was truly ruined!

The Qin Family’s connections were all his!

Suppressing the joy in his heart, he clenched his fists tightly within his sleeves, silently reminding himself to be extra cautious and prudent.

The Ninth Princess sneered sideways, ”Since you have confessed, why call for severe punishment of Wu Junren, the meritorious accuser? How absurd!”

Qin Siyuan was momentarily stunned, then said, ”I’m not sure what the Ninth Princess means. May I ask what crime I am accused of? Wu Junren’s crime is clearly proved here, and he even admits to stealing poetry drafts, so why is he not severely punished? How am I absurd?”

The Ninth Princess disdainfully pointed with her jade finger and shouted angrily, ”Just now Wu Junren said you modified the poetry of Young Master Nantang for fame, using these drafts as evidence. You also said these were original drafts given to you by Young Master Nantang, doesn’t that make Wu Junren’s words true? Do you still want to stubbornly deny it?”

If not now, then when to step up?

By tomorrow, her illustrious reputation would have spread throughout the Capital City.

She wished she could immediately trample this person underfoot, so Qin Yuan would also be humiliated, and if she could use the opportunity to topple Qin Jijiu and replace him with someone from her mother’s side, she might even be able to contend with the Jiangxi Gang supporting Prince Qi in the court.

Yet Qin Siyuan was unperceptive, still struggling in vain, ”Wu Junren indeed took the original drafts given to me by Young Master Nantang, but I did not use Young Master Nantang’s poetry for my own work, much less modify them. With the fortune of being guided by Young Master Nantang, how could I commit such a betrayal!”

The Ninth Princess laughed coldly, raising her chin, ”Qin Siyuan, stop stubbornly arguing. If looking at Young Master Nantang’s original drafts could make one transform completely, Wu Junren would certainly have kept silent; why would he expose you publicly?”

Wu Junren, who claimed to seek justice on behalf of the scholars of the world: ...

The Ninth Princess continued her deductions, ”There can only be one possibility, which is that the poetry on those drafts had already been used by you, and Wu Junren discovered that you had acquired poetry finished by Young Master Nantang before the outing at Yu Yuantang, and revealed your false name in anger in public.”

Wu Junren, who reported out of spite with no gain: ...

Prince Qi nodded in agreement, ”There indeed appears to be some possibility in this explanation; otherwise, Wu Junren’s act of stealing poetry drafts...”

This implies, this person’s base conduct and the righteousness of his words are completely contradictory.

Wu Junren’s face turned ashen, about to speak in defense.

Suddenly Lin Ziqi’s voice came forth, trembling and hoarse, ”Big brother, so you... you esteemed vanity so highly, while I’ve always envied your fortuitous encounter, vainly hoping to also be introduced to Young Master Nantang, and win laurels together with you in the future.”

With eyes upon him, he suddenly tore the hem of his garment with a ”rip,” tossing it to the ground, and loudly declared.

”In ancient times, there was cutting mats to sever bonds; today I, Lin Ziqi, tear robes to sever bonds. I, Lin Ziqi, disdain to associate with someone of such conduct!”

The crowd applauded and cheered.

Qin Yuan sighed longingly, ”It’s a pity you are also a disciple of the Saint, as Confucius said: The four abjurations: no assumptions, no absolute insistence, no stubbornness, no egocentrism. Seems Lin Junren still falls short in self-cultivation.”

The four abjurations refer to avoiding four faults, thus avoiding rash judgments, inflexibility, obstinacy, and self-conceit.

These words effectively pointed a finger at Lin Ziqi, saying he is utterly lacking in cultivation and unworthy to be a scholar.

Lin Ziqi’s face turned ugly, but immediately he sneered again, ”Young Master Nantang and Qin Siyuan are in cahoots; regardless of how high your reputation is, you lack integrity. I have no desire to associate with you; how is that wrong?”

The crowd echoed, ”Indeed, bowing and scraping to those in power; where is the scholarly integrity? Lin Wu are true models for us. We revered Young Master Nantang, only to find his name is not deserved.”

”Indeed, from now on, we will no longer acclaim Young Master Nantang. No matter how well the poetry is written, lacking in character, it is unworthy to talk about.”

The crowd expressed their inner indignation with volcanic anger.

Marquis Gu glared angrily, ”You’ve formed conclusions the moment you hear anything rumored, starting to shout as soon as you hear the wind; if you all became officials, the people would suffer.”

Mr. Songshan shook his head too, ”Listening to the wind and speaking of the wind is to abandon virtue. You are spreading rumors without verification, seriously lacking in virtue.”

Seeing the crowd’s uproar gradually fading again, the Ninth Princess loudly said, ”Dingbei Marquis, you cannot shield the Qin Family and Young Master Nantang in public due to kinship, otherwise, I will report to the Emperor tomorrow.”

Princess Fuyun immediately interrupted her spell, ”As a legitimate princess of the Royal Family, younger sister should act impartially. Why make a stance before letting people finish speaking? If there are other hidden matters, it would also reflect badly on our mother.”

Prince Qi nodded, ”Mr. Songshan is right; although I am unqualified, I have heard my teacher talk of moderation, saying that in all matters, one must inquire deeply, think carefully, and act after clarifying. Now that the matter hasn’t been clarified, hastily making judgments is truly inappropriate. Let Young Master Nantang and Qin Siyuan make things clear.”

Someone in the crowd responded, ”Didn’t Mr. Yangming say to explore the principles until they are fully understood? This matter remains unclear, and it is indeed not suitable to criticize.”

”Right, I have long wanted to say this, we must give others a chance to prove their innocence, how can we condemn someone with a few words?”

”However, Lin Ziqi is Qin Siyuan’s brother-in-law, and Wu Junren is Qin Siyuan’s co-apartment mate; with both saying so, how can Qin Siyuan be innocent?”

”With your stance as a parents official, who knows how many unjust cases will occur.”

”Saying like you are a pure and upright official, if Wu Junren’s words are true, aren’t people like us without backing being wronged?”

Xiao Dong, mingling in the crowd, became displeased, clamoring, ”Even I, a kid, can see that you just don’t want to believe Qin Siyuan has such fortunes; after all, not everyone has the chance to be guided by Young Master Nantang, and not everyone grasps it so quickly. In the end, it’s still jealousy!”

”What do you know, little brat?” Flushed, the person jeered at Xiao Dong, ”Books are not something for a kid who hasn’t even memorized the Analects of Confucius, go play, it’s not your turn.”

Xiao Dong was very upset.

He wanted to retort, but had to admit that he hadn’t read the Analects yet.

But to concede just like that, he refused to admit defeat.

Suddenly recalling a story told by Qin Yuan, he sneered, ”Even Confucius once apprenticed a child; you are at best a scholar, yet you look down on this child! Truly treacherous to your masters and ancestors, how can you face the world?”

”Hahaha,” people were stunned, then burst into laughter.

”You!” The person was angry and was about to raise a hand to intimidate Xiao Dong, but a companion dissuaded him, ”Stop arguing, there’s no honor in besting a child, and what if you lose, wouldn’t it be even more embarrassing? Judging by his demeanor, he isn’t from an ordinary family; better to avoid trouble.”