Chapter 168: The Fight Begins

Chapter 168: The Fight Begins

"They're about to start arguing."

After Lin Yunwan's article was delivered, A-Fu returned to witness a quarrel brewing.

Qi Lingheng paused and said, "It will even lead to a fight."

A-Fu's eyes widened, and he stepped forward to ask, "What did the lady write about in that article?"

Xi Ruo was also very curious.

Lin Yunwan spoke softly, "In the Qishan Society, there are many disciples of Idealism and Rationalism. I used Rationalist arguments to challenge Idealist views. The Idealists would find it contradictory, and the Rationalists dissatisfied."

In short, she wrote an article on Rationalism disguised as Idealism.

A-Fu might not understand much else, but he knew well the temperament of scholars.

They might not fight over money or gold, but they would come to blows over differing opinions in a single sentence.

"This... might indeed lead to a fight!"

A-Fu stood by, ready to enjoy the show.

Qi Lingheng stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze growing slightly heavier.

In the courtyard, the situation escalated, with the noise of the argument growing louder, and someone, unable to control their temper, started shoving.

A-Fu chuckled, "Hey, they really started fighting!"

Xi Ruo, skilled in martial arts, knew the signs of someone about to strike.

She whispered to Lin Yunwan, "The people with Young Master Yan are about to start a fight."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Yan Jingzong's companions had already swung their fists at someone nearby. The other party touched their bleeding mouth and retaliated with a heavy punch, leading to complete chaos.

"It's a mess, a complete mess!"

A-Fu watched anxiously, chuckling, "These scholars, seemingly weak, can actually throw quite a punch."

The punches landed heavily.

The lush bamboo outside partially obscured their view. Lin Yunwan stepped forward to observe the scholars she had chosen.

Xi Ruo also stood by, watching how the scholars in the courtyard would react in this chaos.

"Miss, someone is trying to break up the fight."

A-Fu, following Xi Ruo, commented, "There's a peacemaker, but look, he’s actually taking sides! This is only going to make the fight worse!"

Indeed, more and more people joined the fray.

"Yan Jingzong... hey, that kid is smart, hiding in the corner."

A-Fu watched Yan Jingzong closely, then noticed him sending his servant away from the courtyard, and said, "Hey, what’s he sending his servant to do now?"

Qi Lingheng said indifferently, "Naturally, to call the owner of the garden to take control of the situation."

Nobody could control the scene, but since it was someone else's garden, they had to give the owner some respect.

At this point, the only option was to call the garden's owner.

A-Fu praised Yan Jingzong with a laugh, "He is indeed calm."

Lin Yunwan also smiled lightly, "More than just calm."

"What else did Miss Lin notice?"

Qi Lingheng's voice became a bit gentler and lower.

Lin Yunwan paused before explaining point by point, "He is also a disciple of the School of Mind. After hearing my article, he didn’t show any signs of anger. This indicates he is broad-minded and tolerant."

"Seeing his classmates fighting and realizing that mediation was futile, he stepped back. At the height of the chaos, to ensure his own safety, he quietly retreated to the wall and instructed his servant to call for help."

Qi Lingheng listened with interest, "What does this reveal?"

Lin Yunwan glanced at him.

Shouldn't the prince be better at reading people than her? Wasn't this obvious enough?

Seeing Qi Lingheng silent as if genuinely asking for her opinion, she answered, "Advising his classmates is benevolent, stepping back is courteous, preserving oneself is wise, and sending a servant to resolve the dispute is virtuous."

Qi Lingheng's smile deepened, "It seems the man you favor most today is him."

Lin Yunwan remained silent.

This Yan Jingzong was indeed excellent, a suitable match.

The only question was whether he was a responsible person.

A-Fu pointed towards the garden gate, chuckling, "The steward of the garden is here."

Zhao Jingyi only occasionally came to listen to the Qishan Society's scholars discuss and debate... not that he enjoyed these discussions, but he feared societies forming in his garden that might spread dissent against the government, which would be troublesome.

He happened to be away today.

"Ah! This Yan Jingzong is indeed impressive."

A-Fu was very surprised, marveling at how calm Yan Jingzong remained even at this moment.

He quickly made his way through the crowd and approached the steward, bowing and speaking.

A-Fu sighed, "It's a pity we can't hear what he's saying."

Lin Yunwan, however, did not feel the same regret. Her eyes shone slightly, "Regardless of what he said, he explained it clearly in just a few words—the steward has already sent people to restrain those who started the fight."

The accompanying guards, adopting the strategy of capturing the leaders first, immediately separated the ones who were fighting most fiercely.

A-Fu chuckled, "Yan Jingzong is formidable—had he not made his point in a few words, the steward wouldn’t have been able to separate them so quickly."

Lin Yunwan nodded.

That was exactly the point.

She was so engrossed in watching that she didn't hear Qi Lingheng's voice next to her. Turning slightly, she saw the prince also watching intently.

"It's not over yet."

Qi Lingheng suddenly spoke.

They continued to watch, and indeed, it wasn't over.

A-Fu commented, "These scholars... their verbal skills are the most formidable. How can the steward of Qishan Garden outtalk them?"

Lin Yunwan paused, then said, "After all, the steward is just that—a steward. He can manage people, but can't administer justice."

"The scholars ask the steward to arbitrate... but what can he really decide?"

"He couldn’t even understand the article that sparked the conflict!"

"At first, the steward managed to say a few words, but then the scholars started arguing again... With descendants of the prestigious Jiangqian literary families on both sides, he didn’t want to offend anyone, so he resorted to equivocating: 'Hey... stop arguing, please!'"

"Let’s talk it out calmly."

"It’s just an article, why make such a big fuss?"

Seeing that he was about to lose control again, the steward was at his wit's end.

Yan Jingzong stepped forward, intending to speak, but as a young man of modest scholarly and family background, he couldn’t make much impact.

Those with louder voices easily drowned his out.

A-Fu shook his head, "These are supposed to be scholars! They argue no better than the vendors in a vegetable market."

Qi Lingheng chuckled lightly and said, "Let’s go."

A-Fu, not quite catching on, followed in confusion, "Your Highness, where are you going?"

Qi Lingheng glanced at Lin Yunwan before telling A-Fu, "As you said, it’s no different from quarreling in a vegetable market. If I don’t go, how will they ever conclude?"

Lin Yunwan curtsied respectfully, "Thank you for your intervention, Your Highness."

Qi Lingheng smiled and led A-Fu away.

Lin Yunwan and Xiruo stood by the window. As familiar figures came into view, the scholars suddenly quieted down.

They said in unison, "Greetings to Prince Huan."

Qi Lingheng walked to the forefront, his expression distant but his tone somewhat gentle, "Bring the writings to me for review."

The steward presented them with both hands.

Qi Lingheng pretended to read them for the first time.

He then questioned each of the quarreling individuals.

Lin Yunwan couldn’t hear what Qi Lingheng asked, but saw that the men were rendered speechless, quickly bringing the situation under control. The previously noisy scholars suddenly fell silent, with only the sound of bamboo rustling in the wind outside the pavilion.