The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class
Chapter 443

Everyone followed the gaze and indeed saw two young boys sitting there drinking tea.

Qin Shi looked up at the sound and waved at them: "Wenxiu, Jin Cheng, you're here too? Uncle... Auntie, hello."

He had initially intended to address Zong Zhao as "General," but noticing Xu Wan shushing him, he quickly recalled that these people likely preferred to keep a low profile, just like them, and promptly adjusted his greeting.

Qin Ye also stood up to bow respectfully: "Uncle, Auntie, hello."

Though the little troublemakers often described Qin Ye as cold, aloof, arrogant, rude, unapproachable, and "with eyes on the top of his head," the truth was, Qin Ye held deep respect for Xu Wan—she had helped him and his brother more than once.

"Hello there," Xu Wan greeted them warmly before asking, "Are the two of you here alone?"

Qin Shi replied, "Father is busy with official duties, and Mother has gone to visit Grandmother. I was worried Qin Ye would be cooped up studying all day, so I brought him out for some fresh air."

Xu Wan raised an eyebrow in surprise. "After the provincial exams, there’s no need to attend the academy. Has Qin Ye really not stepped outside these past few months?"

Qin Shi shook his head. "No, he’s been studying relentlessly—even during New Year’s celebrations, he burned the midnight oil. As his older brother, I’m ashamed to admit I can’t match his dedication."

Not just him—the group of young men behind them exchanged uneasy glances, each feeling a pang of guilt.

They had taken a whole half-day off during the New Year.

Zong Jincheng was even worse—he’d spent several half-days visiting the Crown Prince at the Eastern Palace, wasting even more time.

And yet, Qin Ye, the provincial exam champion, was outworking them all.

How were they supposed to catch up to that?!

The waiter, seeing they were acquainted, suggested merging their tables. Soon, the combined table was laden with melon seeds, dried fruits, and premium tea.

Qin Ye remained silent, his presence alone enough to command the room.

The four young troublemakers sat across from him, their competitive spirits ignited. They’d come here expecting an easy victory, only to be immediately humbled by Qin Ye’s sheer intensity.

A true hardliner—ruthlessly dedicated.

His relentless drive left them utterly overwhelmed.

A question weighed on their minds: When faced with someone stronger and more hardworking than you, how do you surpass them?

The members of the Marquis Estate’s elite study group were all silently grappling with this dilemma.

"Brother Wei, as we all know, the spring exams no longer test poetry. As the top scholar representing Jiangnan, could you share your predictions for this year’s topics?"

The students’ discussion broke the tension, and the group turned their attention to the young prodigy from Jiangnan—Wei Shaoling.

Wei Shaoling smiled and said, "The spring exams always revolve around the same themes—governance, loyalty to the court, and the welfare of the people. As long as one upholds integrity and prioritizes the people and the empire, there’s no need to worry about performance."

"Brother Wei speaks wisely! Your words are more enlightening than ten years of study. If I pass this year, it’ll all be thanks to you!"

Qin Shi nudged Qin Ye’s shoulder and whispered, "Little Ye, listen—this Brother Wei makes a lot of sense, and he’s generous enough to share his insights. I bet he’ll not only pass the metropolitan exams but rank near the top."

Qin Ye replied coolly, "A provincial champion from Jiangnan passing the metropolitan exams is hardly surprising. But if his abilities end here, I doubt he’ll rank highly."

"Huh? Why?" Qin Shi was baffled.

Wei Shaoling’s advice sounded perfectly reasonable—why was his brother dismissing him outright?

Qin Ye’s composed, icy voice carried no urgency as he explained, "His philosophy emphasizes moral restraint—acting virtuously. That might make him a good person, but not necessarily a good official. The imperial exams exist to select capable officials for the court. Integrity matters, but so does governing by law. One must balance virtue and discipline."

This analysis left Qin Shi even more awestruck.

But the five young men from the elite study group grew even more uneasy. They could tell Qin Ye’s policy analysis was just as sharp as theirs.

They had honed their skills through rigorous debates and discussions under the guidance of multiple tutors, officials, and even Xu Wan and Zong Zhao.

But Qin Ye? He was just naturally that good.

Zong ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‍Jincheng crossed his arms and scoffed at Wei Shaoling. "He’s faking it—deliberately holding back key points. Those who take his advice at face value will only end up misguided, ruining their own chances."

The five of them, along with Qin Ye, knew exactly how to craft a winning policy essay. They wouldn’t be swayed.

But someone like Qin Shi? This kind of "advice" wouldn’t help—it might even backfire.

Qin Shi blinked. "Wouldn’t we know if he’s faking it based on his exam results? What if he earned his title through poetry and the classics?"

"Impossible! He’s definitely faking it!" Zong Jincheng snapped. "Jiangnan has no shortage of brilliant scholars. If his policy essays were weak, he’d never have become a provincial champion. This is no coincidence!"

No one understood the impact of a single weak subject on rankings better than him—otherwise, he wouldn’t have trailed Qin Ye by nine places.

The little troublemaker grew increasingly agitated. "That scheming Wei Shaoling! If he didn’t want to share, he should’ve kept quiet. Misleading others under the guise of a provincial champion? He’s just thinning out the competition!"

With a slam on the table, he shot to his feet and marched toward the crowd.

Zong Jincheng planted his hands on his hips and shouted, "Hey! You there—Wei the Fraud from Jiangnan! If everyone followed your advice on policy essays, this whole room would fail!"

Silence fell over the hall.

Even the tea shop owner, mid-bite into a melon seed, froze.

The waiters gaped, scrutinizing Zong Jincheng’s group. Aside from the little troublemaker’s outburst, the others remained seated—hardly the behavior of troublemakers, more like kids causing a scene.

The scholars, seeing only a child daring to call their provincial champion a fraud, erupted in outrage. "Who does this brat think he is? How dare he slander Brother Wei, the pride of Jiangnan?"

Zong Jincheng tilted his chin up smugly. "Hah! What’s so special about a Jiangnan champion? Our capital’s provincial champion says he’s leading you astray—holding back the truth with ulterior motives!"

The seated boys, who had been watching the spectacle, suddenly snapped their attention to one person—the capital’s provincial champion.

Qin Ye: "…?"