Making you a son-in-law is not about making you conquer the world.

The engagement banquet was tense, with the prefect enthusiastically introducing several powerful figures, clearly intending to intimidate the city lord's mansion.

"This is the Commandant of the Northern Garrison!" The Prefect smiled obsequiously at Xia Linglong.

Xia Linglong attended the banquet solely to find clues about the man in black, so as not to give the prefect any face.

Lin Ping couldn't help but have doubts. Although Xia Linglong had a special identity, her official position was not high. Moreover, she had ruined the prefect's plans time and time again. There was no need for the other party to flatter her so much.

"Could it be that this old guy has some other scheme?" Lin Ping wondered, but he had no clue whatsoever.

At the same time, Lin Ping grinned at Xia Linglong, as if to say, "Captain Xia, we meet again!"

Although Lin Ping didn't have much affection for Xia Linglong, he couldn't afford to offend her at this critical juncture, so he had to try his best to win over his teammates.

Xia Linglong glared at Lin Ping, her mind filled with his lewd expression, and a feeling of disgust welled up inside her.

The last person introduced by the prefect was Tian Duoduo, the top leader of Jin Manlou in Jiangcheng. He was short, hunchbacked, and had a shifty-eyed look. You could tell at a glance that he was cunning to the core.

Tian Duoduo not only didn't show a cold look, but even deliberately smiled at Jiang Yunying.

"Now that all the big shots have been introduced, it's time to serve me the food!" Lin Ping thought to himself, his eyes scanning his surroundings like lightning, waiting for the other party's schemes and tricks.

As expected, Lin Ping's old acquaintance, Tian Gou, stepped forward and said in a sarcastic tone, "I have heard that the song and lyrics that Miss Lu played just now were written by the Prince Consort. I suppose the Prince Consort is a man of great talent and learning. I wonder if he could give me, a worthless scholar, some pointers?"

Tian Gou's move was insidious. He first used Lu Lingsha's words to elevate Lin Ping, putting him in a difficult position, and ultimately causing him to lose face.

Jiang Yunying shook her head, signaling Lin Ping not to accept the challenge. She naturally knew that this playboy husband had some skills; he probably couldn't even recognize all the common characters, let alone instruct a scholar.

Lin Ping smiled and said calmly, "It is true that a mere Juren is somewhat incompetent, but the registrar has a good name, which must reflect my father's high hopes for you."

Upon hearing this, not only was Tian Gou furious, but all the scholars present glared angrily at Lin Ping. Being a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations) was a status that many people could boast about for a lifetime, and it was the goal that countless people pursued throughout their lives. The entire Jiangcheng Prefecture could only produce a few dozen Juren each year.

You, Lin Ping, actually said that some scholars are indeed incompetent? You're clearly trying to incite hatred!

However, was Lin Ping wrong?

He was the mentor of a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, so of course he had the right to say such things.

Just as Tian Gou was at his angrier, he heard the second half of the sentence, which calmed him down a bit. Lin Ping not only praised himself but also commended his father.

However, what he said next almost made Tian Gou vomit blood.

"Tian Gou is a sycophant! A dog that flatters its master is deeply loved and rises in status quickly. So, it's easy for you, the registrar, to rise to prominence!" Lin Ping explained in a serious tone.

"Hahaha..." This explanation immediately drew laughter from the audience, and many people's faces began to twitch, but they had to force themselves to keep a straight face.

"Lin Ping, I, your, grandfather!" Tian Gou mumbled, not daring to curse aloud. First, he was afraid Jiang Yunying would kill him, and second, he was afraid of ruining his noble image.

"You're the one who asked me to give you pointers. Not only did you not kneel to thank me, but you also dared to complain in your heart?" Lin Ping stared coldly at Tian Gou.

Jiang Yunying turned her head away, not daring to look at Lin Ping, thinking to herself, "Husband, please don't disgrace our culture, okay? This represents the face of the City Lord's Mansion."

Tian Gou's face turned ashen with anger. Knowing he couldn't talk to Lin Pingke, he took out a brush and ink and wrote a large character on the Xuan paper, asking, "What character is this?"

The group of scholars and intellectuals all stood on tiptoe and craned their necks to look, partly out of curiosity and partly out of a desire to show off. However, when they saw the character clearly, they all shrank back and even deliberately looked at the ground, as if every piece of floorboard was a work of art, afraid of being asked by the people next to them.

Jiang Yunying also glanced at it and frowned immediately. She was certain she had never seen this character before. She wanted to give Lin Ping a hint, but she was powerless to do so.

"I wonder if the Registrar is testing me or asking me for advice?" Lin Ping asked in a cold voice.

If you want Master Ping to answer your questions, you should at least show some sincerity.

Tian Gou was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer. If he said he was testing Lin Ping, the other party might not answer. If he said he was asking for advice, he would be putting himself at a disadvantage.

To embarrass Lin Ping in public, Tian Gou reluctantly said, "I was seeking advice from the Prince Consort!"

He anticipated that Lin Ping would embarrass himself, and then reveal the answer, which would prove that he hadn't really asked for advice, thus saving face.

"I won't teach you!" Lin Ping turned his head and said, "My good-for-nothing disciples all kneel on the ground to ask me questions. I can't answer you with your attitude."

As the saying goes, "a teacher can teach even one word," so it's not unreasonable for Lin Ping to ask the other party to kneel on the ground.

Tian Gou clenched his teeth together, making a "squeaking" sound. He really wanted to spit a mouthful of phlegm at Lin Ping; this request was simply too much.

He was a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations and held the official position of registrar. Wouldn't it be a disgrace for him to kneel down in public to a spendthrift?

Just as Tian Gou was about to slink away, Zhang Hongyuan cast a cold glance at him, seemingly telling him to satisfy Lin Ping's demands.

Tian Gou, true to his name, would never disobey his master. He knelt down before Lin Ping with a thud and stammered, "I beg Your Highness for guidance!"

This action caused an uproar throughout the audience. No one expected that a scholar would kneel before Lin Ping, this good-for-nothing.

“Young Master Lin, if you don’t recognize this character, you can discuss it with the Princess and the Heir Apparent, or even invite the gentlemen of the City Lord’s Mansion to discuss it together.” Zhang Hongyuan said with a sarcastic smile, confident that Lin Ping, and even the entire City Lord’s Mansion, did not recognize the character.

This was a character that Tian Gou accidentally discovered in an ancient book. He spent a lot of effort to barely guess its pronunciation and meaning. Not to mention Lin Ping, even a scholar or the top scholar might not recognize it.

Lin Ping thought to himself that Zhang Hongyuan was treacherous and cunning. Originally, he was the one who lost face, but now the entire city lord's mansion has lost face. Therefore, Tian Gou's kneeling was well worth it.

"This is an uncommon character, and I need to rack my brains to figure it out. Whenever this happens, my disciple keeps kowtowing. I wonder if the Registrar would be willing to help me think of it?" Lin Ping continued.

A man's knees are worth their weight in gold. Tian Gou's kneeling was a disgrace. If he kept kowtowing, where would his dignity as a human being be?

So Tian Gou turned his head and even tried to get up from the ground.

"I have no ideas without someone kowtowing to me. Let me go back to the manor and think it over." Lin Ping turned his head helplessly and said to Jiang Yunying, "My lady, let's go back to the manor..."

"I curse you!" Zhang Hongyuan cursed Lin Ping a thousand times in his heart. This is no way! Not only did you not answer, but you also want to go back to the mansion. The cold dishes haven't even been served yet. If you leave, who will eat all the meat and vegetables on the table?

So Zhang Hongyuan smiled and said to Tian Gou, "Quickly kowtow to Young Master Chen!"