After being reborn, her aloof ex-husband and her crazy deceased husband got into a fight.

A wise person is quick to act but slow to speak.

From a young age, Lan Tingzhou was taught to be thoughtful and reserved, to behave with dignity, and not to be frivolous. This fostered in him a cool and aloof nature, where he remained calm, silent, and enigmatic.

He always kept his thoughts well hidden, and few could guess them.

Lantingzhi was his younger brother, but he always felt that Lantingzhou was like a deep pool, seemingly beautiful on the surface, but unfathomable in reality.

"Brother, what is Mo Yun going to do at Jingxing Academy?" Lan Tingzhi climbed in through the window and plopped down next to Lan Tingzhou.

Lan Tingzhou lifted his eyelids, looked at him coldly, and scolded, "You have a door but you don't use it, you're always climbing through the window, what kind of behavior is this!"

"Climbing through the window is quick. If you want to go through the main gate, you have to go around in a big circle. Why bother?" Lan Tingzhi replied dismissively, wiping his sweat.

"By the way, is Mo Yun getting involved with that servant boy named Qingfeng? Could it be that he's harboring ulterior motives and wants to switch employers?"

"What do you mean by 'flirting'? You should read more serious books and less romance novels all day long."

"Heh, I'm not taking the exam. Besides, your sister-in-law sent me here to protect you, not to study."

"You do listen to her," Lan Tingzhou scoffed.

"My sister-in-law is good to me, why shouldn't I listen to her?"

"Hey, you still haven't told me why Mo Yun keeps going to see Qing Feng."

"Qingfeng is Du Xu's personal servant."

"Oh, so your target is Lord Du?"

Lan Tingzhou raised his eyes and, unusually, looked directly at Lan Tingzhi. He hadn't expected Lan Tingzhi to be so perceptive.

The admiration in Lan Tingzhou's eyes made Lan Tingzhi puff out his chest, feeling a little proud.

"Brother, just tell me what you need me to do, and I promise I'll complete the task."

Lan Tingzhou pulled two books from the bookshelf: "Copy these two military treatises from memory five times. I will check them in three days."

Lan Tingzhi jumped up instantly: "No, brother, that's not what I meant! I meant I can help you investigate people."

"This was also arranged by your sister-in-law. Didn't you say you listen to her the most?" Lan Tingzhou raised an eyebrow.

"Ha, don't try to fool me! My sister-in-law said she wanted you to explain the art of war to me, not to copy it down!"

"Alright, I'm not going to argue with you anymore. I'm going to find Mo Yun."

After Lanting finished speaking, he jumped out of the window again with a "whoosh".

Lan Tingzhou watched his departing figure and couldn't help but rub his forehead.

"Young Master, Qingfeng said that Young Master Du is most fond of collecting the Four Treasures of the Study. He had been eyeing the Chengni inkstone that Lord Du took out at the lotus appreciation banquet for a long time, and kept pestering Lord Du to give it to him, but Lord Du didn't give it to him."

Lantingzhou pondered for a moment, then slowly said

"In that case, spread the word at the academy that I'm selling that Chengni inkstone, and the highest bidder wins."

"Young Master, that Chengni inkstone was a reward from Lord Du. Would it be inappropriate to sell it so openly?" Mo Yun hesitated.

"It's alright." Lan Tingzhou smiled faintly. "Everyone in the academy knows that my family is poor."

“You’re poor? Then why did you bring two pageboys to live in the academy?” Lan Tingzhi said that this statement was problematic.

“That’s why Mo Yun often goes to Jingxing Academy to earn extra money.” Lan Tingzhou glanced at him sideways.

"Oh, so you planned all of this step by step all along!" Lan Tingzhi suddenly realized.

"Hehe, young master, you are always cautious in your actions. You can think of what others can think of, and you can also think of what others cannot think of."

Mo Yun chuckled and praised his young master.

"When you have nothing to do, go out less and read more books."

Lan Tingzhou then took out the two military treatises and tossed them into Lan Tingzhi's arms. Under Lan Tingzhou's cold gaze, this time Lan Tingzhi didn't dare to throw the books away, but obediently accepted them.

The day after Mo Yun released the news, Du Xu came to his door.

"Brother Lan, I heard you're going to sell that Chengni inkstone?" Du Xu didn't waste any words and asked directly.

Lantingzhou nodded.

"Why?"

"I have to take the imperial examination in two months. I have been focusing on my studies and have rarely taken on any painting projects. However, I have many expenses at home and am struggling to make ends meet, so I have no choice but to resort to this measure."

Lan Tingzhou spoke frankly about his difficult life, which made it difficult for Du Xu to press him further.

"I see. This Chengni inkstone was originally part of my father's collection, and I've always cherished it. Since Brother Lan is willing to sell it, why not part with it and let me have it? The price is negotiable!"

"Brother Du wants to acquire this inkstone, which I am happy to see happen, as it is a return to its rightful place."

"I usually use purple stone inkstones sold in bookstores. I don't know the market price of these collectible inkstones. Brother Du is an expert, so you should set the price."

Du Xu was delighted to see Lan Tingzhou's straightforwardness and offered a price much higher than the market price.

After the business deal between Lan Tingzhou and Du Xu was successfully completed, Du Xu was overjoyed and insisted on treating Lan Tingzhou to drinks, to which Lan Tingzhou readily agreed.

Because the exams were approaching, Luming Academy had set up a curfew, prohibiting students participating in the academy exams from leaving the school grounds. Therefore, Moyun and Qingfeng had to go out to buy wine and food, while Lantingzhou and Duxu enjoyed a drink at the academy.

"Brother Lan, my father really likes your painting 'Evening Lotus in the Sun,' and it's been hanging in his study all this time." After a few drinks, Du Xu became a bit more talkative.

Lan Tingzhou smiled and said, "I am honored by Lord Du's kind words. Speaking of painting, I heard that you have two young masters in your household who are exceptionally talented and have been favored by Lord Lu, who has taken them as his disciples?"

"Yes, it's the Ninth Prince and the Eighth Prince. Lord Lu gave them some pointers, saying they have a promising future."

"It's a real pity that I didn't get to see you last time I visited your residence."

"Hehe, they're six and five years old, still little kids who haven't grown up yet, what's there to see? Lord Lu taking them in is just to repay a favor to my father."

Lan Tingzhou's heart stirred slightly. He glanced at Du Xu's slightly dazed eyes and poured him another cup of wine.

"Oh? So, Lord Du and Lord Lu have quite a connection?"

"Hey, hey, speaking of which, this matter is related to this Chengni inkstone from today." Du Xu shook his head.

Then, Lan Tingzhou heard from Du Xu about the past between Du Zhong and Lu Yu.

That was back when Du Zhong was serving in the capital. Lu Yu was so obsessed with calligraphy and painting that he spent all his meager salary on them. When he was really short of money, he would sell some of his paintings and use the proceeds to buy more.

As a result, Lu Yu was always in financial straits.

Those two Chengni inkstones originally belonged to Lu Yu. Once, when he couldn't afford to buy the famous "Eight Peaks and Clouds" painting, he reluctantly sold the two Chengni inkstones to Du Zhong.

The Du family was a prominent and wealthy clan in Huainan. Du Zhong never lacked money from a young age, which fostered his public-spirited, righteous, and generous nature.

The eucommia was bought at a price ten times higher than the market price, thus forging a good relationship between the two.

Lu Yu's inspection tour happened to pass through Danzhou, so he stayed at the Du residence for a few more days and even took Du Zhong's two children as his students, as a way of repaying the favor from years ago.

So, this is the truth.

It all made perfect sense, and everything seemed to make sense. But Lan Tingzhou felt that something was amiss.

He sat in his study, gazing at the crescent moon outside the window, his fingers lightly tapping on the desk.

If it's to repay a favor, why take in two underage children as disciples, while neglecting Du Xu, the eldest son?

Lan Tingzhou felt it necessary to visit the Du residence after the exams were over.

On the road to overthrowing Gongsun Yi, he must unite everyone he can and guard against all the dangers he can guard against.