Quick Transmigration: The Female Supporting Character's Counterattack, A Guide to Cunning Strat

"Do you know who mentored Gu Jieyuan?" Lin Shuwan asked smugly.

"Mr. Song Jin?"

"That's right. It's said that he only started learning to read after he arrived at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. Apart from Mr. Song, it seems that no other teachers were hired. So his first teacher should have been Mr. Song."

"Could it be that he received guidance from other experts before?"

Lin Shuwan nodded reservedly: "That's right. Mr. Song can only be considered his second teacher. Gu Yanli's first teacher was me."

The crowd questioned, "You?"

Lin Shuwan was so pleased with herself that she forgot her current identity and almost gave herself away. She quickly changed her tune:

"What I mean is, it was actually me... I heard from my aunt's son's wife's uncle's aunt that it was Miss Lin from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion who first taught him."

"I heard that she had a keen eye for talent and immediately recognized Gu Yanli's ability to read and write. She even hired Mr. Song for him and supervised his studies every day afterward."

"Moreover, it was Miss Lin who personally taught him to hold a pen and practice calligraphy in the beginning, and she also frequently supervised and checked on him afterward."

"She is truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and exceptionally talented."

(I think the one in the blue robe is the second son of the Minister of Ceremonies.)

(Hmph, my reputation for being illiterate is all thanks to his sister!)

(While I may not be very good at writing poetry, it doesn't mean I'm completely illiterate!)

(Only I am magnanimous enough not to stoop to her level.)

(This white one with bamboo pattern should belong to the Imperial Academy Chancellor's family.)

(This makes me angry. His sister once said behind my back that I was illiterate and vulgar, and I overheard it.)

(I hadn't even done anything to her before she started crying from fear.)

(Now the explanation failed, and another stain on his reputation was added.)

(And there seems to be that one in the blue robe...)

……

(Alas, perhaps this is the price of being too outstanding.)

(Everyone knows that I am not only beautiful and skilled in martial arts, but also talented. Wouldn't that leave no way for others to survive?)

(Perhaps in the eyes of ordinary people, talent, good looks, literary skills, and martial arts are mutually exclusive.)

(However, after what happened today, I'm sure everyone has to admit that there really is a woman as stunningly beautiful as me in this world!)

(They'd better teach me a lesson too, and when they get back, they should have a good talk with their sisters. I'm not an illiterate person!)

(To avoid the need for veiled criticisms and endless grumbling at every banquet.)

Gu Yanli watched Lin Shuwan boasting with a smile in his eyes.

However, judging from her words, it seems that the sisters of the young men present all had a grudge against her.

Gu Yanli glanced discreetly at the people Lin Shuwan had mentioned and silently memorized their identities.

Just as Lin Shuwan was speaking with pride, the second son of the Grand Master of Ceremonies interrupted loudly, "I don't believe it. Everyone knows that Miss Lin of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is a vulgar person!"

Others chimed in, "Exactly! All they do all day is practice swordsmanship; they don't act like proper women at all."

"If you ask me, a woman should be virtuous, gentle, and well-behaved, not like her, who has no manners!"

"Where did you hear this news? You don't happen to be in love with Miss Lin yourself, so you're here to give her a good reputation, do you?"

One of them saw Lin Shuwan's red lips and white teeth, and her slender figure, and teased, "Looking at your appearance, are you perhaps planning to become the son-in-law of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?"

The two people accompanying her looked Lin Shuwan up and down upon hearing this, and revealed meaningful smiles: "With such looks, she might actually catch Miss Lin's eye."

"It's really good."

"You! All three of you..." Lin Shuwan was so angry that she put her hand on her waist, only to find that she had changed her clothes today and had not brought a whip because she was worried that people would recognize her.

The next second, Gu Yanli grabbed her hand that was on her waist and pulled her behind him.

"Please be careful what you say."

Gu Yanli deliberately drowned out the others' voices: "We are all well-read people, and there is no reason in the books of sages to arbitrarily slander others."

"Who are you?"

Gu Yanli cupped his hands in greeting: "I am indeed the Gu Yanli you all mentioned earlier."

Everyone straightened up and returned the greeting, saying, "So it's Brother Gu. Our apologies."

"I've wanted to visit Brother Gu for a while, but I haven't been able to find a suitable opportunity. Today, I can see that Brother Gu is indeed extraordinary."

"Brother Gu, your two poems are truly exquisite. May we discuss and exchange ideas further?"

"Brother Gu, my surname is Zhang, and my given name is Yi..."

"My name is Liu..."

……

Gu Yanli raised his hand and said tactfully, "I am grateful for your kindness, but compared with your words just now, my humble work is really not worth mentioning."

"I have long heard of the elegant gatherings and have long yearned to attend them. I hope to find a kindred spirit and good friend here."

"I ran into Brother Lin by chance. Although she is still young, she is an upright and honest person, yet she is being slandered for no reason."

"Words spoken lightly are easily uttered; words spoken heavily can hurt others and benefit oneself."

"I thought those who came would be people of high moral character, but I never expected to hear such foul language." Gu Yanli shook his head and sighed, "This is truly disappointing."

"This..." The crowd looked at each other, their gazes involuntarily turning to the three people who had just made up about Lin Shuwan's appearance.

"Brother Xu, I felt that what you said earlier was a bit excessive."

"Yes, Brother He, Brother Sun, you should apologize to Young Master Lin as well."

The three men were getting restless under the gaze of the crowd. The young master Xu, who had spoken first, could not withstand the pressure and had to cup his hands and say, "It was my rudeness. I hope young master Lin will forgive me."

The other two also apologized, but there was little remorse in their eyes.

Lin Shuwan could tell that they had bowed down because of the situation, so she turned her head to the side and said, "You weren't sincere, so I won't forgive you."

"you!"

"Anyway, we have already apologized, so let's part ways here."

The three men were furious and stormed off.

Lin Shuwan muttered, "Tch, running away when you can't win an argument, you really can't take a joke."

Gu Yanli couldn't help but chuckle when he heard what she said, but he still addressed the others present with a serious expression: "I just heard you all talking about Miss Lin."

"To be honest, Miss Lin has been kind to me, and she is not the vulgar person you all describe."

"I hope everyone will stop believing one-sided information and spreading rumors."

"Besides, General Lin is brave and skilled in battle, and his children are also good at martial arts. What's wrong with that?"

"How can we restrict Miss Lin's preferences just because she is a woman?"

"General Lin fought bravely against the enemy and protected our vast territory, but in the end, his children were subjected to some unfounded slanders."

"If he knew this, he would be heartbroken."

Everyone present was capable of admitting their mistakes and correcting them. Upon hearing Gu Yanli's words, they also felt ashamed: "We were narrow-minded. Brother Gu is right."