"You... bought your title as Top Graduate?!"
Lin Qinrou looked at Jiang Xiaobai, and her already cool eyes darkened further.
For a moment, even the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"Yes."
Jiang Xiaobai nodded without hesitation.
Seeing his reaction, the chill on Lin Qinrou's face grew markedly deeper.
Indeed, what she despised most was cheating in the imperial examinations.
What did people spend years studying by a cold window for?
Nothing more than the chance to climb step by step through their own abilities.
Yet there were always people who lacked those abilities but relied on their family backgrounds, buying and selling official posts to force out those with genuine talent and learning.
In her eyes, such people were nothing less than worms gnawing at the imperial examinations and filth staining the Imperial Court.
If they ever rose to high office, they would only become a scourge upon the lands they governed.
Especially Jiang Xiaobai, who had clearly bought his title as Top Graduate yet still acted as though it meant nothing.
That attitude only made her angrier and filled her with greater disgust!
A man like this...
And he still wanted her help explaining the etiquette for an imperial audience?
Utterly laughable!!
"Qin'er, it's not what you think!"
Standing beside them, Li Zhiwei had clearly noticed the change in Lin Qinrou's expression. Her heart tightened, and she immediately said, "Heir Jiang... does have genuine ability!"
"Genuine ability?"
Hearing that, Lin Qinrou looked coldly at Li Zhiwei. "If he truly has ability, he should have taken the examination on his own merits!"
"Why would he need to buy the title of Top Graduate?"
"Zhiwei, I don't know why you're speaking up for him, but there is simply no defending something like this!"
At that point, Lin Qinrou's gaze