SBCEJM -Chapter 242 Top Scholar Feng’s Peach Blossom Calamity! The Capital’s Noble Ladies Die of Secondhand Embarrassment Together!

The next morning’s court session.

Emperor Xiao Juechen sat steadily upon the dragon throne, clad in his imperial robes.

He gave a light cough, and Chief Eunuch Wang Dehai immediately unfolded the bright yellow imperial decree and proclaimed it in his long, drawn-out tone:

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Hanlin Academy Compiler Feng Zekai, in organizing the historical records Draft History of Northern Yan, has conducted meticulous textual research, filled in omissions, and rendered outstanding merit. He is hereby specially promoted to Secretariat Drafter. Thus is Our decree.”

The moment the decree was finished, the court first fell silent.

Then hushed discussions surged like a rising tide.

Though Secretariat Drafter was not considered a top-ranking office, it was a genuine position close to the emperor, responsible for drafting imperial edicts and participating in confidential affairs.

At only eighteen years old, Feng Zekai had already received such an important post. His future could only be described as soaring straight into the clouds.

Standing among the officials, Feng Huai’an tried his best to maintain a stern expression.

But the slightly raised corners of his lips and the pride overflowing from his eyes had already betrayed him completely.

Feng Zexuan wore her princely court robes, making her appear even more heroic and imposing.

Inside, she was already overjoyed, the smile at the corners of her mouth even more obvious than her father’s.

【My brother is amazing! How long has it even been? He already got promoted!】

【Now that he’s talented, handsome, and from a clean, respectable family, the girls in the capital who admire him are probably going to line up all the way to the city gates, right?】

The moment those words came out, quite a few ministers with marriageable daughters had already started furiously working out their little schemes.

The Northern Suppression Prince Feng Zexuan was someone many people could hear the inner thoughts of—an existence not to be provoked.

But her brother, who possessed both peerless talent and looks and limitless prospects ahead of him…

He was the hottest eligible bachelor in the entire capital!

Prime Minister Lin’s hand paused slightly as he stroked his beard, and his eyelid twitched uncontrollably.

His youngest daughter, who was usually arrogant and picky beyond compare, had shyly asked her mother just a few days ago what kinds of pastries Scholar Feng liked to eat.

He had even been planning to find an excuse to host a flower-viewing banquet to create opportunities for the young people.

However, the system’s next words dumped a bucket of ice water over every minister harboring beautiful fantasies.

【Host, don’t worry. Your brother is single entirely by his own ability. No matter how many peach blossoms he gets, it’s useless.】

Feng Zexuan froze.

【Huh? My brother’s had romantic prospects before? Why haven’t I seen even a single one?】

The system chuckled.

【That’s because he belongs to the “quickly cut through the mess” type!】

【Before the peach blossom can even bloom in front of him, he digs it up roots and all—with the dirt still attached!】

At once, the entire Golden Throne Hall went quiet.

Everyone pricked up their ears, even unconsciously softening their breathing.

How exactly did the flawless Top Scholar Feng reject women?

This was practically one of the capital’s greatest unsolved mysteries!

Several ministers who had already decided to pursue a marriage alliance unconsciously tightened their grip on their court tablets.

【Oh?】

Feng Zexuan’s gossip-loving soul burst into flames.

【Quick, tell me! How exactly does my brother “cut through the mess”?】

【Oh, there are plenty of stories.】

The system launched into full storyteller mode.

【Let’s go back eight years. Your brother was only ten then. The daughter of the Assistant Minister of Works—a fairly famous young literary talent in the capital—gave him a love poem.】

The Assistant Minister of Works, standing among the officials, stiffened visibly.

His breathing and heartbeat sped up abruptly.

It was over. Public execution had reached his family.

【The poem was actually very well written: “I wish to become the southwest wind, forever drifting into your embrace.” Direct and passionate.】

【But after your brother read it?】

The system deliberately dragged out its tone like a storyteller building suspense.

【The next day, he sent back a reply letter.】

【He didn’t discuss romance or feelings at all. Instead, he very seriously pointed out three errors in her classical references.】

【He even added: “Though the poem’s intent is admirable, your scholarship remains inadequate. Perhaps after studying diligently for three more years, Miss may discuss poetry with me again.”】

【Your brother was only ten years old back then! The Assistant Minister’s daughter was two years older than him!】

【That one letter made her so furious she tore up all her poetry collections on the spot and cried while swearing never to write poetry again for the rest of her life!】

The expressions of the officials became absolutely marvelous.

Some widened their eyes.

Others’ mouths twitched violently.

Several younger officials were holding back laughter so hard their faces turned red and their shoulders shook.

The Assistant Minister of Works only felt darkness swimming before his eyes while the veins at his temples throbbed.

His precious daughter had excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, proud beyond compare among noble ladies.

After receiving that reply letter, she locked herself in her room and cried for three days and nights.

From then on, she avoided anything related to the character “Feng.”

She did not even dare open sealed letters anymore.

The expression on Feng Huai’an’s face became indescribable.

That brat!

Was that even something a human being would do?!

Feng Zekai had his eyes closed and his face expressionless, but the faint redness at the tips of his ears exposed his current embarrassment.

【HAHAHAHAHAHA!】

Feng Zexuan laughed so hard internally she practically slapped her thigh.

【Correcting homework with a love confession?! Is my brother a demon? What happened to that young lady afterward?】

The system replied:

【Afterward? Afterward, that young lady told everyone your brother was a “Dream-Destroying Master.” Wherever he went, not a blade of grass survived. He specialized in shattering the romantic dreams of young maidens.】

【Among the noble ladies of the capital, that nickname is way more famous than his title of “Godlike Handsome Top Scholar.”】

【Dream-Destroying Master… hahaha, that’s way too accurate!】

Feng Zexuan laughed until tears nearly came out.

【More, more! Tell me more! Make me happy!】

Feng Zekai opened his eyes and looked toward his little sister, his gaze full of grievance.

Xuan’er, take it easy!

I’m your actual biological brother!

【There’s more! Of course there’s more!】

The system sounded like it had been injected with chicken blood.

【Last year, right after you left for Yanmen Pass, the daughter of a Ministry of Personnel official—a bold one—directly stopped your brother’s wheelchair during a chance meeting at a temple and confessed to him affectionately.】

【“This humble girl has long admired you, Young Master. May I ask what kind of qualities you seek in a future wife?”】

Feng Zexuan immediately perked up.

【And how did my brother answer?】

【Your brother pondered for a moment, then replied very gently.】

The system imitated Feng Zekai’s tone word for word:

【“This humble one understands Miss’s feelings. However, I grew up by my younger sister’s side and have long since become accustomed to her companionship.”】

【“If my future wife could be as highly skilled in martial arts as my sister—capable of knocking down ten burly men alone, frank and openhearted, unrestrained by trifles—then naturally I could ask for nothing better.”】

【“After all, my legs are inconvenient and I lack the strength even to truss a chicken. I need a powerful wife to protect me.”】

【That young lady was stunned on the spot.】

【What noble lady could knock down ten burly men?! Wasn’t that just a disguised rejection?!】

The Golden Throne Hall fell into eerie silence.

Everyone’s gaze unconsciously drifted toward the tall, commanding Northern Suppression Prince Feng Zexuan standing among the officials.

Knock down ten burly men…

Recalling the Northern Suppression Prince’s glorious achievements at Yanmen Pass and within court, nobody doubted the authenticity of this requirement.

Could it be…

Scholar Feng’s standard was a woman who knew martial arts?

In an instant, the eyes of several military officials lit up!

Their families might lack many things, but daughters who could fight were abundant!

Previously they had worried their daughters were too rough and unruly to marry well, but now it seemed they were actually hidden treasures!

Feng Zekai only felt the veins at his temples throbbing violently.

Back then, he had merely wanted to find an outrageous excuse to permanently extinguish the other party’s hopes.

Who would have thought his sister would suddenly expose all his gossip today…

Great. Now he’d probably been labeled as some “pretty boy seeking protection from strong women.”

【This move is incredible! Using me as a shield!】

Feng Zexuan was utterly delighted.

【Any more? Spill all my brother’s romantic disasters! Today’s court gossip KPI depends entirely on him!】

【There’s absolutely more!】

The system continued:

【Two days ago, the daughter of Minister Zhang “coincidentally” encountered your brother in the imperial garden and pulled the classic handkerchief-dropping trick.】

Minister Zhang of the Ministry of Rites swayed slightly, nearly losing his footing.

【Your brother behaved very gentlemanly. He picked it up and politely returned it to her.】

【Then…】

Feng Zexuan hurriedly urged:

【Then what happened?】