Li was determined to go to prison and be beheaded herself rather than implicate Zhan Feiyu.
Madam Ma was so furious she glared at Madam Wang, saying indignantly, "Sister Wang, you witnessed today's events firsthand. You know what to say when we get to court!"
Besides the servants and coachman accompanying Madam Ma, only Madam Wang had brought a servant. The rest were villagers from Jinlin Village. Madam Ma, worried they might give false testimony, had roped Madam Wang into it.
"Sister Ma, it's not that Sister Li doesn't agree to this marriage. To speak frankly, we've heard that Scholar Zhang has suppressed Xiao Yu several times. Who would dare to agree to such a marriage?" Madam Wang spoke sincerely.
Not only Li, but the village chief and the elder patriarch also nodded in agreement. If it were a good family, it would be fine, but Scholar Zhang's family was more like a trap.
"Then you can all wait to go to court!" Madam Ma threw down the gauntlet, quickly closed the wooden box, and had her servant and coachman carry the remaining gift boxes. The three of them left in a fury.
The main hall fell silent for the moment. Although Madam Ma had left, the matter was far from over.
The village chief looked at Madam Wang, who was beside him, "Madam Wang, what brings you here today?"
Madam Wang's round, festive face showed a wry smile. Madam Ma was an official matchmaker, and when the two met, she naturally had to let Madam Ma speak first.
Although she knew it wasn't a good time to propose, Madam Wang still spoke, "I am also here to propose marriage for Xiao Yu. I never expected such a turn of events."
"Thank you for making the trip in vain, Madam Wang," the village chief replied on behalf of Li.
"Village Chief, Sister Li, please listen to me. Perhaps we can resolve Scholar Zhang's matter." As Madam Wang spoke, the worried Li looked up.
Madam Wang gave Li a reassuring smile and continued, "I am here today to propose marriage on behalf of the third son of Lord Tong from Nanxuan Prefecture."
Last night, the head steward of the Tong mansion had come, and Madam Wang was surprised. Official families proposing marriage would usually find an official matchmaker. Now she understood. Madam Ma must have gone to Zhang's private school, and because of the tight schedule, the head steward had asked her to come propose.
"Lord Tong?" The elder patriarch was unfamiliar with the title, and others in the hall were the same. The highest-ranking official they knew was Magistrate Chen.
Madam Wang explained, "He is the Tongzhi of Nanxuan Prefecture, a fifth-rank official, only one rank below the Prefect."
Wow! Everyone's eyes widened in shock. A fifth-rank official! Magistrate Chen was only seventh-rank.
Several women with daughters instantly cast envious glances at Li. She had raised a good daughter!
Li's face was filled with confusion and helplessness, with a hint of unease. She had accidentally dropped a jade pendant worth five thousand taels of silver earlier, and now a Tongzhi of the fifth rank had appeared.
"Sister Li, think carefully. This is truly a good marriage." Madam Wang then briefly described the situation of the Tong family's third son before leaving.
The village women also left. The elder patriarch did not let the worried Zhan Laoda leave and said, "Logically speaking, if the Tong family wanted to propose, they would use an official matchmaker. Madam Wang said the Tong family was very sincere, so they could have brought an official matchmaker from Nanxuan Prefecture."
"To take a step back, if Madam Ma wasn't here, the Tong family's head steward could have waited. Rushing to find Madam Wang, I feel something is fishy about this matter," a clan elder sitting below agreed.
The village chief frowned and couldn't help but say, "Could it be that Young Master Tong has some issues?"
"Perhaps so," the elder patriarch sighed. "Great trees attract wind. Xiao Yu's reputation for being a good student has spread, but it's not entirely a good thing."
Li and Zhan Laoda's faces were filled with worry and unease. Offending Scholar Zhang was one thing, but what about the Tong family? Even if Magistrate Chen protected Xiao Yu, he couldn't protect her from this!
The village chief intended to send someone to the county school to find Zhan Feiyu, but the elder patriarch stopped him, "Don't delay Xiao Yu's studies. We'll discuss this tonight."
At the county school, Zhan Feiyu had no idea that two matchmakers had visited her home.
Holding the revised article, Zhan Feiyu had just reached the entrance of the Sansheng Hall when she heard voices from inside.
"Take your things and your invitation and get out!" Instructor Zhao, nearing sixty, rarely got angry. Hearing his furious scolding, one could tell he was extremely disgusted with the person inside.
Standing up, a young man in a blue robe bowed deeply to the ashen-faced Instructor Zhao, his voice clear and steady, "Teacher, the events of the past were all my fault. Please take care of your health."
"Brother-in-law, why must you be like this? You are also a Juren, and in two more years, you will go to the capital to participate in the imperial examinations. You will surely succeed. This is merely your启蒙夫子 (qǐméng fūzǐ - enlightenment teacher), and he dares to scold you by virtue of his age!" An angry voice filled with contempt and hatred, belonging to a young boy.
"A'ye, don't be rude!" A clear male voice suddenly rang out, stopping the boy's reckless words. "Once a teacher, always a father. Quickly thank the instructor."
Zhan Feiyu, who was about to turn away, paused. Her plump face curled into a mocking cold smile. "Since you know it's rude, why didn't you stop him when he started speaking? After he finished, you feigned anger and scolded him a couple of times. Heh heh, is this called 'you dang you li' (acting virtuous while being corrupt)?"
The two people, one tall and one short, in the hall simultaneously turned towards the doorway.
Zhan Feiyu straightened her small body and walked in, completely ignoring the two. After bowing to Instructor Zhao, she said, "Instructor, I have revised the article. Please review it."
Wan Yunhao's brows furrowed slightly. Was this young girl Zhan Feiyu? The one who had caused scholars all over the land to criticize Lord Tong.
Qin Ye was twelve years old, but his face carried an air of arrogance. After thinking for a moment, he couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Brother-in-law, what is 'you dang you li'?"
Wan Yunhao's expression suddenly turned unpleasant, but he quickly regained his composure, though a dark glint still flashed in his eyes.
Instructor Zhao, who was seated at the head of the table, could no longer afford to be angry and looked sternly at Zhan Feiyu.
Zhan Feiyu smiled guiltily, shamelessly avoided Instructor Zhao's gaze, and said innocently to Qin Ye, "You don't know? I heard it from the marketplace."
Qin Ye stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a round-necked robe with a woven floral pattern and a jade ornament at his waist. Perhaps it was Zhan Feiyu's fair complexion and rosy lips that he found pleasing, but Qin Ye slightly nodded his chin, indicating that she could continue.
"Your brother-in-law is a Juren. Ask him," Zhan Feiyu handed the article to Instructor Zhao, her gaze also sweeping over the invitation on the table. It was indeed good calligraphy, far superior to her own.
Fearing that Zhan Feiyu would cause more trouble, Instructor Zhao immediately closed the birthday invitation and coldly dismissed them, "You may leave. The county school is busy, and I do not have time to go to the prefectural city."
Wan Yunhao did not speak, but Qin Ye, who had been rejected repeatedly, became angry. He pointed at Instructor Zhao, "You are ungrateful..."
*Slap!* A crisp slapping sound. Zhan Feiyu unceremoniously slapped the back of Qin Ye's hand. The little girl, who had been smiling brightly moments ago, now had a stern face, her dark eyes flashing with chilling coldness. "Disrespecting a court official, according to the law: twenty strokes with a stick!"
"Let's see who dares to hit me..." Qin Ye, ignoring the pain in his hand, was about to utter threats when Wan Yunhao stopped him.
"A'ye!" Wan Yunhao warned the enraged Qin Ye. Although he was a member of the Qin family, he was only a Tong Sheng (a student who had passed the preliminary imperial examination). The instructor was not only a Juren but also an instructor at the county school. Sun Fu and the four guards were still in prison.
"A'ye is young and spoke out of turn. Please forgive us, instructor." Wan Yunhao apologized again, his handsome face looking even more sincere. "Instructor, I will visit again tomorrow."
Instructor Zhao was furious, his hands hanging by his sides trembling slightly.
In the past few years, although Wan Yunhao was in Nanxuan Prefecture, he had sent gifts to the county school punctually during the three major festivals. The gifts filled a horse-drawn carriage. No matter if Instructor Zhao threw them away or smashed them, he would still send people to deliver them, demonstrating his respect for his teacher.
But who would have thought that this seemingly gentlemanly youth was stepping on his own teacher to gain a good reputation in the scholarly circles? If he didn't want to tarnish his granddaughter's reputation and let her rest in peace, Instructor Zhao would have done everything in his power to tear down this hypocrite's facade!
"I'd like to see what brilliant article this little prodigy has written!" Qin Ye suddenly walked forward and began to read the article on the table.
The news of Sun Fu's abuse of his servant to assault the instructor and county students had spread throughout Nanxuan Prefecture. Qin Ye hadn't paid attention earlier, but now he remembered Zhan Feiyu's identity.
The little prodigy of Shangsi County, and importantly, a girl. It was said that she had been favored by a certain official at a literary gathering and was recommended to study at the county school, with plans to take the imperial examinations in the future.
He had initially intended to use the article to attack and mock Zhan Feiyu, but as he read, Qin Ye's expression became extremely ugly. Not to mention the neat and pleasing 'Taige Ti' (a style of calligraphy), just from the opening and elaboration sentences, he knew it was a moderately good essay, even three points stronger than his own writing.
He suddenly looked up, his gaze suspicious as he looked at the short and plump Zhan Feiyu, who was only slightly better than a crude and ugly country girl.
If she were good at poetry, it would be understandable, as the women of the Qin family were known for their talent in poetry. Any excellent work would surely receive widespread praise.
But essays? Qin Ye didn't look down on them, but they hadn't even finished reading the Four Books, so how could they write essays?
"Did you copy it?" As if finding a reason, Qin Ye taunted Zhan Feiyu, feeling somewhat relieved. "You've put a lot of effort into this prodigy reputation. I suppose the instructors at the county school all helped you write it."
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