The carriage had barely stopped outside the East Lake Inn when the anxious innkeeper hurried over and said in a low voice, "Miss Zhan, Tutor Xiao is here. He's been waiting for you for nearly half an hour."
One was a tutor from the Huai County private school, and the other was the top scholar of the prefectural examination, chosen by Prefect Zhang, and a disciple of Scholar Gu. The innkeeper naturally favored Zhan Feiyu.
"Thank you for informing me, Innkeeper." Zhan Feiyu, dismounting from the carriage, smiled and thanked him, knowing that Tutor Xiao must have come about Kou Yuanxing.
Seeing Zhan Feiyu's attitude, the innkeeper knew she had no intention of avoiding him. He smiled amiably and offered, "You're too kind, Miss Zhan. Tutor Xiao is in the backyard. I'll lead you there."
He had not let Tutor Xiao wait in the front of the inn to prevent gossip and potential trouble. The row of rooms in the backyard was where the inn's staff lived, which was perfect for avoiding people. Even if Tutor Xiao said something, it wouldn't get out.
Inside the room, Tutor Xiao paced back and forth. After the essays of the top ten in the prefectural examination were posted in front of the prefectural office, Kou Yuanxing's so-called examination fraud was self-defeating.
Zhan Feiyu's talent was evident to all. Even if some were jealous, they could not speak ill of her with a clear conscience. Several scholars who were preparing for the provincial examination had read her essays and admitted their inferiority, returning to study diligently. This had sparked a trend of diligent study in Nanxuan Prefecture.
Hearing footsteps in the courtyard, Tutor Xiao hurried out. Seeing Zhan Feiyu, he couldn't help but think of Kou Yuanxing, who was still imprisoned in the prefectural jail.
Zhan Feiyu looked at Tutor Xiao, whose face was full of apology, and greeted him, "I apologize for making Tutor Xiao wait."
"It was I who came uninvited." Tutor Xiao said with a bitter smile. For the sake of his student Kou Yuanxing, he had to put aside his pride and earnestly pleaded, "Yuanxing has become fixated on the death of Miss Wang. Among the students I've taught over the years, Yuanxing is the most talented and the most hardworking. He lost his father at a young age, and his widowed mother raised him through hardship..."
Kou Yuanxing's family was considered well-off, owning several dozen acres of fertile land. He and his mother lived a comfortable life. However, troubles often arose around widows, especially in the early years when Kou clan members coveted their land and resorted to forceful seizure. Fortunately, Kou's mother, Xingzi, was sharp-tongued and managed to drive away the Kou clan members with a knife.
But they hadn't been peaceful for long before the Kou family planned to force Kou's mother into remarriage. This would have transferred the fertile land to the two-year-old Kou Yuanxing, effectively falling into their hands. To achieve this, they even hired local ruffians to slander Kou's mother's reputation, intending to force her into marriage.
It wasn't until Kou Yuanxing began his studies and showed a talent for learning that the Kou clan members restrained their despicable tactics, which had continued unabated over the years. Kou's mother realized that Kou Yuanxing's academic success not only deterred these troublesome individuals but also made the villagers fawn over her. The grievances she had suffered over the years were finally avenged.
From then on, Kou's mother constantly urged Kou Yuanxing to study, repeating her hopes over and over, wishing for him to achieve success so that no one would dare to bully their orphaned family.
Although Kou Yuanxing was precocious, his temperament was somewhat extreme. He hated the Kou clan members and studied with all his might. Kou's mother's expectations, however, were like a shackle, suffocating him. Any slight slackening would be met with his mother's stern reprimands and scolding, followed by tearful laments as she recounted the hardships they had endured from the Kou clan members over the years.
Tutor Xiao was Kou Yuanxing's first tutor. Kou Yuanxing had wanted to formally become Tutor Xiao's disciple, but his mother stopped him. The mother and son had a serious argument, and in the end, Kou's mother held scissors to her chest, forbidding Kou Yuanxing from becoming a disciple.
After all, Tutor Xiao was merely a private school tutor with the status of a scholar. Kou's mother hoped that after Kou Yuanxing passed the scholar examination, he would find a more influential teacher who could support him and secure his future.
Unable to defy his mother's threat of self-harm, Kou Yuanxing had to agree. Fortunately, Tutor Xiao did not mind and even comforted Kou Yuanxing.
In Kou Yuanxing's monotonous life of study, Wang Linlang's appearance was like a ray of light. Unlike his forceful and sharp-tongued mother, she did not constantly pressure him to study and improve. Wang Linlang was gentle as water, accepting all of him, giving Kou Yuanxing room to breathe.
When Wang Linlang was harassed by the county magistrate's nephew that year, Kou Yuanxing had gone on an educational tour with Tutor Xiao. By the time he returned, Wang Linlang had already been imprisoned. They finally met, but it was a final farewell, leaving behind only a suicide note accusing Zhan Feiyu.
After listening to Kou Yuanxing's past, Zhan Feiyu nodded understandingly, but her words were unsympathetic. "The nation has its laws, and the family has its rules. If Kou Yuanxing believed I killed Wang Linlang, he could have filed a lawsuit against me. But he falsely accused Prefect Zhang of examination fraud in broad daylight. Tutor Xiao, do you know that such a charge could cost Prefect Zhang his head?"
Tutor Xiao, his face pale, opened his mouth but could not utter any rebuttal.
Kou Yuanxing was young, and his past was pitiable. Wang Linlang's death had misled him, but these were not valid reasons for him to falsely accuse Prefect Zhang of examination fraud. After a long silence, Tutor Xiao stood up, all his strength seemingly drained. However, at the moment of leaving, Tutor Xiao could not help but plead again, "Yuanxing is still young. Miss Zhan, you also come from a farming family and understand the hardships faced by scholars from humble backgrounds. Miss Zhan, could you give Yuanxing a chance?"
After speaking, Tutor Xiao bowed deeply to Zhan Feiyu inside the room.
Unfortunately, after waiting for a while, he received no response. Tutor Xiao left the inn with disappointment.
Inside the room, Zhan Feiyu felt a moment of softness. Kou Yuanxing's past truly touched her. To avoid being bullied, he had to study with all his might. However, he should not have falsely accused Prefect Zhang for revenge. A true gentleman knows what to do and what not to do.
"Miss, you don't need to feel guilty. Kou Yuanxing brought it upon himself!" As a martial artist, even while guarding the courtyard, He Nuan had heard the conversation inside. Her seemingly gentle face was now cold. Kou Yuanxing might be young, but he was not innocent.
Zhan Feiyu nodded. "Prefect Zhang might show leniency."
But Zhan Feiyu had one more thing to say: Prefect Zhang might be lenient, but whether Minister Chen would pursue the matter was another question.
...
As night fell, the Zhang residence was peaceful. Old Madam Zhang had likely received the five thousand taels of silver from Huang Li, as her mood had been good all day, and she hadn't caused a fuss about the food not being to her liking.
Prefect Zhang, who had been sent to the study for delaying his wife, daughter, and Zhan Feiyu, suddenly changed his expression. He put down his book and looked warily towards the door.
"Prefect Zhang." He Sheng, dressed in night-blooming clothes, revealed his identity.
Prefect Zhang coughed twice, signaling the guards outside the study not to enter, and then looked at He Sheng, asking, "What happened?"
If nothing had happened, He Sheng wouldn't have sneaked into the Zhang residence in the middle of the night.
He Sheng handed Prefect Zhang the marriage contract for taking a concubine that he had stolen from Huang Li, and then recounted what he had discovered during the day.
Prefect Zhang, who had been relaxed for two days without having to go to the yamen, had a face as dark as ink. The thin document made his hands tremble slightly.
He Sheng, standing silently nearby, looked sympathetically at Prefect Zhang, who was struggling to suppress his anger. It was unfortunate for Prefect Zhang to have such a mother.
After a while, Prefect Zhang, having regained his composure, sat down. His dim eyes revealed no anger, but his cold and indifferent expression indicated that he had made a decision. "I will handle this matter. Please thank Xiao Yu for me."
"I will convey your message to Miss. Farewell." He Sheng acknowledged and left.
The study was silent. Prefect Zhang looked at the dark night sky outside the window. In the past, when his mother caused trouble, his wife had always been tolerant. Fortunately, it was only trivial matters, either about food or clothing. In the end, it was his mother's short-sightedness and desire for money.
He had never taken Madam Kong's suffering seriously. Old Madam Zhang was essentially a rustic old woman, shrewish and overbearing, but lacked any real cunning or schemes. Giving her some money every now and then was enough.
Prefect Zhang was aware of Madam Kong's methods and hadn't paid much attention to them. However, his only regret was that his daughter, caught in the middle, had become too timid.
But at the Peach Blossom Gathering, Old Madam Zhang colluded with Huang Li to frame Madam Kong, which crossed Madam Kong's bottom line. Therefore, she played along with the scheme, making Huang Li suffer the consequences of her own actions, and then used this as leverage to semi-imprison Old Madam Zhang in the backyard.
Prefect Zhang had initially thought the matter was over. Madam Kong had her limits and wouldn't go too far, but she also wouldn't let his mother continue to lord over the household. However, Prefect Zhang never expected his mother to sell him out for money.
Under the bright candlelight, Prefect Zhang looked at the date on the concubine marriage contract, his eyes chillingly cold. On that date, Young Master Ming had not yet divorced Huang Li, and he was about to take Huang Li as a concubine. The crime of adultery was unavoidable.
A moment later, Prefect Zhang summoned two trusted subordinates into the study. After giving them instructions, he returned to the inner chambers behind the study to rest.
...
A torrential downpour began to fall. Zhan Feiyu stood under the eaves, watching the magnificent rain. "The weather is not cooperating. We'll have to return to Shangsi County in a few days."
"Miss, be careful not to catch a cold." He Nuan, who was sewing clothes, had to speak up.
Zhan Feiyu stood at the doorway. In a short time, the splashing raindrops had already soaked the hem of her skirt.
Turning back to look at He Nuan inside, Zhan Feiyu, with a rare touch of childishness, deliberately contradicted her. "I was planning to sit in the Octagonal Pavilion and enjoy the rain. Perhaps I'll be inspired to compose a poem titled 'Watching the Rain at East Lake'."
When she was in Jinlin Village, Zhan Feiyu hated the rain the most. Every step she took landed in mud. Even indoors, the ground was packed earth, and it became sticky when it rained.
During the plum rain season, the rain in Jiangnan fell incessantly. The rooms were filled with a damp moldiness, and clothes and bedding felt clammy. Zhan Feiyu felt itchy all over, and scratching would leave red marks.
Not to mention when she went to study at the Lin family private school. Rain or shine, she had to go to school. That step... Zhan Feiyu wasn't a neat freak, but thinking about it now made her feel disgusted.
However, the courtyard of the Lakeside Pavilion had small paths paved with bluestone. Under the rain, they were clear and clean. The accumulated rainwater on the ground was not dirty at all.
He Nuan also cleaned every day, even wiping the pillars of the Octagonal Pavilion until they were spotless.
Zhan Feiyu glanced outside. "A'Nuan, I'm going to sit in the pavilion. Find the tea set and bring some fruit and pastries."
Before He Nuan could stop her, Zhan Feiyu had already opened her umbrella and walked into the rain. Wearing wooden clogs, she wasn't afraid of getting her shoes and socks wet.
He Nuan shook her head helplessly, put down the clothes in her hands, and then got up to prepare the items.
Yin Wuyan, accompanied by Chong Guang, came to the Lakeside Pavilion after bathing and changing into clean clothes in the inn's side rooms. As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, they saw the figure in the pavilion, indistinct through the rain.
"Fatty, you actually like this kind of romantic sentimentality?" Chong Guang, who had quickly entered the pavilion, picked up a pastry and popped it into his mouth, teasing Zhan Feiyu. He had thought the fatty was just a bookworm.
The sudden voice startled Zhan Feiyu. Looking up, her fair, round face immediately lit up with a bright smile. "Big Brother."
Outside the pavilion, through the rain, Yin Wuyan held an umbrella, dressed in a black brocade robe, his face as refined as jade. Even his seemingly indifferent phoenix eyes showed a hint of tenderness.
"Big Brother, why are you here?" In her excitement, Zhan Feiyu stood up and rushed over, forgetting that the pavilion floor was wet and slippery. She stumbled and fell forward.
In an instant, Yin Wuyan, his left hand still holding the umbrella, reached out with his right hand and precisely scooped up Zhan Feiyu, who was about to fall out of the pavilion, with one arm.
Chong Guang chuckled, "Fatty, are you throwing yourself into his arms?"
Ignoring Chong Guang's sharp tongue behind her, Zhan Feiyu tilted her head up, her smile even more radiant. "Big Brother, I've lost weight, and I've grown taller!"
Yin Wuyan looked down at the smiling young girl. When he had seen her in the forest years ago, she was less than half his height. Now, she was past his waist. Her chubby, round face had also thinned a bit, making her smiling eyes appear larger and rounder.
"Don't be so reckless." He put her down and, holding the umbrella, they entered the pavilion.
Opposite the pavilion was East Lake, a hazy beauty under the rain.
A tablecloth was spread on the stone table in the pavilion, with tea and pastries on it. In a corner, a copper brazier was lit. The originally strong incense had been somewhat diluted by the wind and rain. Looking at it, Zhan Feiyu seemed to know how to enjoy herself.
Zhan Feiyu poured tea for Yin Wuyan. "Big Brother, why are you here?"
As for Chong Guang, he was completely ignored. Even without Zhan Feiyu's invitation, he would have helped himself. He had already eaten half of the appropriately themed pastries on the plate.
"Seventh Master was worried that the Chen family might 'chop you off,' so he came to see you since he had nothing else to do," Chong Guang answered first, then picked up another piece of peach to eat. "To be honest, the peaches in Nanxuan Prefecture are much tastier than the tribute peaches in the capital!"
Nanxuan Prefecture is located in Jiangnan. Since it is a land of fish and rice, it also produces many fruits. Even with ice preservation, the tribute fruits sent to the capital are not as fresh as those picked locally.
"I'm Going to Take the Imperial Examinations in Ancient Times" will continue to be updated without errors.