The hall was eerily silent.
"Could she have been carrying another man's child and framed my eldest brother?" Zhan Lao San, a minor manager at the docks, enjoyed making friends. After a few drinks, his rowdy companions would say anything. Zhan Lao San had indeed heard such stories from sailors.
The old man Zhan's pipe clattered to the ground.
Previously, Taozi had taken an abortifacient and knew that Zhan Lao Da's son was gone. Old Man Zhan felt uneasy. He now said blankly, "It's not Lao Da's child?"
"Since Xiao Yu said so, it must have been thoroughly investigated!" The old clan elder slammed the table in anger, his beard almost standing on end. "You, third son's wife, don't try to hide this. If the villagers ask, just tell them the truth. If you want us Zhan family to be the scapegoat, even if we lose the Tai Fu Restaurant, we still have the workshop. We won't starve!"
Madam Ma, seeing the old clan elder almost fainting from anger, quickly nodded in agreement. She was already someone who couldn't keep secrets, and this matter was too disgusting.
Madam Ma, entrusted with the important task, suppressed her excitement and agitation. "Old clan elder, don't worry. That shameless woman, carrying someone else's bastard, dares to frame eldest brother. Bah! If she dares to come to our village again, I'll drown her with a mouthful of spit! I'll go out and tell everyone now!"
In the main hall, only Zhan Lao Er's face was twisted in a dark, gloomy expression. However, neither the old clan elder nor the village chief noticed, assuming Zhan Lao Er was also angered. Who would have thought a maidservant would have such malicious intentions?
Meanwhile, the Xie family's two carriages slowly made their way towards the village entrance.
Madam Xie's expression was even more displeased than when they had arrived. The more she thought about it, the more unwilling she was. "My lord, isn't Zhan Feiyu too heartless? That's her half-brother, after all."
Xie Lao Ye, who had been dozing, suddenly opened his eyes, his icy gaze falling on the indignant Madam Xie. "Do you think a young girl who can become a disciple of Scholar Gu is easily fooled? That's a Grand Secretary, second only to the Emperor! Scholar Gu accepted Zhan Feiyu as a disciple before he was married. Do you think she's just a country girl? Let me tell you, once Zhan Feiyu comes of age, marrying her to a prince would be a downgrade!"
Rather than being scolded severely, Madam Xie was shocked. The Xie family was not short of money, but ultimately, they were just merchants. For the sake of smooth business, they had to be polite even to the yamen constables and offer gifts during holidays.
Upon hearing that Zhan Feiyu could marry a prince, and even a downgrade, Madam Xie's mouth hung open in astonishment. After a long while, she asked, "Is her status that noble?" It was a pity her son was already married, otherwise...
After all, they were husband and wife. Madam Xie's scheming against Zhan Feiyu was also for the sake of forging a connection, so her son could benefit in the future. Old Man Xie sighed, "Have you forgotten that time Scholar Gu came to Shangsi County? All the scholars from the entire Nanxuan Prefecture and neighboring prefectures flocked there. If her status wasn't noble, would Prefect Zhang have chosen a young girl as the top scholar in the prefectural examination?"
Prefect Zhang, a fourth-rank official, was a great official that the Xie family couldn't curry favor with even with money. Madam Xie finally understood and her heart sank. "Will Zhan Feiyu resent us?"
"That's unlikely. Don't underestimate her, even though she's a young girl. She values loyalty and righteousness, and distinguishes between kindness and enmity. Eldest son is our son-in-law. We must consider the relationship. As long as we don't do anything extra, this connection is enough." Old Man Xie had also thought of relying on Zhan Feiyu to expand the Xie family's business to the prefectural city or even other prefectures, but now this ambition had vanished.
"Whoa!" Suddenly, the coachman slowly reined in the horses. "My lord, someone is chasing us from behind. It seems to be Zhan girl's coachman."
Madam Xie's face turned pale again, and she clutched her hands uneasily. "My lord?"
"Don't worry." Patting Madam Xie's arm, Old Man Xie lifted the carriage curtain and looked over.
Even though it was just a coachman, Old Man Xie still alighted from the carriage. With what He Nuan had shown before, Old Man Xie dared not underestimate the servants around Zhan Feiyu; they were all experts.
He Sheng walked with rapid steps. Although he was a considerable distance behind the carriage, as soon as Old Man Xie alighted, He Sheng was already in front of him.
The coachman blinked hard. In broad daylight, he thought he was hallucinating. He belatedly remembered that He Sheng should be a martial artist, using internal martial arts, which explained his speed.
"Master Xie." He Sheng looked like an ordinary young man at first glance. After cupping his fist towards Master Xie, he continued, "My lady asked me to inform Master Xie that my master is unwell, and Doctor Ji has been treating my master. Farewell."
Inside the carriage, Madam Xie watched He Sheng leave through the curtain and asked in surprise, "My lord, is Zhan Feiyu trying to silence us?"
Didn't those words just warn them that the child in Taozi's womb had nothing to do with Zhan Lao Da? Since she had already taken the abortifacient, Madam Xie didn't want to make a fuss. "After we return, I'll have someone sell Taozi far away."
Zhan Feiyu was a smart person, and Old Man Xie was shrewd. Even if He Sheng hadn't come, Old Man Xie would have imposed a gag order. Besides, the only people who knew about this matter in the Xie family were the couple and the old nanny serving Madam Xie, so the news would not spread and tarnish Zhan Feiyu's reputation.
Getting back into the carriage, Old Man Xie felt something was amiss. After returning to the Xie family, Old Man Xie's peripheral vision swept over Taozi, who was being helped out of the carriage by the old nanny, and a flash of realization struck him.
"Wait!" Old Man Xie suddenly spoke. His usually smiling face was now clouded with a dark expression, startling Madam Xie beside him.
After a while, the old nanny stood outside the reception hall. Old Man Xie looked at Taozi, who was pale and weak, as if she could faint at any moment, and sneered, "I've been chasing geese all day, only to be pecked by one today!"
"My lord?" Madam Xie, sitting by his side, was bewildered.
With a crack, Old Man Xie threw the teacup at Taozi's feet and roared, "Why don't you confess truthfully? Whose bastard is in your belly? You framed Zhan Lao Da, wanting the Zhan family to raise your son. You are truly audacious!"
Taozi's legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, trembling like a sieve.
Seeing this, Madam Xie's eyes widened in shock. She covered her chest with one hand, disbelievingly saying, "That child isn't Zhan Lao Da's? I said, how could Zhan Feiyu, such a young girl, be so heartless? So that wasn't her younger brother at all!"
"This servant deserves to die, this servant deserves to die!" This time, Taozi was truly terrified. She kowtowed repeatedly, not daring to hide anything. "The child is Zhan Lao Er's. This servant was not willing; he forced me. My lords, spare my life..."
Zhan Lao Er? Old Man Xie almost laughed. "No wonder you dared to play the trick of substituting the peach with a plum. The child born will surely resemble the Zhan family in appearance, so you don't have to worry about being exposed."
If it were truly another man's bastard, their appearance would be completely different, and it would be easy for someone to suspect. But with Zhan Lao Er's child, there would be no such worries.
Even if Old Man Xie didn't say anything, Madam Xie knew that Taozi couldn't be kept.
...
When Zhan Feiyu left Jinlin Village and returned to the別院, the moon had already risen.
He Sheng had just received news from the Xie family. "Master Xie poisoned her to silence, then sold her to the mines. He even specifically instructed the slave trader, and it's likely she won't survive."
The mines were places of hard labor, where even men might not survive, let alone a weak woman like Taozi. Moreover, Master Xie had paid money, and the slave trader would have made things difficult for her on the way. A serious illness would probably be enough to make her unable to hold on during the journey. Even if she miraculously survived and reached the mines, she would still face death.
"Send people to keep an eye on it to ensure everything is foolproof." Under the moonlight, Zhan Feiyu's expression was calm. She was not worried about Master Xie; her concern was the Chen family. If Taozi were taken away by the Chen family, it might become a hidden danger.
After He Sheng withdrew, Zhan Feiyu pushed open the study door and saw a shocked Qi Heng, as expected. Young Master Ming's expression was as usual. Such things were common in large families, and although the Ming family might not have them, Young Master Ming would certainly know about them.
"Xiao Yu, you?" Qi Heng, the chubby boy, opened his mouth, suddenly finding the Zhan Feiyu in front of him so unfamiliar. They had just been teaching children in Jinlin Village at the private school, but in the blink of an eye, Xiao Yu's hands were stained with two lives.
Zhan Feiyu did not conceal anything and explained the situation roughly.
After Madam Ma's commotion in the village that afternoon, almost the entire village knew about the matter. Qi Heng was young, and the women avoided him, so he had only heard fragmented information. Now he finally understood the whole story.
After a long while, Qi Heng suddenly looked up and asked Zhan Feiyu word by word, "That maidservant will die?"
Even though he was just a young scholar who knew nothing of the outside world, Qi Heng knew that being sold to the mines meant death. If an adult had made the decision today, Qi Heng would not have felt so distressed.
But looking at Zhan Feiyu, who was only slightly taller than him, Qi Heng, with his full of passion and righteousness, could not accept it. Even if she was a slave, she was still a life. Xiao Yu's actions were clearly disregarding human life. Didn't maidservants' lives matter?
"Enough, that maidservant caused trouble first, so this is what she deserves!" Young Master Ming rubbed the chubby boy's head and glared at Zhan Feiyu impatiently. This girl just loved to stir up trouble, otherwise, why would she mention this matter at the study door?
"But?" Qi Heng wanted to say more.
Young Master Ming gave him a stern look. Qi Heng lowered his head in silence, realizing for the first time that he didn't understand his fellow scholar Zhan Feiyu at all.
As night fell, Zhan Feiyu was still diligently studying by the cold window.
Qi Heng, who had gone to study with her earlier, chose to read in his own room. However, after half an hour, he hadn't even turned a page of the book in front of him.
"Reading without realizing spring has deepened, every inch of time is an inch of gold. It's not that a Taoist priest comes to make us laugh, but the thoughts of Zhou and Kong are being pursued." Seeing this title, even the talented Young Master Ming was stunned. "Are these the homework Scholar Gu assigned you?"
Perhaps accustomed to being tormented by Scholar Gu, Zhan Feiyu remained expressionless, regardless of how obscure or difficult the topic was. "The first two words are from 'The Analects': The Master rarely spoke of profit, destiny, and benevolence."
"'Da Xiang' comes from: The people of Da Xiang said: Great is Confucius, learned and without fame. Teacher must have been inspired to give this convoluted topic." Zhan Feiyu picked up her brush and copied the title onto the paper, then began to break down the topic.
Young Master Ming watched Zhan Feiyu begin to break down the topic. "Benevolence is not easy to understand, but it is worth remembering that Xiang is called 'Da' (great). He who is called 'Da' is worthy of remembrance."
Upon reading the first two sentences, Young Master Ming frowned and pondered. Even if he were given such an obscure and strange topic, he couldn't break it down in a short time, let alone break it down so exquisitely.
While Young Master Ming was lost in thought, Zhan Feiyu had already written the next sentence: "Benevolence is not comparable to profit and destiny, and the Master rarely spoke of it, perhaps because it is not easy to achieve? Why then is Xiang called 'Da'?"
Under the bright candlelight, Zhan Feiyu's thoughts flowed like a spring. Young Master Ming quietly withdrew from the study. As he closed the door, he looked at the young girl sitting with her feet barely touching the ground and realized the weight of the phrase "young people are to be feared" for the first time.
In the front yard, He Nuan, who had just come out of the kitchen, looked at Ming San, who was staring blankly, with surprise. "Young Master Ming."
Suddenly coming to his senses, Young Master Ming nodded, but couldn't help asking, "Is Xiao Yu always this disciplined?"
"Yes, Master Gu assigns a lot of homework, and Miss is like this every day, never slacking off." He Nuan was already used to it; even without supervision, Miss would be like this.
With that detailed study schedule, even meal times were precisely regulated. He Nuan had never seen a more disciplined and hardworking scholar than Zhan Feiyu.
After a moment of silence, Young Master Ming, as if realizing something, suddenly said, "Reading without realizing spring has deepened, every inch of time is an inch of gold. It's not that a Taoist priest comes to make us laugh, but the thoughts of Zhou and Kong are being pursued."
He Nuan looked at Young Master Ming, who was walking towards the guest room in the night, with confusion. The moonlight was bright, and Young Master Ming, in his white, wide-sleeved robe, was as elegant and dashing as a gust of wind.
In the bedroom, Qi Heng, who was daydreaming, had his book snatched away. Startled, he looked up. "Little Uncle-Master?"
Young Master Ming leaned against the table, shaking the book in his hand. "The top scholar of the prefectural examination is studying diligently, but you, the sixth place, are daydreaming. Little fatty, are you planning to fail the academy examination and bring shame to your teacher?"
"Teacher said one needs to calm their mind to study! My mind is not calm, so I can't read." Qi Heng pouted. The thought of a life, no, two lives, the unborn child included, ending at Zhan Feiyu's hands made Qi Heng unable to calm his mind to study.
It was because of this matter that Young Master Ming understood. He smiled sinisterly. "Little fatty, what if this happened in your family? Would you let your father take a concubine and have a half-brother seven months later?"
"I..." Qi Heng choked, opening his mouth but not knowing what to say.
Do not advise others to be good without experiencing their suffering.
Young Master Ming continued coldly, "With such a calculating mother, perhaps in a few years, you would disappear without a trace, leaving your father with only a beloved youngest son. And that maidservant, relying on her son for status, might even poison your mother in a few years. In the end, when that child grows up, he will take over your Qi family's business, and then your father..."
"Little Uncle-Master!" Qi Heng suddenly interrupted Young Master Ming. His chubby face turned red. If Little Uncle-Master continued, their family of three would have to reunite in the underworld.
"What? Am I wrong?" he retorted, tapping Qi Heng's forehead with the book. "Malice towards others is not to be had, but caution against others is necessary! Qi Heng, in your future official career, the court will be full of changes, and conspiracies and traps will be unavoidable. One wrong step can lead to the loss of everything! Your soft heart might implicate your parents, your wife and children, or even your close friends, your teachers, and classmates."
Even though he knew this principle, accepting it was another matter. Qi Heng lowered his head in silence.
"What that girl Xiao Yu said is right: kindness to enemies is cruelty to oneself!" The more Young Master Ming interacted with Zhan Feiyu, the more he understood why Scholar Gu had refused to accept him as a disciple. In the imperial court, weren't all officials talented when they were studying? m..oΓg
"If that maidservant doesn't die, once the Chen family finds out, it will be Xiao Yu who will be harmed in the future. Little fatty, do you choose to cut the weeds and eliminate the roots or to have endless troubles?" Young Master Ming asked, and Qi Heng glared at him impatiently.
Snatching back his book, Qi Heng flipped to the page he had been reading. "Little Uncle-Master, I'm not stupid! I'm going to read now. Little Uncle-Master, don't disturb me."
"Alright, you're not stupid. Come, let me test you." Young Master Ming became energetic, picked up a brush, and four large characters appeared on the paper in a flamboyant calligraphy: "Using this as a topic, write an essay in half an hour, and I will correct it for you."
"Reading without realizing spring has deepened, every inch of time is an inch of gold"? After finally recognizing the cursive script, Qi Heng tilted his head, looking at the ill-intentioned Young Master Ming. He suspected that Little Uncle-Master was making up a topic to fool him.
"Think carefully. This is a topic set by Scholar Gu. Well, I'll tell Xiao Yu tomorrow, and this time you'll go to Fengzhou with us!" Young Master Ming sighed. This was the difference between people. With such a strange topic, Zhan Feiyu's breakdown was so amazing, while this chubby boy in front of him thought he was fooling him.
...
The next day.
The sound of carriages slowly arose. Zhan Feiyu yawned, her dark eyes watering physiologically. "Qi Heng, the carriage is bumpy. Are you worried about damaging your eyes?"
"I'm not!" Qi Heng, the chubby boy, was unusually childish, his face stern, his eyes still fixed on the book.
Young Master Ming, the culprit, leisurely held his teacup and drank tea, hiding his merits and fame! Last night, he had tormented Qi Heng with the topic "Reading without realizing spring has deepened," causing him to sleep for only a little over two hours and barely manage to write an article that lacked coherence.
Early in the morning, Young Master Ming brought Zhan Feiyu's essay over. Qi Heng didn't look at it and felt depressed. For the same topic, his essay was barely coherent, while Xiao Yu's essay was an excellent work of the highest grade.
Fearing that Qi Heng's blow would not be great enough, Young Master Ming mercilessly delivered another stab. "Although you were the top scholar in the prefectural examination and he was sixth, based on my estimation, Xiao Yu might still be the top scholar in the academy examination. You'd be lucky to pass the academy examination, little fatty."
"As for the provincial examination, don't even think about it. The provincial examination is held every three years, and then three more years. There are also the metropolitan examination and the palace examination. Little fatty, I estimate you'll be able to pass the imperial examination in your forties, and Xiao Yu will only be about twenty years earlier than you."
The thought of a twenty-year gap made Qi Heng start reading as soon as he got into the carriage, striving to shorten the gap between himself and Zhan Feiyu. He was determined to be a fellow scholar with Xiao Yu, from the academy examination to the provincial, metropolitan, and palace examinations!
Zhan Feiyu looked at Young Master Ming, who was bullying the child, with disdain. He was her junior nephew, and at his age, the third young master should be ashamed.
"Jade is not polished, it cannot become a tool. These are words Xiao Yu said before." Young Master Ming smiled shamelessly. As for the bitter and resentful little fatty, a little more鞭策 would make him successful.
...
It should have taken five days to reach Fengzhou, but Young Master Ming had many friends. Along the way, he met a few friends with Zhan Feiyu and Qi Heng. This detour delayed their arrival until the second day of the sixth month.
At noon, three carriages stopped in the woods.
"Miss, I'll go get water," He Sheng said, and went to the stream with the guards to fetch water.
He Nuan was already busy, spreading blankets on the grass so Zhan Feiyu and the others could sit on the ground. Then, she took out the food item by item from the carriage.
Young Master Ming helped to build a simple stove with stones. He Nuan placed the small iron pot on it. Once the firewood was lit, they could boil some hot water and cook noodles.
"Are you sure my teacher's name is enough?" Zhan Feiyu looked at the busy Young Master Ming. This trip to Fengzhou was partly because Fengzhou was known as the hometown of artisans, a gathering place for skilled craftsmen. To open a technical academy, they needed to hire some artisans from Fengzhou as teachers.
Secondly, it was because of the reclusive great scholar Mr. Wei. Great Scholar Wei was known as the foremost collector of books in Jiangnan, which indicated the vastness of the Wei family's collection. Young Master Ming wanted to borrow some miscellaneous books from Great Scholar Wei, such as "Tiangong Kaiwu" and "Qimin Yaoshu." These types of books were rarely found in ordinary bookstores. It was estimated that besides the imperial palace, only Great Scholar Wei's place had them.
Young Master Ming fiddled with the burning dry firewood. "My father met Old Gentleman Wei several times. That old gentleman is eccentric and devoted to books. Not to mention lending them out, he wouldn't even let anyone look at them. Scholar Gu is a model for scholars all over the world. If Scholar Gu's name is not enough, I'm afraid no one else will be able to."
Great Scholar Wei's life was full of hardships. He experienced all four sorrows of life: losing his father in childhood, his mother in youth, his wife in middle age, and his son in old age. Afterward, he poured all the Wei family's wealth into building a library. For years, he had been self-isolating, and only by reading could he forget the pain of losing his loved ones.
"What about the Wei family members?" Zhan Feiyu asked doubtfully.
Despite his talent, Zhan Feiyu was still young. This was her first time leaving Nanxuan Prefecture, so it was normal for her to be unfamiliar with the local customs and traditions.
Young Master Ming glanced at Qi Heng, the chubby boy, who was engrossed in his book, and then quietly told Zhan Feiyu, "When you went to Huaixian before, if the Kou family could be described as greedy and selfish, then the Wei family was ten times worse. Early in his life, Great Scholar Wei devoted himself solely to studying the classics. It wasn't until his wife passed away that he realized the cold-blooded cruelty of the Wei family."
Wei's father was skilled in business. After being separated from the family early on, he gradually accumulated wealth with the assets he received. After Great Scholar Wei was born, his father's assets had already surpassed the entire Wei family. And Great Scholar Wei had a talent for reading, so his father spared no expense in hiring famous teachers to enlighten him.
As the third branch, where Wei's father was, became richer and richer, the Wei family felt regret and jealousy. They colluded with water bandits and, in the end, Wei's father was killed and his body was never found.
Wei's wife had a gentle personality, and Great Scholar Wei was still a young child who only knew how to read. The Wei family, under the guise of taking care of the orphaned mother and child, took control of the third branch's assets.
"Unfortunately, the Wei family, despite their meticulous planning, did not expect Wei's father to have already guarded against them. All his assets were under Great Scholar Wei's name. The property deeds and silver in the banks were also in Great Scholar Wei's name. Moreover, he left behind four loyal chief stewards. The Wei family could only share in the benefits, and it was impossible for them to monopolize the assets."
The reason Young Master Ming knew so much was that the Wei family incident had caused such a stir that it had alerted the Imperial Guard, and the entire Daqing Dynasty knew about it.
After Wei's father passed away, the Wei family spent ten years bribing two of the chief stewards. In those ten years, Great Scholar Wei was about to participate in the provincial examination. The Wei family knew very well that once Great Scholar Wei passed the examination, all their schemes would fall through.
An eighteen-year-old provincial scholar was a rarity in Fengzhou. Great Scholar Wei was also of marriageable age. With the support of his wife's family, it would be even more difficult for the Wei family to seize Great Scholar Wei's assets.
Hearing this, Zhan Feiyu frowned. "They killed Great Scholar Wei's mother, and Great Scholar Wei had to observe mourning for three years."
"Yes." Young Master Ming was not surprised by Zhan Feiyu's intelligence. "Great Scholar Wei's mother went to a temple to pray for Great Scholar Wei, but she was startled on the mountain road. The carriage rolled down the mountain."
Three years later, Great Scholar Wei, without parents but with immense wealth, was still a sought-after candidate for many families. Some people also believed that Great Scholar Wei's hard fate had caused the death of his parents.
However, families who doted on their daughters thought this was perfect. Once their daughter married, she could manage the household, and without a mother-in-law pressing down on her, life would surely be peaceful and comfortable.
Moreover, Great Scholar Wei's reputation was widespread. Even though his three years of mourning had caused a delay, he was now at an age where he could get married and participate in the imperial examinations simultaneously, a double celebration.
"Was Great Scholar Wei's wife arranged by the Wei family?" Zhan Feiyu guessed with a turn of thought. The Wei family had already taken ninety-nine steps; they wouldn't give up at the last step.
Young Master Ming looked at Zhan Feiyu with admiration, unable to help but praise, "How did your brain grow like this? You should go to the Ministry of Justice!"
Having read countless palace intrigue novels and watched TV dramas in her previous life, Zhan Feiyu smiled awkwardly. "Isn't it obvious? Great Scholar Wei's marriage could only be decided by the Wei family elders. Instead of letting Great Scholar Wei find a powerful maternal family, it's better to firmly control Great Scholar Wei's marriage."
Young Master Ming didn't need to say the rest; Zhan Feiyu could guess most of it. Great Scholar Wei and his wife were deeply in love, and they had a daughter, and then a son a few years later.
Perhaps Madam Wei had ulterior motives at first, but once a woman had children, she became a fierce mother! Moreover, Great Scholar Wei was not a wicked person. After living together for ten years, Madam Wei naturally couldn't bear to harm her husband, the father of her two children.
Unfortunately, Madam Wei underestimated the insidious and vicious nature of the Wei family. They had been plotting for nearly twenty years, so how could they let Madam Wei ruin their plans? Madam Wei's death was inevitable.
Fortunately, before Madam Wei died, she had said a few things. Although Great Scholar Wei had no evidence, he was determined to separate from the Wei family.
As a provincial scholar, Great Scholar Wei had status and wealth. Moreover, they had separated more than twenty years ago. Although this separation resulted in the loss of some money and assets, Great Scholar Wei didn't care. He was not someone who cared about material possessions.
But the Wei family was not content. In twenty years, they had taken away nearly half of Great Scholar Wei's assets, but greed knows no bounds!
What's more, Great Scholar Wei lived a simple life, focusing only on educating his two children and reading. These seemingly monotonous days made it impossible for the Wei family to scheme against Great Scholar Wei. Even the shops were leased out by Great Scholar Wei, who only collected rent. The remaining manors were managed by stewards, so the Wei family couldn't make a move.
Finally, the desperate Wei family set a fire, intending to burn Great Scholar Wei's family of three to death. In this way, the remaining half of the assets would naturally belong to the Wei family.
This fire killed Great Scholar Wei's two children. Perhaps it was heaven's will, but the wind direction suddenly changed in the middle of the night. The adjacent courtyards of the two Wei family houses also caught fire. The wind was strong, and the fire burned even fiercer.
"In that great fire, a total of twenty-eight people died. Besides Great Scholar Wei's two children, ten people from the Wei family's first and second branches died, along with sixteen servants. This case alerted the Imperial Guard." Even now, when Young Master Ming spoke of the Wei family's tragedy, he still felt that the Wei family was heartless, even worse than beasts.
When the Imperial Guard intervened, they even investigated the case of Wei's father being harmed by water bandits more than twenty years ago. Those who died in the Wei family fire were mostly frail women and children. The men who escaped were later executed in the autumn.
Young Master Ming sighed, "Great Scholar Wei could have escaped the fire, but one of his close friends and a disciple colluded with the Wei family. The two of them knocked Great Scholar Wei unconscious and locked him in the room. The two children who were also locked in the adjacent room at the time were crying."
Great Scholar Wei was awakened by the fire before he had been unconscious for long. Hearing the painful and terrified cries of his two children, outsiders could imagine how painful Great Scholar Wei must have been at that moment, but the door was locked from the outside.
Until the end, the children's cries stopped. Great Scholar Wei thought he would die too, but he was rescued by a loyal servant. However, his face was disfigured, and his legs were crushed by a collapsed beam.
"Little Uncle-Master." Qi Heng's book fell to the ground with a crack. He was so engrossed in listening that he forgot to read. At this moment, he looked at Young Master Ming blankly. "How could the Wei family be so cruel? Aren't they family?"
Zhan Feiyu's actions towards the Xie family's maidservant had already made Qi Heng somewhat unable to accept it, so he could only temporarily forget about it by reading. But now, thinking of the Wei family's tragedy, Qi Heng suddenly felt that Zhan Feiyu's actions were not so difficult to understand.
"Man's nature at birth is good. But people are like a piece of white cloth put into a dyeing vat; one doesn't know what color it will be dyed. Some people's hearts are simply black." Young Master Ming patted the chubby boy's head to comfort him. It seemed the Wei family's tragedy had frightened the chubby boy.
With the Wei family's incident as a precedent, Qi Heng put aside his awkwardness and started talking to Zhan Feiyu again, mostly discussing academics.
Young Master Ming sat on the grass, leaning against a large tree, smiling as he watched Zhan Feiyu and Qi Heng not far away. This was right; it was worth it for him to specifically bring up the Wei family's story.
...
It should have taken five days to reach Fengzhou, but Young Master Ming had many friends. Along the way, he met a few friends with Zhan Feiyu and Qi Heng. This detour delayed their arrival until the second day of the sixth month.
"My family has a two-courtyard house in Nanhu Alley. My father bought it from a rich merchant years ago." Qi Heng led the way, his small body held straight. Some people at the academy looked down on his father, but his father's judgment was very accurate.
Nanhu Alley in Fengzhou was prime real estate. Those who lived there were high-ranking officials and dignitaries. Even with money, ordinary people couldn't buy houses there; it was a symbol of status and prestige.
Qi Heng's father was also a businessman, but the Qi family's roots were in Fengzhou, and they were considered a local influential family. Because of this connection, no one dared to force Qi Father to sell the house. After all, even if you don't look at the monk's face, you look at the Buddha's face; the collateral branches of the Qi family were still Qi family members.
Fanning himself with a fan, even after the fatigue of the journey, the broad-sleeved Young Master Ming was still a handsome and elegant scholar. Zhan Feiyu, on the other hand, was like a frost-bitten eggplant, listless. After all, the bumpy carriage ride was too much for her frail body. She only felt alive after walking a few steps after getting off the carriage.
The Qi family's courtyard was at the very end of Nanhu Alley. At the end of the alley stood a ginkgo tree. Qi Heng directly went forward and knocked on the door.
"Who is it? Why are you knocking! You're disturbing my peace!" an impatient voice came from inside the door. He cursed a few more times, but still didn't open the door.
Qi Heng's expression stiffened, and he raised his hand to knock on the door knocker again. "Open the door quickly!"
"Are you deaf? What are you shouting about?" With a creak, the main door opened, but a basin of dirty water was splashed out.
Qi Heng didn't have time to react before he was doused from head to toe.
Zhan Feiyu, who was looking at Nanhu Alley with Young Master Ming, was also stunned. As for He Sheng and the others, although they were all martial artists, they were standing by the carriage at the moment, and no one had expected someone to splash water.
"You little fatty, what are you shouting about? If your parents are dead, go to the mass grave, don't cry and mourn at my doorstep!" The young servant in green standing at the door cursed sternly, his chin held high. If one didn't know better, they would think he was the owner of the house.
Qi Heng wiped the water from his face, his voice trembling with anger. "Look who I am!"
Although this house was in Fengzhou, Qi Father brought his entire family back to the main family to pay respects at the end of each year. Sometimes they stayed at the main family's residence, but most of the time they lived here.
Qi Heng hadn't returned last year because he was preparing for the prefectural examination. However, the gatekeeper, even if he didn't recognize Qi Heng as the young master, shouldn't have had such a bad attitude.
He was called a servant, but he looked only eighteen or nineteen years old, with triangular eyes and a slightly flat nose, but his skin was quite fair. The green robe he wore was made of plain cotton, but looking at the fabric, it was brand new. Not to mention, the servant wore a jade pendant at his waist, which must have cost thirty to fifty taels of silver.
"Who are you?" The servant looked up, his gaze scanning Qi Heng from head to toe.
Because he was drenched, Qi Heng's blue robe turned a salted vegetable color when wet. Coupled with the fatigue from the journey, his complexion was not good, and his hair was wet. Although the servant could tell that Qi Heng's attire was not that of an ordinary person, he didn't take him seriously.
"Open your dog eyes and see clearly. The owner of this house is surnamed Qi." Young Master Ming closed his fan, his handsome face turning cold. He could bully his own junior nephew, but a servant dared to be so disrespectful and look down on him.
The servant's eyes darted around, and he suddenly raised his neck and arrogantly cursed, "Bah, where did you impostors come from! This house is surnamed Qi, so call out to it. Let's see if it answers you!"
Young Master Ming and Qi Heng were both stunned. They had thought he was a wicked servant, but even after they stated their identities, he deliberately feigned ignorance. This clearly indicated a problem.
Zhan Feiyu chuckled, looking at the red-faced Qi Heng with sympathy. He had been so proud of having a house in Nanhu Alley, but now he was blocked at the door.
Hearing Zhan Feiyu's laughter, Qi Heng's face turned even redder, as if it were about to bleed. Just as he was about to step forward to argue, Zhan Feiyu said crisply, "A Sheng, go to the yamen. A servant who sold himself into slavery dares to attack and insult a scholar. In Fengzhou, is the status of scholars lower than that of a slave?"
"What scholar?" The servant stammered. No matter how arrogant he was, he was afraid of the officials, especially since Zhan Feiyu kept mentioning scholars.
Young Master Ming smiled faintly. "I am not talented, just a xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations). And the one you splashed water on is a young child scholar who will participate in the academy examination in August."
The servant was speechless. Whether a xiucai or a child scholar, they were both scholars, someone he absolutely could not offend. If he went to the yamen, the officials would first give him a good beating before hearing the case.
"Young Master Ming, if you had passed the provincial examination, you wouldn't need to use the title of xiucai to scare people." Zhan Feiyu teased him without reservation. In the culturally prosperous Jiangnan region, although xiucai were not as common as dogs, the title of "sour xiucai" did not carry much weight. Only a juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination) had some status and influence.
Young Master Ming, who had arrogantly given up the imperial examinations in the past, was so embarrassed that he wanted to disappear. The past was unbearable to recall. If time could turn back, Young Master Ming would definitely study diligently, hanging himself from the beams and piercing his thighs with awls, and then take the imperial examinations.
Qi Heng nodded in agreement. If his little uncle-master were a juren, his status would naturally be different.
"Who dares to cause trouble at my Qi family's door!" an angry shout came from inside the door. A man in his forties walked out quickly. Upon closer inspection, he bowed and said, "So it's young master. A Jiang, what's going on? Why did you block the young master outside the door!"
"Steward Bao, I didn't know it was the young master. I thought it was the same group of people who came to cause trouble a few days ago." The servant A Jiang suddenly knelt down with a thud, kowtowing to Qi Heng and begging for mercy. "Young master, please spare this servant. This servant has eyes but cannot see Mount Tai and doesn't know it's you, young master, who has arrived."
Steward Bao was lean and wore a dark blue robe. He smiled with a shrewd look. "Young master, A Jiang only came to the mansion six months ago. He doesn't recognize the young master. Please be magnanimous and spare him this once."
"Dare to splash your young master with water and still beg for mercy?" Zhan Feiyu's pretty face sank. She looked at A Jiang, who was still begging for mercy with his head bowed. "Kneel for two full hours before getting up."
"What?" A Jiang suddenly looked up. After shock came anger. If he knelt for two hours, would his knees still be usable?
Zhan Feiyu raised her eyebrows, her voice drawing out the words. "Or do you want to go to the yamen?"
Ignoring the resentful A Jiang, Zhan Feiyu acted as if she were the host and walked directly into the courtyard. "Steward Bao, is it? Prepare three rooms, then get hot water for us to wash up, and prepare a table of food. A Nuan, you know my taste. I'll pack my luggage later. Go to the kitchen and keep an eye on things. We're very tired from the journey. See if there are any medicinal herbs in the storeroom, and stew some medicinal cuisine for us to drink this afternoon."
Steward Bao was dumbfounded. Zhan Feiyu was young and tender, looking more like the host than the wet Qi Heng. But after all, she was a guest. How could a guest act like this?
Young Master Ming suppressed a smile and followed Qi Heng into the courtyard.
There were already five or six maids in the courtyard, but Steward Bao hadn't spoken. The maids bowed, but no one stepped forward to lead the way, nor did anyone help with the luggage.
"Qi Heng, the contracts for these servants are all in your hands. You know I'm very picky. If they don't serve well, don't blame me for selling them to the mines." Zhan Feiyu swept her gaze over them, looking at Steward Bao with a smile like a wolf. "May I ask if Steward Bao is a slave?"
She was going to sell even herself? Even the shrewd Steward Bao's face turned green with anger. He said with a forced smile, "Replying to the young lady, this servant came from the main family."
"So, you're still a slave?" Zhan Feiyu nodded with a smile. "It's good that you're a slave. I'm sure Old Master Qi won't be angry with a servant for the sake of a distinguished guest. A Sheng, give Qi Heng five hundred taels of silver notes. After selling off the Qi family's servants, Qi Heng can't be without servants to use."
"Yes, Miss." As soon as Zhan Feiyu spoke, He Sheng had already taken out a silver note from his person, which was indeed five hundred taels.
Qi Heng, who was inexplicably handed a five-hundred-tael silver note, was stunned. Xiao Yu's extravagant demeanor didn't seem like that of a scholar.
Whether it was Steward Bao or the maids in the courtyard, with Zhan Feiyu's words, they no longer needed to speak. With just a glance from her, everyone immediately sprang into action.
"Please come this way, Miss. It will take some time to tidy up the rooms. Miss can rest in the reception hall in the front courtyard. This servant will go and make tea."
"Young man, please follow me. I'll take you to the back courtyard to settle the carriages."
"Sister, hello. The kitchen is on the left. I'll take you there."
A moment later, the scent of tea filled the reception hall. Steward Bao was directing the servants to tidy up the rooms. Outside the reception hall stood two maids. As long as Zhan Feiyu spoke, they would naturally serve her meticulously. As for Qi Heng, who was he? He didn't recognize him.