Ever since Lu Chi was dismissed from the academy, apart from individually tutoring Zhu Ke Ji, who was determined to offer help in times of need, his other time was quite free.
He accepted Shi Fa Ke’s suggestion to temporarily avoid going to the Shi family and getting on his future father-in-law’s bad side, as it might be life-threatening. Therefore, he could only stay in his courtyard on Willow Leaf Lane like a resentful woman in a boudoir, waiting for Shi Fa Ke’s arrival.
Especially… after Shi Fa Ke said she was willing to marry him, this sweet waiting became even more unbearable.
As if sensing his urgent desire to see her, she indeed appeared at his doorstep… truly “though we have no colorful phoenix wings to fly together, our hearts are connected by a thread of understanding.”
However, it would be even better if she could focus a bit more. Today’s Shi Fa Ke seemed preoccupied and kept spacing out…
“A Ke, what are you thinking about?” Seeing her absent-minded again, Lu Chi couldn’t help asking.
Shi Fa Ke was pondering what He Ke Xian had said earlier. That thought had been troubling her—why wasn’t Lu Chi taking the autumn imperial examinations? Could it be that he also thought her eldest brother was of base status and was afraid she’d be hurt, so he simply didn’t mention it? Thinking of this, she suddenly looked up at him. “Lu Chi.”
“…Don’t call me by my full name like that. It scares me.”
Shi Fa Ke’s mouth twitched. “Then what should I call you? Second Brother Lu?”
“No, no, no, call me… um, Big Brother Lin Yuan?”
“…I’ll just call you Second Brother Lu.”
“Lin Yuan! Just call me Lin Yuan,” Lu Chi said hurriedly, no longer pushing his luck.
“Alright, Lin Yuan. I’m actually curious—when are you going to take the autumn imperial examinations?” Shi Fa Ke looked at him and asked directly, not giving him a chance to steer the conversation off course. He always had that ability!
Lu Chi’s heart skipped a beat.
“I don’t plan to take the autumn examinations this year,” he said, lowering his gaze.
Shi Fa Ke was stunned. “Why?”
Lu Chi seemed to hesitate for a moment.
“Today, Big Brother He told me a bunch of strange things. He said the reason the Chu family was so hasty in arranging a marriage for Chu Yi Zhi was because my eldest brother is a constable, and being a constable is considered a base occupation. The law stipulates that their descendants cannot take the imperial examinations, and even their children and grandchildren must wait three generations before they can participate. At that time, Chu Yi Zhi was already a scholar, so his mother was anxious to have him marry the teacher’s daughter…” Shi Fa Ke paused and looked at him. “But my eldest brother isn’t of base status. He’s a captain who passed the military examinations, so… you don’t need to have any concerns.”
Lu Chi smiled and touched her head. “My not taking the autumn examinations has nothing to do with you. Besides… even if your eldest brother were of base status, it wouldn’t affect you. After all, I’m marrying you, not your eldest brother, silly girl.”
It… it could work that way?
“Don’t call me silly girl!” Shi Fa Ke protested. “Big Brother He calls me stupid girl, you call me silly girl—just how stupid and silly am I!”
Lu Chi raised an eyebrow and laughed heartily. “Our A Ke is the smartest.”
“Then why exactly aren’t you taking the autumn examinations?” Shi Fa Ke returned to the original question.
Lu Chi paused, then cleared his throat and said shamelessly: “This is my agreement with Old Master Zhu. Since I’ve taken Ke Ji as my disciple, I must fulfill my duties as a teacher and cannot abandon him for my own future. The autumn examinations occur once every three years. I’m still young—waiting another three years is nothing.”
Zhu Ke Ji was currently having class with his teacher. Ever since Lu Chi stopped teaching at the academy, he also stopped going to the academy and moved directly to Lu Chi’s courtyard for lessons.
Lu Chi found this extremely annoying.
But Zhu Ke Ji obviously didn’t care. He thought his teacher was being contrary.
Sure enough, he caught him!
Zhu Ke Ji, who was eavesdropping, was moved to tears upon hearing this. “Teacher! You should go take the exam! Don’t worry about me!”
Lu Chi twitched his mouth and looked disdainfully at this student who lacked tact. “This is my agreement with your grandfather.”
Zhu Ke Ji was stunned. So when he successfully became the teacher’s disciple that day… it was because the teacher promised his grandfather to give up this year’s autumn examinations? Zhu Ke Ji felt both moved and guilty, feeling he had hindered his teacher’s future prospects—truly unforgivable. He clenched his fists. “I’ll go talk to Grandfather!”
With that, he turned and ran off.
Hey…
Lu Chi silently twitched his mouth. This student was really… so annoying!
The next day, Zhu Ke Ji came back looking dejected.
“Looking at your sorry state, I take it you didn’t convince him?” Lu Chi asked leisurely.
“Teacher… you don’t need to worry about your agreement with my grandfather. You should go take the autumn examinations,” Zhu Ke Ji mumbled.
“Hmph, do you want your teacher to become a person who breaks promises?” Lu Chi suddenly darkened his face and said with great displeasure.
Zhu Ke Ji left dejectedly.
He completely missed seeing his unscrupulous teacher’s relieved expression behind him…
In the blink of an eye, it was the day the autumn examinations began. Shi Fa Ke, worried that Lu Chi might feel sad, invited him out for a meal to lift his spirits. Afraid of running into He Ke Xian again, Shi Fa Ke specifically took Lu Chi to a newly opened restaurant.
But while they were eating, she looked up and saw He Ke Xian standing on the second floor, looking down at them from above!
How terrifying!
Shi Fa Ke twitched her mouth… what kind of luck was this?
He Ke Xian nodded at Shi Fa Ke and slowly walked down.
“Big Brother He… is this restaurant also yours?” Shi Fa Ke asked tentatively.
“You flatter me, just a small business,” He Ke Xian said very modestly.
This business was anything but small!
After He Ke Xian finished speaking, he suddenly looked at Lu Chi, who was sitting quietly to the side. “Scholar Lu… why aren’t you taking the autumn examinations?”
“Big Brother He!” Shi Fa Ke frowned.
You don’t hit someone’s face when fighting—why start looking for trouble right away?
“A few days ago, Scholar Lu’s elder brother accompanied the Zhu family’s young lady back to Tongluo Town to visit relatives. Out of curiosity, I had someone investigate and discovered some very interesting information,” He Ke Xian smiled and sat down without ceremony. “Do you mind if I sit down and tell you slowly?”
Whether they minded or not… you’ve already sat down!
Lu Chi’s expression remained unchanged, but his hand gripping the chopsticks tightened slightly.
Shi Fa Ke glanced at him discreetly. Was there… something fishy here?
“I heard Scholar Lu is from Lan Prefecture?” He Ke Xian looked at Lu Chi with a smile.
Lu Chi glanced at him and nodded slowly. “Yes.”
“Does Scholar Lu know there’s a Thousand Cliffs Mountain in Lan Prefecture?” He Ke Xian asked with another smile.
Lu Chi looked at him and nodded slowly again. “I know.”
“Then does Scholar Lu know there’s a Fei Qiong Stockade on Thousand Cliffs Mountain?”
Lu Chi’s knuckles holding the chopsticks turned slightly white. He smiled slightly and looked into He Ke Xian’s eyes. “I know. Thousand Cliffs Mountain’s Fei Qiong Stockade—that stockade leader occupies the mountain as king, living freely and settling grudges as he pleases. With people, land, and money, he’s quite content. A Ke told me she very much yearns for that place like a paradise on earth.”
Shi Fa Ke twitched her mouth.
She had indeed said those words.
This fellow… really knew how to adapt flexibly!
These were the words she spoke when they first met…
“Young Master Lu is from Lan Prefecture. Have you heard of Thousand Cliffs Mountain in Lan Prefecture?”
“I have heard of it. Why does the young lady ask about this?”
“My father told me. My father said there’s a Fei Qiong Stockade on Thousand Cliffs Mountain, where the stockade leader occupies the mountain as king, robs the rich to help the poor, lives freely and settles grudges as he pleases. With people, land, and money, my father yearns for it greatly.”
So it was her father who yearned for it, not her!
But He Ke Xian was provoked. He narrowed his eyes, his expression shifting unpredictably. “Scholar Lu is a scholar. Surely you’ve heard of Lord Ye’s love of dragons?”
“A Ke is not Lord Ye, and I’m not a scholar,” Lu Chi grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. “I’m a bandit.”
He Ke Xian immediately looked at Shi Fa Ke, as if saying: Look! Look! He’s shown his true colors!
However, the triumph and indignation in his eyes at exposing Lu Chi’s true nature quickly turned to nothingness… leaving only emptiness, because Shi Fa Ke just sat there quietly with a smile.
Her smile was serene and peaceful.
At that moment, He Ke Xian knew that no matter how much he tried to sow discord, he could never have A Ke… No, perhaps he had known this outcome long ago.
He just couldn’t accept it.
“Fine, I was being petty for nothing,” He Ke Xian said flatly, then stood up and left.
He never looked back again.