Proud in the spring breeze, the horse’s hooves are swift; in one day I view all the flowers of Chang’an. Right now Lu Bingyuan could be said to deeply appreciate this poem, feeling there could be no more comfortable days than these. Youthful success, limitless prospects—everyone who saw him greeted him with smiling faces. Even Lady Zhuo of Tianxiang Tower regarded him with special favor, specifically sending him an invitation. This was an amorous encounter that countless people couldn’t obtain even if they begged for it.

He rode his tall horse galloping all the way down the prosperous Zhuque Street. From time to time young ladies would lean on railings to steal glances, and some even specially threw down handkerchiefs and melons. He laughed and dodged all the way, finally arriving at Tianxiang Tower under such attention from all eyes—today was Lady Zhuo’s eighteenth birthday. Zhou Chengfang had specially reserved Tianxiang Tower to celebrate her birthday, even inviting the head chef from Shizi Tower to take charge of preparing the dishes. It was said he had also given Lady Zhuo a set of kingfisher feather headdresses, purchased at high price from the leading lady of Hongyun Society.

He went upstairs smoothly and unobstructed. Upstairs had already gathered quite a few scholars from this year’s examinations. Seeing him arrive, they all cupped their hands in greeting. He was now both the Third Place Scholar and a favored person before Elder Chen—at the height of his influence. No one wanted to offend him.

Zhou Chengfang came forward first and greeted him with a punch to the face, laughing with satisfaction and pride. “Well done, you lad! The whole building of beauties are beckoning you!”

Lu Bingyuan originally didn’t much want to pay attention to Zhou Chengfang. This neighbor had always been idle and not engaged in proper work—they weren’t the same type of people. Moreover, every time he saw him, Lu Bingyuan would remember the exam questions he had brought for him before…

But Zhou Chengfang was simply someone who couldn’t understand human speech or read people’s expressions. Having determined that Lu Bingyuan was a neighbor he should be close to, he stuck to him like taffy, not caring whether the other person was willing or not.

Right now, having drunk some wine, he appeared even more satisfied and high-spirited. Extending his hand to rest on Lu Bingyuan’s shoulder, he pulled him into a stumble, grinning as he had Lady Zhuo come pour wine for Lu Bingyuan. At the same time, he threw down his cup and climbed onto a stool in one go, shouting loudly, “I said this year I would definitely have my name on the gold list and stand out! You all refused to believe it. How about it—haven’t I now slapped your faces?!” He was suddenly yanked down from the round stool by Lu Bingyuan and foolishly laughed for a while, then ran to the other end to stare at someone and grin stupidly for a long moment. Having stared until that person’s face turned purple and swollen, he finally reached out to pat that person’s face and let out a resounding burp. “How about it, Zicheng? Didn’t you pride yourself on being learned and talented? You’re not even as good as me! Hahahaha, I’m a Second Class Scholar…”

The person he called Zicheng stood up with a whoosh, his face completely red, tears and shame involuntarily flooding his eyes, his hands tightly clenched into fists. Who would have thought that after studying hard in a cold window for over ten years, he couldn’t match up to a wastrel… And now he still had to be humiliated by this wastrel. He looked at Lady Zhuo leaning beside Lu Bingyuan with a smiling expression, felt his self-respect even more injured and completely lost face, and couldn’t help speaking without choosing his words. “What are you showing off about?! Just with you, this wastrel, you dare say you passed the exam on your own merits?! I think it’s the declining morals of the world and people’s hearts no longer ancient. Before the exam even started, I heard you boasting in Zhuangyuan Tower that you would definitely pass. Where did you get such confidence?! In my view… you clearly were…”

Before Zhou Chengfang let him finish, with a crash he placed one foot on the stool. His devil-may-care manner disappeared, and extending his hand, he gave Yin Zicheng a slap across the face.

One doesn’t strike the face, much less the face of a scholar. Yin Zicheng only felt blood rushing to the top of his head. Both hands pushed against Zhou Chengfang’s chest and shoved him into a stumble, asking incredulously, “You actually dare to strike me?!”

Zhou Chengfang was originally a famous wastrel second-generation young master. Back in his hometown, there had been times when he caused even greater trouble than this. Moreover, he was now riding high on success and fancied he had connected with Elder Chen—how would he fear Yin Zicheng? Immediately raising his chin, he slapped Yin Zicheng several more times with resounding slaps.

The whole hall was in an uproar. Someone who couldn’t stand watching stood up to stop him. “Chengfang, you’re going too far!”

Lu Bingyuan’s expression was even more gloomy, as if it could rain. Extending his hand, he pushed Zhou Chengfang into a stumble. “Stop fooling around! Everyone is from the same year…”

Zhou Chengfang, having been pushed by him, didn’t lose his temper. He only sneered once and somewhat exaggeratedly pointed at Yin Zicheng, laughing loudly. “Same year? Who is the same year as him? He failed the exam… Usually going on about being a talent, a talent—now we finally know he’s an embroidered pillow, good-looking but useless!” With him taking the lead, others in cahoots with him made even more of a commotion, making Yin Zicheng so angry he nearly cried.

After such a scene, even if Yin Zicheng wanted to stay, he had no face to remain any longer. Carrying a heart full of resentment and unwillingness, gripping his fists, he walked outward. Yet Zhou Chengfang still wouldn’t let it rest. Turning back, he laughed once at Lady Zhuo, with some flattery, smiling at her. “Come, Lady Zhuo, I’ll perform a ‘hungry tiger pouncing on food’ for you!”

As soon as his words fell, he shot out. Both hands grasping the door frame, his whole person swinging in midair, he heavily kicked Yin Zicheng in the back from behind, kicking him forward into a stumble—he fell flat on his face like a dog eating shit.

Even louder mocking laughter erupted from the crowd. Yin Zicheng only felt he had never suffered such humiliation in his entire life. Turning back to see the whole building of people laughing until they couldn’t straighten their backs, then looking at the surrounding crowd of onlookers, his face turned so red it could almost drip blood, and he finally couldn’t hold back his tears.

Censor Tao’s sedan chair was blocked halfway and he was getting somewhat impatient. Having someone go inquire, he learned of this absurd matter, and his brow unconsciously furrowed tightly. “Right now he’s only a scholar, yet already dares to be so lawless…” He recalled that day when Third Master Chen met Zhou Chengfang at Shizi Tower, and a cold smile escaped the corner of his mouth.

Song Jue was also idly sitting with a friend in the teahouse across the way. Seeing this scene, he couldn’t help shaking his head and sighing. “This group of scholars this year is really playing too excessively…” Though his words said this, his face always held a mocking smile.

The Spring Examinations had already announced their results. What he was waiting for was a fuse that could ignite gunpowder. He had not wasted his initial targeting of Zhou Chengfang—he had finally waited for this moment.

“This young master is truly quite pitiful. I heard that in Jiangzhe he was also considered a talent of some renown.” He shook his head and sighed for a while before sitting down beside his friend.

“Indeed. It seems in the Autumn Examinations he was greatly praised by Zhejiang’s Educational Commissioner at the time, who said his prospects were immeasurable and specifically had him delay one session before taking the Spring Examinations to temper his character and disposition. But who would have thought—the wastrel passed the exam, while a great talent like him actually failed.” Song Jue’s friend sighed with considerable regret. “This is also determined by a person’s fate. That’s why they say worldly affairs are unpredictable.”