Originally, no one had expected that such an incident would occur less than half a month after the marriage. The Cui family had acquired quite a few properties in Jinling as part of Cui Huaying’s dowry, and had also purchased two or three productive estates on the outskirts of Jinling, prepared for Cui Huaying to use during festivals to supplement her natal family and send gifts. Now that Cui Huaying had made up her mind to return to the Cui family, these things naturally had to be sold through brokers—since she wouldn’t be living in Jinling anymore, there was no use keeping them.

Young Master Wang had never encountered someone as strong-willed as Cui Huaying. As for whether he liked Cui Huaying, that truly couldn’t be said—from childhood to adulthood, he had never liked girls; he had only ever loved men. However, on one hand, the rationality of a noble family’s son told him that he absolutely had to marry a woman of equal standing to carry on the family line, and at the time he really had intended to treat Cui Huaying well. When his father sent a letter scolding him thoroughly, and even the Old Madam and Madam who had always doted on him had ruthlessly struck him a few times, he had come back specifically to apologize to Cui Huaying—if they could make the marriage work, it was naturally better to continue living together. The two families were well-matched in status and had always maintained friendly relations.

But he hadn’t expected Cui Huaying to have such a temperament. On the outside she appeared gentle and graceful, but inside she was as fierce as fire, unable to tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes. She immediately let out a cold laugh and replied: “As long as one is human, they have certain proclivities. I haven’t taken these to heart either. In families like ours, what haven’t we heard of or seen? But Young Master shouldn’t have deceived me first and then resorted to violence. If my brother hadn’t been clever, Young Master, you would have lost your life by now. Not only would you have lost your life, but you would have also burdened my brother with the crime of murder and burdened me with the reputation of bringing death to my husband shortly after marriage. Young Master is not young anymore—you’re actually several years older than my brother. Doesn’t your conscience bother you for doing such things? I’m not pursuing any accountability with Young Master now because everything will naturally be decided by our elders. If there’s anything to discuss, my uncles will naturally come to negotiate clearly with the Wang family elders. Between you and me, there’s nothing more to say. We have neither children nor affection. Since Young Master doesn’t like me, why must we bind ourselves together and torture each other?”

Young Master Wang couldn’t argue with her, and indeed had no grounds to—on the fourth day, he had gone mad and struck her face so hard that half of it swelled up, to the point that the Wang family elders didn’t dare have Cui Huaying go out to meet Song Yan.

He shook his head with a sigh and left, going to seek out his second uncle, wanting to ask how this matter should be handled. When he reached the study, he found it empty—the servant guarding the study said that Second Master Wang had taken Fourth Young Master Song out. So he dawdled his way to Old Madam’s courtyard in the back and reported that Cui Huaying was sorting through her properties and packing her things.

Old Madam Wang was silent for a long while, her expression complex. After a long time, she finally let out a sigh: “So be it. We were wrong from the very beginning. We shouldn’t have concealed things from them. Cui family daughters are precious—when the Cui family has a daughter, a hundred families seek her hand. They’re not the kind of family that depends on their daughters to make their fortune while watching them suffer. After what happened with Tingting, I should have been more cautious. I was possessed by foolish thoughts, thinking that a girl from the Cui family would be a good match for you in status, coveting the reputation of Cui family daughters. That’s how I harmed the young lady.”

Young Master Wang kept his head lowered without speaking. After a while, he heard Old Madam Wang instruct someone: “Go see Eldest Young Madam. If Eldest Young Madam needs any help, tell her to come find me at any time.”

Cui Huaying had nothing she needed their help with, because in the afternoon Cui Yingtang and Cui Yingyun arrived. Since Cui Huaying didn’t have a paternal uncle, the three cousins-uncles from the Cui family’s main branch were like true paternal uncles to her. As soon as she saw her two uncles, she immediately burst into tears.

Even Qinglu and Qingshuang felt heartbroken alongside her. Their young lady hadn’t cried even when she was beaten that day, holding on with one breath of determination. Now she had finally waited for her family to come make decisions for her.

Without a second word, Cui Yingtang requested to meet with Old Master Wang and Second Master Wang—First Master Wang was currently fighting battles in Taizhou, and while he would have liked to point at the man’s nose and scold him for not knowing how to raise children and letting his child harm others, he had no opportunity to do so.

However, Old Master Wang, after being shocked and angered by Young Master Wang’s actions, was currently still lying in bed unable to get up. Second Master Wang had taken Song Yan to the Prefecture Magistrate’s office, and only Old Madam was home. Cui Yingtang could only first ask his niece about her intentions.

Meanwhile, Second Master Wang, who was currently leading Song Yan to pay respects to the Prefecture Magistrate, couldn’t help but let out a fierce sneeze. He pulled out a handkerchief to clear his nose and rallied his spirits to listen to Song Yan speak with the Prefecture Magistrate.

Jinling Prefecture Magistrate Lin Yuanchuan was already over fifty years old. To only reach the position of prefecture magistrate at this age meant his official career prospects were essentially limited in this lifetime. But no matter how limited, he still had to plan for his children and younger generations, didn’t he? He first had to plan for his own grandson. His son had no prospects, but his eldest grandson had just passed the autumn examinations and returned as a recommended scholar—this was truly remarkable achievement. He had to pave the way for his grandson. Therefore, when he heard that a young master from the Earl of Changning’s Song family had come, he truly summoned twelve parts of his energy to receive him properly.

Song Yan’s ability to read people’s expressions had truly learned from Song Jue to the point of perfection. By evening when it was time to take his leave, he had already become fast friends with Lin Yuanchuan despite the age gap. Lin Yuanchuan held onto him refusing to let him go, his eyes shining as he begged to see the copy of the Analects in Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy that Song Yan had previously presented to Tang Mingzhao for his grandson to copy.

Even Second Master Wang felt somewhat moved—there probably wasn’t a single scholar in this world who wouldn’t be moved by such a thing.

Song Yan smiled and shook his head: “That item is currently in my teacher’s hands, so it’s really not convenient to borrow it out again.” Seeing Magistrate Lin’s disappointed expression, he added: “However, next time when Magistrate Lin has time to come to Shu, I can bring Uncle Lin to my teacher’s residence to study it together.”

Lin Yuanchuan’s eyes grew even brighter, and he almost lost his composure as he asked: “Truly?!”

Among scholars under heaven, who wouldn’t want to consult with a great Confucian scholar like Tang Mingzhao? But Tang Mingzhao was extremely rigid in his rules and stubborn in nature. He had sworn to only take seven disciples in his lifetime, and he truly only accepted three disciples. Although he occasionally held open lectures, they were just lectures and nothing more. For older generation scholars like them, how could they have the face to travel thousands of miles to Shu just to attend a single lecture? Moreover, after the lecture finished, he would leave, not saying a single extra word to anyone.

Magistrate Lin felt this was truly the best fortune that could fall from the sky. He nodded repeatedly in excitement and kept insisting on hosting a meal for Second Master Wang and Song Yan.

Right in the midst of their courteous exchanges, a servant came from outside to pass along a message, saying that someone from Changfeng Tower had come to urge them. Lin Yuanchuan frowned, seemingly finding it extremely difficult to choose.

Song Yan’s heart stirred slightly, and he asked Lin Yuanchuan: “Does Uncle have another guest?”

Lin Yuanchuan’s brows knitted together with some hesitation: “It’s the newly appointed Minister of Revenue, Old Master Chen. He just arrived in Jinling and wants to host me for a meal.”