Chapter 157: Beating a Drowning Dog
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
The air was filled with exuberant cries, “Marquis! Marquis! The young master has excelled, topping the provincial exams!”
These jubilant exclamations reached Lu Yuan Ze in a bustling tavern as he celebrated with his colleagues. A maid from his household had hurried in, bursting with the thrilling news, her eyes gleaming with the prospect of a handsome reward.
Lu Yuan Ze leaped to his feet, his voice tinged with eager anticipation, “Is it true?”
Before he could finish, the sky above erupted in a spectacular display of fireworks, lighting the path back to his mansion with vibrant colors and resonant booms.
“It’s absolutely true, Marquis! The estate is alive with festivities, and the servants are joyfully tossing coins,” the maid relayed, her grin wide in anticipation of her reward.
A broad smile spread across Lu Yuan Ze’s face. “Excellent, excellent! Truly a credit to the Lu lineage! Splendid job, Jing Huai!”
His colleagues rose, their faces alight with admiration, “Congratulations, Marquis Lu! Your lineage continues to shine brightly.”
Buoyed by their praises, Lu Yuan Ze’s heart swelled with pride. “Thank you, everyone! Jing Huai has been diligent from a tender age, reciting classics before he could even walk. I knew he would bring honor to our house.”
[Finally, the recognition we deserve. This will silence the doubters of our family’s capabilities.]
As the room buzzed with praise and Lu Yuan Ze’s face glowed with pride, a sudden shout sliced through the festivities, “It’s a mistake! Not this young master…”
“It’s the former Marquis Zhongyong’s legitimate son, not the current one…”
These words came from a scruffy beggar at the doorway.
Lu Yuan Ze’s expression shifted from joy to confusion. “Who? Who ranked first?” he asked, his voice faltering as his ears rang.
The beggar laughed mockingly, “Lu Yan Shu! The son you disowned, the one you erased from the family records!” With that, the beggar disappeared into the crowd.
The ground seemed to sway beneath Lu Yuan Ze as the faces of his colleagues mirrored the awkwardness of the situation.
“Marquis, do not despair. Although there was a mix-up, Yan Shu is still of your blood, a scion of your house,” they consoled him.
In a flash of anger, Lu Yuan Ze slapped the maid, her cheek reddening instantly. “Why would you announce such news without confirming it first?!” he bellowed, his fury palpable.
The distant sound of firecrackers from his mansion served as a harsh reminder of the blunder.
“Marquis, he’s still your kin—it matters little in the grand scheme,” his colleagues attempted to reassure him, though their smiles faltered under the weight of the situation.
[How could this happen? Yan Shu, of all people… This will tarnish our name beyond repair.]
The damage, however, was irreparable. Lu Yuan Ze had disowned Yan Shu, struck him from the records, even penned a severance letter—actions that now returned to haunt him as pure scorn.
Amidst the ongoing misplaced congratulations, he demanded, “What about Jing Huai? What position did he secure?”
Breathless and sweaty from his hurried journey, a servant arrived with the news, “The young master… he ranked last, sir. Not in the top three.”
“He was seated next to the excrement station for the exam and was ill throughout. It likely affected his performance,” the servant hastily added, attempting to soften the harsh reality.
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
Yet, the city mistakenly celebrated Marquis Zhongyong’s household for producing the top scholar.
Humiliated, Lu Yuan Ze demanded, “Where is the young master now?”
“He left early today and hasn’t returned,” the servant replied.
With a storm brewing within him, Lu Yuan Ze returned to his mansion, the remnants of celebration mocking him at every step.
Upon entering, he was struck by the full gravity of the debacle.
“Where is my wife?”
“Madam has fainted, and the doctor is attending to her. The old madam is inconsolable, weeping in the Buddha hall…”
As he neared the Buddha hall, he heard the old lady’s agonized cries, “Bodhisattva, why have you forsaken our house? I pray daily, yet you allowed Yan Shu, of all people, to triumph! How could you?”
She clasped at the Buddha statue, only to discover in horror that it had been replaced with a smoke-stained rag doll.
“Who would replace my Buddha with this… this doll?!” she shrieked, hurling the doll at Lu Yuan Ze’s feet.
Ignoring her, Lu Yuan Ze found Madam Pei in bed, her lamentations filling the room, “How could Jing Huai fail so miserably? He’s a prodigy!”
Upon his entry, he scolded her, “This is the mess your son has caused, bringing shame upon our name! Do you have no shame? Celebrating without verification! How much more disgrace must we endure?” Lu Yuan Ze retorted sharply.
Madam Pei wept, “The officials lacked clarity, leading to the confusion.”
“Why celebrate prematurely then? Why not demonstrate composure like Yun Shi does?” he snapped back, his voice laden with scorn.
The scandal of disowning Yan Shu now loomed as a grave misstep.
“Marquis, Jing Huai was ill during the county exam, but he still has the palace exam to redeem himself,” she tried to reassure him, her voice trembling.
“Jing Huai was once hailed as the last great disciple of Tianhong Academy,” she added, clinging to a sliver of hope.
Furious, Lu Yuan Ze stormed out, leaving Madam Pei in tears.
At the doorway, Lu Jing Yao watched quietly, her expression shifting from disdain to concern.
“Mother, Father was merely upset,” she consoled, embracing her mother.
“Jing Yao, you are all I have left,” Madam Pei sobbed.
“Mother, I will stand by you,” Jing Yao promised.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao was tucked away under a table in her home, hiding from her mother’s questioning.
“Was it you who directed the officials to our house?” Madam Xu asked with a stern gaze.
Chao Chao peeked out, then pointed at the family dog, “No, Chasing Wind did it.”
The dog glanced back, innocent and confused with that titled head.
Madam Xu nodded, “Very well… I shall reward Chasing Wind with a chicken leg.”
Suddenly, Chao Chao burst from her hiding spot, her tiny voice desperate, “No, no! It was me! I did it! Chicken leg, pwease…”
Madam Xu sighed, her expression a blend of frustration and amusement. “Alright, Chao Chao, let’s go out… and make sure that Pei Jiao Jiao keeps her word!”
Indeed, there is a certain satisfaction in kicking someone when they are down, in beating a drowning dog.