Chapter 157: Beating the Dog When It’s Down
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
“Marquis, Marquis! The Young Master has become the Top Scorer!”
“Marquis, the Young Master has claimed the title of Top Scorer!”
Lu Yuan Ze was enjoying drinks at a tavern with his colleagues when a maidservant from the household burst in with joyful news.
The court official had barely stepped through the gates of the Zhongyong Marquis Manor when the maidservant rushed out, eager to deliver the good news and earn her reward.
Lu Yuan Ze shot to his feet. “Is it true?”
The moment the words left his lips, fireworks erupted from the direction of the Zhongyong Marquis Manor.
The crackling booms resounded across the sky.
“It’s true, absolutely true! The manor’s already set off fireworks to celebrate. The maids and servants are tossing money into the air!” The maidservant grinned, ready to claim her tip.
Lu Yuan Ze’s face beamed with joy. “Good! Excellent! My Lu family’s sons are remarkable—Jing Huai, well done!”
His colleagues beside him rose to offer their congratulations. “Congratulations, Marquis Lu! Truly joyous news. The Lu family legacy thrives!”
Lu Yuan Ze walked as if floating on air. At last, the Zhongyong Marquis Manor was destined to produce a Top Scholar.
“We share in your joy.”
He replied, basking in the collective admiration. His face flushed with pride.
“Jing Huai has been remarkable since childhood. Before he could even walk, he was babbling lines from the Three-Character Classic. I always knew he would bring glory to the manor!”
He had not been wrong.
While basking in their praise, Lu Yuan Ze wore a face full of smug satisfaction when suddenly, someone called out, “There’s been a mistake! It’s not this Young Master who claimed the title…”
“It was the son of the previous Zhongyong Marquis. Not the current one…”
The voice belonged to a young beggar standing at the gate.
Lu Yuan Ze’s ecstatic expression froze.
“Who? Who won the title of Top Scorer?” His voice trembled as his ears buzzed.
The beggar chuckled. “Lu Yan Shu! It’s Lu Yan Shu!”
“That’s the son you drove out of the household.”
“The one whose name you erased from the family records.” With that, the beggar darted away.
Lu Yuan Ze’s vision dimmed, and he nearly collapsed on the spot.
His colleagues looked awkward, attempting to console him. “Marquis, don’t be upset. Though the details were mistaken, Yan Shu is still your son. He shares the blood of the Lu family.”
“Slap!”
The sound of Lu Yuan Ze’s palm striking the maidservant’s face rang out. Her cheek swelled instantly.
“Celebrating without confirmation? Did you even check before spreading the news?” Lu Yuan Ze roared, his scalp tingling with fury.
Even from several streets away, the sound of firecrackers celebrating at the Zhongyong Marquis Manor echoed in his ears.
Heavens! What an enormous blunder!
“Marquis, it’s still the Lu family bloodline. It’s not such a serious matter,” one colleague tried to reassure him with a smile.
But Lu Yuan Ze felt as if his chest was being crushed. After all, he had already cast Yan Shu out of the manor, erasing his name from the family genealogy and even writing a letter severing ties.
As the tide of congratulations poured in from passersby, Lu Yuan Ze’s face grew taut. Every well-wisher’s voice stung with ridicule.
[This feels utterly humiliating.]
“What about Jing Huai? What rank did he achieve?” Abruptly excusing himself from his companions, he failed to notice the mocking glint in their eyes.
The errand boy who had gone to check the rankings finally arrived, panting and drenched in sweat. He stammered, “Young Master barely scraped the last position… He didn’t make it into the top three.”
He quickly added, “Young Master was unfortunately assigned to the worst examination hall and fell ill. He vomited heavily afterward, which probably affected his performance.”
Lu Yuan Ze’s face turned terrifyingly grim.
And now, the entire city was buzzing about the Zhongyong Marquis Manor celebrating a Top Scorer!
He could barely lift his head in shame.
“Where’s the Young Master?” Lu Yuan Ze asked through clenched teeth.
“The Young Master left early this morning and hasn’t returned yet.” Boiling with rage, Lu Yuan Ze stormed back to the manor.
As he dismounted his carriage, the sight of the thick layer of red firecracker remnants at the manor’s gates almost suffocated him.
The fiasco had erupted into a scandal, spreading like wildfire.
Veins bulged on his forehead as he ground his teeth. “Where is Madam?”
“Madam fainted and is being attended to by the physician. The Old Madam is weeping bitterly in the Buddha Hall…”
As Lu Yuan Ze neared the Buddha Hall, he could hear the Old Madam sobbing.
“Bodhisattva, why didn’t you protect this household?”
“I’ve worshipped you devoutly every day, yet you allowed Lu Yan Shu, that wretched child, to claim the title of Top Scorer!”
“Anyone else could have won, but not him!”
Her trembling hands gripped the Buddha statue. But as she lifted it, her expression froze.
The statue had been replaced with a ragged cloth doll, reeking of incense.
“When… When was my statue swapped for this?!”
“Which scoundrel dared to do this?!” Her cries of rage echoed as the doll was tossed to the ground.
Lu Yuan Ze ignored the chaos and stormed off to find Madam Pei, who lay on her bed lamenting. “Why didn’t Jing Huai win? He’s such a genius, yet he ranked last. How did this happen?”
Lu Yuan Ze’s temper boiled over as he heard her complaints. “You call this raising children? Look at the disgrace you’ve brought to this household!”
“What kind of mother are you, throwing a celebration without even verifying the facts? You’ve humiliated us beyond repair!” His scolding thundered.
Madam Pei wept bitterly. “It’s the official’s fault for being unclear!”
“If it wasn’t clear, why would you celebrate so hastily? You’ve brought shame upon us!” His voice was almost a growl.
Leaving her sobbing, he slammed the door and stormed out.
Meanwhile, Lu Chao Chao was hiding under a table.
“Was it you who directed the official to the Marquis Manor?” Shi Yun asked.
Lu Chao Chao peeked at her nervously. “Mmm… Windchaser did it!”
The plump dog wagged its tail innocently.
Shi Yun’s voice softened. “Well done. For that…”
“I’ve decided to reward Windchaser with a chicken leg.”
“Wait! It’s Chao Chao! Me! Me! I gave the directions!” Lu Chao Chao’s small hand shot up in desperation.
“Chicken leg? Where?!” she pleaded eagerly.
Shi Yun sighed, but a mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes.
The child might be mischievous, but…
[This feels satisfying!]
“Chao Chao, let’s head out… Madam Pei owes us a promise.”
Shi Yun’s eyes gleamed with vindication.
Beating the dog when it’s down—this revenge was utterly delightful!