Chapter 227: A Past of Misdeeds
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
The old lady’s reaction to the name “Li Yuan Xi” was immediate and intense. She turned sharply, her eyes wide with fear, to face the bald man before her. Clad in a monk’s robe, he stared down at her with a faint, unsettling smile, his fingers idly playing with the beads of his prayer chain.
That slight smile made the old lady’s heart sink. “N-no… no…” she stuttered, her voice rising into a panicked shriek, “No, no, no!” Her eyes darted around, landing desperately on Madam Pei.
Madam Pei, her patience clearly worn thin, slammed her cup down on the table. “Can’t you silence her?” she snapped. “What’s troubling her now?” The old lady often pretended to be distressed to annoy Madam Pei, but today’s cries seemed genuine, filled with terror.
[Perhaps she’s haunted by her own misdeeds?]
Despite her fear, the old lady’s body, paralyzed, could only manage a slight shudder. Her entire presence screamed resistance. The bald man grabbed her and dragged her into a cold water bath in the next room.
“Ahh!” The old lady’s scream tore through the air. Her face quickly turned a ghastly shade of blue and purple.
Leaning in close, the man whispered menacingly, “Yuan Xi, Yuan Ze, do those names ring any bells?”
Tears welled up in the old lady’s cloudy eyes as she recalled a distant memory. She saw the old marquis, smiling warmly as he touched Lady Qiao’s swollen belly. “This generation will carry the ‘Yuan’ in their names. The eldest son will be Yuan Ze, and your son will be Yuan Xi. If it’s a daughter, she will be named…” Back then, she had stood at the doorway, teeth clenched in silent fury, as she observed the intimate scene. Yuan Xi was Lady Qiao’s child!
After swirling her around in the water, the man tossed her back onto the bed. The maid by the bedside felt the old lady’s chilling coldness and quietly helped her into dry clothes.
With tears streaming down her face, the old lady clutched the maid’s hand tightly. “Mar… Mar…” she feebly called out for Lu Yuan Ze.
The maid exchanged worried glances with Madam Pei and the bald man before responding, “Old Madam, you need to rest. Master is tied up with his duties and can’t be here now.” The old lady whimpered, saliva dribbling down her chin.
Regret overwhelmed her. She had torn apart what was once a good family. Now, she coughed violently, her face turning a deep red as she gasped for air.
Holding a handkerchief to her nose, Madam Pei remarked distastefully, “Give her some medicine for her cold. It would be terrible luck if she died during the New Year.”
Dying now would force Lu Yuan Ze into mourning, an outcome Madam Pei couldn’t tolerate.
“Should we summon a doctor?” the maid whispered cautiously.
“What doctor? Her body is covered in bedsores, her flesh rotting away. If the master hears of it…” Madam Pei smirked coldly. “You, as her personal maid, would probably be executed.”
The maid fell to her knees.
“No need for a doctor then. Just the cold medicine,” Madam Pei stated flatly. “And open the windows more. The stench of decay is overwhelming.”
Long-term neglect had left the old lady with severe bedsores, potentially maggot-infested come summer, a fate worse than death.
“Yes, ma’am,” the maid replied softly, her voice trembling.
As Madam Pei and the bald man exited, she scoffed, “She really thinks I’m like Madam Xu? Devoted to her for ten years?”
Just then, another maid hurried in. “Madam, the young mistress has returned.”
Jiang Yun Jin entered, her face pale, eyes flickering with suppressed anger and unhappiness. “Mother,” she greeted, bowing deeply to Madam Pei.
“Good, you’re back. Jing Huai is young and naïve, easily misled and harmed by others. Remember, you two are a unit; you must protect him,” Madam Pei instructed.
Clutching her handkerchief tightly, Jiang Yun Jin nodded, “Yes, Mother,” her voice low to mask her turbulent emotions.
Once Madam Pei departed, Jiang Yun Jin’s maid burst out, “How shameless! Talking about unity and marriage like that?”
“The whole capital knows their true colors.”
“If only we hadn’t canceled the engagement. They say Lu Yan Shu might top the royal exams this year. He’s a true prodigy,” the maid lamented, stomping her foot in frustration.
Jiang Yun Jin’s eyes betrayed a flicker of regret.
Outside the examination hall, a bustling crowd had gathered, making it nearly impossible to move. Lu Chao Chao, wrapped snugly in her warm clothes, stood on tiptoes, trying to peer over the crowd.
“Has Big Brother come out yet?”
“I can’t see anything…” Chao Chao complained, her small stature only allowing her a view of people’s backs.
Rong Che, noticing her struggle, hoisted her onto his shoulders. “Hold tight to Uncle Rong, and don’t fall.”
“Wow, so high, so high!” Chao Chao chirped excitedly, clinging to Rong Che’s hair.
Rong Che, towering over the crowd, gave Chao Chao the perfect vantage point, and she was thrilled.
“Why are you letting Chao Chao ride on your head…” Madam Xu asked, a hint of embarrassment in her tone.
“It’s fine. She’s even been on the king’s shoulders,” Rong Che replied with a light chuckle, his gaze lingering on Madam Xu.
“Mommy, Mommy, can you see now?” Chao Chao asked, looking down at her mother with concern.
Madam Xu glanced at the packed gate and shook her head, disappointed.
Chao Chao’s eyes sparkled, and she patted Rong Che’s head. “Mommy, do you want to come up too? We can squeeze together.”
Both Rong Che and Madam Xu blushed, their eyes meeting briefly before they hastily looked away, Madam Xu’s cheeks turning a deeper shade of red.
“Uncle Rong, can you not carry Mommy?” Chao Chao asked, her tone serious.
Rong Che stuttered, unsure how to respond. “I… I could…”
“Mommy, why is your face red?” the innocent little girl inquired, causing Madam Xu’s face to heat up even more.
“It’s just warm. Yes, it’s warm because of the crowd,” Madam Xu claimed, fanning herself while avoiding her daughter’s curious gaze.
Chao Chao looked at her suspiciously. [Grown-ups are so strange. It’s so cold, yet she says she’s hot?]
Sweat beaded on Madam Xu’s forehead.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“They’re coming out, they’re coming out! The eldest young master is out!” a servant shouted, his face compressed by the crowd as he assisted the young master out.
The spring examinations were grueling, split into three sessions over nine days. The intense effort could be physically draining, often costing participants years of their health.
Among the examinees was an elderly man with graying hair, who staggered out of the hall, his complexion ghostly. Collapsing on the ground, he began to sob, “Once every three years, I’ve tried six times. Six times! Eighteen years!” His consistent failure weighed heavily on him, his family nearby trying to offer comfort.
For ordinary families, supporting a scholar was a collective effort. Studying wasn’t just a personal endeavor; it carried the hopes and dreams of the entire family. Many used the royal exams as a chance to alter their destinies.
Outside the hall, the atmosphere was a mix of joy and sorrow.
“Is that Lu Yan Shu?” someone whispered, barely audible above the din.
Lu Yan Shu stood proudly, his demeanor unshaken, a serene smile playing on his lips.