Chapter 59: The Scholar’s Case from Three Years Ago!

My wife, your husband has sketched out this estate. Before night falls, I must trouble you to assign the rooms.

Lady Luo stared blankly as she took the blueprint from Zhang Rui. She had never known his artistic skill was so exceptional. The word lifelike fell far short of describing it; it felt to her as though the estate drawn upon the paper was a genuine, breathing place.

Yet what shocked her even more was that he was handing over the authority to allocate their own home.

How overbearing had the former matriarch been? She had insisted on controlling every single aspect of the household. Had she not initially bungled the family business so severely that she left herself no future chance to manage it, Lady Luo would never have had the opportunity to take the reins. Now that her husband had ascended to an official post in the capital, it stood to reason that her domineering mother-in-law should possess even greater confidence. Never in her wildest dreams would she have expected such a task to fall upon her shoulders.

Watching from the side, Lady Luo's father felt a measure of apprehension. The attitude of the Zhang family—particularly that of his son-in-law—seemed to imply an intention to let his daughter continue serving as the mistress of the household.

If possible, he naturally hoped his daughter would not truly be cast aside by her husband's family. He knew all too well how difficult life was for a woman married a second time. Taking his daughter back home was a measure of last resort; even with his protection, the gossip of outsiders, the hidden bitterness of his new wife, and the underlying resentment of his two sons would make the poor girl's future agonizingly difficult.

Such was the lot of a woman: regardless of the reason, once she was divorced, half her life was ruined.

My lord, she replied cautiously, wouldn't it be more appropriate to let Mother make the allocations?

My wife is more adept at this, Zhang Rui shook his head. It is fine for Mother to enjoy her leisure, but managing the household affairs, large and small, is something my wife handles with far greater skill. In the future, I must continue to trouble you with many matters.

Lady Luo finally understood his meaning. Lowering her head, her eyes grew hot with unshed tears. Though she knew not why, her newly promoted husband apparently had no intention of casting her out.

What are your plans for the future, virtuous son-in-law?

The three of them were strolling through the courtyard. Zhang Rui's mother was still inside tallying the wealth brought from Fuchuan County, leaving no one else about. He prepared to speak his mind plainly.

To what is my esteemed father-in-law referring? Zhang Rui asked curiously.

Was not his father-in-law a mere merchant? How could he possibly plan out his future?

After drawing a deep breath, Old Master Luo spoke anyway. Now, my son-in-law's status is completely incomparable to what it once was. Ke'er, she— Old Master Luo glanced at Lady Luo before sighing— is merely the daughter of a merchant, a match hardly fitting for your esteemed position. We of the Luo family are well aware of our own limitations.

Hearing this, Lady Luo looked at her father, yet offered no objection. Naturally, she did not wish to be sent away in disgrace. Yet, as her father said, taking a step back of one's own accord was always more dignified than being forced out by others.

It is understandable that an official requires a more influential family behind him. We only hope that, out of regard for the years Ke'er has spent as your wife, you will at least grant a formal letter of separation...

What kind of talk is this, Father-in-law? Zhang Rui interrupted him directly, his expression entirely sincere. What kind of person do you take your son-in-law for?

My wife married me when I was at my lowest. Through these past few years, she has managed the household and contributed countless dowry funds without a single word of complaint. Who among outsiders fails to praise her as a virtuous helper? Now that I have enjoyed a modest rise in fortune, I have yet to even win her an official title of nobility. Talk of separation is utterly out of the question!

With that, he reached out, caught Lady Luo's hand, and held it within his own palm.

Father-in-law, please rest easy! Holding her hand, Zhang Rui spoke with absolute righteousness, In this life, I shall never fail Ke'er, nor will I ever let her suffer the grievances of the past again!

Lady Luo gazed in a daze at the husband who stood a head shorter than her. Her long-frozen heart began to throb once more, and a deep blush spread to the very tips of her ears.

The incorrigible wretch, saying such things right in front of her father...

She tried to pull her hand away, but lacked the strength, leaving her no choice but to let him hold it. At that moment, she did not even dare to meet her father's gaze.

Old Master Luo was stunned as well, then looked Zhang Rui over very earnestly. Do you truly mean this?

There is not a false word between us! Zhang Rui replied solemnly.

Old Master Luo fell silent. Seeing his daughter's thoroughly flushed face, he knew her mind must be in complete turmoil at the moment, so he ceased the topic and smiled instead. That Steward Lu earlier seemed to have brought back the girl called Nightingale. How does my son-in-law plan to arrange her?

At the mention of this, a headache began to form for Zhang Rui. He could only say, I must trouble my wife to arrange a guesthouse for her first.

According to Steward Lu, sorcerers tied to slave registries were exceedingly rare, and those who were safe and reliable even more so. Not every wild sorcerer clan was open to outsiders; large noble houses essentially cultivated their own. Although Nightingale was a sorceress, she possessed one distinct advantage: the evil spirit bound to her was quite safe.

The entity possessing her was known as Heavenly Sound, skilled in seducing people through song and dance, capable of bewitching minds and plunging men into an obsessive madness until they willingly offered up everything.

Moreover, Nightingale was young, her cultivation was shallow, and she harbored only this single evil spirit. Such a straightforward and easily controlled sorceress was exceptionally rare. Presenting her to Zhang Rui as a concubine was a gesture filled with utmost sincerity.

Possessing only a single evil spirit, and one of a relatively non-dangerous variety—such a resource was simply impossible for Zhang Rui to refuse.

A guest room? Lady Luo recovered her wits, the flush receding from her face as she said coolly, If my husband is fond of her, you need only take her as a concubine. There is no need for such measures.

You misunderstand, my wife, Zhang Rui shook his head without hesitation. I am keeping her here for another purpose entirely, quite different from what you imagine. Just make the arrangements as I instruct.

Lady Luo glanced at Zhang Rui. For reasons unknown to her, she sensed he was not lying, and inexplicably, hearing him speak thus brought a trace of joy to her heart.

Perhaps she herself had not realized that toward the man before her, she once again held expectations.

Meanwhile, Zhang Rui was secretly pondering how to deal with Nightingale. Steward Lu's assertions were mostly correct: the girl was young, her mastery of sorcery was superficial, and she was strictly controlled, bearing only that single power of an evil entity. A female sorcerer capable solely of bewitchment did not sound particularly dangerous.

Yet one point was wrong: the evil spirit named Heavenly Sound was, in fact, extremely dangerous.

He had no idea whether the Lu family understood the true nature of this creature. To elevate a host of such a parasitic entity to the status of a capital courtesan and survive all these years without a catastrophic explosion of disaster required an extraordinary amount of luck.

If that entity truly was the Heavenly Sound from his discarded drafts back in the day, its level of peril surpassed even that of the heavenly plague known as Camellia. Of course, utilized correctly, its utility was likewise immense. Should he take the risk of keeping her?

***

Master, with Nightingale's aptitude, did you really just give her away like that?

Upon his return, Steward Lu remained somewhat perplexed. He had watched Miss Nightingale grow up, and the family had spent countless resources cultivating her. Any sorcerer clan knew that female practitioners were exceptionally rare, and safer ones like Nightingale rarer still. Used to propagate the bloodline, there was a strong likelihood of producing geniuses gifted with innate sorcery arts. Both young masters had fought tooth and nail for her since childhood, and other major clans were more than willing to trade substantial resources for her. Yet the end result was gifting her to that man surnamed Zhang?

Wasn't that a bit too extravagant?

That fellow Zhang merely needed a foundational mentor in sorcery. While slave-registered sorcerers of that caliber were not common in the ancestral lands, they did exist; there was no reason whatsoever to give away Nightingale.

Times are different now... Lu Chengfeng sighed.

In the past, how could he ever have parted with her? His two sons fighting tooth and nail? He himself had even considered using her to extend the bloodline. At the mere thought of that girl's bone-deep seductive demeanor, a wave of heat would rise within him.

A great upheaval is approaching, and the Lu family lacks the time to wait for another child. As long as we secure a share of the spoils in this upheaval, we can cultivate as many Nightingales as we need afterward. That fellow Zhang possesses intelligence we lack, and that alone makes it worthwhile.

However, though the person has been sent over, quite a few eyes in the capital covet Nightingale. Whether he can hold onto her is another matter entirely. We shall simply observe his capabilities.

What the master says is true. Hearing this, the steward lowered his head.

Lu Chengfeng failed entirely to notice that when the steward lowered his head, a flash of red light flickered deep within his eyes, carrying a bone-chilling resentment.

How are the inquiries regarding the Crown Prince progressing?

We have uncovered some things... Raising his head once more, Steward Lu's trace of resentment vanished instantly without a trace, resuming his usual loyal demeanor. The Crown Prince intends to use the case from three years ago to frame that young man.

The case from three years ago? Lu Chengfeng frowned, then recalled something. The Top Scholar Case?

Every spring examination brought its share of bizarre anomalies. In an era saturated with anomalies, such a grand event as the imperial examination could never be entirely peaceful. But if one spoke of the most shocking event from three years ago, it was none of the others, but rather the uncanny Top Scholar Case.

The top scholar of every examination year was a position contested fiercely by every hidden clan, for the imperial family was quite fond of forming marital alliances. During every spring examination, the daughters of the Li royal lineage would inevitably find a princess casting her favor upon the top scholar, and the court was eager to facilitate it. Unlike the previous dynasty, the Great Jin permitted imperial sons-in-law to hold official posts. With the added prestige of royal status, one's official career progressed much more smoothly. Thus, more often than not, the top scholar was more coveted than the palace laureate; good looks proved far more useful than mere examination scores.

The competition for the top scholar of the previous cohort had been exceptionally intense, because the royal daughter scheduled for marriage that year was the嫡 princess, Yueyao.

Yueyao was born of the empress, possessing a noble status and being the full younger sister of the Crown Prince. In other words, whoever won the hand of this royal highness would henceforth become the imperial brother-in-law of the future emperor. To every young scion of the hidden clans aspiring to rise, this was an opportunity rarely seen in a lifetime.

As early as sixteen years ago, right at the eldest princess's birth, various clans had begun plotting, cultivating exceptionally talented and handsome youths from childhood in preparation.

Consequently, the batch of degree-holders from elite family backgrounds during the previous year consisted entirely of stunning young men, sparking wild discussions among countless women across the capital.

There were simply too many handsome men, causing even her imperial highness the princess to be blinded by choice. Being young and strictly tutored, she was suddenly presented with a row of fine men to choose from; anyone in her position would have grown dizzy.

Back then, numerous gossiping women secretly drafted ranking lists, guessing where the honor would fall. Even underground gambling dens opened houses, taking wagers on the various candidates for top scholar—it was a truly bustling affair.

Had subsequent events not transpired, this ought to have been a lighthearted joke told over tea and leisure. Sadly, for three years now, no one in private within the capital had dared to casually discuss the matter ever again.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is ruthless indeed! Lu Chengfeng frowned. He actually plans to stir up trouble using that affair.

Princess Yueyao was his own younger sister!

Your humble servant also finds it puzzling, Steward Lu murmured in a low voice. Those candidates for top scholar from three years ago possessed extraordinary backgrounds to a man, yet not a single one survived. To this day, the affair remains a taboo. The princess has remained unmarried for three years because of it. Now that the spring examination is approaching, could it be...

His Majesty wishes to clear the princess's name... Lu Chengfeng said softly. It is highly probable he will still select from among the top scholars...

The murderer from three years ago had never been caught; no one knew whether it was an evil spirit or some other conspiracy. Now, three years later, the emperor wished to gloss over it anew—just thinking about it suggested it would not go smoothly!

Should the circumstances of three years ago repeat themselves... Tsk...

This young official Zhang appeared truly to have incurred the Crown Prince's hatred. To shoulder such a massive burden—if he were genuinely entangled in this affair, the Lu family would likely have to keep a very wide berth indeed.