Chapter 464 - 177: Returning Home (3)
Chapter 464: Chapter 177: Returning Home (3)
She was too preoccupied to ask how there could be a girl at the Prefecture Academy, let alone why the Magistrate’s own daughter was studying there.
A blast of cold wind swept up the withered leaves, sending them rustling to the ground. Chen Wanqing grabbed Zhao Jing’s hand. "Let’s get home first. We can talk then."
On the way home, Chen Wanqing explained why she was late. "Moonlight Fragrance is a huge success, so a lot of imitations have appeared on the market. Mr. Xie says that the Prefecture is full of hidden talents, and he’s worried that if we don’t improve the formula for Moonlight Fragrance, someone is bound to figure it out sooner or later. I was just out in the market collecting those knockoffs today. See? I managed to gather quite a few."
Following behind Chen Wanqing was a stout, burly woman. She carried a basket covered with a cloth, obscuring whatever was inside.
But from what she had just said, it wasn’t hard to guess that the basket was filled with the knockoff Moonlight Fragrances.
Chen Wanqing continued, "You sent a letter saying everything was fine, but Mother and I didn’t believe it. You’ve always been one to report good news and hide the bad. You didn’t say a single word about the Prefecture Academy, but if things were truly going so smoothly, you wouldn’t be showing up at our door at this hour. Once we’re home, you’re going to tell me everything that’s happened at the academy these last few days. Don’t you dare hide anything from me."
Zhao Jing replied cheerfully, "How could I dare to disobey?"
At this hour, Mrs. Zhao and Xiang’er were in the flower hall, quietly waiting for Chen Wanqing to return.
Even though Chen Wanqing had said she might be back late and that they shouldn’t wait for her, telling them to go ahead and eat once dinner was ready.
But there were only three masters in the household, and two of them were idle all day. She was the only one with work to do.
It wouldn’t have felt right if they didn’t wait.
Hearing Chen Wanqing had returned, the mother-daughter duo rushed out excitedly to greet her. But when they saw Zhao Jing walking beside her, they both thought their eyes were playing tricks on them and couldn’t help but rub them. Once they were sure it was really him, Mrs. Zhao and Xiang’er rushed forward in a flurry of emotion. "Oh, my son!"
"Big Brother! Big Brother, what are you doing back? Big Brother..."
It was a full fifteen minutes later by the time the family finally settled down at the dinner table.
The Zhao Family had no rule against talking during meals. Besides, it wasn’t just Chen Wanqing who was worried about his time at the Prefecture Academy; Mrs. Zhao and Xiang’er were on edge as well.
All three of them bombarded him with questions, and Zhao Jing gave them a brief account of what had happened.
But however brief his account, he laid out the key figures and events clearly, causing the three women to gasp repeatedly. It sounded as if attending the Prefecture Academy was more arduous than chasing a fugitive across the country.
Mrs. Zhao held scholars in the highest esteem and was often proud of the fact that she had a Scholar for a husband and another for a son.
In her heart of hearts, she believed scholars were a cut above everyone else.
If an ordinary person had been tormenting her son like this, Mrs. Zhao, despite her good temper, would have surely let loose a few curses.
But the one bullying her son this time was a third-place Lang, personally appointed by the Emperor.
To become a third-place Lang, one needed not only exceptional looks but also outstanding talent, with scholarship that surpassed nearly every other candidate. If either quality was lacking, the title was unattainable.
So, it’s the esteemed third-place Lang giving Jing a hard time... In that case, then...
"Then why did you still join his Xiaocheng Hall? If he’s deliberately trying to make things difficult for you, won’t you be a sitting duck?"
"Your son isn’t that helpless. He has his schemes, and I have my ways to counter them. Besides, Mr. Yin is a reasonable man. Even if he gives me a hard time, it’s only in matters of scholarship. If you look at it from another angle, isn’t this a sign that he sees something special in me? That he holds me in high regard?"
"You can really look at it that way?"
"Yes, you can."
Watching Zhao Jing dispel Mrs. Zhao’s worries with just a few words, fooling his mother as if she were a three-year-old child, Chen Wanqing had to suppress a laugh. She lowered her head and shoveled rice into her mouth.
’Jing might look calm and unbothered, but he must be incredibly frustrated on the inside.’
’That Mr. Yin is a clever one, too, thinking of "returning the favor" with ten exam papers. With those papers, this five-day break is worse than no break at all.’
’I wonder if Jing is regretting it now.’
Later that evening, Chen Wanqing learned something else: this Mr. Yin was the very same man they had met at the dog market, the one who had spoken so rudely to them.
She finally understood.
’No wonder the two of them came to blows the moment they met.’
’And Jing tried to claim they fought by accident. If you ask me, he was taking the opportunity to get his revenge.’
"Dearest, are you sure you want to bring up another man right now?"
Zhao Jing moved forcefully, making Chen Wanqing gasp.
Involuntary tears welled in her eyes, and for a moment, she lost all control of her body.
"Pay more attention to me, Dearest. I miss you so much I can barely sleep at night. The whole reason I asked for these five days off was to come back and be with you. I’m so good to you, Dearest, so shouldn’t you indulge me a little tonight?"