Madam Zhuang, also known as Bi Shuyu, initially did not think of Zhuang Dongqing. Recently, she returned to her family home and sought help from Zhuang Laoye’s superiors and colleagues. She had exhausted all possible methods, sat on the cold bench long enough, and even shamelessly went to ask for help, but there was no result at all.

Her family was originally a distant branch of the Bi family, relying on the big tree for shade. Even though her parents felt sorry for her, they ultimately had no say in the clan. At such a time when everyone was on edge, the clan leader would not take any risks to help her.

As for Zhuang Xingchang’s colleagues and superiors, the colleagues could not help her, and the superiors were unwilling to assist. Well… it was all human nature.

A few days ago, Bi Shuyu received news that the Ministry of Justice had secretly released several officials and students back home, but… Zhuang Xingchang and her eldest son, Zhuang Yue, were not among them.

She was already like an ant on a hot pan, and today she received news that her uncle from the Bi family had been imprisoned. In a moment of panic, she fainted.

The doctor took her pulse, and while the medicine was being prepared, her trusted maid, Mama Liu, served her the medicine while softly comforting her.

After holding on for so long, Bi Shuyu could no longer bear it and, in great pain, said, “Do you think I’m too harsh on Yue’er?”

“He’s not very bright, and his studies have always been mediocre. I’ve known since he was little that his writing is not as good as Zhuang Dongqing’s.”

“Of course, that kid is also good at hiding his shortcomings. He knows I don’t like him, so he always acts a bit inferior to Yue’er. But at this critical moment of the imperial examination, who would be willing to stay in the shadows… Poor Yue’er doesn’t know, and I’ve never pointed it out…”

“If it weren’t for my strict supervision, how would Yue’er think of those crooked paths?”

“He must have listened to those bad ideas from his cousins just to prove himself…”

By the end, tears streamed down her face, filled with regret.

Mama Liu could only comfort her.

After crying so much that her handkerchief was soaked, Bi Shuyu suddenly remembered that before the spring examination, Zhuang Dongqing had actually come to find her once.

“Wait.”

“Wait, wait!”

Saying “wait” three times, Bi Shuyu suddenly sat up straight.

Mama Liu was surprised.

Bi Shuyu grasped her hand and murmured, “When has he ever cared about the master’s affairs? Other than studying, he never asks about anything else. This doesn’t make sense…”

“Unless…”

Bi Shuyu looked at Mama Liu, suddenly energized, “Unless he already knows something!”

“Yes, that’s it… Quickly, go and bring Zhuang Dongqing to see me.”

Mama Liu was at a loss, “But, Madam, you’re still unwell. Let me help you get up first?”

Bi Shuyu pushed Mama Liu’s hand away and said firmly, “Han Lu can help me get up. You go find Zhuang Dongqing, right now, immediately. I won’t feel at ease with anyone else.”

With that, Mama Liu had no choice but to agree.

After carefully instructing the maidservants, Mama Liu left, though still a bit worried.

• Zhuang Dongqing didn’t say much on the way.

Mama Liu glanced at him several times but didn’t see any panic on his face. At such a time, he could remain so calm, which made Mama Liu believe in the Madam’s judgment.

After settling Zhuang Dongqing in the living room and reporting to the Madam, Mama Liu brought him to the outer room of the main house.

After a brief encounter, even though he was still dressed in silk and jade, the pallor on Madam’s face was undeniable. She no longer had the usual rosy complexion; her face was waxy yellow, and her lips were pale. It seemed that the recent running around, combined with her sudden illness, had left her looking so haggard.

Zhuang Dongqing sighed inwardly and respectfully greeted her.

“You’re here, sit down.”

Bi Shuyu’s voice was also faint, lacking strength.

But her eyes were fixed on Zhuang Dongqing, burning with a hidden desire.

Zhuang Dongqing, bowing his head in greeting, was completely unaware.

After he sat down, neither spoke. They finished a cup of tea in silence before Bi Shuyu could no longer hold back and said, “You know about the family matters recently.”

Zhuang Dongqing nodded, obediently listening.

Bi Shuyu then added, “… The entire capital won’t be peaceful for a while.”

Zhuang Dongqing nodded again.

Having thrown the topic out there, Bi Shuyu waited for a while, but Zhuang Dongqing still maintained a posture of listening, showing no intention to speak.

“…”

After a long silence, enduring through another cup of tea, Zhuang Dongqing’s waiting posture didn’t change at all. Finally, Madam couldn’t hold back her frustration and said, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

“Ah?”

Zhuang Dongqing was taken aback.

He looked up, his eyes clear, and his expression was one of unmasked surprise.

Bi Shuyu took a deep breath; his surprise was so natural and fleeting that she couldn’t convince herself he was pretending.

It was truly…

“Madam, do you have something to say to me?”

Fortunately, he wasn’t completely clueless, and Zhuang Dongqing finally responded.

Bi Shuyu couldn’t help but say, “Did you hit your head? Are you still not better?”

“Oh, you want to ask me about this? The bruising hasn’t dissipated yet; it might take three to five years to heal.”

“…”

Bi Shuyu: “… I see.”

Pressing her fingers against her forehead, Bi Shuyu closed her eyes and exhaled, constantly reminding herself that the important matters were at hand, and everything else was irrelevant.

But when she opened her eyes again and met Zhuang Dongqing’s innocent expression, she still felt a lump in her throat.

Zhuang Dongqing truly wasn’t foolish, “Does Madam have more to say to me?”

“If it’s about the recent turmoil, you might as well speak plainly.”

He touched his nose and said softly, “It’s too roundabout; I don’t understand…”

Bi Shuyu straightened her posture, “Before the spring examination, you came to find me once. At that time, you suggested that the master not take on the affairs related to the spring examination.”

After a pause, she said in a deep voice, “Did you know something back then?”

Zhuang Dongqing thought for a moment and answered honestly, “It’s not important anymore; what’s done is done.”

Madam tightened her grip on the chair, her voice stern, “What do you mean it’s not important? Your father and brother are still locked up in the Ministry of Justice. Are you going to ignore their lives?”

Zhuang Dongqing looked confused, “But at that time, you and the master didn’t listen to me?”

“…”

“What I want to say is…”

Zhuang Dongqing: “Is Madam asking if there’s still a way?”

Bi Shuyu and Zhuang Dongqing spoke at the same time.

Bi Shuyu’s chest rose and fell for a moment, patiently saying, “… Yes.”

“You don’t have to pretend with me; I know you know the Sixth Prince.”

“Is your information coming from the palace?”

Zhuang Dongqing didn’t answer, only lowered his gaze.

Bi Shuyu took a deep breath, tightened her grip on the armrest again, feeling a fire burning inside her, but she still held on, waiting.

Bi Shuyu’s palms were slightly sweaty when Zhuang Dongqing finally spoke again.

He spoke slowly, “There are ways, but…”

“But what?” After releasing a breath, Bi Shuyu felt the sweat on her back.

Zhuang Dongqing and Bi Shuyu locked eyes; his eyes were still unusually clear, but as time passed, he wasn’t in a hurry, and Bi Shuyu’s heart began to hang again.

“Do you really…”

“But there are conditions.”

They spoke simultaneously again.

Bi Shuyu: “You say!”

Zhuang Dongqing began to fold his arms, “Madam, you know I’m just a side son of the Zhuang family, with limited ability. I can only guarantee some usefulness, but I can’t say how much I can help.”

Bi Shuyu wasn’t surprised by this, “Naturally.”

But right now, she had nowhere to turn for help, and even a little assistance would be good.

“Let’s hear your conditions.” Not wanting to drag it out any longer, Bi Shuyu decisively said.

Zhuang Dongqing glanced at the surrounding servants, and Bi Shuyu understood.

Before long, the room was left with just her, Zhuang Dongqing, and her trusted Mama Liu.

Zhuang Dongqing extended his hand, opening his five fingers.

Bi Shuyu’s expression didn’t change, but Mama Liu hesitated, “Five hundred taels?”

“Mm. I want five hundred taels of silver… to get things done.”

At this time, five hundred taels was roughly equivalent to three million in modern society—not a small amount, but for a wealthy family, especially for a noble like Madam, it wasn’t a big deal.

Bi Shuyu: “Is that all?”

“There’s more. I also want the contracts and household registration of Liu Fu.”

Although Liu Fu was originally the original owner’s servant, the contracts and household registration had always been in Madam’s hands and had never been given to the original owner. Zhuang Dongqing knew that this was also a way for Madam to control the original owner.

Bi Shuyu raised an eyebrow; this request was somewhat unexpected, but it wasn’t a big deal.

After a moment of thought, Bi Shuyu calmed down, “What if I don’t agree?”

Zhuang Dongqing replied calmly, “If Madam is willing, that’s best. You should consider it in the next couple of days.”

“If you’re unwilling, it means our whole family is here. Once the decree against the废太子 is issued, it won’t matter if we all go together.”

Bi Shuyu’s pupils constricted, and she slammed the table, angrily shouting, “You’re outrageous!”

Having gone through so much during this time, Zhuang Dongqing was not easily frightened. He could only helplessly say, “Madam, take your time to consider.”

• Though he said that, he was still pushed out.

Not long after returning to the courtyard, before he could finish a pot of water, Mama Liu came again.

Not only did she bring silver notes and the contracts for Liu Fu, but she also added another hundred taels, asking Zhuang Dongqing to get things done “beautifully.”

It seemed Madam was still afraid.

After accepting the items, Zhuang Dongqing didn’t feel particularly happy. He simply spread out some rice paper and continued practicing his calligraphy.

In fact, he was writing in a restless state. Madam had made her choice, and he… had also found a way, but he still couldn’t settle his mind, worrying about this and that.

After making several mistakes, he put down his brush and spread out the original owner’s calligraphy book, thinking that if the original owner were here, they might handle this situation much more smoothly.

Pregnancy, family confiscation, the Duke of Dingxi, Young Master Ji, the Sixth Prince…

His mind raced, and suddenly two calligraphy books overlapped. Catching a glimpse of something, Zhuang Dongqing’s mind went blank.

“Liu Fu, Liu Fu—!”

He called out loudly, “Are there more calligraphy books? The ones I wrote before I had a fever, do you have them?”

“Yes, don’t worry, Young Master, I’ll go get them.”

Seeing that Zhuang Dongqing’s expression was off, Liu Fu quickly found a large stack of calligraphy books. Zhuang Dongqing picked them up and flipped through them, and the more he flipped, the colder his heart felt.

Dozens of identical calligraphy books stacked together, and the number of copies was the same. Zhuang Dongqing was stunned.

No wonder, no wonder, so that’s how it is…

He wondered how it could be like this, and now it all made sense!

Zhuang Dongqing suddenly looked at Liu Fu seriously, “When I met Young Master Ji before, were you following me the whole time?”

Liu Fu was puzzled, “I was basically there, but when you and Young Master Ji discussed studies alone, I wasn’t.”

Zhuang Dongqing: “Come on, tell me everything you can remember, no detail is too small.”

“Okay, okay.”

Liu Fu stammered, recalling and speaking, but before he could finish, Zhuang Dongqing interrupted him, “That’s enough, I understand.”

“Understand… what?”

Zhuang Dongqing didn’t answer, just waved his hand, dismissing Liu Fu.

In a daze for a moment, Zhuang Dongqing even hoped this was all fake, but when he looked at the calligraphy books…

Zhuang Dongqing placed two calligraphy books together, merging the characters “禾” and “子” into one “季.”

On a piece of rice paper with about twenty characters, each used a different style of calligraphy. However, when looked at together, it was found that the “禾” and “子” characters in the same position used the same form, which matched perfectly.

The number of these two types of calligraphy books also matched, suggesting they were written together.

In what situation would a student secretly write someone else’s name?

Zhuang Dongqing knew the answer.

After all, during school, who had a crush on whom would often fill an entire draft page with names.

After carefully searching again, he even found the calligraphy book of Li Yang’s courtesy name, which was also separated into two sheets, but had the same effect.

Zhuang Dongqing put down the rice paper, a thousand words stuck in his throat.

He wondered why it was so strange; a good aide had turned into a meat shield.

Thinking deeper, failing to win over Cen Yan, Li Yang and all the retainers seemed to have given up, while the original owner stubbornly insisted on revealing past events, even involving children…

If this didn’t count as love…

Zhuang Dongqing’s head hurt.

It buzzed.

It throbbed painfully.

Even if it was a group portrait, even if it was a feel-good story, this was too much.

Especially when he was in the same situation as the original owner, bent like a mosquito coil.

Bending love for a straight person was such a tragic thing…

Taking a deep breath, exhaling, breathing deeply, calming down, breathing deeply…

He couldn’t calm down at all!

So angry, so angry, it was infuriating!

Zhuang Dongqing exploded, tearing all the calligraphy books to shreds. After tearing them up, he still felt unsatisfied, so he had Liu Fu light a brazier, burning them one by one, all rolling, rolling, rolling!

While burning, he chanted: “Evil spirits retreat, straight men stay away, love-struck fools be gone, love-struck brains disappear quickly…”

Each page turned to ash, and still not satisfied, he repeatedly jumped over the brazier several times.

Liu Fu asked what he was doing, and Zhuang Dongqing replied angrily, “Exorcising evil! Driving away bad luck!!”

Liu Fu: “…”

After going through this process, Zhuang Dongqing’s face was flushed with anger as he sat in the courtyard, panting.

As his breathing gradually calmed down, looking at the dark brazier, Zhuang Dongqing felt a wave of sadness.

He…

Closed his eyes, took another deep breath, exhaled, opened his eyes, and Zhuang Dongqing thought he had made up his mind.

He changed his mind.

Strangely, the decision to seek out the male lead was difficult, and he struggled to find the resolve.

But denying this option was exceptionally simple.

He thought that perhaps deep down, he didn’t want to take this path at all.

In that case,

It’s fine.