The two of them ended up watching a fight, feeling flustered and quickly leaving.

It wasn’t until Xie Qiaoyu got into the carriage that he realized he was still holding a slingshot, hiding it in his sleeve.

All the way home, he didn’t have time to think about the slingshot because Yao He was waiting for him.

As soon as the door closed, she said, “Young Master, those herbs are meant to nourish the body, but one of them is cooling in nature. Adding it like this not only weakens the effect but also harms the body.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Qiaoyu knew it was Xie Furen’s doing. She managed the inner courtyard, and no one wanted to offend her. As the head mistress, it was easy for her to have a maid add an extra herb. He got up and went to Xie Yuan’s study.

Shun Zi went to report first before letting Xie Qiaoyu in.

Xie Yuan was the eighth-rank county magistrate in Ningjiang County, responsible for managing documents and warehouses, assisting the county magistrate. Xie Yuan was very particular about rules, so Xie Qiaoyu bowed his head and greeted, “Father.”

“What’s the matter?” Xie Yuan put down the documents. He had gone to the Wan Mansion for condolences and hadn’t finished today’s paperwork.

“Father, I heard of a folk remedy that can cure your illness, and I want to try it. I’ve seen it work; the person got much better.” Xie Qiaoyu lied without a hint of guilt.

“This matter can’t be decided by a young boy like you. If something goes wrong, you can’t bear the responsibility.” Xie Yuan thought for a moment, “This should be handled by the furen, so don’t think too much about it.”

“Father has been ill for a long time and hasn’t recovered. When I saw him, he was so thin he was unrecognizable. Let’s try the folk remedy first, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll go back to the original prescription.”

“Then bring the doctor and the person who got better to see me.”

“Yes.”

After seeing the two people, Xie Yuan finally relented, “Then let’s try it first. You can go back now.”

Having achieved his goal, Xie Qiaoyu returned to his courtyard. Xie Yuan was naturally cautious, but fortunately, he had prepared in advance. He drank a cup of tea to calm his mood.

“Young Master, where should I put this slingshot?”

“Just find a box to put it in.” He wasn’t in the mood to deal with it now. He got up to check his savings, which amounted to a hundred taels of silver. With Xie Yuan’s approval, he wouldn’t have to pay for the doctor’s fees, but he still needed to give some hush money. Xie Qiaoyu gave Yao He thirty taels of silver.

“Give it to the doctor and that woman.”

Yao He took the order and left. Right now, Xie Furen was preoccupied with Xie Zhi’s academy exam and had no time to deal with these matters, giving him a lucky break.

Xie Qiaoyu had known Xie Furen’s true nature since he was ten. The inner courtyard was still her domain.

At night, lying in bed, Xie Qiaoyu thought of Wan Mingji and Xie Jiuling. Comparing the two, he still couldn’t let go and didn’t want to sleep.

Xie Jiuling already had a concubine. In large families, sons had concubines from the age of seventeen, but Wan Mingji didn’t, as Wan Furen was strict in this regard.

Thinking about it, he fell asleep.

*

As soon as Wan Laoye’s funeral was over, the Wan family left Ningjiang County. Before leaving, they were hounded for debts again before being let go.

“Fortunately, Wan Shaoye came up with the silver, or they would have had to see the officials.”

“I always said gambling was bad. The Wan family squandered such a large fortune.”

“Isn’t that right? Now the whole family is affected. Not to mention the distant future, even Wan Shaoye’s imperial examination and the marriages of the other two sons are in jeopardy. They were raised delicately, and now they might have to marry farmers in the countryside.”

“Some farmers wouldn’t even want such sons. In the countryside, they need to be quick with work. Other things are secondary.”

Since the Wan family fell from grace, they became the talk of the town. Now that they were done discussing them, people turned their attention to the academy exam.

“God bless, my son hasn’t left the house these days, studying hard, hoping to earn a title.”

“Who doesn’t want to be a xiucai? The benefits from the government are too many.” A young man said excitedly, “Just the tax exemption alone is for fifty mu of land.”

After chatting about the academy exam for a while, they went back to their daily chores. Living in the county, they still had to work for a living.

“Young Master, the Wan family has left Ningjiang County.” Yao He, having heard some gossip, ran back to report.

“Xie Gongzi was publicly confessed to by a famous courtesan, how embarrassing. But the Xie family didn’t let him in and even sent him to the yamen. The courtesan’s reputation grew even more.”

In the Da Qi Dynasty, the restrictions on young men and women were less than in the previous dynasty. Young men and women didn’t have to wear hats when going out, and they could give sachets to men they liked. But generally, well-bred young men and women wouldn’t be so bold.

Xie Qiaoyu was looking at his rouge. The flowers in the mansion had bloomed, and he was selecting petals to make new rouge, a skill he had.

He had loved dressing up since he was young and knew a lot about rouge.

“They left?”

“Yes, Young Master, but Wan Gongzi is still going to Dongtian Academy.”

Dongtian Academy was in Ningjiang County. Now the scholars had gone home to study hard, and it would be a while before classes resumed.

Xie Qiaoyu thought he could still have some private interactions with Wan Mingji, but the person had run off. As for Xie Jiuling, upon hearing that a famous courtesan had come to visit, he could only sigh at Xie Gongzi’s charm. Young masters from Jinling City always had a touch of elegance, and their appearance was most attractive.

“Yao He, try my new rouge.” Xie Qiaoyu had Yao He sit down and applied some to his face.

Yao He looked in the bronze mirror, “Young Master, it’s beautiful, very flattering.”

Xie Qiaoyu was quite pleased with himself, “I knew it would be beautiful.”

“Keep two boxes for Father, send two boxes to Xue Xuan another day, keep two boxes for yourself, and sell the rest.”

Yao He nodded. They had grown up together, and their bond was different from others, so there was no need to say more.

Xie Qiaoyu replaced Feng Su’s herbs. Xie Furen was busy with Xie Zhi’s academy exam and didn’t bother with these matters. Besides, Feng Su’s health was already like that, posing no threat to her.

After a few days of using the medicine, Xie Qiaoyu went to see Feng Su, who looked much better, “Father, how are you feeling today?”

“After using that folk remedy, I feel much better.” Feng Su smiled.

“By the way, your grandmother is sick and needs someone to go to Shuifuzhen to take care of her. If you’re free, you should go show your filial piety. The old lady will remember your kindness in the future.”

“Father has a plan. If you want me to go, I’ll go.” The old lady didn’t like him, and Xie Qiaoyu didn’t want to go looking for trouble.

After accompanying Feng Su for a meal, Xie Qiaoyu returned to his courtyard to continue making rouge.

Time quickly passed, and it was the end of April, the day of the academy exam. The whole family saw Xie Zhi off.

“God bless, let Big Brother get a good result.” And also bless Brother Wei with a good result.

Xie Qiaoyu: “Bless Big Brother with a good result.” Xie Zhi treated Xie Qiaoyu well, so he also came to offer incense for Xie Zhi.

Xie Weixia snorted lightly, not saying anything else.

Xie Qiaoyu continued to silently pray, hoping Wei Bowen would never pass.

The two young men found a room to rest at the Buddhist Temple before taking a carriage back.

“Xie Qiaoyu, I know about you and Brother Wei.” In the carriage, it was just the two of them. The attendants sat outside, and the driver was his mother’s person, so he lowered his voice.

“Oh.” Xie Qiaoyu responded listlessly.

There were too few handsome men in Ningjiang County. He lifted the curtain to get some air, recalling Wan Mingji in his white mourning clothes, his ears turning red.

To look charming, wear mourning clothes. He didn’t understand before, but now he kind of got it. Yao He always liked to listen to gossip and tell him about it. He remembered a story about a charming widower.

Wan Mingji wasn’t a charming widower; he was a handsome man.

“Xie Qiaoyu, I’m talking to you, did you hear me?” Xie Weixia’s eyes were blazing, “Brother Wei has already agreed to marry me, so stop clinging to him!”

No wonder Wei Bowen changed his mind so quickly. It turned out he had his eyes on Xie Weixia. Xie Qiaoyu thought Wei Bowen was just taking advantage and didn’t want to marry him, disdaining his background. But it turned out he had already found someone else, his legitimate brother. No wonder he wanted to befriend his big brother and visit the Xie family; he had his eyes on Xie Weixia.

Of all people, he had to choose his nemesis. Xie Qiaoyu cursed Wei Bowen a thousand times in his heart, “Xie Weixia, have you been colluding with him all along?”

“Why are you speaking so harshly? We are in love.” Xie Weixia raised his chin, “You knew Brother Wei first, but he likes me the most. Don’t blame Brother Wei for your shortcomings.”

“Use your brain.” Xie Qiaoyu shook his head.

He wanted to compete with him for everything, and now even for a man. Xie Qiaoyu was angry, but thinking about Wei Bowen’s character, his frustration lessened.

“Xie Qiaoyu, you illegitimate child, who are you cursing? Do you want to be punished to kneel again?” Xie Weixia was so angry his chest hurt.

Xie Qiaoyu: “As you can see, Wei Bowen chose you. Can I still make a fuss? I can only swallow my pride.”

Xie Weixia was smug, “As long as you know.”

The two of them parted ways when they returned to the mansion. Xie Qiaoyu was still angry, punching his pillow, “I hope you never pass!”

*

Time passed, and Xie Zhi and Wei Bowen returned after the exam. Xie Zhi was at a restaurant drinking with his classmates, “This year’s exam questions were easy; I should have confidence.”

“To success.” Xie Jiuling, dressed in brocade, with a jade pendant and sachet at his waist, had a rosy face, “This is just the first step.”

“It’s a pity for Brother Wan, though his handwriting is ugly.” Xie Jiuling said.

“Jiuling must be drunk, hahaha.”

Wei Bowen was also drinking with them, discussing poetry and enjoying life.

“Wei Brother, come to my house another day.” Xie Zhi patted his shoulder.

“Definitely, definitely.”

Xie Zhi returned home and passed out drunk.

*

On the day the results were announced, Ningjiang County was crowded, with servants and scholars packed together.

The Xie family’s servant squeezed in and saw Xie Zhi’s name, overjoyed, and ran out, “The young master passed! Sixth on the list!”

Xie Furen beamed, “Reward!”

Yao He leaned close to Xie Qiaoyu’s ear and said, “Wei Gongzi also passed, fifteenth place.”

Xie Qiaoyu gritted his teeth; that scoundrel actually passed.

Xie Weixia was the happiest today.

Xie Qiaoyu was happy for Xie Zhi, but not for Wei Bowen, what bad luck.

“Wei Bowen actually passed, damn it, that scoundrel!” Xie Qiaoyu was furious. He first went to Zui Xian Lou to buy a flower-carved drunken chicken for Father. Without the Xie family around, he could vent his frustration.

It made him so mad.

“Steward, this wild boar was just hunted yesterday, see how fresh it is.” The man’s voice was low.

Wan, Wan Mingji? Xie Qiaoyu looked up, feeling a bit overwhelmed.