Before signing in, Gu Qingyan paused for a moment.

If he signed in and then fainted again, it would definitely scare Zhang Nian.

Gu Qingyan asked, “System, will signing in this time cause a system update that makes me unconscious for a long time?”

“Please explore by yourself,” the system replied.

Gu Qingyan grimaced, feeling this system was cold and hard—no warmth at all.

Looking at the glaring check-in point, he decided to give it a try.

After all, if he missed this prefectural exam, the next chance would be the academy exam; he couldn’t just pass it by.

“You have successfully checked in at the Qingzhou Prefecture Examination Hall and received one Resurrection Pill.”

Gu Qingyan’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the item’s name.

Resurrection Pill? Could it really bring the dead back to life?

He quickly opened the details.

“Resurrection Pill: Does not actually bring the dead back to life, but if there is still a breath of life left, it can save you.”

Gu Qingyan let out a slight breath of relief. Good—he had feared some world-shaking event, like a strange play of The Peony Pavilion or Journey to the West would unfold.

But…

Looking at the black pill in the system, Gu Qingyan furrowed his brow slightly.

Most of the rewards from the check-in system are related to the location. For example, checking in at the bank always gives silver; at the granary, it’s always food.

At certain special places, the rewards tend to be exactly what he needs at that moment.

For example, at the pharmacy, he got a Ginseng Nourishing Pill each time; taking it made his body stronger and he no longer suffered the frailty of his youth.

Last winter was so cold in Lingchuan County, yet Gu Qingyan drove to the county school every day without getting sick.

That was impossible before.

Gu Qingyan couldn’t help but think, “Why would the Examination Hall give out a Resurrection Pill?”

Could it be that something bad was going to happen?

Or was it something very serious, requiring the Resurrection Pill to save a life?

He pressed his pulse — strong and vigorous, no illness, no poisoning.

He silently resolved to be extra careful these days to avoid any misfortune.

Carefully putting away the life-saving pill, Gu Qingyan quietly waited for the prefectural exam to finish.

The gates of the Examination Hall opened again, and the candidates walked out one after another, their faces pale.

Zhang Nian stretched his neck to look toward the door but didn’t dare get too close—breaking rules would get him caught.

Fortunately, he soon found Gu Qingyan.

“Brother Gu.”

Gu Qingyan quickly walked over. Compared to the county exam, his complexion now was rosy and radiant, standing out sharply from the other candidates.

Zhang Nian, however, thought differently: “Brother Gu, you must be tired. Quickly get in the carriage and rest. There’s hot soup and your favorite flaky pastries. Eat a bit to fill your stomach; we’ll head home soon.”

“I’m fine, see? I’m perfectly alright,” Gu Qingyan smiled.

But when they got home, an old doctor was already waiting.

Zhang Nian smiled foolishly: “Auntie and the two young ladies told me to bring the doctor early. They worried you’d be exhausted inside and that with so many people coming out, you wouldn’t be able to get a doctor quickly.”

Gu Qingyan had no choice but to stretch out his wrist for a pulse check — since he was here anyway, might as well check if there was any problem.

The system suddenly gave him the Resurrection Pill, so he felt a bit uneasy inside.

The old doctor pressed one hand on his wrist, then the other, and pondered silently.

Zhang Nian nervously asked, “Doctor, is our young master okay? Should we prescribe some medicine?”

The old doctor finally spoke slowly, “Nothing wrong, no harm to body or spirit. His health is stronger than any scholar I’ve ever seen. But if you like medicine, I can prescribe a couple of doses to ease your mind.”

Gu Qingyan chuckled, “Ah Nian, hurry up and pay the doctor and send him off. Right now, with the candidates coming out, doctors are in high demand—don’t waste time.”

Zhang Nian obviously realized the doctor was teasing him, so he quickly paid and sent him away.

After taking his pulse, Gu Qingyan felt much more at ease.

“Ah Nian, any news from the Lu family these days?” he asked.

Zhang Nian shook his head: “No, that young Master Lu hasn’t come by again.”

“Strange, it’s been half a month. Why no news yet?”

Gu Qingyan found it odd—based on Lu Yanchi’s personality, he shouldn’t have been completely silent.

“Brother Gu, maybe because the prefectural exam is coming, young Master Lu is afraid of disturbing you, so he hasn’t come for now,” Zhang Nian suggested.

Gu Qingyan thought it was possible.

After all, in the eyes of the people of the Great Zhou, the imperial exams are more important than anything else; nothing else should interfere.

But days passed, and as the announcement of results grew nearer, Lu Yanchi was still nowhere to be seen.

Gu Qingyan felt something was off. Even if he was worried about the exam, now that it was over, he shouldn’t still be worried about the results.

Before the exam, Lu Yanchi had repeatedly talked about inviting him to the best restaurant to eat.

He called Zhang Nian: “Send a letter to the Lu family later, say I’ve finished the exam, and if they’re free, we can meet.”

Zhang Nian nodded in agreement.

Elsewhere, Lu Yanchi was pacing in his courtyard, clearly restless and anxious.

A little girl sitting nearby saw his state and comforted him: “Brother, why do you have to be so worried?”

“Brother Gu is my lifesaver. He went through so much trouble asking me to handle something, and I ended up messing it all up. When he finds out, he’ll definitely look down on me. How will I ever face him again?” Lu Yanchi cried.

The little girl couldn’t bear to see her brother cry and rolled her eyes. “It’s not your fault. Second Brother is just like that—no one can reason with him.”

Just then, a message was passed in from outside.

Lu Yanchi’s face darkened further. “It’s over, it’s over. Brother Gu is definitely going to ask me about that maid. How am I supposed to explain it to him?”

“Just tell the truth. If he blames you for it, then he’s no good,” the little girl said coldly.

Lu Yanchi cried, “You don’t understand, sigh.”

“Young Master, that guy is still waiting outside for a reply. Should I tell him you’re busy and can’t come out?” the servant asked.

Lu Yanchi shook his head. “Forget it, whether I hide or show myself, I’m in trouble either way. I’ll go meet him now and apologize properly to calm Brother Gu down.”

The little girl wanted to follow him, her eyes spinning as she really wanted to, but she was stopped before the second gate and stomped her feet in frustration.

Lu Yanchi reached the door and saw Zhang Nian with a bitter expression. “Let’s go, I’ll follow you back to see Brother Gu.”

Zhang Nian noticed his bad mood and wanted to say something, but Lu Yanchi just sighed deeply and wouldn’t say a word.

When they got to the Gu family’s gate, Lu Yanchi jumped out of the carriage and hurried inside.

“Brother Gu, I messed up that matter.”

Gu Qingyan was startled by the sudden appearance of someone bowing deeply before him. Hearing those words, he quickly asked, “What happened? Tell me.”

Lu Yanchi’s face grew even more miserable as tears started falling.

Gu Qingyan immediately felt a headache coming on. Once this guy starts crying, it never ends.

“Brother Lu, you’re making me anxious. Stop crying and explain clearly.”

Lu Yanchi sniffled, “That day after I got home, I told my little sister about it. She said it was fine and went to visit our eldest uncle’s house the next day. She’s a girl, so she can roam freely in the back courtyard and go wherever she wants.”

“But that girl is really stupid. Somehow, she got caught red-handed by Second Brother.”

“Second Brother spread the word that you dared to have an affair with a woman from his backyard. That’s unforgivable, and he wants to settle accounts with you.”

Gu Qingyan felt something was wrong. “Wait, how does he know about me?”

“I don’t know either. My little sister insisted she was just wandering around and happened to run into him. But Second Brother just sneered and scolded her harshly, saying she was meddling and even made her cry,” Lu Yanchi said, regretful thinking back on it.

If he had known his sister was so foolish, he would have asked grandmother to intervene instead.

Gu Qingyan sensed something was off.

Lu Yanchi and Second Brother didn’t even know each other. How could seeing Lu’s little sister lead to suspicion falling on him?

Unless someone had spoken to Lu Yanchi in advance.

Gu Qingyan thought of the Xu family and felt a heavy sinking in his heart.

His head throbbed, and Gu Qingyan realized that his presence might bring huge trouble to Hongdou.

“Brother Lu, I have no improper relationship with Sister Hongdou.”

Lu Yanchi sniffled, “I believe you, of course, but Second Brother doesn’t. He’s a strange person, never liked playing with us since childhood, and has a violent temper.”

“Later, I tried to explain to him, but he refused to see me and said he wanted to cause you trouble.”

“Brother Gu, I’m really sorry. I messed things up.”

Gu Qingyan shook his head. “Maybe it’s me who dragged you into this.”

Lu Yanchi’s reaction didn’t seem right no matter how he looked at it.

Gu Qingyan took a deep breath. “Brother Lu, please be a mediator one more time and arrange for me to meet Second Brother Lu. I want to explain everything face to face.”

Lu Yanchi hesitated.

After a long pause, he made up his mind. “Brother Gu, some things I have to tell you privately. Don’t spread it around. My Second Brother is crazy—not a good person. Over the years, he’s harmed many women, even caused deaths. Our eldest uncle and eldest brother had to step in to apologize and suppress those matters.”

“In the Lu family, even eldest brother dares not provoke him casually. When he loses control, not even uncle can manage him.”

“He now thinks you have an affair with that maid and will definitely cause you trouble. You should just let it go for now and wait for him to calm down.”

Gu Qingyan dared not let it go. “I can run away, but Hongdou is in the Lu family. I can’t just abandon her.”

But from what Lu Yanchi said about Second Brother Lu’s character, Gu Qingyan was really shocked.

He had met Lu Yanjun before—a refined gentleman—and the Lu family had a great reputation in Qingzhou Prefecture. How could there be a Lu Yanhao like this?

“But…” Lu Yanchi was heartbroken.

Gu Qingyan insisted firmly, “Brother Lu, please help me one last time.”

Lu Yanchi gritted his teeth. “Actually, Second Brother said that if you top the exam, he’ll invite you to drink and might even send beauties to you.”

Before Gu Qingyan could feel happy, Lu Yanchi’s face turned bitter again. “But you can’t trust a word he says.”

“Last time he said he’d reward a scholar who passed the exam with beauties, but at the banquet, he beat the scholar up badly and scolded him for being a toad wanting to eat swan meat.”

Gu Qingyan furrowed his brows tightly.

From what Lu Yanchi said, it was easy to tell that the Lu family’s second son had a completely different personality from the eldest and third brothers — he was arrogant and overbearing.

Gu Qingyan agreed at once, “Then please, Brother Lu, send a reply saying I am willing to attend the banquet.”

“Brother Gu, are you sure about this?”

Lu Yanchi wanted to advise again, but seeing Gu Qingyan’s determined expression, he could only leave nervously, promising to deliver the message.

---

May 1st, the day the provincial exam results were announced.

Outside the exam hall, crowds of people thronged, making it lively.

But in a private room on the second floor of a nearby restaurant, Gu Qingyan and Zhang Nian were not in the mood to check the results.

Zhang Nian, who had been the most concerned about how Gu Qingyan performed, now had no heart to go down and see the list.

She kept glancing at Gu Qingyan.

Gu Qingyan sighed, “If you want to say something, just say it. Why beat around the bush?”

Zhang Nian gave an embarrassed smile, “Brother Gu, do you really want to meet that Lu Erlang?”

Gu Qingyan nodded.

Zhang Nian’s face was full of disapproval. “But even your own brothers say he’s not a good person. What if he sets a trap for you?”

“Oh, my Nian knows about the Hongmen Banquet,” Gu Qingyan laughed.

Zhang Nian stomped her foot anxiously. “Brother Gu, at a time like this, you still have the heart to joke about me? If Aunt and the two young ladies were here, they definitely wouldn’t agree to you going.”

Gu Qingyan was helpless, “They only meet the top scorer of the provincial exam. If I don’t get the top score, there’s no chance to meet him.”

“But I still feel that guy is really strange, like he’s hiding some ill intentions,” Zhang Nian muttered.

Gu Qingyan could also sense Lu Yanhé’s bad intentions.

Someone so arrogant and overbearing, having caught his own sister, and scolding him for courting a maid but not acting rashly right away — instead waiting a whole month until after the results to invite him for a drink — was definitely suspicious.

But before this, Gu Qingyan didn’t even know Lu Yanhé, and Lu Yanhé had only known Li Jingting for two months — they were just drinking buddies.

Reasonably speaking, Lu Yanhé wouldn’t go through such trouble just for Li Jingting.

Gu Qingyan had enough self-protection ability; he didn’t think if Lu Yanhé set a trap, he would be beaten like that student before.

“I need to know how Hongdou is doing now. Judging from Brother Lu’s words, it’s probably not good.”

Gu Qingyan had sometimes thought over the past few days: if he hadn’t gone to Li’s house to find Hongdou that day, maybe things would have been better.

But thinking of the temperament that even his brothers despised and feared, Lu Yanhé was clearly not a good man nor an easy master to serve.

Seeing that he couldn’t stop him, Zhang Nian clenched her fists, “Then you have to take me with you. If he dares to bully Brother Gu, I’ll rush in and beat him up till his head is full of bumps.”

Gu Qingyan laughed, “Right. If he dares to make a move, let’s see whose fists are stronger.”

“The results are out! The results are out!”

The place suddenly became lively.

Zhang Nian stuck out her head but couldn’t see clearly, so she just flipped down from the second floor.

Gu Qingyan couldn’t stop her and could only watch as Zhang Nian skillfully weaved through the crowd and quickly reached the front.

“She’s been learning from Xia Liu for a few days; she’s gotten more skillful,” Gu Qingyan said.

Just then, Zhang Nian had already seen the top scorer.

She grinned broadly and shouted as she ran, “Passed, passed! Brother Gu is number one! Brother Gu, you’re first place!”

She then tried to climb up the railing.

Gu Qingyan scolded with a smile, “Use the stairs.”

Zhang Nian chuckled and quickly turned around, otherwise two waiters would have come up to pull her back.

Gu Qingyan was also infected by the joy, “Are you sure? It really is the top score?”

“Absolutely sure, it’s the top score. That big name I recognized perfectly,” Zhang Nian said, laughing nonstop.

“Congratulations to the young master on passing.”

“Hey, now you can’t call him ‘young master’ anymore, you have to call him ‘tongsheng’ (student who passed the exam).”

“This tongsheng is so young but managed to get the top score, truly a young prodigy.”

“The top scorer not only did well in exams but also looks good, talented and handsome like Pan An.”

People in the inn came over to congratulate him. Although it was only the provincial exam, being the top scorer still carried some weight.

Gu Qingyan thanked everyone one by one, then left with Zhang Nian.

After leaving the inn, Gu Qingyan’s first task was to inform Lu Yanchi of the news and ask him to arrange a meeting with the rumored Lu Yanhé.

Lu Yanqi felt even more worried when he heard the news.

He paced back and forth at home, muttering, “Second brother definitely has bad intentions. Why else would he invite Brother Gu for a drink and say he’s going to send him a beauty?”

“Who knows, maybe once Brother Gu steps inside, he’ll get pinned down and beaten up. No, I have to go with Brother Gu. If he wants to hit Brother Gu, he’ll have to get through me first.”

Young Miss Lu Qiluo rolled her eyes at him and said, “Third brother, are you crazy? Hero Gu is your lifesaver, a master of martial arts. How could Second brother possibly beat him?”

Lu Yanqi paused, “Right, how could I forget that.”

“But Second brother is a sneaky one. Just in case, I’ll bring our eldest brother along too, so Brother Gu won’t suffer any loss.”

On the day of the invitation, Lu Yanqi did indeed bring along Lu Yanjun.

The three of them arrived first, but Lu Yanhe was nowhere to be seen.

Gu Qingyan grew anxious waiting but didn’t dare to urge.

Lu Yanjun frowned and whispered, “Second brother is causing trouble again. Go, send someone to invite him over.”

The servant hurried off.

Lu Yanjun then looked at Gu Qingyan and said, “Congratulations, Young Master Gu, on topping the prefectural exam. Your talent is exceptional; your future will undoubtedly be bright.”

Gu Qingyan responded politely, “It was just luck. I also owe thanks to Lord Lu’s notes, which benefited me greatly.”

Lu Yanqi quickly added, “Ah, no need for formalities between you two. Big brother, when second brother arrives, you have to help smooth things over.”

Lu Yanjun showed slight displeasure.

Looking at Gu Qingyan, he said, “It’s just a maid, no need to make a big fuss. Brother Gu, second brother is a scoundrel, but his temper flares quickly and passes just as fast. Once things are talked through, it’ll be fine.”

This remark made Gu Qingyan slightly frown.

Unlike Lu Yanqi, Lu Yanjun’s words clearly shielded his younger brother.

Gu Qingyan lowered his gaze slightly, recalling what Lu Yanqi had said before: the reason Lu Erlang (Second brother) could act arrogantly in Qingzhou Prefecture was because the Lu family father and sons cleaned up after him.

One side was his own brother; the other was a recent prefectural exam graduate still a student. It was obvious which side Lu Yanjun would stand on.

Sensing his uneasy mood, Lu Yanqi whispered, “Don’t worry. Big brother has spoken; he will definitely help you.”

Gu Qingyan forced a bitter smile. “It’s my fault. If I hadn’t meddled, Sister Hongdou would definitely be fine now.”

“That’s not so certain,” Lu Yanqi sneered.

Before Gu Qingyan could respond in confusion, the servant hurried back to report.

“Second young master says he’s tired of this three-family meeting. If Young Master Gu wants to see him, he can go to Tianxiang Pavilion.”

“What!”

Lu Yanqi immediately lost it. “He set the time and place. We waited half an hour, and if he won’t come, then he won’t.”

“Third brother,” Lu Yanjun pressed down on his shoulder.

Lu Yanqi grumbled, “Let’s go together.”

The servant quickly added, “Second young master also says if you two follow closely behind, it’s meaningless to see anyone. Better not to meet.”

“Then we won’t meet him. He acts like some noble prince,” Lu Yanqi cursed.

Gu Qingyan stood and said, “Lord Lu, Brother Lu, thank you for your help this time. Since this matter started because of me, I should handle it myself. I will go alone to Tianxiang Pavilion.”

Lu Yanqi hurriedly grabbed him, “No, I don’t feel at ease.”

Lu Yanjun frowned and held his brother back. “Young Master Gu, we’ll have people guarding the door. If second brother causes too much trouble, just call out, and someone will come in to drag him home.”

“Thank you.”

After expressing his thanks, Gu Qingyan hurried off with the servant.

Lu Yanqi was a hundred times uneasy. “Big brother, second brother is being ridiculous. Why don’t you control him?”

“This is a family matter. How can I interfere?” Lu Yanjun snapped.

Their father had just reprimanded second brother. He was sure second brother would be impatient to see them and wouldn’t come. We don’t have to go. Young Master Gu just needs to lower his head and admit his mistake, let second brother vent, and the matter will be over.”

“Why should my Brother Gu lower his head and admit fault? He did nothing wrong,” Lu Yanqi fumed.

Lu Yanjun sighed, “Young Master Gu is not wrong. But the problem is, that maid is already second brother’s concubine and will stay in the Lu family. If the matter escalates, it will only make things harder for her.”

“Young Master Gu must think so too. That’s why he has kept lowering his head again and again.”

Lu Yanqi angrily wiped tears from his eyes. “He’s not a good person. Seeing how close we are with Brother Gu, he deliberately steps on Brother Gu’s face, making things hard for both of us.”

“Good that you understand.”

Lu Yanjun warned, “The more we interfere, the angrier Second Brother will get. It’s better to just let Young Master Gu go alone.”

Lu Yanchi still couldn’t hold back his anger. “Can’t we have Grandmother step in and bring that maid over?”

“Grandmother is very old now. How can you shamelessly bother the old lady with such matters?” Lu Yanjun scolded him for being thoughtless.

The two brothers argued, while Gu Qingyan had already arrived outside the Tianxiang Pavilion.

Tianxiang Pavilion was a brothel.

It was just early evening, but lanterns were already hung, the scent of incense drifting softly, and the place lively with murmurs.

“The Second Young Master is in a private room on the second floor,” the servant led the way.

Gu Qingyan took a deep breath and had no choice but to follow.

Even before entering, he could hear the chirping of women’s voices and the laughter of men jesting and fooling around inside.

“Have you all ever seen the top scorer of the prefectural exam? Soon you’ll get a good look at him. Although he’s just a student, he’s still the top scorer.”

The brothel women cheered.

“Everyone knows the Lu family is famous everywhere. The Second Young Master knows so many literary gentlemen, like a swarm of fish crossing the river. Today, we’ll broaden our horizons with the Second Young Master.”

Laughter continued nonstop.

“Gu Qingyan greets Lu Second Young Master.”

Gu Qingyan entered and bowed first.

A frivolous voice came from inside: “Stand up. Come, let my girls have a look, get a good look.”

Gu Qingyan lifted his head slightly and looked toward the man sitting arrogantly in the center.

Lu Yanhe was handsome, bearing four or five points of resemblance to Lu Yanjun. It was obvious they were brothers.

But their temperaments were worlds apart. If Lu Yanjun was a modest gentleman, then Lu Yanhe was arrogant and rude.

On the similar face, there were dark bruises under the eyes, from excessive drinking. His gaze was like a starving wolf at night.

Fierce and wild.

Gu Qingyan’s heart skipped a beat as he stepped forward, “Lu Second Young Master, I’ve come this time to explain…”

“I know, you have no private relationship with that maid,” Lu Yanhe said with a smile.

Gu Qingyan was stunned.

Lu Yanhe smiled brightly at him, but there was no kindness in those eyes—only cold cruelty.

“You’re the top scorer. With a bit more effort, you’ll get your official rank. How could you be involved with a maid? Even if you were, it’s not worth offending me for her. I’m no fool; how could I believe Li Jingtin’s lies?”

Gu Qingyan relaxed a little but grew more nervous inside.

Since he knew the truth and wasn’t jealous, why did Lu Yanhe repeatedly make things difficult?

He really couldn’t think of where he had offended this Second Young Master.

“Lu Second Young Master, you are clever and won’t be fooled by petty people. I am truly grateful,” Gu Qingyan said.

Suddenly, Lu Yanhe’s expression darkened as he pushed away the woman in his arms.

“Grateful? What exactly are you grateful to me for?”

Before Gu Qingyan could reply, Lu Yanhe burst into wild laughter.

“Look at your face—exactly like Lu Yanjun’s. What I despise most in life are bookish people like you, self-righteous and arrogant.”

Lu Yanhe stared hard at Gu Qingyan’s face. “Do you know why I made you come to Tianxiang Pavilion?”

Gu Qingyan’s bad premonition grew stronger. “Please enlighten me, Lu Second Young Master.”

He added, “If I have offended you, I’m willing to apologize.”

“Hahaha, of course you’ve offended me!”

Lu Yanhe suddenly smashed down his cup. “The Third Brother deserved to die, but you saved him. You know I hate both the Eldest and the Third Brothers, yet you’re close with them and use them to pressure me.”

“Top scorer, huh? The Lu family has plenty of top scorers. I want to see what expression you’ll have when the woman you love falls into the streets like a fallen flower.”