Ningjiang County, nestled by the water, is famous for its Dongtian Academy. It’s April now, and the students who went out for study tours have returned. The academy exam is held at the end of April, and they’ve come back to Ningjiang County to prepare for it.

Today, the Xie family started early to prepare a welcome for their eldest legitimate son, Xie Zhi. Xie Weixia, besides wanting to welcome his brother, had his mind more on Wei Bowen. Initially, he didn’t notice Wei Bowen until he saw a servant next to Xie Qiaoyu interacting with Wei Bowen, which made him realize Xie Qiaoyu’s intentions.

He sent someone to inquire about Wei Bowen’s family background. Wei Bowen had only arrived in Ningjiang County last year, coming from a scholarly family, with handsome looks and modest family wealth. 

He was the legitimate eldest son and would become the head of the family in the future. He was also well-educated and was going to take the exam this year. With these thoughts in mind, Xie Weixia started interacting with Wei Bowen and found him to be a good match the more they interacted.

Wei Bowen was gentle and polite, never overstepping boundaries, generous, and good at composing poetry. He wrote a poem that was sung by performers, gaining much attention, but he himself remained modest and proper.

Having developed feelings for Wei Bowen, Xie Weixia’s perception of Xie Qiaoyu worsened. Yesterday, he used some tricks to get their mother to punish Xie Qiaoyu by making him kneel for half an hour, and today he still hadn’t gotten up. 

Being the legitimate son, Xie Qiaoyu was just a concubine’s child, so when their mother intervened, the hierarchy and filial piety weighed down on Xie Qiaoyu, leaving him no choice but to accept the punishment.

Xie Yuan took a sip of tea from his cup and said, “Send someone to call the third young master. What day is it today, and what time is it now? Does he think he’s more important than everyone in the Xie family?”

Xie Furen, with a worried look, said, “Lao ye, it’s probably because I punished Qiaoyu yesterday. It’s understandable for the child to be upset. Xie Zhi is just coming back, why trouble Qiaoyu?”

This motherly concern didn’t make Xie Yuan more lenient towards Xie Qiaoyu; instead, it made him even more annoyed. He slammed the teacup on the table and said, “Shun Zi, hurry and call him!”

Xie Weixia secretly laughed in his heart but outwardly advised, “Dad, third brother didn’t mean it today. Let him have a good sleep. Brother won’t blame him.”

Xie Yuan snorted heavily, ignoring the advice, his anger growing.

Shun Zi went to call Xie Qiaoyu and met him in the corridor. “Third young master, lao ye is asking for you to come quickly.”

Shun Zi was an old servant by Xie Yuan’s side. Seeing Shun Zi’s hurried steps, it seemed that Xie Furen and Xie Weixia had again spoken ill of him to Xie Yuan, otherwise, Xie Yuan wouldn’t be so eager to urge him.

He quickly reached the living room, where Xie Qiaoyu greeted Xie Yuan and Xie Furen, “Hello, father and mother. I suddenly had a slight fever this morning and took some medicine, which delayed the time. I apologize to you both.”

As Xie Qiaoyu approached, there was a faint medicinal scent on him, and his usually bright face was pale, not seeming fake. Xie Yuan’s expression softened, and he responded, “Since you’re here, sit down.” He didn’t show any concern for Xie Qiaoyu’s illness.

Xie Qiaoyu sat weakly in the chair, exuding a frail charm that evoked sympathy. He had put a lot of effort into his makeup, and the powder seemed effective as no one noticed. As for his father, it would be a miracle if he could see through it.

Xie Weixia was so angry he could grind his teeth, but suddenly thought of something and gave Xie Qiaoyu a sidelong glance, his lips curling up.

Xie Qiaoyu lowered his head to drink tea, quietly thinking. Wei Bowen had only written him three letters during his year-long study tour. He knew the journey was long, but he still felt uneasy. He was very cautious; if Xie Yuan found out about his private conversations and letters with Wei Bowen, he might be sent to the village. Every time he received a letter from Wei Bowen, he would burn it after reading it, as he had invested a lot of money and feelings in Wei Bowen.

He planned that once Wei Bowen married him as his fu lang, Wei Bowen would give him the respect due to a legitimate wife. He would bring his father over and find a house for him, and he would allow Wei Bowen to take concubines, living a life of mutual respect.

In the Xie family, he felt Xie Yuan’s indifference, Xie Furen’s harshness, and the difficulties his father faced as a concubine. As a concubine’s child, life in the Xie family was tough, so he was determined to become a legitimate fu lang and not miss out on a life of wealth.

While Xie Qiaoyu was lost in thought, the sound of horse hooves stopped at the main gate, and a servant outside shouted excitedly, “The eldest young master is back!”

Xie Furen and Xie Weixia quickly got up to go to the gate, while Xie Yuan sat steadily in the hall, thinking there was no reason for a father to go out to welcome his son.

Xie Qiaoyu was also surprised and walked over. Before reaching the gate, he heard Xie Zhi’s voice, “Mother, second brother. This is my study tour friend, Wei Bowen. Bowen is a learned man with great talent. During the tour, I was grateful to have him by my side, or I would have taken many wrong turns.”

Xie Qiaoyu’s heart trembled. Wei Bowen had actually come to visit?

The handsome man in a long robe was looking around and waved when he saw Xie Qiaoyu, “Third brother, why are you standing there in a daze?”

Wei Bowen had already seen Xie Qiaoyu, and his smile quickly faded, a scene caught by Xie Weixia, whose anger flared. That little vixen Xie Qiaoyu was always so good at seducing people!

Xie Qiaoyu said, “Big brother, you’re back.”

Xie Zhi asked, “Why do you look so pale?”

Xie Weixia suddenly wanted to shut his brother’s mouth, wishing Xie Zhi would just become mute.

Xie Qiaoyu felt a bit warm inside, “I caught a bit of a cold yesterday.” He stood with a certain skill, showing his best side to Wei Bowen.

“Make sure to drink medicine and rest more,” Xie Zhi said, patting his head in regret. “I almost forgot something.” He immediately went to his carriage, and from it came the sound of rustling and another man’s voice, not very clear. The man got off the carriage and bowed to Xie Zhi.

“Thank you, Xie brother, for giving me a ride. I have matters at home, so I’ll leave first.” The man, wearing a long robe, had a tall and slender figure, with a hint of aloofness in his eyes, a smooth jawline, and his hair tied high, giving him a carefree look. His voice was clear, “Aunt Xie, I’ll come to thank you another day.”

Xie Furen said, “Your family has a lot going on recently, so it’s best to go back early. I won’t keep you.”

Wan Mingji nodded, his eyebrows long and sparse, with a handsome and elegant demeanor that overshadowed Xie Zhi and Wei Bowen. He lowered his eyes and said, “I’ll be on my way.”

The Wan family indeed had major issues. The family head had died, leaving a mountain of debt. Wan Mingji, upon receiving the news while studying abroad, rushed back overnight, exhausting two horses. He was fortunate to meet Xie Zhi on the way, who offered him a ride. Since Ningjiang County wasn’t far, he accepted Xie Zhi’s kindness and rested in the carriage, unexpectedly falling asleep.

Xie Furen didn’t want Wan Mingji to visit. The Wan family was a mess, with the old master dying in a woman’s bed, a disgraceful death, leaving behind huge debts—a real burden for future generations!

Wan Mingji was also known as a notorious loafer in Ningjiang County. After the Wan family fell, relying on Wan Mingji wouldn’t lead to any future, so it was best to cut ties.

“Let’s go inside,” Xie Furen said.

Xie Zhi pulled Wei Bowen in, saying, “Bowen’s parents have gone out of town, so let’s keep him for a meal today.”

Xie Furen, with a kind face, said, “That’s perfect. Bowen, treat this place as your home. If you need anything, just ask the maids and servants.”

Wei Bowen smiled and said some words that pleased Xie Furen, who was very fond of him. Xie Weixia sweetly called him Brother Wei.

The group chatted happily.

Xie Qiaoyu was lost in thought at the back. He had seen Wan Mingji from afar before, a man with a shaky gait, lifeless eyes, and a drunken demeanor, annoying to others. He was nothing like the current Wan Mingji, and Xie Qiaoyu had never noticed how handsome Wan Mingji was.

He was just admiring Wan Mingji’s looks, with no other intentions.

Hearing Xie Weixia call Wei Bowen brother made Xie Qiaoyu feel very uncomfortable. With Xie Zhi right there, calling someone else brother was shocking to him.

Wait, could it be that Xie Weixia had taken a liking to Wei Bowen? Otherwise, why call him so affectionately? Alarm bells rang in Xie Qiaoyu’s mind.

The family sat down to eat, and Xie Yuan chatted with Wei Bowen, impressed by the young man. “Is Wei Gongzi taking the exam this year?”

Wei Bowen replied, “Yes, I am. My ancestors held the title of Duke, and I hope to achieve great things this year.”

Xie Weixia, knowing more, was even more eager, as there was a branch of Wei Bowen’s family serving as officials in the Capital City.

Xie Yuan stroked his beard, “That’s a good ambition.” The Xie family also had ancestors who served as Grand Tutors, but they had fallen on hard times, leaving Xie Yuan a bit melancholic. He continued, “You should strive to improve.”

Seeing Wei Bowen gain Xie Yuan’s favor, Xie Qiaoyu felt relieved. Wei Bowen was steady in his actions, showing a bit of a young scholar’s sharpness, which surprised Xie Yuan.

Xie Zhi also shared some experiences from his study tour, and the Xie family was filled with joy, with laughter echoing now and then.

Xie Qiaoyu picked up a meatball to eat, his face pale, lips red, smiling lightly, “Big brother is very capable.”

In the afternoon, Wei Bowen took his leave, and Xie Zhi hooked his arm around his shoulder, “Didn’t you say you wanted to marry my second brother? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Wei Bowen replied, “I’ll propose after I achieve some success.”

Xie Zhi trusted Wei Bowen’s character. If it were someone else, he might suspect they were waiting to see if they could marry a high official’s daughter or son, but Wei Bowen wasn’t like that.

Xie Qiaoyu also went out in the afternoon, heading to the old place where he used to meet Wei Bowen. From there, he could see the Wan Mansion draped in white cloth.

Xie Qiaoyu absentmindedly looked up, his face beautiful as a flower, with a delicate charm that could captivate anyone. His waist was slender, and when he saw someone approaching, his eyes lit up.

“Wei Gongzi, you’re here.”

Wei Bowen responded, “Qiaoyu, let’s keep it short.”

Xie Qiaoyu suddenly felt uneasy, but he smiled, “What do you want to say?”

“I’m about to take the exam, and marrying a concubine’s child as the main wife would be laughed at in official circles. I have no prejudice against status, but the status of a concubine’s child is indeed low,” Wei Bowen sighed. “I once tested my parents, and they look down on concubine’s children. My friends and family also look down on them, and your father is from the countryside. Our perspectives are different, and if we marry, there will be many conflicts. So, let’s part ways. It’s better for both of us.”

Xie Qiaoyu clenched his fingers, suddenly wanting to punch Wei Bowen’s hypocritical face. He held back, sarcastically saying, “This is good for you, right? You can wait for a better offer.”

The term “waiting for a better offer” made Wei Bowen seem despicable, and anger flared in his eyes. “Xie Qiaoyu, watch your words. Aren’t you just giving yourself away for free? Do you really think you can be my main wife? Don’t overestimate yourself. Look at your family background. Either be a concubine or marry a country bumpkin as a main wife. Don’t even think about a scholar!”

Wei Bowen stormed off, not wanting to argue further. He had wanted to talk to Xie Qiaoyu nicely, but being accused of waiting for a better offer infuriated him. He was a true gentleman and would never have such thoughts! It made him furious!

“You heartless, ungrateful thing!” Xie Qiaoyu cursed.

Wei Bowen didn’t bother with him.

Xie Qiaoyu couldn’t believe his judgment was so poor, feeling a bit heartbroken. He had made pouches and handkerchiefs to sell and saved money for Wei Bowen. His money, his time, his feelings, his plans—Xie Qiaoyu was trembling with anger.

That dog-like person even insulted him.

Xie Qiaoyu bent over, nauseated by Wei Bowen, and the intense emotional turmoil made his stomach uncomfortable. He had indeed caught a cold yesterday, and after vomiting earlier, he was now dizzy and seeing stars.

“I’m so angry.”

“I must find an ideal husband to trample that Wei guy. That dog!”

*

Wan Mingji: “…”

He saw Xie Zhi’s brother vomiting profusely in a room opposite the Wan Mansion, muttering something through gritted teeth.

Wasn’t this the brother of Xie Zhi who painted his face like a ghost?

Having been in this world for a year, Wan Mingji understood that there were three genders here: men, women, and ge’er. Women and ge’er both got married. Ge’er looked like men on the surface, but they could have children.

At first, Wan Mingji was uncomfortable, being a straight man. Even now, he wasn’t quite used to it.

Once the room’s smell dissipated, Xie Qiaoyu put on a hat to cover his face and closed the window. He didn’t realize his actions had been observed.

“Young master, you should go to the main hall,” a servant called.

Wan Mingji was speechless. He knew he had to go kneel and pay respects to his scumbag father, and he would have to kneel for several days. For three years, he couldn’t eat meat, and he was forbidden from entertainment, marriage, and the imperial examination.

He wanted to eat meat.