Yan Shian arrived home a step ahead, standing quietly at the bottom of the steps waiting for the carriage to draw near.

Seeing the carriage stop but no movement, he stepped forward and opened the door, only to find Miss Shi sitting cross-legged, resting her chin on her hand, deep in thought.

“What price do you plan to sell me for?”

“Why would I sell you?” Shi Buyu jumped down from the carriage. “Who in this world could even afford you?”

Yan Shian was easily appeased; the faint irritation in his heart instantly vanished. After entering the main gate, he said, “You made me hesitate whether to refuse or accept. I thought you planned to involve me with the Zhang family.”

“You’re being handed over on a silver platter. If I didn’t use it, I’d feel I was missing out. But there’s no reason to actually sell you. That would be a total loss.” Shi Buyu turned her chin up, hands behind her back. “Being able to use an overt strategy to counter covert plots—that’s true skill. Besides, you’re not like others.”

Yan Shian liked that about her, even though he knew the reason. “Because of my identity?”

“You’re bound to be recorded in history. Surely, there will be a mention of me as well. I want that mention to be honorable. When future generations look through your life, they won’t see you using and then abandoning women, or driving an entire family to ruin.”

When pushed to the extreme, Yan Shian felt he might very well do such things. When survival is difficult, methods only get dirtier. But for now, it was too soon for all that. He joked, “Aren’t you thinking too far ahead?”

“All things are defined at the start by how you decide to act. Aren’t we exactly at the beginning now? This can be used, but it depends on how. For now, it’s not important.” Shi Buyu turned to face him. “What matters most now is, how are we going to celebrate the newly minted scholar today?”

Changing to a happy topic, Yan Shian looked at her smiling face and smiled too. “I need to see the teacher first. Later classmates will come to congratulate me. I’ll find an excuse to send them off early, then we can celebrate properly, alright?”

Shi Buyu’s face turned sour. She had hoped to start eating and drinking right away. If the new scholar had taken the initiative to make a fish dish, she wouldn’t have minded eating even a bit of Auntie’s cooking—after all, it wasn’t her who told them to cook it!

But now, that bite would have to wait.

“I’ll have mother-in-law prepare things in advance.” Yan Shian winked at her—a subtle hint, impossible to express in words.

Shi Buyu understood and nodded obediently, returning the favor, “Then hurry off and report the good news to the teacher. When your classmates come, I’ll have Auntie send the dishes.”

Both sides happy.

Yan Shian didn’t even enter the house, turning immediately to go pay respects to his teacher.

Qi Xin had a graying beard, was short and stout, and when he smiled, he looked like a Maitreya Buddha—naturally good-natured.

He had already received the letter and, upon seeing his student, slapped his arm laughing, “Well done! You’ve brought honor to your teacher!”

“Thank you, teacher, for your years of guidance.”

Yan Shian bowed deeply. Qi Xin had truly cared for him, worried that his lowly background would be a disadvantage. Over these years, he had introduced Yan Shian to countless friends.

“You’re my student. Teaching you is my duty.” Qi Xin lifted him up and asked about another matter he was concerned with: “I heard you were caught under the list? And the Zhang family girl personally came?”

“I already have a fiancée. I don’t intend to be unfaithful by climbing onto the Zhang family branch.”

“That’s right.” Qi Xin motioned for him to sit. “With your temperament, climbing that branch would only break your spirit and ruin you. But that Zhang family girl dared to come in person—that means she’s had her eyes on you for a long time, just waiting for the announcement to make her move. You might resist her once, but it’s hard to keep her from coming to your door.”

Yan Shian naturally asked, “In your opinion, teacher, what should I do?”

“Difficult.” Qi Xin shook his head. “If the Zhang family tries to pressure you, I could file a complaint. But since it’s the Zhang girl who made the move, it’s a matter of romantic affairs. At best, she’s infatuated and unable to control herself. At worst, she’s bold and reckless, needing discipline. But judging by the current customs in Dayou Dynasty, some might even applaud her actions. We can only wait and see.”

Qi Xin looked at his young disciple. “I’ll ask you once more—are you truly without intention?”

“Absolutely no intention.” Yan Shian said without hesitation. “My heart belongs to my cousin. If she hadn’t been in mourning for three years, we would already be married.”

“With that Zhang girl’s personality, whether you marry or not, she will entangle you.”

Qi Xin was both relieved and worried. He didn’t want his student to get involved with the faction of Prime Minister Zhang. As the saying goes, “What rises fast falls fast.” Zhang’s power was at its peak, but his son was far inferior. From Qi Xin’s perspective, the future was unpredictable.

Shian had no intention, so Qi Xin was glad, but being entangled by the Zhang girl made it hard to escape.

“How is your fiancée’s temperament?”

Thinking of that person, Yan Shian’s expression softened without realizing it. “Gentle, yet resolute.”

Qi Xin was surprised. Those are almost opposite words, yet his student used both for the same woman. If not for love, then she must be a woman who could handle responsibilities and hold the family together.

“If the Zhang girl comes looking for trouble…”

“She can handle it.” Yan Shian smiled. “Teacher, don’t worry. She’s not someone to be bullied.”

Qi Xin shook his head. “The Zhang family won’t let their daughter disgrace themselves for long. Unless she gives up on you, neither your fiancée nor you will have an easy time. Don’t anger her. I’ll think of a way.”

“Student is once again troubling the teacher.”

“You are my student. If not for you, then for whom would I worry?” Qi Xin chuckled again thinking of the imperial examination results.

He had only taken in three students in total—two who regarded fame and profit as dirt, one became a mountain chief, the other wandered the world. The last letter he received was last year. He didn’t know where that one had gone now.

Now his youngest student had finally brought him some honor by ranking fourth. Otherwise, his reputation would be ruined by his students.

“Tomorrow is the Luming Banquet. Keep a low profile.” Qi Xin reminded him, “The Jingzhaoyin Li Sheng is from the Zhang faction. If the Zhang family truly wants to push a marriage between you and the Zhang girl, he might tease you about it tomorrow. But if he mentions it, it won’t be a joke. Be prepared and think about how to respond.”

“Student understands.”

“A happy event gets complicated. It’s no fun even to laugh.” Qi Xin glanced at his student and thought, Why be so handsome if you end up worrying about being forcibly married?

“All right, your classmates are probably waiting anxiously. Go enjoy yourself. Other matters can be worried about when the time comes.”

Yan Shian bowed deeply once more. His teacher was both a mentor and a father figure in his heart.