Chapter 31 1/2

Taoyu was startled to see the sudden appearance of Huo Shu, feeling a pang in her heart. She couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the Yu family behind her, feeling a bit guilty as if she had done something wrong and been caught red-handed.

As if afraid of being misunderstood, she quickly said, “There’s been a serious outbreak of banditry outside. Even Yu Lingxiao encountered the bandits and got his hand broken. Did Brother Huo know?”

Huo Shu got up from leaning against the tree trunk, glanced at Taoyu, and saw that her expression was unchanged, neither red-eyed nor grieving.

He asked, “Did you go to check on him?”

Before Taoyu could answer, Ji Yangzong spoke first: “The Yu family was afraid to go out and encounter bandits, so they didn’t dare to summon a doctor. That’s why Taoyu went to check first, and her mother went with her. After all, they are from the same village. Although there’s no longer any affection, they still need to know what’s going on.”

Huang Manjing raised her eyebrows at the father and son.

They were eager to explain themselves, even though no one had said anything.

Huo Shu nodded in response, not asking further about Yu Lingxiao.

Ji Yangzong suddenly said, “Manjing, you and Taoyu go home first. I have something to discuss with Huo Shu.”

“Alright.”

Huang Manjing agreed: “Taoyu, let’s go home.”

Taoyu blinked at Huo Shu and said, “Then I’ll go back first.”

Huo Shu nodded.

Watching the mother and daughter walk away, Ji Yangzong walked ahead with his hands behind his back, and Huo Shu followed suit tacitly.

The two walked aimlessly, looking around with no one in sight. Ji Yangzong hesitated for a moment before saying, “Is this matter concerning Yu Lingxiao…?”

Ji Yangzong tentatively asked about the doubt in his mind. He always felt that the matter concerning Yu Lingxiao was a bit too coincidental, especially since Huo Shu had said some inexplicable words in front of him earlier.

Putting things together, he couldn’t help but have this suspicion.

Huo Shu remained calm, neither confirming nor denying it directly, only saying, “The future is uncertain. With such a temperament, it will only lead to more trouble.”

Ji Yangzong’s eyes widened in confirmation of his suspicions, and he couldn’t help but shudder at the thought, feeling somewhat apprehensive of Huo Shu’s methods.

But what he said made sense. If Yu Lingxiao, with such character, were to enter officialdom, it would be difficult for the common people.

“But you’re taking quite a risk. She’s already a successful candidate. A little carelessness could ignite a fire!” Ji Yangzong felt a bit scared in retrospect, worrying that if things were exposed by Yu Lingxiao, Huo Shu would be in jeopardy.

In the end, this was a matter for the Ji family, something Huo Shu could easily ignore. Ji Yangzong knew this in his heart.

He appreciated Huo Shu’s willingness to eliminate future troubles for the Ji family, but he also feared that his actions might harm him.

“I don’t need to resort to violence against a powerless scholar.”

If he were to really take action, it would be for his life, not just a hand.

However, since he had already decided to live peacefully, he would not risk staining his hands with blood and causing trouble in the future.

“Rest assured, this matter is indeed the work of the bandits. I simply played a part in it.”

The development of the situation was unexpected for him.

In recent days, the unrest caused by bandits has been unsettling. The Ji family was about to escort taxes and grain into the city, so he went to investigate the movements of the bandits in the area to prevent any mishaps.

However, he found that the majority of the bandits were still far from the same state as the city and were avoiding pursuers.

Only a few scattered bandits were active in the villages near the city, intending to divert the attention of the government’s pursuit.

Huo Shu discovered several bandits operating between Tongzhou City and Mingxun City, coinciding with Yu Lingxiao’s arrival in the city. He thought that this fellow harmed people but still lived a comfortable life in the city, intending to settle down and start a business there.

He had long wanted to teach this fellow a lesson, originally intending to start with the Xue family, but unexpectedly, this opportunity arose, so he took the opportunity to spread the news that she had a lot of money on her.

These bandits were already planning to cause trouble, so they quickly took the bait.

Most of these bandits were originally farmers who had suffered from disasters. Their main goal was money and food, and they wouldn’t harm people’s lives unless absolutely necessary.

Who knew that when the bandits struck Yu Lingxiao, she didn’t faint? She covered her head and shouted in shock, “How dare you attack a successful candidate? You’ll all end up in prison!”

Unexpectedly, instead of being frightened by her words, the bandits became even more angry and ruthlessly knocked her unconscious, then proceeded to beat her mercilessly.

“A successful candidate! Hmph, I hate these scholars who only know how to read the books of sages, endlessly greedy for wealth and oppressing the people, doing no practical work, living lavishly.”

“We lie dying on the ground without a shred of mercy. Natural disasters cause food shortages, and they blame the laziness of farmers, squeezing them in every possible way! If it weren’t for these local gentry, we wouldn’t have fallen to this plight.”

“Break her hand and see how arrogant she remains!”

Ji Yangzong listened with a pounding heart, but when he learned that Huo Shu had not taken action, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

In recent years, with the corruption of the court, scholars and unsuccessful candidates have followed suit, using their official powers to shelter merchants, monopolise land, and oppress tenant farmers, making the grievances heavier.

It’s not surprising that there is so much resentment. Yu Lingxiao had indeed been unlucky, becoming the outlet for the grievances of those who fell into banditry.

He sighed, but he didn’t sympathise either. This incident would make him realise how damaging ruining someone’s reputation could be for their future.

Ji Yangzong remained silent for a while, then warned Huo Shu, “You and I know about this matter. From now on, never mention it to anyone else. Let it rot in your stomach.”

Huo Shu agreed.

The Yu family’s misfortune quickly spread throughout the village.

Yu Lingxiao’s right hand was fractured, and despite the efforts of several doctors from the city, they returned empty-handed. Being disabled had become inevitable.

Sun Yuanniang complained that the Yu family had delayed summoning the doctor, missing the best treatment time. She insisted that she would never shelter anyone else besides the Yu family.

Seeing that the houses in the city, which were difficult to come by with joint contributions, had not been secured and the money had been robbed, Sun Yuanniang demanded that it be repaid when she saw Sun Yuanniang causing a scene.

Several families were too busy to care about their dignity, openly quarreling day after day, making the sound of quarreling audible for miles.

Sun Yuanniang acted like a madwoman, getting into several fights with her sisters-in-law.

The villagers were happy to see the Yu family tearing each other apart, saying that Yu Lingxiao deserved this retribution for betraying his benefactor. It was karma that his future was ruined by the court.

The situation remained tumultuous for some time.

Yu Lingxiao lay on his sickbed every day, taking medicine and changing dressings. Within a few days, his face had sunken in, appearing thin and withered.

He couldn’t believe that overnight he had become disabled, seemingly without any warning signs.

With his right hand disabled, it meant that he could no longer write or take the civil service examination.

Even with the title of successful candidate, he could only wait for the opportunity to be appointed to a vacancy. Being disabled, he couldn’t hold an official position.

He was completely cut off from the official career path, and every time he thought about it, his chest ached with pain.

No matter how much he calculated, he never expected that one day his future would be shattered because of his disability. It wasn’t because he hadn’t studied hard enough or lacked talent compared to others.

“Lingxiao, at least eat something. Your health is the most important thing. Even if…”

Sun Yuanniang cried day and night, and with the disputes with the Yu family, she looked haggard, but compared to Yu Lingxiao in bed, at least she could walk and move.

“Anyway, we are both successful candidates. If we manage properly, we can still achieve glory and wealth.”

Yu Lingxiao pushed away the porridge brought to his lips. “With this broken body, what’s the point of living?”

Sun Yuanniang was startled by the spilled porridge and hurriedly wiped it away with a handkerchief. “Lingxiao, if you’re gone, then Mother might as well go with you!”

“Mother, why me? Why does it have to be me?”

Yu Lingxiao asked Sun Yuanniang with red eyes, “Why did the bandits target me instead of others? They are just ordinary people, but I am a successful candidate!”

“I told them I was a successful candidate, and yet they dared to harm me. Mother, do you think someone who envied me deliberately did this?”

“Yes, it must be. Surely someone envied me!”

Yu Lingxiao seemed to find an outlet for his frustration and suddenly sat up on the bed. “No, I have to find Master Xue and have him intercede for me!”

Sun Yuanniang looked at her son, who seemed to be out of his mind, feeling both shocked and sorry.

“Lingxiao, at the moment, you should focus on taking care of your health.”

“No, I must go find Master Xue to plead for me!”

Yu Lingxiao insisted on going to the city to report to the officials. Despite Sun Yuanniang’s repeated persuasion, she had to spend money to hire a carriage into the city.

The mother and son didn’t go to the prefectural office but went directly to the Xue residence.

The gatekeeper of the Xue residence was dozing off when he heard the knocking. He opened his eyes abruptly to see the two haggard figures approaching, thinking they were beggars, and immediately scolded them:

“Go away, go beg on the side streets. Can’t you see where you are?”

“Xiao Wu, it’s me.”

When Yu Lingxiao spoke up, the gatekeeper recognised him.

“Unexpectedly, it’s Mr. Yu. I should be punished! This is my oversight.”

Yu Lingxiao had visited the Xue residence many times, so the gatekeeper recognised him. But the scholarly man who had previously come was now pale, with his hand hanging limply, and even without a keen eye, he knew something was wrong.

“Mr. Yu, what happened?”

“Something happened; please inform Master Xue. We wish to see him.”

The gatekeeper hurried to inform the household, and shortly after, only Yu Lingxiao was called in to see Xue.

Sun Yuanniang was invited to wait in the reception room. It was her first time coming to the Xue residence, and she was dazzled by the grand mansion, pavilions, towers, and flowing water. The majestic official residence made her feel humble, yet it also filled her with sighs.

“Oh dear! Lingxiao, what’s going on?”

Xue Yansheng was already overwhelmed with the banditry situation when he received the gatekeeper’s report. He didn’t want to see any visitors, but upon hearing that Yu Lingxiao had urgent matters and considering their previous relationship, he allowed them in.

Seeing the haggard face, Xue Yansheng was also greatly surprised.

“Teacher, you must help your student.”

Yu Lingxiao didn’t even bother with formalities and immediately pleaded, “On the way into the city, I suddenly passed out. When I woke up, not only was my money stolen, but I was also beaten in the wilderness. If it weren’t for a kind-hearted person who sent me back, I wouldn’t have had the chance to repay my teacher.”

Xue Yansheng’s expression darkened upon hearing this. “You encountered bandits within the territory? Bold! These fugitives dare to attack even unarmed scholars. Truly inhumane!”

“I didn’t see the true face of the bandits, only a half-covered face in my daze.”

Yu Lingxiao said, “Whether it was bandits or someone else hiring assassins remains unknown. I ask Master Xue to seek justice for me!”

“Even my student dares to lay hands on you. I will definitely seek justice for you.”

After saying this, Xue Yansheng looked at Yu Lingxiao’s hand. “Is your injury serious? I’ll have our house doctor take a look at it. You’ve lost weight!”