Chapter 1 The Heartless and Unfeeling Top Scholar

"The top scholar is being paraded through the streets!"

"Is he the top scholar personally selected by His Majesty? It is said that His Majesty praised him in court at the time."

"Who else could it be but him? He's the only top scholar! I've heard he's incredibly handsome, even the second and third place scholars can't match his good looks."

"Go and see the demeanor of this top scholar."

Ji Huaizhi sat on his horse, wearing a black gauze hat inlaid with pearls, his posture as upright as a pine tree, and dressed in a bright red robe.

His face was as fair as jade, and his nose was high and straight.

The next two to him were the second and third place winners.

Because of the outstanding demeanor of the top scholar ahead, the eyes of the other people were all on the spirited top scholar ahead.

The people craned their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of its splendor.

The young women around him all looked on with admiration.

"Top scholar! Take this purse."

Someone in the crowd shouted something, and Ji Huaizhi saw many purses being thrown at him, some hitting his shoulders.

The long streets of the capital were bustling with people.

The woman in the Tingfeng Pavilion, dressed in a pale yellow dress, looked down at the top scholar with interest.

"Is this the Ji Huaizhi that Father and the others praised? He really is handsome."

The maid lowered her head: "Yes, Miss."

"Recently, everyone in the capital has been talking about this young master Ji."

Ji Huaizhi sat on his horse, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed repeatedly to the people, a kind smile on his face.

Looking up, Ji Huaizhi's gaze fell on a veiled woman by the window, who was staring straight at him. He calmly looked away.

This graceful woman is Jiang Xinyue, the daughter of the Prime Minister. She has nothing to do today, so she has come to Tingfeng Pavilion to join in the fun.

Let's take a look at the demeanor of this top scholar.

Jiang Xinyue's pretty face flushed slightly with shyness: "Didn't Father say he would find a good match for me? I think this Young Master Ji is quite nice."

A person with a dignified appearance who is praised by His Majesty and Father must be extraordinary.

The maid stepped forward and, after observing her young mistress's expression, said, "Young Master Ji is exceptionally intelligent and has a dignified appearance."

"It's just that I came from a less privileged background."

Jiang Xinyue chuckled as she recalled the handsome man from just now:

"I was almost born unharmed. My father is the Prime Minister, second only to the Emperor. How could he possibly be afraid of not being able to support a gifted scholar like me?"

The maid Qiaolian lowered her head: "It is his good fortune to be favored by Miss."

As she watched the man's upright black hair sway slightly, the strange feeling in her heart grew stronger.

"Let's go back to the manor."

"yes."

~

Ji Huaizhi has been in this ancient world for several days now, and he was quite unaccustomed to it at first.

Fortunately, the original owner had already passed the palace examination, while the new owner only needed to enter the palace to meet the emperor.

Although there was a slight mishap when entering the palace, fortunately His Majesty only thought it was because he was nervous during his first audience with the Emperor and did not blame him.

After the parade, Ji Huaizhi arrived at the mansion bestowed by His Majesty.

The original owner was a poor scholar in Nanzhou City.

With her mother seriously ill and the family penniless, she was fortunate to be favored by the eldest daughter of the merchant Shen family and was able to continue her studies.

Although the merchants were wealthy at this time, the original owner, a poor scholar, looked down on them. However, in order to cure his mother's illness and continue his studies to obtain official rank, he decided to pursue his studies.

They agreed to the Shen family's request to come to their home.

After getting married, the original owner could only pretend in front of Master Shen; otherwise, he was very cold and even disliked Shen Zhiyi.

After all, whether he can continue his studies is up to Master Shen.

He felt that his future was limitless.

He endured countless grievances and married a merchant's daughter.

He despised the Shen family, yet he enjoyed the wealth and luxury they provided him.

The Shen family is not short of money, and Madam Ji uses only the best medicinal herbs. Thanks to Shen Zhiyi's attentive care, her health is gradually recovering.

Although Mr. Shen disliked him, he hired a famous tutor for his daughter's sake.

They also found him past exam papers at a high price.

Actually, when the original owner passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, Master Shen was unwilling to let him continue to take the exam, fearing that if he continued to pass with high honors, he would lose control of the original owner.

After all, at this point, the fact that a merchant's family had produced a scholar who passed the imperial examination was already a great benefit to the Shen family.

They can enjoy policies that reduce or exempt them from taxes and corvée labor.

Moreover, the Shen family produced a scholar who passed the imperial examination, which further elevated their status.

Local officials and some high-ranking people were also willing to associate with the Shen family.

The original owner also realized what Master Shen meant and coaxed Shen Zhiyi to speak up for him.

In the end, for his daughter's sake, Mr. Shen agreed.

That night, Master Shen spoke with the original owner of the body: "I only have this one daughter. She is devoted to you. If you become successful one day and do not like her, you can send her back to the Shen family."

"Do not harm her in the slightest. For the sake of the Shen family paving the way for you, do not let her suffer any injustice."

The original owner raised his hand in a gesture of respect, indicating that he would never forget the kindness of the Shen family and the grace of saving his mother.

In the end, the Shen family wholeheartedly supported the original owner, allowing him to focus on his exams.

Shen Zhiyi knew his wish, so she prayed for him and took care of his mother.

In the end, the original owner got his wish and passed the imperial examination.

He received praise from His Majesty and favor from the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister's daughter also expressed her feelings for him, which made him hate the Shen family even more.

He knew the Prime Minister's status in the capital, and the Imperial Concubine in the palace was the Prime Minister's eldest daughter, who was not only favored but also pregnant with a son.

If he could marry Miss Jiang Xinyue, his future career would be smooth sailing.

He kept his marriage a secret, but then he remembered that deceiving the emperor was a capital offense.

If the Prime Minister found out, he would be finished, so he decided to go all the way and find someone to kill Shen Zhiyi.

But unexpectedly, the Prime Minister found out about this matter first.

The prime minister did indeed intend to marry his daughter to him, and being cautious, he investigated the original owner's past.

Surprisingly, it actually turned out to be a success.

He was angry that he had been deceived, but he had his eye on the Shen family's vast wealth. The original owner of this body was a rising star in the imperial court, and he also thought that it was normal for a man to have a woman.

Moreover, the original owner wanted to kill his wife, and such a ruthless person was exactly what the Prime Minister needed.

Moreover, he also had leverage over the original owner of the body.

The prime minister threatened him to get rid of his first wife, help him obtain the Shen family's property, and then ask to marry his daughter.

Otherwise, he would report this matter to His Majesty.

The original owner couldn't have been more eager to accept this request.

However, Jiang Xinyue learned of this conversation and was very dissatisfied with the fact that the original owner had a wife.

The prime minister advised her not to act impulsively, saying that it was normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines, and that she shouldn't neglect her duties.

With the Prime Minister's help, the Shen family quickly met with disaster.

The Shen family of Nanzhou City disappeared.

When Shen Zhiyi was killed, the assassin told her everything. She knew everything before she died because she was in Ji Huaizhi's way.

The prime minister coveted their vast wealth.

All of this was because Ji Huaizhi developed feelings for someone else after graduating from high school.

She died with resentment in her heart.