Chapter 133 The Imperial Examination: Failure to Pass

Ye Mingzhu asked, but Sheng Yunche dared not answer.

He dared not say it.

I'm afraid if I say it, I'll get slapped in the face.

Actually, he wasn't afraid of being slapped; what he feared most was angering his wife, so that he would only be able to sleep on the low couch at night and wouldn't be able to go to bed.

Since consummating their marriage, he discovered that his mind was filled with many filthy thoughts, so obscene and varied that they were even more outrageous than those depicted in erotic paintings.

His secret identity is the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He is responsible for many bloody killings, so it's impossible for him not to feel pressured. Previously, he used killing to quell the evil, but now, he seems to have found another way to "vent."

Each exhilarating experience not only fascinated him but also made him extremely relaxed.

People can't even empathize with themselves from a year ago.

If he had known there was a woman in this world who could be so perfect for him, he would have snatched her away long ago, and he would have let that bastard Sheng Huai'an almost succeed.

impossible!

He's not killing Sheng Huai'an directly now because he's afraid of disrupting his wife's plans.

“I want to take you to fly higher… It’s cold here, we can’t stay here any longer. I’ll carry you back to the room to warm up,” Sheng Yunche finally said.

...

After the New Year, the imperial examinations arrived in the blink of an eye.

On the ninth day of the second lunar month, the spring chill lingered.

A gust of wind brought a chill that made one shiver.

This was also a test for the candidates who were about to enter the examination hall.

Sheng Huai'an went with full confidence.

After the nine-day imperial examination ended, he and several fellow students who had taken the exam went to their teacher's place to prepare for the next round. After returning home, he locked himself in his study with a blank expression, looking as if the sky had fallen.

Seeing his state, the old ancestor was secretly worried for him, but he couldn't very well drag him out of the study to ask him how he had done on the exam.

Jia didn't care about all that.

She had been poisoned by Liu Rumei and lay in bed like a living dead, almost dying.

Sheng Huai'an obtained the antidote from Liu Rumei and used it to cure her poison, lying that he had bought the elixir at a high price, which is how he cured her.

Sheng Huai'an managed to swindle a thousand taels of silver from her, but she secretly thought her son was a dutiful son, completely unaware that those in the know were secretly laughing at her for being a fool.

Now that she has recovered after a few months, she can get out of bed. When she heard that Sheng Huai'an was having trouble with the imperial examination, she rushed to the study to ask about the situation.

Sheng Huai'an didn't want to see anyone in the first place, and hearing her noisy voice only made him feel annoyed. He was filled with shame and anger, and he didn't care about being polite or dignified anymore, so he just exploded at her.

Jia came with a heart full of maternal love, but was scolded and criticized by her son, which she could not accept for a while.

The mother and son had a falling out.

After the results of the imperial examination were announced, Sheng Huai'an indeed failed. Not only was Sheng Huai'an even more depressed and spent his days drowning his sorrows in alcohol, but Jia Shi also felt ashamed.

But seeing Sheng Huai'an wallowing in self-pity, Jia, as his mother, still wanted to help him.

Leading several old women, Jia Shi rushed into the study. She dragged the completely drunk Sheng Huai'an from the ground and said to him with exasperation, "So what if you failed the imperial examination once?"

"My son, you were completely ruined this time by that bitch Liu Rumei!"

"If it weren't for her, with your talent and hard work, how could you possibly have failed even a mere provincial examination? You have the potential to be the top scholar!"

"Here's what we'll do: I'll go and kill that bitch Liu Rumei. Three years later, when you take the imperial examination again, I guarantee you'll pass with flying colors!"

"At that time, you will not only have a high-ranking official position and a generous salary, but you will also be able to marry the daughter of a high-ranking official. How glorious that would be!"

"I was thinking of arranging a marriage for you once you passed the imperial examination with flying colors. I even kept an eye out for several good matchmaking opportunities for you. But now that you've failed, those marriages are probably all off!"

"..."

Upon hearing Jia's words, a trace of resentment struggled to emerge in Sheng Huai'an's muddled mind, and then intensified.

Yes, they are all Liu Rumei!

It's all her fault!

If she hadn't been shameless and seduced him after her elder brother's death, why would he have favored a lowly servant like Yushu in order to dispel Jia's doubts?

If Yu Shu hadn't distracted him, if Liu Rumei hadn't stuffed gold and silver beads into his hands, if Liu Rumei hadn't seduced him herself, he, who was celibate, would have focused all his attention on the imperial examination and wouldn't have failed!

They're all Liu Rumei!

It's all her fault!

Staggering to his feet, Sheng Huai'an, his eyes bloodshot, ordered Fu'an, "Take me to Qinghui Garden. I'm going to settle accounts with that bitch Liu Rumei!"

He didn't want to kill Liu Rumei; he just wanted to humiliate her severely!

Fu'an hesitated.

Jia was secretly delighted and urged Fu'an, "What are you hesitating for? Hurry up and help the Second Master!"

Helpless, Fu'an had no choice but to comply.

When the group arrived at Qinghui Garden, they smashed it to pieces under Liu Rumei's cold gaze.

The servants trembled and remained silent. Liu Rumei stood in the courtyard holding her child, Hao'er, who was only a few months old and cried incessantly in fear, but she only felt mocked.

Even after Sheng Huai'an vented his anger, he was still not satisfied. With a ferocious expression, he rushed up to her and slapped her across the face. Ignoring Jia's attempts to stop him and her crying, he pushed her onto the bed and tore at her clothes. The resentment in her eyes finally solidified into a tangible form.

I will never hide it again.

I'll never hide it again.

Sheng Huai'an dared to treat her like this, she would make him wish he were dead!

...

When news of Sheng Huai'an's humiliation of his widowed sister-in-law and his abuse of servants in front of a group of servants reached the ears of the matriarch, she finally lost all hope in him.

They moved back to Songhe Hall in the Duke of Wei's mansion that very day.

However, she was too ashamed to stay at the Duke of Wei's mansion for long. After only two days, she said she had to go out to worship Buddha and left in the cold wind.

Sheng Huai'an and her son lost their last support.

Linfeng Hall.

Upon hearing that Sheng Huai'an had gone to Qinghui Garden to cause trouble for Liu Rumei, and that there was no trace of pretense between the two, Ye Mingzhu sneered.

She instructed Yanzhi, "Go contact Yinzhu and begin the next step of the plan."

...

Qinghui Garden.

Yinzhu, carrying a cup of tea, walked up to Liu Rumei with a worried expression.

"Madam, are you alright? These past few days, the Second Master has been coming over and humiliating you in front of all the servants. It breaks my heart to see him like this."

"In my opinion, we should be more careful around the Second Master from now on, and not let him run wild anymore. Let's close the courtyard gate!"

"Second Master has gone mad. I'm really afraid you'll die at his hands. He's the only male master in the mansion. The Madam doesn't care, the Old Ancestor doesn't care, and nobody in the mansion can stop him."

"If he continues like this, treating us like dirt, we'll all die at his hands!"

"Or, could we fight back and make him feel pain too?"

"..."

Yinzhu talked a lot until her mouth was dry, but Liu Rumei, sitting in front of the bronze mirror, remained silent, her silence frightening.

She dared not speak again, fearing she might make things worse.

Liu Rumei, however, turned to look at her and asked meaningfully, "Have you finished speaking?"