Chapter 33
Xie Qinghong didn't expose him at the alley entrance because her mother had specially sent a carriage to pick her up, and someone had also delivered a letter to her. The governor of Bozhou indeed disapproved of Qiu Ran's actions and had accepted the victim's complaint. Moreover, the woman who filed the complaint was fierce and made Qiu Ran's actions known throughout the city, arousing righteous indignation among men, women, and children, who wished they could personally kill this scumbag Qiu Ran for her.
Within two days, news of the events in Bozhou would reach Huaizhou. Even the governor of a prefecture couldn't silence the gossip. At that point, all the planning of the past year or two would be in vain, Qiu Ran's good reputation would plummet, and his character would be deemed unsuitable, naturally resulting in a low rank. Given Qiu Ran's temperament, if he were ranked as a low-ranking official, he would certainly not be willing to enter officialdom. Moreover, not only would he be unable to enter officialdom, but if someone were to accuse him of "lax household management," the governor of Huaizhou's own position would be in jeopardy.
Xie Qinghong felt that this ending was extremely appropriate. The smooth road to success that was about to be shattered had collapsed out of nowhere. Because of his past misdeeds, his father's career was unstable. No family of equal social standing would ever marry him. He could not share his father's worries, nor could he rely on his wife's family's influence. When he went out, he would no longer be the center of attention he once had, but would be scorned instead.
For someone who is extremely concerned about saving face, this is tantamount to execution. To make him lose face is the best "reward" for him.
Xie Qinghong put the matter aside for the time being and focused on studying the strange book again. However, no matter what secret method she used, whether it was heating it with fire or wiping it with water, the pages of the book were always blank. It did not "reveal the heavenly book" as sung in the opera.
She was completely baffled. She wanted to go back to the dark bookstore, but even though she remembered the way, she couldn't find the alleyway when she got to the street. It was as if the house never existed.
She turned around and suddenly missed Pei Du.
However, she didn't have much time to think, because the academy was about to hold exams, and Xie Qinghong had arrived late and hadn't yet studied some of the lessons. Therefore, as soon as she learned about the big exam, she threw herself into her studies, ignoring the mysterious book and Pei Du, turning a deaf ear to everything else, and focusing solely on reviewing her lessons.
She absolutely cannot be last in any exam!
By the time the exams were over, it was early June. The mid-year selection process was complete, and Qiu Ran had become a pariah. The flirtatious glances from girls had turned into disgust and disdain, and he was no longer as handsome as Pan An, whose carriages were filled with fruit. His official career was over, and he had lost face. He never returned to Baihe Academy.
Qiu Ran is currently drinking alone at home. He has found a pretext to beat the blind servant who could not recognize his lover as Prince Pei to death, but this can only slightly soothe his resentment. A deeper fear keeps him from having peace day and night.
When he first learned that his reputation was ruined, he was so angry that he only wanted to settle accounts with Xie Qinghong. He blamed her for being too beautiful as a woman and arousing his desires. He hated her even more for deliberately misleading him when she was innocent and for taking revenge on him, causing him to lose his reputation.
But later, upon learning that his father's official position was unstable and that someone in the court was deliberately suppressing him, Qiu Ran feared that he would have no hope of promotion in the future. Only then did Qiu Ran feel fear. Without his father's official career, he would have nothing left in his life. He had underestimated Xie Qinghong, thinking to himself that this woman was far too ruthless and that he would have to stay far away from her from now on.
When Xie Qinghong heard this, he felt extremely gratified. The girl who was the victim had finally gotten her revenge. This villain thought that girls were easy to bully, so he should be taught a lesson so that he would never dare to harm girls again.
——
As soon as Pei Du arrived in Yuecheng, the Prince of Nan showed him the letter he had received, saying with a hint of schadenfreude, "Take a look first, and don't be too angry. Your reputation is so bad that it's understandable that the Xie family woman doesn't like it."
Pei Du ignored it and opened the letter to read it. The letter was sent by the governor of Huaizhou. It was a distorted account, ostensibly congratulating the marriage of the heir of the Prince of Nan's mansion, but secretly saying that the Xie family had improper family conduct and did not properly educate their daughters, and that the women accepted flower crowns in the street and behaved in a dissolute manner.
Seeing that he didn't speak, the Southern King continued to pierce his heart: "I told you long ago that it's not right to take things by force. Her heart isn't with you. It's not too late to let go now. If you get married in the future, it will really cause resentment between you. It's better to let go sooner and give her freedom. Maybe you can even become friends."
He sighed softly, his tone filled with the sorrow of someone who had been through it all.
Pei Du glanced at him coldly, folded the letter, and put it back in the envelope, his tone carrying a subtle hint of pride: "The flower crown she received was from me."
The Prince of the South suppressed his lip, full of suspicion: "You don't need to pretend, your father understands."
Provoked, Pei Du's thoughts turned malicious, and he directly hit the nail on the head: "Father, there's no need to put on a brave face. I've understood you all these years. Taking things by force is unacceptable. Mother keeps bringing up old grievances, so it's understandable that Father is in a bad mood. But I'm in a good mood. The flower crown I gave her is still on her boudoir shelf."
The Prince of Nan had a "I'm watching you make this up" look on his face, but seeing how confident he was, he couldn't help but be skeptical. He hadn't initially doubted the letter because he thought his son would never do something like sending a flower crown, and the Governor of Huaizhou wouldn't dare fabricate it. It was perfectly normal for Lady Xie to have admirers, so—
"Ha, maybe it's already been thrown away?"
Pei Du became even more proud: "I saw it."
The father and son stared at each other coldly, neither willing to back down. The Prince of the South sneered, "How can you be so indecent? Sending a flower crown before you're even married?"
Pei Du found these words familiar and replied without hesitation, "Why can't you send a flower crown before marriage? I've never seen you send one even after marriage, Father. No wonder you're alone in the study so late..."
"Get out of my sight!" the Prince of the South roared. "If Xie Wen breaks your leg in the future, I will not plead for you!"
Pei Du casually remarked, "Master Xie wouldn't hit anyone."
After Pei Du left the study looking relaxed, the Prince of Nan stroked his beard thoughtfully. Pei Du's attitude was bad, but his words were quite right. Why hadn't he thought of sending the Princess a flower crown? Moreover, where did this unfilial son learn to be so good at it? He could even coax Lady Xie.
In his early years, he and Xie Wen were colleagues. Xie Wen was cunning and scheming at a young age, and he would set traps for people without them even realizing it. Was his daughter stupid? Otherwise, why would his son get such a good deal?
However, this unfilial son is mistaken. Who says Xie Wen wouldn't hit someone? Ha, he, as the father, is just waiting to see his son make a fool of himself. This unfilial son's arrogant attitude should teach him a lesson; his father-in-law is no weakling.
Pei Du summoned his personal guards as soon as he stepped out. His words to Xie Qinghong were not empty talk; simply cutting off Qiu Ran's career would be too lenient. Even if he didn't enter officialdom, he could still rely on his family's power to continue to act arrogantly and domineeringly.
Oh, and that Mr. Zhu who spoke such rudely—he won't let any of them get away with it.
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