Chapter 19 The Top Scholar Who Murdered His Wife and Daughter (19) A Farmer's Son's Counterattack...
As the caravan traveled to the capital, they stopped at an inn to stay. Upon hearing that one of the members was a scholar who had come to the capital to take the imperial examinations and had even achieved the top score in the provincial examinations, the innkeeper and the waiters treated the group with great courtesy and hospitality.
A scholar who has passed the provincial examination is already a person of high status, let alone this one who is also the top scholar in the provincial examination, and so young and handsome. After passing the metropolitan examination, such a person is a sure thing to become an official. If you don't curry favor with him now, when will you? It's easy to add flowers to brocade, but difficult to provide charcoal in the snow!
Therefore, the preferential treatment they received along the way was unprecedented. One of the men in the caravan said, "Of all the times I've traveled to and from the capital, this trip has been the most comfortable. It's all thanks to our county's top scholar."
"That's right. In the past, those waiters would have preferred to send us to sleep in the communal sleeping area, afraid that we would offend the nobles. But now there is a pair of nobles in our caravan. Can you see their faces? They're all smiles!"
"Hahaha! Brother Zhou is right! That's satisfying!"
While the people in the carriage were chatting and laughing, Song Ce helped Du Ningwan into the carriage. Once they were seated, the caravan continued its journey to the capital. Because it was just past the first month of the lunar calendar, the coldest time of the year, although a stove was lit inside the carriage, the north wind outside, accompanied by snowflakes, sent a chill through the carriage curtains, making Du Ningwan somewhat unaccustomed to the bone-chilling cold.
To prevent Song Ce from getting chilblains on his hands from turning pages and writing, Du Ningwan would apply hand cream to his hands every day. Under her careful care, Song Ce's hands became smooth and delicate with well-defined knuckles, which made him quite uncomfortable. However, Du Ningwan was extremely insistent on this, and Song Ce had no choice but to let her do as she pleased.
The caravan traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently along the way. Twenty-odd days passed in the blink of an eye, and the group finally caught sight of the majestic city walls of the capital. Song Ce could clearly sense that everyone in the caravan had relaxed considerably and had begun to engage in lively discussions.
"Song Jieyuan, we should be at the city gate in about an hour. You and your wife should prepare in advance," the head of the caravan said loudly, knocking on the carriage.
Song Ce told Du Ning to rest in the carriage for the night. He lifted the curtain and sat on the carriage shaft. The man surnamed Zhou smiled and said, "Scholar, is this your first time in the capital?"
“Indeed, but I wonder what we need to prepare for going to the capital?” Song Ce asked.
“Hey, there’s a fee for entering and leaving the capital, five coins per person. But since you have a degree, the court will give you special treatment. Just show us your degree certificate, and we can let you through directly. The five coins will be waived,” Zhou Hanzi replied.
“You’re coming to the capital for the imperial examinations, and we know a few suitable places to stay. Staying in an inn isn’t cost-effective; there’s a lot of people coming and going, which isn’t good for your exams. Besides, since the top scholar is coming with his wife and family, why not rent a courtyard? It would be cheaper for you to study,” another man said.
The people in the caravan were clearly quite familiar with the capital. Song Ce chatted with them for a while, and these enthusiastic men, eager to make friends, introduced the couple to several quiet courtyards suitable for studying. They said that if they were not comfortable with the place, they could find a middleman to look at it, and they could decide on a place that day.
Soon, they arrived at the gates of the capital.
Standing beneath the city wall, Song Ce looked up and felt the awe-inspiring presence of its imposing structure. In his previous life, he had never visited the Forbidden City due to being bedridden. Strictly speaking, this was the first time he had ever seen and experienced the city wall. It was indeed as he had imagined, with its towering walls and formidable defenses.
After waiting for about fifteen minutes, it was finally their turn. Song Ce took out his degree certificate and presented it. The guard at the city gate took it with both hands, glanced at it, and said respectfully, "So it's Song Jieyuan." Then he let them pass.
Song Ce put away the degree certificate and thanked the guards.
After the carriage passed through the city gate, the bustling scene of the capital city came into view. Du Ningwan lifted the curtain and sighed to Song Ce, "This trip is all thanks to my husband. If it were on my own, I don't know when I would have been able to come to this prosperous capital city."
Song Ce grasped Du Ningwan's hand: "Wan'er, you are mistaken. From the first moment I saw you, I thought that Heaven brought such a graceful and beautiful woman to the mortal world with the intention of letting her live a carefree and joyful life. And I am fortunate to have your love, Wan'er, so I must strive to improve myself so that I can be worthy of you."
Upon hearing this, Du Ningwan's cheeks flushed, and her eyes lowered, like the first rays of dawn, causing Song Ce's heart to pound uncontrollably.
When the caravan arrived at its destination, Song Ce, following Du Ningwan's instructions, gave the group some money as a token of gratitude for their hard work. Seeing how kind and easygoing Yuan Gong was, the caravan leader simply took the couple to find two or three quiet and spacious courtyards. After Song Ce settled on one, the leader went to help negotiate and helped him rent a small courtyard with one courtyard at a very reasonable price.
This courtyard was just right for the couple; it wasn't big, but it was quiet and peaceful, a perfect place for reading. Moreover, it wasn't far from the main street, making it very inexpensive to buy things there.
The owner of this courtyard is surnamed Fan, and he owns a pharmacy. His family of three lives next door. Fan has only one son, who is twelve years old and studies at the clan school. He is very diligent in his studies.
Madam Fan was a kind person, and Manager Fan was eager to befriend her, so he had the maids in his household help tidy up the courtyard. In less than half a day, the courtyard was ready.
Song Ce draped a thick cloak over Du Ningwan, thinking that although the two had talked a lot along the way, he had spent most of his time studying and thinking, and Du Ningwan had not disturbed him, allowing him to study in peace and prepare for the imperial examination.
Seeing that the courtyard was clean but still somewhat deserted, he took Du Ningwan's hand and smiled, "Wan'er, I've been so busy reading these days that I've neglected you a lot. How about we go see the prosperity of the capital city together today? Let's go out for a walk and then have dinner at a restaurant later to try some of the capital's signature dishes, shall we?"
Du Ningwan was very tempted by the words, but she also felt that it was already February and her husband had been studying hard all along. Should she really delay his studies? What if she ruined his chances of passing the imperial examination?
Song Ce had been keeping an eye on Du Ningwan, so how could he not know what she was thinking and worrying about? Without saying a word, he pulled Du Ningwan outside: "The teacher at the county school once said that studying requires a balance of tension and relaxation. If you keep studying all the time, your head will fall into a book bag. We've been under a lot of pressure on this journey, so it's time for us to relax for a day. Let's go, Wan'er."
Seeing Song Ce's eager and focused expression, Du Ningwan smiled and nodded.
The heavy snow of the past few days has completely melted away, and the warm sunlight shines on the streets and alleys of the capital. With the imperial examination approaching, the streets are bustling and prosperous.
Song Ce was dressed in a light blue robe, his posture was upright, and his every move exuded elegance and grace. Du Ningwan's winter clothes were made at the same time as his, making them look like they were wearing "couple outfits".
Song Ce was worried that Du Ningwan would get cold, so he draped a white cloak over her, which made her even more graceful and charming.
This was Du Ningwan's first time in the capital, her eyes filled with curiosity and joy at the city's splendor. Looking at the dazzling array of trinkets displayed along the market streets, Du Ningwan greeted Song Ce with a childlike enthusiasm, a stark contrast to her usual gentle and dignified demeanor. Song Ce smiled, holding her hand and listening to her with doting eyes, occasionally picking up the trinkets she fancied, haggling with the vendors before buying them.
When they passed by Ruifuxiang, the largest jewelry store in the capital, Song Ce pulled Du Ningwan inside.
"My lady, do you like this plum blossom hairpin?" Since they were out and about, Song Ce couldn't call Du Ningwan by her nickname, so he picked up the hairpin and inserted it into Du Ningwan's beautiful black hair.
Du Ning looked in the mirror, nodded slightly, her eyes full of affection.
"Shopkeeper, how much is this hairpin?" Song Ce asked.
"Young master has a good eye. This is made by Wei Dajia, the most popular craftsman in our shop. It costs twenty-eight taels of silver," the shopkeeper replied with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Du Ningwan was about to pull the hairpin out when Song Ce held her wrist and sighed, "Since we became husband and wife, I have never given you a gift. Now that you have accompanied me on this journey, I am glad you like this hairpin. When I am fortunate enough to pass the imperial examination in the future, I will buy you even more beautiful jewelry."
“My lord, our return date is uncertain, so we should be frugal,” Du Ningwan said hesitantly.
"Don't worry, my wife. This fifty taels is the county's reward when I passed the imperial examination. I originally went to Jin Yu Lou to choose one for you, but I couldn't find a suitable one, so it was delayed until we arrived in the capital. Please keep it safe, my wife." With that, he had the shopkeeper wrap up the hairpin.
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper smiled as he wrapped the package, saying, "Madam, you are so lucky! I can tell this young master is destined for great things, and your good fortune is yet to come! Don't even mention this hairpin; you'll have so many jewels on the table that you won't be able to wear them all in the future!"
These flattering words made the couple laugh.
What the two were unaware of was that on the second floor of Ruifuxiang, by the window, a woman dressed in gorgeous yellow stared blankly at the handsome profile of the young man downstairs. With just that one glance, she felt as if her heart had been struck by something.
"Cousin, cousin?" the young man behind the woman in yellow called out.
Xia Miaozhen came to her senses. "Second cousin, this young master downstairs looks unfamiliar. May I ask whose son he is?"
Xia Ruhong looked downstairs and said, "Cousin, you don't know, but the imperial examination is just around the corner. This man is very refined and should be a candidate who has come to the capital to take the exam. He looks quite handsome, but I wonder how well he is learned."
"To become a scholar at such a young age, one must be quite learned," Xia Miaozhen said.
"What good is it if you hesitate to buy jewelry for your wife? You must not be wealthy," Xia Ruhong laughed.
Upon hearing the words "wife of her childhood," Xia Miaozhen felt a slight displeasure. She tightened her grip on the handkerchief in her hand and said, "Isn't it just as good that our family isn't wealthy? My cousin can make friends with him. If he's truly capable, you might even be able to serve as officials in the same court someday."
"My cousin is right." Xia Ruhong nodded, indicating that she would remember it.
A note from the author:
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The second female lead has appeared! [Let me see!]
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