Chapter 120 Xi Xiyue’s evaluation of Du Heng cannot be fully trusted!
Du Heng grabbed Su Ying's hand, his eyes shining. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Ying'er, I find you're becoming more and more disrespectful!"
This was the second time he heard Su Ying calling him by his name. Every time, his heart would beat like a needle piercing his anesthesia, and even his breathing would stagnate.
Su Ying blushed and quickly dodged backwards, spat softly, "Who told you to be so careless and talk about getting married all the time? Don't forget what you said to my aunt!"
Du Heng certainly understood her thoughts. He gently placed Su Ying's hand on his chest, as if wanting her to hear his inner voice: "Every word I said to Second Aunt came from the bottom of my heart. Even if I am anxious, I cannot hastily marry you in such a precarious situation."
He lowered his eyes, his voice low and firm: "I can't let you become my shield or my life-saving talisman."
Whenever Du Heng was moved, his eyes would reflect the mountains and water, with a touch of unconcealable tenderness. Su Ying felt her cheeks burning as he stared at her. She didn't dare to look back, but lowered her head and whispered, "You don't have to say all this, I know everything."
The voice was soft and gentle, like a pure white feather, tickling his heartstrings. Even the words he spoke were trembling with fear: "Between you and me, there is no hierarchy. Call me whatever you like."
......
Let’s talk about Yuan Song who was kicked out of the mansion by Yuan Zhixu.
Yuan Zhixu felt comfortable enough to play along with his wife because he knew his nephew would have plenty of places to go. His younger brother and sister-in-law had always doted on him and had already bought him a house with two entrances and two exits in the capital many years ago.
That day, Yuan Song said goodbye to Xi Xiyue and went straight to the Du Mansion, but the carriage stopped at the street corner not far from the gate of the Du Mansion.
His feelings towards Du Heng were complex and inexplicable. He harbored hostility towards Ying'er, yet was also dissatisfied with Xi Xiyue's unwavering praise. He should have been secretly delighted to hear that Du Heng had failed to qualify for the Spring Examination, but his joy was not as heartwarming as he had expected, but rather a sense of emptiness.
He originally wanted to go to Du Heng's house to ridicule and tease him, but the carriage stopped for a long time. In the end, he did not choose to kick him when he was down. Instead, he said to Yu Nian, "Go home!" and did not say another word.
I had just returned to my house and stayed there for a day when, not knowing who had leaked the news, people began to send visiting invitations one after another.
According to his usual temper, he would not even look at those visiting cards, but would just tell Yu Nian to sweep them up with a broom and burn them cleanly. But this time, for some reason, he was patient and received several candidates who came to visit him in one day.
He felt that Xi Xiyue's evaluation of Du Heng was more or less based on their friendship as classmates and should not be fully trusted. Since someone had sent a letter requesting an audience, he might as well take this opportunity to find out Du Heng's true face.
After some polite exchanges, the candidates took their seats.
Yuan Song didn't beat around the bush. He raised his teacup and sighed softly, "I just heard yesterday that Du Jieyuan from the capital was deferred for the exam. Last time at Xi's residence, I had the honor of sparring with Brother Du. I had hoped to compete again in the Spring Examination. What a pity, what a pity."
I thought someone would agree and say sorry, but what I heard was only words of gloating, and everyone wanted to step on me more.
"Brother Yuan, you don't know. Du Heng is a master of theatrics. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are common to all people. Which family doesn't prioritize the imperial examinations? Yet, he observed three years of mourning, and the ignorant common people praised him unanimously. This makes it seem like we, the people of the past, are only concerned with future prospects and are heartless and ungrateful!"
The man who spoke wore a goatee and a gloomy expression. His literary talent was unremarkable, but his handwriting was excellent. Three years prior, during the spring examination, he had heard that the examiner favored neat and elegant calligraphy, and he felt certain his handwriting would win him favor. Thus, he heartlessly forgoes mourning for his deceased widowed mother, even making an excuse: "My mother's spirit in heaven will surely allow me to endure this pain and take the exam."
Unexpectedly, not only did he fail to make the list, but he was also branded as "unfilial" by his family, making him a nobody. He took this opportunity to vent all his years of resentment on Du Heng.
"Brother, I want to refute what you said."
A man with a pale face, thin lips and cunning eyes shook his head and spoke. Yuan Song originally thought that he was going to scold Goat Beard and speak for Du Heng.
"There are tens of thousands of students in the capital, and indeed across the country, and it's inevitable that misfortunes will happen to their families. Du Jieyuan acted so filially that he moved heaven, yet you didn't praise him, but instead accused him of joking? Just ask yourself, who in the world would treat their future as a joke?"
Unexpectedly, the man's words became even more sophisticated. He changed the subject and continued, "However, I must say that before Brother Yuan came to the capital, the entire capital was in chaos due to Du Heng's first-rate literary style. Brother Yuan, there is no need to sigh for him. He has brought this upon himself."
Then, he took the opportunity to flatter: "To be honest, Brother Yuan, I was also present at the last literary appreciation meeting at the Xi Mansion. When Brother Yuan started writing, his skills amazed everyone. From then on, I knew that the refreshing breeze of Jiangnan had finally been brought to the capital by Brother Yuan!"
Not only did these people despise Du Heng, but, like Xi Xiyue, they also believed he was the new top scholar. Their eyes and mouths were filled with the word "diligent" and they expressed their loyalty: "Brother Yuan, since we first met at the last literary competition, I have felt that your writing and your character are extremely upright. After the Spring Examination, I am willing to continue to follow you."
"I also want to follow Brother Yuan!"
"Me too, I'm willing to die for Brother Yuan!"
Just because he wanted to hear what they thought of Du Heng, but he only heard a bunch of flattery that was opportunistic and disgusting. Yuan Song snorted coldly and said with a sneer, "Why are you all acting like the chief examiner of this year's spring imperial examination, predicting that I will be the new top scorer?"
His eyes were filled with disdain and ridicule, and he continued in a cold voice, "I think you're not interested in my future, but the people behind me, right? I'm sorry to disappoint you all. The reason I stayed here is because I had a grudge against my uncle. I advise you to leave as soon as possible. If you're looking for me, you'd better go directly to Lord Yuan's residence and send your visiting cards!"
Yuan Song had expected these people to retreat, but he noticed they had already understood the situation. They weren't surprised at all. Instead, they smiled and said, "How could we be fence-sitters? We've heard about Brother Yuan and Lord Yuan a long time ago. Who in the capital wouldn't say hello to Brother Yuan when they hear his name?"
The man with the goat beard echoed, "Brother Yuan, you're willing to give up your family's power to pursue the love of your heart. I admire you. If you didn't have someone you already love, I would even recommend my sister to you!"
The man with a cunning look in his eyes seemed to be at odds with the man with the goat beard, and he opened his mouth to refute, "Brother, you really don't know your own limitations. The one Brother Yuan likes must be as beautiful as a lotus and as graceful as a willow. Judging from your appearance, your sister shouldn't be much better looking. Do you think Brother Yuan is interested in her only because she comes from a humble background?"
The more Yuan Song listened, the more he felt something was amiss. He decided to stop being hospitable and suddenly stood up, grabbed the man's shirt, and asked with narrowed eyes, "What do you mean by 'face like lotus and eyebrows like willow'? What do you mean by 'humble origin'? Where did you hear all that?"
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