Chapter 27 027 Expecting to sleep with your spouse just two days after being released from prison? Dream on…
As night fell, the banquet held at the restaurant for the newly appointed scholars finally came to an end. Pei Xingshu first helped the drunken Xiao Yu into the carriage with Qingchuan, and then bid farewell to the fellow scholars who came to see them off. It took him another quarter of an hour to get into the carriage, and he swayed a little as he got in, proving that he was also quite drunk.
As soon as the curtain fell, Pei Xingshu let out a long breath and sat down wearily on the left side. As he raised his hand to rub his forehead, he suddenly noticed that Xiao Yu, who had been lying like a dead man on the narrow couch in the main seat, had opened his eyes at some point. His clear, dark eyes were staring at him, as deep as a pool and devoid of emotion, which was quite frightening at first glance.
Pei Xingshu: "...You're not drunk?"
To be honest, before Xiao Yu made a mess of the imperial examination, Pei Xingshu treated his brother-in-law, who came from a noble family, with great courtesy. When they talked, he always addressed Xiao Yu by his courtesy name, "Yuanzhi," and rarely used "you" directly. However, after Xiao Yu made a big blunder that almost implicated the Luo family and directly caused his wife and sister to worry about him every day, Pei Xingshu could no longer maintain these formalities with Xiao Yu.
They've only been brothers-in-law for five months, so Pei Xingshu has no right to lecture Xiao Yu. If it were his own younger brother or Luo Song who did something like this, Pei Xingshu would definitely give them a good scolding.
Xiao Yu noticed the suppressed displeasure in his brother-in-law's eyes and responded with a soft "hmm." After a moment of blankness, smelling the strong scent of alcohol on his brother-in-law, Xiao Yu slowly sat up straight. Once the carriage had left the restaurant and was some distance away, Xiao Yu lifted a crack in both curtains, letting in the cool spring evening breeze, which quickly swept away most of the lingering gloom.
Sitting up straight again, Xiao Yu noticed that Pei Xingshu was sitting upright and his eyes were clear. He said admiringly, "Brother-in-law has a good capacity for alcohol."
He disliked drinking, and coupled with his lingering sorrow over his wife's desire to divorce him, he had no heart for socializing at the banquet. If the Emperor hadn't just bestowed upon him such great favor, his cold demeanor towards his fellow scholars or his departure might have led to misunderstandings that he didn't appreciate the Emperor's kindness. Why would Xiao Yu have pretended to be drunk and slumped over the table halfway through his drink?
As long as Xiao Yu lay on the table, Pei Xingshu was kept drinking by his fellow students for just as long. Although scholars tend to be more subtle in their drinking, there were too many students tonight, each taking a cup. Xiao Yu, lying there bored, counted for Pei Xingshu that Pei Xingshu had drunk at least thirty cups that night.
Pei Xingshu: "...If you were awake, they wouldn't only respect me and Cui Wenhuan."
Cui Han, also known as Cui Wenhuan, was the second-place finisher in this year's imperial examination.
Xiao Yu gave a perfunctory apology, stared at the slightly swaying curtains, and remained silent, clearly preoccupied.
Pei Xingshu said in a low voice, "Could it be that Yuanzhi still has concerns about the Emperor?"
Xiao Yu simply shook his head.
It had nothing to do with the Emperor. Pei Xingshu pondered for a moment and suddenly remembered that his wife had mentioned a few days ago that Luo Fu intended to divorce Xiao Yu. He wanted to advise her, but he couldn't figure out Xiao Yu's attitude, so he cautiously remained silent.
The carriage belonged to the Pei family. After escorting Xiao Yu back to the Marquis's residence and saying goodbye to Xiao Rong, Deng Shi, and others, Pei Xingshu took his leave.
Becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination was even more gratifying than topping the list of successful candidates in the provincial examination, but tonight Xiao Rong had no interest in drinking with his third son. Who knew if the emperor was only letting his son off the hook because he valued the reputation of a wise ruler? Compared to the long road of officialdom, being the top scholar was just an empty title. He would have to see what official position the emperor would appoint his third son to in order to judge the emperor's true attitude.
Xiao Rong had been a marquis in the capital for over twenty years and had seen several top scholars in the imperial examinations. In his early years, there was a top scholar who wrote a rather arrogant article while drunk, which displeased the emperor. The following year, he was transferred by the Ministry of Personnel to a small county in the northwest as a county magistrate. More than ten years had passed, and Xiao Rong had never heard anyone mention that top scholar again.
"Go back and rest. Just looking at you gives me a headache," Xiao Rong said dismissively, as if shooing away a fly.
Xiao Yu cooperated and left. When he returned to Shensi Hall, he found that the small gate between the two courtyards was locked. His wife was obviously still angry, so Xiao Yu had no choice but to continue sleeping alone in the front courtyard.
It was still early, and although the lights were off in Luo Fu's room, she was perfectly clear-headed as she lay in bed.
Luo Fu listened to all the reasons her sister gave her. At a time when the emperor was willing to grant Xiao Yu favors, it was indeed inappropriate for her to divorce Xiao Yu. Not only would it tarnish her reputation, but it might also cause the Xiao family, whom she had abandoned, to regard the Luo family as enemies. Xiao Rong and Xiao Lin might trip up her brother-in-law in the officialdom, and her sister would also be ostracized by the noble ladies' circle in the capital.
Since a divorce wasn't an option, Luo Fu needed to carefully consider how to continue her relationship with Xiao Yu. Simply giving him a smiling face as if nothing had happened was impossible; she wasn't that shameless, and Xiao Yu wasn't stupid. He would only think her sudden change of heart was vain and ugly. If she pretended to insist on a divorce, what if Xiao Yu became a top scholar and, riding high on his success, actually agreed to the divorce and then married someone else?
Luo Fu could leave on her own, but Xiao Yu disliked her and forced her to leave with a divorce agreement. Luo Fu could not accept this!
The next morning, Xiao Yu did not dare to trespass into his wife's boudoir again. He waited obediently by the small door, asking Ping An to help him pass on the message after his wife woke up.
Luo Fu woke up early and learned that Xiao Yu was waiting outside to see her, still very concerned about her. A secret joy rose in Luo Fu's heart. Perhaps it wasn't so secret, because Ping An was standing by the bed and saw the corners of the lady's mouth turn up.
Madam was delighted, and Ping An quickly spoke up for the Third Young Master, saying, "He's been waiting for almost half an hour, just standing in the veranda, staring absentmindedly at Madam's window."
Luo Fu glanced at her sideways: "Until I reconcile with the young master, you just need to treat him properly and don't try to flatter or fawn over him."
Cai Die's four head maids were given to her by the Marquis's mansion, so they are definitely more inclined to side with Xiao Yu. Luo Fu can't control them, but Ping An must be of one mind with her.
Ping An agreed with a smile.
After washing and dressing, Luo Fu sat in the east side room and then asked Ping An to invite Xiao Yu.
When Xiao Yu entered the house, he saw that his wife was still indifferent. His heart sank. After she left safely, Xiao Yu did not dare to speak on his own. He would only steal glances at her from time to time. Whenever the couple made eye contact, he would quickly lower his eyes to avoid being seen as rude by his wife or seeing coldness and disdain in her eyes.
After looking around enough, Luo Fu pointed to the chair next to her and said, "Sit down, this is your home, why be so reserved?"
Xiao Yu froze. Yesterday they were just discussing divorce, and today they're already dividing up your house and mine?
He could no longer sit still and said hastily, "Before I brought my wife into the family, I promised my parents-in-law that I would never let her down in this life. How could I divorce her after only half a year of marriage? Yes, words are empty promises. If my wife does not believe my guarantee, then please give me another chance and see how I act in the future."
Luo Fu looked at his feet: "When we were married in the bridal chamber, I promised to grow old with you and never leave you. But only five months have passed, and I was already thinking of divorce the moment I saw you were convicted. How can a gentleman like you tolerate such a cowardly act? You only kept trying to keep me because you liked my beauty and couldn't bear to part with our nightly pleasures. As time goes by, you will get used to this and remember my willingness to leave you today. So instead of bringing up the past later, why not grant my wish now?"
Xiao Yu wanted to speak when he heard his wife's self-deprecating words, but then fell into an awkward silence when she mentioned his lustful and womanizing ways.
After his wife finished speaking, Xiao Yu said solemnly, "Even ants try to survive, let alone you and me. I was afraid of dying after giving my advice, and you were afraid of being implicated and asked to leave. This is only human nature. I don't blame you this time. If it happens again in the future, as long as you ask for a divorce because you are afraid of being implicated, I will not blame you in the slightest. And once you change your mind and are willing to be husband and wife with me again, I will cherish you as if you had lost a treasure and regained it."
Luo Fu chuckled: "Now that I'm young and beautiful, of course you cherish me. But when I get old, you'll have long since changed your mind."
Xiao Yu: "My mother is getting old. My father, who was greedy for vanity, never abandoned her. I am a gentleman and would never do such a despicable thing as abandoning my wife."
Luo Fu: "When my mother married my father, he had nothing. He was grateful for my mother's deep affection for him, but I only want to share wealth with you, not hardship."
Xiao Yu: "If I am rich and powerful, I am willing to share it with you, my wife. If you are in trouble, I am willing to share it with you. But if I am in trouble, I would rather you leave me than suffer with me. So I don't mind if you think that way."
Luo Fu: "...Your words only make me seem petty."
Xiao Yu: "I was the one who made you unable to eat or sleep properly. I married a wife but cannot give her peace of mind. I am no gentleman."
The top scholar spoke earnestly, his eyes sincere. Luo Fu felt guilty and continued to look at him. After a moment of silence, she looked away and smiled again: "If it were a wife who was afraid of death, would you have tried so hard to persuade her to stay?"
Xiao Yu: "How can I change? I've only ever married you, and I can't think of any other wife's face. The only wife I want to keep is the one sitting in front of me."
Luo Fu felt inexplicably hot and muttered under her breath, "You're just lustful towards me."
Xiao Yu: "...A gentleman appreciates beauty, but he seeks it with propriety. We are already husband and wife, and it is proper for me to admire my wife's beauty."
Luo Fu couldn't stand it anymore and got up to go to the inner room. Xiao Yu saw that his wife's face was flushed with embarrassment, so he took her hand from behind, pulled her into his arms, and hugged her tightly, saying, "I really know I was wrong, don't be angry anymore?"
Luo Fu struggled twice, but couldn't break free. She grabbed Xiao Yu's hand that was across her waist to prevent him from touching her inappropriate places, and told him the truth: "Actually, before the results of the palace examination were announced, I hoped that you would fail and never be able to take the exam again. That way, I could still be a good-for-nothing but rich and stable couple with you. But you ended up becoming the top scholar."
Xiao Yu, who had just managed to coax his wife to a standstill, felt a chill of fear again. Just as he was about to speak, he heard his wife in his arms continue, "If I had a choice, I would still want to divorce you. But my sister told me that if I abandon you now, the historians will record your success in passing the imperial examinations and praise you for your courage to speak frankly and for the emperor's magnanimity. They will only criticize me for being greedy for life and afraid of death."
Xiao Yu: "..." The historian would indeed mention his wife in this way, indirectly praising his fearlessness.
Luo Fu's nails began to dig into the back of his hand: "It's all your fault! If your family had told me earlier that you failed the exam last time because you mocked the Emperor and the Left Prime Minister, I would rather die poor in the village than dare to climb up to you, a high branch that even the Emperor dared to poke at. Now, I can't leave or stay, and it's hard for me to be a good person no matter what!"
As his wife spoke, her sobs became more pronounced. Ignoring the pain in his hand, Xiao Yu turned his wife around and saw two strings of clear tears hanging on her fair cheeks, and her red lips pouting in a particularly aggrieved manner. She looked so pitiful and adorable that Xiao Yu was bewitched and kissed her.
Luo Fu was stunned for a moment, and then pushed the person away with all her might!
Xiao Yu took a few steps back, meeting his wife's angry yet still adorable glare. He glanced awkwardly out the window, then, seeing her turn to leave, he rushed after her and hugged her from behind again: "If you leave now, it will indeed damage your reputation, but if you stay, I will treat you even better. I'll give you my monthly salary and allowance, and from now on, I'll consult with you before making any suggestions. I will never act on my own again."
Reputation, wealth, and stability—these are all things Luo Fu desires.
The few tears she had shed had long since stopped. Luo Fu, her hands clasped around her waist, gritted her teeth and said, "Words are no proof. Write it down in black and white. If you dare to bring up old grievances with me in the future, I'll post your written statement on the outer wall of the examination hall, specifically when the results of the spring examinations are announced."
Xiao Yu smiled and agreed, then pulled his wife into the study, where he wrote a simple and clear statement and submitted it.
Luo Fu examined it carefully before she was satisfied.
However, when Xiao Yu tried to go to the Central Courtyard that evening, Luo Fu still refused him entry through the small gate.
Even if they don't want to divorce, Xiao Yu has already caused such a huge mess. He's only been out of prison for two days and he's already hoping to be in bed with his wife? He can dream on!
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Author's note: Here it is! 100 little red envelopes, see you tonight~
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