Chapter 25: Unexpected First Release on Jinjiang Literature City
Fu Mingzi waited for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea under the pear tree on one side of the main hall before Miss Yang finally came out of the hall, accompanied only by a maid.
Fu Mingzi nodded to her from afar. Miss Yang remained calm, waved to the maid behind her, and then walked up to Fu Mingzi alone.
"Fifth Young Master, is there something you need today?" Miss Yang Liu didn't mince words and went straight to the point.
Fu Mingzi smiled. If he hadn't already developed feelings for Fu Mingzi, Miss Yang's personality would have suited his temperament.
"Regarding the marriage with Miss Liu, there's something I haven't yet explained to her. Has Miss Liu forgotten?"
Miss Yang frowned: "I thought you had already tacitly agreed. Don't you want to?"
Fu Mingzi laughed out loud: "I'm neither a lustful devil nor a fool. Why is Miss Liu acting so magnanimously? Shouldn't I investigate?"
Miss Yang's expression changed, and her face turned deathly pale: "You know everything." She clenched her teeth, her tone stiff.
Fu Mingzi dared not joke at this moment, and nodded solemnly: "I understand. Although many details have not been investigated clearly, we can imagine them."
Miss Yang gave a bitter laugh: "Imagine, I'm afraid your imagination can't even begin to describe how terrible it was back then."
She seemed to realize that she had lost her composure, and quickly turned her face away so that Fu Mingzi could not see the expression on her face.
After a long while, Miss Yang finally calmed down.
"Since you already know, you should understand that I've been driven to a dead end. If you don't agree, I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to die." Miss Yang said blankly.
Fu Mingzi couldn't help but sigh: "Why are you doing this to yourself?"
Miss Yang seemed to want to laugh, but in the end she only slightly twitched the corners of her mouth: "This is my business, you don't need to worry about it."
Fu Mingzi knew that trying to persuade her like that was useless, so she could only tell her about her plan.
"Miss Yang, you're willing to use this method to escape your family, but I can't let you ruin your life like this. Have you ever thought that besides marrying me, you actually have other paths to take?"
Upon hearing this, Miss Yang looked at Fu Mingzi with some surprise, seemingly puzzled that such a spoiled brat would say such a thing.
Fu Mingzi instantly felt that Miss Yang really didn't know what she was talking about. Although he was a playboy, he was a playboy with principles. Wasn't it normal for him to say such things?
"What...do you mean?" Miss Yang looked at Fu Mingzi with a hesitant expression: "You should know that the marriage between our two families has been arranged. I know my parents better than you do. Unless I die, I will definitely marry into your family."
Seeing her pale face, Fu Mingzi felt a little sorry for her, and her anger subsided a bit. She sighed and said, "The solution I'm suggesting requires you to die so that we can both be free."
Upon hearing this, Miss Yang was initially furious, but then her expression softened as if she had figured something out. After pondering for a long time, she finally raised her head to look at Fu Mingzi with a complicated expression: "Are you really willing to do this? If I fake my death, I'm afraid your reputation won't be good either."
He'll probably get a reputation for being a jinx to his wives.
Fu Mingzi couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this: "I don't have any reputation left in the capital, so one more won't make a difference."
Miss Yang frowned, her expression growing increasingly complicated: "Why are you willing to help me?"
Her family drove her fiancé to his death, her mother threatened suicide to force her into a government household, and her father only saw her as a tool for a political marriage. Her surname was Yang, but the entire Yang family was forcing her to die.
From the day Li Lang died, she had lost all hope for this world. But today, a stranger, with whom she had no family or friends, was considering her needs from all sides and was even willing to damage her reputation to help her. It wasn't that she was suspicious; it was just that she was overwhelmed by such kindness.
"What reason could there be? I can't just watch you waste your youth. Besides, I also have someone I like," Fu Mingzi said with a smile, his smile completely free of any gloom, like the brightest sunrise in spring.
Miss Yang was so dazzled by his smile that she could hardly open her eyes. She suddenly felt that the people in the capital were really blind. Such a virtuous and upright person was called a playboy. She wondered if those hypocritical scoundrels could still feel at ease.
"I understand," Miss Yang finally said after a long silence.
She finally understood what Fu Mingzi meant. Since he had someone he loved, he certainly wouldn't want her to take his place as his legal wife. Therefore, what he said must be true. He really had no reason to lie to her, because if he simply refused the marriage, all that awaited her would be death. But since he was willing to think of her in this way, she had no reason to be ungrateful.
"I promise you," Miss Yang added, while also unable to help but think that since Fu Mingzi had someone she loved but dared not tell her family, that person must be extremely inappropriate. She wondered what would become of them in the future. If they could get together, and if it wouldn't end as tragically as her and Li Lang's relationship, that would be the best outcome.
"That's great." Fu Mingzi smiled with relief. Although she was 80% sure when she came, she still didn't dare to relax completely. Now that Miss Yang Liu has agreed, it couldn't be better.
"The detailed plan is all in this letter. Burn it after you read it." Fu Mingzi knew that time was tight and did not dare to explain everything in detail here, so she had prepared the letter in advance and handed it directly to Miss Yang.
Miss Yang gave him a deep look, once again impressed by his thoughtfulness, but said nothing more. She took the letter, stuffed it into her sleeve, and curtsied to Fu Mingzi: "In that case, I will take my leave. Please make yourself at home, sir."
Fu Mingzi nodded slightly and watched Miss Yang leave.
After everyone left, Fu Mingzi waved her hand, and the guards who had been standing guard all around returned to her side.
"You can leave now. Keep what happened today to yourselves. If you reveal even the slightest bit, you know what I'm capable of." Fu Mingzi said coldly, his face grim.
He and Miss Yang were speaking very softly, so these people shouldn't have been able to hear them. However, Fu Mingzi still had to threaten them a few times to prevent any mishaps.
These men were all loyal followers raised in the Duke's mansion, so naturally they wouldn't harbor any disloyalty and all silently agreed.
Fu Mingzi nodded, then waved his hand, and the people quickly retreated.
Once these people left, Fu Mingzi straightened his clothes, his usual carefree smile returning to his face. With a flick of his folding fan, he transformed back into the notorious playboy of the capital, and began to stroll leisurely through Huguo Temple.
He had a good plan. Since he was already here, and the scenery around Huguo Temple was quite nice, it wouldn't be a loss to take a stroll. However, he didn't expect that as soon as he left the main hall and was about to head to the back mountain, the guard he had sent ahead returned, looking anxious: "Fifth Master, something terrible has happened."
Fu Mingzi's heart skipped a beat. If it could make these guards so anxious, it must be related to the Duke's mansion. He couldn't help but ask sternly, "Young Master didn't pass?"
The guard was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly shook his head: "No, the young master did pass the imperial examination, but this time, someone accused him of cheating in the imperial examination, and those candidates beat the petition drum!"
Upon hearing the first half of the sentence, Fu Mingzi was initially delighted. However, upon hearing the second half, he did not feel as anxious as he had imagined. Instead, he felt a sense of relief. Heaven knows that he had been worried about the imperial examinations for the past few days, always wondering how these people would fight. Now it seems that they have indeed gone down the path of cheating in the examinations.
It should be known that cheating in the imperial examinations is a major case. Every time it happens, it shakes the officialdom at best, and leads to a massacre of people at worst. No one knows who is behind it, but this time it has really blown up the sky.
"Let's go back to the manor." Fu Mingzi's expression was somber; he had lost all interest in appreciating the scenery.
"Yes." The servants were all as quiet as chickens at this moment, not daring to say another word.
Fu Mingzi rode in a carriage all the way back to the Fu family. In fact, after entering the capital, he had already noticed the difference. The once bustling Zhuque Avenue now looked like some people were uneasy, and many people were whispering to each other as if they were discussing something. It was not until he reached the road in front of the Duke of Jingguo’s mansion that things became a little normal.
Upon entering the Duke's mansion, Fu Mingzi went straight to the old master's study, knowing that the old master and his elder brother would surely be there at this time.
Just as Fu Mingzi had expected, as soon as he reached the door, he saw his elder brother's attendant and Fu Zechen's page waiting outside.
"Fifth Master, you're finally back." The old steward greeted him, "The master and the eldest master sent me to look for you earlier, please come in quickly."
Fu Mingzi frowned, nodded, and stepped inside.
Upon entering the main hall of the study, the old master and Fu Mingsong were talking, while Fu Zechen sat at the bottom with his head down, looking obedient and well-behaved.
Fu Mingzi suddenly chuckled softly; it had been so many years since he had seen his nephew like this.
"You're back? Hurry up and come in!" The old man was the first to look at him: "What are you grinning about at the door for?"
Fu Mingzi quickly suppressed her smile and went into the study: "Father, elder brother."
"Have a seat." Fu Mingsong raised his hand. "Have you heard about what happened today?"
Fu Mingzi lowered his eyes and tapped his palm with his folding fan: "Of course I've heard. My nephew passed the imperial examination. It's naturally a great joy."
"Still fooling around at a time like this!" The old man was furious. "What kind of happy event is this with news of cheating!"
Fu Mingzi pursed his lips, revealing a hint of coldness: "When immortals fight, they can't let innocent people be implicated, can they? My nephew has studied hard for ten years and finally achieved academic success. Does His Majesty intend to strip him of his honors?"
The old man frowned: "What do you mean?"
Fu Mingzi's lips curled slightly, finally reverting to his previous frivolous demeanor: "It doesn't mean anything. It's none of our business anyway. Why should Master get involved with them?"
The old man frowned, looking very indignant: "I knew I shouldn't have let Zechen participate in this imperial examination. I knew something was wrong, but I didn't expect it to escalate to this extent. Now, more than a dozen candidates have gathered in front of the imperial gate, and the public is in an uproar. His Majesty will surely deal with this severely."
"How exactly did the cheating rumors come about?" Fu Mingzi couldn't help but ask.
The old man glanced at Fu Zechen and, seeing his calm expression, said, "It's because of an arrogant student who publicly declared that he would definitely pass the imperial examination this time. Someone with ulterior motives overheard this and then it blew up."
"Truly shameless." Fu Mingzi cursed with some disdain. It was just a boastful remark, but unexpectedly it ignited a fire in the capital. It can only be said that the arrogant scholar was unlucky.
“It’s not just that,” Fu Zechen suddenly spoke up. “Some people are also saying that someone under the chief examiner’s tutelage is selling exam questions. To me, that seems like a direct attack on the chief examiner.”
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