02 Humanity
“Father, the embroidered ball marriage proposal states that anyone who is unmarried and between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five can marry immediately, regardless of wealth or social status. Xiao Feng is of the right age and has no wife at home, so what’s wrong with that?”
"Li'er, don't interrupt. Father knows what he's doing."
"Father, Xiao Feng has already picked up the embroidered ball. I am a member of the Xiao family, both in life and in death. I will marry no one but him! If you insist on not marrying me, then..."
"Haha! What a fine saying, 'Born a member of the Xiao family, die a ghost of the Xiao family.' I've spoiled you for sixteen years just so you'd disobey me? Fine, very well!" The cold prime minister laughed angrily, "If you dare to step out the door with him even half a step, I'll pretend I don't have a daughter like you!"
Leng Qingli was stunned, staring in disbelief at her father who had always doted on her. She hadn't expected such a drastic turn of events. Tears welled in her eyes as she called out "Father" a few times, then turned to look at Xiao Feng, who stood alone at the door. Weighing her options, she knelt before Prime Minister Leng, weeping as she said:
"Father and Mother, please forgive your unfilial daughter for not being able to serve you by your side from now on. Please take good care of yourselves. I bid you farewell now!"
After kowtowing several times, Leng Qingli rose with tears in her eyes and followed Xiao Feng away.
"Halt! Do you dare to swear an oath by striking my hand three times?!"
Ignoring everyone's objections, Prime Minister Leng slowly raised his hand, looking at his daughter with a complex expression.
“Second Miss, please reconsider! Three slaps are no child's play. The Prime Minister cherishes you dearly. You need not do this for the sake of a mere man.” With a sigh, Xiao Feng suddenly spoke.
Leng Qingli did not reply, letting her tears fall, and raised her hand to clap three times.
"With one clap, Qing Li is no longer a member of the Leng family!"
"A second clap of the hands, and the bond between father and daughter is severed today!"
"Three claps, and we'll be strangers from now on!"
From then on, Leng Qingli followed Xiao Feng away from the Leng family and came to the slums where they now live. That very night, they got married, and because of a remark from Xiao Feng, she hid her medical skills and devoted herself to being a virtuous poor woman.
Bringing Leng Qingli back to reality with Sister Zhang's voice, Leng Qingli smiled.
"Like drinking water, only the person drinking knows whether it is hot or cold. There is no such thing as whether it is worth it or not, only whether you are willing or not. Feelings are inherently a matter of mutual consent, and there is no right or wrong. Since you have chosen to believe, then believe firmly."
"I've lived a few more years, yet I'm not as insightful as my sister. The results will be released in another month, and I'm sure my brother-in-law will be at the top. Then my sister's suffering will finally come to an end!"
The two chatted and laughed for a while longer. Sister Zhang warmly invited Leng Qingli to stay for dinner, but she smiled and said she had work to do later and hurriedly left.
A month passed in the blink of an eye. At the notice board in the examination hall where the results were posted, many students craned their necks, filled with both excitement and anxiety. They were excited because decades of diligent study had finally come to an end, and anxious because they wondered if they would be able to pass with flying colors. Time slowly slipped away as everyone waited anxiously. Perhaps because of their anxiety, many students were already showing impatience, whispering among themselves, some even arguing heatedly.
Finally, a palace palanquin appeared in the distance, belatedly arriving. A eunuch in a blue palace robe stepped out; he was presumably the one delivering the imperial edict. The eunuch stood beside the notice board, and instantly, complete silence fell. Only the eunuch's high-pitched voice could be heard reading the imperial edict:
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The results of the 56th Imperial Examination of the Hanxuan Dynasty are now being released. A total of 120 successful candidates will participate in the Palace Examination three days later. This is the imperial decree. Thank you for your grace!"
After the imperial decree was read aloud, the eunuch who delivered the decree posted the list on the notice board and then left.
Seeing that their father-in-law had left, everyone rushed forward, pushing and shoving, each refusing to give way, their hearts pounding with anxiety as they eagerly stared at the list, hoping to find their own names.
On the day the results are announced, there will inevitably be joy and sorrow. As the saying goes, once you pass the Dragon Gate, your status will increase many times over. Those who are on the list are so excited that they can hardly speak, while those who fail are either dejected and cursing, or they regroup and prepare to try again in three years!
Xiao Feng pushed his way through the crowd and finally reached the list. When he saw his name was first on the list, he beamed with pride. Back home, he excitedly told Leng Qingli the news, and she giggled and praised him:
"My husband is the best! Keep up the good work in the palace examination. If you can get first place in the palace examination, then you will be in the limelight!"
For three days, Xiao Feng studied day and night, while Leng Qingli thoughtfully stayed by his side, bringing him snacks and a cloak as needed to prevent him from getting hungry or cold.
Finally, the palace examination arrived. One hundred and twenty candidates sat down in order, and as soon as the questions were set out, the sound of pens flying across the paper could be heard.
An hour passed in the blink of an eye. Those who hadn't finished writing were forced to stop, their faces full of worry. Those who had finished were anxious, awaiting the judgment of fate.
By evening, the examination papers had been reviewed, and the top three scholars had been appointed by the Emperor: Xiao Feng, the top scholar; Liu Yu, the second-ranked scholar; and Li Kui, the third-ranked scholar.
The Emperor decreed that a banquet be held in the Imperial Garden to welcome the top three graduates and all the other successful candidates in the imperial examinations. The banquet was to be a night of revelry.
Time flies like water, and before they knew it, three months had passed, and autumn had given way to spring. Leng Qingli was four months pregnant, and her belly was slightly protruding. Xiao Feng, on the other hand, had been unemployed since the imperial examination. The second and third place winners of the same examination had already taken up their posts, and even the other successful candidates had been assigned jobs. Only he, despite having the title of the top scholar, had no real position.
Xiao Feng thought to himself: If he wanted to rise above others and become a high-ranking official, he needed connections in the court. He originally thought that getting close to the daughter of the prime minister would be like a fish leaping over the dragon gate. However, for the past three years, that old scoundrel has completely ignored him and left his daughter to fend for herself. Despite his many schemes, he ended up with nothing. He couldn't accept this and felt that she was worthless. From then on, he was drunk every day and became more and more irritable, even somewhat unreasonable. He would curse the maids and servants if he was slightly dissatisfied.
When he overheard in the tavern that the Grand Commandant's daughter was having a matchmaker choose a husband, his scheming mind started working again. Since the old scoundrel wasn't interested, he had to find another way, and the Grand Commandant's daughter's marriage proposal was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He secretly bribed the guards at the Grand Commandant's mansion to find out where the Grand Commandant's daughter frequented, and then staked out those places at specific times, pretending to bump into her by chance. Gradually, after several encounters, the Grand Commandant's daughter believed in fate, and the two slowly became acquainted.
One day, he told the Grand Commandant's daughter that he truly loved her, but he was unworthy of her because he was already married. Although it was out of necessity, it was a fait accompli. He asked for nothing more than to silently protect her until she found her own happiness. His sincere words deeply moved the Grand Commandant's daughter, and they began to see each other.
During their time together, Xiao Feng was incredibly attentive and romantic, captivating her completely. Perhaps women are just foolishly easily satisfied; in their deep affection, they always believed love could last forever, thus ignoring the fact that in such a feudal era, unmarried relationships were considered shameful. She foolishly gave him her precious first time. Perhaps, for her, she would never have dared to do this unless she considered him her lifelong partner.
Time flies, and several months have passed in the blink of an eye. Leng Qingli is about to give birth, but the Grand Commandant's daughter suddenly feels unwell and suspects that she is pregnant.
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