The one who feels the most heartache for his daughter is the father. After thinking it over, Zhong Da Yuanwai came up with this sudden plan on the spot. He wanted the future son in law to take the initiative to come to the door himself.
It carried a hint of final stubbornness.
Madam Zhong, Wen Jianhui, was not very pleased. Her daughter was already quite old. It had not been easy to finally get the son in law they had been waiting for. They had even brought the person over. Yet they were still putting on airs at their own doorstep. Was this not like taking off trousers to fart, completely unnecessary?
So before Yu Qing took the initiative to walk through the Zhong family gate, the husband and wife both felt their hearts hanging in suspense. They feared running into a hot headed young man. Young people tend to be impulsive. If they left him hanging like this and he simply turned and left without entering the door, what could they do? Asking him to come back again would be like slapping their own faces.
This was also the part that Wen Jianhui was most dissatisfied with. She had questioned Zhong Su about it repeatedly.
Zhong Su said it would not come to that. The son raised by that old gentleman would not be so lacking in manners.
In truth he did not feel entirely confident in his heart.
Now that they heard Yu Qing had taken the initiative to come to the door, the husband and wife finally felt relieved.
Such a good matter had to be made so tense. No wonder Wen Jianhui glared at her husband.
Before long, Steward Li brought Yu Qing over. The husband and wife sitting in the main hall immediately sat up straight and began sizing Yu Qing up. It was the kind of look that missed nothing, from the strands of hair on his head to the soles of his shoes.
“This is the master and the madam.” After introducing the Zhong couple, Steward Li stepped back to one side.
Yu Qing felt a bit numb on his scalp from the gaze of the two seated people. He respectfully saluted and said, “This junior, Ah Shiheng, pays respects to uncle and aunt.”
This form of address was proper and standard. The Zhong couple exchanged a glance and felt something was missing.
“No need for excessive courtesy. Sit down.” Zhong Su gestured with his hand toward a seat on the side.
Yu Qing thanked him, removed the sword at his waist, and sat down. His manner was orderly and followed the rules.
Servants brought tea. Yu Qing nodded and thanked them again.
The Zhong couple continued to look Yu Qing up and down. They found that the young man looked rather decent. His spirit and energy were quite good. He was not like an ordinary peddler or laborer. At least in appearance there was nothing to pick fault with. Wen Jianhui secretly nodded in approval.
Zhong Su did not mention the matter of Yu Qing sneaking around outside the Zhong residence. He raised his hand to indicate height. “When you left the capital that year, you were only this tall. Although you are a bit older than Ruochen, at that time Ruochen was still a little taller than you. In the blink of an eye, we have grown old and you have become a fine young man.” As he spoke he looked toward his wife.
Wen Jianhui smiled kindly and nodded. “Yes, time really passes quickly. In the blink of an eye we have grown old and the young people have all grown up.”
Yu Qing said politely, “Uncle and aunt are in the prime of life. You do not look old at all.”
Zhong Su waved his hand to indicate that the praise was exaggerated. He continued asking questions in the usual way. “Since parting in the capital, we have not seen your parents again. Are your parents in good health?”
“…” Yu Qing fell silent. He subconsciously glanced at Du Fei and Li Fangchang.
Zhong Su noticed that he seemed to have concerns. He smiled and said, “They are Li Fangchang and Du Fei. They are the people your father arranged for me back then. Your father should have told you about them. They are now the steward and the head of the guards of the Zhong residence. You may speak freely about matters between our two families in front of them.”
Yu Qing felt startled inside. The steward and head of the guards of the Zhong residence were both people of Ah Jiezhang? Ah Shiheng had never mentioned this to him.
Yu Qing paused for a moment, then said slowly, “Father passed away last year. Mother, elder brother, and sisters all met with disaster on the journey when we left the capital that year.”
“What?” Zhong Su suddenly stood up, greatly alarmed. He and Du Fei and Li Fangchang spoke in unison.
Wen Jianhui was stunned with her eyes wide open, finding it hard to believe.
Du Fei had already walked around to face Yu Qing. He said in a deep voice, “What nonsense are you talking?”
Yu Qing also stood up and continued speaking slowly, “That year the whole family was demoted and left the capital. On the way we encountered a group of masked men who ambushed and killed us. Mother and the elder brothers died tragically on the spot. The killers intended to wipe out everyone. They did not even spare the accompanying guards and servants. Father took several slashes while protecting me and ended up with a lifelong disability. Fortunately the backup personnel that father had arranged in advance arrived. Only then did father and I manage to survive…”
He recounted the tragic past in detail, all the way until Ah Jiezhang felt that his days were numbered and began to let him formally participate in the imperial examinations.
Everyone present was shocked into complete silence. The Zhong couple were especially stunned. They had never imagined that the former esteemed Minister of the Ministry of Revenue had spent all these years sitting in a wheelchair in a mountain village. It was simply hard to imagine.
Li Fangchang and Du Fei showed expressions of grief. In the end it was Du Fei who broke the silence. He asked in a pained voice, “Who were the killers?”
Yu Qing shook his head. “I do not know. I suspect they were people from the imperial court.”
Zhong Su’s expression turned grave. “Although your father was demoted and left the capital that year, the guard force around him was by no means weak. Those who had the strength to wipe out your father and his group would certainly not be simple. Your father’s situation back then was very complicated. It is not easy to guess who the killers were. Some words you can say here, but outside you must never speak recklessly.” He let out a sigh. “No wonder Lord Ah has never revealed his hiding place all these years and only occasionally sent anonymous messages. It turns out such a tragic incident happened back then.”
Anyone with sense could understand. He had gone into complete hiding, so as not to endanger himself or implicate others.
They also understood why this father had not sent a message in time when his son came to the capital for the examinations. The son had not even passed the provincial examination when his father had already died.
Yu Qing could not help asking the doubt in his own mind. “How did you know I had come to the capital?”
Zhong Su glanced at Du Fei.
Du Fei, whose face was full of grief, did not hide it from him. “The noodle stall. It is an informant arranged by the Zhong residence on the outskirts. Every year it encounters a few like you.”
Last night… Yu Qing felt choked. He had not expected to be caught by an unremarkable little noodle stall. He had thought his little tricks were quite clever, yet he had underestimated the capabilities of a great household. This lesson truly taught him a lasting memory. If the ones who had acted this time had not been the Zhong family, he feared he would not even know how he died. Thinking about it made him feel lingering fear…
In front of the dressing table, Zhong Ruochen looked at herself in the mirror. She felt an indescribable nervousness and unease.
Before this she could still suspect that her younger sister was lying. Now her mother had personally confirmed that she indeed had a fiance. Moreover he would come to the door today.
The key point was that her mother said it was her father’s intention. Since the other party had already come, the matter of completing their marriage would be put on the agenda. Probably after the metropolitan examination in the capital they would have the young couple get married.
This matter had come so suddenly. Her heart was in complete turmoil.
She did not know what her fiance looked like. She did not know whether her own appearance would satisfy him. Her heart was truly filled with all kinds of apprehension.
Just then the maid dressed Wen Ruwei pushed the door open and barged straight in. She ran over excitedly, leaned over her elder sister’s shoulder, and whispered in her ear, “Sister, I saw him. I really saw him. Sister, do you want to know what brother in law looks like? Give me a reward and I will tell you.”
Zhong Ruochen spat out, “I do not want to know.”
“Oh, as if you do not want to know.” Wen Ruwei had wanted to hold it in, but her personality really could not keep quiet about such a thing. She could not help blurting it out herself. “Fine, the reward can be owed first. Who told me to be your younger sister? Sister, I saw him. Brother in law is slim and lean. He looks very spirited, the kind with a heroic air. And he is rather handsome. Sister, these years you have not waited in vain. Father and mother still have good taste. Someone who can pass the provincial examination must also have literary talent. Sister, this time you have really picked up a great bargain!”
Although Zhong Ruochen said with her mouth that she did not want to know, in reality she had pricked up her ears and listened carefully. Her heart pounded wildly like a startled deer. Her cheeks flushed with a charming red. There was a trace of sweet happiness. Her eyes, full of tender affection, looked at herself in the mirror. She became even more worried about whether her future husband would like her appearance…
In the Cao residence, in a small courtyard in one corner of the large mansion, Xu Fei was directing the Cao family servants with gestures, telling them what things needed to be prepared.
The Cao residence was his own maternal uncle’s home. When he arrived yesterday it had already been too late for temporary preparations. Besides, some things could not be prepared in advance. They needed his own opinion.
Staying in the capital was not for a day or two. There was still nearly a month until the examination. This one month of preparation time was very important. All the things to be prepared had to be mainly according to Xu Fei’s wishes. Whatever Xu Fei felt was comfortable, that was how it should be arranged. It must not affect his preparation for the examination. This was currently a major matter for the Cao residence, and it had been personally instructed by the family head.
A sturdy man walked over from outside the courtyard. He wore splendid brocade clothes, had short whiskers, and carried a majestic bearing. He actually bore some resemblance to Xu Fei. He was precisely Xu Fei’s maternal uncle, Cao Xinggong. The saying that a nephew often resembles his maternal uncle was perfectly shown in the two of them.
The busy servants immediately stopped and all bowed respectfully toward him. “Master!”
Xu Fei, who had been gesturing, turned around. His face immediately filled with joy. He quickly walked over, cupped his hands in greeting and said, “Uncle, you have finally returned. Your nephew Xu Fei pays respects to uncle!”
Cao Xinggong said, “Mm, I just got back. Yesterday I was unable to give you a welcome reception. I really had matters I could not get away from. Do not take it to heart. I will make it up to you today.”
Xu Fei said excitedly, “I will not. Seeing uncle makes me so happy I can hardly contain it.”
Cao Xinggong patted his shoulder and pinched it. “We have not seen each other for three or four years. You have grown so big. I almost did not recognise you.”
Xu Fei said, “Uncle’s appearance has not changed much. Your nephew recognised you with one glance.”
Cao Xinggong pinched his shoulder and shook it, quiteæ„Ÿæ…¨. “Who would have thought that the little snot nosed wild bull from back then has also passed the provincial examination. Even I in the capital have heard the great name of ‘Hengqiu Xu Fei’. When I first heard it I thought it was someone with the same name. Only after confirming it did I dare to believe it! Uncle also gains face from this. I praise ‘Hengqiu Xu Fei’ to everyone as my nephew!”
Xu Fei looked around at the servants and said awkwardly, “It was only by luck. I have made uncle lose face.”
“You cannot say it like that.” Cao Xinggong waved his hand. Whether he intended it for the servants to hear or not, he said loudly, “Previously when I received the letter from your family saying you had passed the provincial examination, I was also surprised. I agreed with what your family said and thought it was luck. Afterwards you used quick intelligence to suppress all the provincial examination candidates in Liezhou and took first place. Even a regional governor sang your name loudly… Once could still be called luck. But two times in succession means it is not merely luck. There must still be real ability. So you do not need to be overly modest.”
Very well. Xu Fei gave an awkward smile. In front of outsiders it was not good to speak the truth.
Cao Xinggong looked left and right, waved his hand and said, “All of you withdraw.”
So the group of servants all left the courtyard.
With no outsiders left, Cao Xinggong raised his chin and indicated, “Let us go to your study and have a look.”
Xu Fei did not know what he meant and led him there.