Chapter 80: The Examination Ends

Chapter 80: The Examination Ends

Lin Yingxue first felt the burning gaze and turned her head to see Xie Jingzhi.

Lin Baozhen, over time, had not noticed any change in Xie Jingzhi, but Lin Yingxue saw a Xie Jingzhi who was entirely different from before.

The youthful vigor had worn off, and Xie Jingzhi now carried an air of weariness and decline.

Moreover, having fallen into self-abandonment, Xie Jingzhi hadn't even bothered to shave his beard or trim his sideburns, exuding a disheveled appearance.

Why had Xie Jingzhi changed so much? The reason was simple.

Wei Wuhou Xie Yuan, backed by Concubine Chen, failed to enter the Ministry of War on his first attempt but succeeded in joining the Ministry of Justice on his second try, becoming its Minister.

With power in his hands, he was busy during the day at court and busy with Lin Baozhen at night, his second priority being to have his own child.

What good could come of Xie Jingzhi, who was only adopted? Under the direction of the old lady and Lord Xie, the entire Weiwu Marquis Mansion began to suppress him, intentionally or unintentionally.

Xie Jingzhi often heard whispers around the mansion:

"When will the eldest son's endless preparation for exams end? It would be better to buy an official position; it would count as establishing a career."

"I agree. Do you know last year's top scholar in our capital city? They say he couldn't pass the exams for a long time and talked about buying an official position. Our mansion's eldest son should do the same. Otherwise, what will happen when the young lord is born? Will he really keep taking exams until he's old like in those stories?"

"I wonder if the eldest son isn't suited for studying because of all the flattery due to his status as the heir?"

"Think about it, he's been living in luxury for so long that he's forgotten that our Lord hasn't officially named him the heir. He's just the eldest son. The heir will naturally depend on our lady's womb. With how much Lord loves her, once she gives birth to a boy, he'll surely request the title early."

"The eldest son should be more balanced. If the lady really gives birth to a young lord, he shouldn't have bad thoughts. After all, the old lady and Lord treat him well. Not to mention the lady herself treats him well too. If he has ill intentions, he'd be an ungrateful person."

"Don't worry, the old lady and Lord will protect the lady well. The eldest son shouldn't have any inappropriate thoughts."

The old lady and Wei Wuhou often sighed beside Xie Jingzhi, lamenting how the once proud and admired Lord Xie had vanished, leaving behind only the eldest son adopted from a poor branch of the family.

Xie Jingzhi even began to doubt himself. Born into poverty, he was brought to the Weiwu Marquis Mansion and led a life of luxury, but in reality, he was penniless.

Pressed down, Xie Jingzhi could only find warmth with Lin Baozhen, who treated him as she always had.

Xie Jingzhi withdrew his gaze from Lin Yingxue and smiled at Lin Baozhen, "Back then, Jingzhi was young and mistook fish eyes for pearls. And I missed out on a true gem."

Lin Baozhen's heart raced. Her name contained the character 'bao' (treasure), and with Xie Jingzhi's current gaze, tender and clinging, tinged with hidden sorrow, was it because they had both missed out?

Lin Baozhen looked back at Lin Yingxue, seeing that Xie Jingzhi had already withdrawn his gaze, his eyes now full of her, while Lin Yingxue still stared at Xie Jingzhi.

Feeling a surge of pride, Lin Baozhen couldn't help but step forward, approaching Lin Yingxue, "Second sister, why can't you take your eyes off my eldest son?"

Lin Yingxue raised her eyes, beginning to suspect that her elder sister might have some mental issues.

If Xie Jingzhi had been like this from the beginning, even Lin Baozhen herself wouldn't have looked twice at him. Back then, she refused to have anything to do with Xie Jingzhi. Why does Lin Baozhen now feel regret?

Lin Yingxue said tactfully, "I am living well now. Why would I be unable to look away from your esteemed household's eldest son?"

Fu Wanan glanced at the approaching Xie Jingzhi and quickly turned her gaze away.

Lin Baozhen's eyes flickered, "Who knows? I was thinking that perhaps Second Sister regrets it. After all, everyone knows our Marquis Manor is at its peak, and Jingzhi is the heir. It's only natural for Second Sister to regret it."

Lin Yingxue's eye twitched; she truly felt that her elder sister's mind and eyes were both problematic.

Lin Yingxue spoke sincerely, "Elder Sister, take a good look at him. Even I, an outsider, know he isn't the heir. The heir is in Elder Sister's belly. How can Xie Gongzi compare to his appearance last year?"

"You're talking nonsense!"

Lin Baozhen looked into Xie Jingzhi's eyes, finding them as they always were, except for the absence of his former arrogance. These eyes could finally see her.

Lin Yingxue pulled Fu Wanan's hand, and Fu Wanan huffed at Lin Baozhen, "My sister-in-law is doing just fine. Why would she regret anything! It's you who has been looking at Xie Gongzi all along! It's you who regrets it!"

Lin Baozhen, feeling she had become a proper wife of Wei Wuhou after marrying Xie Yuan, was startled and somewhat frightened by Fu Wanan's words, which revealed her true thoughts.

Lin Baozhen took a step back, "You, you're talking nonsense!"

Seeing Lin Baozhen's reaction, Fu Wanan found it quite amusing. She leaned forward, making Lin Baozhen lean back, then pursed her lips and ran away.

Fu Wanan, who disliked Lin Baozhen, clapped her hands and said to her sister-in-law, "She's gone."

Lin Yingxue looked at Fu Wanan with a slight smile, "Let's go back."

/

After returning, Lin Baozhen pulled Chang Yan over, closed the doors and windows, and solemnly asked, "Do you think I've lost my composure with Eldest Son?"

During the New Year, the old lady had given Lin Baozhen a few more reminders, and now she referred to Xie Jingzhi as Eldest Son.

"No," Chang Yan said matter-of-factly, since the Eldest Son now had a scruffy beard and sometimes looked less spirited than Lord Marquis, who genuinely cared for their young mistress.

"Lord Marquis treats Miss so well. Even when he's busy at the Ministry of Justice, he brings back delicious treats to please Miss. And despite his high status, after visiting the temple, he actually dismissed all his concubines."

At the time, Lin Baozhen was ill with a cold and bedridden, so Chang Yan went to oversee the dismissal of the concubines.

The beautiful concubines cried bitterly, pleading, "Lord Marquis, please consider our past relationship. I can still bear children."

"Please, Lord Marquis, show mercy and give me a way out. I beg you, Lord Marquis, if I return home like this, my family won't accept me."

"Chang Yan, please, help us plead with Lady Marquis, will you?"

At the time, Chang Yan was startled and involuntarily took a step back. Xie Yuan gagged the concubines and dragged them away.

Xie Yuan said to Chang Yan, "Were you frightened by their words? Don't worry, I've made proper arrangements for them. All three have been released from their indentures. Two returned to their original families, one as the main wife."

What Xie Yuan didn't say was that one of the women was a wife sold by her gambling-addicted husband, now too old to avoid being resold to another family, far worse than her current situation; another had a harsh sister-in-law who would sell her; and the third had followed a eunuch, Liu Gonggong, who was indeed the main wife but lived a harsh life due to the eunuch's violent nature.

After Chang Yan returned, she told Lin Baozhen about the incident and whispered that they had cried quite pitifully.

"The life in the Marquis's mansion is so good; it's natural for them to be sad after being demoted to concubines," Lin Baozhen said indifferently. "I'll just mention it to Lord Marquis and give them some silver."

Chang Yan put the matter aside, and Lin Baozhen, who had promised to give them silver, eventually forgot about it. It wasn't until Chang Yan brought it up again that Lin Baozhen remembered she had forgotten to give the concubines their silver.

"Forget it, not giving means not giving," Lin Baozhen muttered.

Chang Yan couldn't help but ask, "What didn't you give?"

"It's nothing important," Lin Baozhen replied. After saying this, she heard a rumble of thunder and felt puzzled—how could there be thunder in the middle of winter?

Lin Yingxue's voice was low, and Chang Yan didn't hear clearly, but she heard Fu Wanan's words clearly, "Miss, don't mind that Fu family's miss, she's just a fool."

Lin Baozhen nodded.

Lin Baozhen ignored Fu Wanan's words and, over the next few days, kept thinking about what Lin Yingxue had said.

As Chang Yan said, Lord Marquis treated her so well, how could she regret it? Instead, Xie Jingzhi truly seemed destitute and wretched?

From that day on, Xie Jingzhi began to pay more attention to his appearance, shaving off his beard and sideburns. Apart from the lingering sadness in his eyes, he looked much like his former self, which made Lin Baozhen feel that the eldest son hadn't changed at all.

Lin Baozhen suppressed Lin Yingxue's words, but deep down, she always felt uneasy, vowing never to speak to Lin Yingxue again.

She looked forward to the exams ending quickly, hoping that once Fu Jiaze's results were out, the Third Prince could orchestrate things to have both of them expelled from the capital city!

/

When Fu Jiaze took the spring examination, Pei Jin did not see him off to avoid putting too much pressure on his disciple. But when it was time for him to leave the examination hall, Pei Jin arrived early to wait.

Pei Jin looked at the brown gate, and his daughter tugged at his sleeve, "Over there."

Pei Jin looked over and saw Wen Hui talking to Lin Yingxue.

Wen Hui wanted to say something simple to her daughter. She had read through the "Shan He Zhi" (The Record of Mountains and Rivers) she received before the New Year and found it excellent. Pei Jin had mentioned in his letter that he hoped Wen Hui would provide more suggestions for improvement so the book could sell better. Wen Hui wanted to ask her daughter for her opinion.

Lin Yingxue was a bit confused at the moment. Her husband had never kept anything from her, and Fu Jiaze did not have any "Shan He Zhi" in his possession, nor had Lin Yingxue ever seen it.

"Perhaps because your son-in-law is taking the exam, he hasn't read this book."

Lin Yingxue felt it wasn't quite right, but she nodded in agreement. Just then, she saw Pei Jin and Pei Qinghe.

Pei Qinghe looked at Wen Hui, who listened with a smile as she spoke. Pei Jin's gaze appeared to be focused on Pei Qinghe, but in reality, it was on Wen Hui.

His gaze was like the first gentle rain of spring, fine as silk, nourishing without a sound. If Lin Yingxue hadn't been paying close attention, she might not have noticed the subtle emotions in his eyes.

When her brow was gently tapped, Lin Yingxue still stared blankly at the newcomer, not coming back to her senses.

Fu Jiaze chuckled and leaned in, "My lady, I thought you were here to welcome me, but it turns out you were standing at the entrance of the examination hall, lost in thought."