Chapter 59: A Genius by Her Side

Chapter 59: A Genius by Her Side

Startled, she jumped off Xie Yan's back, and he saw through her act.

Qi Rui turned her head away, "If Grandma can't do it right, then don't get in my way."

...

The sky showed a faint blue, with a hint of dawn breaking through.

Lu Mingchao, who had slept dreamlessly all night, opened her sleepy eyes and, by the pale light, glanced at Xie Yan lying beside her.

She couldn't help but think how lucky she was to have a big warm furnace by her side on a cold winter night.

Since it was still early, she decided to cuddle with the big warm furnace and sleep a little longer.

Without a second thought, Lu Mingchao leaned closer to Xie Yan, instantly placing her hand on his slim waist.

Unfortunately, the touch through the undergarment wasn't as satisfying.

Her husband.

What's the harm in touching, hugging, and leaning on him!

It's only natural for her husband to be her protector!

The moment her arm rested on his waist, Xie Yan jolted awake, his muscles instinctively tensing.

Half-asleep, Lu Mingchao patted Xie Yan and mumbled, "A Yan, be good, relax, sleep a bit more."

Xie Yan: ...

He couldn't relax any further.

It felt like a small flame was coursing through his limbs, and he didn't dare move.

Xie Yan never fell back asleep.

He lay there with his eyes open, watching the room gradually brighten until the sun filled it with a dazzling light.

It seemed like today would be a good day.

Xie Yan got up quietly and dressed, looking back at the person sleeping soundly. Her black hair was as dense as ink, casually spread out, making her small face appear as warm and translucent as white jade.

Mingchao was truly beautiful.

He had originally thought that what attracted him most was Mingchao's sharpness, but now it seemed that every aspect of her attracted him.

Her beauty had become the least of her virtues.

As the sun rose to mid-sky, Lu Mingchao stretched contentedly.

To the city!

She still had to go to the city!

Lu Mingchao quickly got up, washed, changed, and opened the door to find Xie Yan wielding a long dry branch with great vigor.

Xie Yan's swordsmanship must be very good.

Before the calamity that wiped out his clan, Xie Yan was originally a straightforward and pure young general, always dressed to impress.

Once Xie Yan finished his routine, Lu Mingchao slowly spoke, her voice bright and crisp, "Is there anything A Yan doesn’t know how to do?"

Xie Yan has a pleasing face, appearing cold and fierce at first glance, but in interactions, he is considerate, gentle, and somewhat innocent, with top-notch swordsmanship. She really struck gold.

Totally smitten.

She’s fair-skinned, and her thoughts are just as light.

Xie Yan placed the dry branch aside and turned back, "I trained in it when I was younger."

"Do you know any martial arts?" Lu Mingchao leaned against the doorframe, smiling as she asked.

"A little."

"How about teaching me a few moves sometime?"

Once she learns, she’ll be more intimidating with a kitchen knife and able to protect herself when needed.

"Okay."

After a quick breakfast, it was time for the wooden cart to come in handy again.

Pushing the prepared warm clothes and bedding, they took Huaiqian and a few others back to her parents' home.

As soon as Yunniang heard that Lu Mingchao was going to the city, she shoved money into her hands without a second thought, urging her to buy some things she liked.

Even Lu Yao handed over a pouch to Lu Mingchao before she left.

Lu Mingchao raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled.

Lu Yao's expression was cool, "I earned it by copying books and writing poems for others."

"Take it."

"Renting a shop and contacting grain farmers all require money. Don't refuse, and don't think it's too little."

The pouch was light, likely filled with banknotes.

Lu Mingchao did not refuse Lu Yao's kindness, "I don't think it's too little."

"Second brother, consider it your share in the business."

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Lu Yao's eyes, and he waved his hand, "Once given to you, it's yours."

"Go early and return early."

"If you go to the village entrance now, you can still catch the donkey cart."

Lu Mingchao smiled and agreed.

"Thank you, second brother."

Xie Yan bowed his head, "Thank you, second brother."

Lu Yao waved his sleeve to bid farewell, then returned to his room to continue studying.

Lu Mingchao opened the pouch, inside were two fifty-tael and three ten-tael banknotes.

Lu Mingchao: !!!

One hundred and thirty taels!

Is Lu Yao's stash of money too hefty?

No wonder, after they had an open and honest conversation, she felt confident enough to reject the marriage contract with Xie Yan.

"Is there really a treasure trove in the books Second Brother copied?"

Xie Yan sighed, "Most copyists are scholars in financial straits, earning a living by transcribing classics. The work is mentally draining, and the pay is quite modest."

"Hardly anyone gets rich from copying books; it's just enough to scrape by."

"Lu Mingchao, you don't know, but Second Brother has gained quite a reputation in the scholar circles of Changhe County over the past two years. His writings are richly adorned yet not overdone, radiating a fresh and elegant charm. His parallelism, antithesis, rhythm, and language are all exquisite, and he is highly sought after."

"Most of the taels he's saved likely come from attending banquets and composing."

"If Lu Miao hadn't delayed his provincial exam, he'd already be Daqian's most dashing and successful top scholar."

"It's incredibly rare in Daqian for scholars under twenty to pass the imperial exam. Once they achieve fame, many high-ranking officials and nobles seek to win them over."

"Lu Miao derailed his smooth rise, forcing him to lay low for three years until the next autumn provincial exam."

Lu Mingchao's eyes sparkled with admiration for Lu Yao, her respect boundless.

Knowing that Lu Yao had eight hundred tricks up his sleeve, she had guessed he had a genius's talent, but she never expected it to be so astonishingly brilliant.

Lu Miao is really something else!

"How do you know all this so clearly?" Lu Mingchao put the purse into her space supermarket, asking with some curiosity.

"After being forced into the betrothal with Lu Miao, I made a point to gather information," Xie Yan admitted.

"Lu Yao was born to eat the scholar's rice."

Lu Mingchao: So, a genius has been by her side all along.

"Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and blessings may hide misfortune; it's not necessarily all bad."

"By the way, what's the deal with the rumors about you and Lu Miao's intimate relationship?" Lu Mingchao asked with great interest.

Xie Yan's face darkened, and his entire demeanor instantly turned cold.

He had never met a woman as shameless and unscrupulous as Lu Miao.

Qi Rui paled in comparison.

Lu Mingchao poked Xie Yan's arm, looking up and waiting for an answer.

Xie Yan sighed helplessly, "Lu Miao was alone in the mountains and stepped into a trap. I happened to cut the rope and save her."

"Ever since then, she's been going on about repaying the life-saving debt with her body."

Lu Mingchao wagged her finger mischievously, "Haven’t you read the tales? If the hero’s handsome, it’s a life-saving favor, and the maiden can only repay it by marrying him."

"If the hero isn't good-looking, it becomes a life-saving grace, and the maiden has no way to repay it except by serving as an ox or horse in the next life."

"Clearly, A Yan is a good-looking hero."

Xie Yan's expression grew even darker.

He didn’t find this praiseworthy at all.

He had helped out of respect for life, but the other party wanted to bite the hand that fed them.

If this kept up, people like him wouldn’t dare to help others so easily anymore. Despite their good intentions, they’d just end up in hot water.

"I’ll go check it out."