Chapter 134: The Mad Scholar

Chapter 134: The Mad Scholar

The Yuan family's relatives were hauled off to the Provincial Judicial Commissioner's Office, which terrified them, and they at least wouldn’t dare to harass Yuan Jia and Yuan Ruo in the near future.

However, as long as Yuan Jia and Yuan Ruo remained in Xiangping Prefecture, it would be difficult to escape these nuisances. Motivated by greed, they would constantly come up with various "family ties" to cause trouble.

Qiu Huanian and his family were preparing to move to the capital, and they would be too distant to oversee what happened in Xiangping Prefecture.

Qiu Huanian thought for a moment and invited Yuan Jia over for a conversation.

"What are your plans for the future, Miss Yuan?"

Yuan Jia had already pulled herself together and said to Qiu Huanian, "I have money my parents left me, and I’ve saved some over the years. It’s enough to raise Ruo'er. Xiangping Prefecture is too easy for those people to find us, so I want to take Ruo'er far away and live somewhere else."

"Have you decided on a place, Miss Yuan?"

A trace of bitterness flashed across Yuan Jia's face, "Like a leaf in the wind, wherever it takes us, that will be our home."

Qiu Huanian nodded and offered, "Why not come with us to the capital?"

"What?" Yuan Jia was momentarily taken aback.

Qiu Huanian explained, "I’m planning to open a new Qiu's Six Staples shop in the capital, and I’ll be testing different crops on the estate. I might also branch out into other ventures, and I need trustworthy people to help."

"Miss Yuan, you are intelligent, literate, and skilled in mathematics. Moreover, you have an established connection with our family, making you the perfect fit."

"Since you haven’t decided where to go, why not come with me to the capital and help out? Yuan Ruo is still young, and it’s not safe for a young woman to care for a child on your own."

This was indeed a good opportunity. Yuan Jia trusted Qiu Huanian's character and was confident in her ability to handle the work he mentioned.

A look of relief and joy flashed across her face as she said, "Thank you, Lord Qiu, for giving us a place to stay."

Qiu Huanian smiled, "Don’t mention it. It’s your own capability."

Having secured a valuable team member, Qiu Huanian was in a good mood.

"You can stay here for the next few days. If there’s anything left to pack or any relatives you want to visit, you can do so. Jin San will accompany you for safety. Once we return from Du Village, we’ll all set off for the capital together."

For this trip back home, the Personnel Ministry had only approved a one-month leave, and the journey itself would take nearly twenty days. Qiu Huanian didn’t dare to delay, so the next day he organized the carriages to return to Du Village.

Meng Yuanling had recently returned home with Yun Cheng, who was on leave from Qingfeng Academy, so he wouldn’t be going back this time. Yun Cheng was about to take the academy exam in a month, and he couldn’t afford to waste any time.

There were still three carriages: one for Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse, one for Jiu Jiu and Chun Sheng, and one for luggage and the servants who weren’t driving.

The carriages were spacious and cushioned, and the horses were upgraded to finer breeds, increasing the speed by about thirty to forty percent. Besides the luggage for the family’s daily needs, Qiu Huanian also brought many local goods from the capital to give to acquaintances upon returning to the village.

The primary task for this trip back to Du Village was for the Number One Scholar to honor his ancestors. Additionally, Qiu Huanian wanted to reconnect with old friends and relatives and check on the progress of the clan school.

After all, he had been sending funds and books to Liao Cang every month, and he couldn’t let the results be sloppy!

As the carriages left Xiangping Prefecture and headed toward Du Village along the official road, they attracted a lot of attention. It was difficult to remain inconspicuous because the capital soldiers who had escorted them to Xiangping Prefecture and were temporarily stationed outside the city would also accompany them back to the village. Their mission wouldn’t end until they safely escorted the family back to the capital.

Qiu Huanian had traveled the road from Xiangping Prefecture to Du Village many times, and each time he felt differently.

With more comfortable carriages, a peaceful mindset, and more money in hand, the once long and arduous journey no longer felt exhausting. Qiu Huanian spent his days leaning on soft cushions, listening to Du Yunse read, chatting for a while, and taking short naps. The two or three-day journey passed quickly.

On the early morning of the third day of their departure, they arrived outside Zhang County.

Seeing that it was still early, Qiu Huanian said, "Let’s rest in the city before heading back to the village. We can take a look at the changes in the county town and visit Second Brother Meng along the way."

Meng Wudong has been running their restaurant with Shen Sai in the county town for most of the year. The elderly Meng couple, being soft-hearted, have begun to soften their stance seeing their second son's persistence and Shen Sai's diligence, capability, good nature, and filial piety.

Qiu Huanian heard from Meng Yuanling that, if all goes well, Meng Wudong and Shen Sai should be able to marry before this winter.

Before entering the city gate, the captain of the escorting imperial soldiers came to ask if they should set up the ceremonial procession.

Qiu Huanian smiled at Du Yunse and said, "Returning home without showing off is like wearing a fine suit in the dark. Did the Number One Scholar ever imagine returning home with such a procession?"

A faint smile appeared on Du Yunse's face as he looked out at the somewhat modest gate of Zhang County.

The first time he saw this gate, it seemed so tall. Ten-year-old Du Yunse was led by his father, Du Baoyan, from the mule cart to line up outside the gate for identification. They were to hire a cart from the county to the prefecture for the prefectural examination. Everyone thought this move was like a pipe dream, but only his father believed his son was telling the truth.

Now, having traveled across the country and seen countless natural and man-made wonders, having been announced in the imperial city and ridden on the imperial streets, the gate of a small northeastern county town seemed modest in Du Yunse's eyes.

And his father, that taciturn man, when he counted out three hundred copper coins to hire a cart, could he have imagined his eldest son, of whom he was so proud, would reach this point?

"Let’s go all out with the procession and enter the city with music," Du Yunse commanded.

The captain of the imperial soldiers acknowledged the order and departed. As the carriage curtain fell, Qiu Huanian quietly leaned over and planted a kiss on Du Yunse’s cheek.

Du Yunse turned and kissed his lips, biting slightly, and held him tighter.

After some preparations, the solemn sound of gongs and drums filled the air. A pair of imperial soldiers carrying large red wooden plaques reading "Number One Scholar" and "Appointed Imperial Scholar" came to the front of the procession, with someone ahead beating a gong to clear the way, all on tall horses, quite the impressive sight.

The city gate guards had been informed in advance that the Number One Scholar from their Zhang County would be returning home for a visit. They immediately cleared the barricades and opened the gate wide to welcome the scholar home.

The procession slowly entered Zhang County town. The people on the road moved aside voluntarily, gazing at this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. Many rushed to the roadside to watch, but didn’t dare make a sound. The quiet street seemed only filled with the booming sound of gongs and drums.

In a small alley at the junction of the north and south of Zhang County, next to a wealthy family's stable, there was a small, low courtyard. The door creaked open, and a young scholar in his early twenties, looking worn beyond his years, walked out.

He was not old, but his spirit seemed somewhat worn, always looking down with a gloomy face, making people reluctant to associate with him.

"What's all the noise outside? Where are you all going?"

The person stopped was reluctant to answer, said dismissively, "The new Number One Scholar is returning home, from our Zhang County. A large troop of soldiers is escorting him through the city gate. Scholar Du, if you want to see, you'd better hurry over."

"Number One Scholar? Number One Scholar?" The scholar breathed rapidly, his face full of disbelief, denying the guess that arose in his heart, "How could it be? How could Zhang County produce a Number One Scholar!"

"Ouch, why are you pinching me!"

The person stopped struggled to run a few steps, anger rising, "Take it or leave it, the procession is on the next street, just a few steps away."

"What do you mean Zhang County can't produce a Number One Scholar? Just because you can’t study well doesn’t mean others can’t. I heard the new Number One Scholar shares your surname, Du. Aren't you ashamed?"

This Scholar Du offended the educational commissioner during the prefectural examination and couldn't take the imperial examination for the next nine years. His character left much to be desired; last year he drove away his wife and let his father go hungry. Even as a scholar, the neighbors didn’t care to show him respect or get close to him.

Under the neighbors' angry gazes, Scholar Du's eyes turned red, he stumbled a few steps, and suddenly swayed towards the street where the faint sound of music was coming from.

"Hey! What are you doing?! Don't get us into trouble!"

...

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse sat in the comfortable carriage, lifting the curtain to look at the scenery outside, when suddenly they heard a commotion from the front side.

"Bai Quan, go and ask what's happening," Du Yunse said to Bai Quan, who was driving outside.

Bai Quan responded and quickly returned, "Master, a deranged scholar has charged into the Number One Scholar’s procession and has been stopped by the escorting soldiers."

Qiu Huanian asked, "Who is it?"

Where did this mad scholar from Zhang County, who is connected to them, come from?

"The man is too deranged to speak clearly, but neighbors who know him say his last name is Du."

Du Yunse said casually, "It’s Du Yunjing."

Qiu Huanian paused, recalling this person.

The Du Yunjing family was the first problem Qiu Huanian faced after arriving in this world, and the original owner’s death was their doing.

Later, they repeatedly caused trouble for Qiu Huanian, only to end up harming themselves. Their own misdeeds got them expelled from the Du family village and removed from the family registry.

The main culprit, Zhao, and Fu Bao were sentenced to exile, and it’s unclear if they’re alive or dead. Li Guer was involved in the Xiangping Prefecture human trafficking case and was beheaded after last year’s Dragon Boat Festival. Only Du Yunjing and his father, Du Baoquan, are barely scraping by in Zhang County.

"Is he really crazy or just faking it?" Qiu Huanian was somewhat skeptical.

"Whether it’s real or not, it’s none of our business."

Qiu Huanian smiled, "Yes, it has nothing to do with us."

The deranged Du Yunjing rushed to disrupt the Number One Scholar’s parade. Without even seeing Du Yunse’s robe, he was subdued by the soldiers and handed over to the county yamen’s officers to be temporarily imprisoned.

Did he not commit any crime? Acting crazily in front of the "Imperial Appointed Hanlin" banner and the imperial guards was a serious offense in ancient times.

The procession didn’t stop and kept moving. Magistrate Wang, upon hearing the report from the city guards, personally waited halfway to greet them.

"Your humble servant, Wang Cuci, greets the Number One Scholar."

A county magistrate is a seventh-rank official, while a Hanlin Academy compiler is a sixth-rank official. Even without considering future prospects, based on current official positions alone, Du Yunse already outranks Wang Cuci.

Du Yunse stepped down from the carriage and exchanged greetings with Magistrate Wang.

The rising sun bathed the long street in a pale golden light, as if it were the light brought by the Number One Scholar.

Magistrate Wang looked at the overly young Number One Scholar before him, momentarily lost in thought.

He still vividly remembered the scene when he first met the adult Du Yunse at the county yamen over two years ago. In the blink of an eye, that seemingly unremarkable young man had soared to great heights, achieving six consecutive top honors, surpassing everyone’s expectations.

"Where is the Number One Scholar heading? Could you spare some time for a chat with me?"

Du Yunse glanced back at Qiu Huanian, "My husband and I are heading to the Subway restaurant. Would you like to join us, Magistrate Wang?"