Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Han Zhang's plan was ready.

Meanwhile, at the Shen residence.

Shen Qinglan had broken his promise, but he still had Han Zhang on his mind.

Especially after receiving the music box and bubble solution handed over by Shopkeeper Wang, along with the continuation of *Tale of Two Souls*, he couldn't stop thinking about Han Zhang even more.

The reason was simple.

The ending of *Tale of Two Souls* was a tragedy!

The music played by the music box was also super tear-jerking!

Shen Qinglan was already heartbroken about not being able to keep in touch with Han Zhang, and adding a tragic story paired with sorrowful music was like a double blow.

It left him with his eyes swollen from crying.

"Boo hoo, Brother Han is so mean! It's too cruel, too cruel..."

"I told him I wanted Scholar Zhang and Le Geer to be happy together, so why did he have to make Le Geer die? Why did he have to make Scholar Zhang live alone for a thousand years? Why did he make the two, who finally reunited, part in death so soon? Boo hoo..."

Indeed, for the ending of *Tale of Two Souls*, Han Zhang deliberately referenced the popular modern movie *The Myth*.

In the subsequent parts of the story... although Scholar Zhang passed the imperial examination with top honors, Le Geer had been forced into a marriage by his parents and hanged himself a few days before Scholar Zhang's return.

Scholar Zhang originally wanted to die together with him, but he was taken away by a crazy pharmacist to be a human guinea pig for drugs. By some twist of fate, he became an immortal.

Left with no way to die, Scholar Zhang could only linger in the world, a lone guard of Le Geer's tomb for a thousand years.

A thousand years later.

A group of people accidentally entered Le Geer's tomb, among them a familiar face—the reincarnated Le Geer!

At first, they thought it was heaven's mercy, finally allowing them to reunite their romance.

But who'd have guessed that their reunion would once again be a final parting in death.

As they left the tomb, Scholar Zhang saved Le Geer but accidentally lost the medicine's effect, losing his immortal body. He rapidly aged, and his life came to a close.

In their past life: They were two lovers torn apart by parental commands and meddling matchmakers!

In this life: You were born before I was, and I was born after you had grown old. You regret I was born late; I regret you were born early!

It was absolutely heartbreaking.

Not just Shen Qinglan, but even his four personal page boys—Qiao Dong, Qiao Xi, Qiao Nan, and Qiao Bei—all had eyes puffy like goldfish after reading the rest.

The earlier part of the story was joyful; the later part was overwhelmingly sad.

Xiucai Han was just too much! How could he write such a thing? It makes you want to kill him.

So...

Shen Qinglan couldn't help but think of Han Zhang every day, unable to forget him no matter how hard he tried.

But still.

No matter how heartbreaking the story, or how sad Shen Qinglan felt, it didn't stop him from having a good appetite.

Hearing that Eight Treasures had new pastries, the young master happily changed into men's clothing and took his personal page boys out to eat, drink, and have fun.

Eight Treasures was right next to the flower shop.

Shen Qinglan habitually sat in the street-facing private room, eating snacks while watching the street view.

So it was no surprise that he saw the entire scene of Xiucai Luo coming to the flower shop to mock and humiliate Han Zhang.

...

At the flower shop entrance.

Xiucai Luo and several of his close classmates purposely blocked Han Zhang, who was moving flowerpots, to mock him.

Scholar A: "Oh, who do we have here? Isn't this our esteemed scholar Han, the academy's new hotshot?"

Scholar B: "Brother Han, just yesterday the teacher praised your writing skill. How is it that today you're here in a flower shop doing grunt work like moving pots and fertilizing? If you hurt your hands, what will you do for next year's imperial exams?"

Scholar C: "Brother Han, you guys having money trouble? If that's the case, we've studied together; if you have difficulties, you could tell us. Why sulk and ruin your future with this dirty work?"

They took turns mocking him.

Finally, Xiucai Luo stepped forward with fake sympathy.

"Oh, you guys might not know, but Brother Han's family has hit some hard times lately. I've heard that they've offended some nobleman. His clan's rented fields were all taken back, and now the entire clan is barely getting enough to eat. It might be hard for them to continue supporting Brother Han's studies."

"We are not all sons of wealthy families; most of us are from poor families too. I suppose Brother Han didn't ask for help because he didn't want to involve us..."

He put on a sympathetic face, pretending to speak in Han Zhang's defense, but was actually exposing his tough situation.

A xiucai who had offended a nobleman and could no longer pursue the exams wasn't someone worth befriending. Getting close to him would bring no benefits, and worst case, you'd get caught in the crossfire of the nobleman's revenge.

Under the emperor's nose, Han Zhang still had his xiucai status, so Xiucai Luo couldn't openly harm him because he didn't have enough power. But he could use underhanded methods—like having his father-in-law, Master Sun, hike up the land rent.

Or now, by revealing Han Zhang's plight, he could make those who had previously been friendly because of his xiucai status scared to get involved and refuse to help, leaving Han Zhang a poor scholar with no chance to climb back up.

The plan was simple but worked like a charm.

Sucking up to the rich and dodging danger is only human, especially back in those strict old days.

Sure enough, when the flower shop owner heard that Han Zhang's family had offended a nobleman, his face dropped instantly!

But Han Zhang's expression remained unchanged. He sneered back.

"I've offended a nobleman? I've only offended you, Brother Luo! You're Master Sun's good son-in-law, right? The Sun family's withdrawal of my Han clan's tenant lands—are you unaware?"

"If you knew, then your behavior today is just a small man's victory; if you didn't know... and the Sun family kept such a big matter from you, could it be that you didn't marry into the family, but rather became a live-in son-in-law?"

As he spoke.

Han Zhang secretly used his power to accelerate the growth of a plant hidden in his sleeve.

This plant had a simple function: it could stimulate emotions and provoke anger.

And the effect was clearly showing.

Scholar Luo's eyes immediately reddened with anger.

He could bully Han Zhang, but how could Han Zhang dare to confront him directly?

His father-in-law was Master Sun, whose cousin was a sixth-rank official. How dare this fellow Han Zhang?

Wasn't he afraid of retaliation?

Feeling the gazes around him, Scholar Luo couldn't help but scold with a grim expression.

"Han Zhang, stop your nonsense! I, Luo Ying, am a dignified man—how could I ever become a live-in son-in-law?"

"Your family's land was taken back by the landlord, it must be because your own clan has issues. Today I happened to pass by and, out of concern as your old classmate, kindly asked about you. Yet you slander me out of jealousy. Truly, you've mistaken my good intentions for ill will."

The several scholars who came with him also held a grudge against Han Zhang. Upon hearing this, they naturally chimed in.

The first scholar pretended to be upset: "Brother Han, we only meant well, concerned for you with no ill intent. Why must you make such unfounded accusations? This is hardly the conduct of a gentleman."

The second scholar said indignantly: "Han Zhang, we kindly tried to help you, yet you not only refuse to appreciate it but also hurl insults at us. Truly, you're like a dog that bites Lü Dongbin—you can't recognize a good person!"

The third scholar sneered: "The land belongs to Master Sun. It's perfectly normal and proper for the landlord to raise the rent. For you to bear a grudge over this and badmouth Master Sun outside—now that takes nerve!"

One after another, they spoke, leveling accusations at him and making veiled threats.

Even though Han Zhang tried his best to refute and argue, how could one mouth win out against four?

The situation was gradually turning against him.

The surrounding commoners and the flower shop owner could see that these men were deliberately bullying Han Zhang, but they dared not speak up, fearing the backing of a powerful figure behind Scholar Luo.

"..."

Han Zhang stood alone in the center of the crowd.

The gazes cast upon him from all sides pricked like needles, and mockery and ridicule echoed around him.

Though he still held his spine straight, his hand, clenched into a fist and hidden in his sleeve, along with the fleeting gloom beneath his lowered lashes, betrayed a barely concealed sense of loneliness.

It was heartbreaking...

Shen Qinglan, watching from the second floor of the building next door, couldn't stand it anymore.

"Brother Han is as clear as the wind and bright as the moon, a gentleman of noble character, brimming with talent. He's only down on his luck due to his family's poverty. How can these people bully him like this?"

"This is too much! I have to see what kind of backing this Scholar Luo has, to be so arrogant in the capital!"

Shen Qinglan ached to see Han Zhang humiliated. After enduring it as long as he could, he finally couldn't hold back and ran downstairs.

Qiao Dong and Qiao Xi shouted after him, but couldn't stop him: "Young master, young master..."

And so,

Just as Scholar Luo and his group were in full swing mocking him, Shen Qinglan charged over, stood in front of Han Zhang, and demanded angrily.

"I've seen everything that happened. This Scholar Luo is quite arrogant! Tell me, what rank does your father-in-law hold and which ministry does he serve in, that allows you to twist right and wrong under the emperor's nose, bullying a fellow scholar in broad daylight like this?"

"You... who are you?"

Seeing Shen Qinglan dressed in fine robes and embroidered boots, clearly not an ordinary person, Scholar Luo and his group's momentum faltered, and they asked nervously.

Shen Qinglan wasn't foolish enough to reveal his background—after all, his father was merely a fifth-rank official.

Moreover, he was disguised as a man and absolutely couldn't expose his identity.

So, Shen Qinglan pretended to be a spoiled young master, putting on a bluff.

"You're not worthy of knowing who I am! Hurry up and tell me your father-in-law's name. Let's see which old fool is backing you up, making you even more arrogant than me!"

As he spoke, he raised his chin with a disdainful expression.

He perfectly mimicked all the arrogant young masters he had seen before.

Scholar Luo and his group lacked experience and couldn't see through the act.

Besides, Master Sun's cousin was only a sixth-rank official, a small fry in the capital. It was one thing to bully a fellow villager like Han Zhang with his backing, but he dared not provoke anyone else.

He was uncertain, but Shen Qinglan radiated confidence.

Not daring to take the risk, Scholar Luo finally flushed red and spat out a line to save face.

"You can't talk about ice with a summer insect!"

Then he quickly left with his classmates.

"Hmph, a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong, a petty man who gets ahead by shady means."

Shen Qinglan snorted at that.

Then he turned to look at Han Zhang, hesitant and guilty as he greeted him.

"Ha... Brother Han, long, long time no see."

Last time, he had broken the appointment, wanting to cut off all ties and never contact him again. The message he had Shopkeeper Wang deliver wasn't very thorough.

With Brother Han's intelligence, he must have understood the subtext that he wanted to end their friendship. And now he had come forward on his own initiative...

How embarrassing!