The distance between the Prefectural City and the county town was nearly a hundred li.
By dusk.
Wei Tu and Wei Fei made it into Qingshan County Town with less than half an hour to spare before the city gates closed.
The two bade each other farewell at the crossroads.
Each returned home.
Wei Tu did not linger long in the county town. Leading the Green Dappled Horse, he headed for the Li Residence.
This time, the entrance to the Li Residence differed from his previous visit. There was no thronging crowd at the gates, no carriages and horses filling the courtyard; it seemed somewhat deserted.
Wei Tu waited briefly by the side entrance before entering the Li Family's inner quarters under the maid Chun Lan's guidance.
"Brother Wei, in this... provincial examination, did you place on the list?" After walking a short distance, Chun Lan, who had been leading the way ahead of him, halted. She turned to glance at Wei Tu, lowered her head, and asked softly.
"Place on the list..." Following her voice, Wei Tu looked toward Chun Lan's face. He saw neither jealousy nor delight there. Her expression was calm, though the hand twisting her handkerchief trembled slightly.
After achieving success in martial arts, he could easily notice other people's tiny movements and subtle facial expressions.
"I ranked twelfth in the provincial examination. Second-class Martial Scholar."
Wei Tu replied.
He could roughly guess Chun Lan's thoughts. Seeing him ascend to the heavens in a single step probably left her with rather mixed feelings.
—After all, they had once both been servants of the Li Residence.
Yet Wei Tu felt no aversion toward Chun Lan's thoughts. He considered them only human nature.
Had it been him, he imagined he would have felt the same, so long as Chun Lan harbored no ill intentions.
"Second-class Martial Scholar..."
Chun Lan was startled when she heard this, but after giving it some thought, she felt it was only to be expected.
Two months ago, those maids close to Xinghua had already learned from Xinghua of Wei Tu's results in the prefectural examination.
County Examination Martial Arts Examination Top Scholar.
Sixth place in the prefectural examination.
Winning a degree in the provincial examination was hardly something difficult to comprehend.
After a short while, Chun Lan came back to herself. Apology appeared on her face as she gave Wei Tu a slight curtsy.
"Master... Wei..."
Chun Lan changed the way she addressed him.
Though Wei Tu did not have a single coin to his name, once he had earned the Martial Scholar degree, he was an exalted Scholar Master. A mere Li Family maid could not address him carelessly.
"Just call me Brother Wei. We've known each other since we were little." Wei Tu shook his head, looking rather displeased.
At this, a trace of joy welled up in Chun Lan's heart. She nodded and no longer insisted on the matter of how to address Wei Tu, still calling him "Brother Wei."
"Brother Wei, the Eldest Young Master went to take the provincial examination this time and failed. He only returned this morning. When you enter the inner quarters later, be mindful and try not to bring this matter up..."
Chun Lan habitually looked out for Wei Tu, but as the words left her lips, she suddenly thought of something. With a self-mocking smile, she said, "I've said too much. Brother Wei, you're different now. You needn't be overly concerned with Master Li and First Mistress's feelings."
People were different from one another.
If a servant offended the master of the household, the least they would receive was a scolding and punishment.
But guests of equal standing were different.
No matter how displeased the host might be inwardly, they would restrain their displeasure.
"Li Xingye failed?"
Unlike Chun Lan, Wei Tu was more concerned with Li Xingye's failure.
"No wonder the Li Residence is so much quieter. So Li Xingye failed..."
Wei Tu immediately understood.
The Civil Examination Hall and Martial Examination Hall released their lists one after the other, only a few days apart. It would take only a few days for the Civil Examination Hall's rankings to reach Qingshan County Town.
If Li Xingye had made the provincial examination list, the Li Residence would certainly have been ten times livelier than when the County Examination results were announced. After all, the County Examination was merely an examination; passing the provincial examination meant holding a genuine degree in one's hands.
"Given Li Xingye's age, obtaining a Scholar degree before thirty should not have been difficult. But... people always fawn over the high and trample the low..."
"Failing this year's examination would greatly diminish his potential in the eyes of the world."
Thinking this, Wei Tu felt deeply moved.
If he had failed this year.
His fate would likely have been far worse than Li Xingye's...
Whether the Shan Family, the Li Family, and the Huang Family would treat him as before would still have been unknown.
"Thank you for the reminder, Sister Chun Lan."
After a moment, Wei Tu gathered his emotions and thanked Chun Lan for her warning.
"When I see Master Li and his wife in the reception hall, I'll be careful."
He added.
Upon entering the reception hall.
Before Wei Tu could speak, Li Yaozu said first, "Brother Wei, have you returned from the Prefectural City intending to stay temporarily at my Li Family's residence for a few days? There is naturally no problem with that."
As the words fell, Wei Tu's brows creased ever so slightly—Li Yaozu's words struck him as somewhat condescending, as though he were bestowing charity upon him.
This time, Wei Tu had not come to the Li Residence to borrow lodging. He had come to share the good news with Xinghua and discuss Xinghua's redemption with Li Yaozu and his wife.
—While in the Prefectural City, aside from practicing martial arts, he had taken on work writing letters for others with Dan Yangong's help, saving up some silver.
The amount was not much, only a little over one tael.
It was not enough to redeem her.
But it was certainly enough to stay at an inn.
The military strategy portion of the martial examinations' inner rounds also demanded calligraphy from martial artists.
Poor handwriting would not lead to an immediate failed paper and elimination as in the civil examinations, but it would still have some impact on one's score.
Yet just as Wei Tu was about to explain, he suddenly recalled Chun Lan's earlier warning. He thus restrained his temper and did not speak to refute him.
No matter what.
The Li Family had helped him before.
There was truly no need to provoke Li Yaozu and his wife while they were downcast.
He was not so petty-minded as that.
Xinghua's redemption could be discussed at another suitable time. It did not have to be brought up on this sensitive day.
Moreover, having only just earned his degree, if he acted arrogantly toward his former benefactors, it would not make for a good reputation outside either.
"Regarding the lodging, thank you, Master Li, for granting permission." After thinking for a moment, Wei Tu rose and clasped his hands in a bow to Li Yaozu, expressing his thanks.
"Today, Wei will not disturb the two of you further."
Wei Tu took his leave.
Then, Wei Tu turned and departed. Yet after taking only a few steps, he unexpectedly ran into Li Xingye, who was heading toward the reception hall.
At that moment, Li Xingye's hair was disheveled, his face wan and haggard, and his scholar's robe hung loosely about him. Even his lapels and belt had not been properly fastened.
"You bastard, what are you doing, looking like that?" At the sight, Li Yaozu's anger flared. He rose and berated him.
The beginning of propriety lay in straightening one's appearance, composing one's expression, and ordering one's speech.
If outsiders saw Li Xingye in this state, at best it would mean he lacked discipline; at worst, it would mean the Li Family's household customs were lax and it was no family built upon farming and study.
"What's the big deal..." Li Xingye yawned and casually sat down in one of the straight-backed chairs in the reception hall.
Seeing this, Li Yaozu could only shake his head helplessly. Assuming his son was still despondent over failing the Imperial Examinations, he could not summon the anger to scold him again.
But then.
A maid with disheveled clothing came running over, weeping bitterly. She knelt before Madam Li, pressed her lips tightly together, and said not a word.
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