Different Circumstances

The Prefectural City and the county town were about a hundred li apart.

As dusk approached.

Wei Tu and Wei Fei arrived at Qingshan County town just two quarters of an hour before the city gates were to close.

The two parted ways at an intersection.

Each returning to their own homes.

Wei Tu did not linger in the county town for long, leading his Green Dappled Horse towards the Li Residence.

This time, the entrance to the Li Residence was different from his last visit. There was no bustling crowd or carriages filling the entrance; it was a bit quieter.

Wei Tu waited for a short while at a side entrance before being led into the Li Family's Inner Quarters by the maidservant Chun Lan.

"Brother Wei, did you get a ranking on the… Dao Examination this time?" After walking for a short while, Chun Lan, who was leading the way, stopped. She turned to glance at Wei Tu, lowered her head, and asked in a soft voice.

"Ranking…" Following the sound, Wei Tu's gaze fell upon Chun Lan's face. He saw no jealousy or joy in her expression. Her face was calm, but the hand twisting her handkerchief trembled slightly.

After achieving success in martial arts cultivation, he could easily observe others' subtle movements and micro-expressions.

"Twelfth in the Dao Examination, a second-class Martial Scholar."

Wei Tu replied.

He could roughly guess Chun Lan's thoughts. She probably felt a bit uneasy seeing him "ascend to heaven in a single step."

—After all, they were all servants in the Li Residence before.

However, Wei Tu felt no aversion to Chun Lan's thoughts. He believed it was only human nature.

If it were him, he probably would feel the same, as long as Chun Lan didn't harbor any ill intentions.

"Second-class Martial Scholar…"

Upon hearing this, Chun Lan's expression was astonished. But after thinking it over, she felt it was only natural.

Two months ago, the maids who were friends with Xinghua had already learned from her about Wei Tu's results in the Prefectural Examination.

Top scholar in the County Examination for martial arts.

Sixth in the Prefectural Examination.

Achieving an official career in the Dao Examination was not something difficult to understand.

After a short pause, Chun Lan regained her composure. She showed an apologetic expression and curtsied slightly to Wei Tu.

"Master Wei…"

Chun Lan changed her form of address.

Although Wei Tu possessed no wealth at the moment, with the title of Martial Scholar, he was now a high-ranking scholar, and she, a maidservant of the Li Family, could not address him casually.

"Just call me Brother Wei. We've known each other since we were children." Wei Tu shook his head, looking rather displeased.

Hearing this, a hint of joy welled up in Chun Lan's heart. She nodded and no longer insisted on the issue of how to address Wei Tu, continuing to call him "Brother Wei."

"Brother Wei, the Eldest Young Master failed the Dao Examination this time. He just returned this morning. When you go to the Inner Quarters later, be mindful and try not to bring this up…"

Chun Lan habitually tried to help Wei Tu, but as she spoke, she suddenly thought of something and chuckled, "I'm being too talkative. Brother Wei, you are different now. You don't need to be so concerned about Master and Madam's feelings anymore."

People are different.

If a servant offends the master, they would at least be scolded and punished.

But guests of equal standing were different.

No matter how displeased the master might be, they would suppress their unhappiness.

"Li Xingye failed?"

Unlike Chun Lan's focus, Wei Tu was more concerned about Li Xingye failing.

"No wonder the Li Residence seems so much quieter. So it's because Li Xingye failed…"

Wei Tu suddenly understood.

The Martial Examination Hall and the Civil Examination Hall posted their results one after another, with only a few days between them. It would only take a few days for the ranking list from the Civil Examination Hall to reach Qingshan County town.

If Li Xingye had made it onto the Dao Examination list, the Li Residence would be ten times livelier than when the County Examination results were announced. After all, the County Examination was just one test, but passing the Dao Examination meant obtaining a tangible official career.

"Given Li Xingye's age, obtaining a scholar's title before the age of thirty should not be difficult, but… people always fawn over the powerful and step on the weak…"

"Failing this year will greatly reduce his perceived potential in the eyes of the world."

Thinking of this, Wei Tu felt a sense of emotion.

If he had failed this year.

His fate would likely be even more miserable than Li Xingye's…

The Dan Family, the Li Family, the Huang Family… Whether they would treat him the same as before was still unknown.

"Thank you for the reminder, Sister Chun Lan."

A moment later, Wei Tu composed himself and thanked Chun Lan for her reminder.

"When I get to the living room and see Master and Madam Li, I will be careful."

He added a sentence.

Entering the living room.

Before Wei Tu could speak, Li Yaozu was the first to say, "Brother Wei, you've returned from the prefectural city. Are you planning to stay at my Li family's residence for a few days? There's no reason why not."

As the words fell, Wei Tu's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He felt that Li Yaozu's words were a bit condescending, as if he were bestowing a favor upon him.

This time, he hadn't come to the Li Residence to ask for lodging. He was here to deliver good news to Xinghua and to discuss Xinghua's redemption with Li Yaozu and his wife.

—In the prefectural city, besides practicing martial arts, he had also taken on the job of ghostwriting letters with Dan Yangong's help, saving up some money.

This money was different. It was just over one tael.

Not enough for redemption.

But it was definitely enough for inn accommodations.

The strategy section of the Martial Arts Examination also had requirements for the martial masters' calligraphy.

Poor handwriting, while not leading to direct disqualification like in the civil examinations, would still have a certain impact on the results.

However, just as Wei Tu was about to explain, he suddenly remembered Chun Lan's earlier reminder and suppressed his urge to retort.

After all.

The Li family had helped him.

There was no need to provoke them when they were feeling down.

He wasn't petty enough for that.

He could discuss Xinghua's redemption at another suitable time; there was no need to choose today, a sensitive moment.

Furthermore, if he were to act arrogant towards his former benefactors right after achieving recognition, it wouldn't be a good reputation externally.

"Thank you, Master Li, for your generous permission regarding the lodging," Wei Tu said after a moment of thought. He stood up and bowed to Li Yaozu, expressing his gratitude.

"Today, I, Wei, will not disturb your rest any further."

Wei Tu excused himself.

Then, Wei Tu turned to leave, but unexpectedly, after only a few steps, he ran into Li Xingye, who was heading towards the living room.

At this moment, Li Xingye's hair was disheveled, his face haggard, and his scholar's robe was loose, with his collar and belt not even properly fastened.

"You scoundrel, what is this state you're in?" Li Yaozu saw this and was immediately enraged, rising to scold him.

The beginning of propriety and righteousness lies in correcting one's appearance, adjusting one's expression, and conforming to speech and conduct.

If outsiders saw Li Xingye in this state, it would be considered a lack of self-discipline at best, and a sign of the Li family's lax discipline at worst, not a family dedicated to scholarly pursuits and farming.

"What's the big deal..." Li Xingye yawned and casually sat down on the straight-backed chair in the living room.

Seeing this, Li Yaozu could only shake his head helplessly, assuming his son was still upset about failing the imperial examinations and lacking the energy to scold him again.

But then.

A maidservant, with her clothes askew and crying, ran over and knelt before Madam Li. She pursed her lips tightly, saying nothing.