Man Can Conquer Nature

Once noon had passed, every tavern in North City was packed with talented scholars and beautiful women.

Fengchun Tower, where Li Huaigu was, was especially crowded. Its three floors grew more packed the higher one went.

There were scholars raising cups and trading drinks, bashful beauties, as well as celebrated figures and great Confucian scholars from throughout Shu Province.

The highest-ranking among them was the "Uncle Liu" Xiao Wuge had mentioned—Liu Si, the chief official of Shu Prefecture City and its Prefect.

Through this connection, Chen Yi and Xiao Wuge were brought to the main table.

With Chen Yi deliberately seeking his friendship, he and Li Huaigu quickly became much more familiar.

Separated by Xiao Wuge, the two chatted and laughed, discussing everything from this Imperial Examination to what they had seen and heard in Shu Province, Jiangnan Prefecture, and the Capital Prefecture. Neither was inferior to the other.

As the conversation grew more animated, Li Huaigu even switched seats with Xiao Wuge.

Though Li Huaigu's learning and experience were naturally exceptional, they still fell far short of Chen Yi's.

Often, just one or two simple remarks from Chen Yi would fill Li Huaigu with admiration. He found himself thinking that the tales spreading through Jiangnan Prefecture—that Chen Yi was "devoted to both loyalty and filial piety, with learning surpassing others"—were no empty words.

For instance, regarding the policy essay question from this Metropolitan Examination—"Why does a boat overturn upon the water?"—Chen Yi merely remarked, "Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it," and immediately struck at the heart of the question.

Li Huaigu felt ashamed of his inferiority. At the time, he had thought to approach it from the perspective of drifting with the current, emphasizing following nature and doing nothing contrary to it.

Compared with Chen Yi's single sentence, the difference in caliber was obvious at a glance.

Even Liu Si, the Shuzhou Prefect, who had been listening closely from the side, was somewhat shaken.

Originally, he had not thought much of Chen Yi. After all, Chen Yi was merely the Xiao Family son-in-law; even composing a Birthday Ode could not change much.

But now that he had heard him speak, Liu Si found himself sharing the same thought as Sun Fu, the former Shu Provincial Administration official—this young man marrying into the Xiao Family was somewhat of a pity.

At this moment, Li Huaigu said with a slight sigh, "Brother Qingzhou, it truly is a pity that you did not take part in this Imperial Examination. That elder brother of yours, Yunfan..."

Before he could finish, Liu Si on the other side coughed. "Fanggui, enough idle talk. I think we should leave it at that."

Chen Yi raised a brow inwardly and smiled. "The Prefect is right. Today is Brother Huaigu's great day; he should return early and celebrate with his family."

These powerful nobles who had set foot in the Imperial Court certainly knew how to avoid suspicion.

Clearly, Liu Si did not wish to offend the Chen Family. Even though Shu Province was thousands of miles from Jiangnan Prefecture, he did not want to stir up any unnecessary misunderstanding.

But from this alone, Chen Yi understood that there must be more to the matter of his "elder brother," Chen Yunfan, placing first as Zhuangyuan.

Li Huaigu hesitated. "Huaigu will follow Teacher's instructions."

Liu Si nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Xiao Wuge. "Give your Grandfather my regards. When Uncle comes to the door later, I'll teach you the rest."

After saying this, he quietly gave Li Huaigu a few instructions before rising and leaving.

The surrounding guests naturally watched him off with respectful gazes. Only after he had left the private room did the atmosphere become a little more lively.

Xiao Wuge looked around, found it dull, and said, "Brother-in-law, let's go back too."

Chen Yi paused. Just as he was about to rise, Li Huaigu grabbed hold of him.

"Brother Qingzhou, you and I have had such an enjoyable talk today. Why not come home with me and bear witness?"

"Oh?"

Li Huaigu caught sight of Xiao Wuge from the corner of his eye. Knowing that his chances were better with the Young Marquis present, he immediately said in an earnest tone, "There is something I have always wanted to do but never dared to. I wish to take advantage of today's celebration to fulfill that wish."

Chen Yi understood his intentions clearly, so he went along with the flow and followed him.

Xiao Wuge, Xiao Die, and several Armored Soldiers were somewhat baffled, but seeing how happily Chen Yi was smiling, they said nothing.

Not long afterward.

The group followed Li Huaigu back to his home—Luoyi Lane in the outskirts of North City.

Chen Yi looked around, his gaze passing over the old courtyard walls before settling on a figure in the distance amid fresh green trees.

She was a rather petite young woman, her hair braided into two flowered plaits, a thin cloth headscarf wrapped around her head. She wore a simple dress, and her looks could only be called delicate.

When she saw them arrive, her face flushed slightly, and her hands unconsciously twisted together.

With a radiant smile, Li Huaigu stepped forward and took her hand, introducing her to Chen Yi and the others.

"Yunxiang, the wife Li Huaigu has yet to marry."

Chen Yi glanced at him without exposing the lie, then led Xiao Wuge, Xiao Die, and the others in greeting Yunxiang.

Li Huaigu's words made Yunxiang blush fiercely, all the way down to her neck. Yet she only responded timidly and did not speak to refute him.

She simply let him hold her hand.

Before anyone could say anything else, a voice sounded from the side.

"Fanggui, when did your mother ever arrange a marriage for you?"

"Uh..."

Everyone froze. They saw a woman emerge from the nearby courtyard, properly dressed and frowning at them.

Li Huaigu turned toward her, his face awkward. "Mother, I..."

Yunxiang's face went pale, and she did not dare raise her head.

Chen Yi, however, looked perfectly composed. He had long known of "Breaking Up Lovers."

He simply had not expected Li Huaigu's feelings to run so deep that he would drag them in as witnesses, only to be denied even the chance to introduce who they were.

Only Xiao Die, Xiao Wuge, and the others stood to the side, utterly at a loss.

At this moment, Li Huaigu finally remembered Xiao Wuge and the others and began, "Mother, they are..."

"Shut up!"

Before he could finish, Li's mother shot him a glare, then turned to Yunxiang, who had shrunk back with her head lowered, and said blandly:

"Yunniang, today is Fanggui's day of great joy. I did not wish to say much, but you have grown more and more presumptuous."

Li Huaigu grabbed her arm and pleaded, "Mother..."

Li's mother ignored him and kept her gaze on Yunxiang. "Let Aunt Li put it more plainly."

"Fanggui has now placed third in the imperial examinations. Even if he does not marry a girl from a family equal in status, she should at least be literate and sensible. But you cannot recognize a single word. I will never allow Fanggui to marry you."

By the time she finished, Yunxiang's face was already filled with anguish.

That despondent, heartbroken expression made even Xiao Die and the others feel unable to bear it, let alone Li Huaigu, whose love ran so deep.

Suppressing the sting in her eyes, Yunxiang still respectfully performed a salute and said, her voice slightly choked:

"Yunxiang would not dare. I only hope... Aunt Li will not be angry."

With that, she went around them, wiping the corners of her eyes as she hurried away.

"Yunxiang!"

Seeing this, Li Huaigu could no longer care about anything else. He broke free of his mother's grip and chased after Yunxiang.

Li's mother froze. "Fanggui!"

But the two had already run far away.

Only then did Li's mother notice Chen Yi and the others. Some of her anger dissipated as she forced out a smile.

"You are... Fanggui's friends?"

Xiao Wuge, Xiao Die, Wang Lixing, and the others all frowned at her without speaking.

Chen Yi, however, shook his head. Looking at Li's mother solemnly, he said, "Forgive us, but I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to be friends with your son."

"..."

Before Li's mother could respond, Chen Yi gave a slight bow, then led Xiao Wuge and the others after Li Huaigu.

Watching their retreating backs, Li's mother opened her mouth.

"Who cares about you lot?"

A short while later, Chen Yi and the others found Li Huaigu and Yunxiang outside Luoyi Lane.

But compared to the tender attachment between them earlier, there now seemed to be a vast, insurmountable gulf between them.

Yunxiang lowered her head. Her slightly rough hands were wrapped around a piece of jade as she softly said:

"Li Lang, the Hunter next door wants to marry me. A few days ago, he sent a matchmaker to my door. The bride price is enough to buy two sheep."

"You... you should listen to Aunt Li and find someone from a family that matches yours..."

Before she could finish, she stuffed the jade into Li Huaigu's hand and ran away without looking back.

Li Huaigu watched her retreating figure but did not choose to chase after her again. His fingertips brushed over the indented carvings on the jade.

A long while later.

Li Huaigu looked at Chen Yi and the others. "I have made a spectacle of myself before you."

Chen Yi frowned. "Brother Huaigu, what do you intend to do?"

Li Huaigu gave a bitter laugh and asked sorrowfully, "Brother Qingzhou, it is said throughout Jiangnan Prefecture that you are 'devoted and filial in equal measure.' Then... can love also be made whole?"

Before Chen Yi could answer, Li Huaigu shook his head and went around him, murmuring beneath his breath:

"I wish to know you as one knows a kindred soul, that our long lives may never wither or fade; though mountains lose their peaks..."

Chen Yi's gaze followed his gradually departing figure. Then his vision blurred.

[Witnessed Third Place Scholar Li Huaigu parting from his childhood sweetheart, forever separated across the ends of the earth. Reward: medical classic Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders, Fortune +20.]

[Evaluation: You arrived, your voice was heard, and you witnessed the scene, yet you did nothing at all. You are a cold-hearted and indifferent sort.]

Chen Yi caught sight of the evaluation on the Light Screen and remained silent.

Just then.

A stifled sob came from beside him. Chen Yi turned around.

Xiao Die noticed his gaze. She wiped at her tears with her sleeve, but no matter how she wiped, she could not wipe them dry.

"They... they are, aren't they... But clearly they... Son-in-law, can't we help them?"

Xiao Wuge looked at Chen Yi. "Brother-in-law, I do not understand, but I can tell that the two of them should be... should be... husband and wife."

Wang Lixing and the others felt equally conflicted. The more hot-blooded Ge Laosan's eyes had reddened as he cursed under his breath:

"That thieving old Heaven is nothing but trash."

For a long while.

Chen Yi raised his head to gaze at the afternoon sky and let out a long breath.

"Why believe in Heaven? I only believe that man can conquer nature!"

Xiao Die lifted her tear-blurred eyes. "Son-in-law...?"

Chen Yi reached out and wiped the tear tracks from her face, smiling. "This time, I'll need you to make a move."

"Me?"

"We have to find out first whether that Hunter really gave the betrothal gifts, right?"