Do Not Betray!

Su Provincial Graduate said solemnly, "Fang Yun, do not act on a burst of emotion. You are still young, and the road ahead is long. You will need someone to support you. Though my Su Household cannot compare to famed clans, we are still a distinguished family of three generations. We can barely support you until you become a third-rank high official! If Yuhuan is truly sensible and knows you are considering your future, she will surely forgive you."

"Big Sister Yuhuan is kind-hearted. She will surely forgive me," Fang Yun said.

Su Provincial Graduate smiled. "You agreed?"

"But I will never forgive myself! I, Fang Yun, may betray everyone under Heaven, but I must never betray Big Sister Yuhuan!"

"How can you be so ignorant of worldly affairs? You infuriate this old man!" Su Provincial Graduate looked like iron that had failed to become steel.

Fang Yun said slowly, "Had I married into your Su Household for the sake of my future before this, perhaps that would have been knowing the times and submitting to circumstance. But now that I have received guidance from a famous teacher, if I still need to rely on your Su Household to walk the path of Literary Rank, would that not make me far too useless?"

Su Provincial Graduate examined Fang Yun closely. In the end, he laughed in exasperation and praised him with regret in his voice. "What a Fang Double-A! This old man truly did not misjudge you. Such integrity leaves this old man utterly convinced. I have a beautiful daughter over twelve years old, as well as an eleven-year-old legitimate granddaughter. Wait another three years! Within three years, you may choose either one!"

"Your daughter is twelve? Elder Su, you are vigorous even in old age," Fang Yun said.

Su Provincial Graduate's face reddened. "My eldest son is already over thirty."

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Elder, but this student has already made up his mind. I hope you will grant me your understanding," Fang Yun said.

Su Provincial Graduate lowered his head and sulked, ignoring Fang Yun.

The Su Household was, after all, a distinguished family. Moreover, Su Provincial Graduate dearly loved his own daughter and could not bear to let her become Fang Yun's concubine. A concubine's status was far too low; once she fell out of favor, she would not even rank above the Guan Household steward, merely a higher-ranking maid.

Therefore, Fang Yun could not let Yang Yuhuan become a concubine.

As they neared Fang Yun's home, Su Provincial Graduate took five banknotes from his robe pocket, stuffed them into Fang Yun's hands, and said, "You have broken new ground for the Jing Kingdom. Congratulations. This is one hundred taels of silver, one of my congratulatory gifts."

"This... is too much." Fang Yun had not expected him to give so much at once. After making a rough conversion, it was like giving thirty or forty thousand as a gift when someone's child entered high school—far too generous.

Yet Su Provincial Graduate patted the pocket on his other side and said, "There are banknotes for a thousand taels in here, not included in the dowry. Will you not reconsider?"

"Thank you, Elder Su." Fang Yun reached out and accepted the one hundred taels' worth of banknotes.

"Alas." Su Provincial Graduate sighed softly.

The wealthy households of the county were all willing to sponsor outstanding Licentiates and Academy Students, but no one had ever given a hundred taels of silver as a congratulatory gift upon their first meeting. Not to mention carrying banknotes worth a thousand taels and being unable to give them away even when they wanted to.

The carriage gradually slowed. Outside, the driver said, "Master, ahead is Licentiate Fang's home. It is so lively—the banquet stretches across half the street."

Fang Yun prepared to get down from the carriage when Su Provincial Graduate said, "I heard that you rode in an ox cart when you went to take the examination?"

"Yes."

"Then I will give you this carriage and these three horses," Su Provincial Graduate said lightly.

"What? I cannot accept that. You are being far too generous; I cannot take this carriage." Fang Yun knew that Su Provincial Graduate's carriage and three horses were no ordinary ones. Together, they were worth at least one hundred and fifty taels of silver. Fewer than twenty people in all of Ji County could afford to ride in such a luxurious carriage.

But Su Provincial Graduate said, "I am giving you this carriage because I value your learning and integrity. If a rare genius like you does not even have a carriage, it is a disgrace to Ji County and a disgrace to the Jing Kingdom! With a carriage, it will be more convenient for you to study in Dayuan Prefecture or travel elsewhere in pursuit of learning. Even if you will not think of yourself, you must think of your child bride, and think of your own status."

"But..."

"You were frank and decisive just now, so why are you acting like an old woman now? I am leaving. My little daughters-in-law are still waiting for you at home. If you smash into the southern wall, remember to turn back!" Having said that, Su Provincial Graduate got down from the carriage and left with easy grace.

The driver handed the whip to Fang Yun and followed Su Provincial Graduate away.

Fang Yun muttered to himself, "But I wanted to say that feeding three horses costs too much."

Ahead of him, Su Provincial Graduate's figure trembled, and he quickened his pace.

Fang Yun cupped his hands toward Su Provincial Graduate from afar in thanks. He knew Su Provincial Graduate was not entirely without selfish motives; his willingness to give so much money was simply an investment. Still, no matter what, it was an enormous help to Fang Yun now. There would be far too many places where he needed money in the future.

Fang Yun turned and looked toward his front gate. It was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers. More than ten large red lanterns hung from ropes in midair, and beneath them stood tables covered in scattered cups and dishes. Horse lanterns rested on the tables, illuminating one joyful smiling face after another.

The banquet had already ended, yet many people had not left. Many burly men were drinking and playing finger-guessing games, while young wives and old women gathered together to gossip about household affairs.

"Brother Yun is back!" someone shouted, and everyone turned to look at Fang Yun.

Then Fang Yun's home became lively from inside to out. His relatives, neighbors, classmates, acquaintances, and strangers alike all came out to welcome him.

Many people unconsciously bent slightly at the waist, smiles of deference on their faces.

Every pair of eyes was filled with deep envy.

A few secretly regretted it. Had they known Fang Yun would become successful, they should have treated him twice as well in the past.

The first to approach were neither friends and relatives nor neighbors and classmates, but seven or eight heavily made-up matchmakers. At that moment, they suddenly became immensely strong. Several of them nearly possessed the power to block a river with iron chains as they shoved everyone else aside and rushed over.

"Oh my, Young Master Fang, you are finally back!"

"Congratulations to Master Fang for placing Case First in the examination! This old woman offers you her congratulations."

"Congratulations, Young Master Fang! Tsk, tsk, I even held you when you were little. You peed all over me, and what force you had! You nearly knocked me flat. One look told me you had the fate of a Zhuangyuan!"

Fang Yun did not know whether to laugh or cry. This matchmaker was exaggerating far too wildly.

The matchmakers then surrounded Fang Yun, talking over one another. Some asked whether he had a girl in mind, some urged him to name his conditions, and others introduced him to young ladies from the Zhang Household, daughters of the Zhao Family, and so on.

In their eyes, Fang Yun would become a Provincial Graduate master in the future. How could he possibly let a child bride become his principal wife, no matter how beautiful Yang Yuhuan was?

At this time, marriage emphasized matching social status and family standing.

Just as Fang Yun was about to politely decline, he saw Yang Yuhuan standing at the doorway, watching him and the matchmakers.

Before Fang Yun, Yang Yuhuan had always been both like an elder sister and a mother. She had never complained and never gotten angry.

At that moment, Fang Yun saw deep worry in her eyes, like a little cat watching someone snatch away its favorite ball of yarn. She could only watch from afar, powerless to do anything.

Yang Yuhuan merely watched. She neither fought nor scrambled, silently waiting as she always had.

Xishi of Jiang Prefecture had never abandoned Fang Yun of the Cold Gate. How could Case First Fang abandon his child bride!

Fang Yun's heart suddenly ached, and he involuntarily shouted, "Big Sister Yuhuan, choose an auspicious day. I will formally marry you into this family and make you my wife. I have waited for more than ten years!"

Their eyes met.

The entire place fell silent.

Yang Yuhuan's fair face instantly turned red. Her once-dim eyes became more brilliant than the starry sky, and the peerless radiance of that instant seemed to light up the entire county town.

Every man present was captivated by Yang Yuhuan at that moment.

"Utter nonsense!" Yang Yuhuan chided coyly. Lifting her skirt slightly, she turned and ran into the house.

Her steps were light and swift.

Many people loudly cheered along.

The matchmakers' faces changed. What was going on?

Fang Yun said, "Thank you, sisters-in-law and aunties, but I will marry Big Sister Yuhuan as my wife. I will never change my mind in this life! You should go find someone else."

The matchmakers looked at one another, but one of them smiled and said, "People used to say that Miss Yuhuan was a fresh flower stuck... Ahem, they said she was unlucky. But I always said the two of you were a perfect match. Look at you now! In the entire county, who would dare say you are not worthy of Yuhuan? But you will become a Provincial Graduate master in the future. Even if Yuhuan becomes the principal wife, you will still need concubines to accompany her, or everyone will curse her for being a jealous wife. I know several good girls from respectable families. They would be a hundred times unwilling to become someone else's concubine, but if it were to become Case First Fang's concubine, they would be ten thousand times willing!"

"That is right, Master Fang. Not only do you need concubines, you also need servant girls. I know two fine little girls—clever and quick-witted, both beauties in the making. Another day, I will bring them over for you to see."

Fang Yun's head immediately swelled to twice its size. Only then did he realize the greatest problem with ancient times: things he found utterly inconceivable were perfectly normal to the people here, and they all regarded carrying on the family line as the foremost matter.

Ever since Fang Yun had witnessed Liu Zicheng's War on Paper, his sense of crisis had only grown stronger. His body had not even fully recovered, so he had no intention of thinking about wives or concubines.

"Little Mao, help me watch this carriage. Su Provincial Graduate gave it to me. Thank you all for coming to congratulate me. Eat and drink well. I have something to do, so I will return to the house first."

Fang Yun went around the matchmakers and headed into his home, with people greeting him constantly along the way.

Several cousins who had ordinarily looked down on him or coveted Yang Yuhuan were especially full of smiles, afraid that Fang Yun would take revenge after rising to prominence. They had brought quite a bit of silver with them.

The title of Double-A Honor Case First was far too prestigious. Almost everyone with even the slightest connection to Fang Yun had come.

There had been nothing in Fang Yun's home, so in the end these guests had organized a banquet themselves.

After entering the courtyard, Fang Yun had wanted to speak with Yang Yuhuan, but the courtyard was full of drunken relatives and friends. They came over together to toast him. At a time like this, he could not refuse to drink, so Fang Yun had no choice but to accompany them.

While drinking, Fang Yun searched for Yang Yuhuan, but she deliberately avoided him.

After a few cups of wine, Fang Yun felt uncomfortable, so he pretended to be drunk and collapsed onto the table.

Yang Yuhuan, who had been avoiding Fang Yun all along, panicked. She hurried over, found several relatives to help carry Fang Yun back to his room, and laid him on the bed.

Yang Yuhuan had the others leave. Then she removed Fang Yun's outer robe and gently wiped his face with a wet towel.

Finally, Yang Yuhuan covered Fang Yun with a quilt and sat by the bed. By the hazy moonlight, she looked at Fang Yun. For reasons she did not understand, sweetness filled her heart for the first time.

In the past, Yang Yuhuan had never had the time to think about matters of affection. She had only one conviction in her heart: take good care of Fang Yun, let him study and achieve success, and when she died in the future, be able to give an account to Fang Yun's parents. That responsibility had always driven her onward.

A special extra chapter in celebration of reader Xi'an welcoming a son. Congratulations—his first cries echo through the trials, and virtue shines upon the household.

A certain bachelor passed by...