Jin Shanyao followed First Madam Zhao to the Zhao Household. The four-courtyard house was elegantly decorated, without a trace of gloom...
The courtyard of Zhao Yushan was packed with people, including Zhao Cheng, the dean of the Green Mountain Academy. He stood up Jin Shanyao, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Miss Jin."
As far as he knew, the poison that Heir Apparent Lu had been afflicted with was cured by Jin Shanyao herself.
The medicinal herbs that Heir Apparent Lu brought back to the capital came from Lush Mountain. Because the herbs were of such high quality, the emperor praised them highly and seized the purchasing rights from Noble Consort Wei's family.
Because of this incident, Heir Apparent Lu broke away from Marquis Zhenyuan and established his own household, which shows that Jin Shanyao and Heir Apparent Lu had a very close relationship.
When Zhao Mingshu saw his father greet Jin Shanyao with humility and politeness, he was momentarily puzzled.
Wasn't Jin Shanyao supposed to be from the countryside? How did Father meet her?
Jin Shanyao to Zhao Cheng, "Where is the child?"
"He's inside," Madam Zhao hurriedly pushed open the door and led him in, Jin Shanyao.
The air inside was dry and there was no ghostly aura. Zhao Yushan's eyes were vacant, and one side of his cheek was red and swollen, clearly indicating that he had been beaten.
Jin Shanyao forward, placed her fingers on his pulse, and found no physical problems... so it must be a psychological issue.
She glanced around the room; it was filled with books but not even a potted plant, and felt lifeless.
The Spiritual Power flowed down his feet, coiling around the roots of the plants in the Zhao Residence, and finally settled on a Yang Shu behind the study.
Jin Shanyao saw Zhao Yushan studying from morning till night, even reciting in his sleep. But despite his desperate efforts, he was always scolded and forced to kneel as punishment. Over time, he became increasingly depressed.
Jin Shanyao her Spiritual Power and held out her hand in front of First Madam Zhao, "Fifty taels of silver."
First Madam Zhao's eyes widened in shock. "No, we haven't even seen a ghost, and you're already asking for fifty taels of silver?"
Seeing that she didn't move, Jin Shanyao turned to leave.
"Here, here, here..." First Madam Zhao hurriedly took out fifty taels of silver notes and slapped them into the Jin Shanyao's hand.
Jin Shanyao tucked the child into her bosom with satisfaction and laughed, "The child is not possessed, and your household is not haunted." Then she turned to leave.
First Madam Zhao was not about to let her get away with this. She strode forward and Jin Shanyao's path, saying, "If I wasn't possessed, why did you still charge me fifty taels of silver?"
Jin Shanyao. "Is there a problem?"
"You..."
"Eldest son's wife..."
Zhao Cheng rebuked him, then stepped forward respectfully and said, "Miss Jin, please stop teasing us. Even if this child isn't possessed, there are other problems. Please tell us the truth, Miss Jin."
Jin Shanyao an eyebrow, thinking to herself that this old man was quite slippery... Oh well, what can you do when he's the dean of Meng Anci's department?
"The child is fine, but the father is seriously injured."
Zhao Cheng's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean? Non-Self eldest son is possessed?"
Jin Shanyao head silently. "You really won't listen to me? I've already said there are no ghosts in the mansion, why are you still asking?"
She looked at Zhao Mingshu, "A strict father disciplines his son by hitting and scolding him; he's the one who drove the child to this state."
The Zhao Household family fell silent.
Zhao Cheng, "Miss Jin, this child doesn't want to talk to us. Could you please try to comfort him? I'm worried something might happen if he keeps this up."
Jin Shanyao recalled several cases of people giving advice, fearing that a single word might kill a child—wouldn't that be a terrible mistake?
After thinking for a moment, she tentatively suggested, "How about I let my child come over and say a few words?"
Zhao Cheng thought of Meng Anci and nodded in agreement.
When Meng Anci arrived, Zhao Zhiyuan was with him.
Jin Shanyao felt that Meng Anci's eyes held a hint of a smile. No, no, her little one was a kind-hearted child. She must be seeing things.
" Zhao Yushan committed suicide by jumping into the river last night because of his exam results, and then hanged himself this morning. You should go in and try to persuade him."
Meng Anci had already learned the whole story on the way there, and said solemnly, "Auntie, don't worry."
After saying that, he strode in with his head held high and chest out, then slammed the door shut behind him.
Inside the room, Zhao Zhiyuan stood awkwardly to one side, unsure of what to say, while Meng Anci sat casually opposite Zhao Yushan.
"I heard you went swimming in the wild last night?"
Zhao Yushan's eyelashes fluttered, and a flash of disgust crossed his eyes.
Meng Anci smiled and agreed, "Swimming in the wild is great, but next time you should find a secluded spot."
"To avoid jumping in and getting pulled out, we need to take a hot shower, right?"
Zhao Yushan glared angrily at Meng Anci.
Meng Anci seemed not to notice, and leaned forward again, "I also heard you were swinging on the swing in the house this morning, tsk tsk... you really know how to have fun."
"Get out..." A furious roar pierced through the door, making First Madam Zhao's heart tremble.
Jin Shanyao reassuringly, "It's alright, it's alright. Let the children handle their own affairs. It's you two who should think about where the problem lies."
First Madam Zhao wanted to say that she had never pressured the child, but at this critical moment, she had no time to explain. She pressed her ear against the door and listened carefully.
I vaguely heard Meng Anci say, "Life is full of walls, and you open a door whenever you encounter one... If your father beats or scolds you, why don't you run away? Why do you just stand there and take it? You're so stubborn."
Seeing that Zhao Yushan remained silent, he rolled his eyes and said, "How about you give me ten taels of silver, and I'll make sure you get first place in the exam?"
Fearing his cousin would be tricked, Zhao Zhiyuan quickly said, "Five taels will do."
Meng Anci glared at him with displeasure. "Is this some kind of unfair competition? I just agreed on ten taels, and you offer five... People like you are ruining the market."
Zhao Yushan was in a terrible predicament. He even wanted to die. Couldn't these two just let him go? If that's the case, then let's all die together.
He sprang to his feet and pounced on the two like a hungry tiger, shouting, "I'll kill you both, so you can laugh at me..."
Meng Anci reacted too quickly, dodging the attack with a quick movement.
Zhao Zhiyuan wasn't so lucky; he was beaten mercilessly by Zhao Yushan, who pinned him to the ground and beat him so badly he couldn't fight back.
Meng Anci stood to the side, grinning, "Brothers turning against each other, that's too cruel..."
A moment later, Zhao Yushan burst into tears, "Why did you all have to come to the prefectural city? Couldn't you have stayed in Willow and Poplar County?"
Zhao Zhiyuan hurriedly tried to comfort him, "Cousin... don't cry. Actually, I was scared too. The first time I saw Meng Anci, I wanted to send him home."
But I knew I couldn't, so I studied like crazy every day, afraid of being surpassed by him.
Even so, I failed eight out of ten exams, but thanks to my early education and the fact that I knew more characters than him, and with my uncle's help, I finally got the top score in the preliminary examination.
After Meng Anci arrived in the prefectural city, I was even more afraid than you.
But my uncle said there are always people better than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding. I can consider Meng Anci a competitor, but I can't harbor resentment towards him. Because even if Meng Anci is gone, there will be others.
" Sheng Dynasty has more than one academy. You can drive us away, but you can't drive away the students from other academies."
Zhao Zhiyuan took Zhao Yushan's hand, "Cousin, don't be afraid... we'll defeat Meng Anci together."
Standing to the side, Meng Anci was stunned. "What do you mean... You two brothers are going to defeat me right in front of me?? Is this a challenge?"
Zhao Zhiyuan's small face was serious. "Yes, the Zhao Household disciples will definitely defeat you."
Meng Anci tentatively spoke up, "Actually, problems that can be solved with money aren't problems at all. Give me fifty taels, and I'll put you at the front of the line every time."
" Meng Anci... you mustn't insult us."
Zhao Yushan suddenly realized that no matter how bad his relationship with Zhao Zhiyuan was, he was still an ancestor, and he absolutely could not let an outsider bully him.
Zhao Zhiyuan chimed in, "Cousin, starting today, let's study together and discuss problems together. I believe we can definitely surpass him in the next exam."
"Fine, fine... I came here out of kindness to comfort you, but you all ganged up on me and bullied me. Forget it..."
Meng Anci secretly stretched out two fingers and waved them at Zhao Zhiyuan, then turned them into five, startling Zhao Zhiyuan his heart stopped and he almost fainted.
He gestured to Meng Anci too much to say goodbye, but when he saw his cousin looking over, he immediately put on an indignant expression.
A smile flashed in Meng Anci's eyes as he walked out of the house with his hands behind his back.
Zhao Zhiyuan said that as long as Zhao Yushan didn't commit suicide, he would give him two taels of silver. Now that things were in such a situation, it would be a disservice to their deep brotherly bond if the amount didn't rise to five taels.
Sigh... Jealousy can completely change a person...
If Green Mountain Academy weren't part of the Zhao Household's business, and if he didn't want to be too ostentatious, he wouldn't have given up the top spot in this exam to Zhao Zhiyuan.
He had finally tasted the bitterness of human relationships...