The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 31: Offspring

“But perhaps, that is also his misfortune.”

Du Yunse felt his heart tighten. “Sir, what do you mean by that?”

Doctor Gu sighed. “I did not mention this earlier, but his body is severely damaged. Not only will it affect his lifespan, but it will also make having children extremely difficult.”

Qiu Huainan slowly blinked a few times, momentarily unable to react.

Ever since transmigrating into the body of a ge’er, Qiu Huainan had always avoided and ignored the fact that, theoretically, he could conceive and bear children. Hearing Doctor Gu say this suddenly, he did not immediately grasp the significance.

But soon, he understood why the old doctor had said such words.

In ancient times, people placed immense importance on offspring and inheritance. The reason he and Du Yunse could rightfully stand before the world as a married couple was because he was a ge’er who could conceive and give birth.

If it was confirmed that he could not have children, then Du Yunse…

A sudden ache filled Qiu Huainan’s heart. He knew he should not doubt Du Yunse so recklessly, but after all, Du Yunse was a young man with a promising future in this ancient world. If the day ever came when they had to face this reality, what would he do then?

Seeing that Qiu Huainan had figured it all out, Doctor Gu sighed again.

He did not want to dampen the spirits of this loving couple, but some things would not cease to exist just because he chose not to speak of them. Rather than allowing it to explode into an unmanageable crisis in the future, it was better to lay it out while their feelings were still strong. It was best that he played the role of the villain now.

Doctor Gu did not know what choice Du Yunse would make, but he did know that among the powerful officials in the capital, there were none who did not keep concubines and beautiful mistresses. Even the current emperor, Yuanhua, though deeply devoted to the late empress, still filled his harem with beauties of all kinds.

When Du Yunse eventually achieved success and held immense power, would he still remember the bond they once shared?

Deep love in youth, enduring hardships together—these things did not necessarily guarantee that a couple could walk hand in hand to the end. Furthermore, this ge’er was so weak that he could hardly bear children, making him naturally inferior in the eyes of society.

The best possible outcome would be for Du Yunse to take a concubine to bear children. But Doctor Gu had a feeling that, given the temperament of the ge’er before him, he would never accept such an arrangement. If that day ever came, there would be yet another person in this world with a broken heart.

Perhaps the medicine had not yet taken effect, for Qiu Huainan’s chest ached terribly, his throat tightened, and his emotions burned like fire.

In a sudden realization, he understood just how important Du Yunse had become to him. He not only wanted to walk beside him but also wanted to keep him entirely to himself.

At that moment, he felt a familiar hand cover his stinging eyes. The warmth and darkness brought him a sense of comfort.

In front of Doctor Gu, Du Yunse lowered his head and pressed a kiss against Qiu Huainan’s cold ear.

The unprecedented soft touch sent a drum-like pounding through Qiu Huainan’s mind, leaving room for nothing but the sound of his own heartbeat.

“I am here, Huainan. I will always be by your side.”

Du Yunse held Qiu Huainan tightly, as if trying to merge him into his very being.

He looked at Doctor Gu and said, “Write down whatever rare and precious medicines are needed. No matter the cost, even if I must sacrifice everything, I will find them for my husband.”

“You…”

“Du Yunse has brothers and sisters in his family. I have no obsession with having children,” Du Yunse stated calmly yet firmly. “But as for my husband, I have eyes for no one but Qiu Huainan.”

For years, he had thought himself indifferent to matters of love. But after meeting this person, all those self-perceived certainties had crumbled to dust.

Doctor Gu said no more and turned to his desk to swiftly write out a few prescriptions.

“This first prescription is for nourishment. It is not expensive, but its effects are limited—it will only ensure that his condition does not deteriorate further. If you wish to truly strengthen his health, you will need the other prescriptions.”

“The following prescriptions require ginseng, deer antler, snow lotus, dragon’s musk, and other such ingredients. Their effects are excellent, but they are not something an average household can afford. He is not yet in a dire state, so you can wait until you acquire them before starting the treatment.”

“These prescriptions are the result of my years of medical experience. Considering your teacher and your sincerity, I am giving them to you at a great discount. But remember the words you have spoken today—do not go back on them in the future and become a heartless, unfaithful man.”

Du Yunse solemnly expressed his gratitude, then escorted Doctor Gu out.

When he returned, Qiu Huainan was lying on his pillow, staring blankly.

Upon hearing Du Yunse’s footsteps, Qiu Huainan instinctively wanted to hide, but he had nowhere to go. In a moment of self-defeat, he lifted his head only to lay it back down again.

Du Yunse walked to the bedside and tucked the blankets around him. His fingers brushed against Qiu Huainan’s cheek. “I’ve already sent Madam Shu to fetch the medicine. You’ll take another dose later. This prescription needs to be taken for ten days before switching to a more nourishing one.”

Qiu Huainan absentmindedly responded with a hum.

Du Yunse knew that this matter had planted a thorn in Qiu Huainan’s heart. No amount of words or promises could truly resolve it. Only through the passage of time and unwavering actions could he prove his sincerity.

Fortunately, they still had many, many years of companionship ahead.

“Huainan, you must take care of yourself, so we can grow old together.” Du Yunse murmured.

Qiu Huainan closed his eyes. Hearing Du Yunse’s words, feeling the warmth of his presence, he let out a barely perceptible response.

…

At the entrance of the Xiangping Prefecture Examination Hall, people crowded around the announcement board, eager to see the results.

Du Yunjing squeezed through the throng, his square scholar’s cap slightly askew and his clothes wrinkled from the struggle, drenched in sweat from anxiety.

Perhaps due to an incompatibility with the local climate, his entire family had been feeling unwell in recent days—dizzy, irritable, and easily fatigued. First, it was Zhao-shi, then Fubao and Du Baoquan, and after the examination, even Du Yunjing began to suffer the same symptoms.

This morning, he had clearly instructed Li Gu’er to wake him before the results were posted. But Li Gu’er had overslept, and no one else had woken up either, causing him to arrive at the announcement late, nearly at noon.

“I must rank near the top…”

“I must rank higher than Du Yunse…”

Du Yunjing’s mind buzzed with impatience, his head growing foggier by the second. Unconsciously, he muttered these words aloud.

Nearby, a group of scholars from Qingfeng Academy who had already seen the results overheard him and chuckled.

“Why is there another one here so fixated on surpassing Du Yunse?”

“Brother, are you perhaps Li Xiucai, the one who ranked third?”

“Hey! I know Li Xiucai—he’s already over forty! This must be the fourth-ranked Chen Xiucai or the fifth-ranked Wang Xiucai!”

These scholars had no ill intentions. They were simply excited from having attained their titles and were in high spirits, eager to strike up conversations with fellow scholars.

In their eyes, there was no shame in ranking below Du Yunse. Even their famous schoolmate Yu Min had failed to surpass him.

But as they continued guessing Du Yunjing’s identity, the atmosphere grew awkward. What had started as a joke now seemed like an unintentional exposure of a sore spot.

Finally, one of them offered, “I memorized the top twenty-six names. If you tell me yours, I can help you recall your rank.”

Du Yunjing, in his desperation, blurted out, “My name is Du Yunjing.”

This…

The students of Qingfeng Academy fell silent for a moment. Because this name was too similar to Du Yunse’s, they had already noticed it when they were looking at the rankings earlier.

Seeing that the group before him remained quiet, Du Yunjing instinctively continued to stand on tiptoe, trying to look toward the posted rankings.

At that moment, the crowd in front of him surged, coincidentally revealing a gap that allowed Du Yunjing to clearly see the red list with twenty-six names written on it.

His name, Du Yunjing, was at the twenty-sixth position.

While Du Yunse’s name was at the very top.

One at the very top, the other at the very bottom—the distinction was as clear as black and white.

Du Yunjing’s eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins, his expression twisted, and his teeth clattered involuntarily, unwilling to believe what he was seeing.

The students of Qingfeng Academy exchanged glances as they took in his terrifying expression.

In truth, Du Yunjing came from a farming family. For someone so young to pass the xiucai exam, even if he was at the very bottom of the list, he was still worthy of some praise. However, remembering how he had been fixated on surpassing Du Yunse just moments ago, the situation suddenly became rather awkward.

After all, even Yu Min—who came from the direct lineage of the Yu family of Liaozhou—had failed to surpass Du Yunse. Where did this Du Yunjing get his confidence from? With a ranking that barely scraped the passing line, he actually considered Du Yunse his rival?

When Yu Min had seen the rankings earlier, his expression had been unwilling, but all he had said before leaving was, “I may be one rank behind today, but that won’t necessarily be the case in the future.”

Yet this Du Yunjing, on the other hand, looked absolutely venomous, as though he bore some deep-seated grudge, as if he wished he could devour Du Yunse alive.

His obsession with surpassing Du Yunse likely wasn’t just about competing in scholarly achievements—it surely contained many mixed emotions, grudges, and entanglements.

Considering that the two came from the same place and that their names differed by only one character, several students of Qingfeng Academy had countless speculations flashing through their minds. They immediately dismissed any thoughts of befriending Du Yunjing.

A person like this, even if he had managed to pass the xiucai exam at such a young age, would not go far. There was no need to waste time and invite trouble upon themselves.

Wang Yinzhi spoke up, “Let’s head back. The academy only granted us half a day off to check the rankings. We still have the Hundred Flavors Examination tonight—if we’re late, the instructors will punish us.”

Hearing his words, Du Yunjing snapped back to his senses and spoke with fervent intensity, “My fellow successful candidates, please wait!”

He fervently urged, “Don’t you all find this suspicious? Du Yunse is just a poor scholar’s son—how could he possibly be the top scorer of the academy examination? There must be something fishy going on! I want to see the answer sheets! Let’s go find the Education Commissioner and demand to see all the answer sheets!”

“Du Yunjing, watch your words!” Wang Yinzhi shouted in alarm, immediately reprimanding him.

For Du Yunjing to say such things in public was practically equivalent to openly questioning the integrity of the Education Commissioner! Unless the commissioner was truly guilty of favoritism, how could there possibly be any irregularities in the academy exam grading process?

After being interrupted by Wang Yinzhi’s urgent voice, Du Yunjing also realized that his words would inevitably offend the Education Commissioner. But he simply couldn’t accept it—he refused to believe that he was so much worse than Du Yunse. More than that, he refused to believe that Du Yunse had the ability to become the top scorer of the academy examination.

What if? What if?

“What if the commissioner made a mistake while grading? Or… I heard that back in the capital, the commissioner was acquainted with Du Yunse’s teacher…” Du Yunjing had already fallen into a state of obsession.

“We don’t know where you heard that from. If you’re really determined, go by yourself, but don’t drag us into it,” Wang Yinzhi, afraid of getting caught up in trouble, hurriedly urged his fellow classmates to leave.

These newly ranked xiucai had just encountered an unexpected situation. Their previously elated moods had been completely erased by fear, and all they wanted now was to stay far away from Du Yunjing.

Xiangping Prefecture was the capital of Liaozhou, where news spread quickly. Qingfeng Academy was also one of the most prestigious academies. These students were well aware of the background of the new Education Commissioner, Lord Feng Mingjun.

From a noble Hanlin scholar to the imperial censor overseeing all officials, and now the Education Commissioner of Liaozhou—behind Lord Feng’s erratic and unorthodox career path was his infamous stubbornness. He was known for being unyielding and incorruptible to the point that even the Emperor found him a headache. How could such a man possibly engage in favoritism or fraud when grading the academy examination?

Besides, anyone who had read the poem that Du Yunse had won with at the Dragon Boat Poetry Competition would have no doubts about his knowledge and vision.

Even the instructors at Qingfeng Academy had analyzed that poem in their lectures!

While Wang Yinzhi and the others wanted to leave, Du Yunjing was still unwilling to give up. The group ended up grappling at the entrance of the examination hall, their distinct lake-green robes—symbolic of Qingfeng Academy—immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

Within moments, one of the bailiffs responsible for maintaining order at the examination hall approached to inquire about the situation.

“Honorable xiucai, I am here under Lord Feng’s orders to deliver a message,” the leading bailiff said with a bow.

“Lord Feng?” The students hadn’t reacted yet. “Which Lord Feng?”

“Of course, it is our Liao Prefecture’s Academic Commissioner, Lord Feng.” The petty official chuckled and said, “Lord Feng happened to be inspecting the Gongyuan and has already heard about your earlier dispute.”

“Lord Feng stated that after the Hundred Flavors Trial, all the essays of the new scholars will be posted publicly, so those who wish to see them may do so at their convenience.”

“In addition, Lord Feng asked me to deliver a message.” The petty official cast a faint glance at Du Yunjing. “A narrow vision can still be remedied, but a narrow mind will never achieve greatness.”

Du Yunjing’s face turned deathly pale in an instant, cold sweat breaking out on his back as regret and fear finally took hold of him.

The Academic Commissioner had the authority to oversee all the scholars in the prefecture. While it was true that during the Provincial Examination, the emperor would send an appointed chief examiner to the provincial capital to preside over the examination, a scholar wishing to register for the Provincial Examination had to first pass the Prefectural Examination overseen by the Academic Commissioner. Only those who passed the Prefectural Examination were permitted to participate in the Provincial Examination.

In other words, if the Academic Commissioner truly despised a scholar, he could completely bar him from taking the Provincial Examination, cutting off his path in the imperial examination system.

Although Lord Feng’s words did not name names, anyone with clear eyes could see whom he was referring to. Being labeled by the Academic Commissioner of one’s prefecture as “narrow-minded and unfit for great achievements”—what future could Du Yunjing possibly have left?

Du Yunjing stumbled backward, the possibility of being barred from the imperial examination filling him with such terror that he trembled. Once, he had gloatingly mocked Du Yunse over this very issue, but now that calamity had fallen upon him instead, he finally understood how truly devastating it was.

The petty official waved his hand and said, “The entrance of the Gongyuan is too crowded. Gentlemen scholars, now that you have seen the rankings, best to leave quickly. You can talk at length during the Hundred Flavors Trial tonight.”

Wang Yinzhi and the others, having received this directive, hurriedly departed. As they walked away, they reflected on what had just transpired, already planning to recount it in detail to their fellow classmates.

Du Yunjing dared not utter another word about corruption in the grading process. In a daze, he wandered away from the entrance of the Gongyuan, relying purely on instinct to make his way back to his rented residence.

A young servant of the household was feeding the horses when he saw Du Yunjing return. Offhandedly, he smiled and asked, “Master Du, back from checking the rankings? Did you make it as a scholar?”

Du Yunjing suddenly flew into a rage, kicking over the fodder bucket beside the stable. Half a bucket of hay spilled directly onto the servant. “Whether I passed or not—what business is it of yours!”

The young servant was startled but, mindful that the other was still a scholar and a paying tenant, could only swallow the grievance and run off to shake the hay from his clothes.

His garments had only been washed just yesterday! What madness had possessed this Du fellow?

Watching Du Yunjing’s retreating figure disappear into the entrance of the side house, the servant rolled his eyes hard.

He had been debating whether to remind him that, just that morning, he had seen that cousin of his, the one surnamed Li, secretly adding something to his tea.

But now, what was the point of warning him? Let him drink it! Let him suffer a real loss! It wasn’t like they were family or anything. Whatever happened was their own problem—it had nothing to do with him.

…

Du Yunse had remained by Qiu Huanian’s side the whole time, watching over him as he took his medicine and slept. He used a cloth soaked in warm water to gently wipe away the thin sheen of sweat on his forehead.

The illness had come on suddenly, but it seemed to be retreating just as quickly. After lying down for an afternoon, Qiu Huanian no longer felt dizzy or lightheaded, nor did his vision blur. Other than some lingering weakness in his body, he had largely returned to normal.

But with Doctor Gu’s instructions still fresh in their minds, neither Qiu Huanian nor Du Yunse dared take the illness lightly. Du Yunse, especially, was so anxious that he watched Qiu Huanian’s every move with unwavering attention.

Lying on his side on the heated brick bed, half-embracing a pillow, Qiu Huanian chuckled in a hoarse voice. “At this moment, the new scholars of Xiangping Prefecture are probably out and about, enjoying themselves. Yet you, the top scorer of the Prefectural Examination, are stuck here watching over a sickbed.”

Du Yunse poured a cup of warm water, lifted him gently, and brought the cup to his lips. “I feel at ease watching over you. The rest doesn’t matter.”

The warmth of the water soothed Qiu Huanian’s parched throat, easing the itchiness and discomfort. As his mind cleared, he began thinking again, planning. “How can that be? I’m still counting on you to vote for Aunt Huang’s dish at the Hundred Flavors Trial and help spread the word about my red fermented tofu.”

Qiu Huanian had a rare and valuable trait—emotional stability and strong self-adjustment skills. Whether it was moving from a major corporation back to the countryside or being transported from the modern era to ancient times, he had always adapted quickly to his circumstances.

After learning about his current health condition, Qiu Huanian took a moment to process it and swiftly accepted reality.

No matter what, he was still alive and well, not coughing up blood with every step. Even Doctor Gu had said that his body could be nursed back to health—it was far from the point of despair or self-abandonment.

Money still needed to be earned, life had to be lived well, and as for Du Yunse—he was someone Qiu Huanian intended to hold on to tightly.

Looking at Du Yunse, Qiu Huanian smiled. The words Du Yunse had spoken at noon were astonishingly unconventional for an ancient person. Given Du Yunse’s noble, self-respecting nature, for him to say such things—the depth and weight of his feelings were undeniable.

Qiu Huanian’s heart swelled with warmth, even the tips of his fingers growing hot. His emotions, once tangled in a thousand turns, settled into ripples of affection. This sudden calamity had instead acted like a potent catalyst, forcing both of them to face their true feelings.

Now that he had recognized his own heart, how could Qiu Huanian be willing to let go of the only person across two lifetimes who had moved him so deeply? Their love might face challenges ahead, but any good outcome could be cultivated through effort—and effort was something Qiu Huanian had never feared.

With complete trust and anticipation, he planted a seedling in his heart, envisioning the day it would grow into a towering tree with lush, sheltering leaves.

Qiu Huanian instructed Du Yunse to take out a few small half-pound jars of red fermented tofu from his cabinet. Smiling, he said, “I haven’t had the energy these past few days. I’ll leave everything about the red fermented tofu to you. When Aunt Huang’s ‘Colorful Phoenix Nesting in Rosy Clouds‘ dazzles everyone tonight, don’t forget to use the opportunity to promote my product.”

Of course, Qiu Huanian had more detailed plans for the promotion, but he said this merely to tease Du Yunse. Du Yunse took the task seriously, nodding in agreement, making Qiu Huanian curious about how exactly he planned to execute it.

Unfortunately, the Hundred Flavors Trial was only open to the new scholars of the latest ranking, along with the prestigious and noble families of Xiangping Prefecture, so Qiu Huanian would not have the chance to witness it in person.

“You should prioritize your reputation. Don’t let this interfere with your public image.” Qiu Huanian reminded him with concern.

Du Yunse responded, “Don’t worry, Hua-ge’er. You just said you needed to rest properly, and now you’re already worrying about something else.”

Although he had spent most of his life over the past decade focused on classical studies, he had also traveled extensively with his teacher—how could he not understand practical affairs?

It wasn’t that he was ignorant of such matters; he simply hadn’t found it necessary to get involved before. But now, he had a household to support and a husband to protect. Naturally, he needed to make changes and take the initiative to do things he had previously overlooked.

A gentleman adapts to the circumstances. Du Yunse had no reluctance about this—he only felt an urgent desire to grow stronger as quickly as possible, strong enough to build a palace in the clouds where Hua-ge’er could rest easily and enjoy life in his arms.

After confirming Qiu Huanian’s condition several times and leaving many instructions with the Shu couple, Du Yunse finally set out at dusk for Mingfeng Terrace by the Ai River on Yuanzheng Street to attend the Hundred Flavors Banquet.

Zheng Yiwan specially summoned Shu Wu from the inn to accompany Du Yunse to the event, just in case anything unexpected happened and someone was needed to handle the situation. This was an easy task, one that also allowed him to soak up some literary atmosphere, so Shu Wu was more than happy to oblige.

Mingfeng Terrace was located on the west bank of the Ai River, a waterside pavilion surrounded on three sides by water. It stood at a height of ten feet, offering a panoramic view of the bustling marketplaces along both shores of the Ai River.

The current prefect of Xiangping Prefecture, Si Jing, was particularly fond of this place. After taking office, he had allocated funds to restore Mingfeng Terrace, designating it as an official venue for banquets and receptions.

Du Yunse arrived neither too early nor too late, with three quarters of an hour remaining before the banquet officially began. Though he had had little prior interaction with the scholars of Xiangping Prefecture, those who had attended the Dragon Boat Festival Poetry Competition recognized him. Seeing the newly appointed top scholar of the academy arrive, they hurried forward to offer their congratulations.

Du Yunse exchanged pleasantries with them, occasionally sharing insights from his travels and his sharp, in-depth views on the classics and historical texts. His extensive knowledge and upright demeanor deeply impressed the other scholars.

Even Yu Min, who had been acting aloof, couldn’t resist joining in their conversation after a brief moment of hesitation.

Time passed, and as the banquet approached, the education commissioner, the prefect, the head of Qingfeng Academy, and various officials of Xiangping Prefecture arrived one after another. Seeing the new scholars naturally gathering to discuss their studies, Education Commissioner Feng Mingjun nodded in approval.

“This year’s cohort of scholars is quite promising. If a few of them pass the provincial and metropolitan exams in the future and enter government service, it will be thanks to Education Commissioner Feng’s diligent efforts!” Prefect Si Jing remarked with a smile.

Hearing this, Feng Mingjun instead recalled one particular individual. Most of the scholars in this cohort were indeed excellent, but there was one he had misjudged. Though the young man displayed some talent, his character was truly lacking.

At first, he had hoped that this young scholar, as a cousin to Du Yunse, might have learned some virtues from his elder relative. With a few more years of refinement, perhaps he could contribute to the family’s legacy by achieving the rare feat of producing two provincial graduates or even two metropolitan graduates.

However, the reality was disappointing—this young man was so narrow-minded and short-sighted that it bordered on foolishness. Compared to Du Yunse, he was like a dull pebble beside a brilliant southern pearl—one in the heavens, the other in the dirt.

Feng Mingjun scanned the gathering but did not see Du Yunjing, the scholar who had made a spectacle of himself at the examination courtyard at noon. His brows furrowed sharply.

“Are all the newly selected scholars present?”

A nearby clerk, who had been keeping count, quickly replied, “Twenty-four are present. One has had to take leave due to an urgent family matter and has already sent a message. As of now, only one scholar has neither sent word nor arrived.”

With less than a quarter of an hour left before the banquet began, it was highly unusual for someone to neither show up nor notify them in advance.

Feng Mingjun let out a cold snort. “Is the missing scholar Du Yunjing from Zhang County?”

The clerk, uncertain why the commissioner specifically remembered this individual, reviewed his notes and confirmed with a nod. “Yes, it is him.”

Feng Mingjun said angrily, “The prefect, the education commissioner, and all ranking officials of the imperial court are already here at Mingfeng Terrace. This Du Yunjing must think quite highly of himself, making us all wait for him.”

Prefect Si Jing was still unaware of Du Yunjing’s disgraceful behavior at the examination courtyard earlier in the day. He found himself puzzled—why was Education Commissioner Feng acting as though he had swallowed gunpowder today, his temper even more explosive than usual?

To prevent any disruption to the Hundred Flavors Banquet, he attempted to smooth things over. “Perhaps something urgent came up unexpectedly. Why don’t we send someone to check his lodging?”

Feng Mingjun, still fuming, turned to the clerk beside him and ordered, “Take some men to the examination courtyard and check the records. Then go to Du Yunjing’s residence in Xiangping Prefecture and investigate immediately!”