The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 32: Scandal

This commotion was not small, and everyone on Mingfeng Terrace turned to look. Upon hearing the name “Du Yunjing,” Du Yunse’s brows lifted slightly.

“Yunse, is this person of your clan?” a newly acquainted scholar quietly asked.

Others nearby also noticed the similarity in their names and looked toward Du Yunse.

Du Yunse nodded calmly. “Du Yunjing and I come from the same village and clan, but our families have long held grievances against each other. Since coming to the provincial capital, I have not spoken to him, nor do I know why he has not arrived.”

As for the exact nature of their feud, there was a saying that family scandals should not be made public. Du Yunse would not speak of it in front of others.

However, what people would privately discuss after hearing his words, how they might investigate, and how much Du Yunjing’s reputation would decline as a result—Du Yunse had no concern for that.

Du Yunse had never forgotten how Du Yunjing and his family had oppressed and framed Qiu Huannian.

With just a few words, Du Yunse distanced himself from Du Yunjing. Some admired his decisiveness, while others felt he was too self-serving. No matter the personal grievances, they were still of the same clan, and outside their home village, they should support each other.

Faced with such opinions, Du Yunse remained composed and unwavering.

Feng Mingjun greatly admired Du Yunse’s approach. In his view, a scholar should always uphold what is right and wrong. If one constantly prioritizes personal connections over justice, it would eventually erode public integrity and diminish the authority of the court.

Du Yunse neither covered for his kin nor took the opportunity to slander him out of spite—this aligned precisely with Feng Mingjun’s principles as an official and minister.

Feng Mingjun looked at Du Yunse, who exuded an air of uprightness, like a green pine standing in the snow. In contrast, Du Yunjing, who had made a disgraceful scene at the tribute academy gates at noon, seemed all the more like a decayed tree—utterly worthless in his eyes.

Feng Mingjun was known for his stubborn temper. When he had served as the Grand Censor, he had once submitted over ten memorials against Prince Pingxian for using a ceremonial entourage that did not conform to court regulations. No matter how his colleagues tried to dissuade him, he remained unmoved, angering Prince Pingxian so much that his face turned green. In the end, Emperor Yuanhua had no choice but to issue a decree reprimanding Prince Pingxian and docking his salary for three months.

Had the provincial examination list not already been published—proving that Du Yunjing had indeed passed on his own merit—Feng Mingjun would have been tempted to strike his name from the records, lest such a person stain his academic administration record.

Feng Mingjun was enraged, and the petty officials dared not delay. After leaving Mingfeng Terrace, they immediately mounted their horses and rode to the tribute academy to check the records on Du Yunjing. They then proceeded to his rented residence to investigate further.

The three locations were not far apart, and by the time the officials reached Du Yunjing’s rented house, less than two quarters of an hour had passed.

The landlord, upon hearing that government officers had arrived on horseback, was so frightened that he came out to greet them personally.

When the officials inquired about his tenant, the landlord quickly instructed a young servant from the outer courtyard to respond.

The young servant wiped his sweat and said, “Master Du came back around noon after checking the examination list. He looked furious and hasn’t left his room since. I assumed he had failed the exam, so I didn’t dare disturb him.”

Who would have thought that someone could return looking so resentful after actually passing as a scholar?

“He hasn’t come out at all?” The officials frowned, sensing that something was amiss.

With all the commotion outside, Du Yunjing still had not appeared. Could something have truly happened to him?

The landlord, fearing trouble, hurried to clarify his position. “Honorable officers, this family claimed they came to the provincial capital for the examinations. They have rented my house for over a month and have always behaved normally. I truly know nothing about their affairs!”

One of the officials waved a hand. “Where do they live? Knock on their door.”

“They rented these two side rooms. The left one houses Master Du’s parents and younger brother, while the right one is where Master Du and his cousin live.”

“How old is his cousin this year?” The official asked, puzzled.

“I don’t know exactly, but I’d estimate she’s past the age of sixteen.”

“Outrageous!” The official frowned and knocked on Du Yunjing’s door. He knocked several times, but no one answered.

Feng Mingjun was waiting for a report—there was no patience for delays. The official called for more men and kicked open the door from the outside.

The landlord felt bitter but dared not complain.

With the muffled crack of breaking wood, the low side-room door burst open. It was already close to dusk, and no lamps were lit inside. The dim light barely revealed a silhouette lying on the kang bed.

Even with all this noise, the figure remained motionless. The officials grew wary. “Bring more men with candles inside.”

The maids quickly brought lit candles, and the officials, landlord, and servants entered the room together.

The flickering candlelight pooled together, advancing step by step, until it finally illuminated the scene on the kang bed.

“Ah!” A young maid flushed red, nearly dropping her candle.

On the bed—on the bed lay two stark-naked bodies, tangled together!

The officials had not expected such a scandalous and debauched scene. For a moment, they were at a loss for words.

They had assumed Du Yunjing was in some kind of distress and had cautiously entered, only to find that he had already been indulging in warmth and pleasure, lost in a land of carnal bliss!

“Verify their identities. Who are these two?” the lead official ordered.

At the landlord’s signal, the young servant stepped forward and examined them under the candlelight. “It’s Du Yunjing and his cousin, Li Gu’er.”

“Are these two married?”

“Not that I’ve heard.” The servant’s eyes flickered as he added, “Some time ago, Master Du’s mother, Madam Zhao, was still trying to arrange a marriage for Li Gu’er with a family in the provincial capital.”

The servant deliberately left out the fact that he had seen Li Gu’er drugging the wine. When dealing with government officers, saying too much could lead to trouble, and he had no desire to be interrogated.

Besides, he still remembered how Du Yunjing had kicked him earlier that day, treating servants like dirt. If he didn’t regard them as people, he shouldn’t expect them to speak on his behalf!

“The academic commissioner is waiting. I’ll return to report. You all stay here and wake them up for questioning.”

The lead official mounted his horse and rode back to Mingfeng Terrace. By then, three-quarters of an hour had passed.

The attendees at Mingfeng Terrace were not waiting idly for a low-ranked scholar. The Hundred Flavors Banquet had already begun. Before the official judging started, several tables had been set in the spacious waterside pavilion, offering food to attending officials, new scholars, and influential figures of Xiangping Prefecture.

However, dining was not the main purpose of this gathering, and many guests conversed in small groups.

When they saw the official return, voices hushed, curiosity rising about the outcome of the earlier incident.

The Hundred Flavors Banquet had been held for years, but this was the first time a newly listed scholar had failed to show up without notice!

Feng Mingjun’s anger had somewhat subsided. When the official approached, he asked, “Well? Where is Du Yunjing now?”

The official hesitated, unsure whether to report this publicly.

Feng Mingjun frowned. “What happened? Speak plainly!”

The minor official organized his words and said, “We arrived at the residence that Du Yunjing rents, but we did not see him. A young servant in the house said that he returned at noon after checking the rankings, looking furious and indignant. He went into his room and never came out.”

“Since he did not respond when we knocked, we feared something had happened. We had no choice but to kick the door open, but who would have thought we would see…”

Feng Mingjun was impatient and could not wait. “See what?”

The minor official could only brace himself and continue, “We saw Du Yunjing… and his cousin, Li Gu’er, lying on the heated brick bed, still unconscious.”

Though the official did not explicitly state what the two were doing on the bed, from his hesitant tone, who wouldn’t make the connection?

Feng Mingjun felt his anger surge up to his chest. Enraged, he laughed in exasperation. “Good, good! He’s only just passed the xiucai exam, and he’s already learned the corrupt officials’ habit of indulging in pleasure and debauchery.”

“Jealous of his kin, speaking maliciously, holding a grudge after I reprimanded him, deliberately avoiding the Hundred Flavors Trial, and engaging in debauchery in broad daylight—does he mean to provoke me? So this is the newly ranked xiucai that I have selected!”

Feng Mingjun burned with fury, and for a while, no one dared to advise him.

Wang Yinzhi and a few other newly ranked xiucai from Qingfeng Academy quietly told those nearby about the events that had taken place at the rankings earlier that day. Only then did everyone understand that there had been such an incident before the Hundred Flavors Trial.

No wonder the Education Commissioner had taken such a strong dislike to Du Yunjing the moment he arrived.

For a moment, Mingfeng Terrace was silent. Feng Mingjun had yet to decide how to handle the situation when another minor official rushed back on horseback.

Seeing the tense atmosphere in the waterside pavilion, the newly returned official couldn’t help but curse Du Yunjing a hundred times in his heart. But regardless of his thoughts, he had to report what he knew.

“Lord Feng, we have awakened Du Yunjing and his family. After waking, his cousin, Li Gu’er, kept crying, saying that Du Yunjing became a beast after drinking and forced himself on her. She demands that he marry her. Du Yunjing’s mother, Madam Zhao, refuses to acknowledge the incident and is shouting that she will take the matter to the authorities and have Li Gu’er drowned in the pond. Meanwhile, Du Yunjing’s younger brother took the opportunity to beat Li Gu’er.”

“The house is in utter chaos right now. Given that Du Yunjing is a newly ranked xiucai, we do not know how to handle the matter, so we returned to report it.”

When the official had left, Madam Zhao had been strangling Li Gu’er by the neck, cursing her as a vile woman. Meanwhile, Du Yunjing’s younger brother had been kicking her repeatedly, and the whole residence had been in an uproar. Even the landlord had no choice but to beg the officials to resolve the matter quickly.

Feng Mingjun took a deep breath. He truly had not expected the situation to become even more absurd. Not only had Du Yunjing and his cousin engaged in illicit relations, but now that the incident had been exposed, neither side would acknowledge the other’s version of events.

“What does Du Yunjing himself say?”

“He seems to have been frightened out of his wits. After hearing that we were sent by you, he just sat on the kang, laughing and crying, muttering nonsense.”

The official did not dare to repeat the blasphemous words Du Yunjing had uttered about the Education Commissioner, the newly ranked top scholar, and even the imperial court. Feng Mingjun had no desire to hear them either.

“This matter should have been handed over to the authorities for investigation. However, as Du Yunjing holds the title of xiucai, the punishment can be lightened. I shall make the decision to exempt him from it.” Feng Mingjun’s tone was indifferent.

As the Education Commissioner of Liaozhou, he had the authority to handle matters related to the scholars of the region, and the prefect would not oppose him over a scholar of dubious character.

Feng Mingjun made his ruling. “Du Yunjing’s conduct is disgraceful and unfit for great responsibilities. I have been entrusted by the Emperor to oversee the scholars of this region, and I cannot allow such behavior to go unchecked. He shall be barred from participating in the provincial examination for the next three sittings. Only when he has truly learned the teachings of the sages may he return to take the imperial examinations.”

Three sittings of the provincial examination meant ten years. With the local Education Commissioner publicly declaring him “unfit for great responsibilities,” Du Yunjing’s path forward in the imperial examinations was nearly severed.

If Feng Mingjun had been lenient toward Du Yunjing at the examination hall earlier that day, considering his youth, then at this moment, any remaining trace of mercy had been completely exhausted by Du Yunjing himself.

“The fault in today’s events lies entirely with Du Yunjing. Miss Li is a woman of a respectable family and his own cousin. She should not suffer such disgrace. I shall officiate their marriage, turning this into a double joy.”

“Deliver my order: when Du Yunjing returns to his hometown, he must restrain his behavior, focus on his studies, and treat Li Gu’er well. He must also discipline his younger brother and guide his parents, ensuring that his scholarly household is rid of such disgraceful turmoil!”

These words were spoken publicly, sealing the decision beyond any plea for reconsideration.

Once the minor official took his leave, Feng Mingjun’s anger finally subsided somewhat. “I failed in my selection of talent and allowed a worthless man to slip through, dampening everyone’s spirits.”

The others quickly reassured him, saying it was of no consequence, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The prefect, Si Jing, smiled and said, “Lord Feng is devoted to the nation and the Emperor, strictly following imperial orders with impartiality. This has been a lesson for the new xiucai and a profound experience for us fellow officials. How could this be called a damper on our spirits?”

Si Jing was a man of smooth diplomacy, keeping his true thoughts hidden beneath his ever-present smile. Compared to Feng Mingjun, he was his polar opposite.

With the Education Commissioner’s anger subsiding and the prefect smoothing things over, the atmosphere on Mingfeng Terrace finally began to recover.

The steward in charge of the kitchen entered to report that the twenty-one famous dishes for the Hundred Flavors Trial had been fully prepared. The prefect smiled and ordered the tables to be arranged anew.

“The appetizers just now were certainly eventful, but let us not forget the true highlight of the Hundred Flavors Trial.”

“To hear one’s name at the ranking board and then step onto Feng Terrace to savor fine cuisine—this elegant tradition of newly ranked xiucai tasting dishes and composing poetry is something I have been looking forward to for quite some time.”

The servants moved the previous tables to the side and placed a long red sandalwood table, five zhang(17m/55ft) in length and three chi(1m/3.5ft) wide, in the center of Mingfeng Terrace. The twenty-one exquisitely presented dishes, each radiating an enticing aroma, were arranged evenly across it.

Beside the table, there were small side tables arranged for placing chopsticks and small dishes, with several servants standing by to attend to the guests, ensuring they could conveniently taste the delicacies.

To allow all fifty or so participants of the Hundred Flavors Trial to sample the dishes, the portions prepared were quite large. Fish were made in sets of four or five, chickens in sets of three or four, and they were placed in multi-layered food boxes. When one layer was nearly finished, a designated servant responsible for that dish would immediately replace it with the next layer.

Even so, each person could only take one or two bites at most.

But this was for the best. Just as one should not gulp down tea when savoring it, overeating when tasting dishes would diminish the enjoyment.

On Mingfeng Terrace, apart from high-ranking officials like the prefect and the academic commissioner, the most highly anticipated figure was none other than the newly appointed top scholar of the prefectural examination, Du Yunse.

At less than twenty years of age, he had managed to surpass all the other child scholars in the prefecture and secure the top position in the examination. Given time, he was bound to soar to great heights!

Some well-informed individuals had already discovered that Du Yunse was the very prodigy taken as a disciple by Wen Huiyang and brought away nine years ago. Considering his previous victories as the top scholar of the county and prefectural examinations, this officially made him a “Xiao Sanyuan” achiever.

Liaoping Prefecture had so many scholars, yet before this, not a single one had ever attained the honor of being a Xiao Sanyuan(Jieyuan 1st rank achiever)!

Although some remained cautious due to Wen Huiyang’s current house arrest under the emperor’s disfavor, choosing to observe the situation for now, many more wished to befriend this gifted young man in advance, hoping to establish a good connection.

As Du Yunse sampled the dishes, many eyes remained fixed on him, curious to see what he would say.

The young man, standing tall with an upright posture, remained composed. After tasting each dish, he gave fair and appreciative praise to a few innovative and unique dishes, then set down his chopsticks and clasped his hands in a formal salute toward the prefect.

“I have now tasted the delicacies presented at the Hundred Flavors Trial. However, I must excuse myself from the later evaluation, and I ask for your understanding, Prefect.”

Si Jing smiled and asked, “And why is that?”

As the crowd turned their attention to him, Du Yunse explained, “Among the dishes, the one most praised by many—‘Phoenix Resting on Rosy Clouds’—is also my personal choice for the best. However, the red fermented bean curd used in this dish was specially made by my husband. Out of a sense of fairness and to avoid any conflict of interest, I should not participate in the evaluation.”

“……”

Si Jing pondered for a moment, then stroked his beard and chuckled. “Good, good, you make a valid point.”

Having been in the officialdom for many years, he could clearly see that Du Yunse’s move was a strategic one—retreating to advance. On the surface, he was giving up his vote in the evaluation, but in reality, he was making his stance clear to everyone present: “Phoenix Resting on Rosy Clouds” should be first place.

As a result, those who wished to establish good relations with Du Yunse would certainly vote for this dish, while those who had previously overlooked it would now be prompted to reassess its merits.

Beyond that, the special mention of his husband’s homemade red fermented bean curd ensured that it would be remembered by all.

Previously, Si Jing had been concerned that Du Yunse, despite his remarkable composure, might be too rigid and inflexible for the complex world of politics. But now, he saw clearly—this young man was adept at navigating these waters. As expected from the disciple of Wen Huiyang, the great Confucian scholar.

After Du Yunse stepped back, many people went to sample the Phoenix Resting on Rosy Clouds.

Some seasoned connoisseurs discerned the dish’s intricate cooking techniques and the layered flavors of the special red fermented bean curd, showering it with praise. Even those who could not grasp the complexities of its preparation still found reasons to admire its presentation, symbolism, and ingenuity.

For the final voting round, officials were allotted three votes each, the newly appointed scholars two votes each, and those who composed poems for a dish received an additional vote. Others who had the privilege of tasting the dishes were granted one vote each.

Even though Du Yunse abstained from voting, under his influence, Madam Huang’s new dish, “Phoenix Resting on Rosy Clouds,” rightfully claimed first place in the Hundred Flavors Trial.

When the news reached the kitchen, Madam Huang and her sister, Madam Huang Erniang, were overjoyed.

Madam Huang had been confident in her dish, believing it would be well received, but she had never imagined it would take first place.

To achieve first place among so many master chefs, skill was important, but luck also played a role—if the trial’s attendees had fewer people who favored this particular taste, if fewer scholars had composed poetry, or if the dish’s concept had not resonated with the officials, the title could have easily slipped away.

The event steward, an old acquaintance of Madam Huang, was the first to inform her of the good news. He grinned and said, “Madam Huang, this is truly ‘a good person receiving good fortune’! Your dish was already excellent, but you also have to thank Du Yunse’s words for pushing it to the top.”

“Where did you even get your hands on his husband’s special red fermented bean curd? I didn’t get a chance to taste it, but the seasoned gourmets at the trial were all full of praise for it! Some are already asking for the recipe!”

Madam Huang quickly understood that her luck in winning first place stemmed from this very ingredient. She was delighted beyond measure and grateful that she had chosen to befriend Qiu Huanian’s family from the start.

Indeed, a good person receives good fortune.

Who would have thought that a scholar from a rural county like Zhang County would go on to become the top scorer of Liaoping Prefecture’s examination and, with just a few words, influence the results of the prefect’s prestigious culinary event?

If Wei Ji’s spice shop owner, Wei Dexing, found out, he would surely be wracked with regret.

“The red fermented bean curd? I bought it directly from Du Gongzi’s husband. If you want the recipe, you’ll have to ask them,” Madam Huang said, then hesitated with some concern.

“But the attendees of the Hundred Flavors Trial are all prominent figures… If they want the recipe, could this cause trouble?”

The steward laughed, “What do you take Du Gongzi for? If it were an ordinary commoner, there might be some unscrupulous individuals who would resort to coercion or threats. But the one who owns the recipe is the husband of our Liaoping Prefecture’s most promising young scholar. Who would dare make a move against him?”

Madam Huang sighed in relief. “I was just overthinking because I care too much.”

The steward chuckled, “Alright, the major figures of the trial are still discussing matters. I just came ahead to tell you the news so you could prepare—you’ll be heading up to Mingfeng Terrace soon to receive your award.”

On Mingfeng Terrace, the evaluation results were in.

A total of six dishes received awards, four of which were crafted by renowned chefs from Liaoping Prefecture’s prestigious restaurants and eateries. The other two were from lesser-known places.

However, after today, these two chefs would surely receive lucrative offers from major establishments.

Among them, Madam Huang, who secured first place, had already caught the attention of several wealthy merchants involved in the restaurant business.

Making money was one thing, but gaining literary prestige was just as important.

The prefect and the scholars also recited the poems composed by the new xiucai, with Yu Min’s poem being deemed the best.

And coincidentally, the dish Yu Min praised in his poem was none other than “Phoenix Resting on Rosy Clouds”, closely tied to Du Yunse.

Those familiar with Yu Min’s temperament couldn’t help but glance at him. In response, Yu Min simply lifted his chin and remained silent.

He didn’t accept being inferior to Du Yunse and firmly believed that as long as he found the right path, he would surpass him one day. But that didn’t affect other matters. Writing poetry to accompany dishes at the Hundred Flavors Trial was meant to be an elegant and playful tradition. If he was going to write, he would naturally choose the best dish to do so. Otherwise, what was the point? Avoiding the dish just because it was connected to Du Yunse would only make it seem like he feared him.

Yu Min looked toward Du Yunse, waiting for his reaction. However, Du Yunse merely offered a few calm words of praise for Yu Min’s poem, his expression devoid of any particular emotion. This left Yu Min feeling somewhat frustrated.

Qingfeng Academy’s headmaster, Min Taikang, observed this and shook his head slightly. Although Yu Min had started to gain some insight and improve, he was still too hot-blooded, with his emotions easily showing on his face. If he had a peer who could consistently suppress him with their composed demeanor, his growth would likely be much quicker.

This made Min Taikang even more eager to invite Du Yunse to study at Qingfeng Academy. However, he was in no hurry to broach the topic. The academy’s next enrollment period was in early spring next year, so there was still time to discuss the matter after the Hundred Flavors Trial.

Once the six award-winning chefs, brimming with joy, ascended Mingfeng Terrace to receive their prizes, the Hundred Flavors Trial—though having experienced a slight disturbance at the beginning—was drawing to a smooth and successful conclusion.

Some officials’ family members and merchants approached Du Yunse, hoping to buy the recipe for the special red fermented bean curd used in “Rainbow Phoenix Nesting in the Rosy Clouds.” However, no matter how high they offered, Du Yunse rejected them all.

“The red fermented bean curd is a specialty of the capital and is rarely seen in Liaozhou. My husband painstakingly developed this particular recipe himself. Even if it were placed in the capital, its unique taste would still set it apart, making it truly exceptional.”

“My husband is in poor health and needs proper care. He currently has no energy to think about recipes. I wouldn’t dare make decisions on his behalf, so I ask everyone to wait for now.”

Upon hearing Du Yunse’s words, the group was left utterly perplexed. These were people from wealthy and well-connected backgrounds, knowledgeable and well-traveled. Naturally, they had tasted red fermented bean curd from the capital before. They knew it was indeed delicious, which was why they wanted to buy the recipe.

Yet Du Yunse, while refusing to sell the recipe, continued to highlight how excellent and rare it was, emphasizing how difficult it had been to develop. What exactly was he trying to say? Was he willing to sell it or not?

Had Du Yunse and his husband been ordinary commoners, these individuals wouldn’t have wasted time pondering over his words. They would have simply sent their servants to seize him, interrogate him for the recipe, and throw some money at him afterward.

However, Du Yunse was no mere commoner. He was the newly appointed to scorer, with the prefect and the education commissioner openly expressing their admiration for him. Even the headmaster of Qingfeng Academy held him in high regard. In the Yu Dynasty, nothing was valued more than scholarship. These merchants and officials’ relatives did not dare to act rashly and could only follow Du Yunse’s advice to wait.

After turning away these prospective buyers, Du Yunse took advantage of the remaining time before the Hundred Flavors Trial ended to approach Prefect Si Jing.

Ever since Qiu Huanian had suddenly collapsed earlier that day, Du Yunse had been restless, wishing only to stay by his side at the annex. He had even been prepared to take leave and skip the Hundred Flavors Trial altogether.

The only reason he was here was because Qiu Huanian wanted him to “promote” the red fermented bean curd. Whatever Hua Ge’er instructed him to do was of utmost importance. Since he had come, he would ensure that every step was executed flawlessly.

Si Jing, seeing Du Yunse approach him of his own accord, smiled and asked, “What brings you here, Master Du?”

Du Yunse said, “Just now, several people approached me to purchase the recipe for the special red fermented bean curd, but unfortunately, my husband is currently unwell and unable to handle the matter.”

“Thanks to everyone’s kindness, I have decided to offer the few jars of red fermented bean curd I brought with me for the examination journey as gifts. However, there are only nine jars in total. Since the Hundred Flavors Trial was hosted by Your Excellency, I wouldn’t dare take the liberty of deciding their distribution. May I trouble you, sir, to handle the allocation instead?”