The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 93: The Unfaithful One

Chapter 93: The Unfaithful One

Old Lady Jin responded promptly, hurrying back into the house to retrieve a basket from the cabinet. It was filled with red envelopes, each wrapped in crimson paper and containing a silver coin worth two qian.

These were the prepared gratuities Qiu Huanian had set aside in anticipation of the examination results being announced.

Each of the heralds received one. Judging by the weight of the envelopes, the amount was generous, and their smiles broadened accordingly.

“We won’t impose with tea,” one of them said politely. “There are still other successful candidates to visit in the area. We must deliver the good news promptly.”

The herald teams were organized by district, and they announced the results in order of rank. As the provincial Jieyuan, Du Yunse’s home was the first on their route.

Qiu Huanian didn’t press them to stay. He simply instructed Old Lady Jin to escort them out with proper courtesy.

Meng Yuanling retrieved the firecrackers they had prepared in advance, with Chun Sheng bouncing excitedly in his wake.

“Quick, let’s set them off!”

Qiu Huanian handed over the incense stick and reminded Old Lady Jin to supervise them closely.

Chun Sheng placed the firecrackers at the main gate, lit the fuse with an extended hand, dropped the incense immediately, clapped his hands over his ears, and darted back inside.

Behind him, the firecrackers erupted, sending up smoke and sharp crackling sounds that echoed through the neighborhood in a celebratory three-hundred-count burst.

With the Jieyuan emerging from their very own district, the neighbors were thrilled—feeling as though they too had basked in the glory of this scholarly star.

Soon, representatives from neighboring households began arriving with congratulatory gifts.

With Du Yunse now Jieyuan, his household had become the focus of all Liaozhou. Qiu Huanian ordered the main gate to be flung open, the threshold removed, and all visitors to be received with full honors.

Every attendant who arrived bearing congratulations was handed a red envelope in return.

Gifts that weren’t overly extravagant were graciously accepted. Meng Yuanling was tasked with documenting them all—names, items, and obligations to be repaid in the future.

By the time Jin San finally returned, drenched in sweat from his errand, the courtyard had already received countless waves of well-wishers.

Even though the master already knew his ranking, Jin San still recited a flood of auspicious phrases he had rehearsed on the way back.

Be it Old Lady Jin, Shanhu, or Jin San himself, their faces were stretched with smiles nearly wide enough to reach their ears.

With such a promising master, the servants’ fortunes would naturally rise. In the servant world, too, status mattered.

When their previous master had been convicted and his estate seized, they’d all been sold off, scattered across distant provinces. For a while, it had seemed like there was no future.

Yet now, barely half a year later, they were back in service under the roof of a provincial Jieyuan!

Young Master Du—so young, yet already Jieyuan. With even brighter prospects ahead, the mere thought filled them with hope.

After showering the household with blessings, Jin San licked his parched lips and began listing the examination rankings.

“This year, thirty-two candidates passed the provincial exam. Our master is the Jieyuan. That Qi Yazhi fellow came in second as the Ya Yuan. Qingfeng Academy had six candidates make the list. Among those the master inquired about, Wang Yinzhi placed thirty-second.”

The Ya Yuan was the runner-up. Qi Yazhi had been widely predicted to contend for Jieyuan, and his strong showing confirmed his talent.

Qiu Huanian recalled that more than a thousand scholars had sat for this year’s Liaozhou provincial exam, yet only thirty-two were admitted—a pass rate of less than three percent, truly grueling.

That Qingfeng Academy had six names on the list reaffirmed its place as the premier academy of the province. Once word of the results spread, its headmaster, Min Taikang, would surely be lauded again.

Qiu Huanian asked one more question. “What about Yu Min?”

Du Yunse’s gaze shifted faintly.

“He wasn’t on the list. I spotted him at the announcement but only from afar—he was sitting in a carriage. I didn’t get a good look.”

“Alright,” Qiu Huanian nodded. “Go help Old Lady Jin sort through the gifts in the front yard. Some households have sent fragile items—be careful.”

Once Jin San left, Qiu Huanian turned to Du Yunse with a teasing smile.

“You were sneaking looks at me earlier. What were you thinking? Be honest.”

“…Is Hua Ge’er very concerned about Yu Min?”

Qiu Huanian chuckled. “He’s at least an acquaintance. I was simply curious about how he performed. But it seems he didn’t make it.”

Du Yunse replied seriously, “Yu Min is talented in literature, but his grasp of strategy is underdeveloped. Sitting the provincial exam was already a stretch. Even if he had passed, he would’ve ranked low.”

“He left the academy two months before the exam to study elsewhere. Not passing isn’t surprising.”

Qiu Huanian sighed. “It’s better to remain grounded. Being an official requires practical skills. I wonder if the Yu family regrets their choices.”

After a moment’s reflection, he changed the subject.

“This Wang Yinzhi—also from Qingfeng Academy? You specifically asked after him.”

“He’s from Class B. Nearly thirty. Comes from a poor family. He passed the county-level exam just last year. He had no energy left to fully prepare for the provincial one, so this was a long shot for him. If he’d failed, he planned to go home and open a private school.”

“Class B? That’s impressive.”

Qingfeng Academy grouped students by academic performance. Many in Class A didn’t pass, yet someone from Class B did. It was a tale of grit and determination.

“This was survival under pressure. Every exam season sees its share of joy and sorrow.”

Word of Du Yunse’s achievement spread rapidly through Xiangping Prefecture. Zhu Jingcheng and Zhu Jingwei came personally to offer congratulations.

Su Xinbai, confined by illness, selected gifts himself and sent them with Zhu Jingcheng.

“Jieyuan! Haha! I, Zhu Jingwei, actually have a Jieyuan as a friend! Last year during the Dragon Boat Festival, when I snuck off to the Love River instead of studying—worth it!”

Zhu Jingcheng glanced at him. “You skipped class and dare speak so boldly?”

Zhu Jingwei immediately admitted fault. “Brother, my dearest brother—don’t scold me on such a happy day!”

Even Zhu Jingcheng couldn’t suppress a smile.

“You may have been in the wrong, but I must admit—meeting Yunse and Huanian was indeed a fortunate outcome.”

When Zhu Jingcheng had befriended Du Yunse, it had partly been out of admiration for his intellect and partly as a strategic investment in a rising star.

Little had he imagined that this investment would yield dividends so soon—a Jieyuan within just over a year.

At this rate, in another half-year, he might be backing a Jinshi.

Perhaps even a Tanhua, Bangyan, or Zhuangyuan.

Upon hearing the results, the Zhu family patriarch had personally summoned Zhu Jingcheng and advised him to solidify relations with Du Yunse.

He understood well that successful commerce needed official support.

In this generation, the Zhu family had gained favor with Su Yi and the Left Administration Commissioner.

In the next, that backing might come from Du Yunse.

With that in mind, the Zhu family prepared their gifts meticulously.

The two brothers first presented their personal offerings. Then, away from prying eyes, they unveiled a box.

Inside were the deeds to two shops in the capital and one estate on its outskirts.

One was a single-story shop, the other a two-story building—both in bustling commercial areas. The estate spanned sixty mu, a moderate holding.

Given capital land prices, the package was worth at least three to four thousand taels.

Moreover, property in the capital was rarely sold—only families in dire straits parted with such assets. Even with money, they weren’t easily acquired.

No wonder this gift had been delivered in secret. Its value was astonishing.

Zhu Jingcheng looked at Du Yunse solemnly.

“We’ve known each other for over a year. You know my character—and the Zhu family’s. This gift represents the whole Zhu household. Please accept it.”

It was a direct pledge of allegiance.

Qiu Huanian remained silent. He left the intricacies of officialdom to Du Yunse.

Officials and merchants were inherently intertwined: merchants needed protection, officials needed channels.

As long as there was no corruption, no exploitation, such partnerships were not to be scorned. The purest official wasn’t always the most competent.

Du Yunse accepted the deeds, locking eyes with Zhu Jingcheng.

“I accept this gift because you are the Zhu family’s future.”

Zhu Jingcheng smiled. “Thank you for your trust, Yunse.”

The properties were not only valuable but highly practical. With them, Qiu Huanian could establish his businesses or research ventures in the capital with ease.

It was a gesture of rare sincerity. Du Yunse accepted it, and Qiu Huanian had no qualms—he trusted his judgment.

The day after the provincial examination results were posted came the Lu Ming Banquet, where imperial examiners toasted the new Juren.

In Xiangping Prefecture, everyone—from poets and courtesans to laborers and peddlers—buzzed about the exam results.

Du Yunse, young, handsome, and celebrated, had taken the top honor. He became the talk of the town.

Then someone discovered that the immensely popular Qiu’s Six Staples was run by the Jieyuan’s husband, and the public flocked to the shop in droves.

Meng Yuanling returned from the store, beaming.

“Business had slowed with flower dew out of season and cooling oil less popular. But these past two days, it’s booming again!”

“Everyone comes to gawk, and they all buy popcorn, roast duck, snacks—the numbers have doubled!”

Meng Yuanling, having learned bookkeeping from Qiu Huanian, used familiar terms naturally.

“Give every snack buyer twenty percent extra. Say it’s in celebration.”

“Got it!” Meng Yuanling laughed. “Many want to meet the legendary Jieyuan’s husband.”

“I’ll go by more often, once I’ve handled the cotton business.”

Meanwhile, new Juren across the prefecture were hosting banquets in celebration. As Jieyuan, Du Yunse was inundated with invitations.

Qiu Huanian asked, “You and Jiu Jiu are being so secretive—won’t let me plan the banquet. How’s it coming?”

Meng Yuanling and Jiu Jiu were organizing both Qiu Huanian’s birthday and Du Yunse’s congratulatory banquet. They’d been preparing for days, spending freely.

Whenever Qiu Huanian tried to get details, they’d wave him off—“The birthday person shouldn’t plan the banquet.”

The mystery only heightened Qiu Huanian’s anticipation.

Meng Yuanling grinned. “We’ve set the date—seven days from now. Tomorrow, the seamstress will come to take your and Brother Yunse’s measurements for new clothes. Make sure your schedule is clear.”

They wouldn’t even let him see the fabric.

Qiu Huanian sighed, “Alright.”

“Also, I need your full birth date and time. We’re lighting a lamp for you at the shrine.”

“Since when did you start believing in gods?”

“I asked around—everyone in Xiangping does it for birthdays. We can’t skip it.”

With no other choice, Qiu Huanian scribbled down his birth details.

The first characters matched the original owner’s, but he changed the time slightly, out of superstition, using his own. No one remembered the original’s exact birth time, after all.

Meng Yuanling took the note happily and left.

Jiu Jiu, watching from a distance, received a silent hand signal confirming all had gone smoothly.

…

Following the examination, the newly minted Juren continued to host banquets without pause.

As the newly appointed Jieyuan, Du Yunse was inundated with invitations. To cultivate connections among his fellow Jinshi, he made a point of attending many such gatherings.

That day, a wealthy Juren by the name of Li was hosting yet another banquet at his residence. Having attended several before, Du Yunse had initially decided to forgo this one—until Wang Yinzhi sought him out.

“You wish to accompany me to the Li family banquet, Brother Wang?”

Wang Yinzhi looked a little abashed. Since attaining the rank of Juren, his mind had found clarity on many scholarly questions that once seemed elusive. He was eager to seize this momentum and travel to the capital for the metropolitan examination in the spring. Yet his family’s limited means posed a significant obstacle. Despite the fifteen acres granted to him upon passing the provincial exam, saving enough for the journey seemed an insurmountable challenge.

As a low-ranked and already-married Juren, he had no hope of gaining the patronage of affluent merchant families.

Nor could he accept money from those who sought to exploit a scholar’s name for dubious ends.

Thus, he had resolved to spend half a year as a private tutor in wealthy households, hoping to save enough. These past weeks, he had been consumed with that endeavor.

Lacking social finesse, Wang had relied on Du Yunse’s presence at earlier gatherings. Now, swallowing his pride, he had come to seek his aid.

“I’ve heard,” he said, “that many notables from the prominent clans of Xiangping Prefecture will be in attendance today…”

Understanding dawned on Du Yunse. He rose to his feet. “Very well. I’ll accompany you, Brother Wang.”

Just then, Qiu Huanian emerged from within. Wang Yinzhi quickly offered a bow.

Qiu Huanian smiled kindly. “There’s no need for formality, Mr. Wang. You and Yunse are not only fellow alumni of Qingfeng Academy, but also Juren of the same year. You must support one another in the days to come.”

“I’ll have Jin San ready the carriage to take you there.”

He stepped forward and straightened Du Yunse’s collar. “Don’t drink too much at the banquet, and come home early.”

Wang Yinzhi watched them with a soft smile, his thoughts drifting to his own wife, mother, and children back home. His heart warmed.

Once he secured a decent tutoring post, he could bring his family to visit Xiangping Prefecture in comfort.

A son of farmers carries the weight and hope of his entire household.

Jin San drove them to the Li residence, where the banquet was being held in the garden.

Li Juren, though somewhat talented, owed much of his advancement to his father-in-law—a wealthy merchant who had taken note of his potential early on and married his daughter to him. Merchants, barred from sitting for the imperial exams, often used such marriages to forge ties to officialdom.

But the path was uncertain, and easily squandered.

Until Li passed the exam, his extravagant lifestyle had been entirely underwritten by his in-laws, and he’d often been forced to bow to his wife’s authority.

Now, as a newly minted Juren who had placed third, everything had changed. His prospects were dazzling, and the power dynamics within the household had shifted dramatically.

On the very day the exam results were announced, his in-laws had sent over a stunning sixteen-year-old cousin from their extended family, unwilling to risk missing their moment of influence.

Within ten days, Li had already taken three concubines and acquired over a dozen beautiful maids and attendants.

Madam Li, it was said, had remained secluded, appearing only once—when her cousin was delivered. Since then, she claimed illness while Li reveled in his newfound freedom.

Du Yunse and Wang Yinzhi were shown to their seats in the garden, where guests mingled amid the fragrance of osmanthus. A small lake occupied the center, its withered lotuses replaced by silken blossoms floating on the surface.

Graceful pavilions ringed the lake, where maids flitted about in flowing sleeves, attending to the guests.

Du Yunse sat poised and composed. Wang Yinzhi, by contrast, was visibly uneasy.

Before long, their host, Li Juren, emerged, greeted the assembly with a formal bow, and had musicians strike up their instruments.

“They say a refined banquet must have entertainment, or else it turns dull,” he announced with a smirk. “As it happens, I recently acquired a new concubine—quite skilled in dance. Let her offer a performance for everyone’s delight.”

Guests murmured amongst themselves.

“Which concubine is this?” someone asked.

“The fourth, I believe,” came the reply. “Purchased through an official broker. They say she’s breathtaking. Li Juren was smitten at first sight.”

“Then we’re in for a show.”

Wang Yinzhi frowned and leaned toward Du Yunse. “Brother, let’s find an excuse to leave after the dance. This is not my kind of place.”

Du Yunse nodded. He wouldn’t have come at all were it not for Wang’s sake.

They agreed to slip away after the performance.

But no sooner had the dance concluded than Li Juren appeared with the concubine in question.

“Jieyuan Du, leaving already? Was my new beauty’s dance not to your taste?”

“Zao’er, apologize to Jieyuan Du.”

The woman, veiled with delicate gauze and clad in red silk that accentuated her slender form, glanced at Du Yunse.

Her heart skipped a beat.

This Jieyuan… so young, so brilliant, so impossibly handsome…

“Zao’er?” Li Juren prompted sternly.

Startled, she quickly regained composure and bowed gracefully. “Zao’er’s dancing must have been lacking. I beg your pardon, Jieyuan.”

Du Yunse responded coolly, “It was nothing. I have pressing matters at home.”

He turned to leave.

But Li Juren barred his path, waving his fan playfully. “What’s the rush, Brother Du? Is someone at home keeping you on a short leash?”

A glint of cold steel flashed in Du Yunse’s gaze.

Still oblivious, Li laughed. “You’re a Jieyuan now—why remain so timid? Even if your husband is a Township Lord, even if his business thrives, your family’s future still rests with your official career. Would you like me to show you how to assert your authority?”

The banquet guests turned their attention toward the exchange.

Du Yunse—young, brilliant, unburdened by children or powerful family ties—had long been the subject of speculation. Many hoped to gain his favor through lavish gifts or tempting beauties.

Were it not for Qiu Huanian’s title—granted by imperial edict—and Du Yunse’s consistent devotion to his husband, someone might have already made a move.