Peach Blossom Flat, Peach Blossom Manor.
On one side sat Zhu Yushan and Li Hanyu. On the other sat Tu Yujiao, with her sisters Tu Yuya and Tu Yuqing.
At the head of the table were Lu Zheng, Shen Ying, Liu Qingyan, and Si Lingxi.
The three halls gathering… ahem… began to clear up… ahem… began to explain the misunderstanding.
As the only true victim, Zhu Yushan spoke first. “Yesterday afternoon I was invited to Wenhua Tower to discuss literature and classics. I dined with the others, but Liu Licheng did not attend. After we parted, I went to his home to check on him, as it was on my way.”
Zhu Yushan continued. “The moment I arrived, I saw him bewitched by this… this Miss Tu. He was at his own front door, in full public view, performing indecent acts with no one there. I thought he had fallen under some evil influence, so I… I acted at once.”
Everyone nodded, then turned to Tu Yujiao.
Tu Yujiao gave a delicate snort and said coldly. “I was simply enjoying myself around Yizhou Prefecture when that Liu fellow pestered me. I ignored him, but he persisted, saying things like inviting me to view his goldfish, all with vulgar intent.
“Pah. I have lived nearly a hundred years. Did he think I would not understand his meaning? So I followed him home, clouded his mind, and made him believe he was tumbling with me, while in truth he was only making a fool of himself at his doorstep.”
Everyone nodded. The sequence of events was now clear.
Tu Yujiao went on. “Then this Zhu scholar appeared and attacked me without a word. Hmph. With such meagre cultivation, he thought to play the hero? And without even asking what had happened.
“So I subdued him easily, took him and that Liu fellow out of the city, found a manor, and made them each copy the classic ‘Ode to the Gentleman’ one hundred times. I wanted them to learn what it truly means to be a gentleman.”
Everyone. “…”
Li Hanyu, holding back her anger, asked. “My husband acted without knowing the truth. Why did you not explain?”
Tu Yuqing glanced at Tu Yujiao, but it was Tu Yuya who replied. “Then why did your husband not ask a single question before striking?”
“I was in a hurry to break the spell on Brother Liu. After all, he had opened his door and was right there in the street…” Zhu Yushan gave a wry smile. “Miss Tu’s cultivation is profound. I knew I was no match, so I could only give my all.”
Li Hanyu glared fiercely at Zhu Yushan. “That Liu caused you to miss the examination, and you still call him Brother Liu?”
Liu Qingyan nodded. “Lust at first sight. Not a good man.”
Zhu Yushan could only smile bitterly and nod, saying nothing. He could hardly admit that, during breaks in their literary discussion at Wenhua Tower, several scholars had fantasised about passing the imperial exams and then having beauties throw themselves into their arms, with red sleeves adding fragrance to the night.
As for Lu Zheng, he kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, pretending to have heard nothing.
Li Hanyu asked Zhu Yushan. “Did you not tell her you had an examination today?”
Tu Yujiao rolled her eyes. “He did not. That Liu fellow did mention it. Besides, even if he had, what difference would it make? Their examination has nothing to do with me. They could leave once they finished copying the ‘Ode to the Gentleman’ one hundred times.”
Zhu Yushan sighed. “I had already copied ninety-eight of them. I truly thought I could finish in time.”
Everyone. “…”
Lu Zheng, speechless, said. “You actually copied them.”
Zhu Yushan nodded. “The fault was mine. I misunderstood Miss Tu and struck first. Miss Tu only required me to copy the ode one hundred times. That was already very lenient.”
It was indeed so. Tu Yujiao had acted with cause and had not endangered Liu’s life. Zhu Yushan had attacked her first and failed. Naturally, the fault lay with him.
Yes. When both sides had their own justifications, the one who prevailed was the one in the right.
Moreover, at the time Zhu Yushan’s life had been entirely in Tu Yujiao’s hands. Had she been a vicious demon, he would likely have lost his life. Being made to copy the ode one hundred times was, by comparison, exceedingly courteous.
Li Hanyu pursed her lips, finding nothing to say. She merely shook her head in mild exasperation.
“Hmph. Was it really necessary?” Tu Yujiao entirely failed to understand their frustration. “I was very courteous, was I not? It was only one examination. You are not ordinary mortals. Would you truly care about a single worldly imperial exam?”
Li Hanyu turned her head away in silent sulk. Zhu Yushan smiled helplessly and shook his head without speaking.
Liu Qingyan could only explain. “Brother Zhu’s fortune with the examinations has never been good…”
She then briefly recounted Zhu Yushan’s examination history over the past dozen years or so, placing particular emphasis on recent events. For instance, missing an exam yet marrying Li Hanyu. Missing an exam yet making great strides in cultivation and chess. Missing an exam yet gaining a century-old turtle demon disciple.
The Tu sisters. “…”
Si Lingxi, hearing Zhu Yushan’s tale for the first time, looked at him with curiosity. Divine light flickered in her eyes as if trying to see through him completely.
When Liu Qingyan finished, Li Hanyu said glumly. “This time we had taken lodgings directly opposite the academy. It was the best chance in over a decade to attend the examination.”
Tu Yujiao’s mouth twitched. She felt a little embarrassed. “I… I did not know… that he… was so unlucky…”
At this point, Tu Yujiao shrank back slightly. She looked at Zhu Yushan with an odd expression. “I caused you to miss your examination this time. Does that mean I must marry you?”
Zhu Yushan. “???”
Li Hanyu immediately turned, tense. “That will not be necessary!”
Everyone could not help laughing. Lu Zheng winked at Zhu Yushan and teased. “You know, every time Brother Zhu misses an exam, he always gains something else. One wonders what it will be this time.”
Zhu Yushan’s eyes widened. He had not expected Lu Zheng to fan the flames. He quickly shook his head and waved his hands. “No, no. I need nothing this time. No, I never expected anything before either.”
Tu Yujiao’s eyes gleamed. She bit her lower lip lightly. A bewitching charm flowed from her silken gaze as she gave a soft, teasing laugh. “Truth be told, you are different from other scholars. Not only unmoved by me, but you accepted your loss gracefully. You never begged for mercy. You simply copied. You reached ninety-eight, while that other scholar managed only thirty-odd…”
Zhu Yushan’s eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. Li Hanyu’s face flushed crimson. She regarded Tu Yujiao with distinct hostility.
Seeing both on the verge of exploding, the kind-hearted Tu Yuqing hurriedly patted her sister. “Stop speaking so recklessly. Master Zhu and Miss Li are Qingyan’s good friends. You should apologise at once.”
Tu Yujiao already knew Liu Qingyan’s status. Having gained the upper hand, she decided not to tease further. She rose, gave a slight curtsy, and said in a sweet voice. “I am sorry, Master Zhu. I caused you to miss another examination. I truly did not know beforehand. Please accept my apology.”
Zhu Yushan and Li Hanyu quickly stood and returned the courtesy. Zhu Yushan said. “No, no. It was simply not meant to be.”
At that moment, Si Lingxi, seated at the head, finally spoke. “This matter truly had nothing to do with fate. Although Tu Yujiao caused you to miss the examination this time, the real reason lies within yourself.”
