jdhmnovel Chapter 127 Onlookers
Chapter 127 Onlookers
The top scholar who was chosen as a son-in-law after failing the imperial examination was named Chen Kai. The legendary Chen Shimei was a distant relative, a relative separated by ten generations.
In the Western Liang Dynasty, there was also a Chen Shimei. When Shangguan Zhihua heard about it, she was quite shocked. It seems that Chen Shimei is everywhere! In every fictional society, there is such a person, and they are all unfaithful men with similar storylines.
For over a century, scholars from the Chen family have been looked down upon. Daughters from respectable families were mostly unwilling to marry scholars from the Chen family, simply because the Chen family had produced a notorious traitor like Chen Shimei.
Chen Kai was so distraught after being forced into marriage by the infamous Princess Qianjiao that he felt like dying! He had a good relationship with his wife and two adorable children, and he absolutely did not want to become a second Chen Shimei (a notorious figure in Chinese folklore known for abandoning his wife). Moreover, the thought of marrying such a despicable woman as Princess Qianjiao made his heart sink into an icy abyss.
He was imprisoned by the princess's men in a three-courtyard house, and he was mentally prepared to die a heroic death. He secretly vowed that he would rather die than marry the princess.
However, if he dies, will the princess harm his wife, children, and parents? Given Princess Qianjiao's character and conduct, this possibility is extremely high!
So what should he do? He couldn't die, and he couldn't stay alive. Chen Kai banged his head against the wall repeatedly, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, his heart filled with immense torment.
If he had known this would happen, why would he have bothered taking the imperial examination? If he had known this would happen, he would have honestly become a minor scholar and stayed in the countryside, teaching the village children to read and write.
Now, he's fallen to a state worse than death! No, it seems even more miserable than death. The thought of spending his life with that disgusting princess makes his heart tremble.
No! I'd rather die than touch that vicious woman!
Chen Kai screamed inwardly, tears of sorrow streaming down his face.
Three days of such agonizing days passed in the blink of an eye.
By this time, he had been on a hunger strike for three days. He was on the verge of collapse, and he could even feel his life slipping away bit by bit.
Just then, the door, which had been locked from the outside, was opened. A ray of blinding sunlight shone in.
Is this the day of our wedding?
Chen Kai was terrified and shouted in a hoarse voice, "What are you trying to do? I'm telling you, I will never submit! I will never be a second Chen Shimei, and I will never let my descendants live in shame."
The visitor said impatiently, "Get out of here! You can leave now. My princess is already married!"
His Majesty has gone too far, marrying off the princess in just three days. Even the princess's residence is merely a temporary five-courtyard house; a magnificent new princess residence has not been built.
We can leave now? The princess got married?!
Chen Kai stared wide-eyed in disbelief, and numbly walked out of the house where he had been held captive for three days, shoved by the newcomers. Bright sunlight shone down, falling on his body and face.
The sun is shining again, and I don't have to divorce my wife or marry that wicked woman anymore. It's wonderful, absolutely wonderful!
Chen Kai couldn't help but cheer with joy. The heavy weight that had been pressing on his heart had finally been lifted. He could go home, he could happily go home and tell his parents, wife, and children that he had become the top scholar!
He wanted to share this joy with his wife, parents, children, and relatives. He wanted to tell his parents and clansmen that he had not disgraced the Chen family. He had withstood the test and had not become a second Chen Shimei. He was Chen Kai, a man of integrity and uprightness!
He stood at the street corner, gesturing wildly, and wept with joy.
Those in the know discussed the matter extensively, with opinions varying. However, most people praised Chen Kai.
Zisu happened to be passing by in a carriage and, upon seeing this scene, was deeply moved.
Goodnight, my dears.
She said to Xiangli, "This Chen Kai is admirable; he's a good person!"
Xiangli's eyes were already blurred with tears: "Yes, he really is a good man, a respectable good man!" Unafraid of power, he even went on a hunger strike to avoid betraying his wife and children. Such good men are rare these days; his wife is truly fortunate.
To be protected and cared for by a man like this is such a blessing!
Luo Jianming sat in front of the car, looked back at Xiangli with tears in her eyes, and secretly vowed in his heart: Xiangli, I will treat you very, very well. For you, I am willing to give up anything and do anything!
The top scholar came from a poor family. The brocade robe he wore on the day the results were announced was hastily made by his wife after she sold a pig and bought cloth before he went to take the exam. His wife specifically told him to wear it on the day of the palace examination and the day the results were announced, for good luck.
However, to his utter surprise, his new clothes attracted the attention of that wicked woman. Had he dressed like a poor man, he might have escaped this predicament. After all, Xu Chu, the second-place scholar, was also a scholar in his early twenties. Although he was nowhere near as handsome as Chen Kai and Fang Heng, he was still quite dignified.
Just as Chen Kai was weeping with joy at the street corner, he, Xu Chu, and a group of fellow graduates were having a meal at the nearby Good Days Restaurant. Hearing the news, the two rushed over and quickly pulled Chen Kai along, saying, "Brother Chen, please come with us to the Good Days Restaurant, take a good bath, and change your clothes. Everyone's there; let's get together and chat!"
Chen Kai, holding Fang Heng's hand, laughed and cried at the same time: "Brother Fang, you have no idea how many days I was locked up. You have no idea how desperate I was. I thought I was going to let my wife and children down for the rest of my life. Because of this, I went on a hunger strike for three days, intending to end it all to avoid implicating my family. But then I was so worried, if I died, would that person take their anger out on my family? Thinking about that, I didn't even dare to die, otherwise, I would have already smashed my head against a wall! Waaah..."
The crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger, and people whispered among themselves.
Xu Chu panicked and quickly reached out to cover Chen Kai's mouth; "Brother Chen, why are you crying? You're a grown man, why are you crying? Stop crying, lots of people are watching!"
Fang Heng shook his head: "Brother Xu, let him cry for a while! He'll feel much better after he's cried it out."
For Chen Kai, the past few days have been nothing short of a catastrophe. Now that he has survived, he's afraid he'll develop mental health problems if he doesn't let out a good cry.
After crying for a while, Chen Kai felt much better. He wiped away his tears and said apologetically, "Brother Fang, Brother Xu, I'm sorry you had to laugh at me. But I just had a brush with death, and I was really heartbroken. I couldn't breathe without crying. I'll never do this again, so please don't take offense!"
Fang Heng quickly replied, "No problem, no problem! Come on, let's go to Hao Ri Restaurant, everyone's waiting for you! If we could find you, we would definitely invite you to join us for dinner!"
Chen Kai cupped his hands to the crowd and said, "Everyone, please excuse my rudeness! I'm a survivor, and I couldn't help myself. Please forgive me!"
The crowd erupted in laughter. They parted to make way for the three of them.
Zisu looked at Fang Heng, a hint of approval in her eyes.
This Fang Heng doesn't seem to be such a pedantic person, which is good!
Fang Heng was walking at the back when he suddenly felt someone watching him. He subconsciously looked up and met Zi Su's smiling gaze.
Fang Heng smiled and nodded at Zisu, then waved.
Zisu smiled slightly at him, lowered the carriage curtain, and the carriage continued on its way. She was going to the cloth shop ahead to buy some fabric to sew two sets of uniforms for each of the young men and women she had brought back.
The word "uniform" originated from Shangguan Zhihua's words in a previous life.
After leaving the cloth shop, Zisu felt hungry, so she said to Shen Laihui, who was driving the carriage, "Brother Shen, let's go to the Good Days Restaurant!"
"Yes, miss!" Shen Laihui replied with a smile. The carriage turned around and headed towards the main branch of the Good Days Restaurant.
When Zisu dine at the Good Days Restaurant, she usually goes to the main branch, because Jiang Shichang is based there. Furthermore, Jiang Shichang has reserved a private room for the Princess at the main branch, and when Zisu visits, he uses that room to entertain her.
Before she even got out of the car, a waiter from the Good Days Restaurant came out to greet her: "Welcome, Princess Yulin! It's been a long time since you've been here. The manager often talks about you!"
Zisu smiled slightly: "Yes, it's been a long time! Is Uncle Jiang here?"
Waiter: "The manager is eating. I'll go and report to him right away."
Zisu found a seat by the window in the hall and sat down. Immediately, a waiter brought tea and snacks: "Princess, please have some tea first and wait a moment. We have distinguished guests at Zizhu Pavilion, who should be coming down soon, so please wait a little while."
The Purple Bamboo Pavilion was a private room reserved for the eldest princess.
Zisu smiled and nodded: "Okay, it's alright."
Just then, Jiang Shichang came downstairs: "Oh, it's Zisu! Please come in quickly. You know the guest in Zizhu Pavilion, she's the Empress's niece."
After Zisu returned to the capital from the Northwest, she had a chance encounter with Yu Cailian, the Empress's niece, at the Good Days Restaurant. The two, who were of similar age, became good friends with the help of the Princess.
Zisu said happily, "Oh, Cailian is here? Okay, I'll go to Zizhu Pavilion to see her right away. Please take care of my men, Uncle; they're all hungry."
Jiang Shichang: "No problem, you just go find Miss Yu."