Chapter Thirty-Four: One Hundred Percent!

Three old men had gathered to reminisce. The young couple, who should have been enjoying a romantic evening under the moonlight, found themselves burdened by an unwanted third wheel.

"The Lady Knight must be tired. Cuihong has already prepared a guest room; wouldn't you like to get some rest?" Standing in the garden of the main courtyard, Chen Xiaofu looked at 'Princess Liang'—he certainly did not address her by her title.

Liang Jingru did not seem to grasp the subtext. She looked up at the gibbous moon in the night sky and replied, "It is still a bit early to sleep, and I am not tired."

Chen Xiaofu felt an urge to knock her out with a club, though he realized he was likely no match for her.

"Then... shall we drink tea and admire the moon?"

"That sounds lovely!"

The trio made their way to a pavilion. Once seated, Chen Xiaofu instructed Cuihong to bring out the tea set and brew a pot. An Xiaowei smoothed a strand of hair disheveled by the evening breeze, looked at Chen Xiaofu, and asked, "Jie'an?"

"Hmm?"

"Tomorrow... with such a grand spectacle, will you feel pressured?"

"Not at all. Isn't it just composing poetry and essays? There’s really no difficulty in that."

Liang Jingru, sitting to the side, seemed unable to resist picking a fight with him. She shot him a sidelong glance. "Pfft! No difficulty? Even the great Confucian scholars wouldn't dare make such a boast! Have you lost your mind? Who gave you the courage?"

Chen Xiaofu ignored the nuisance, but he noticed the faint trace of worry in An Xiaowei's eyes. Her concern was not unfounded. If the Lin'an Academy really sent students out to beat drums and broadcast the challenge throughout the city of Lin'an tomorrow morning, many people would surely flock to the academy to see for themselves.

A bastard who barely knew how to read, challenging all the students of the Lin'an Academy, as well as the twelve most brilliant scholars from the Qi State—and in poetry and literature at that! It was far too absurd. It would undoubtedly pique the curiosity of many.

If Chen Xiaofu won, he would naturally become famous. Everyone in Lin'an would re-evaluate him. But if he lost... that was the outcome everyone expected, and it would become the talk of the town, making Chen Xiaofu a laughingstock. News of either outcome would eventually reach the Imperial Capital through traveling merchants. Winning would be good; his grandfather would be pleased, and his parents might change their attitudes. But if he lost—well, in the eyes of the powerful families in the capital, he was already worthless. To add such a mockery to his name... his grandfather might not dare to step outside, and his parents would surely resume their talk of calling off the engagement.

An Xiaowei finally asked, "Are you... really that short of money?"

"Not really, but one can never have too much money."

An Xiaowei pondered for a moment. "How about we talk to Elder Jiang and the others before they leave and cancel this... this ticket-selling business? I have money, and I will bring all of it. Would that work?"

Chen Xiaofu smiled and lifted the teapot to pour tea. "Xiaowei, even if we didn't do this, the students at the Lin'an Academy would still demand that I prove myself. I took first place in the couplet contest, and they won't accept it. That is why Elder Xu and Elder Jiang came here tonight. They cannot explain to those students how I earned that first place, and those students would suspect them of cheating, questioning their integrity. Old people are particularly protective of their reputation. So, I cannot refuse. And since I cannot refuse, I must gain something from it. Besides, even if I lose, I have nothing to lose—I didn't spend a penny. But if I win, I can make a fortune!"

An Xiaowei blinked. "How confident are you in winning?"

Chen Xiaofu blurted out, "One hundred percent!"

An Xiaowei: "..."

Liang Jingru: "..."

Chen Xiaofu: "Come, come, drink your tea and enjoy the moon!"

Liang Jingru looked at Chen Xiaofu, thinking to herself that this fellow certainly had a thick skin!

They did not know that Chen Xiaofu’s main motivation for this decision was his hope that An Xiaowei could marry him with a happy heart. His predecessor's reputation wasn't exactly 'rotten'—he had never committed any evil deeds—but it was undeniably poor. No one in the capital looked twice at this bastard son of the God-General's mansion. The An family had suffered much ridicule because of it, with people whispering that the old master had gone blind and was pushing his granddaughter into a fire pit. Even if An Xiaowei didn't mind, her family and friends surely did. She had borne so much.

Now that he was here, he wouldn't let her carry those burdens anymore. He would make the people of the capital sit up and take notice! He would let everyone know that An Xiaowei’s husband was not an illiterate idiot, but a great man of letters!

Furthermore, he needed to show the woman in the Kaiyang God-General's mansion that he possessed profound talent. She would surely make a move. Lin'an was his home turf; he had his grandmother, Old Huang, and now A-Lai. She couldn't very well send an army to attack the Huaxi Villa, could she? She would likely hire martial artists to harm him. He needed to use this opportunity to see exactly what kind of attitude his 'father,' the Kaiyang God-General, held toward him.

...

The nineteenth day of the sixth month, the sixteenth year of the Feng Era. The sky was just beginning to brighten. An Xiaowei, always an early riser, was already up and being dressed by Cuihong. Cuihong already knew that the woman before her was the future young mistress of Huaxi Villa. She was delighted—not just because of the young mistress's peerless beauty, but because of her gentle nature.

"Miss, the young master should be in the back garden by now."

An Xiaowei was standing on the veranda of the main courtyard, looking at the scenery. Hearing this, she paused, "He is in the back garden so early... to admire the flowers?"

"Not at all, the young master is exercising."

"Exercising?"

"Yes. Ever since the young master woke up last time, he has been like a different person. He said he wanted to study, and he scared the Old Madam so much she had the library dismantled. Then he started exercising in the back garden, saying his body was too weak. The Old Master was worried at first, but now it seems the young master was right. His spirit and health are much better than before."

An Xiaowei grew interested. "Then... take me to see?"

"Of course!"

Liang Jingru was still asleep. The two walked through the covered walkway, passed through a moon gate, and arrived at the back garden. Indeed, Chen Xiaofu was jogging around the lotus pond. He was running quite fast. When he passed them, he waved a greeting. After finishing his run, he moved to the lawn and began a series of training exercises.

An Xiaowei watched with curiosity, a smile blooming on her face. Her heart was filled with joy, and she felt that heaven had truly blessed her.

In this harmonious, peaceful moment, another maid rushed in. "Sister Cuihong! Sister Cuihong!"

"What is the matter, rushing about like that?"

"It's bad! Zhang Daniu just arrived outside the villa, saying... saying the city of Lin'an is in an uproar!"

An Xiaowei was startled. "Don't rush, tell me clearly."

"I have seen the Miss! It’s like this: Zhang Daniu went to the market, and just as he reached Liuye Alley, he heard the beating of drums. The spectacle! He said there were hundreds of students marching through the streets, telling the onlookers that... that the Young Master is going to challenge every student at the Lin'an Academy today! They said he's going to compose poetry and essays! And that he's going to challenge the Twelve Talents of the Qi State! The Young Master... he... I mean, the Young Master must not leave today. I fear he's had another episode! I've already sent Ergouzi to fetch the divine doctor!"

An Xiaowei looked at Chen Xiaofu, who was still exercising, her eyes filled with unease. A moment later, Chen Xiaofu walked over.

"Cuihong, prepare breakfast."

"I'm going to bathe and then head out. Also, call that Daoist priest."

"I'm right here!"

Chen Xiaofu looked up. A-Lai was standing on top of the pavilion by the lotus pond, looking like a lightning rod.