Horse-head Wall Reflects the Qing Dynasty

Chapter 95 The high hall is clear and bright, the law is as solid as a mountain, how can one follow the rules?

Zhang Shuwen has arrived.

He arrived only half a day later than Cheng Heng.

“My dear brother, after much thought, I believe it is best for my beloved to come in person.” As soon as he dismounted, Zhang Shuwen’s gaze fell upon Ling Xiao. Then he spoke to Cheng Heng, “Otherwise, if Ling Xiao has to face such an important day alone, it will surely become a regret between us.”

Zhang Shuwen's arrival dispelled all doubts. Who didn't know that the newly appointed top scholar was currently enjoying immense popularity in the capital? His willingness to set aside all his affairs and return to pursue this already controversial past relationship was enough to prove that Zhang Shuwen's feelings for Ling Xiao were genuine…

"How much money will Mother want before she lets me take Lingxiao away?" Now that she had come in person, Zhang Shuwen did not want Lingxiao to have any further involvement with this brothel. She wanted him to come cleanly and leave cleanly as well. "I know that Lingxiao has been staying here for so long and has cost Mother a lot of money."

“Ling Xiao has also earned a lot of money for Mom and attracted a lot of people... Of course, as long as I can take Ling Xiao away, even if Mom asks for an exorbitant price, I can accept it.”

Zhang Shuwen spoke to the madam of the music academy with hostility. He seemed oblivious to the fact that without her, there would be no Lingxiao today.

In truth, the madam of the music academy was Ling Xiao's benefactor, and also the matchmaker who brought Zhang Shuwen and Ling Xiao together.

"Since you regard me as a villain, I don't mind settling this score with you." The madam of the music academy had never liked Zhang Shuwen, even though he had now become the top scholar in the imperial examination. "There are many top scholars, but a Lingxiao is not something you can find just anywhere."

No one had the right to stand up and offer advice, so they could only watch as the madam from the music academy took out a piece of paper with a curled corner and fine, downy fibers sticking out from the side. It looked old and had been used repeatedly.

"Come, let me settle this score with you, one by one."

The madam of the music academy meticulously calculated every single matter with Zhang Shuwen—but after calculating it all, she found that it was still less than what Zhang Shuwen spent in a single day when he was spending lavishly.

“Since you left, Lingxiao has been living here with me and has not done anything. Roughly speaking, my loss is... five hundred taels of silver. You can take Lingxiao away again when you can afford to pay it.”

“I will not ask you for a single penny of the money she borrowed to stay here before this.”

“Okay.” Zhang Shuwen didn’t hesitate at all. “Originally, I thought that if Lingxiao still had feelings for the sisters here, it would be nice for him to come back and visit as if it were half a family. But I didn’t expect that my mother would treat Lingxiao completely as a tool for making money…”

With the conversation having progressed to this point, neither Guan Yin nor Ling Xiao could speak up to stand between the two, so they could only let Zhang Shuwen continue: "I can give you the money today."

Zhang Shuwen was a man of his word, and the madam of the music academy, having received the money, showed no embarrassment whatsoever. She solemnly tucked it into the ledger in her hand and nodded to Zhang Shuwen: "In that case, we are even."

What should have been a peaceful meeting has turned into this mess. However, there's a reason why Zhang Shuwen became the top scholar in the imperial examination; he quickly adjusted himself and focused on the important matter at hand.

"So, you're coming with me to the capital to plead with your father?" Actually, Liu Jiao'an had been sitting among the crowd the whole time, and perhaps because she wasn't very noticeable, Zhang Shuwen hadn't even noticed her presence until Cheng Heng introduced her. Only then did Zhang Shuwen realize the importance of the person in front of him.

"It is good that you put your family aside for the greater good, but you must not forget that our dynasty values ​​filial piety. If a son accuses his father, he will be punished with a beating."

The young woman before him seemed so fragile that a gust of wind could blow her away. Could she really withstand the beating in the hall? It wasn't that Zhang Shuwen didn't believe Liu Jiao'an, but rather that the concept of filial piety was paramount, as heavy as the mountains and rivers, capable of crushing a person to death!
"I'm not afraid."

These three simple words, without any unnecessary details, make it impossible for anyone to refuse them.

If we must find some selfishness in Liu Jiao'an's behavior, perhaps it's like her father who kept begging for high-ranking officials—it was all for the sake of the family.

However, her father went down the wrong path, and Liu Jiao'an wanted to wash away the ink in the pool and bring out a little whiteness.

"Very well, since you say so, I will take you to the capital."

As the saying goes, things should not be delayed, for delay may lead to unforeseen changes. Zhang Shuwen and Ling Xiao only met for half a day before Zhang Shuwen set off again, leaving Ling Xiao in the care of Guan Yin and Cheng Heng.

"I hope your journey will be smooth, and that once you reach the capital, you will be able to clear the names of those who died unjustly back then." Cheng Heng clasped his hands in a fist salute and helped Zhang Shuwen onto his horse.

Zhang Shuwen also clasped his hands in greeting, but unlike Zhang Shuwen, he found a carriage for Liu Jiao'an and invited her aboard before setting off back to the capital.

He came in a hurry and left in the same hurry. It seemed that Zhang Shuwen came here just to see Ling Xiao and coincidentally brought Liu Jiao'an back to the capital. In fact, everyone knew that Zhang Shuwen was willing to get involved in this mess because, behind what seemed like a thankless task to others, for him, a newly appointed top scholar, doing it well would be an immeasurable achievement.

"Ling Xiao, once Liu Qingxian and his gang are taken to the capital for interrogation, you should go with the two of them. Then that top scholar can come and marry you, saving me from getting angry for no reason..."

"You eat and drink my food here, but you don't do anything for me. What kind of good deal is this?"

We stayed there for a few days without wind or rain, and the sky outside the window was just as beautiful, with a clear blue sky and green mountains in the background.

Then news came from outside that Huizhou Prefecture was about to undergo a major upheaval, with several high-ranking officials being taken to the capital. When they were taken away, their homes were thoroughly searched... It seemed like things were not going to end well.

Even now, the news coming from the streets is still mixed, with both praise and criticism.

Liu Qingxian could maintain a flawless facade in front of his family, let alone ordinary people. Especially as his position rose higher and higher, many of Liu Qingxian's actions required only a "glance," and someone would naturally step forward to take care of everything for him, without Liu Qingxian needing to clean up the mess himself.

"It's laughable that Huizhou Prefecture produced so many honest officials, yet it produced such a few scoundrels?"

"Laughable? It's pathetic, it's lamentable. Do you know how many people were displaced during that flood? It turns out that all that money went into the pockets of these people, into their treasuries!"

"What you said makes sense..."

Watching the people coming and going on the street, Guan Yin and Cheng Heng were not able to relax as they had imagined.

Now that Liu Qingxian has been caught, and their entire network of accomplices has been apprehended, the deceased can never return... Will Cheng Jianwei come back? Will Guan Tongtong return?
Even if they come back, Guan's father will never come back, nor will Qingmiao's family.

If this were a novel, many people might find the happy ending delightful. Perhaps the male and female protagonists would end up together—Guan Yin and Cheng Heng have already tacitly acknowledged their subtle feelings for each other.

Perhaps at least Liu Jiao'an is still alive, and perhaps the sense of redemption between the top scholar and the "prostitute" makes people shout "Long live true love".

“But this isn’t a novel. Even if it’s just a dream we happened to have that was so real it couldn’t be more real, how many tragedies are hidden behind the so-called happy ending?” Guan Yin interrupted Cheng Heng, who was about to suggest leaving, without any reason. “It’s hard to be an honest official, but the local customs require people to be honest officials.”

"Corrupt officials are easily corrupted, but the net of justice is vast and its meshes are wide, yet nothing escapes it." "A life of farming and studying is peaceful, but neither natural disasters nor man-made calamities can be avoided."

"Business is about loyalty, but the journey is long and arduous, and I don't know when I'll be able to see my family again."

Guan Yin knew he might be indulging in excessive sentimentality, but standing in front of the bustling street, time flowed by unnoticed, just like the distant green hills, which never looked exactly the same at any given moment.

"We will go back eventually."

What if we can't go back?

Whether they can go back or not, these people's fates are already sealed. Guan Yin suddenly felt incredibly fortunate to have been born in this world, rather than in this era where everyone's life seems like a grand tragedy.

"But can you imagine what this loyalty, righteousness, virtue, and filial piety should teach us to respect teachers and value the Way?"

"The only thing we can do well is to do it ourselves."

Places with beautiful mountains and clear waters are also true examples of the Jiangnan region, a land of picturesque landscapes. They have never lacked good local customs, but how to choose to do so is ultimately up to the individual.

Green mountains teach us to be majestic, green pines teach us to be strong and never bow our heads, and blue stones teach us to be steadfast and unyielding...

Xuan paper and Huizhou ink teach people to distinguish right from wrong, while white walls and black tiles help people discern right from wrong. This world teaches people to do many things and set a good example for others. As for what kind of person one can become in the end, there are still countless possibilities.

"If you are a good teacher, at least you will give them a place to learn from."

Having seen what is good and what is bad, Mr. Guan Yin finally let go of his pursuit of feedback.

A clear conscience shines through one's reflection, and a bright spirit prevails over all circumstances. Setting a good example for students is enough; by showing them what is right, one provides them with another bright path in life.

The rented carriage arrived as promised, and the three of them got in and headed towards the small courtyard left by Liu Jiao'an's mother.

The once exquisite music hall grew smaller and smaller in view... All three knew that in the future, it was highly likely that none of them would ever return here.

Having lived here for so many years, this was the first time he had truly left, and Ling Xiao couldn't quite describe his emotions.

When I first arrived, I tried everything I could to survive.

Later, he thought about leaving, and then he realized that he probably would never be able to leave... Life never seems to go on as expected or envisioned. At least for someone like Ling Xiao, in this era, all "hopes" are nothing but dreams and illusions.

Each of the three was preoccupied with their own thoughts, and none of them even bothered to check their belongings for anything missing along the way.

It wasn't until the familiar Cheng family's house came into view that Guan Yin realized he was not far from that small courtyard.

It's been a year since I left. How is the courtyard now? How did Sanheng clean it before he went back to the Liu residence? Have any merchants bought up the tea leaves from that tea mountain, and where did they go with the caravans?

When the carriage stopped, the first thing that caught Guan Yin's eye was the trumpet creeper.

Is this a trumpet vine?

When Ling Xiao spoke, Guan Yin realized that he had been staring at the trumpet creeper for a long time: "Yes, it's a trumpet creeper, written in the same way as your name."

“Oh.” Ling Xiao wasn’t very surprised. “Mom…she told me where this name came from.”

"The names of my sisters are mostly flowers, some of which can be found in the garden... This is the first time I've ever seen a trumpet vine."

Under the blazing sun, the trumpet creeper flowers drooped their heads, looking listless and not at all good.

After staring at the flower for a long time, Guan Yin seemed to understand what Ling Xiao was thinking: "The trumpet creeper doesn't bloom at this time of year."

"If you don't like it, you might as well change your name." No matter how beautiful the trumpet creeper is, it still has to lean against this white wall. Guan Yin didn't think much of it at first, but when she thought of Zhang Shuwen, who never thought of leaving a way out for the trumpet creeper, she suddenly disliked the name "Trumpet Creeper".

"How could I possibly change it? I don't even know a few words."

"My mother did recognize a few more words, but she also learned the coldness of those words, becoming cold-hearted and indifferent."

The argument between Zhang Shuwen and the madam at the music academy left a lasting impression on Ling Xiao, making him hold a grudge against both of them. Now that Zhang Shuwen was gone, Ling Xiao had no one to blame but himself, and so he thought of the madam he had known even earlier…

Although Guan Yin hadn't interacted much with the madam of the brothel, he understood her well. Even describing her as "sharp-tongued but soft-hearted" wouldn't do justice to the madam's meticulous planning and scheming for the girls. In such times, survival was never easy for girls, and the madam was doing everything she could to find an easier path for the girls in the brothel.

In fact, the madam of the brothel simply didn't want Ling Xiao to be taken away from the brothel—whether he was a friend of the sworn sister of the third-ranked scholar or had some other identity, it didn't matter. At least leaving a private school, or even just a farmhouse, would be far more respectable than leaving the brothel.

When walking through this world, may we hear less frivolous laughter and less jealous curses.

"This is..." The two young women stood at the gate of the courtyard, looking at the small courtyard that had been meticulously tidied up despite being overgrown with weeds. Cheng Heng had already started packing his belongings. "This was written by the madam of the music academy. Why is it here with me?"

Guan Yin and Ling Xiao leaned closer, and Cheng Heng pulled out a silver note from his bag: "Six hundred taels?"

"This……"

When the banknote was pulled out, the three men already had a plan in mind and understood that the answer to everything was hidden in the letter.

Like a feeling of trepidation upon returning home, Ling Xiao suddenly didn't know what to do when he held the letter in his hand. He neither opened the letter nor had the intention to give it to anyone. In fact, the answer was already written on the riddle, but Ling Xiao was still afraid, afraid that the final answer would be different from what he had hoped for.

“A young lady should have her own dowry so that she won’t be bullied. I have no use for this money, so you can keep it. From now on, just pretend that you have never been to the music academy and that you never had a mother like me.”