Discuss with you

Chapter 592 A mistake
The scholar's words stirred up homesickness in his companions as well. The words they had wanted to say to him were now stuck in their throats. For a moment, none of the people at the table knew how to speak, and a sad expression appeared on their faces.

These scholars must have been in the capital for a long time preparing for the imperial examinations. They should have been focused on their bright future, which temporarily distracted them from other thoughts. The friends who got along well encouraged each other and studied together, which can be considered as being able to concentrate on their studies without any distractions.

But today, the sudden mention of the metaphor behind that folk rhyme startled them, and then it brought up the themes of life and death, and separation and reunion. In an instant, the sorrow that had been buried deep in their hearts was stirred up and spread, and they quickly became pessimistic and dejected.

Sometimes people are like this: when everyone is single-mindedly pursuing the same goal, even if they feel tired or have thoughts of giving up, looking at the people around them will make them abandon that thought, steel themselves, and continue to follow without falling behind.

But once the people around you start to waver, or even choose to give up, the thoughts that were previously suppressed will instantly resurface and grow wildly in your heart, making it difficult to suppress them any longer.

The silence of those scholars at this moment perfectly illustrates this point.

Zhu Yu was still secretly watching those people when Lu Qing suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

"I am not a good drinker, so why don't you come back with me, my dear brother? Let's stop here for today." Lu Qing's voice was languid and sleepy, as if he were truly drunk.

Zhu Yu nodded and left with him.

The two of them naturally wouldn't go anywhere else. They made a token turn towards the front door, then slipped into a secret passage known only to them and returned to the small courtyard.

Back in the courtyard, Zhu Yu looked at Lu Qing again, and just as she had guessed, he was no longer drowsy and was perfectly sober.

“To be honest,” Zhu Yu pulled out a fan that was pretending to be clipped to his waist, and pressed the end of the fan handle against Lu Qing’s chin as if it were a short sword. Even his tone carried a fake “fierce” “threat”, “Was that scholar tonight your doing?”

Lu Qing remained silent, only looking at Zhu Yu with a smile in his eyes. Just as Zhu Yu's heart was racing because of his gaze, he suddenly took a step back and, before Zhu Yu could react, quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.

"If this heroine can ask the questions properly, I will answer them properly," he said to Zhu Yu with a smile.

Although Lu Qing had been pretending to be drunk, he had indeed had a few drinks. Now that their faces were so close, his breath carried a faint smell of alcohol as he spoke.

Zhu Yu used to think that the smell of alcohol was stinky and extremely unpleasant, but now she didn't think so at all. On the contrary, she felt that the faint smell of alcohol made her face flush and her heart race.

"Okay, then I'll ask properly." She changed her words to match Lu Qing's, and also twisted her body, changed her posture, faced Lu Qing, stood on tiptoe, and gently wrapped her arms around his neck. "Does my husband think that's a good enough attitude to ask?"

Although both of them still had fake skin on their faces, Zhu Yu's watery, wet eyes still made Lu Qing's breathing become erratic, and her Adam's apple bobbed up and down. While laughing, she subtly removed Zhu Yu's arms from her neck, pulled her into the house, and poured two cups of tea for the two of them.

Zhu Yu found it amusing to see him feigning composure.

Ever since she understood Lu Qing's feelings, the tricks that Lu Qing used to tease her were now being used by her to manipulate Lu Qing.

Having lost his entire family at a young age, Lu Qing is more cautious than others in many matters. The world is currently facing a turmoil whose beginning and end are uncertain, and to avoid any further mishaps, he has been diligently suppressing his inner desires.

Zhu Yu was so certain of this that he found it particularly amusing to tease him.

"Why do you think that person was someone I arranged?" After confirming that Zhu Yu would no longer "provoke" him, Lu Qing took her hand and asked while calming his breathing, which had become rapid.

"It just feels a bit coincidental." Zhu Yu shrugged. She couldn't quite put her finger on the reason, since she was still saying there was nothing that could be found out. But the longer she dealt with Lu Qing, the more she understood her husband's behavior. "Although more and more children are singing that nursery rhyme in and around the capital, whether in the manor or the alley, no one has the guts to go outside the residences of officials of all sizes in the capital and sing it."

The palace walls, however, were neither too high nor too low, just enough to block out all sounds from outside the palace, so that those living inside could not hear anything.

However, if the scholars on their way to the imperial examinations also heard this nursery rhyme and understood its meaning, and then, out of fear, chose to abandon their journey and return home to avoid the chaos, not wanting to be implicated, then naturally, the matter would come to the attention of those in the imperial court.

After the incident on the day of Lady Yan's birthday, the court officials were already divided into two factions. Some of them, either to avoid getting involved or because they themselves disliked or disliked his behavior, kept their distance from Duke Yan.

At this time, if the panic outside causes scholars who are on their way to take the imperial examinations to choose to return to their hometowns to avoid the chaos, it is easy for someone to report this to the emperor.

At that time, it might just be the opportunity that the person has been waiting for.

He's been playing the long game, raising this big fish for so long... it must be fat enough by now, right?

Lu Qing laughed: "Regardless of what happened back then, and regardless of whether he has treated me well or badly over the years."

Based solely on the fact that he inadvertently issued an imperial decree allowing your father to choose a daughter to marry me, I should indeed be grateful to him.

That scholar today, and the bearded man at the next table, are actually our people.

Originally, the scholar was someone Lu Chao and I wanted to find out how that old scoundrel Zhao Bi formed cliques and engaged in corrupt practices.

Unexpectedly, things changed midway. Last year, a candidate emerged who was said to be exceptionally talented, but came from a poor family. Zhao Bi replaced the candidate's name on the prepared provincial examination list with that of a member of his own faction.

The scholar, who somehow learned of this matter and was extremely stubborn, smashed his head against the gate of the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites and died.

After that, in order to avoid suspicion, Zhao Bi stopped paying attention to any candidates who had not yet obtained official titles.

I originally intended to recall that person, but this unexpected incident came along and, by sheer coincidence, came in handy.