Top Scholar

Chapter 221 Private decision for life
Upon returning to Luzhou, Su Lu immediately threw himself into intensive study. He continued to receive instruction from the old abbot in the morning, listened to Mr. Liu lecture on the Four Books and legal codes in the morning, and went to the Zhu family's house for dinner in the afternoon to study the Book of Rites.

The good news is that after returning from Hejiang, although Master Zhu was still very kind to him, he was no longer as overly enthusiastic as before.

While Su Lu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, he couldn't help but wonder if he had unintentionally hurt Master Zhu's feelings in some way.
Even Madam Zhang found it strange. After the children left, she asked Zhu Jie, "What's wrong? Are you discouraged?"

"Sigh." Zhu Jie nodded helplessly, "I don't think this is going to work. On the day we set off, Huang Bingxian gave Hongzhi a hard time, making the kid sweat profusely. I thought he would behave himself after that."

"And the result?" Mrs. Zhang asked.

"As a result, on the Dragon Boat Festival, Hongzhi returned the favor to Huang Bingxian, making Huang Bingxian sweat profusely as well." Zhu Jie shook his head and laughed, "You didn't see that scene. I wanted to laugh but didn't dare to, and I almost suffocated."

"You're just gloating," Madam Zhang patted him, then chuckled at the thought, "There'll be a good show to watch later."

“That’s right, this matter will probably become a huge scandal in the end.” Zhu Jie nodded and said softly, “Even if Huang Bingxian really separates the two of them, we can’t let our daughter get involved.”

“Of course. How could my daughter be considered a substitute?” Mrs. Zhang said matter-of-factly.
"But everyone can see that Hongzhi is a talented man, and it's rare that he and Huang E are mutually in love. Huang Bingxian probably won't really separate them. He'll just wait until Hongzhi has achieved some success in his career before making any moves, right?"

“No,” Zhu Jie shook his head and said, “Any other family might do what you said, but Huang Bingxian is probably the only one who will break up the couple.”

"Why? What kind of son-in-law is he looking for?" Madam Zhang asked, puzzled. "Hongzhi's character, appearance, and talent are all top-notch. It would be hard to find a second one like him in Luzhou City."

He couldn't help but chuckle as he said, "Could it be that little Yang Shen isn't good enough for him, and only the real Yang Shen would do?"

“That’s right.” To everyone’s surprise, Zhu Jie actually nodded and said, “He just wants to marry his daughter to Yang Shen.”

"Pfft... What's going on?!" Madam Zhang nearly spat a mouthful of tea in his face.

~~
After the Dragon Boat Festival, all the lotus flowers in the lotus pond in the back garden of the Zhu family were in full bloom.

Even under the intense sunlight, the pink and white lotus blossoms remained delicate and vibrant. Two twin lotus flowers bloomed in the center of the pond, nestled together in the water…

Behind the artificial hill, Su Lu reconnected with Huang E.

After Huang E returned the book the day before yesterday, Xiao Tiantian came to class empty-handed yesterday.

This was the signal that the two had agreed to meet, so Huang E came today.

"We've only known each other for a few days, and you've already arranged to meet again..." Huang E said, but she was equally meticulous in her attire. She wore a moon-white silk robe with a light blue silk overcoat, which swayed gently with her movements, like rippling blue waves. Her double buns were held up by a string of orchids, and she even lightly painted her eyebrows like distant mountains, which made her skin appear as smooth as jade.

Naturally, he was teased by Miss Zhu again.

"What, Xiumei still doesn't want to see me?" Su Lu asked with a smile.

"That's not it," Huang E gently shook her head and said, "Don't misunderstand, it's just that we're seeing each other too frequently and I'm afraid my father and brothers will find out..."

“They’ve probably already figured it out,” Su Lu sighed. “Once your father comes back, it will be difficult for us to meet again.”

"Huh?" Huang E covered her mouth in surprise. "Really?"

"Of course I hope it's fake, but it's probably true." Su Lu then told her about Huang Bingxian's test of him on the ship.

After hearing this, Huang E completely lost any hope and frowned, saying, "My father did discover it, otherwise he wouldn't have taken the initiative to test your knowledge of the Book of Rites. You are Master Gangshan's beloved disciple, so there was no need for him to do this."

"Right, I think so too." Su Lu said with lingering fear, "I was so scared at the time that I was sweating profusely and almost became dehydrated."

Huang E couldn't help but laugh and patted him lightly, saying, "My dad isn't a tiger, is that all the courage you have?"

"You're not a tiger in front of me, but in front of me, you're a monstrous tigress with glaring eyes and a white forehead!" Su Lu said with a deliberately bitter face.

"So what do you plan to do?" Huang E asked Su Lu nervously.

“Of course I can’t back down.” Su Lu then raised his sleeve, revealing his gourd sachet, and said proudly, “So on the Dragon Boat Festival, I hung up the sachet you gave me, and deliberately let him see it.”

"You're so naughty!" Huang E covered her face in embarrassment, her ears turning bright red, and said, "My father saw this sachet when I made it, and he recognized it at a glance!"

"This is exactly the effect I wanted." Su Lu puffed out his chest and said, "I need to let the military magistrate know that I will not back down!"

"Why do you have to do this?" Huang E smiled bitterly. "My father has a temper that you have to appease. If you confront him head-on, you won't get away with it."

“If I back down to him, I’ll be out of luck,” Su Lu said quietly.

Huang E, being intelligent and perceptive, naturally understood what he meant. She pondered for a moment, clutching her handkerchief, and said, "While that's true, you mustn't do anything rash. If things get tense, it'll be difficult to handle." "Alright, I'll listen to you." Su Lu was tough in front of his 'father-in-law,' but softer with Huang E. To win this battle against such a disparate force, he needed his own people in the key positions.

Then he laughed and said, "I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to let you know so that your father wouldn't catch you off guard when he comes back."

"You really don't mean anything by this?" Huang E wasn't fooled. She smiled and pointed to Su Lu's chest, saying, "You're panicking here, aren't you?"

"No," Su Lu said stubbornly on purpose.

Silence fell behind the artificial hill...

~~
On the artificial hill, the group of voyeurs grew even larger.

The three brothers, Zhu Zigeng, Zhu Zixian, and Zhu Zijing, also joined in, and there weren't enough lookout holes, so they had to share one between two people...

"Sigh, this is troublesome," Zhu Zigeng muttered. "Is it already ending so soon after it's only just begun?"

"Don't talk nonsense," Miss Zhu said. "Do you think this is child's play?"

"That's right, that's right! If I were Sister Huang, I would never leave Brother Qiji, even if it meant death!" Zhu Ziming said with a determined look.

“Sigh, what does a child know? Do you think this is child’s play?” Zhu Zijing sighed. “Our original plan was to let Hongzhi secure the position and then proceed gradually. Once he passed the county-level exam, he could start to see the light of day. Once he passed the provincial-level exam, we could propose marriage.”

Zhu Zixian frowned and said, "If we expose ourselves now, we'll be in a very passive position..."

"I'm really afraid they won't be able to withstand Huang Bingxian's pressure..." Zhu Zihe gripped the Taihu stone tightly with both hands, father and son were of one mind!
However, at this moment, the plot behind the artificial hill took an unexpected turn, leaving the onlookers dumbfounded...

~~
A breeze swept past the artificial hill, carrying the fragrance of lotus blossoms that wafted over the two people's clothes.

Su Lu and Huang E stood quietly facing each other, their figures appearing as a pair with the twin lotus blossoms in the pond.

"Yes, I panicked." Su Lu let out a long sigh, a resolute look gradually appearing on his handsome face. He confessed to Huang E:
"I originally wanted to wait a while, until Qixi Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival, a beautiful time, under the flowers and moon, to confess my feelings to you. But I may not see you for a long time, and I'm afraid of losing contact with you completely, and even more afraid that you won't know my feelings and will gradually forget me."

He paused, gazing intently at Huang E's exquisitely beautiful face. "That's why I need you to understand my heart; that's the real reason I asked you out!"

"Go ahead." Huang E nodded slightly, meeting Su Lu's burning gaze and staring back at him without blinking.

"I like you, I've liked you from the very first time we met!" Su Lu said directly.

"The first time I saw you was at the Lantern Festival. The streets were filled with lanterns depicting Chang'e chasing the moon. You were carrying a jade rabbit lantern, and the dazzling lights made your cheeks glow. Your image was deeply imprinted in my heart."

"Only then did I realize that the moment of being moved by the moon rising above the willow tree could be so unforgettable... Every word you said that day when you taught me how to play the lantern tiger, every smile you gave, every gesture you made, are still deeply imprinted in my heart. They appear before my eyes from time to time, haunting my dreams and making it hard for me to let go."

"But you've read my story 'Metamorphosis,' which is about my family background. Our family backgrounds are so different. Poor scholars should focus all their efforts on the imperial examinations, because that's the only chance I'll have to hold your hand. So I want to keep this feeling to myself and wait until I'm qualified to say it."

"But my friends told me that things in this world rarely go as planned. By the time I'm ready for that day, we might have missed each other forever." Su Lu said with a bitter smile.

"Their words struck a nerve. I'm afraid I'm not good enough for you, but I'm even more afraid of missing out on you. What good is it if I don't even dare to confess to the girl I love, even if I pass the imperial examinations with flying colors and become famous throughout the world?!"

"So, between being impulsive and upholding my pride, I chose impulsiveness. Between self-awareness and overestimating my abilities, I chose overestimating my abilities—"

Then, his tone shifted, his somber mood vanishing, replaced by a spirited exuberance: "Actually, I don't think I'm overestimating myself! I was born in the mountains, like a wild grass, growing stronger with each rain and each cold! Relying on this spirit of not giving in to anyone, I was able to go from Erlangtan to Taiping Town, and then from Taiping Town to Luzhou, standing right in front of you!"

"So even the King of Heaven himself can't make me bow my head! If your father wants to test my knowledge in the Book of Rites, I'll memorize the illustrations of the Three Rites; if he wants to examine my talent, I'll win the top prize in the imperial examination! Even mountains of knives and seas of fire can't stop me! I'll still be able to stand before you! And then I'll tell you—"

Su Lu finally confessed slowly:

"Huang E, I love you, regardless of your social status, talent, or even your appearance, because you are the girl I fell in love with at first sight. Even if the road ahead is full of frost and snow, I will hold your hand and walk with you through the storms, to see the most beautiful scenery together. In my leisure time, I will stand with you at dusk, smiling and asking if the porridge is warm by the stove. Until the end of time..."

"I've finished speaking..." Su Shilu was drained of all her strength, and her gaze became uneasy as she awaited Huang E's verdict.

"Fool." Huang E lowered her head shyly and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "You were talking so enthusiastically, but I didn't see you hold her hand?"

"Isn't it because I was afraid you wouldn't agree?" Su Lu was overjoyed upon hearing this, and swiftly reached out to tightly grasp Huang E's soft, jade-like hand.

"Do you take me for someone so casual?" This was the first time Huang E had ever had her hand held by a man since she grew up. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but she still managed to suppress her shyness and raise her head, poking his forehead with her other hand as she said:
"If I hadn't already fallen for you, why would I have corresponded with you? I even gave you a sachet; I was practically chasing after you, you blockhead..."

Finally, she reassured him, saying, "And don't scare yourself. My father is a reasonable man. Even if there are difficulties, we'll face them together. My heart is as firm as stone and cannot be changed. In short, no one but you can marry me. Now you can rest assured, right?"

P.S. I think this chapter was worth the wait~~~ and it deserves a monthly vote~~~~~
(End of this chapter)