A Poor Man's Son-in-Law: He Picks Up the Daughter of a Duke's Mansion at the Start

February 28th, the day the results of the imperial examination were announced.

Before dawn, the area in front of the screen wall outside the examination hall was already packed with people. The light from lanterns and torches blended together, and there were even more people than when the results of the provincial examination were announced—students from all over the country, their families, servants, and onlookers crowded the entire street.

Lu Qingyan didn't go. He got up early as usual and read in the courtyard. It wasn't that he wasn't nervous, but he didn't want to endure the ordeal of being squeezed in the crowd. Zhang Zhiqing had come early in the morning, saying he wanted to see the results, but Lu Qingyan persuaded him not to.

"What's the point of looking?" Lu Qingyan said. "Whether you pass or fail, the list is still there. It's better to stay home and wait for the news than to sweat it out."

Even so, he didn't turn a single page of the book in his hand for a long time.

At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the faint sound of gongs and drums could be heard in the distance. It was the yamen runners who were bringing good news.

Lu Qingyan put down his book, walked to the courtyard gate, and listened intently. The sound of gongs and drums grew clearer and clearer as they approached. Neighbors also began to peek out.

"Dizifang! There's good news in Dizifang!" someone shouted at the alley entrance.

Lu Qingyan's heart skipped a beat. The small courtyard he rented was located in the Dizifang area.

The sound of gongs and drums stopped at the alley entrance, followed by a series of hurried footsteps. Three men dressed as yamen runners ran into the alley, the leader holding up a red paper.

"Does Master Lu Qingyan live here?" the yamen runner shouted.

The neighbors all opened their doors to see what was going on.

Lu Qingyan took a deep breath and opened the courtyard gate: "That's me."

The yamen runner's eyes lit up. He unfolded the red paper and read aloud: "Good news! Lu Qingyan, a scholar from Yongning Prefecture, has achieved the third-highest rank in the imperial examination of the twelfth year of Yonghe (1622)! Congratulations, Master Lu!"

The neighbors started gossiping about it.

"Third place!!"

"Incredible! Incredible!"

The yamen runner presented the report of victory with both hands. Lu Qingyan accepted it; it was red paper with gold lettering and bore the official seal of the Ministry of Rites. His fingers trembled slightly, but his expression remained calm: "Thank you for your trouble."

As was customary, a reward should be given. Lu Qingyan went back to his room to retrieve a red envelope he had prepared beforehand, containing one tael of silver, and handed it to the yamen runner.

The constable accepted the document, his smile growing even more genuine: "Congratulations, Master Lu! The imperial examination is in three days. We wish you the best of luck in passing!"

After seeing the yamen runners off, the neighbors gathered around to offer their congratulations. Lu Qingyan responded to each of them, but felt somewhat dazed.

Third place.

If you rank third in the provincial examination, as long as you don't make any major mistakes in the palace examination, you will at least be a second-class Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).

Ten years of hard study and three years of diligent learning have finally yielded results.

Just then, the sound of gongs and drums came from the alleyway again. This time, it was heading towards the street where Zhang Zhiqing lived. Before long, Zhang Zhiqing came running up, panting, his face beaming with barely suppressed joy.

"Brother Lu! I passed! 279th place!" He grabbed Lu Qingyan's arm. "And you? And you?"

Lu Qingyan handed him the good news. Zhang Zhiqing's eyes widened in surprise: "Third place...third place! Brother Lu!"

He ranked third in the provincial examination, which, although not the top scorer, was still an extremely high ranking.

"Congratulations, Brother Lu!" Zhang Zhiqing's face flushed with excitement. "Our Yongning Prefecture has made a name for itself this year! Two out of six candidates have passed the imperial examinations!"

"Where is Zhou Wenyuan?" Lu Qingyan asked.

Zhang Zhiqing's smile faded slightly: "He didn't pass. I just saw him; he looked unwell and had already packed his bags to go back to his hometown."

That's how the imperial examination system works: some pass, some fail. Three years later, they try again, only to face another ordeal.

As the two were talking, another carriage arrived at the alley entrance. With its blue curtains and red wheels, it was clearly the property of a wealthy family. The carriage stopped in front of the courtyard gate, and a man who looked like a steward stepped out—the same one who had delivered the invitation a few days ago.

"Great news, Master Lu." The steward bowed and said, "My master sent me to offer my congratulations and to invite Master Lu to visit his residence after the palace examination in three days."

He then handed over a brocade box. Lu Qingyan opened it, and inside was a set of fine writing implements: Huzhou brushes, Huizhou ink, Xuan paper, and Duan inkstone, all handmade by famous craftsmen and of considerable value.

"Your Highness is too kind," Lu Qingyan said.

"Master said that the imperial examination is of utmost importance, and please prepare with peace of mind, Master Lu." The steward then handed over another invitation card. "Master will host a banquet at noon three days from now to celebrate Master Lu's success."

Lu Qingyan accepted the invitation: "I will definitely be there."

After seeing the steward off, Zhang Zhiqing whispered, "Brother Lu, is this settled?"

"Probably." Lu Qingyan put away the brocade box.

The two returned to the courtyard, where Lu Qingyan brewed tea. It was still the cheapest tea dust, but it didn't seem so bitter anymore.

"Brother Lu," Zhang Zhiqing suddenly remembered something, "has there been any result regarding the matter of the Duke's mansion framing you?"

Lu Qingyan shook his head: "No news yet."

No sooner had he finished speaking than there was another knock on the courtyard gate.

This time, it was a close attendant of Yun Chengzong who came, his expression serious: "Master Lu, my master requests that you come to the mansion immediately, as he has important matters to discuss with you."

Lu Qingyan and Zhang Zhiqing exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking.

The Duke's Mansion, the study in the main courtyard.

Yun Chengzong sat in the main seat, his face ashen. Wang Shi sat beside him, her eyes red-rimmed. Yun Shuwei was also there, her face pale, clutching her handkerchief tightly.

When Lu Qingyan entered, the atmosphere in the room was heavy.

"Sit down," Yun Chengzong said in a hoarse voice.

Lu Qingyan sat down, wondering what it was about.

Yun Chengzong picked up a stack of papers from the table and pushed them in front of Lu Qingyan: "Take a look."

Lu Qingyan took the documents and began to examine them. They contained confessions, account books, letters, and several portraits. The more he looked, the more his brow furrowed.

"It's been investigated." Yun Chengzong took a deep breath. "The one who designed it was Weiwei; it wasn't the second wife's family."

Wang's tears fell.

"It's the Prime Minister's residence." Yun Chengzong's voice was as cold as ice. "The Prime Minister's granddaughter, Shen Mingzhu, is engaged to the third young master of General Weiyuan's mansion. That third young master wants to break off the engagement and has asked someone to inquire about Weiwei."

Yun Shuwei swayed slightly.

"Shen Mingzhu heard from somewhere that the Third Young Master was interested in Weiwei, and even broke off his engagement to come to our Duke's mansion to propose marriage." Yun Chengzong clenched his fist. "So she decided to kill him."

Lu Qingyan flipped to a portrait of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl with a beautiful face but an arrogant look in her eyes.

"The first time she was a bandit, she bribed some people in the martial arts world to do it," Yun Chengzong continued. "The second time she fell into the water, she bribed a servant in the Vice Minister's mansion and then passed the news to Consort Liu through a maid from the second wife's household."

Madam Wang gritted her teeth and said, "That fool, Aunt Liu, is being used as a pawn without even realizing it!"

"Second wife..." Yun Chengzong closed his eyes, "Second sister-in-law knew something, but pretended not to know and secretly gave her a push. She thought it was just to embarrass Weiwei and make her miss the chance to enter the palace, but she didn't expect that Shen Mingzhu wanted Weiwei's life."

The study was deathly silent.

Yun Shuwei covered her face, her shoulders twitching slightly.

Lu Qingyan felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the evidence. To kill someone just for a potential marriage? The waters of the capital were deeper and dirtier than he had imagined.

"How did you find out?" he asked.

"The Eldest Princess helped with the investigation." Yun Chengzong opened his eyes. "Princess Lingyue overheard some rumors that day and told the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess sent people to investigate secretly, which led to this lead."

He looked at Lu Qingyan: "Shen Mingzhu has already admitted it. The Prime Minister's Mansion has suppressed the matter, paid 50,000 taels of silver in compensation, plus a manor outside the city. The condition is that this matter ends here."

Yun Shuwei raised her head, tears streaming down her face: "Father, is this how it's supposed to end?"

"What can we do if we don't count it?" Yun Chengzong smiled bitterly. "That's the Prime Minister's residence. Our Duke's residence may look grand, but it's not what it used to be."

He looked at Lu Qingyan: "I'm telling you all this so you know how much Weiwei has suffered. And so you know how difficult it will be for you to protect her from now on."

Lu Qingyan was silent for a moment, then asked, "What about the second branch of the family...?"

"Aunt Liu has already been given a potion to make her mute and has been sent to the estate," Madam Wang said coldly. "As for the second branch of the family... they will be separated."

She said the last two words with absolute certainty.

Yun Chengzong didn't object, but rubbed his temples wearily: "Once Weiwei's marriage is settled, we'll separate the family. From now on, we'll each live our own lives and have less contact."

Looking at her father's tired appearance and her mother's red eyes, Yun Shuwei suddenly felt an emptiness in her heart.

This is what it means to be a wealthy and powerful family. Outwardly glamorous, inwardly corrupt. For power and profit, they will sacrifice even kinship and human life.

She looked at Lu Qingyan.

This scholar from a poor family was now her only support.

"Scholar Lu," Yun Chengzong said, looking at Lu Qingyan, "the palace examination is in three days. Do your best. After the examination, we will formally discuss marriage."

Lu Qingyan stood up and bowed deeply: "Yes."

It was already dark when they left the Duke's mansion. Yun Shuwei escorted him to the second gate, and they remained silent the whole way.

As she reached the door, she suddenly spoke: "Lu Qingyan."

Lu Qingyan turned around.

"Thank you," she said softly, "and I'm sorry."

It's that same sentence again.

Looking at her pale face, Lu Qingyan suddenly said, "It will all pass."

Yun Shu paused for a moment, then nodded.

Stepping out of the Duke's mansion, Lu Qingyan stood on the street, watching the carriages and pedestrians coming and going.

The joy of coming in third place has been overshadowed by the truth I just learned. In its place lies a heavy responsibility.

If you marry Yun Shuwei, you must protect her, protect this woman who has been caught up in the power struggles among the elite.

And he himself was about to step into this murky water.

He tightened his collar and stepped into the night.