Chapter 32: Xingzhi Temple (22)
Lin Zikui forced himself to listen until the end and finally let out a sigh of relief.
Xiao Fu added, “I know you have an excellent memory, Lin Lang. But did you manage to memorize the whole thing?”
Lin Zikui: “……”
Lin Zikui did have a photographic memory, especially for books and things he needed to study.
Seeing that he remained silent, Xiao Fu said, “You weren’t paying full attention just now, were you? Then I’ll read it again. This time, listen carefully. I’ll quiz you next time.”
Lin Zikui felt reluctant in his heart but couldn’t bring himself to refuse. How could he say no to Zhao Ling?
He gently replied, “Second Young Miss, I… will be taking the Spring Examination in about a month. My head is already full—could I recite it for you after the exam? I promise I’ll remember every word perfectly.”
He looked at him with a pitiful expression.
“Alright,” Xiao Fu agreed readily, his tone carrying a hint of guilt. “Ah, that’s my fault—I almost forgot you have exams coming up. I’m sorry, Lin Lang. Then let’s say the tenth day of the second month.” He counted on hia fingers. “You’ll go to the Examination Hall on the first of the second month, take the exam for nine days, and once you return, we’ll study it together properly.”
“Mhm, mhm, mhm!” Lin Zikui finally felt relieved. That night, when he went back to Hall of Purifying the Heart to sleep, some of the indecent words he had heard earlier kept flashing before his eyes.
After all, Lin Zikui was only eighteen this year. At his age, even erotic pictures had only been accidentally seen from classmates. Now his mind was foggy, and he kept tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
“There are no good or bad books, but this one is really harmful. Even I’m like this—and although Zhao Ling surely has more self-control than I do, this book is still dangerous! If I accidentally burned it, would he be angry at me?”
Lin Zikui turned over again, continuing to think: “It’s probably better not to anger him.”
Beside him, Mo Liu heard the young master tossing restlessly. He pulled on his fur coat and sat up. “Young Master.”
He whispered.
Lin Zikui answered, “Hm?”
“You can’t sleep because you’re worried about the Spring Exam?”
“…Yes.”
Mo Liu said, “Sigh, I’m worried too, and I can’t sleep either. How about I get up and read to you?”
Lin Zikui responded instinctively, “What book?”
“Of course the Four Books and Five Classics. I know you’ve already memorized them thoroughly, but studying is still better than just lying awake.” Mo Liu got dressed and stood up. The fur he was wearing had been a gift from Xiao Fu—Second Young Miss was truly generous. He had given clothes to the young master and hadn’t forgotten about him, the little attendant. The garment was very warm, warmer than anything else he owned.
Mo Liu quietly lit the lamp and brought it to the bedside. He lifted the quilt and slipped under, leaning close to the young master as he opened the book. “Confucius said…”
Lin Zikui leaned heavily against his pillow and recited, “Nowadays, when I meet people, I listen to their words and observe their actions.”
Mo Liu continued, “Confucius said.”
Lin Zikui answered, “Reviewing the old enables one to understand the new; be sincere and respectful to uphold propriety.”
“Confucius said…”
And so, line after line, bit by bit, the chaotic thoughts in Lin Zikui’s mind were finally swept away.
In the days that followed, since Lin Zikui was focused on studying for the exam, Xiao Fu grew bored. He urged Yuanwu to go down the mountain to buy him some more good books. “Buy ones written by this author.”
Yuanwu glanced down at the name: “Master of Drunken West Lake Moon… Alright, Marquis, I’ll go buy them now.”
On the fifth day of the new year, the Xingzhi Temple was bustling with people and clouds of incense.
It had been like this for several days. Aside from visiting on the first, Lin Zikui rarely ventured near the main halls—there were simply too many people. He didn’t want to stir up unnecessary trouble or risk running into Xu Zhuojun’s associates, which could bring disaster upon both himself and Zhao Ling.
Countless carriages from the capital crowded along the mountainside of Sixteen Immortal Grottoes. Voices buzzed endlessly.
“I heard this temple is especially effective for those praying for official titles. Son, the Spring Exam is coming—go pray to the God of Culture and Literature so that you can pass the exam and enjoy a smooth official career…”
An older woman spoke to her son as the three of them stepped out of a reddish-ochre colored carriage at the gate, accompanied by only a single maid.
“Father… no one in our family is taking the exam. Why are we even here at Xingzhi Temple?”
Walking ahead of them was Lord Xiao, Xiao Huang. “First, your belly is already showing sign of pregnancy, and you’ll be marrying into the Wen family on the fifteenth. Your mother wants to pray to Immortal Cihang for a safe delivery for you and the baby. Second, regarding what happened last time with Nephew Lin… sigh.”
Xiao Ting replied, “Why are you suddenly bringing up Graduate Lin out of nowhere?”
“He was such a good child. Your mother said his eyes were injured. We don’t even know if he’s returned to Huainan from Jinling. What if he’s still at Xingzhi Temple? After all, it’s our family’s fault. If we don’t give him some form of compensation, I won’t be able to live with myself.”
Xiao Ting said, “Last time he didn’t even take the silver and just ran off like a lunatic.”
Lord Xiao had indeed come specifically to deliver silver and make amends to Lin Zikui. After burning incense and making a few inquiries, he learned that Lin Zikui was still at Xingzhi Temple, so he headed to the Guest Hall to look for him.
After searching around, from across the courtyard, Lord Xiao spotted Lin Zikui with his eyes covered in white cloth. His attendant was reading to him.
Though it had been three years since they last met, Lord Xiao recognized Lin Zikui at once. The once youthful boy had now grown into an exceptional and refined young man.
What a shame about his eyes—he was destined to miss his chance at an official career.
Two of Lord Xiao’s servants stood outside the door carrying boxes of silver. Just as he was about to call out, “Lin—”
Before he could get the word out, a teenage boy suddenly dropped down from the sky, carrying twin maces on his back, and asked bluntly, “Who are you? Why are you looking for the scholar?”
Startled, Lord Xiao stopped and replied, “I came from Jinling. My surname is Xiao. I’m here to see Young Master Lin Zikui. You are… his guard?”
He studied the boy. His martial arts were exceptional—he had appeared in the blink of an eye. But why were Lin Zikui’s attendant and bodyguard both so short?
After listening, Jinzun went off to report to the marquis.
The marquis had given instructions: no matter who approached Scholar Lin, whether they bore malice or not, he must be informed immediately.
Xiao Fu heard this and said, “From Jinling, and his surname is Xiao? That must be Xiao Huang then… What’s he doing here?”
He hesitated for a moment, caught between driving him away and letting Lin Zikui meet him. In the end, he chose not to stop Lord Xiao from entering. He wanted to see what Lin Zikui would say.
He wasn’t far off and happened to see Xiao Huang entering and offering an apology, opening up a box filled with glimmering silver.
Earlier, Yuanqing had mentioned, “That Lord Xiao’s family is doing fairly well. Back then, he spent several hundred taels to buy his seventh-rank post.”
Xiao Fu observed and muttered, “He’s giving silver to Lin Zikui. That could really help him through his current hardship. But unfortunately, with Zikui’s personality…”
As expected, Lin Zikui firmly refused the gift. He even felt guilty, thinking he was at fault too—falling for someone else before he’d even formally met the Xiao family’s daughter.
In the past, Xiao Fu had disliked his stubbornness and lack of flexibility—so rigid and old-fashioned. But now, he realized that this quality was something few people truly possessed.
Sure, it might have been a bit foolish—but refusing money? That wasn’t easy.
Beside Lin Zikui, Mo Liu was already dumbstruck.
What kind of situation was this? Wasn’t Second Young Miss supposed to marry his young master? Then why wasLord Xiao personally visiting to offer apologies and say they owed the young master?
“Young Master…”
Lin Zikui, worried he might say too much, quickly shook his head. “No matter what questions you have, don’t say a word.”
Lord Xiao, seeing that he wouldn’t accept the silver, sighed for a long while and said, “Nephew, your uncle has wronged you. If you’re ever in trouble in the future, as long as it’s something I can do, I’ll help you without hesitation!”
Then he ordered his servants to leave the box of silver in front of Lin Zikui’s door and departed with them.
Since Lin Zikui couldn’t see, he assumed they had taken the silver with them. But Mo Liu had seen it left behind and stayed silent for a moment before urgently asking, “Young Master, what exactly is going on?”
Xiao Fu was eavesdropping by the side window of the courtyard, pressing his ear to the paper screen.
“This… I mistook someone for someone else. I liked Miss Zhao Ling, but she wasn’t the Xiao family’s daughter,” he admitted responsibility and explained in just a few sentences. “She’s not—but if she’s willing to marry me, I’m certainly willing to marry her. We’re in love with each other. In the end, I’m the one who wronged Lord Xiao, so I absolutely cannot accept his compensation.”
“But…” Mo Liu’s gaze flickered. “Lord Xiao’s already gone, but he left the silver behind.”
Lin Zikui was stunned for a moment, then immediately said, “Go after him quickly and return the silver!”
“But…” Mo Liu lifted the lid, and in an instant, the dazzling silver blinded his eyes. In his entire life, he’d never seen so much—so dazzling, so beautiful.
He pretended to chase after them, mostly just to confirm whether Lord Xiao had truly left and wasn’t planning to return for the money. When he reached the front main hall, he happened to run into the Xiao family. He saw Lord Xiao and his wife with a young woman.
He even heard Lord Xiao say, “Nephew Lin is a true gentleman. It’s a pity, Qiao Qiao, that you set your sights on Wen Shengli.”
Madam Xiao replied, “Our daughter is about to become a mother. What are you talking about! Nephew Lin is indeed excellent—if he didn’t have those physical issues, I would’ve introduced him to someone suitable myself.”
Mo Liu looked again and indeed saw Miss Xiao gently cradling her belly.
“She’s actually pregnant?!” Mo Liu was utterly shocked and rushed back to Hall of Purifying the Heart to report everything to his young master in detail. “There were too many people, and they walked too fast. I couldn’t catch up. But, Young Master, I saw Miss Xiao already carrying another man’s child. She truly wronged you. Let’s just keep the silver. Otherwise—otherwise… when you marry Miss Zhao Ling, we won’t even have money for the wedding. Not enough for a dowry either.”
Lin Zikui had his own principles.
But the moment he heard Zhao Ling’s name, he lowered his head and fell silent in thought. He wanted to marry her, but he was penniless.
After a while, he finally sighed and compromised.
“Let’s treat this silver from Lord Xiao as a loan. Regardless of whether the Xiao family wronged me first, I was at fault too. I will return this money to him one day.”
Even as he accepted the money, he felt uneasy. He went back to memorizing his books. Only by becoming a successful scholar could he marry Zhao Ling with dignity.
After eavesdropping, Xiao Fu leapt back over the wall and happily told Yuanqing, “With his rigid and upright nature, unwilling to bend for anything, he actually accepted money just to marry me. Lin Lang really does love me, don’t you think?”
Yuanqing wiped away some sweat. “Yes… but, Marquis, are you seriously planning to marry Young Master Lin?”
“Of course.” His tone was casual, but the look on his face lacked its usual playfulness.
Yuanqing had seen the Marquis being serious for a long while now, so he knew this wasn’t a joke. Still, he had concerns. “Then how will this end? Young Master Lin isn’t a cut sleeve. I’m afraid he’ll resent you. You can’t use your status to pressure him into your manor and trap him there.”
“Of course not. He’s not my caged bird.”
Xiao Fu frowned, lifted his gaze, and asked, “You’re always full of ideas. What do you think I should do?”
“…If you ask me, I think the Marquis should just be honest with Young Master Lin.”
Xiao Fu shook his head. “If I told him the truth, he’d be heartbroken and would never want me again.”
Yuanqing stole a glance at Marquis Xiao.
Marquis Xiao—this same man who dared to toy with the imperial court and plot against the emperor—was actually afraid of this.
Xiao Fu had no solution. Just then, Yuanwu dragged someone back. It was a scholar who looked like a skinny bamboo stick. Yuanwu hadn’t been overly rough—he’d only tied the man’s hands. At the moment, the poor scholar was trembling, completely confused. “Who are you people? Why have you captured me?!”
Yuanwu ignored him and strode boldly through the door. “Master, I heard that the author who wrote that erotic book had all his other works burned. So I went and brought him back for you. Look! Should we have him write something for you now?”
Xiao Fu gave a bright “Oh?” and stood up with shining eyes. “You brought me the great literary master? Bring him in at once! I want to hear a story! You two listen too—copy it as he writes it down. We’ll publish it and spread it across the land.”
Yuanqing knew exactly what kind of book this was. His face twisted slightly.
The so-called literary master, upon realizing he was merely dealing with an enthusiastic reader, fell to his knees, weeping with joy. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?! I thought you kidnapped me for something shady! Whatever you want to hear, I’ll write it! I’ll write it all! Someone—bring me paper and brush!”
“Write the story of a scholar and… a general. The plot goes like this,” Xiao Fu, fantasizing wildly, quickly outlined the premise. “That’s good enough. Just like that. Now you finish it for me, great master. Can you have it done by the end of today?”
If you’re loving the tangled fates and slow-burning tension in Peach Blossom Decree, help Ciacia keep the petals falling by buying her a Kofi.
Can’t bear the suspense? Join the Duo-a-cia Tier to unlock up to 5 chapters early—and get ahead of the drama before the next decree drops.
