Chapter 239: Top Three
A horse-drawn carriage passed by Peach Blossom Workshop. The person inside lifted the curtain and looked toward Peach Blossom Workshop.
“Young Master, do you know this family?” a noblewoman wearing a veil said softly.
The handsome man in silver clothes and brocade robe beside her said indifferently, “I heard the Top Scholar came from this family. I’m just curious.”
“Young Master is profoundly learned, no worse than the Top Scholar. Even if he became Top Scholar, it wouldn’t mean much.” The noblewoman said softly, “I’ll take you to see my father now. Your articles are so good. If not for your injury not having healed during the exam, you wouldn’t have performed poorly. If it were under normal circumstances, you definitely could have become Top Scholar.”
“Miss Wang flatters me. I’m not as good as you say. The world is vast, with many talented people, and those stronger than me are everywhere.”
“You’re just too modest.” Wang Ruyan looked at Xiao Yanci shyly, her eyes full of admiring affection. “When I rescued you, you were so badly injured that everyone said you wouldn’t survive, but you didn’t give up on yourself and pulled through. During your recovery, I saw your articles, and they were exceptionally outstanding.”
“Cough cough…” Xiao Yanci coughed a few times. “Miss, you saved my life and spent silver money to treat my injuries. I will surely repay your kindness.”
“Young Master Xiao, no need to be so polite. I wouldn’t just stand by and watch someone injured die.”
“Miss is too kind. In the future, before saving someone, you should consider it. If you save a bad man, Miss will be in danger.”
“You look so handsome. How could you possibly be a bad man?” Wang Ruyan said, looking at Xiao Yanci’s handsome face.
Xiao Yanci looked outside the carriage at Su Yaoguang in the crowd, her smile so bright and radiant, just like the sun in the sky.
He was back.
She smiled so beautifully. He had to tear that smile apart properly, make her as obedient and compliant as in his previous life, loyal to him, and not run off casually with some wild man.
The banquet that day lasted a long time. Everyone drank a bit too much. Especially Zhang Zhaodi—everyone said her son-in-law and godson were both so impressive, that she had good fortune. They said pleasant words to praise her, making Zhang Zhaodi, who had endured decades of pent-up grievances, increasingly excited as she released those unhappy emotions, and eventually lost control.
Zhang Zhaodi staggered out the door and grabbed a passing man’s arm when she saw him.
“You, don’t go.”
Su Rende had just returned from the military camp. When passing Peach Blossom Workshop, he dismounted from horseback and was walking slowly alone when he encountered the drunkard Zhang Zhaodi.
He looked toward the open front door, then at Zhang Zhaodi who clearly couldn’t walk steadily yet was still staggering on the street, and frowned. “Doesn’t your family look after you?”
Zhang Zhaodi pinched Su Rende’s face, her eyes full of disgust as she said, “I was wrong. You don’t look like him at all, not one bit. You’re so old, so ugly.”
Su Rende: “…”
Though her words were disjointed, he understood.
Zhang Zhaodi grabbed Su Rende’s clothes and patted his back. “Carry me, carry me…”
Su Rende squatted down.
Zhang Zhaodi lay on his back, pressed against his shoulder, feeling his body heat. “Mm, this is the feeling.”
Su Rende carried Zhang Zhaodi back to Peach Blossom Workshop. “Where’s your room?”
Zhang Zhaodi pointed to the third room opposite.
Su Rende carried her inside.
When Su Rende set Zhang Zhaodi down, she clung to his arm and wouldn’t let go, then cried like someone who had been bullied.
“You heartless bastard, ungrateful wretch. You left and never came back. I gave birth to your daughter for you, such a lovely daughter, and you never even saw her once. Do you know how your daughter and I have gotten by these years? With no man in the house, and having given birth to a daughter, your family despised me and bullied us orphan and widow. The villagers bullied us too, because we had no one to rely on. How could your heart be so cruel? Did you not actually die at all, but just despise me as a village girl, despise my looks, so you faked your death to escape us?”
Su Rende watched Zhang Zhaodi wipe her snot and tears all over his clothes, feeling somewhat helpless and powerless.
He took off his clothes, letting Zhang Zhaodi vent on him.
Zhang Zhaodi hugged his waist. “After so many years, why didn’t you come see me? Even in a dream, you should have at least come look! Even if you’re in the underworld, you’re still a heartless ghost.”
Seeing Zhang Zhaodi crying like that, and hearing about her hardships over the years, Su Rende touched her hair. “Alright, from now on, I’ll be your support.”
Last time she saved him, preventing him from committing a grave mistake. In a way, he owed her a kindness. Now, he would use that kindness to become her support, properly protect this orphan and widow in the future, which could also count as taking care of the families for the heroic fallen in battle.
As for how he looked exactly like her husband, he still found it unbelievable. Without other evidence, he wouldn’t believe it.
Su Rende prepared to leave, but Zhang Zhaodi was holding on too tightly; he couldn’t pull away.
He bent down, looked into Zhang Zhaodi’s eyes, touched her hair, and said, “I’ve come back to see you. Shouldn’t you let me go now?”
Zhang Zhaodi opened her misty eyes, looked at Su Rende in front of her, and hugged his neck, kissing him.
Su Rende quickly pushed her away.
Zhang Zhaodi burst into loud sobs.
Su Rende: “…”
He had wanted to just run off, but seeing her cry like a helpless child, his heart softened a bit, and he stayed.
He covered her mouth, made a shushing gesture, and said, “Don’t cry. I’ll stay and keep you company.”
Su Yaoguang had just lain down on the bed when she heard Zhang Zhaodi’s crying and immediately got off the bed.
Zhou Wangshu staggered through the door and pounced toward Su Yaoguang, hanging his whole body on her.
“My head is so dizzy, Yaoguang.”
“Then go back to sleep! You were forced to drink so much today. Instead of resting properly, why come running to me?”
Zhou Wangshu pressed close, kissing her lips. “I missed you. Can’t sleep without you.”
Su Yaoguang pushed him. “I need to check on Mother… Mm…”
“Mother’s fine, Mother’s doing great, Mother’s already asleep.” Zhou Wangshu said as he opened the window, letting Su Yaoguang look toward Zhang Zhaodi’s room.
Sure enough, the candle in Zhang Zhaodi’s room had been extinguished.
Seeing that Zhang Zhaodi had turned off the light to rest, Su Yaoguang decided not to disturb her. Besides, she now had to coax this drunkard back to rest.
Zhou Wangshu lay down on the bed, resting his head on Su Yaoguang’s lap, mumbling, “Madam, so dizzy. Feed me some medicine!”
“Then I need to go decoct some for you.” Su Yaoguang tried to get up but was held down by Zhou Wangshu.
Zhou Wangshu hugged her neck and tilted his head up to kiss her. “Yaoguang’s little mouth can sober me up.”
