Chapter 16

A few days later, news arrived from Changning.

Lu Zhao and Lin Pianyue were both thrown into prison.

Some days ago, Lu Zhao had fallen out with his colleagues at the yamen because of Lin Pianyue’s affairs.

Xu Zhao’an only had to ask a few more questions, and they told him everything without reservation.

With leverage over Lu Zhao in his hand, it was not difficult for him to vent my anger on my behalf.

But unexpectedly, upon further investigation, he found that Lu Zhao had actually forged quite a lot of evidence in Squire Qian’s case to help Lin Pianyue.

All to spare Lin Pianyue from prison and to free her from the Qian Family.

Two years ago, when Lin Yuefeng injured someone at the academy, it was also Lu Zhao who taught Lin Yuefeng how to evade responsibility.

And because Lin Pianyue quarreled with Lu Zhao’s mother, she accidentally pushed her down.

Lu Zhao’s mother never stood up again.

After I ran away, Lu Zhao wanted to take another woman as a concubine.

That was when she started to lose her mind. Now, in prison, she has gone completely mad, threatening every day to die together with Lu Zhao.

Even the jailer could not stand Lin Pianyue’s endless screaming.

Within three days, Lu Zhao seemed to have become a different person-neither human nor ghost.

Lin Tieshan was beaten, and soon after he had a stroke. He now lay on the bed whimpering, unable to take care of himself.

Lin Yuefeng didn’t fare much better.

After his flogging that day, the Lin Family couple couldn’t bear to see him suffer, so they hired an ox cart for him to lie on.

But halfway home, the ox cart overturned and landed right on Lin Yuefeng, leaving his legs utterly crippled.

As for my mother, she wailed to the heavens and still had to take care of those two invalids.

When I heard these things, I was turning the soil in the courtyard with Liu’er.

Liu’er was talking excitedly, but I only felt it was like a gust of wind passing my ears.

Not a single ripple stirred in my heart.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door-

Xu Zhao’an had actually come to see me with betrothal gifts and a matchmaker.

He stood at the bottom of the steps, his eyes clouded, and said, “Miss Li, I have come to propose.”

“The day you took me in and gave me silver to take the exam-such great kindness, I have not dared to forget it for a single moment.”

I opened the door calmly and smiled, “Xu Zhao’an, you truly know how to repay a debt of gratitude. To have such a County Magistrate is a blessing for the people.”

“But it was only a few taels of silver, it’s not worth your holding onto it so tightly.”

Xu Zhao’an frowned slightly, unable to help stepping forward two paces. “But-”

“Xu Zhao’an, when it comes to gratitude, you must clearly distinguish what is grace and what is affection.”

“I have no intention toward you, nor do you necessarily have feelings for me. If you really want to repay me, you may as well just give me more silver.”

“I suppose you’re not lacking for silver these days.”

With those words, being a smart man, he naturally understood.

“Alright.”

There was some disappointment in his tone.

But wasn’t I the same?

Many people call me Miss Lin, some call me Lin Er.

Only he always called me Miss Li, Miss Li.

Xu Zhao’an understands me.

Because ‘Li’ is the one unique character in my name.

But no matter how open the beginning, there will always be rough roads ahead.

Sometimes with a few probing words, sometimes with cautious guessing.

In the end, I fear it would all come to nothing.

……

After Xu Zhao’an left, the people watching the excitement dispersed.

I sat on the steps, propping my face in my hand, lost in thought for a while.

“Sister Li’er! He’s the top scholar! Now the County Magistrate! How could you… how could you…”

Liu’er couldn’t hold it in, so angry that even the silver hairpin on his head trembled.

“How could you turn him down?”

Father hurriedly shielded mother and the others, echoing, “Yes, Lu Zhao is now the Clerk. In the future, he’ll have to socialize with all those prominent families, and you’d only embarrass him.”

“That’s right,” he nodded vigorously, looking as if he hated iron for not becoming steel.

I sighed softly and said, “I don’t want him to regret this kindness for the rest of his life, nor do I want to throw away my own life for a moment of softheartedness.”

If we truly liked each other, perhaps this feeling would last a while.

But unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Xu Zhao’an will meet a woman more suitable for him in the future, and then this kindness may mean little.

No one knows.

“Alright!”

I pulled Liu’er down to sit beside me and pointed to a corner not far away. “Do you see what that is?”

“A flower?”

“No, that’s grass.”

Just like years ago, when I sat on the moss-covered steps in front of the Lin Family home.

What I looked at then were not the few wildflowers,

but the strong grass beside them, blown down by the wind but always standing up again.

I roam the wilds, growing between heaven and earth.

The sky is high and the sea is wide-I shall not be confined.