20. Lin Yuejiao in Peril

"Is this what she calls tea artistry?" Wen Zeye raised an eyebrow.

Lin Yuejiao pursed her lips. "My apologies. I believe my second sister is feeling unwell today and did not perform at her best. I hope you will all excuse her."

"Then let us ask someone else to prepare the tea," Wen Zeye suggested casually. Immediately, several young ladies, eager to show off their skills, volunteered. Li Moqian gave his approval, and one took over the position Lin Qingxu had just vacated.

The crowd, unaware of the internal friction, merely assumed Lin Qingxu’s tea-making skills were lacking. Only Lin Zijin understood that Lin Yuejiao had deliberately set Lin Qingxu up.

The banquet continued. After a while, Rong Yu rose lazily from his sandalwood chair, his cold voice possessing a magnetic quality. "I am weary, so I shall take my leave. Moqian, starting today, I appoint you as the deputy examiner. I leave the rest to you."

"I knew you wouldn't have the patience to enjoy this for long," Li Moqian sighed helplessly, bowing. "Farewell, Your Highness."

The Prince of Zhongyi, dressed in white, drifted elegantly out of the great hall. His cold gaze lingered on Lin Yuejiao for a moment before shifting away, returning to his usual indifferent expression.

The crowd bowed. "Farewell, Your Highness."

"Everyone, please continue. The banquet has lasted quite a long time, and I am sure many of you are tired. Feel free to rest as you please; there is no need for formality," Li Moqian said to the guests.

The crowd bowed in gratitude once more.

Because Lin Qingliu and Lin Qingxu were absent, the seats beside Lin Yuejiao were empty. Many young scions of noble families wanted to strike up a conversation with this talented girl, who was certain to become famous throughout Jiangnan after tonight. However, before they could crowd around, someone had already claimed the seat next to Lin Yuejiao. Seeing who it was, the others dared not compete.

He was a young man in his early twenties, dressed in an indigo robe of silk and brocade, embroidered with intricate golden threads and pearls. One look told anyone that his background was extraordinary and his family wealthy.

"Lin Yuejiao, you should know who I am, right?" the wealthy young master asked with a hint of narcissism.

Lin Yuejiao and Lin Zijin exchanged a glance, both looking blank.

"Forget it. I suppose it’s normal for people like you, raised in deep boudoirs and never attending gatherings, not to know me. I am Cheng Yuanjie," Chi Zixian said, somewhat dissatisfied, but forced to introduce himself.

This name was not unfamiliar to Lin Yuejiao.

"May I ask what business you have with me, Master Chi?" Lin Yuejiao asked politely.

Chi Zixian replied, "I admire you greatly and would like to get to know you."

Lin Yuejiao’s gaze sharpened. She had no fondness for such people. "We are acquainted now," she said, her tone distant yet courteous.

"Then, let us go for a stroll in the garden and admire the flowers." Chi Zixian’s eyes scanned Lin Yuejiao’s face, a look that made her deeply uncomfortable.

Lin Yuejiao stood up. "My apologies, but my second sister has suffered a scald, and I must go to the backyard to check on her."

"I will go with you," Chi Zixian immediately pressed.

Lin Yuejiao said, "Master Chi, my sister is changing her clothes; it would be quite inconvenient. Unless you intend to take responsibility for my second sister, I ask that you do not follow."

"Oh? That’s a novel request. Your second sister? That painted, superficial girl? I have no interest in her," Chi Zixian remarked bluntly.

Lin Yuejiao signaled to Lin Zijin, indicating that she should head toward the crowded area near Li Moqian to avoid being entangled by Chi Zixian. Lin Zijin nodded and quietly rose to leave. Seeing her go, Lin Yuejiao turned and walked away.

Chi Zixian wanted to follow, but he feared truly encountering the second sister and being forced into a commitment.

Once outside the hall, Iris looked back to ensure Chi Zixian was not following and laughed. "Miss, we really bluffed him. Master Chi did not follow."

"Indeed. I was feeling stifled in the hall anyway. Let us walk along the lake," Lin Yuejiao said. Even without Chi Zixian, others would have tried to curry favor; coming out here offered a moment of peace.

Iris’s eyes sparkled. "Miss, you earned three bamboo plaques. By tomorrow, your name will undoubtedly be known throughout all of Jiangnan."

"There are twelve assessments in the academy; we have only passed three," Lin Yuejiao said with modest restraint, her eyes fixed on the shimmering lake. Although she was happy to have earned three plaques, she would not become complacent. She had to become the top talent in Jiangnan, both to repay the favor she owed Rong Yu and because she knew better than anyone the countless benefits that the status of a lady from the Chaohuang Academy would bring her.

Iris said admiringly, "But Miss is already incredible. The eternal couplet, painting with the left hand, double-sided embroidery—these are things I had never even heard of before."

As the mistress and maid walked around the lake, they suddenly saw two people arguing ahead. One was Lin Qingxu, and the other, with his back to them, was a strange man.

"You foul, poor scholar! You bumped into me and caused me to fall. You must kneel and apologize to me!"

"Miss, I did not do it on purpose. I am very sorry, but a man has dignity; I cannot kneel to you."

"Then pay me! One hundred taels—I don’t want much more than that. Can you afford it?" Lin Qingxu mocked.

Lin Yuejiao approached and saw that the man was in his early twenties, dressed in a tattered blue gown, clearly from a humble background.

"Second Sister, he has already apologized. Why must you be so aggressive?" Lin Yuejiao asked as she stepped forward.

The moment Lin Qingxu saw Lin Yuejiao, the hatred in her eyes became uncontrollable. "What business is it of yours?"

"Of course it is my business. If word gets out that you forced a scholar to kneel, our Lin family’s reputation will be tarnished. Naturally, I must stop you from committing such a disgraceful act," Lin Yuejiao said with a curl of her lips.

Lin Qingxu sneered, "You’re just trying to oppose me, aren't you? This place is remote; no one comes here. Who else could spread the word besides you?"

"Since you understand that, Second Sister, you should restrain yourself. Iris, go report this to Master Li right now. Tell him that someone is bullying a scholar from a humble background. Master Li will certainly not ignore this," Lin Yuejiao threatened directly.

Lin Qingxu’s expression changed.

"Very well. Lin Yuejiao, you undermine me, bully me, humiliate me, and now you threaten me. I am not finished with you!"

"I always assumed we were never finished. What, have you only just realized that now?" Lin Yuejiao retorted lightly.

Lin Qingxu was so angry she nearly vomited blood. Finally, she glared at her and the scholar before storming off in a rage.

"If it weren't for your righteous words, Miss, I truly wouldn't have known what to do," the young man said, cupping his hands. "I am Zhai Jinchi. Thank you for the rescue."

The name Zhai Jinchi made Lin Yuejiao pause for a moment. She stared at him, scrutinizing him closely. Recognizing his origins, she took a greater interest. "Master Zhai, the literary gathering is lively ahead. Why are you here alone?"

"I did not intend to attend the literary gathering, but..." Zhai Jinchi looked somewhat embarrassed but spoke honestly, "My mother is critically ill. The doctor told me to provide her with ginseng soup to build up her strength. But I had already spent all the money from selling my calligraphy on medicine; forget ginseng soup, I couldn't even afford a meal tonight. A fellow student brought me here, so I thought I would take advantage of the free meal and save some money. Besides, a gathering of this scale must have ginseng soup. I hoped that after the banquet, I could collect some leftover soup to bring back for my mother."

The ginseng soup was placed only before the wealthy scions and noble daughters; it was not available to common scholars like him.

After explaining, Zhai Jinchi continued, "It was too noisy inside with the music and dancing, so I came out to recite my books. I didn't expect to accidentally bump into that lady, and then I met you..."

Hearing this, Lin Yuejiao felt a pang of heartache. Thinking of her own mother, she felt a sense of empathy toward Zhai Jinchi. She turned to Iris. "Iris, take Master Zhai to the kitchen. Tell them the Fourth Miss of the Lin family would like another bowl of ginseng soup; they will certainly provide it. Master Zhai, you may take this back to your mother; there is no need to wait for the banquet to end."

"Yes," Iris replied, curtsying.

Zhai Jinchi quickly waved his hands. "No, I cannot accept your ginseng soup."

"Why not? I am not giving it to you; I am giving it to your mother," Lin Yuejiao said. She pulled two silver ingots from her sleeve and pressed them into Zhai Jinchi’s palm. "Fifty taels. Take this first to treat your mother’s illness. Do not refuse; consider it a loan. When you have money in the future, remember to pay me back."

Zhai Jinchi was deeply moved. He had not expected a stranger to provide both soup and silver. However, he felt too ashamed to accept and adamantly refused. "I cannot. I thank you for the soup on my mother's behalf, but the silver—I absolutely cannot accept it. You call it a loan out of kindness for my pride, but I know in my heart that I could never repay such a huge sum."

"I believe you can. Zhai Jinchi, you are immensely talented. You will surely make the imperial lists in the future, rise to greatness, and become a high official. I am investing in you now by lending you this money. When you succeed, you will have the means to repay me. Don't you agree?" Lin Yuejiao forced the silver into his hand and smiled. "This is all I had with me today; keep it. You can borrow money, but if you delay your mother's treatment and she passes away, I do not have the power to borrow life from the King of Hell."

These words left Zhai Jinchi in a dilemma; he could neither return the money nor accept it.

"Iris, take Master Zhai to get the soup," Lin Yuejiao commanded.

Zhai Jinchi finally accepted, bowing solemnly. "Miss, your great kindness is unforgettable. I will keep it in my heart. Today’s fifty taels shall be repaid a hundredfold in the future."

Lin Yuejiao smiled. "Good, I will remember that."

She knew that a man of Zhai Jinchi’s character would never accept charity; only by calling it a loan could she force him to take it. By asking for repayment, she was protecting his dignity.

"Master Zhai, let's go," Iris said with a smile, leading the way.

Watching them leave, Lin Yuejiao began to contemplate her own affairs.

Just as she was lost in thought, she noticed an extra shadow on the water's surface. Realizing with a start that someone was behind her, she grew vigilant and prepared to move away, but the person had already shoved her hard, sending her plunging into the lake.

"Lin Qingxu, you..." Lin Yuejiao splashed into the water, finally seeing the person standing on the bank—it was none other than Lin Qingxu.