Chapter 52: Investigate

Academy Courtyard.

Zhang Hongsheng and Liu Ziyu, both students of the Wenhua Hall, were nearly dragged here by Jiang Bowen.

Lu Jingyuan’s expression remained calm; he merely glanced at them. At once, Liu Ziyu spoke, “Jingyuan, earlier it was my fault. I shouldn’t have listened to one side and hastily judged without knowing the truth. Please forgive me for my offense.” He bowed, then hurriedly stepped aside.

Zhang Hongsheng let out a breath and bowed as well.

“I was wrong too. I believed Fang Juncai’s words and misjudged you, speaking out of turn. It wasn’t until Bowen admonished me that I realized Fang Juncai might have been to blame. He left in such a rush that it became clear. I failed to distinguish truth from falsehood. Please accept my apology.”

Zhang Hongsheng remained bowed.

Seeing this, Liu Ziyu quickly stepped forward to bow again.

Jiang Bowen also offered a bow. “Please forgive us, Jingyuan.”

Lu Jingyuan’s gaze lowered, unwilling to respond. Suddenly, the image of that coy, smiling face—so sweet yet so insincere—flashed before his eyes. He tugged slightly at his lips, raised his arms, and helped the three to their feet.

“Do you want to eat knife-cut noodles?” Lu Jingyuan asked.

Jiang Bowen, Zhang Hongsheng, Liu Ziyu: “?”

*******

In front of the popular food stall at Ping’an Town.

Su Tang almost thought she’d heard wrong.

“What did you say?”

Liu Hu, hands on his hips and chin lifted, repeated deliberately, “Five bowls of knife-cut noodles, with meat and eggs, medium spicy. Your husband asked for them, to share with his friends.”

Su Tang was stunned.

Just yesterday, her husband had eaten at home, and today the young master already had friends to dine with? He was truly skilled~

“Thank you for your trouble, junior. Have a bowl before you leave. I’ll treat you,” Su Tang said.

“Thank you, sister-in-law.”

Liu Hu agreed, eyeing the bubbling noodles, nearly drooling in anticipation.

When he tasted the noodles, Liu Hu felt it was the best bowl he’d ever eaten in his life.

“If your senior brother makes new friends in the future, you must let me know,” Su Tang whispered as she handed him a prepared food box.

Liu Hu nodded without hesitation.

After Liu Hu left, nearby customers clicked their tongues in admiration.

“Boss Lu is lucky. If your wife hadn’t found a way for your son to study, would he have become a disciple of Master Fang? And now he has friends too. One day, he’ll be a person of influence on the streets.”

“No doubt about it. Brings in wealth, supports her husband, supports the family, beautiful too—there’s nowhere to find such a woman even with a lantern.”

“…”

“Hehe, that’s right,” Lu Dashan, who was helping out, scratched his head and laughed, “No matter how much you praise, I can’t give you a discount.”

“Haha~”

“Boss Lu is impressive too.”

As the lively chatter continued, a carriage pulled up nearby.

The voices around the stall fell silent.

The driver stepped down, “Knife-cut noodles,” and handed Su Tang a waiting token.

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Su Tang recognized the driver—it was the servant suspected to be in the employ of a county magistrate.

She took the token with a smile, and Li Qingtian finished cooking the noodles, which the servant carried back to the carriage.

Soon, the noodles were eaten.

“The master rewards you,” the servant tossed a piece of silver.

Li Qingtian caught it deftly.

“Thank you, sir,” Su Tang said with a smile.

The servant smiled too, pointing at the stall, his face warm as spring sunshine. “Would the young lady like to open her stall in the county town?”

Su Tang was taken aback.

Nearby customers glanced at each other, their expressions unfriendly.

The servant seemed not to notice. “My master thinks the noodles are delicious, but the stall is too far away.”

Su Tang replied, “I appreciate your master’s favor, but this stall has been open less than a month. If I move, I fear it would disappoint my regular customers.”

“Exactly,” the customers muttered.

The servant was unfazed. “If you’re interested, my master can make arrangements.”

Su Tang bowed. “Thank you for your master’s generosity. If I go to the county town, I’ll surely need his help. May I ask your name?”

The servant replied, “My surname is Fang. If you wish, you can find me at Number Five, Anping Street in the county town.”

“I understand,” Su Tang replied.

The servant named Fang departed.

As he boarded the carriage, it slowly rolled away.

The rich aroma of broth faded. The servant glanced at the now invisible stall behind him and said, “Master, the young lady doesn’t know what’s good for her.”

Inside, the county magistrate sat with eyes half closed, and spoke slowly, “Dezi said she came because of misfortune?”

The servant outside replied, “Yes, they say she married for luck, and was nearly dead before.”

“Investigate,” the magistrate ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

*****

In the academy courtyard.

Four bowls, nearly scraped clean, were arrayed on the table.

Those gathered nearby had flushed cheeks and damp foreheads.

“So spicy.”

“It’s like silver knives and white snow, fiery rain and scallion wind.”

“…”

Jiang Bowen, Zhang Hongsheng, and Liu Ziyu gazed blankly, full of admiration.

They had never heard of knife-cut noodles before, but once tasted, they found them exhilarating.

“Wonderful!”

“Jingyuan knows me well—friendship should be as hearty as these noodles,” Jiang Bowen said.

Liu Ziyu nodded repeatedly, Zhang Hongsheng remained silent.

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Lu Jingyuan’s gaze lifted.

Jiang Bowen followed his eyes, his expression changing.

A scholar approached, dressed in a pale robe, refined and elegant, radiating noble grace—it was Huang Wenzhao.

Huang Wenzhao glanced at the four empty bowls, his eyes swept over Jiang, Zhang, and Liu, then settled on Lu Jingyuan with a playful smile. “Jingyuan is so generous, yet so stingy toward me.”

Liu Ziyu quickly explained, “We didn’t see Brother Huang at the time.”

Zhang Hongsheng nodded, “That’s right.”

Huang Wenzhao smiled at Lu Jingyuan.

Both Huang Wenzhao and Lu Jingyuan were handsome and graceful—one smiling, one indifferent.

The atmosphere was tense.

“It was just a coincidence…” Jiang Bowen was about to smooth things over, but Lu Jingyuan spoke coolly, “I do not wish to befriend you.”

What?

Liu Ziyu shrank back.

Zhang Hongsheng stared.

Jiang Bowen held his breath.

Huang Wenzhao, as if hearing a joke, smiled, “Why?”

“Fang Juncai is familiar with you,” Lu Jingyuan replied.

Huang Wenzhao laughed, “As you say, there are many in the academy acquainted with me.”

“He is different,” Lu Jingyuan said.

Huang Wenzhao paused, then burst out laughing.

“Well, well, Jingyuan, you truly leave me in awe, in awe…”

He departed in laughter.

Behind him, Liu Ziyu wiped his brow.

Zhang Hongsheng glanced at Liu Ziyu, scoffing lightly.

Jiang Bowen patted Lu Jingyuan’s shoulder, sighing, “Jingyuan, your temperament is far too straightforward.”

Lu Jingyuan replied indifferently, “Even if it had nothing to do with Fang Juncai, I would still disdain befriending him.”

With that, he turned and left.

Liu Ziyu quietly approached Jiang Bowen, “Why doesn’t Jingyuan want to be friends with Brother Huang?”

Zhang Hongsheng murmured, “Probably because he’s not one of us.”

What?

Liu Ziyu was perplexed.

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