Chapter 10

Behind the County Government Complex, which included the county office, official residences, and the school, there was a street called County Rear Street and a cross street, where many taverns, restaurants, and inns were located. Most of these establishments served the officials and students. The Ma Family Inn, adjacent to the Huang Family Compound, was only considered average among the row of shops. Two windproof lanterns hung at the entrance, and in the dimming twilight, the blue tiles and white walls looked clean and tidy.

Since it was close to the government offices, there were no places for entertainment or illicit activities in the area. However, at this moment, the inn faintly echoed with the sound of someone singing a folk song, clearly indicating that there were ways to circumvent the rules.

As soon as Wang Fulin's group stopped in front of the Ma Family Inn, a waiter promptly came forward to greet them. Recognizing Xu Jie and Ma Neng, the waiter immediately called them "Master Xu" and "Master Ma" repeatedly. Soon, the innkeeper himself came out, glanced at Wang Fulin, who was getting off the sedan chair, and greeted Xu and Ma with a smile: "I've heard that Master Xu and Master Ma were on official business. Are you back now?"

"Yes, we were on official business. The young scholar over there is the main figure in the recent controversy over the examination results. He just arrived, and the Chief Examiner has instructed that the case will be resolved tomorrow. He will stay here tonight. You old fox, you won't say you have no vacant rooms, will you?"

The innkeeper, who had just noticed that the young scholar looked familiar, now realized that he was the protagonist of the recent turmoil in Huizhou City. Remembering that he had stayed at the inn before, the innkeeper scrutinized him for a moment before agreeing: "Of course, we have plenty of vacant rooms. Will Master Xu and Master Ma also stay here? I'll have the rooms cleaned immediately!"

"We've been running all day. We'll go home to rest and come back early tomorrow. Make sure you take good care of us," Ma Neng said with a smile, but added casually, "Don't underestimate the young. He was sent here by a trusted person from Songming Mountain's Southern Ming Scholar. The truth will be revealed tomorrow."

The innkeeper, who was accustomed to dealing with people and maintaining a pleasant demeanor, immediately understood. He personally greeted Wang Fulin and led him to a clean, vacant courtyard at the back, where he settled the entire group. After seeing Xu Jie and Ma Neng leave, he arranged a few tables of food to entertain the guests. He thought Wang Fulin, who was at a critical moment in his examination, would want to stay and gather information, but to his surprise, Wang Fulin dismissed him with a few coins.

After the innkeeper left, Jin Bao couldn't help but yawn. Seeing Wang Fulin start to organize his luggage, he quickly got up and said, "Father, let me do it."

Wang Fulin, without turning his head, said, "Just take care of your own feet and go to bed early."

Jin Bao was suddenly alert, remembering what he had heard from Liu San. He wanted to tell Wang Fulin but bit his lip and finally said in a low voice, "I'll go find Uncle Kang for some medicine."

Wang Fulin, not suspecting anything, nodded. He heard the door creak as the boy went out. Then, he took out the household registration documents and the clan genealogy copy that his uncle Wu Tianbao had obtained after receiving the news. He placed these important documents close to his body and began to read the "Annotations on the Analects of Confucius," lost in thought.

For him, who had no memory of the past, this diary was the only link to the former Wang Fulin.

After some time, when he read the part about Master Cheng, the two doors creaked again. Thinking it was Jin Bao, he said without looking up, "Apply the medicine and go to bed early. You walked all day today."

However, he received no response. Instead, with a rustling sound, someone stood beside him and laughed lightly, "Shuangmu, you have great composure. Even with Mount Tai collapsing in front of you, you still read the 'Annotations on the Analects of Confucius' by lamplight. Truly, you have the demeanor of an ancient general!"

Wang Fulin immediately looked up and saw a teenager of about sixteen or seventeen. The youth wore a horsehair headband, a Yangming robe, and cloud shoes. His eyes were full of emotion, and his lips curved into a smile, exuding a graceful and gentle demeanor. At first glance, who wouldn't think he was a handsome and charming young man? But for this stranger who had burst in and called him by his nickname, Wang Fulin felt a headache, as he didn't recognize him at all!

In an instant, another person appeared at the door, bowed respectfully, and said in a low voice, "Young Master, we sneaked out. You must hurry, or the Old Lady and Madam will beat me to death."

"I understand! Moxiang, you guard well and don't let anyone disturb us!"

Hearing the familiar name "Moxiang," Wang Fulin felt his scalp tingle. This youth must be the legendary Master Cheng! He had planned to cut ties with this person after tomorrow, but why had he come uninvited tonight? Didn't he know that the rumors had already affected him, and the right thing to do would be to protect himself?

"Fortunately, the innkeeper knows that Shuangmu and I are close friends. As soon as you arrived, he sent a message to my home, which is in the Huang Family Compound. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come so quickly."

The flame on the lamp flickered, but Master Cheng didn't notice Wang Fulin's ghostly expression. He sat down without being invited, opened his fan with a snap, and said, "We both passed the county, prefectural, and provincial exams together, with our names close on the list. We should share both good fortune and adversity! Those who judge us by their own low standards have dared to slander our friendship and tarnish your reputation. This cannot be tolerated! Brother, I have decided to stand by you!"

I didn't ask for a teammate, and you shouldn't assume so much, right?

Wang Fulin was speechless! He wished someone would come and interrupt, so he could get rid of this self-proclaimed "righteous" Master Cheng. But Jin Bao was nowhere to be found, and the sedan bearers and villagers had all disappeared, either because they were too tired from the journey or because Master Cheng had already warned them off. The outside was eerily quiet, with not a sound to be heard!

With no choice, he forced a grim smile.

"Master Cheng," he forced out the words, trying to make his expression look natural, "you come from a wealthy family and have a bright future. It's best not to get involved with me, a man under suspicion!"

"We are upright and honest. Our friendship is pure and noble. Even if we face the Chief Examiner, I can say this with confidence! If you are under suspicion, I am also under suspicion! If I hadn't been blind and mistaken, I wouldn't have entrusted that good deed to the gossipy matchmaker, who then spread rumors and tarnished your reputation!"

At this moment, Wang Fulin's lips were not just twitching; he felt his teeth ache. This Master Cheng was not only self-righteous but also imaginative, blaming the matchmaker for the whole mess! But the matchmaker, who had been threatening and unpleasant when she delivered the person to his home, deserved to bear the blame and lose her business in the future!

Wang Fulin didn't speak, but Master Cheng felt that he was being difficult and moved. He suddenly stood up and said, "Shuangmu, I left a note at home today. Tomorrow, I will go with you to see the Chief Examiner and clear your name!"

Master Cheng, please go home and don't make things worse, okay?

Wang Fulin felt like dying. If he had known, he wouldn't have chosen the Ma Family Inn for its proximity to the school. Thinking of this unwelcome trouble, he took a deep breath, and a cold glint flashed in his hand as he revealed the dagger he had carried for self-defense today.

Faced with this scene, the previously eloquent and passionate Master Cheng immediately choked like a quail, making an indistinct sound. He kicked over a chair and retreated several steps before stammering, "Brother... what are you... what are you doing?"

Outside, Moxiang, who had been guarding diligently, heard the commotion and peeked in. Seeing the scene, he was stunned. He instinctively rushed into the room, spread his arms like a mother hen protecting her chicks, and shouted, "Young Master Wang, our young master is here to help you. What do you mean by this?"

Wang Fulin looked at the master and servant, then gracefully lifted the hem of his everyday robe and, without hesitation, raised his right hand and slashed down with the dagger. The fabric ripped with a tearing sound, and the torn piece slowly fell to the ground. Only then did he lower the dagger and say in a tone of deep regret, "I appreciate your good intentions, Master Cheng, but please don't get involved in my affairs! From now on, let's go our separate ways and cut ties!"

Moxiang was stunned, and Master Cheng was dumbfounded. The strange and tense atmosphere lasted for a few moments before being broken by Master Cheng's sudden laughter.

"Good, good!" Master Cheng's laughter abruptly stopped, and he looked at Wang Fulin with admiration, "Brother, you have the spirit of the ancients. You don't want to involve me, and your high moral character is commendable. But I, Cheng Naixuan, am not a coward! You will face the Chief Examiner tomorrow and need to rest. I will go home tonight and come back tomorrow to stand by you!"

Seeing Master Cheng bow solemnly and look determined, and noticing the heads poking out from outside, including the sedan bearers from Southern Ming Scholar's home, the villagers from Songming Mountain, and the inn's waiters, all of whom looked admiring, impressed, and worshipful, Wang Fulin, though his face remained unchanged, inwardly groaned.

I really want to cut ties with this guy, not because I'm afraid of involving him. Why doesn't anyone believe my resolve?

At this moment, another head appeared behind the crowd, and it was the innkeeper himself. He cleared his throat and said cautiously, "Young Master Wang, the young man who came with you just left. I asked where he was going, but he ran off quickly. I had to report this to you."

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