Chapter 30: I Only Believe That Man Can Conquer Heaven

Chapter 30: I Only Trust Humanity to Conquer Heaven

When noon passed, the taverns in the north of the city were all packed with scholars and beauties.

Especially at Li Huigu’s Fengchun Pavilion, the first floor was more crowded than the second.

There were scholars swapping cups and plates, shy and lovely maidens, and some renowned figures and great scholars from the Shu region.

Among them, Liu Bubo, known in the village of Xiao Wugou, held a high status—he was the prefect of the Shu capital.

Through this connection, Chen Yi and Xiao Wugou followed him to the main table.

Under Chen Yi’s deliberate efforts, he quickly became acquainted with Li Huigu.

They chatted and laughed across Xiao Wugou, discussing everything from this imperial examination to the sights of Shu, Jiangnan, and the capital prefectures, and they were evenly matched in wit and knowledge.

When it came to rising topics, Li Huigu even swapped places with Xiao Wugou.

Though his learning and insight were naturally outstanding, compared to Chen Yi, he was far behind.

Often, a simple remark from Li Huigu would fill him with admiration, thinking that the tales of Chen Yi’s reputation in Jiangnan—being loyal and filial, and excelling in both learning and virtue—were no exaggeration.

As for this examination’s topic, “Why does a boat capsize on water?” Chen Yi merely casually said, “Water can both carry a boat and overturn it,” and thus broke the question.

Li Huigu felt inferior, thinking of a perspective of going with the flow, emphasizing natural non-action.

Compared to Chen Yi’s words, the judgment was clear.

Even Liu Bibo, listening from the side, was startled.

Originally, he had not regarded Chen Yi highly, for Chen Yi was merely Xiao’s son-in-law, and even composing a congratulatory verse for a birthday would change nothing.

But at that moment, hearing his words, Liu Bibo felt in line with his predecessor, the former governor of Shu, Sun Fu—who also thought this son of a borrowed family was a pity.

At this point, Li Huigu sighed slightly and said, “Ah Qiu, it’s a pity you didn’t participate in this examination, and your elder brother Yunfan…”

Before he could finish, Liu Bibo coughed and said, “Fangguan, let’s not dwell on idle talk. I think we should stop here.”

Chen Yi secretly raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying, “The Prefect, it’s your day of joy, Li Huigu. You should return early to share happiness with your family.”

These court officials who had come to the capital all understood the importance of avoiding impropriety.

Clearly, Liu Bibo did not wish to offend the Chen family, even though Shu was far from Jiangnan, he hoped to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

From this, Chen Yi realized that his “elder brother” Chen Yunfan’s matter of being a top scorer in the previous exams must have some hidden truth.

Li Huigu hesitated and said, “Huigu will obey the teacher’s instructions.”

Liu Bibo nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Xiao Wugou and said, “Tell your grandfather I ask after his health. I’ll teach you other things when your uncle comes to pay a call later.”

After that, he quietly instructed Li Huigu, then rose and left.

The surrounding guests all respectfully bowed their heads in attention until he left the hall, at which point the atmosphere warmed up a bit.

Xiao Wugou looked around, found nothing to his liking, and said, “Ahge, let’s go home too.”

Chen Yi paused, about to rise, when Li Huigu pulled him back.

“Ah Qiu, today we’ve enjoyed a great talk. Why not come home with me as a witness?”

“Oh?”

Li Huigu glanced at Xiao Wugou, knowing he was present, and felt more confident.

He immediately spoke earnestly, “I’ve long wanted to do something but never dared. I thought to take this opportunity on this joyous day.”

Chen Yi understood his intention and went along with it.

Xiao Wugou, Xiao Die, and several other scholars, though a bit puzzled, saw him smiling and didn’t say much.

Soon, they all followed Li Huigu back to his home in the suburbs north of the city—the Luoyi Alley.

Chen Yi scanned the area, his gaze passing over the ancient courtyard walls, fresh trees, and the distant figure of a woman.

She was a small-boned woman, with two braids, a piece of cloth wrapped around her head, wearing simple clothes, her appearance only decent.

When she saw them arrive, her face flushed slightly, her hands instinctively twisting together.

Li Huigu beamed and pulled her hand forward, introducing them to Chen Yi and the others:

“Qing, I’m Li Huigu’s son-in-law.”

Chen Yi glanced at him, didn’t expose anything, and greeted Xiao Die and the others.

Qing was flushed from Li Huigu’s words, her neck red, but she humbly bowed and didn’t argue, and let him lead her.

Before long, a voice came from the side:

“Fangguan, when did my wife arrange a match for you?”

“Erm—”

Everyone was puzzled, and they saw a woman come out from the courtyard nearby, dressed appropriately, frowning at them.

Li Huigu turned to the woman, his face awkward, “Nü, I—”

Qing turned pale, not daring to lift her head.

Chen Yi was calm, having long known this “wife-beating” situation.

But he hadn’t expected Li Huigu, moved by deep feelings, to drag them all as witnesses, without even giving him a chance to introduce their identities.

Only Xiao Die and Xiao Wugou, among the others, were confused, watching from the side.

At that moment, Li Huigu finally remembered Xiao Wugou and the others, and said, “Nü, they are—”

“Shut up!”

Before he could finish, Li’s mother glared at him, then looked at the cowering Qing, and said flatly:

“Qing, today is Fangguan’s joyous day. I didn’t want to say much, but you’ve become more and more brazen.”

Li Huigu held her, pleading, “Nü—”

Li’s mother ignored him, still looking at Qing:

“My dear, perhaps you should be more direct.”

“Now that Fangguan has become a top scorer, even if he doesn’t find a match with proper family background, he should know some books and manners. And you can’t even write your name, I can’t let Fangguan marry you.”

When she finished, Qing’s face was full of sorrow.

That look of despondency and sadness, even the deeply moved Li Huigu couldn’t bear it, nor could Xiao Die and the others.

Qing endured the pain in her eyes, bowed respectfully, and managed to say, choked with emotion:

“Qing can’t, please, Lady Li, don’t be angry.”

After that, she bypassed them, wiping her eyes, and hurried away.

“Qing!”

Li Huigu saw this and didn’t think of anything else, breaking free from his mother’s grasp, chasing after her.

Li’s mother was stunned, “Fangguan!”

But the two had already run far away.

Only then did Li’s mother see Chen Yi and the others, her anger subsiding into a smile.

"Are you... Fang Gu's friends?" Xiao Wu Ge, Xiao Die, and Wang Li Xing, among others, furrowed their brows and stared at her without a word. Chen Yi, however, shook his head, his gaze fixed on Li Mu with a serious expression. "Forgive us, but it's unlikely we can become friends with your son."

"..."

Before Li Mu could respond, Chen Yi slightly bowed and led Xiao Wu Ge and the others towards Li Hua Zhi. Watching their retreating backs, Li Mu opened her mouth. "Who's eager to see you all?"

After a moment, Chen Yi and the others found Li Hua Zhi and Yun Xiang and their companions outside Luo Yi Alley. But compared to the earlier affection between them, a vast chasm seemed to have formed between them now. Yun Xiang lowered her head, her rough hands wrapped around a jade stone, whispering softly, "Lord Li, the hunter next door wishes to marry me. A few days ago, he sent a matchmaker to propose, and the dowry is enough to buy two sheep."

"You, you... you'd better listen to your aunt's advice and find a suitable match..." Before he could finish, she thrust the jade stone into Li Hua Zhi's hands and ran away without looking back. Li Hua Zhi watched her retreating back, choosing not to pursue. His fingertips brushed the jade stone's concave engraving.

After a long while, Li Hua Zhi looked at Chen Yi and the others, "I've set a joke for you all." Chen Yi furrowed his brow. "Hua Zhi, what do you plan to do?" Li Hua Zhi let out a bitter smile, his voice dim. "Qing Zhou, it's said you're renowned in Jiangnan for being filial and loyal. So... can love also be complete?"

Before Chen Yi could answer, Li Hua Zhi shook his head, passing by him, murmuring, "I wish to know you completely, to live forever without end, mountains have no graves..." Chen Yi's gaze followed his increasingly distant figure, his vision blurred: [Witnessing the farewell between the contender, Lord Li Hua Zhi, and Qing Mei, forever parting across the miles. Reward: Medical Classic "Shang Han Za Bing Lun," fate +20.] [Evaluation: Present in person, heard the name, seen the scene, but no action taken. A cold and indifferent group.]

Chen Yi glanced at the evaluation on the light screen, remaining silent.

At that moment, a suppressed sobbing sound came from beside him. Chen Yi turned around. Xiao Die noticed his gaze, her sleeve rubbing at tears that wouldn't dry. "They, are they... but clearly, they... aunt, uncle, can we help them?" Xiao Wu Ge looked at Chen Yi. "Brother, I may not understand, but it's clear they're... should be... a married couple." Wang Li Xing and others were equally complex in mood, Ge Lao San's eyes turning red, muttering, "Damn fate, it's not a thing at all."

After a long while, Chen Yi looked up at the afternoon sky, took a deep breath. "What do I believe in? I only believe in humanity conquering heaven!" Xiao Die lifted her tearful eyes. "Uncle... ?" Chen Yi brushed away her tears, smiling. "This time, you'll need to step in." "Me?" "We first need to confirm if that hunter actually gave the dowry, right?"

(End of Chapter)