AD (QT) Chapter 113

Yan Hong truly lived up to expectations and succeeded in becoming the Zhuangyuan. Normally, Han Ze should have been overjoyed that his student had taken the top spot, but when he remembered Yan Hong’s condition—that winning first place meant Han Ze had to agree to let him marry Jinxiu—his heart was filled with dissatisfaction.

Because of this lingering resentment, when Yan Hong came to the house to formally propose, Han Ze used various excuses to politely decline him. Fortunately, Yan Hong understood his teacher’s internal struggle and did not lose heart. If it didn’t work the first time, he would simply propose a few more times; eventually, his teacher would be moved.

As a result, every month thereafter, Yan Hong would show up like clockwork to propose to Han Ze. Although he continued to be rejected, he knew that Han Ze wouldn’t simply marry Jinxiu off to anyone else, so he felt at ease.

Faced with the “battle of wits” between her father and her Senior Brother, Jinxiu felt both helpless and a bit amused. While Yan Hong’s proposal had been a surprise, after thinking it over, she didn’t find the idea of marrying him repulsive. They had grown up and studied together; she had long since grown used to his presence. Marrying him felt much more natural and comfortable than marrying a stranger.

Even after Han Ze realized Jinxiu was willing, the master and disciple continued their “dueling” for two years. By then, Yan Hong’s temper had been completely polished away, and Jinxiu’s age could no longer be ignored. Even the good-tempered Wang Caiwei began dropping hints to Han Ze that it was time for Jinxiu to marry. Only then did Han Ze finally, begrudgingly, agree to the union.

After Jinxiu’s marriage, Jinhe and Xuewen successively passed the Metropolitan Exam and became Jinshi. Once Jinhe married, time seemed to fly even faster. Soon, the twins grew up and were ready to start their own families. By the time all four children were married with children of their own, and his grandchildren were running all over the place, Han Ze suddenly realized—he had grown old once again.

Looking back on this half of his life—the healing of his illness, the imperial examinations, and his career as an official—he saw how the fate of the Han family in Xiaohan Village had shifted with his rising status. Han Youtian and Old Madam Han were spending their twilight years in peace with him in the capital. Though the lives of his children and his younger brothers had their ups and downs, they were overall happy and secure.

As for Han Daya, she had returned to Xiaohan Village. Her children blamed and resented her, leaving her feeling bitter and wronged. While her actions had been wrong, she felt she had done it all for her husband and children, yet in the end, they had all abandoned her. What had it all been for?

She had plotted against Han Ze, and in the end, she lost the hearts of her family, her husband, and her children. Was this her retribution? However, she realized she couldn’t go on like this forever.

After a long time, she understood a truth: even though Han Ze was now a high-ranking official, she was still his sister. As long as she truly acknowledged her mistakes, reformed her ways, and stopped trying to provoke him, he had no intention of doing anything to her for the sake of their parents.

She was still relatively young and didn’t want to spend the rest of her life alone. When a matchmaker introduced her to a man in the village named Hou Laizi, she wasn’t picky. Although Hou Laizi was something of a rogue, he had never been married and didn’t look down on her, so she married him. Even though he was known for being lazy and having nothing to do, once he had a wife and the warmth of a home, he began to live a proper, hardworking life and stopped fooling around.

Though Han Daya had her regrets, she accepted her lot in life. Instead of dwelling on the past, she put her energy into managing her small household, and they lived a fairly decent life.

When Han Ze heard about her situation, he didn’t pay it much mind. Han Daya had harmed the original host, and being forsaken by her loved ones was her punishment. That she was able to build a stable life later through her own efforts was her own capability; such matters were not part of his mission.