WBSGVS Chapter 59 V2

Luo Yuzhi was also troubled. He didn’t even want to go to class. He let his students take the day off and returned home with a furrowed brow, looking toward the capital with confusion. “Is the capital really that great? Why does everyone want to go there?”

He had been there before—he had passed the county exam and became a scholar, but unfortunately, he failed the metropolitan exam. His brief experience with the capital hadn’t been very pleasant; there were too many high-status families, and a single mistake could make an enemy.

At that moment, Luo Mu rushed in, looking anxious. “Did you touch my engraving tools?”

Luo Yuzhi shook his head. “No, isn’t that your responsibility?”

Luo Mu was puzzled. “Then where did they go? There’s so much missing!”

Luo Yuzhi went over to check. Sure enough, in the room where books were usually printed, many of the prepared engravings were gone. The box was almost empty, while everything else was in perfect order.

Luo Mu muttered, “Could it be thieves?”

Luo Yuzhi was about to agree when suddenly, something clicked in his mind. He smiled and said, “Uh-oh, I just remembered I still have an assignment I didn’t give out. I’ll be right back.”

“Be careful on the road,” Luo Mu instinctively called out.

Luo Yuzhi waved his hand and hurried out.

Instead of going next door, he went to the prison camp and requested to see his former in-laws, the Xiong family.

The guard heard the name and immediately said, “You think you can just see the prisoners? We’re busy.”

Luo Yuzhi smiled, not pressing the issue, and left. He turned again to look toward the capital, his smile fading and replaced by worry.

“Foolish girl, why is she still fixated on the Cheng family?”

They had already given up on seeking revenge!

What if he lost his daughter again?

But Luo Yuzhi had no real power—he only had some local renown in the county. Now that his daughter had left, even if he followed her, she probably wouldn’t return.

He suppressed his anxiety and walked slowly back home.

She’ll come back.

She has to!

In the ancient world, traveling wasn’t as dull as Qingli had imagined.

Mainly because the people traveling with her were all her students.

Since they were students, they naturally had to make the most of their time to study.

Qingli could ride a horse and had also picked up martial arts again. A few of her students pooled together their travel expenses, allowing them to ride horses or take a carriage.

On the carriage, she tested their lessons, and filled in the gaps, and when riding horses, she would discuss the flowers, plants, and trees they passed by, as well as current affairs.

From the textbooks to local customs, to the needs of the people, sometimes in the evening, she would even analyze astronomy and geography, casually teaching them how to predict the weather.

The entire journey was along the official roads, and they didn’t encounter any bandits. It took just a little over two months for them to reach the capital.

The capital, as Qingli remembered from years ago, was grand and magnificent. Compared to the simple Huaiyang City, it looked especially luxurious. Most of the people there were dressed extravagantly.

One of Qingli’s students had relatives in the capital, so they had already prepared accommodations, sparing the group the trouble of finding a place to stay.

Once settled, Qingli was ready to head out.

“Teacher, are you going out for a stroll? I’d be happy to accompany you,” Chen Wen said as he packed up his things, preparing to grab a drink, when he saw Qingli, freshly dressed, as though preparing to go out.

Though Qingli was their teacher, she was still a woman, only a few years older than them. She was well-educated but had never been out much, so her students always kept an eye on her during their travels.

However, Qingli kindly declined their offer: “No need, I’m just going for a casual walk. You don’t have to accompany me.”

Chen Wen hesitated for a moment. “The capital is quite large. Since it’s your first time here, it might be better if one of us accompanies you. If you don’t want us, Mr. Xie Zhong can accompany you instead.”

“It’s fine. It would be more comfortable for me if I’m on my own,” Qingli said with a smile and waved her hand. She usually dressed as a man when going out, but she was still a woman after all.

Upon hearing this, Chen Wen’s face reddened. He took a couple of steps back and bowed respectfully. “Then please be careful and return early, Teacher.”

“Mm,” Qingli nodded and quickly left.

It was early spring, and the temperature was still quite low. The streets weren’t too crowded, and their residence was located on the outskirts of the city. It would take some time to reach the place Qingli wanted to visit.

However, she wasn’t in a rush. It was still early, so she strolled, occasionally buying snacks and seemingly casually asking, “Which street do the high-ranking officials in the capital live on?”

Such a question was typical of a curious outsider, and a vendor eagerly answered, “Up ahead, Huā’ān Street and Huánán Street. But Huánán Street is where the royal family and nobles live, while Huā’ān Street has more high-ranking officials. When you go there, be careful—there are many rules around the great officials’ homes.”

“Thank you very much,” Qingli smiled.

She paid for the snacks and, holding a sugar painting, walked briskly toward Huā’ān Street.

Sure enough, the area looked even more magnificent, with large, impressive houses.

When she arrived in front of one of the homes, she paused.

It was the Wang residence.

However, after staying for a short while, she saw no one entering or leaving. She couldn’t stay long, so she glanced at the house a couple of times before leaving.

After finding her destination, Qingli continued to visit every day for the next few days.

However, each time she went out, she changed her appearance, trying to blend in and avoid drawing attention. She would sometimes find a quiet corner and act as if she were just waiting for someone, or sit in a tea house with a good view, observing until the person she was waiting for appeared.

Once she spotted the person she was looking for, Qingli would stop going out and stay home to teach her students.

As the metropolitan exam approached, Chen Wen and a few other students hesitated before speaking to Qingli.

With one hand holding a ruler and the other a book, Qingli tapped the desk. “If you have something to say, say it quickly.”

The students exchanged glances, and with a silent agreement, they sent the best-performing student, Chen Wen, to speak. He respectfully said, “Teacher, when we were out, we happened to see Cheng Zhaohua.”

Everyone in the county knew about the affair between Luo Qingli and Cheng Zhaoyang.

Before they came to the capital, Qingli had told them not to mention their teacher’s identity to outsiders unless after the metropolitan exam.

At the time, they didn’t understand, but upon seeing Cheng Zhaohua, they now suspected that they had thought the Cheng family had fled because of their guilt. Instead, they found out that Cheng Zhaohua had come to the capital and seemed to be doing quite well. After some investigation, they learned that Cheng Zhaohua had even become involved with the daughter of a third-rank official, which helped them understand Qingli’s intentions.

If they became too conspicuous and drew the attention of Cheng Zhaohua, they feared trouble would follow.

Now that the situation was exposed, they felt they should inform Qingli.

Qingli’s expression remained calm. “I see. Now that the matter is resolved, can you focus on your studies?”

Chen Wen and the others were stunned. They hadn’t expected their teacher to remain so composed. They were impressed and answered respectfully, “Yes.”

The brief interruption was soon forgotten. As for Cheng Zhaohua meeting with Chen Wen and the others, though he felt they seemed familiar, he didn’t immediately recall who they were.

It was originally Cheng Zhaoyang who had pointed them out to him.

Now, over a year later, with so many things on his mind, it was understandable he wouldn’t remember them clearly.

Cheng Zhaohua was focused on his studies, and determined to do well on the metropolitan exam. He wanted to pass with flying colors and, with the help of the Wang family’s influence, he hoped to become the county magistrate of his hometown—or at least somewhere nearby.

This way, the Luo family would learn the consequences of offending him.

His older brother and mother had been beaten severely. They didn’t get out of the prison camp until three days later, barely clinging to life. He almost thought they wouldn’t survive.

Thankfully, his brother and mother’s will to live was strong, and they pulled through.

His mother had recovered from the thirty lashes, but his brother had been given fifty, and with his pre-existing leg injury, he had been left completely crippled. He still had to take medicine daily and was bedridden.

Though Cheng Yue’er was better off, the entire Cheng family placed their hopes on Cheng Zhaohua, praying he would succeed and secure a good future, so they could finally make the Luo family pay.

The day before the metropolitan exam, Cheng Zhaohua was escorted by his mother, Xiong Shi, and Cheng Yue’er.

As they watched him leave, Xiong Shi was suddenly jostled by the crowd, causing her lower back to hurt. Her face paled. Though she had healed, the damage to her body couldn’t be undone. Every time it hurt, she cursed the Luo family, and she couldn’t help but shout, “You must succeed!”

Cheng Zhaohua took a deep breath but didn’t look back, walking heavily toward the entrance.

The metropolitan exam was stricter, with almost no chance for cheating—everything relied on real ability.

He would make it!

At that moment, a voice called out from nearby: “Chen Wen, from Huaiyang.”

“That’s me,” the person answered.

This was the official’s routine check of candidates, but when Cheng Zhaohua heard the name “Chen Wen,” it sounded very familiar. He suddenly turned around and saw the person he had met before, a face he recognized.

As the name “Chen Wen” clicked, Cheng Zhaohua immediately remembered.

This was one of Luo Qingli’s students!

He remembered that Chen Wen had ranked first in the provincial exam. The name had left a strong impression on him.

If it weren’t for Luo Qingli’s students, he wouldn’t have had so much trouble asking for help from his brother and mother.

He had come to the capital, relying on the Wang family’s connections, and enrolled in a prestigious academy. He passed the provincial exam and had a decent ranking.

He had thought that with such a teacher, Chen Wen and the others would have failed the provincial exam.

What a surprise!

This was just the daughter of a small-town teacher, yet she had managed to teach students who could make it to the metropolitan exam!

For a moment, Cheng Zhaohua felt his heart race. Just then, an official pushed him, saying, “Hurry up, don’t waste time.”

He stumbled a few steps and hurriedly followed the crowd.

Still thinking about Chen Wen, he unconsciously followed the person ahead, but when he reached his destination, he realized he had entered the wrong exam hall. He quickly backed out, urgently asking the officer at the gate, “My older brother…”

After much effort, he finally returned to the correct hall. Just as he was about to sit down, he turned his head and found Chen Wen sitting right next to him!

Just as Chen Wen was looking straight ahead, their eyes met. He gave a slight smile, tinged with a hint of challenge.

Cheng Zhaohua nearly lost his breath, his vision going black.

This damned karmic entanglement!