Chapter 30: “He Is Smart And Qualified,” Xiao Jin Said

Lu Shujin returned to the academy on her own.

The attendants who used to guard the dormitory entrance had all been withdrawn. Lu Shujin remembered one of them, a servant named Chen An, who was shorter than the others and had a dimple on his cheek when he smiled.

Every time before she went out, he would say, “Young Master Lu, no need to lock the door. We will stand guard here and make sure no one approaches.”

And when she returned, he would stand at the door, smiling and saying, “Young Master Lu is back? Please go inside and rest. Your meal will be delivered soon.”

Chen An, along with the other attendants, would clean the dormitory every day, carefully sweeping the floor mats, wiping the tables until they shone, and lighting fragrant incense that was pleasant to smell and calming. So whenever Lu Shujin returned, the dormitory would always be clean and fresh, with a comforting fragrance.

He would say, “Young Master Lu, there’s no need to be polite with us. We are only following the young master’s orders.”

Lu Shujin stood at the door of the dormitory. The thick night veiled the bright moon, and the entrance was pitch dark. The two lanterns that usually hung outside were unlit.

She lowered her gaze, took out a small fire starter from her sleeve, blew on it a few times until it sparked, and then carefully lit the two lanterns at the door. The gentle light cast her shadow on the ground, forming a layered silhouette that seemed to carry a sense of lonely melancholy.

Pushing open the door, she changed her shoes as usual and lit the lamp on the wall, filling the room with a soft glow.

The dormitory was just as she had left it in the morning. A screen divided the room into two, where she and Xiao Jin had lived together for more than half a month.

Xiao Jin had left, taking only his attendants. None of the items in the room had been touched.

Lu Shujin walked lightly to Xiao Jin’s side. Her gaze swept over the luxurious tables, chairs, and the large canopy bed — larger than hers. His finely woven robes hung neatly by the bed, a bowl of fresh fruit sat on the table, the familiar book “A Widow’s Affairs” rested at the bedside, and his wooden clogs, which he often wore, were placed beside it — everything bore his presence.

As the young master of a wealthy family, he lived extravagantly. These valuable belongings were left here without a second thought, as if they meant nothing to him.

After surveying everything, Lu Shujin turned back to her side of the room. She lit the lamp on her desk, took out pen and paper, and began making calculations.

If Xiao Jin became angry and decided to reclaim everything in the dormitory, she would have to buy replacements on her own — the bed, table, chairs, and stationery were all necessities. Although what she could afford wouldn’t match the current quality, she did have some silver saved up, enough for durable options.

This silver was no longer Xiao Jin’s. It was earned by copying books, each stroke her own effort, and Xiao Jin had no right to take it back.

After making her calculations, Lu Shujin got up and walked to the bathroom. Lighting the lamp there, she noticed the empty floor and remembered the attendants who fetched water had left.

Turning back, she pulled out a bucket from under the table and went outside to fetch water herself.

After washing, it was usually her time to study. But today, she couldn’t focus. She had spent half the day without remembering even a few lines. Frustrated, she gave up on reading and instead took out “Admonition Against Lust” to continue copying it. The steady movement of the pen on paper helped calm her mind.

Xiao Jin disliked noise while sleeping. As a result, the doors and windows of the dormitory had been modified three times, making the room almost completely soundproof when closed. Now, with the room shrouded in silence, Lu Shujin, lying on her bed, suddenly felt a strange discomfort.

There was no sound of another person breathing, nor the faint, refreshing scent that used to linger in the air.

She lay awake for a long time without falling asleep, eventually getting up to relight the lamp on the desk. The soft glow brightened the room once more.

“So what if this candle is wasted,” Lu Shujin thought. “The dormitory is too dark. I can’t sleep.”

The next day was a rest day. Lu Shujin stayed in the dormitory until noon before heading out to the food hall.

It had been a long time since she last visited. Previously, she rarely had enough silver, so she would go straight to the window selling pancakes, ignoring everything else. Later, Xiao Jin forbade her from coming, ensuring that her three daily meals were personally delivered.

Now, stepping in again, Lu Shujin took the time to carefully look over the various dishes, eventually choosing a pot of stewed soup, a small plate of vegetables, and a bowl of rice before finding a spot to sit.

The food here wasn’t bad — after all, it was meant to cater to the tastes of the young masters from all over who studied at Haizhou Academy. But despite the fragrant aroma, the taste couldn’t compare to the dishes she had been eating before.

And this simple meal still cost her sixty copper coins.

But Lu Shujin was not a picky eater. She ate the soup, vegetables, and rice one bite at a time, finishing everything cleanly.

For the rest of the day, she sat by the window in her room, reading. It was only at night that she remembered she had planned to go out and buy two thick garments on her rest day.

The next morning, Lu Shujin left the dormitory early, just like before. She bought breakfast at the food hall and, after eating, went to Dingzi Hall to read. When she was in Jiazi Hall, even this early, there would occasionally be a few people. But at this hour in Dingzi Hall, she was always alone.

She fetched a lamp and placed it on the desk. The morning dew was heavy, and the pre-dawn air in October was chilly. Lu Shujin rubbed her palms together to warm them before opening her book.

Since she was young, she had noticed her memory was better than most. She could remember things or people after seeing them just once. This was especially true in the early morning, when her memory was at its peak. So, Lu Shujin had long developed the habit of rising early to study.

Once she immersed herself in the book, time seemed to fly. By the time she looked up again, daylight had fully arrived, and the once-quiet Dingzi Hall was now bustling with noise.

Jiang Su was one of those who usually arrived just as the morning bell rang. After he came, the bell chimed, leaving only Ji Shuoting, who often skipped morning classes, and Xiao Jin, who hadn’t missed any recently, absent.

Jiang Su was straightforward and couldn’t keep things to himself. As soon as he sat down, he leaned in and whispered to Lu Shujin, “Lu Shujin, what happened yesterday? Do you know that Qi Ming?”

With his question, Lu Shujin couldn’t help but recall the events of the previous day. She shook her head without looking up, clearly not wanting to talk about it.

Jiang Su didn’t notice her reluctance and continued, “Then why did you stop us from beating him? Qi Ming provoked Brother Xiao, so he deserved it.”

Perhaps Lu Shujin didn’t know the answer herself, so she simply shook her head again.

Jiang Su sighed deeply and added, “Don’t worry. Brother Xiao has a quick temper, but it also passes quickly. He cares about you. I’ve known Brother Xiao for a year now, and I’ve never seen him share the food from his lunch box with anyone. Just apologize to him in a few days, say something nice, and everything will be fine.”

Jiang Su was referring to the time Xiao Jin had invited Lu Shujin to share lunch. That day, one of the dishes was sweet and sour pork, which Xiao Jin probably didn’t like because he didn’t touch it. Seeing Lu Shujin eating it piece by piece, he gave her all of his portion.

Listening to Jiang Su’s words, Lu Shujin found it strange. Wasn’t it just that Xiao Jin didn’t like it, so he gave it to her? How did it turn into a story of Xiao Jin reluctantly sharing his food out of care for her?

But she didn’t voice her thoughts, unwilling to argue with Jiang Su.

Seeing her lack of response, Jiang Su nudged her with his elbow. “Did you hear me?”

Lu Shujin nodded perfunctorily, letting his words go in one ear and out the other.

Realizing she wasn’t in the mood for chatting, Jiang Su assumed she was upset and stopped pushing.

After the morning class, Ji Shuoting arrived, but Xiao Jin did not.

He skipped class, missing the entire day.

Xiao Jin rarely skipped classes. At least in the half month that Lu Shujin had been studying at Dingzi Hall, he hadn’t missed a single day. He even attended morning classes because they left the dormitory together. But his absence didn’t cause much of a stir. The instructor only asked about him once and then moved on.

Xiao Jin didn’t come to class for two days. And by the time he returned, rumors had spread throughout Yuncheng — Xiao Jin was accused of setting fire to the Qi family’s pig farm. The sudden spike in pork prices was blamed entirely on him, and people called him a ruthless madman who would one day set fire to people’s homes just as he did the pigs, unable to stand the sight of Yuncheng’s citizens living well.

Curses against Xiao Jin were everywhere, even reaching Haizhou Academy. No matter where Lu Shujin went, she heard whispers about the Qi family’s pig farm.

When Xiao Jin did show up at the academy again, he looked no different from usual, completely unbothered by the rumors. His desk remained surrounded by a crowd of people, and he continued laughing and chatting as if nothing had happened. However, he didn’t ask Lu Shujin if she had eaten breakfast, nor did he invite her to lunch.

He didn’t even glance in her direction, as if they had returned to being complete strangers.

After lunch, Jiang Su came over from Xiao Jin’s side, excitedly telling Lu Shujin, “Hurry, Brother Xiao is in a great mood. Now’s your chance. Go apologize, and he definitely won’t be mad anymore.”

As he spoke, he even gave Lu Shujin’s shoulder a little push, but she didn’t budge.

Lu Shujin sat in her seat, turned her head, and looked at Jiang Su with her pitch-black eyes, her voice calm. “Jiang Su, do you think I was wrong to stop you all from beating Qi Ming that day?”

Jiang Su was stunned for a moment. After thinking it over, he said, “What do you mean by that? Qi Ming provoked Brother Xiao. He deserved to be beaten! By protecting Qi Ming, aren’t you going against Brother Xiao?”

Lu Shujin asked, “How did Qi Ming provoke Young Master Xiao?”

Jiang Su replied, “That day, he took over Brother Xiao’s private room at Chunfeng House and even taunted him.”

“Anything else?”

Jiang Su angrily continued, “Before that, Brother Xiao didn’t even know who he was. Qi Ming was clearly looking for trouble with him!”

Lu Shujin fell silent for a moment before she spoke again. “I believe that while Qi Ming did provoke first, Young Master Xiao has already retaliated enough — by setting fire to the Qi family’s property, forcing Qi Ming to beg for mercy, and even having you all beat him. Those punishments are sufficient for his offense of seizing the private room at Chunfeng House. If you all hadn’t stopped that day and ended up beating him severely, how would you be any different from thugs who oppress others?”

“I did nothing wrong, so I won’t apologize,” Lu Shujin declared.

Her voice was calm, her words clear and precise, with no trace of emotion but filled with unwavering conviction, leaving Jiang Su speechless.

He opened his mouth several times, wanting to say something, but eventually gave up on persuading her to lower her head and apologize to Xiao Jin. Though he usually hung around with Xiao Jin, laughing and goofing off without doing anything serious, he could see clearly that Lu Shujin had the unyielding backbone of a scholar — unflattering, unworldly, and exuding a scholarly air.

She was like a lotus blooming unsullied in the mud, pure and graceful without being ostentatious.

Jiang Su gave up trying to convince Lu Shujin to apologize. But he did not distance himself from her because of it. In fact, he even invited her to the food hall for lunch at noon.

Within two days, the students in Dingzi Hall noticed that Xiao Jin was completely ignoring Lu Shujin. Although they didn’t know the reason, they guessed that Lu Shujin must have angered Xiao Jin and was kicked out of his circle. As a result, Lu Shujin’s seat became unusually quiet. No one came over to chat with her idly, and no one pretended to ask her difficult questions with a book in hand.

Lu Shujin returned to the way she lived before — quiet and unnoticed — while Xiao Jin remained the center of attention, surrounded by a lively crowd. Their desks were six rows apart, drawing a sharp diagonal line across Dingzi Hall, highlighting the stark contrast.

One day, just as Lu Shujin was about to leave after class, she was informed that Qiao Bailian wanted to speak with her.

So Lu Shujin made her way to the Reflection Room. Inside, Qiao Bailian was the only one present. He was seated at his desk, head lowered, writing. When he heard the knock on the door, he didn’t even look up. “Come in and take a seat.”

Lu Shujin entered, respectfully bowed, and sat across from him. “Sir, may I ask why you have called for me?”

Qiao Bailian finished his last word, set down his brush, and looked up at her with a kind smile in his eyes. “Shujin, how is your experience studying in Dingzi Hall? Are there any parts of the lectures that you find difficult to understand?”

“Everything is fine. The teachers are thorough and attentive in their lessons. I can understand most of it. For the few things I don’t, a bit of thought or asking the teacher clarifies them,” Lu Shujin answered honestly.

Qiao Bailian smiled. “It has been more than half a month since you were placed in Dingzi Hall. I mentioned before that if you performed well, you could be transferred back to Jiazi Hall. Would you be interested in that?”

Lu Shujin understood his intent but didn’t immediately agree. Instead, she said, “The teachers in Dingzi Hall are just as diligent in teaching. For me, it doesn’t make much difference where I study.”

“Haizhou Academy’s instructors are all carefully selected and rigorously evaluated, so their dedication is assured,” Qiao Bailian said. “However, the story of Mencius’ mother moving three times shows how one’s environment greatly influences them. Most students in Dingzi Hall are idlers who aren’t serious about their studies. I worry that you might be affected by them.”

Lu Shujin replied, “I am familiar with that story. But Mencius was still a child then, his character not yet fully formed and easily influenced. I, however, am no longer a child. My resolve to pursue knowledge is firm, so I will not be swayed by my surroundings.”

Hearing this, Qiao Bailian understood her decision. He sighed lightly. “I’ve heard about what happened between you and Xiao Jin. Dingzi Hall has a poor atmosphere, and many students secretly flatter the powerful while looking down on the weak. You are likely to suffer grievances.”

“I have not suffered any grievances,” Lu Shujin stated.

Qiao Bailian frowned. “That little rascal forced you to cheat on exams and even dragged you along to burn the pig farm. He’s not a good influence at all.”

First, Qiao Bailian tried to bring her back to Jiazi Hall, and her answer was no.

Then, he advised her to distance herself from Xiao Jin, but again she refused. So he made this remark.

Lu Shujin thought for a moment and then asked, “Sir, may I ask you to explain the meaning of the phrase, ‘I do not recognize the true face of Mount Lu, only because I am in this mountain’?”

Qiao Bailian chuckled when he heard her question. He didn’t explain the poem to Lu Shujin because he understood she wasn’t truly seeking an answer. That poem was, in fact, the answer she had already given herself. Waving his hand, he said, “You are a child with your own opinions. That’s enough. If there’s nothing else, you may return to class.”

Lu Shujin stood, bowed, and turned to leave.

Qiao Bailian had called her to the Reflection Room because he had heard about the trouble between her and Xiao Jin. His intention was to persuade her to return to Jiazi Hall, using it as a way to distance her from Xiao Jin. But Lu Shujin didn’t want to become a coward who ran away.

She was very clear about why she had stopped them from beating Qi Ming at the restaurant that day. It wasn’t out of a sense of justice. She wasn’t afraid of the violent, bloody scene itself. Rather, she was terrified because, in that moment, she saw Xiao Jin’s anger and cruelty overlapping with the figure in her nightmare — the fear that Xiao Jin was truly a bully who couldn’t tell right from wrong, someone like Liu Quan.

Xiao Jin had lived in the same room with her for over half a month. He always brought the best food to her table, frequently gave her fresh fruits, candied treats, and milk cakes as snacks. They went out together in the morning and returned together at night. And when it came to spending silver on her, he never hesitated.

Even though Lu Shujin kept reminding herself that she and Xiao Jin were from two different worlds and shouldn’t overstep their boundaries, her heart wasn’t made of stone — how could it remain untouched?

To her, Xiao Jin was already a friend.

Although she only saw a very limited and partial side of Xiao Jin, she didn’t want to believe he was the kind of person who would burn down the Qi family’s property over a minor conflict and beat Qi Ming half to death.

In the past few days of them ignoring each other, Lu Shujin had been struggling internally. What she saw with her eyes clashed with her reason, and she couldn’t tell which would prevail. Until today, when Qiao Bailian called her in and asked if she wanted to return to Jiazi Hall, she finally made up her mind.

If she backed down now, carrying a belly full of doubts but doing nothing, it would be too cowardly. She would be left feeling dissatisfied.

Even if she didn’t have the ability to see the whole truth of Mount Lu, she thought she should at least try to understand the truth behind Xiao Jin’s arson at the Qi family’s pig farm.

And Lu Shujin had already noticed something off.

The night of the arson, Xiao Jin must have planned it well in advance. If he simply wanted to take her to watch the chaos, he would have mentioned it earlier.

But that night, when Xiao Jin first found her by the south wall, he handed her a lantern and told her to go back.

It was only after a few words that Xiao Jin changed his mind, jumped down from the wall, and decided to bring her along. Lu Shujin didn’t know what went through his mind in those few words that made him change his decision, but it was clear he had a reason.

There must have been a reason that made Xiao Jin, who originally didn’t plan to involve her, suddenly decide to bring her along.

Full of thoughts, Lu Shujin returned to the dormitory. As she approached, she saw two people crouched at the door, peeking inside through a crack. She walked over and coughed twice, startling the two.

They were both part of the group around Xiao Jin, seated two rows behind Lu Shujin in class. They had spoken to her a few times before, but she had always been aloof and didn’t respond much. She remembered one was named Yan Hao and the other Luo Shi.

“Excuse me, I need to go in,” Lu Shujin said.

Yan Hao and Luo Shi exchanged a glance, their expressions immediately turning hostile. “You’ve been abandoned by Young Master Xiao, and you still dare to put on airs with us? Don’t you recognize your place?”

“I, Lu, am but a humble scholar and have always been aware of my place,” she replied.

“It’s not like before. No need to act all noble in front of us now.” Luo Shi sneered. “Be smart and open the door so we can take a look. Otherwise, when we have to break in, your skinny arms and legs won’t stand a chance. Don’t cry and wail then.”

These words were almost the same as what Liu Quan had said to her before, but this time, Lu Shujin felt nothing. “All the dormitories are the same. What do you want to see inside?”

“Don’t play dumb!” Yan Hao snapped. “Xiao Jin made such a fuss bringing things into this room, and now that he’s not staying here anymore, his stuff is still inside. Of course, we want to take a look — see what kind of treasures the legitimate young master of the General’s Mansion uses.”

Lu Shujin could clearly tell their intentions. She sighed slightly and said, “You two should think carefully. Many eyes are watching this dormitory. If you two go in and mess with Young Master Xiao’s belongings, and he decides to hold you accountable, even if I stand in front of you to take the blame, you both won’t escape. Whether he punishes one person or three, it’s all the same. Do you think Young Master Xiao would find it troublesome?”

Yan Hao and Luo Shi weren’t exactly clever. Hearing her words, they froze. Only now did they realize the potential consequences. Yet, they were unwilling to leave, so they stood there, caught in a stalemate.

Seeing this, Lu Shujin put on a sincere expression and said, “However, Young Master Xiao has many little trinkets like jade pendants and jade beads that he often fiddles with. He leaves them all over the place and doesn’t really mind if one or two go missing. I could go in and secretly fetch two for you. They are valuable treasures, and Xiao Jin would never notice if a couple are missing. You two could take them, let me be, and we can all live in peace. What do you think?”

The two men’s faces lit up with joy. They thought that if Lu Shujin went in and took the jade herself, then even if Xiao Jin noticed, they could just claim that it was Lu Shujin who took them to bribe them. After all, not everyone was as wealthy as Xiao Jin. Though they came from wealthy families, their monthly allowance wasn’t much, barely enough for daily expenses.

If they could sell Xiao Jin’s jade, they would have plenty of silver to enjoy.

With this in mind, the two had no reason to refuse. They quickly put on an act, praising Lu Shujin for being sensible.

Lu Shujin unlocked the door, went in, and came out shortly with two jade pendants, one white and one green. They were intricately carved, flawless, and of excellent quality.

The two men happily took the jade and left. Watching their departing figures, Lu Shujin let out a cold laugh.

Those two fools. Xiao Jin didn’t care who touched his jade — whoever had it in their hands would get beaten.

After closing the door, Lu Shujin sat down with her book and began reading. About half an hour later, there was a sudden knock on the door.

She turned her head, her thoughts stirring for a moment, but then she remembered — Xiao Jin never knocked. He always pushed the door open and walked right in. Calming her thoughts, she got up and opened the door, only to see Qi Ming standing outside.

Qi Ming’s face was still bruised from his earlier beating. He was holding two boxes wrapped in red cloth and smiled brightly at her. “Young Master Lu, I apologize for coming to thank you so late. If it hadn’t been for you that day, I would’ve probably broken a few ribs.”

As he spoke, he extended one of the boxes towards her.

But Lu Shujin didn’t take it. “Young Master Qi, you jest. I didn’t do anything that day.”

Seeing her refuse, Qi Ming unwrapped one of the boxes, revealing neatly stacked silver ingots. “I didn’t come just to thank you today. I actually have something I would like to ask for your help with.”

By now, Lu Shujin was entirely unaffected by the sight of silver. After all, she had over a hundred taels hidden in a box under her bed.

“I am just a humble scholar, completely useless. I’m afraid I won’t be able to help you, Young Master Qi.”

Qi Ming chuckled, maintaining his good temper. “No need to refuse so quickly. Just come with me first. After that, you can decide whether you wish to help. If you still refuse, I won’t force you.”

Lu Shujin looked up at the sky. Qi Ming immediately assured her, “I promise we will be back before nightfall. I won’t take too much of your time.”

After some consideration, she nodded. “Alright.”

She followed Qi Ming out of the academy, got into a carriage, and they headed to a pig farm in the southern suburbs.

On the way, Qi Ming tried several times to test her attitude toward Xiao Jin. But Lu Shujin, keeping her composure, feigned being in a bad mood and avoided deep conversation.

When they arrived at the pig farm, the sky was still bright. In the dim light of the setting sun, Lu Shujin could now clearly see what she hadn’t noticed that night — the entire pig farm had become a massive field of ashes, like a dark ink stain splashed down by a heavenly deity. Even the charred remains of pigs were visible, creating a scene that was both breathtaking and horrifying.

Standing around the farm were rows of tall guards, all with swords at their waists and stern expressions.

Some nearby houses had also been affected by the flames, their walls scorched black. Outside, groups of people in tattered clothes sat dejectedly on the ground, looking miserable.

Qi Ming gestured to the guards. “See those men? They are Xiao family’s guards. Because I offended Xiao Jin in a moment of impulsiveness, my family has suffered great losses. However, the Qi family has been in business for years and has some savings. If we could quickly rebuild this place, we might recover our losses.

“But ever since the fire was put out, the Xiao family sent these guards to keep this place under strict control, not allowing anyone near. Even the workers who used to be employed here have lost their jobs. The Qi family can’t pay them anymore, so they have to sleep here, out in the open.”

Lu Shujin’s gaze slowly swept across the scene. She took in the sight of the charred ruins of the pig farm, the line of Xiao family guards, and the destitute men gathered on the ground. But she remained silent.

Qi Ming continued, “These people are here doing dirty, tiring work just to make a living. If their wages aren’t paid, who knows how many families will starve and suffer from the cold? The Qi family has already borrowed silver from four different banks to pay them. Only Wang’s Silver Bank agreed to lend to us, but their condition is that they must see the pig farm repaired and restocked with new piglets before they lend us the money.”

Lu Shujin asked, “So, what do you need my help with? I have no silver to lend you.”

Qi Ming smiled. “No, it’s not about borrowing money. I hope Young Master Lu can help me remove these Xiao family guards.”

Lu Shujin laughed. “I don’t have that kind of power.”

“Not true,” Qi Ming replied. “You may not know this, but General Xiao and Xiao Jin’s two elder brothers are rarely in Yuncheng. There is no mistress in the Xiao family, so Xiao Jin is essentially in charge. All the guards take orders from him. I’ve heard that you once helped Xiao Jin write essays, and your imitation of his handwriting is flawless. If you can write an order in his handwriting, we could easily withdraw these guards.”

Lu Shujin fell silent.

Qi Ming’s expression was sincere, almost pleading. “Young Master Lu, I’ve already learned a painful lesson from my past mistake. The reason I humbled myself and pleaded with Xiao Jin was first to atone for my mistake and help rebuild the pig farm, minimizing the losses. Second, I couldn’t bear to see those hardworking laborers suffering here day and night. If you could just write a few words to have the guards withdrawn, I promise I will personally visit the general’s residence to beg for Xiao Jin’s forgiveness. I will ensure you are not implicated.”

“If you help me this time, I, Qi Ming, will never forget your great kindness. If you ever encounter any trouble, I will do my utmost to help you.”

Lu Shujin neither refused nor agreed.

Qi Ming led her to a room furnished with a desk and chairs. On the desk were sheets of paper and an inkstone, already ground, with a brush laid neatly beside them. “Please think it over, Young Master Lu. I will return before nightfall to ask for your decision.”

With that, he stepped out, closing the door behind him.

The ink was already ground, and the brush lay ready beside the paper. But Lu Shujin didn’t move.

Images of Xiao Jin began to flash through her mind — the rumors about him in Yuncheng: beating people in the streets, skipping classes for days, spending extravagantly on courtesans. Then the time he beat Liu Quan at the Yuhua Pavilion, his surprised expression when he saw the confiscated government silver, then the scene of him ruthlessly beating Qi Ming, and finally, the burned pig farm and the group of dejected laborers sitting on the ground.

The image of Xiao Jin she had lived with under the same roof for over half a month was mixed with the one of him raising a toast in the moonlight, standing against the backdrop of roaring flames.

After a long, deep breath, Lu Shujin finally picked up the brush and began to write.

The flames seemed to reach the clouds, painting the entire western sky in a brilliant, otherworldly hue that stretched across half the heavens.

Ji Residence, Ji Shuoting’s study.

Outside, the sounds of a heated argument broke out. Women’s voices clashed, with servants trying to mediate, creating a chaotic scene.

Ji Shuoting shut the window, walked over to the recliner, took the book covering Xiao Jin’s face, and tossed it onto the table. “Are they seriously arguing about whether to keep turtles or fish in the pond? Can’t they just keep both?”

Xiao Jin was idly tossing a gold coin, flicking it with his thumb so it spun in the air before catching it again. Without even opening his eyes, he offered a sincere suggestion, “I think fish are better. Turtles are too ugly.”

Ji Shuoting walked behind the desk and placed an inkstone on it, sighing, “Here you go. You guessed right again. After you had a falling out with Lu Shujin, Qi Ming did go looking for him and even took him out of the academy to the pig farm.”

Xiao Jin remained lying down, his eyes closed, lazily tossing the coin. “Pig-brained. Easy to predict.”

“So why did you drag him into this mess? You’re just putting him in danger for no reason.”

Xiao Jin didn’t answer immediately. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly, “Lu Shujin’s memory is far better than most. I noticed he memorizes things extremely quickly. Sometimes he only needs to read something once to remember it.”

“And so?” Ji Shuoting asked.

Xiao Jin chuckled. “Isn’t it obvious? With that kind of ability, he’s practically guaranteed to pass the imperial exams. Maybe not as the top scholar, but at least as a presented scholar (jinshi). Becoming an official in the court is practically certain for him.”

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