Chapter 15: Fifteen: Unexplained Deduction of Merit Points

Fifteen: Unexplained Deduction of Merit Points

“See? I told you two would get along splendidly.”

Zhen Shi gazed at the pair behind her—the handsome man and beautiful woman exchanging words as if deeply engrossed—and found them increasingly pleasing; she smiled at Xie Xun, who was looking back.

“Wanwan’s temperament is just too stern and rigid,” Xie Xun sighed. Had this been a boy, it wouldn’t have been such a problem.

“Rigid and stern? I know that well—your own Tanlang is just like that! Master Xie, let me tell you, since childhood I’ve had to scold and discipline him endlessly for this nature of his—I’m worn out!”

Zhen Shi began sharing her “parenting experience” with Xie Xun; the latter was taken aback. A great scholar who spent his days pondering state affairs, clan matters, and academy business had never imagined he’d one day be chatting with a woman about household trivialities—but it was oddly refreshing.

Xie Xun gave a wry smile.

Zhen Shi began unfolding her Yan Kingdom map once more.

“No wonder your daughter said one of her wishes was to meet my Tanlang. Their personalities are indeed similar—both outstanding gentlemen of virtue. Naturally, they admire each other; when alone, they’ll surely have endless topics to discuss. I’m certain they’ll soon become close friends.”

Yet this aunt had forgotten that just days ago, she had raged at her nephew for being a rigid, useless gentleman.

“Probably. But not only did Wanwan greatly admire Lianghan in the past—many junior disciples at the academy also wish to meet him. That’s the kind of example a senior brother should set,” Xie Xun nodded.

The admiration of academy juniors? What good was that compared to even a trillionth of the favor shown by this Xie noblewoman? Zhen Shi smiled and nodded outwardly, but inwardly she was deeply disdainful.

She paused, then spoke casually: “Though I’m a woman, I’ve long admired the elegant culture of the Xie clan of Jiangzuo. And I’ve heard… Jiangzuo gentry value character?”

Xie Xun waved his hand. “Exaggerated praise from outsiders—I cannot accept it.”

Zhen Shi pressed: “In your opinion, is my Tanlang a man of true character?”

“Lianghan is certainly among the most distinguished young talents at the academy.”

“Good, good.”

He found it odd why his disciple’s aunt was speaking of this. After a moment’s thought, he said: “Madam, don’t undervalue yourself. Lianghan is only twenty, yet already serves as county magistrate—he’s truly a dragon among men. Many senior Metropolitan Graduates his age still linger in Luoyang, indulging in wine and women.”

But the riffraff had all married and fathered children—while this dragon among men remained single… The woman had long been dissatisfied. She dropped the pretense and spoke directly:

“To be frank, Master, I truly adore your daughter. She’s learned, refined, and seems as if she stepped straight from a celestial painting… I wonder… does Wanwan have a betrothal?”

The mask fell away.

Xie Xun lifted his brows slightly, turned to look at Zhen Shi, and remained silent for a moment, as if considering, before speaking slowly:

“Not yet. Previously, her mother’s side had suitors from the Cui clan, but her mother declined them. Then she became absorbed in her studies…” He paused, glanced at the gray, overcast sky, and nodded: “Let’s not trouble you further today. The journey has tired us. I’ll return with Wanwan to rest. Will you be free tomorrow morning? Come with Lianghan—we’ll have morning porridge at Donglin Temple. Then… we can talk further.”

Zhen Shi wasn’t in a hurry. She smiled: “Of course I’m free. Tanlang is eager to spend more time with Master Xie and your junior sister—he has no good teachers or friends in Longcheng County, and usually lives alone, never confiding in me. Your arrival is truly a blessing…”

“No need to rush. Master, return and rest well. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Xie Xun smiled.

…

“Auntie, why are you smiling?”

“Did I smile?”

“You’re smiling so hard your face is blooming.”

“Are you asking for a beating? Even your aunt’s smiles are subject to your scrutiny now?”

“I just have a bad feeling.”

“?”

Ouyang Rong and Zhen Shi escorted the Xie father and daughter back to a refined hermitage on the western side of Donglin Temple. The Xie clan, being a great family, had a dedicated courtyard there, kept empty year-round.

On the way back to Sanhui Courtyard, Ouyang Rong noticed Zhen Shi chuckling occasionally, and he was speechless.

“Auntie, what were you talking about with Master Xie just now?”

“Mind your elders’ business. What were you two talking about behind?”

“Wanwan? Why are you calling her by her childhood name? Don’t pretend familiarity. And don’t pry into juniors’ affairs.”

“Hey, you brat, you’re asking for a beating…”

Ouyang Rong crossed his arms, twisted his waist, and dodged the swat.

After a moment, he turned, his expression suspicious: “You didn’t bring up that matter with Master Xie, did you?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

The more he thought, the more certain he became—especially seeing the woman’s lips, curved with a mole, smiling. “You… how am I supposed to face Master Xie now?”

Ouyang Rong grew more convinced the more he thought about it, especially upon seeing the curved, mole-touched corner of the woman’s lips—“You… how am I supposed to face my teacher after this?”

“What do you mean, how to face him? Become your father-in-law, and you’ll see him every day. Wait—tomorrow you’ll get an answer. It’ll probably work!”

Zhen Shi smiled sweetly, poking his wooden head with her red-lacquered fingertip: “That’s why you need your old mother to step in. You youngsters today are too shy—you like someone but keep it buried inside. Opportunities aren’t given; you seize them. If your family hadn’t seized the chance to propose back then, would you have a gentle, thoughtful aunt like me? Not a chance.”

Zhen Shi smiled sweetly, poking a wooden-headed boy with her finger stained red with henna—“That’s why you need your old auntie to step in. You young folks these days are too shy—you like someone but keep it bottled up. Opportunities don’t come twice; miss this one and it’s gone forever. If your family hadn’t seized the chance to propose back then, would you ever have gotten a gentle, devoted auntie like me? Not a chance.”

Zhen Shi frowned, studying him: “You’ve been talking more lately, Tanlang.”

“Near vermilion, one turns red; near ink, one turns black.”

Zhen Shi: “… Are you circling around to insult me?”

Ouyang Rong suddenly grew calm, no longer angry at Zhen Shi’s meddling. He stared silently ahead.

“Why the long face? I’m puzzled—Wanwan’s conditions are excellent, especially that… future kitchen for your grandchildren—how wealthy! Don’t men today like this anymore? Strange.”

And her temperament—I tell you, stern and serious women are treasures. Pure, conservative, seemingly dull and hard to approach—but once you win her heart, or she decides to be yours, she becomes utterly devoted, unwavering, a loyal wife who won’t leave no matter how you try to drive her away… virtuous and skilled in managing the household, she brings fortune to husband and children. I hear she’s also a talented poet—your children will surely be brilliant, well-nourished, even twins possible…

“And as for character, Auntie tells you—this kind of stiff, serious woman is a treasure: pure, conservative, outwardly dull and hard to approach. But once you win her heart—or once she decides to be with you—she’s utterly devoted, unwavering, unshakable. She’ll stick by you no matter what. And she’s virtuous, skilled at managing a household, brings fortune to her husband, loves her children. They say she’s a talented woman too—so your children will surely be smart, well-nourished, even twins won’t be a problem…”

“What?”

Ouyang Rong shook his head gently. “You underestimate Junior Sister. She won’t look at anyone.”

Especially not him—someone who didn’t match her ideal of a virtuous gentleman… Ouyang Rong smiled inwardly. He was actually pleased with this unfiltered first meeting—it was the real person he saw.

Zhen Shi waved her hand dismissively. “Parents’ wishes and matchmakers’ words matter—Master Xie’s approval is what counts. What does the little girl care? As long as your teacher is satisfied.”

Ouyang Rong didn’t explain the rumors he’d overheard—that Junior Sister had once refused a marriage proposal with a poem and insulted a Cui clansman. He simply dropped it and added:

“Auntie, prepare tonight. Tomorrow morning, we’ll escort Master Xie to Penglang Ferry—we’ll also head down the mountain to return to the county office.”

Having achieved his purpose at Donglin Temple, Zhen Shi no longer dragged Ouyang Rong along. She nodded in agreement, though her mouth kept chattering.

“Tanlang, don’t worry—this Xie noblewoman seems truly suitable. I’ll make sure she’s right, won’t let this turn out like last time, when we raised a greedy, ungrateful wolf.”

Ouyang Rong, who had been about to slip away, froze.

“What wolf?”

“When you were a child, your mother picked out a child bride from her family’s side.”

“It’s just that when you were little, your mother picked out a child bride for you from her natal family.”

“You forgot? You were frail and often unconscious. We kept a child bride beside your bed to care for you and do needlework. But every time your mother and I entered your room, you’d be covered in needle pricks—bleeding! The room was always overturned.”

Even after all these years, Zhen Shi’s brows rose as she spoke: “That ungrateful wolf—originally an orphaned mute girl adopted from your mother’s Zhao family. At first she seemed quiet and obedient—we thought she’d be a playmate. But when we weren’t around, she tried to murder her future husband!”

Ouyang Rong thought back. He vaguely remembered waking in pain from needle pricks, then seeing his mother and Zhen Shi raging at a thin, frail girl who cowered in the corner, sobbing “Ah… ah… ah…”

Ouyang Rong pondered, and faint memories surfaced—he’d often woken in childhood from the sharp pain of needles, then remembered his mother and Zhen Shi raging at a frail little girl, beating and scolding her, the small figure always huddled in the corner, whimpering, “Ah… ah… ah…” as she clutched her head.

“We sold her. I wanted the clan elders to drown her in a pig cage, but a wandering Daoist came by and bought her. Your mother sold her outright—and made a full tael of silver. No one knows which unlucky family took her in.”

Zhen Shi shook her head. “That’s when I learned: some children are born evil.”

Ouyang Rong thought a moment, murmured in agreement: “Hmm… maybe some kind of antisocial personality…”

He glanced at the sky, then parted ways with Zhen Shi, preparing to visit Ah Shan and Ah Qing’s family. Suddenly, he heard a series of dull, rhythmic thuds—dong… dong… dong—like a heartbeat.

Ten strikes in total. Ten points deducted.

He froze, looked around the empty temple, face stunned.

“Where did my merit points go?” He was numb.

…

……