Chapter 21: Chapter Twenty-One

When Xie Junling left his post at the Hanlin Academy, he met Gu Feiran and Shen Yun on the road; Shen Yun is a newly appointed second‑rank presented scholar, serving as a seventh‑rank Hanlin Academy reviewer, ranking below Xie Junling, who is a Hanlin Academy editor, thus his subordinate.

Xie Junling had little impression of Gu Feiran, who was an obscure junior scholar rarely seen; but seeing how close he was with Shen Yun, he realized Gu was also resourceful and could afford Shen Yun such attentive favors, suggesting he had a senior official in the court at home.

Gu Feiran, upon seeing Xie Junling, felt an instant kinship and mentioned the name of a senior in his family, revealing himself as the young master of the Gu family's second branch, whose grandfather is the Minister of the Household Department, and wondered why Shen Yun also flattered him, perhaps seeking a future patronage.

Gu Feiran wished to invite Xie Junling for a drink, saying, "If it is convenient for Lord Xie, could you join us for a small gathering and discuss some refined matters?"

Xie Junling, having no habit of socializing after leaving office and disliking alcohol, bowed and politely declined: "No, my humble family is waiting for me at home; it is inconvenient to go out drinking with the gentlemen. Let's arrange another time when I am free."

Gu Feiran recalled Li Jiao's instructions, knowing that luring Xie Junling was a major matter, and urged, "It is only the lady of the house waiting; have a servant inform her. Since all the gentlemen are present, refusing a drink would be a great disappointment!"

Having reached that point, Xie Junling, not intending to distance himself from Shen Yun, lightly nodded and said, "Then I shall join for a sip; I hope the gentlemen will be lenient with my poor drinking capacity."

That's the spirit! Seeing Xie Junling being drawn into the fun, everyone became extremely delighted.

The original plan was to go to an outside tavern, but it turned out full, so Gu Feiran suggested a few drinks at the Gu Residence. Shen Yun and the others, thinking of drinking at the Minister's mansion, grew eager.

How could Xie Junling not see their ulterior motives? He gave a wry smile, thinking of sending a Buddha westward—since they were already here, he would not spoil the mood; if it turned unpleasant, he could simply skip next time.

Accustomed to handling affairs, he followed Gu Feiran toward the Gu Residence. Unexpectedly, the plan went smoothly, and Gu Feiran truly lured Xie Junling into the Gu Residence, prompting Gu Feiran to applaud his own cleverness.

After three rounds of wine, Xie Junling felt uneasy and, using a bathroom excuse, wanted to get some fresh air. He asked Gu Feiran for the direction to the clean room; Gu Feiran gave a subtle sign and sent a servant to lead him toward the inner courtyard. Xie Junling naturally did not realize this led to the inner courtyard, nor that he was stepping into a trap set by Li Jiao and Gu Feiran.

Gu Feiran, thinking that after feeding Xie Junling for so long he would finally need the latrine, hurriedly dispatched a maid to inform Li Jiao so as not to miss her important matter.

Everything was set, and at that moment Shen Yun also rose, frowned, and said, "Brother Gu, sorry, a person has three urgencies; I must look for Lord Xie."

Why do they all come at once? Earlier I told him to urinate, and he didn't; now it only adds chaos!

Gu Feiran also chased after Shen Yun to prevent him from taking a wrong turn following Xie Junling.

At the front, Xie Junling glanced at a nearby building and felt the patterned canvas hanging under the eaves did not look like the outer courtyard. He kept his guard up and told the guiding servant, "You steward, wait a moment; I suddenly recall something and intend to return to the banquet hall first."

He turned and left, leaving the steward speechless on the spot. Hadn't Young Master Gu previously instructed him to lead the adult who needed the bathroom to the rear courtyard? What shall be done now?

When Xie Junling returned, he happened to run straight into Shen Yun. Shen Yun was truly in urgent need, and Xie Junling pointed him a way, saying, "The guiding steward is still ahead; Lord Shen, go ask him for directions."

"Fine!" Shen Yun, not caring about anything else, chased after the steward. The steward did not know which gentleman he was to lead, but since someone needed to go, he considered his task done.

When Xie Junling retraced his steps, he ran straight into Gu Feiran. Gu Feiran stared blankly for a second and asked, "Finished so quickly?"

"Hm?" Xie Junling was puzzled.

"Where is Lord Shen? Perhaps he went off to handle something elsewhere?"

"Oh, Lord Shen went to the bathroom."

Gu Feiran only then realized, slapped his forehead, and broke into cold sweat: "It's a disaster!"

Having said that, he dropped Xie Junling and sprinted toward the inner courtyard, hoping to be in time.

Xie Junling found Gu Feiran's behavior inexplicable; seeing that night was falling, he also did not wish to linger, found an excuse of being unable to handle more wine, and left first.

On the other side, despite it being winter, Li Jiao wore a delicate embroidered blouse over a chest‑length ruqun; if soaked, her skin would be barely visible, the ruqun clinging to her waist, almost sheer. Seeing the steward avoid, she knew someone had arrived.

Li Jiao rubbed her chilled arms, gazed at the cold lake before her, thinking that a single jump down would force Xie Junling to rescue her; with her body fully exposed, the man would have to marry her even if he did not wish to.

Li Jiao inhaled deeply, saw a figure shifting ahead, gritted her teeth and leapt down. With a splash, she fell into the water. Meihua, the dim‑lit lantern, dragged the newcomer, pleading for rescue.

Shen Yun originally intended to use the latrine; who could have expected a woman jumping into the lake at midnight? He panicked, tried to flee, but Meihua held him tightly.

Li Jiao waited underwater for a moment, guessing that Xie Junling might be unfamiliar with swimming.

She then surfaced, seeing a pair of men's black boots, covering her wet face and crying out, "Who are you? Why would an outsider man be in the Gu family's inner courtyard? I only intended to stroll, but the slippery path sent me into the icy lake! Now that you have seen my body, my chastity is compromised; perhaps death is better! Meihua! Call my maternal grandfather; I will demand that this man give me an answer before him!"

After the harsh words, Li Jiao lifted her tear‑streaked, flower‑like face, stared at the newcomer, and was startled: "Why is it you?"

She recognized Shen Yun as the second‑ranked Jinshi of that day, but not the top scholar Xie Junling! Li Jiao's mind buzzed, leaving her at a loss.

The moonlit beauty wept tearfully; Shen Yun's heart melted, and at that moment Gu Feiran, who had been hurrying and then catching up, saw the scene. He clenched his teeth and said, "I, Shen, apologize to the lady; I will explain this matter to the Minister and will be responsible for you!"

His words were sincere, yet he was merely driven by lust for Li Jiao's beauty.

Li Jiao thought of Shen Yun's rank, which was above Xie Junling! Could she now be suppressed by a rustic village woman like Lu Bao'er?!

Shen Yun's affair caused too much commotion, but now that it had come to this, Lord Gu thought that rather than letting Qi Xiulin learn of it later and cause familial grief, it would be better to marry Li Jiao to Shen Yun, and then select a legitimate granddaughter from the second branch to reluctantly marry Qi Xiulin as a secondary wife. In this way, the student would be preserved and a second‑rank Jinshi could be secured, which seemed neither loss nor gain.

However, Madam Gu, ever shrewd, saw Li Jiao's attire and knew it was intentional. She aimed at no one in particular, only at a seventh‑rank Hanlin Academy reviewer; the girl had clearly lost her mind.

Thus, when she closed the door, Madam Gu raised her hand for the first time and slapped Li Jiao, scolding, "Foolish! You have truly disappointed your maternal grandmother!"

Li Jiao felt the deepest grievance tonight; she clenched her teeth, covered her face, unable even to utter a cry. Yet thinking of Xie Junling filled her with hatred. Perhaps the unattainable became a white moonlight, and she grew jealous of Lu Bao'er!

What right does she have?! A village girl, yet she has obtained such a refined, moonlit man!