Chapter 12 Lowering the Head

“What did my cousin just say to you?” Yan Ruyu deliberately placed herself at the back of the queue, just to observe their every move.

Judging from Yan Jiyue’s reaction yesterday, there were strong signs of reconciliation between the couple.

This wouldn’t do. If their relationship were to mend, her chances of obtaining the Yan family’s assets would become even more remote. She hated the fact that she, a dignified woman, had to live a life watching the faces of two men, Yan Jiyue and Yan Zhujun.

“Nothing much.” Su Mu’s eyes were calm as she spread her hands, ready for inspection.

“Hmph, don’t think Yan Jiyue is being nice to you just because he sent you a box of pastries today. Didn’t you see who was there? That gentle and virtuous act of his was all for Miss Shen to see. Everyone in the city knows Yan Jiyue fancies Shen Yuxue. You’re just a married-in wife, don’t delude yourself.” Yan Ruyu sneered beside her.

“Heh-” As soon as Yan Ruyu finished speaking, the yamen runner conducting the search couldn’t hold back his laughter.

The yamen runner couldn’t help laughing because the social status of a married-in wife was indeed lowly, and even public mockery was nothing unusual.

Yan Ruyu’s smile widened, her brows full of smugness: “See? As a married-in wife, not only can you not pass the imperial examination, even if you did, what difference would it make? Those who look down on you will still look down on you.”

“Yan Jiyue and I have already divorced.” After the search was complete, Su Mu tidied her clothes, as if their ridicule had no impact on her at all.

“Such thick skin, born to be a married-in wife… What did you say? Divorced!” Yan Ruyu’s voice cracked with excitement.

Even the nearby yamen runner looked at Su Mu with disbelief.

“Mm.” Su Mu picked up her already-checked brush and ink, striding towards the examination hall.

Yan Ruyu came to her senses and hurriedly followed: “Su Mu, are you telling the truth? Did you really divorce Yan Jiyue? If you dare deceive me, be careful I’ll—”

Su Mu brushed off the water stains on her clothes: “I signed the divorce papers with Young Master Yan long ago, and I’ve already moved out of the Yan residence. Miss Yan doesn’t even know this, it seems your information isn’t very up-to-date.”

“You’d better be telling the truth.”

Although Yan Ruyu disliked Su Mu, Su Mu had no reason to lie about the divorce, so it was likely true.

Since Yan Jiyue had already divorced Su Mu, what reason did that father and son have to continue occupying the Yan family’s assets? She had to quickly inform her father.

But now they were in the examination hall, and news couldn’t be sent out.

Yan Ruyu was anxious, wishing she could skip the exam and rush out to quickly drive that pair of dog father and son out of the Yan family.

Just thinking about Yan Jiyue, who once rode roughshod over her, about to be thrown onto the streets and bullied by others, Yan Ruyu felt a twisted sense of pleasure growing in her heart.

“Miss Yan, don’t forget our previous bet.” Su Mu’s voice, like a gentle breeze, pierced through Yan Ruyu’s distorted fantasy.

“What bet?” Yan Ruyu’s voice was shrill, her head already dizzy with the impending victory.

“Oh my, has the great Miss Yan forgotten so quickly? You bet with this married-in wife that whoever passes the imperial examination first would give the other 100 taels of silver! We’re helping you remember!” The nearby students laughed loudly.

Who didn’t know about the two women of the Yan family, one illiterate; the other having failed the exam for ten years straight. Neither was cut out for studying.

As such, they chimed in, enjoying the spectacle.

“Go away, who says I don’t remember? A bet is a bet. You talk as if you could pass. I’ve memorized the Four Books by heart, what about you? I’m afraid you haven’t even memorized the Analects.” Yan Ruyu sneered contemptuously.

Su Mu tucked her damp hair behind her ear, a faint smile spreading lazily in the misty rain: “It’s good that Miss Yan remembers.”

Beauty is beauty, needing no rouge or powder to accentuate. Even drenched in rain, she was stunningly beautiful.

The crowd that had been laughing loudly just moments ago were momentarily stunned by Su Mu’s eyes.

After a moment, someone reacted first: “That married-in wife really took it seriously, how laughable!”

The group then continued to roar with laughter.

Yan Ruyu suddenly said: “Su Mu is not a married-in wife anymore! Listen, all of you, Su Mu has already divorced my cousin. She has no connection with our Yan family now.”

“What? She dared to divorce?”

“It must have been Yan Jiyue who proposed it. I’ve always said, how could Yan Jiyue, a young master from a wealthy family, fancy a woman like Su Mu who only has looks? He likes Shen Yuxue.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Now that Shen Yuxue is also taking the imperial examination, with her abilities, she’s sure to pass this time. Then she’ll take the autumn examination, and will probably be the first successful candidate from our Juancheng in many years. How could Yan Jiyue be content to watch his sweetheart become more and more successful while he has to stay with an illiterate, uncouth woman? He must be preparing to divorce and then pursue Shen Yuxue.”

“No way, Shen Yuxue is talented, so many men are waiting to climb into her bed. How could she fancy a divorced man?”

“Hey, it’s still better than being with Su Mu! If Su Mu can pass the imperial examination in this lifetime, I’ll go home and burn all my books.”

Su Mu listened to the cold ridicule behind her without saying much. She knew that ability was always the best way to prove oneself.

Moreover, she had already told Yan Ruyu about the divorce. There was no need for her to expend effort in spreading the news. Once Yan Ruyu finished the exam, she would run out to broadcast it far and wide.

The examination began.

The first session tested on the classics; the second session’s topic was ‘Foolish yet stubborn’①; the third session tested on poetry, with the topic ‘Ten linked poems on the imperial screen’②

The invigilators patrolled outside repeatedly, feeling not much different from modern mock exams, the only difference being the poorer environment.

When Su Mu finished writing and put down her brush, she only then realized her shoulders and arms were sore.

As the exam time ended, Su Mu followed the crowd out of the examination hall. The students who were spirited before the exam now looked like frost-beaten eggplants, dispirited. Yan Ruyu was the same, hanging her head dejectedly, seeming to have performed poorly.

By now, the rain had become very light, like silk threads that could be blown away by the wind.

Outside, anxious relatives rushed up, surrounding their daughters and wife-masters, nervously inquiring about the exam situation. The lowered voices gathered together, surging like waves.

Among the crowding people, Su Mu saw Yan Jiyue still standing by the willow tree, in the same position as when she left, as if he had never moved.

Yan Jiyue’s eyes searched left and right in the crowded crowd, finally his gaze met Su Mu’s. His long phoenix eyes instantly brightened, the corners of his mouth raised in a smile as he walked towards her. His white robe was beautifully otherworldly, causing people to turn and look.

“Elder Sister Mu!” Suddenly, a shadow fell over Su Mu’s head, and an umbrella painted with ink landscapes sheltered her.

Su Mu looked to the side and met a pair of emerald eyes, filled with swaying laughter.

“Why did you come?” Su Mu took the umbrella from Xie Yi’s hand.

“I waited for you at home for a very long time, couldn’t wait anymore, so I wanted to see you earlier.” Xie Yi naturally leaned close to her, his clear smile like spring water without a trace of impurity.

“My goodness, when did Su Mu have such a handsome young man by her side?”

“Look at his eyes, he seems to be of mixed Western Region descent.”

“Married to Yan Jiyue as a husband, and with such a beautiful young man by her side, this Su Mu’s luck is too good.”

“What are you talking about, didn’t you hear what Yan Ruyu said? They’ve already divorced.”

“What?!”

“No wonder Su Mu was willing to divorce. Yan Jiyue is beautiful, but his temper isn’t good. This young man seems gentle and lovable, and his appearance is on par with Yan Jiyue’s. If it were me, I’d divorce too.”

Compared to Yan Jiyue’s low-key but expensive silk gauze, Xie Yi wore only a plain white coarse cloth, with narrow sleeves typical of those who often do manual labor, not as wide and flowing as Yan Jiyue’s, clearly not meant for pampered young masters.

But Xie Yi’s beauty carried a strong exotic charm, with a powerful visual impact, as if the wind from the Western Regions had blown into Jiangnan. In one’s ears seemed to ring the clear, crisp sound of copper bells on the waists and ankles of Hu dancers, breathtakingly beautiful.

The crowd’s attention was instantly stolen by Xie Yi. The smile on Yan Jiyue’s face immediately became suppressed, his hand tightly gripping the umbrella Su Mu had given him, almost tearing the canopy.

“Wife-master-” Yan Jiyue finally composed himself, putting on a gentle and proper smile as he walked up to Su Mu.

“Elder Sister Mu……” Xie Yi lowered his head, tightly clutching Su Mu’s sleeve.

Without seeing his expression, one could tell he was afraid.

How could he not be afraid? The scar on his face was still there.

Su Mu was also afraid, afraid that Yan Jiyue would lose control and hit Xie Yi again. She shifted her body, shielding him behind her.

This action deeply hurt Yan Jiyue’s eyes, like sharp needles firmly pinned into his pupils. He shuddered in pain.

He couldn’t get angry, couldn’t be jealous, couldn’t make another mistake, otherwise Su Mu really wouldn’t pay attention to him anymore.

“I’m sorry, yesterday was my fault.” Yan Jiyue’s thin lips were almost bitten through, their color alarmingly red.

Su Mu was shocked. What was he doing?

Apologizing? Good heavens, she actually lived to see Yan Jiyue apologize.

Shock aside, it was clear that for someone as prideful as Yan Jiyue to apologize in public, he had already lowered himself considerably.

She looked at Xie Yi.

Xie Yi’s jewel-like green eyes flickered, then he smiled generously at Yan Jiyue: “It’s alright, it doesn’t hurt anymore. I’m Xie Yi, nice to meet you, brother.”

I’m Xie Yi, nice to meet you, brother.

That phrase again! A thick taste of blood welled up in Yan Jiyue’s chest.

In their previous life, when they first met, Xie Yi had said the same thing.

Lowly creature, who was his brother? They weren’t even blood-related.

Calling him brother in front of Su Mu, firstly to show off that he was younger, and secondly, wasn’t it to flaunt that the rumors outside were true, that Su Mu had already taken his body?

Back then, young and impetuous, he had seen through Xie Yi’s provocative intentions and called him a lowly creature on the spot.

But he had forgotten to consider Su Mu’s feelings. At that time, Xie Yi was in Su Mu’s favor, and the whole Yan family knew it.

By insulting Xie Yi, wasn’t he insulting Su Mu?

By the time he realized, it was already too late. Su Mu’s gaze was cold and disappointed as she left with Xie Yi without looking back.

He wanted to call out to Su Mu to explain, but Su Mu didn’t turn back. The one who turned back was Xie Yi with his provocative eyes.