HE With the Cold Male Protagonist C59

Chapter 59: Good News, The Results Are Posted

“Headmaster!” The students of Qingsong Academy were alarmed.

“It is nothing.” He wiped the blood from the corner of his lips. The knot that had long festered in his chest was at last vented, leaving him strangely relieved. “Focus on your exams. Do not let such distractions disturb you.”

If the Qingsong Academy boys were merely unsettled, remorseful, and in disbelief, the students of Mingli Academy felt as though they had been struck by thunder, left dazed for a long while.

“Shopkeeper Ning?”

“Elder Yi, were you not here to see Qinghong?”

Lu Qinghong swayed on his feet. Soon enough, though, he convinced himself this must be Lu Lizhi’s scheme—to deliberately stage this before everyone, making it appear as if he were Lord Qingyuan.

Had he not done the same before, neither denying nor confirming?

It was he himself who had impersonated Qingyuan, yet now he accused Lizhi of hypocrisy, righteously indignant and burning with fury. He took a deep breath, forcing himself not to lash out, and instead stepped forward to salute. “Shopkeeper Ning, Elder Yi!”

His tone was weighted, as though to remind them not to be deceived by certain others.

The two men exchanged glances, faintly mocking.

In recent weeks, Qinghong had sought them out repeatedly, feigning casual contact for others’ eyes while slyly dropping the Lu family’s name—hoping they would back his lies.

Before coming here, the two had agreed—they must not expose Lizhi’s identity outright, but they would at least let Qinghong taste humiliation.

A small revenge, for themselves as well as for the young scholar Lu.

If Qinghong took the hint and curbed himself, they would leave it be. But from the look of him, he still intended to muddy the waters.

The crowd was left bewildered, uncertain of who truly was Qingyuan. That, however, was precisely what Shopkeeper Ning and Elder Yi had wanted.

Elder Yi sighed. “Young Master Lu must still work diligently.”

A greeting, yes—but one that stuck in Qinghong’s throat like a fishbone. He forced a smile. “Thank you, gentlemen.”

Those at a distance heard none of this. They saw only that Ning and Yi had spoken first to Lizhi, then exchanged a few words with Qinghong.

“Perhaps they mistook one for the other? Truly, their faces are somewhat alike.”

“Or perhaps Lord Qingyuan wishes to remain low-key, unwilling to draw public notice. What lofty integrity!”

Lizhi himself felt only helplessness—and, deeper still, a touch of warmth. These two had risked offending Mingli Academy and the Lu clan behind it, all to defend him. He accepted it with gratitude.

And he felt a surge of satisfaction.

Casting one last glance at Qinghong—his face still dark—Lizhi thought, if it were anyone else, after today they would retreat early. He hoped this man would not overstep, lest he stir the matter into something greater.

All of this transpired in the space of half an incense stick. Then came the sudden pounding of drums, and the noisy crowd outside the gates fell into instant silence.

“It’s starting, it’s starting!”

Because of the great numbers, candidates were ordered into rows to enter in turn. First came the searches: belongings torn open, cakes ripped apart, baskets overturned, accompanied by harsh warnings.

“Any smuggled notes or cheating will result in immediate disqualification!”

Such stern severity left even honest candidates trembling, fumbling about in nervous fright—drawing even harsher scrutiny.

By contrast, students from academies, having been instructed by their teachers, knew the procedures and details. They passed calmly.

Qinghong could not help glancing at Lizhi. Despite never attending any academy, Lizhi remained unruffled, passing with ease. Qinghong’s dissatisfaction grew.

Yu Zhijie’s eyes too lingered on him, unsettled. For a moment, because of Ning and Yi’s earlier actions, he had almost believed Lizhi to be Lord Qingyuan.

Then he scoffed inwardly. This one was even better at pretending than Qinghong—what an actor!

If he was Lord Qingyuan, Yu swore he would write his name upside down.

But he did not realize—his very doubt betrayed that, deep down, he already suspected Qinghong.

Nor was he alone. Other Mingli students were shaken as well. They were scholars—clever enough to have come this far, yet prone to the rigidities of received thinking.

Qinghong’s expression darkened further. This chain of events weighed heavily on his mind, disrupting his exam.

Seated at his desk with his numbered token, he drifted for a long time, replaying every doubtful sign, trying to convince himself Lizhi had nothing to do with Qingyuan.

Only thus reassured could he enjoy the benefits of being “Lord Qingyuan.”

He thought of how even his grandfather, normally indifferent, had questioned him eagerly about the matter. Qinghong gripped his brush tighter. When he realized how much time had already passed, he broke into a cold sweat.

He had sworn to his grandfather—he must win anshou this time!

He forced himself to calm, yet the more he did so, the more his mind replayed those scenes, gnawed at by doubt, agitated at Ning and Yi’s true intent.

And Lizhi’s serene, detached expression—without a trace of provocation—was like the cruellest blow of all.

Drip!

A blot of ink splashed onto his paper. Qinghong’s hand shook so hard he nearly leapt up.

Immediately, a patrolling officer barked, “What are you doing!”

“M-my paper was stained with ink…” Qinghong wiped the sweat from his brow, jittery and uneasy.

In sharp contrast, in another booth, Lizhi scanned through the exam questions, and confidence bloomed.

In truth, he had overestimated the difficulty. Some questions were tricky—such as the “cut-and-join” prompts, giving only the second line, or even half a line, expecting candidates to identify its source among the Classics and write a coherent essay.

Most memorized lines in order, from top to bottom. These jumbled excerpts, requiring insight to weave together into argument, were difficult indeed.

But Lizhi not only knew the Four Books and Five Classics by heart, he had even practiced for such questions, imagining himself a grader setting problems to trip up students.

By chance, he had predicted two of them exactly.

Then came the prescribed verse, the poems and essays, the imperial exhortations and homilies. All had their strict formats. One must not err, not mar the paper, not smear the page, or risk rejection.

Lizhi, once he took up the brush, hardly paused. With flowing ease, he wrote steadily, unhurried, his hand confident.

Patrolling guards glanced at him again and again. In that cramped cell, his bearing seemed imbued with a lofty grace. His looks and his air alike compelled admiration.

Some even entertained an absurd thought—

This one, perhaps, might one day stand before the throne…

The first round of the exam proceeded on time. Shopkeeper Ning and Elder Yi soon departed, lest curious eyes pry too closely.

“Was that not rather cruel of us? To speak so at such a time—it may have spoiled Qinghong’s concentration.” Elder Yi’s words, however, were belied by the smile in his eyes.

“It is none of our doing. He failed to keep composure himself. And does he not boast of being a Lu? If the Lu clan are famed for literary talent, let him prove it. If he cannot—hmph!”

“Still, both named Lu. Perhaps their ancestors once shared a line…” Elder Yi said idly.

Ning, however, pondered. At first glance, Qinghong and young Lu did share a resemblance. But to look closer was to see—one, a posturing hypocrite; the other, true cultivation and bearing, born of his very bones.

Meanwhile, Madam He and Jiang Dazhu waited outside the exam hall. More and more, they felt for Lizhi, fond of him—and, too, thought their rascal of a son had profited by fortune, landing such a match. They dared not neglect, lest Baiye fail to hold him fast.

Village Head Wang, busy with the matter of the corvée, left by Luo’s donkey cart. Baiye did not linger either; he had been summoned by Lord He.

“Good news!” Lord He wasted no time, barely letting Baiye draw breath. “We’ve opened a Huichun Hall in Yuzhou, near the capital. We’ve found a lady suffering from an illness much like that noble one’s. Initial treatment shows fine results. It will not be long before word reaches the right ears.”

“Why not open directly in the capital?” Baiye asked. He wanted the whole plan laid out—time was not on their side.

Lord He hesitated. “The capital is Shanyi Hall’s stronghold. If we leapt so boldly, suddenly opening a shop, suddenly curing an ailment like that of a high-born—it would be too conspicuous, too deliberate. Imperial will is unpredictable. If we are reckless, we know not whether reward or ruin would come.”

Baiye sighed. “But Qin Chunquan has already met with Hu Yaowei. Without confidence, he would never dare seek him.”

Last time, when Shanyi men came to test him, Baiye had measured them well.

Lord He was astonished. “How do you know this?”

Baiye merely smiled. “Made a few friends in the prefectural yamen. A few cups of wine, and much was clear.”

He also knew Jiang Yueming had whispered them some mischief. But Brother Chengping had said—if they meant to free Hu, they would need a scapegoat.

And the best scapegoat—was none other than Jiang Yueming.

Poor fool—thinking Qin and his fellows his saviors, when they would be his doom.

Baiye no longer bothered with him. “Still, perhaps he can be of some use…”

Lord He did not catch his murmur. He frowned. “From the start, we knew we could not destroy Hu Yaowei utterly. This punishment was already a victory. As for what comes next, we must hasten, ensuring Shanyi gains no advantage.”

Were it up to Baiye, he would strike faster, crushing Hu before rescue was possible. But he understood He’s caution. Their fear of imperial wrath dictated their pace.

It was just as well. Step by steady step. Their aim was not endless strife, draining life in struggle.

It was wealth—wealth enough to rise in station, to shield themselves. So that when danger came, they would not be left helpless, their fates in others’ hands.

“Speaking of, that Second Master of Shanyi has had little joy lately,” Baiye chuckled.

Lord He and his men exchanged knowing smiles.

Indeed—let them see, whose ground this truly was!

The newly founded Shanyi Pharmacy was set up on the outskirts of Xuanye Prefecture’s city. With silver enough and some experience, they quickly built workshops and recruited hands.

A month ago, they seized the other half of Mount Daheng. Brazenly copying Baiye’s methods, they sent men to gather herbs, built facilities, processed raw medicine into finished.

At first, Shanyi Pharmacy was meant only to supply Shanyi Hall. But provoked by Baiye, Qin Chunquan grew competitive. And since Shanyi Hall could not yet reopen in the prefecture, they sought to seize Baiye’s channels and customers, to teach him a lesson.

For this, they had dined and drunk with many apothecaries, building ties.

Do not underestimate a single prefecture. Beneath it lie many counties, beneath them a hundred towns, countless villages. Patients never lack, nor doctors. The trade was vast.

Qin grew greedy—he wanted ninety percent, and believed he could take it.

But soon they found a grave problem.

Those who once agreed at the wine table now dodged them. Not only did they refuse to deal, but they turned instead to Jichun Pharmacy for supply.

Dong Chengying fumed. “That Huichun Hall is vile! They must be behind this.”

“No—not them.” The second and third stewards of Shanyi looked uneasy. “It’s Jichun. Their medicines are not only cheap, priced well below ours, but also…”

“What also?”

“Superior.”

Indeed—not merely good, but consistently excellent. The quality was plain at a glance. After using them, few wished to return to others.

For physicians, medicine that healed was everything. With cheaper, better drugs at hand, how could they ignore them? If they did, others would cure first—and their own skill would be shamed.

That could not be allowed.

So they flocked to Jichun—unbidden, eager to buy—not lured by Shanyi’s efforts, but pursuing Baiye’s shop themselves.

The contrast was stark.

Dong Chengying would not believe it. “We may lack long experience, but what is he, to best us!”

Qin himself grew troubled, realizing at last he had met a hard stone indeed.

“Find a way. Get some of their medicine. I will see what trick they play. Perhaps they hide some foul ingredient, deceiving all!”

As they plotted, the first round of the prefectural exams concluded smoothly.

And two days later, the results of the initial test were posted.

Author’s Note:

Wuwuwu, please don’t “fatten the text” (delay reading to stockpile chapters). That only starves the author! I will keep updating diligently—fist raised! ✊