Chapter 71: The Deadly Tsundere

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Many thanks to "sky_Bicheng" for your generous reward and the pink ticket~╭(╯3╰)╮

Wen Jing returned to the residence of Scholar Wang to see if her father had made any progress. As she reached the entrance, she saw several young ladies of the Wang family walking toward her.

“Third Sister, since when did our house become an inn where anyone can come and go as they please?” one young lady said to another.

“Isn’t that the truth? Lately, our residence has been filled with all sorts of unsavory people coming and going. Where’s the decorum in that?” Third Miss Wang said, her gaze deliberately sweeping over to Wen Jing.

Wen Jing glanced at them coldly, not intending to pay them any mind. After a brief pause, she continued forward.

Seeing Wen Jing about to leave, Third Miss sneered, “She thinks just because she saved our patriarch she’s some great benefactor to our family, making herself right at home here. I’ve never seen anyone so shameless.”

Wen Jing stopped. She was already in a poor mood after examining two corpses, unwilling to get into a quarrel, but this woman was relentless. If so, she couldn’t be blamed for what happened next. She was just about to speak when—

“Aren’t you afraid the patriarch will hear you?” a young man interjected. Wen Jing’s memory was sharp; she recalled this was the young man who had smiled at her from behind Madam Wang that day.

The young ladies were startled, glancing around, but didn’t see Scholar Wang. Only then did they breathe a sigh of relief—if Scholar Wang had heard, they’d be in serious trouble.

“Second Brother, you’re just teasing us,” they said, feigning annoyance.

“You’re the ones with guilty consciences,” the young man replied. “Careful, or I’ll tell the patriarch and see how you fare.”

The girls exchanged glances. “We’re going to see Mother. Goodbye, Second Brother.”

Wen Jing gave the young man a look.

“My sisters are young and ignorant. I hope you won’t take offense on my account, Lady Wen,” he said politely.

“You’re too serious, Young Master Wang. How could I take such a trifle to heart?” Wen Jing replied with a smile, thinking to herself, there’s still time ahead; we’ll see.

“My grandfather has been wanting to meet you. Would you do him the honor?” he asked.

“I would be honored,” Wen Jing replied. She wondered, if this Young Master Wang was so courteous, why were his sisters so mean?

He gestured for her to follow, and Wen Jing walked behind him.

“Grandfather, Lady Wen has arrived,” the young man announced to Scholar Wang, who was still lying on his couch.

Scholar Wang immediately turned toward her, sizing her up with some suspicion. This Lady Wen looked so young—yet she had saved him when even the imperial physicians were helpless. Truly, heroes emerge from the young.

“Lady Wen pays her respects to Scholar Wang,” Wen Jing said with a slight bow.

“Come, no need for such ceremony. Please, have a seat. It’s I who should thank you. Without you, I’d be lying in a coffin right now,” Scholar Wang said cheerfully.

Wen Jing smiled. Scholar Wang didn’t seem the least bit like a stuffy old scholar—more like a mischievous old child, quite an endearing old man.

“There you go again, Grandfather…” the young man said with a laugh and a sigh.

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Wang Xuelin cast a glance at his grandson. “What’s wrong with that? You young people are more superstitious than us old folks. Just because death is mentioned doesn’t mean it’ll come.”

The young man was left speechless and fell silent.

After speaking, Scholar Wang looked over at Wen Jing again, his eyes twinkling, making her somewhat uneasy.

“By the way, young lady, may I ask how you managed to save me that day?” he inquired. No matter how he’d asked, neither the matron nor his sons and daughters-in-law would tell him, and he’d been dying of curiosity.

Wen Jing’s cheeks flushed. If the matron hadn’t told him, she certainly couldn’t! She couldn’t possibly say he’d been revived by the fumes of sheep dung, could she?

“It’s a family remedy—just pour wine into the nostrils, and it works,” Wen Jing replied with a smile, omitting the rest.

Though the method sounded crude, Scholar Wang believed it without question—after all, he had truly come back to life, and that was fact enough.

“Grandfather, Lady Wen has matters to attend to. I’ll see her out now. You should rest more,” the young man said anxiously. His grandfather was a stickler for cleanliness—if he found out how he’d really been revived, he’d never get over it.

“Indeed, Scholar Wang’s health is still recovering. You should relax and rest, and avoid any strain,” Wen Jing added.

“Alright, alright,” Scholar Wang responded with a broad smile.

As he watched his grandfather’s happy face, the young man thought, We tried to persuade you to rest and you wouldn’t listen, but a word from Lady Wen works better than anything we say.

Outside, Wen Jing turned to him. “That Wang Jue—what is his relation to your family?”

“Wang Jue is from a branch of our family. He’s long been unable to walk and never took the civil exams before. This year, the patriarch pitied his talent and petitioned the emperor for special permission for him to take the exam, and His Majesty, eager for talent, consented.”

So that was it. Wen Jing now understood why Sixi would rather bear injustice herself than let Wang Jue be suspected. If he missed this year’s exam, who knew when the next chance would come? Perhaps he’d never have another opportunity in this lifetime.

“Young Master Wang, you needn’t see me any farther,” Wen Jing said as he continued to accompany her a long way. She thought, I only asked you to show some courtesy, but you’ve taken it so seriously…

The young man looked a bit embarrassed. “It’s no trouble—just taking a walk.”

Qingliu, observing the young man, thought to herself, Could he have taken a liking to my lady? He may not be the legitimate eldest son, but he has a good temperament, and the patriarch is fond of her too. If a match could be made, it wouldn’t be bad at all.

As Wen Jing walked into the Carp Garden, she saw Wang Jue drawing water from the well with a bucket, a maid standing timidly by.

“Why trouble yourself, my friend?” the young man hurried over.

Wang Jue wiped the sweat from his brow. “Thank you for your concern, but I’m not used to being served by anyone except Sixi.”

“But Sixi is being held at the Supreme Court and can’t return for now. You’ll have to make do,” the young man advised, thinking Wang Jue was truly stubborn.

Wang Jue lifted the bucket, poured the water into a basin, then looked up. “My leg aches today. Would this doctor be willing to examine it for me?”

The young man looked at Wen Jing; Wen Jing looked at Wang Jue. This stubborn man wanted her to look at his leg? No, he probably just wanted to ask about Sixi.

“Of course,” Wen Jing replied.

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“Thank you.” Wang Jue placed the basin on his lap and tried to wheel himself forward, but someone began pushing him from behind. In the reflection of the water, he saw a gentle, elegant face, and to his surprise, he didn’t object.

Wen Jing stepped forward to help push his wheelchair. This stubborn man must have an extreme obsession with cleanliness—he wouldn’t even let anyone else carry the basin. If she touched his leg without permission, wouldn’t that be akin to… a mortal offense?

As she watched his expression shift in the water’s reflection, Wang Jue suddenly smiled, like the first thaw of ice and snow—warm and moving.

The young man watched Wen Jing push Wang Jue inside, a complicated look flashing in his eyes before he turned and left.

“What does Young Master Wang wish to ask?” Wen Jing got straight to the point.

Realizing she’d seen through his intentions, Wang Jue replied directly, “You know Sixi isn’t the killer. Why did you still have him taken to the Supreme Court?”

“It wasn’t my doing, but Lord Ji’s. As for his reasons, I don’t know,” Wen Jing answered.

“When will he be released?”

“That’s not for me to decide. Perhaps when the real culprit is found,” Wen Jing said.

Wang Jue fell silent. Without Sixi, he felt utterly useless; nothing went right. Without Sixi, even going to the exam was pointless. The exam rooms were tiny, and one had to eat, drink, and relieve oneself in that space for days—how was he to manage?

“Do you practice walking exercises regularly?” Wen Jing suddenly asked.

Wang Jue looked up, expressionless. “I do.”

“No wonder your muscles are in decent shape, not too atrophied,” Wen Jing observed.

Wang Jue abruptly looked at her. “What are you trying to say?”

“Perhaps one day you’ll walk again,” Wen Jing said.

Wang Jue stared at her in amazement. As a child, he’d dreamed of walking once more, but too many disappointments had left him resigned to a lifetime in a wheelchair. Yet Wen Jing’s words were like a stone skipping across the still surface of his heart, sending ripples through it.

“But the treatment may be long and arduous—or perhaps swift.”

He dared not hope to stand and walk the very next day, but as long as there was hope, it was enough. He didn’t care much for fame; he was taking the exam only to fulfill his parents’ wishes and give them a better life. To walk and run again—that was a dream he’d harbored for years, one he’d even stopped dreaming. Even his parents had given up, so he never expected to hear such words from a young lady.

“Tomorrow is the examination, Young Master Wang. You should rest early. Treating your leg can wait,” Wen Jing said, then left.

Watching her go, Wang Jue closed his eyes, determined to forget what she’d said. He didn’t want to set himself up for disappointment again. With no hope, there’d be no disappointment. If he was destined to spend his life in a wheelchair, so be it. Could a young lady’s medical skills really surpass those of famous physicians?

The next day, the imperial examination officially began. The Supreme Court announced they had apprehended a suspect, so all the candidates residing in Carp Garden went to the examination hall. Only then did Wen Jing realize Lord Ji’s purpose in arresting Sixi—it was a temporary measure so the candidates could still take the exam. Otherwise, they might have been barred from participating. Yesterday, she’d even mocked him for it.