Chapter 880: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 880: Conflict (Part 1)
At this moment, more and more people were gathering outside the palace gates. Those without relatives participating in the imperial examination weren’t concerned about who would succeed or fail. They were there simply to secure a prime spot to witness the newly crowned top scholar, second-place candidate, and third-place candidate parade through the streets on horseback—a moment of unparalleled glory.
Among the crowd were men, women, and children of all ages. Some parents had brought their children along, hoping the festive atmosphere would inspire them to work hard and one day bring honor to the family.
Nearby, a group of young women and newlywed wives chatted and laughed while gazing at the towering palace gates.
“I wonder what the top scholar and the second-place candidate will look like this time. Three years ago, they were quite plain-looking.”
“So what if they were plain-looking? Didn’t they still become officials, make fortunes, and marry the daughters of noble families? That’s still quite impressive!”
“Exactly! Who cares what they look like? We’re just here for the excitement. Hopefully, there’ll be as much drama as last time!”
“Heh, you’re dreaming. Not every year can have that kind of spectacle!”
“...”
Standing near them, Mo Yan’s interest was piqued by their mention of “that kind of spectacle.” After listening for a while, she learned it was a story reminiscent of the tale of Qin Xianglian and Chen Shimei, with a somewhat similar ending.
Apparently, during the last examination, a young scholar from Jiangnan, though ordinary in appearance, stood out for his literary talent and earned the third-place title. After the spring examination, he composed many remarkable poems—not about national affairs or patriotism in peaceful times, but mostly sentimental and melancholic pieces. These works caught the attention of some young women in their boudoirs, leaving them infatuated.
What followed was a series of dramatic events. This Jiangnan scholar came from a modest family. After securing the third-place rank, he caught the eye of a high-ranking court official and married the official’s only legitimate daughter.
However, it turned out that the scholar had already married and had children back in his hometown. After marrying the noble’s daughter, he abandoned his first wife and children, secretly bringing his parents to the capital. To prevent his first wife from finding out, he claimed he had fallen ill and died during his journey to the examination. His parents were relocated under the pretense of joining a married daughter in another town.
But the scholar’s first wife was a sharp woman who knew her husband’s nature all too well. The moment her in-laws were taken away, she suspected foul play. Accompanied by her brothers, she followed them all the way to the capital, exposing her husband’s deceit.
What ensued was a sensational battle between the original wife and the noblewoman for the scholar’s affections. The noblewoman, with her power and status, refused to let go of what she considered hers. Meanwhile, the first wife, armed with a valid marriage certificate and no grounds for divorce under the Seven Grounds for Divorce, stood her ground and refused to back down.
Caught between the two women, the deceitful and fickle scholar became mentally distressed. His poor conduct led to errors in his work, and after being severely reprimanded by his superior, he turned to alcohol to drown his sorrows. One night, in a drunken stupor, he fell into a river on his way home and never surfaced again.
The noblewoman shed a few tears at his funeral before returning to her family with her generous dowry. Not long after, she remarried a widower of equal social standing. Now a mother of a two-year-old son, she reportedly lived a happy and fulfilling life.
The most astonishing twist, however, was the first wife’s actions. Despite her in-laws falling ill from grief over losing their son, she arranged a proper and dignified funeral for the scholar, ensuring he was buried honorably.
Just when everyone thought she would stay with her late husband’s family to raise her son and live a life of quiet widowhood, she shocked everyone a year later. In a swift and decisive move, she married a fourth-ranked general who had delayed his marriage due to years of border defense. Overnight, she became the esteemed wife of a general, leaving everyone utterly astonished.
[End of Chapter]
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