Chapter 115 - End

 After the Cannon Fodder Top Turns to Farming, He Gets a Happy Ending with the Aloof Protagonist (Transmigration)

"Wait." Jiang Baiye held down the hand that was sliding inside his clothes; suppressing his rising desire, he slid his fingers down to grasp Lu Lizhi’s slender, delicate wrist.

Lu Lizhi tried to turn his hand over to hold Jiang’s, but was met with a stern, "Don't move!"

"Be good..."

The turbulent emotions in Lu Lizhi’s heart gradually calmed, yet a lingering ache remained. "You don't love me anymore."

"Mm." Jiang Baiye, lost in thought, answered without fully registering the words.

Lu Lizhi—usually sharp and agile in the imperial court—was now merely a sensitive expectant father. He looked up in disbelief, but before he could get an answer, he was pinned down as Jiang Baiye rolled over to cover him.

"It's okay now!" The words were spoken with deep, impassioned intensity.

Lu Lizhi turned his head to dodge the kiss, the corners of his eyes flushed red. One hand hovered protectively over his belly; his mind went blank, and his body—clad only in a thin undergarment—began to tremble slightly.

A passionate kiss trailed downwards.

Though he exercised extreme restraint and tried to hold back, Jiang Baiye nearly bit him too hard several times; he gently moved Lu Lizhi’s hand aside and planted soft kisses on his beautiful, rounded belly.

Clenching his teeth, Lu Lizhi wrapped his legs around Jiang and rolled back on top of him; Jiang Baiye dared not struggle, carefully protecting him all the while. "You bastard!" The provoked pregnant man, furious as a fierce beast, sank his teeth right into Jiang Baiye's shoulder.

Jiang Baiye hissed—*damn*, that was going to draw blood—yet he felt only a surge of heightened excitement.

"Li-zhi..." he pleaded and coaxed, his voice low and tender. Lu Li-zhi felt a tingling numbness spread through his body; he was utterly disoriented.

He was dizzy with the seduction.

Immersed in Jiang Baiye’s scent, he felt a lingering sweetness.

"Bite me again."

After the passionate "battle"—leaving Jiang Baiye looking rather "battle-worn"—he finally took the flushed man's hand. With clumsy, nervous pulse-taking skills, he anxiously checked his condition.

After a long moment, he let out a soft sigh of relief and reached out to sense the presence of the little one in the belly...

"What a well-behaved little fellow."

The thought of a little Li-zhi made Jiang Baiye smile; he looked forward to it with quiet anticipation. Unable to sleep, he spent the night whispering stories to Lu Li-zhi’s round, fair belly.

"...And so, it stretched out its body and shyly sprouted a lovely, delicate little shoot toward the sun."

In his hazy slumber, Lu Li-zhi heard those beautiful, fragmented words, and even his dreams were tinged with sweetness. Jiang Baiye had partnered with Wei Feng on a canal transport business in the Jiangnan region; spanning several major rivers and waterways, the venture handled nearly eighty percent of the Great Ning Dynasty's entire transport sector.

At the time, people relied almost exclusively on waterways for business travel, and the rapid growth of commerce depended on this network—though the lion's share of the industry was controlled by the imperial court.

Even the scraps that trickled down to private enterprise were immensely profitable.

Young Master Wei possessed a keen eye for opportunity, while Jiang Baiye had remarkable daring; the two hit it off immediately.

The venture was built upon a solid foundation: Jiang Baiye’s earlier work constructing flood-diversion channels paved the way, the Wei family’s century-old shipbuilding expertise provided the infrastructure, and Jiang Baiye introduced modern logistics concepts and operational methods.

Both men invested a significant portion of their personal fortunes into the business, and under Young Master Wei’s capable leadership, the enterprise took off rapidly.

Although they had not yet recouped their initial investment, the future prospects were immeasurable.

Naturally, the work kept them exceptionally busy.

When Lu Lizhi was over five months pregnant—with the delivery date approaching and the bump becoming increasingly difficult to conceal—he cited illness to request a leave of absence from the Emperor.

Madam He and Granny Li had also arrived in the capital early; even if they couldn't directly assist with the business, simply being by his side and ensuring he was well-fed and cared for gave them peace of mind.

Jiang Baiye, however, faced a complication: a problem had arisen in Jiangnan that Wei Feng could not step away to handle, requiring Jiang Baiye to go there personally to mediate the situation. "You should go take a look; you can't keep leaving a joint business venture entirely to others, and you’ve already spent quite a lot of time here keeping me company," Lu Lizhi said soothingly, wanting to smooth away the furrow in Jiang Baiye’s handsome brow.

Jiang Baiye gave an unsettled hum of agreement and hastily gathered a few belongings. "I’ll be back as soon as I can. You and the little one just wait for me. Be careful when you walk, don't go wandering off, and let my mother or the servants handle any chores. As for food..."

Lu Lizhi covered his mouth with a hand.

With the large belly between them, kissing was a bit of a struggle, yet they were utterly lost in the moment—until someone outside called out, urging them to leave.

Jiang Baiye tried to deepen the kiss, unsatisfied, but Lu Lizhi pushed him away firmly. Blushing to the tips of his ears, Lu Lizhi wiped the corner of his mouth and said, "Hurry back!"

"While you're at home..." Jiang Baiye kept looking back as he walked away, offering one last instruction just before boarding the carriage.

Watching the carriage recede into the distance, Lu Lizhi felt a brief pang of melancholy, but soon returned to his usual routine.

The first day, then the second—he slowly adapted to life on his own, and it didn't seem so bad.

But soon, by the third and fourth days, he found himself frequently sinking into low spirits and absent-mindedness. "Daddy!" The little tot, wearing adorable rabbit-themed shoes, scampered over and threw her arms around his legs.

The brush in Lu Lizhi’s hand, already dripping with ink, instantly left a blotch on the expensive white paper.

Madam He let out a cry of alarm: "Oh, my precious Jiaojiao, be careful now—don't go bumping into your daddy!"

"It's alright." Lu Lizhi set his things aside and, with an amused smile, picked up the little one who was always running about.

Meeting her big, round, dark eyes, his mood instantly lifted. "Where is Jiaojiao's master?"

"Mas... Master..." The little girl’s speech was still halting, though "Dad" and "Daddy" were always on the tip of her tongue.

"Dad, Dad..." Clinging to his shoulder, Jiaojiao called out, "Dad, Dad?"

She was looking for her father; Lu Lizhi felt a sudden, poignant lump in his throat.

The little girl understood the word "candy," but what she wanted was her dad. Just as she was about to pout, she noticed her father looked a bit unhappy, so she immediately reached up to touch his face. "Daddy, hug!"

Lu Lizhi couldn't help but smile again. After being kept busy for a long while by the mischievous little one, he no longer had the time to think about that certain bastard. Just looking at her face—which bore such a striking resemblance to Jiang Baiye’s, down to the very gestures and expressions she had inherited—brought a smile to one's face.

At midday, Grandma Li and the others prepared a "baby meal" following Jiang Baiye’s recipe; watching the little girl eat with such hearty relish delighted the whole family.

Song Haocheng and Tu Huanwen came to visit, hoping to see the ailing Lu Lizhi, but Grandma Li politely turned them away.

By this time, Song Haocheng had secured a position in the Hanlin Academy; though his rank was not high, he had achieved his long-held ambition and become a trusted, well-aligned partner to Lu Lizhi.

Tu Huanwen, too, had effectively joined forces with Lu Lizhi, becoming a powerful ally.

Yi Shuyun, however, had not made it into the Academy; changing his strategy, he took up a local official post as a *jinshi* (successful imperial examination candidate), yet the bond of friendship among them all only grew stronger over time.

Of course, whenever the men gathered, Jiang Baiye was always a presence in their midst.

The group of scholars didn't mind that they didn't always share the same wavelength as Jiang Baiye; in fact, they would occasionally glean brilliant, sudden insights from him.

Later, Lu Qingchuan—whom the outside world believed to be Lu Lizhi’s bitter rival—hesitantly came to visit as well. "How is my cousin doing?" he asked.

Lu Lizhi allowed him inside; Lu Qingchuan was so flustered he nearly dropped the cup of hot tea he had just been handed.

Had outsiders witnessed the closeness of their relationship—realizing they had long since reconciled—one wonders if they would still be so smugly waiting to see a spectacle of their feud. "C-Cousin, what’s wrong with your belly? Have you caught some strange disease?"

Lu Lizhi gave a light cough. "Don't go spreading this around, but... I gave birth to a child."

Even the unflappable Lu Qingchuan couldn't keep his cool at that; the teacup Lu Lizhi had carefully selected slipped right out of his hand and shattered.

"You have to pay for that."

Lu Qingchuan was left between laughter and tears. To think he had once badmouthed Jiang Baiye, claiming he wasn't good enough for his cousin—turns out, the little girl he had assumed was Jiang Baiye's illegitimate daughter was actually his cousin's own child.

"Jiaojiao?"

"Bad!" The little girl remembered the unfriendly look he had given her earlier; she held a grudge.

Lu Qingchuan was instantly flustered. It wasn't until he took some advice, went out to buy toys and candy, offered sweet words, let the little girl ride on his back like a horse, and even crawled around on the floor with her, that he finally won her over.

Madam He’s eye twitched as she watched. Was this really the peerless, jade-like young gentleman whom all the noble ladies of the capital adored and longed to marry?

If they saw this scene, their hearts would surely shatter.

There was no one little Lu Huaixi couldn't win over; even Shen Feng had been avoiding her lately.

When the little girl threw a tantrum, she wasn't easily soothed—though she knew exactly who to target, saving her tears only for Madam He and Granny Li. "No... Tangtang... Daddy... *sob*..."

Lu Lizhi, who had just been writing a bit more of *Wen Fengliu*, heard the child's aggrieved voice from outside; his expression darkened once more.

It had been ten days straight; not only did the child miss his father, but he missed him too—missed him desperately.

"Why hasn't he come back yet..."

Jiang Baiye had rushed toward Jiangnan at breakneck speed—as if racing to his own reincarnation—hurrying without pause to the waterway where the incident occurred to confront the rival who had provoked them; a physical altercation had nearly broken out.

He was incredibly impatient and took a bold, aggressive approach, having absolutely no desire to waste breath on idle talk.

"Ram right into them!"

"Boss!?"

"There's no need for further negotiation. If we don't show some ruthlessness, they'll really think we're naive pushovers." Jiang Baiye’s eyes flashed with a fierce glint before he smiled. "Trust in the Wei family's ships—just ram straight into them!"

Yet, before they could even charge, the opposing side panicked and scrambled to retreat. The crew on the cargo ship scattered in a frenzy, shouting in alarm; despite their efforts to dodge, they failed to avoid a glancing blow—one that nearly punched a gaping hole right through their hull! Cargo tumbled into the water with loud splashes, and the men who had been hiding inside—living it up with fine food and drink—stumbled out, their faces pale with shock. "Damn it, the guy's a lunatic! Make way—move, for crying out loud, move!"

They nearly capsized in the process; amidst the violent rocking, they realized with horror that although the two cargo ships appeared similar in size, they were in completely different leagues.

Then there was that fellow standing at the bow, one hand behind his back, gazing calmly at them from afar.

"If you ever see him again, steer clear!"

Seeing their adversaries flee in a panic, the crew of the Wei family ship—who hadn't dared to retaliate—instantly erupted in cheers.

"We set off immediately; we arrive in the capital in three days," Jiang Baiye ordered. This was, after all, a cargo ship bound for the capital.

"Three days? At a normal pace, that would take seven or eight," the boatmen said hesitantly.

"Just sail the ship; leave the rest to me."

Seeing his calm, composed demeanor, the crew—who didn't know him well—couldn't help but feel a sense of trust in him.

This "Second Young Master" seemed much more to their liking than the Eldest Young Master—the sort of man who could lead them out to sea to fight pirates!

One a smiling tiger, the other a charging wolf—working in perfect tandem, their future looked promising indeed. Jiang Baiye, however, could not relax at all; he kept turning over in his mind whether his preparations were truly complete.

Li Zhi’s belly was so large—a sign that the delivery process would not be easy.

For this reason, he had spent months learning everything he could from Physician Pang and a midwife who specialized in childbirth.

The maids and attendants assigned to the delivery were experienced hands who had assisted before; the supplies were ready, the physician was on call, and the midwife had even made extra preparations on the sly.

Everything was perfect...

Suddenly, his eyelid began to twitch.

Jiang Baiye rubbed it, but the twitching only grew more violent.

Panic set in.

"How much longer? When will we reach the capital?"

The crew members were startled by his demeanor; they thought to themselves that he had already asked this question dozens of times.

"Half a day more. Please don't worry, Second Master—why not have something to eat?"

He hadn't really eaten anything for days, which was truly worrying.

Jiang Baiye felt like jumping off the boat and swimming the rest of the way. "Faster, please!"

Hearing the hoarse, pleading note in his voice, the crew felt a strange pang of sadness and didn't dare slow down, even through the night. "Pick up the pace!"

Jiang Baiye had sat motionless at the bow of the boat all night. Before dawn the next day, they finally arrived at the capital's dock; his legs felt weak as he stood up.

After issuing a few hasty instructions, he snatched a horse from a passerby and galloped away!

"Hey! Robber!"

The person left behind hurriedly paid the fare, wondering if the second young master had encountered a family emergency.

Driven by a powerful intuition and premonition, Jiang Baiye bypassed the lodgings near the Imperial Examination Hall and headed straight for the secluded, private house by the lake.

When he actually saw his mother and Granny Li there, his heart sank.

"How is he? How is Lizhi doing?"

Madam He, who had been sitting in a daze, immediately rushed toward him. "You brat! Why did you take so long to come back? *Sob*..."

Jiang Baiye nearly stumbled. Seeing the look of lingering shock on everyone's faces, his lips moved, but he couldn't utter a sound.

Lizhi... Lizhi...

He rushed inside frantically. He saw Physician Pang sitting by the bedside with a furrowed brow and Granny Li cradling a bundle of swaddling clothes. Without pausing to ask questions, he rushed over and tremblingly embraced the unconscious man lying on the bed. "Lizhi, Lizhi, are you alright? I’m back... I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry—I came back too late; I wasn't there to be by your side!"

"The baby was huge. He was in labor for a day and a night, and he lost a lot of blood..."

Hearing this, a sense of foreboding washed over Jiang Baiye, and he dropped to his knees before Dr. Pang.

"Please, save him—you have to save him!"

"Wait—I haven't finished speaking yet."

But Jiang Baiye couldn't hear a word. He was already terrified; for days, his mind had been besieged by nightmares and harrowing visions. He was in a daze, completely unable to think straight.

Then, a hand gently touched his shoulder. "Don't cry."

"Jiang Baiye, I'm still alive..." Watching Jiang Baiye’s shoulders shake uncontrollably, Lu Lizhi couldn't hold back his own tears either.

He hadn't cried through a day and a night of agony, nor when he had one foot in the grave, but seeing this man weep made his heart ache so much that the tears wouldn't stop flowing.

*Jiang Baiye... with you here, how could I bear to die?*

Granny Li couldn't stand watching anymore; she gave the baby in her arms a firm smack on the bottom. The infant let out a loud, indignant wail, snapping the two dazed fathers—still lost in their sorrow—back to reality.

"He’s a big, chubby boy—weighing a full eight *jin*. He’s twice the size Jiao-jiao was; no wonder the delivery was so hard!"

Granny Li glared at Jiang Baiye. "You're already the father of two children, yet you're still so flighty!"

Doctor Pang also shook his head. "Silly boy."

Jiang Baiye stood there in a daze, then embraced Lu Lizhi—who had cried himself weary. Feeling Lu Lizhi’s warmth and vitality, he felt as though he had returned to the world of the living.

The overwhelming sense of emptiness vanished; everything became real and beautiful.

It was happiness, right within reach.

"Thank goodness."

"Don't cry; I couldn't bear to leave you." Lu Lizhi gently stroked his face, sharing in that profound sense of happiness.

"For a lifetime?" Jiang Baiye asked with a silly grin as he smoothed back Lu Lizhi’s damp, disheveled hair.

"A lifetime isn't enough—forever, forever!"

"Mm, forever."

...

(The End)

Chapter 114

 After the Cannon Fodder Gong Turns to Farming, He Gets a Happy Ending with the Aloof Protagonist (Transmigration)

Before Jiang Baiye could press He Lin for answers, Lu Lizhi’s voice calling out for him drifted over from nearby.

They had only been apart for a short while, yet he didn't hesitate; he quickly downed the entire bowl of pitch-black medicinal brew in one go.

"What are you sneaking a taste of?" Lu Lizhi leaned in close, narrowing his eyes slightly; spotting a faint trace left at the corner of Jiang Baiye's mouth, he reached out to wipe it away.

Jiang Baiye caught his hand. "You actually found me out..." he said with a smile, taking Lu Lizhi's finger into his mouth.

Lu Lizhi felt his whole body go weak, his usually clear and rational mind turning to mush—especially under the intensity of the gaze Jiang Baiye fixed upon him.

His heart swelled, a tingling sensation spreading through his chest.

Lu Lizhi thought to himself that he must have had too much to drink; right now, he felt an urge to have a baby with him.

For the rest of the banquet, Jiang Baiye handled the social interactions with ease, while Lu Lizhi—distracted by thoughts of baby-making—drank nothing but plain water. So many people were coming over to offer toasts, and quite a few were trying to get them drunk.

That simply wouldn't do; Jiang Baiye needed to stay sober at all times to avoid letting his guard down. It wasn't that he was absolutely opposed to having children; it was just that the risks were currently too high—the Emperor and his consort served as a cautionary tale. Once Lu Lizhi had mastered the court and established himself as a powerful statesman, if he wanted to have a child, Jiang Baiye would gladly have one with him.

Of course, if they could avoid it, he’d prefer not to...

The two of them harbored their own private thoughts, yet the guests had all come with genuine well-wishes. By the end of the day, everyone had eaten their fill and enjoyed themselves thoroughly, leaving Lu Lizhi so exhausted he collapsed onto the bed, unable to move.

He looked at Jiang Baiye, who had returned from his bath, and reached out his arms.

Jiang Baiye let Lu Lizhi drape himself around his neck and carried him to the bathing room.

He undressed him layer by layer; the man in his arms was languid, like a cat exposing its belly, his body soft and yielding everywhere. Jiang Baiye couldn't resist giving his chin a playful scratch.

Lu Lizhi rested against Jiang Baiye’s arm, his breathing shallow and warm. As Jiang Baiye stripped away the final garment, his fingers suddenly paused.

"When did you put this on?"

"Mm? Isn't it something one wears on the wedding night?"

Jiang Baiye swallowed hard; his fingers moved to the back of Lu Lizhi's neck, intending to untie the thin red ribbon.

But finding it was a complex knot—and his patience quickly running out—he simply buried his face against the skin and began to nibble. Lu Lizhi didn't even have to lift a finger; with his eyes half-closed, he watched the loss of control unfold amidst the misty steam.

The bath turned into a chaotic affair; Jiang Baiye couldn't hold back his own impulses, though he deliberately left the last piece of Lu Lizhi's clothing intact—saving it to play with later after carrying him back to the bedroom.

Over and over again.

It ended up crumpled and wrinkled.

Finally, it was spread out beneath them.

Before falling asleep, Lu Lizhi smiled contentedly, his hand resting protectively over his lower abdomen, feeling a gentle, comforting warmth.

He was determined to have a smart baby—one just like himself, but bearing Jiang Baiye’s surname.

You within me, and I within you...

Lu Lizhi silently mused on the thought.

The next day, Jiang Baiye went to see Jiaojiao. He found the chubby little girl already able to sit and crawl; she was rolling around on her grandparents' bed, giggling and cooing, delighting the old couple so much they doted on her with all their hearts.

"Jiaojiao is just like you! She’s full of energy, lively, and tough as nails. She handled the long, hectic journey with you two better than the adults did—she was more spirited and full of life than either of you!"

Long carriage rides were never pleasant; even though Jiang Baiye had made various modifications and used the finest materials, motion sickness could still strike if one was unwell or in a bad mood.

After cuddling his little one for a while, Jiang Baiye set about tidying up the carriage. As he was tidying up, he spotted a familiar-looking packet of medicine. He counted them one by one... "..."

Refusing to accept it at face value, he rummaged through everything and found the rest of the packets. He hurriedly asked, "Mother, what is this medicine?"

"Oh, that’s a tonic to build up your strength. You weren't eating well on the journey, so Huichuntang gave us some supplements for you to take. Why do you ask? Those packets weren't cheap, you know."

Jiang Baiye had already opened a packet and seen the herbs inside; he didn't need to be told what they were for!

"He Lin!"

He Lin immediately sneezed. He thought to himself that this was the first time he’d ever brewed medicine for someone; he had watched over it constantly, terrified of making a mistake, so surely Jiang Baiye would be very grateful to him.

But what exactly was the medicine for? Jiang Baiye was still so young—surely he didn't need medication to help with *that*?

Surely not... no way. That explained why he had been so secretive and made a point of hiding it from Lu Lizhi.

Lu Lizhi, the object of this speculation, also sneezed. It was a day in the first month of the year. Things had been too wild the night before, and having caught a bit of a chill, he felt stiff upon rising. He recalled how, the previous night, he had stubbornly refused to let Jiang Baiye clean him up, leaving the evidence inside him until now...

The loss of control had occurred on their wedding night, and the pregnancy was discovered a month later. In the interim, the entire Lu Changsheng clan had hastily fled Xuanhe Prefecture; reviled by everyone they met, they could no longer remain there.

They deeply regretted having previously traded on the name of "Qingyuan Jun" to garner fame and fortune; once they were exposed, the news of their disgrace spread faster than they could move.

Wherever they went, they found no place to settle; they were utterly humiliated and left with no standing.

The very renown of "Qingyuan Jun"—once their greatest asset—had become the catalyst for their current predicament, leaving them with nowhere left to turn.

Ignoring the objections of his family, Lu Changsheng fled from place to place, living a life of wretched misery.

Their names were struck from the clan register, and their misdeeds were publicly proclaimed before the entire clan—a revelation that sent shockwaves through the community.

"Lu Lizhi is actually Qingyuan Jun!"

"No wonder, no wonder..."

The news swept like a gale, reaching the capital in the blink of an eye. Lu Lizhi was already a highly sought-after young talent in the capital for having achieved the "Grand Slam" of imperial examinations—and now, he turned out to be the legendary Qingyuan Jun whom everyone had long been eager to meet! The senior ministers in the Cabinet could hardly sit still; they were all eager to recruit him into their respective factions.

If even those unfamiliar with Lu Lizhi reacted this way, it goes without saying how those who knew him felt.

Emperor Wuning, Prefect Yan, Tu Huanwen, He Yun, Wang Yujiao, and others—along with the scholars and students from the Xuanhe Prefecture Academy and the Lu Family Academy—were filled with a mixture of admiration and disbelief.

The sentiments of the Lu clansmen were even more complex; they were eager to welcome him back into the fold.

No one suspected him of trying to exploit the Jiangyi Lu family anymore; on the contrary, they hoped to use his renown to cleanse the family’s tarnished reputation.

If Lu Lizhi—the very victim of their past wrongs—could forgive them and choose to return, what grounds did anyone else have to criticize?

Old Master Lu had rejected that cold-hearted proposal; he was weary from the trembling anxiety of guarding a reputation that spanned generations.

Why, then, should he drag that innocent, pitiable child into it?

"Qingchuan, tell me about that leisure estate you mentioned."

Ever since the revelation of his identity as "Qingyuan Jun," life had been far from peaceful for Jiang Baiye and Lu Lizhi’s family; while people harbored no ill will, their enthusiasm was simply overwhelming.

Jiang Baiye certainly didn't appreciate having people constantly fixing their burning gazes upon his spouse. Upon learning that Physician Pang had come to the Leisure Estate for a holiday, Lu Lizhi immediately packed his belongings and eagerly dragged Jiang Baiye along to join him.

For over a year, Jiang Baiye had been continuously renovating and furnishing the estate. He had watched it gradually become more complete, beautiful, and delightful—even boasting a plum blossom grove for winter viewing.

Recently, an increasing number of people had been visiting the estate under various pretexts, generating a daily income of a thousand taels for Jiang Baiye.

Yet, he never imagined that the reason for Lizhi’s visit was...

Physician Pang carefully took Lu Lizhi’s pulse; moments later, his eyes widened in astonishment. "Pregnant again!"

He looked at Jiang Baiye with newfound admiration.

Jiang Baiye felt the world go dark before his eyes.

Lu Lizhi was also somewhat dazed. This little one was exceptionally well-behaved; he hadn't experienced any unusual symptoms—save for a slightly larger appetite—though he had harbored a strange premonition that had now proven true.

It must have happened on their wedding night; perhaps his wish was finally coming true...

Before long, the He couple also learned the happy news. They had brought the pregnant Wang Yujiao along—He Jun had taken her to the estate to help her relax, as she was suffering from severe morning sickness, and to let her consult Physician Pang. Madam He had also come along and found it hard to believe. "Li Zhi... he really is incredibly fertile."

"Tell me about it; the young couple is just so affectionate."

"You’re a lucky woman, too; with a house full of children and grandchildren later on, it’ll be so lively."

"Indeed. All the money we earn is meant for the children to spend, after all!" Madam He chatted amiably with her friend.

Wang Yujiao, standing nearby, was left completely dumbfounded. *The children were born to—to Lu Li Zhi? And he’s pregnant with another one now?*

"Pfft!" He Lin, who had inadvertently overheard the news, choked on his water. He recalled what he had previously said about Jiang Baiye—*oh no, was that actually a sign of... inability?*

Having conceived a second little one, Lu Li Zhi had become much more open about it. Consequently, many close to him knew of his ability to bear children, and they flocked to him with a mix of emotions to offer their well-wishes.

He looked exactly the same as ever, yet with a new little life growing inside him, the cool, aloof air that usually surrounded him had softened, taking on a gentler quality.

"Li Zhi, can you really have babies?" He Lin asked in amazement, but before he could get an answer, he was suddenly grabbed by the collar. It was Jiang Baiye, wearing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Perhaps *I* can answer that question for you!"

Realizing something was amiss, He Lin immediately used a "hostage" strategy—scooping up Jiaojiao, who was lying on the bed with wide, sparkling eyes. "Jiaojiao, quick, protect me!"

Jiang Baiye’s demeanor instantly softened. "Be careful—don't hurt her!"

After the group finished their playful banter, Jiang Baiye sought out Old Man Pang with a request.

"Could you teach me some medicine?"

"What for?"

"I'm afraid."

...

Lu Lizhi had grown accustomed to Jiang Baiye’s sudden habit of leaving early and returning late. Before he left the capital, the Emperor had entrusted him with several thorny, long-standing issues, expecting a solution upon his return.

Lu Lizhi was racking his brains over these matters, eager to resolve the difficulties facing the enlightened ruler who had done so much for both him and Jiang Baiye.

When Old Master Lu and Lu Qingchuan arrived, Jiang Baiye told them about the situation; Lu Lizhi made no effort to avoid them.

Upon hearing about his doubts and the challenges he faced, Lu Qingchuan offered some insights of his own.

Through their exchanges, the rift between them gradually faded, and Old Master Lu eventually broached the subject of Lu Changsheng. "Once they are expelled from the Lu clan, they will no longer even hold the status of a collateral branch. The Mingli Academy—which they previously ran using our family's name—ought to be handed over to you as compensation."

"Don't worry; it would only be a nominal role as headmaster, with no actual ties to our Jiangyi Lu family. It is entirely up to you whether you accept, but the annual profits generated by the academy must go to you; that was the agreement I made with Lu Changsheng from the start."

Old Master Lu spoke at length, fearing Lu Lizhi might refuse; little did he know that Lu Lizhi had already agreed the moment the first sentence was uttered.

He simply hadn't found a chance to interject.

Finally, after the old master had finished speaking, Lu Lizhi gave a simple, calm "Mm"—and the old master was instantly overjoyed, acting just like a child.

Lu Lizhi felt a shift in his heart; from then on, the two families gradually resumed their interactions.

Jiang Baizhu and Granny Li were exceptionally warm toward Old Master Lu. Within less than half a month, the old man was thoroughly content—and he even got to hold the adorable little Jiaojiao.

It was the young master of the Wei family who informed Jiang Baiye that Lu Changsheng had died suddenly from pent-up frustration while moving house; Jiang Baiye merely mentioned it in passing to Lu Lizhi.

Neither of them harbored any lingering feelings whatsoever regarding those people. @Unlimited great articles, all at Jinjiang Literature City

But Lu Qinghong, the remaining member of the family, became a pariah. Besides impersonating Qingyuan Jun and engaging in utter hypocrisy, he even went so far as to frame Qingyuan Jun, bribing people, including a student from Qishan, showing him all sorts of disrespect, and finally even carelessly burying his grandfather's remains…

Countless ugly acts earned him widespread condemnation from the literary community.

Although he wasn't stripped of his official rank, with such a tarnished reputation, it was impossible for him to participate in the imperial examinations.

The Lu family of Xuanhe Prefecture was utterly defeated, and Lu Lizhi took over the Mingli Academy. His first act was to ruthlessly expel those who had previously been close to Lu Qinghong and Yu Zhijie.

Well then, no one wanted to get close to those who had offended Lord Qingyuan.

Besides the Mingli Academy, Lu Changsheng's mansion was also given to Lu Lizhi as compensation. It was larger than their own house and worth about a thousand taels of silver.

Later, Lu Lizhi reformed the atmosphere at the Mingli Academy, hiring new teachers of good character.

Because of his reputation as the *Zhuangyuan* (top scholar), countless scholars flocked to apply for positions; they were eager to showcase every skill they possessed just to secure even a modest role—some were even willing to work simply as gatekeepers.

As for making money, Lu Lizhi was not particularly concerned; providing conveniences for the people of Xuanhe Prefecture was, in a way, a virtuous act befitting a top scholar like himself.

It is worth noting that, thanks to the success of Jiang Baiye’s workshop, many families in Qingshui Village had saved enough money to send their children to school.

Now known as the "Village of Top Scholars," they were the envy of many; naturally, they wanted their children to learn to read and write, paving the way for a brighter future.

Before they knew it, over the course of two or three years, the ambitious goals Jiang Baiye had once boldly declared were all coming to fruition.

Not only had their own lives improved, but those close to them also benefited—often without even realizing it—from their influence and support, embarking on new paths and looking forward to promising futures.

Even Ding Lihui had fully moved past his earlier despondency and was wholeheartedly preparing for the provincial civil service examinations the following year.

He had a clear plan: while he might not advance through the ranks as smoothly as Lizhi or Song Hao, he was determined to at least earn the status of *Juren* (provincial graduate). That way, he could become an instructor at Lizhi’s Mingli Academy—a prospect he found quite appealing. She, who had once been ostracized at Mingli Academy, had now transformed into the mistress of this household—it was truly a situation to look forward to!

"Fei Hongyu has fallen ill?" Upon hearing the news, Lu Lizhi’s first instinct was to go and visit him.

"He is refusing to see any visitors. The wedding couldn't take place because he fell ill; his family had originally wanted to hold the ceremony to bring him some good fortune and aid his recovery, but he insisted he didn't want to wrong the young lady."

Jiang Baiye curled Lu Lizhi pursed his lips; he had been planning to go check on him anyway. He asked, "Does Lihui know?"

Song Haocheng shook his head. "It seems he doesn't."

However, before they could even tell him, Ding Lihui happened to hear the news. Fei Hongyu was the young master of a wealthy family; upon learning that the other party hadn't gotten married, he didn't harbor any particular thoughts about it.

But hearing that the man might be seriously ill, he couldn't help but bite his lip in concern.

When Lu Lizhi and his group went to visit, the Fei family welcomed them warmly and treated them with great hospitality.

"He refuses to eat or drink and just stays in his room; he’s lost so much weight. He won't even see a doctor and just lies on his couch all day. You really must help me give him a good scolding!" Fei's father said, frustrated by his son's stubbornness.

Lu Lizhi and Jiang Baiye exchanged glances.

Song Haocheng spoke his mind directly: "Is this... a sickness of the heart?"

Fei's father was taken aback. Given that this was happening right before the wedding, it was hard not to suspect that something strange was going on.

When Fei Hongyu saw them arrive, his eyes instinctively darted to the space behind them. Seeing no one else there, he held back for a moment but ultimately couldn't resist asking:

"Where is Xiaohui? Does he still refuse to see me?"

"What happened between you two?" Jiang Baiye asked casually. Fei Hongyu pursed his lips, a look of bewilderment in his eyes. "I don't know. He suddenly stopped talking to me; he wouldn't even attend something as important as my wedding."

"With you guys not around either, it’s all so dull." Fei Hongyu slumped back, looking resigned to his fate.

Song Haocheng observed him for a moment before steering the conversation back to the main point. "Could you let him know? I mean, I’m about to die—won't he come see me one last time?"

"Looking at you now, I don't think you're going to die anytime soon," Song Haocheng remarked, noting the pastries scattered—not even properly hidden—on the bed.

"Want some?" Fei Hongyu dropped the act and pulled out his favorite treats to share with them.

Lu Lizhi’s expression became complicated. "You really shouldn't go looking for him."

With a soft *plop*, Fei Hongyu’s beloved pastry fell onto the bed, and he fell silent.

"You aren't actually planning to marry that young lady, are you?" Jiang Baiye asked pointedly. "Or was the reason you weren't going to marry her simply because we couldn't attend? Well, we're all here now—are you going to get married? Shall we call Ding Lihui over?"

"No!" Fei Hongyu refused almost instantly, then froze, surprised by his own reaction. Jiang Baiye clicked his tongue. "If you don't actually like the girl, you shouldn't go around messing with her life."

Song Haocheng added, "Perhaps you could talk it over with Lihui."

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell something was amiss between them, though Lu Lizhi hadn't expected to see Ding Lihui pacing outside as soon as they stepped out.

Upon seeing them emerge, Ding Lihui darted behind a tree, peeking out cautiously for fear of being spotted.

Lu Lizhi was about to walk over when Jiang Baiye stopped him.

Once the group had moved out of sight, Ding Lihui grew even more anxious. "Honestly, why am I hiding? I should just go ask them!"

"Could the situation be bad?"

Ding Lihui couldn't wait any longer, and Fei Hongyu—jolted into realization by Jiang Baiye and the others' words—couldn't sit still either; he immediately summoned a servant.

"Just tell him to come quickly."

Fearing the recipient wouldn't come, he gritted his teeth, pricked his finger, and wrote a letter in his own blood.

The servant nearly fainted from fright, but it was Fei Hongyu who actually passed out.

He was squeamish about the sight of blood.

Combined with days of excessive worry—and despite appearing fine on the surface—his body was actually extremely frail. Ding Lihui, trembling as he held the blood-written note, had disguised himself as the physician's young assistant. Upon seeing the unconscious Fei Hongyu, he was so anxious he nearly shed tears, barely registering a word the physician said.

Later, he managed to find a way to stay and provide personal care.

Sometime after that, hearing that Fei Hongyu intended to become a physician, he gave Lu Lizhi a heads-up.

Lu Lizhi was puzzled by this; at that moment, he was heading toward Fengqing Pavilion in Changlin County—a male brothel—carrying Jiaojiao with an inscrutable, half-smile expression.

Someone had reported to him that Jiang Baiye had been visiting the place frequently of late.

Although he suspected a misunderstanding—or perhaps malicious intent on the part of the informant—Lu Lizhi couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy; he wasn't willing to overlook even the slightest possibility.

Amidst the swirling snow, he walked unhurriedly, carrying one child in his arms while another grew within his womb; the fluffy white fur of his cloak framed skin that was fairer than the snow itself.

He stood tall and elegant, while the babe in his arms was dainty and adorable, its tiny, rosy mouth making soft, babbling sounds.

As if sensing his arrival, Jiang Baiye paused in surprise before immediately hurrying over, his voice and manner incredibly gentle. "What brings you here?"

Witnessing this scene, Lin Yu instantly lost interest; he released the person Jiang Baiye had been persistently asking for. "Go on, then. Don't come back."

"Steward Lin..." Jiang Ling'er looked somewhat at a loss. "Didn't you see? He always treats the people he acknowledges well."

Lu Lizhi glanced over Jiang Baiye’s shoulder, catching only a glimpse of a silhouette closing the back door of Fengqing Pavilion.

He asked no questions, and Jiang Baiye offered no explanation—a mutual understanding and trust born of long companionship.

Inside the carriage, however, Jiang Ling'er appeared uneasy, constantly shifting as if ready to step out at any moment.

Jiang Baiye told her not to be so nervous. "You haven't done anything wrong."

Jiang Ling'er’s eyes instantly reddened, and she couldn't help but kneel to kowtow, but Lu Lizhi stopped her. "Come to think of it, you are my cousin now, too. How about calling me 'Brother'?"

Overwhelmed by a long-absent warmth and acceptance, Jiang Ling'er burst into uncontrollable sobs; she felt she had no right to follow them, let alone call them "Brother."

During their flight as refugees, Steward Lin Yu of Fengqing Pavilion had taken her in, allowing her to support herself by doing odd jobs. She had frequently heard stories of Jiang Baiye and Lu Lizhi’s exploits during that time—feelings of both pride and deep sorrow warring within her.

If only her family hadn't turned against them back then...

Jiang Baiye did not treat her with excessive familiarity; his aim was simply to remove her from a bad situation so that, in the future, she might find a good home and a decent marriage.

With plans to head to the capital before the New Year—and likely not return for a long time—Jiang Baiye arranged for Jiang Ling'er to stay at Xian Zhuang. There, Jiang Ling'er found her footing and a job she excelled at; like the other hired hands, she earned a decent income and gradually gained confidence and worldly experience.

Eventually, she met a good man and, with Madam He overseeing the arrangements, established a new home of her own...

Once Jiang Baiye had largely wrapped up his business affairs in Chongzhou, Jiangnan, and elsewhere, the couple—along with Jiaojiao—accompanied Master Pang back to the capital.

Despite their considerable wealth, they continued to live in the modest house near the Examination Hall; given that Lu Lizhi was new to the imperial court, it would have been unwise to adopt an overly ostentatious lifestyle.

The family of three thoroughly enjoyed this pleasant, unhurried pace of life.

Jiang Baiye intensified his business operations, watching step-by-step as Shanyitang crumbled and spiraled toward ruin.

Meanwhile, Lu Lizhi began to make his mark, displaying extraordinary acumen and strategic brilliance. He swiftly and skillfully won the Emperor's favor—to such an extent that even Tai Song was left dumbfounded.

However, Lu Qingchuan remained a formidable rival on Lu Lizhi's path; the powers-that-be were happy to watch the two vie against each other in secret, a rivalry that often yielded excellent results for the throne.

As Lu Lizhi’s pregnancy advanced, requiring him to frequent the Hanlin Academy and the imperial court—and to constantly contend with cunning political veterans—Jiang Baiye’s brow furrowed ever more deeply with concern. From time to time, Lu Lizhi couldn't help but touch his belly. Many people keenly noticed this small gesture, yet looking at his stunningly handsome face—so composed and serious—who would ever guess he was carrying a baby?

The second little one was incredibly well-behaved; for months, Lu Lizhi experienced no adverse symptoms—which gave him a sense of confidence—and his sleep and appetite were actually much better than before.

He seemed completely unconcerned himself, but when Jiang Baiye undressed him and saw a belly that was twice the size it had been when he was carrying Jiaojiao, he felt a jolt of alarm.

"Why don't you take some leave? You can go back after the baby is born." He was worried sick and couldn't focus on anything else.

"It's fine." Lu Lizhi wrapped his arms and legs around him. "It doesn't get in the way. Want to?"

Jiang Baiye: "..."

Chapter 113

After the Cannon Fodder Gong Turns to Farming, He Gets a Happy Ending with the Aloof Protagonist (Transmigration)

The gates of the Jiang residence were thrown wide open, and a crowd surged in to witness the lively, joyous wedding ceremony; suddenly, a stir rippled through the throng.

Holding the end of the ceremonial red silk sash, Jiang Baiye glanced backward and exchanged a meaningful look with He Lin.

"First bow: to Heaven and Earth."

"Get over here!" From the back of the crowd, Lu Qingsheng grabbed Shen Feng by the scruff of his collar, keeping his voice low to avoid attracting attention.

Lu Qinghong also seized the shameless fellow from the left, suspecting he had been bought off by Lu Lize—just as they themselves had been.

Shen Feng was in the middle of a scheme to snatch the baby; he couldn't afford to be discovered. He wrenched himself free from their grip, hissing, "You two are acting crazy!"

He hurriedly tried to wriggle his way forward, causing the onlookers on the periphery to yelp as they were jostled. Panicked, Lu Qinghong scrambled to give chase but collided with someone.

Old Master Lu had been watching the ceremony with rapt attention, a smile that was a mix of complex emotions and gratification playing on his lips; the sudden impact nearly knocked him off his feet.

"Second bow: to the elders!" No matter how noisy the crowd became behind them, their hands remained tightly clasped, fingers interlaced.

Lu Lize could feel the earnestness and intense affection—as if the other man wanted to etch him into his very bones—and squeezed back just as firmly.

He-shi and Madam He watched with tear-rimmed eyes; moved by the atmosphere of happiness, their own expressions softened with warmth. "That’s wonderful."

"So, has your He Yun settled the big milestone in life?"

"Just like you—he’s already got a grandchild to hold."

"You’ll be there soon, too." The two women exchanged pleasantries, their eyes crinkling with smiles.

Having traveled far and wide with her husband and son, Madam He had shed the air of a simple farm woman; she now possessed a dignified elegance that rivaled Madam He’s own.

To outsiders, the family—especially with the newly minted *Zhuangyuan* (top scholar) in their midst—looked nothing short of magnificent.

When the call came for the "couple to bow to each other," the crowd erupted in playful teasing. Both men were flustered; even Jiang Baiye found himself overwhelmed. Yet, after a moment’s hesitation, he reached out and placed his arm around Lu Li’s waist.

Just as the crowd—and Lu Li himself—looked on in bewilderment, Jiang Baiye lowered his gaze, turned his head slightly, and pressed a kiss to Lu Li’s lips.

A kiss shared in full view of everyone.

A passionate love, at once subtle and grand.

"Ahhh!" Madam He’s daughter let out an uncontrollable, high-pitched squeal of excitement. Madam He took a long moment to snap back to reality, but by the time she tried to cover the girl's mouth, it was already too late. Few in the crowd were as visibly stirred as she was; while the social customs of Great Ning were not overly restrictive, the display still made more reserved onlookers blush and avert their eyes, unsure of where to look.

"My, these young ones—truly something else; no wonder he is..."

There were, of course, other opinions, but who would dare utter a single word against the top scholar now?

Lu Lixi stood frozen on the spot; the sensation of that gentle touch seemed to linger on her lips. A moment later, the realization hit her, and her cool, composed eyes instantly welled up with bashfulness.

"The ceremony is complete—escort the couple to the bridal chamber!" Amidst the joyful shouts, she was supported by Jiang Baiye as they returned to the new nuptial room.

"Shall we have a drink together?" Jiang Baiye couldn't help but smile as he looked at Lu Lixi, who was sitting obediently on the edge of the bed, looking every bit the demure bride.

"Who told you to kiss me?"

"Then... shall I let you kiss me back?"

"You shameless rogue!" Lu Lixi snatched up a handful of peanuts, intending to throw them at him, but she stopped abruptly. Her gaze fell upon the red dates, peanuts, longan, and lotus seeds arranged on the bed to spell out the auspicious wish: "May you soon bear a precious son."

"Who arranged this?" she asked, looking at Jiang Baiye with sparkling eyes. Jiang Baiye cursed inwardly, "Holy crap... this must be my parents' doing; they’re always nagging us to have kids."

"Is that what *you* want?"

Facing Lu Lize’s expectant, joyful gaze, Jiang Baiye found it hard to say no, even as he mentally cursed whoever had orchestrated this setup.

"Do you?" Not getting an immediate response, the smile on Lu Lize’s face faltered.

Jiang Baiye hurriedly nodded. "Yes, yes, yes!"

"Good. I agree."

"Wait..." Jiang Baiye was completely flustered.

"Let's go out for a drink; everyone is waiting for us," Lu Lize said, leading him away contentedly. "We can talk about having children later tonight."

Jiang Baiye kept chanting in his mind: *Meds, meds, meds—where are my meds?!*

Lu Lize, however, seemed to sense he was up to no good; he kept a firm hold on Jiang Baiye’s hand, giving him absolutely no chance to slip away.

Things outside, however, were far from calm.

Old Master Lu, who had been secretly watching from the crowd, was knocked flat on his back. Lu Qinghong was caught red-handed by He Lin—whom Jiang Baiye had summoned—and just as He Lin ripped off Lu Qinghong’s veil hat, Lu Qisheng, who had just grabbed Shen Feng, had his own veil hat fall to the ground. The crowd erupted in a stir, especially among the well-dressed young masters who had long been admirers of "Lord Qingyuan"—many having spent a fortune traveling all the way to Jiangnan just to follow Lu Qinghong.

Seeing the scene unfold, they immediately surged forward: "Lord Qingyuan, what exactly is going on?"

Lu Qinghong, bewildered as to why the Old Master of the Lu family was present, grew even more flustered; unable to answer their questions, he hurriedly moved to help the old man up.

However, the Old Master glared at Lu Yusheng, who was still gripping Shen Feng tightly: "Yusheng! What do you think you are doing?"

The rebuke was sharp and urgent; Lu Yusheng’s hand trembled in fright, yet he still refused to let go of Shen Feng.

Shen Feng glanced left and right.

"Clan Elder, I have a personal score to settle with this man..." Lu Yusheng said, shooting an angry glare at Shen Feng.

Knowing Shen Feng's true identity, the Old Master nearly fainted on the spot upon hearing this.

The crowd, however, drowned out his voice with their chatter: "Clan Elder? The Lu Clan Elder—what is he doing here?"

"He’s probably with Lu Yusheng and the others... but what brings them here?"

Lu Yusheng just wanted to drag the man away as quickly as possible to avoid further chaos; even he himself was confused about many aspects of the situation.

"Come with me!" He roughly grabbed Shen Feng, intending to drag him away.

"Stop!" Jiang Baiye and Lu Lize, both dressed in wedding attire, hurried over. "Dean Lu, what are you doing?"

"This is a private matter of mine!"

"He is our honored guest," Lu Lize said sternly, "and someone you cannot afford to offend. I advise you to let him go immediately."

Lu Yusheng had originally held a certain reverence for Lord Qingyuan, but after learning what kind of person Shen Feng truly was, he thought little of him.

At this moment, Lu Qinghong could no longer hold back; he cast a cold, chilling glance at Lu Lize. "I haven't yet congratulated you on achieving the rare feat of placing first in all three levels of the imperial examinations. However, usurping another person's identity is hardly proper behavior. If word of this gets out, I wonder if you'll be able to keep that title of *Zhuangyuan*!"

Here it was! The crowd sensed the scent of conflict; seeing Lu Qinghong confront him so boldly, they almost immediately believed him.

Yet, that thought lasted only an instant. Shopkeeper Ning and Elder Yi stepped up behind Lu Lize, smiling as they looked at Lu Qinghong. "Say that again?" ”

They had waited a long time for this moment, enduring plenty of harassment along the way regarding the true identity of Lord Qingyuan. Fortunately, the admirers of Lord Qingyuan were generally reasonable people; otherwise, they certainly wouldn't have held out until now.

Lu Qinghong’s fists clenched tightly within his sleeves; he nearly looked toward Lu Yusheng in a panic.

“Apologies, everyone. We need to attend to an urgent private matter first; we will explain the details to you all later.” Lu Yusheng grabbed Shen Feng—using him as a convenient shield—and prepared to make an excuse to leave.

“A private matter? You mean the private matter of having me help you impersonate Lord Qingyuan?” Shen Feng spoke up abruptly, dealing yet another shock to the bewildered crowd!

“Nonsense!” Lu Qinghong snapped, his eyes flashing a silent warning. “This man has clearly been bought off by that so-called ‘Triple Champion’ scholar, which is why he dares to spout such rubbish. As for whether or not I am Lord Qingyuan—I trust you have all heard the rumors long ago!”

Jiang Baiye gave a derisive snort. Lu Li remained silent, merely looking at Lu Qinghong—and at Lu Yusheng, who was beginning to realize something was amiss—as if they were fools.

He hurriedly glanced at Old Master Lu standing nearby.

The onlookers also noticed Old Master Lu’s unusual demeanor; he appeared absolutely furious.

“Insolence!” "Lu Xiusheng, Lu Qinghong—do you have any idea what you are saying or doing? Let him go at once!"

"Clan Elder..."

Old Master Lu coughed violently in his anger; he simply couldn't let Lu Xiusheng remain so obstinate and blind to reality. "Do you even know who it is you've seized?"

Shen Feng suddenly had a bad feeling; he hurriedly tried to signal Old Master Lu with his eyes, terrified that if his true identity were exposed, he wouldn't be able to keep up his carefree act.

But Old Master Lu blurted it out anyway—Lu Xiusheng simply wouldn't see reason until he was staring death in the face!

"W-what? Master Qishan?" It was utterly preposterous. Lu Xiusheng tried to force a smile, but the expression wouldn't come.

The crowd was in an uproar. "Master Qishan? He’s Master Qishan?! Then what he said earlier..."

"Wasn't the attitude of Shopkeeper Ning and the others clear enough?"

Everyone’s gaze shifted instantly—not toward Lu Li, but toward Lu Qinghong, the man who had been impersonating Lord Qingyuan. "Young Master Lu, how long do you intend to keep up this charade? Do you take us all for fools?"

"Outrageous! How... how can there be such a shameless person in this world? You’ve swindled me out of so much genuine emotion and money!" ”

“I knew it—he’s all glitz on the outside but rotten to the core, completely hollow within; I should have guessed it sooner...”

An uproar broke out among the crowd; a torrent of ceaseless abuse and resentment surged toward him, leaving Lu Qinghong’s limbs icy cold and making his blood run backward in shock.

Jiang Baiye had no desire to let such a wonderful day be ruined by this; he raised a hand to quiet the crowd. “Everyone, hear me out.”

All eyes turned to him.

“As for who Lord Qingyuan truly is—hasn’t *Wen Fengliu* already made that perfectly clear?”

The crowd was left speechless. Indeed—*Wen Fengliu* was practically a true-to-life depiction of him and Lu Li; or rather, it was a record of the experiences they had actually shared.

“That’s right. Qi Jiu is me, and I am Qi Jiu.” Jiang Baiye said this without a hint of a blush; in fact, he was the one who had asked Li Ze to rewrite the later parts of the story—arguing that since *he* had a wife and child, he couldn't bear to leave the book's version of Qi Jiu all alone.

Lu Lize had once considered giving Qi Jiu a wife and child—a match made in heaven—but he found himself incredibly jealous at the mere thought of it, even though it was just the "Jiang Baiye" within the book.

He hadn't included a single romantic scene; no one—man or woman—was allowed to so much as brush against him.

That changed when Jiang Baiye suggested writing a version of himself into the story.

As a scholar—a top imperial exam graduate—he would rewrite some of their shared past experiences; and so, Lu Lize found himself writing an autobiography while trying to suppress his embarrassment.

It was a close call, though—he barely managed to avoid letting Jiang Baiye lead him astray into writing something explicit.

"As for why Lize never revealed his true identity to everyone... well, I’m sure you all understand the nature of Qingyuan-jun. He was once exploited by those with malicious intent. It seems you didn't truly know Qingyuan-jun well enough back then." Jiang Baiye turned the tables on the accusers.

Those who had initially intended to question why Lu Lixi hadn't been open with everyone from the start now felt too embarrassed to speak up.

Hadn't they known what kind of person the real "Qingyuan Jun" was from the very beginning? Why had they allowed themselves to be deceived by Lu Qinghong? Ever since Lu Qinghong had revealed his identity, his words and actions had borne no resemblance to the true Qingyuan Jun; it was they who had mistaken a fish-eye for a pearl.

"At first, Lixi just wanted to keep a low profile and study for the imperial examinations, avoiding outside distractions. He only wrote books to earn money for his studies."

"Later, people started threatening him. Lixi and Shopkeeper Ning repeatedly warned certain individuals, but those people just kept pushing their luck. Back then, we were up against some powerful figures and had no choice but to swallow our pride and endure it."

Shen Feng clicked his tongue; Jiang Baiye was certainly painting the whole picture—the good and the bad—entirely from his own perspective.

No one doubted his words in the slightest; after all, this was indeed part of the truth.

Shopkeeper Ning and his companion also slowly revealed some of the facts. The crowd was shocked by what they heard, though that was a matter separate from the two newlyweds.

Jiang Baiye had a banquet set up at home to treat the passersby who had stopped to offer their congratulations; it was a casual affair where people could grab a bite to eat.

Lu Lixi instructed a servant, "Swap his wine for water."

The servant looked puzzled.

"Hurry up!" Jiang Baiye took the opportunity to instruct He Lin, "Quick, brew some of the medicine I have in the carriage and secretly bring it to me."

"Huh? What's going on?" He Lin’s gossipy instincts instantly flared up.

"Hurry up!"

A moment later, upon meeting up with Lu Li, Jiang Baiye appeared perfectly composed. "I'm ready."

"Young Master, the wine." A servant handed a cup of plain water to Jiang Baiye, and the two of them shared a casual drink with some of the guests present.

Meanwhile, Jiang Dazhu and the others led their close friends and relatives over to Hanmo Pavilion.

Jiang Baiye was surprised to detect no scent of alcohol; he wondered if a mistake had been made. But when he personally picked up a flagon and poured some out, it still smelled like plain water...

"Li, don't drink too much; let me finish it for you."

"It's fine. I shouldn't drink too much—getting drunk is no fun." He promptly swapped his own liquor for water.

After receiving the well-wishers at home, the couple headed to Hanmo Pavilion. The guest list included Jiang Baiye’s business associates and friends, Lu Lize’s friends, and various acquaintances from Qingshui Village with whom they had a good rapport.

He’s close female friends, Uncle Luo, Town Head Wang, Dr. Sun from the Sun Family Pharmacy, and many others arrived at Hanmo Pavilion and were astonished by the lavish banquet spread.

They knew Jiang Baiye was resourceful and had become successful, but they hadn't realized he was capable of pulling off something so grand and magnificent—just how much must this have cost?

"Today is both our wedding banquet and a celebration of Lize placing first in the imperial examinations. Everyone, please make yourselves at home!" Jiang Baiye downed his drink in one gulp—only to find, *huh*, it was still water?

Lu Lize drank along with him, maintaining a smile; when he caught Jiang Baiye’s gaze, he even gave a playful wink.

From then on, no matter how Jiang Baiye switched his drinks, they all tasted like water—it would be truly bizarre if he couldn't guess what was going on!

"Medicine, medicine—the medicine is here!" When He Lin, sweating profusely from the effort, quietly brought over the contraceptive medicine Jiang Baiye had requested, Jiang Baiye found himself growing suspicious of even that.

Could Lize have swapped this out for something to boost fertility instead?