Chapter 45: A Date at the Heavenly Book Mound
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"Men are all lechers. They say Dean Chen isn't interested in women, but that's clearly false. The moment he saw the Saintess's beauty, he immediately regretted it, didn't he?"
The ones saying such things were all married women.
"Who could remain iron-hearted after seeing the Saintess's true face? Besides, Dean Chen and the Saintess were already betrothed. How could he possibly hold back?"
Those expressing cautious understanding of Chen Changsheng, yet still speaking with teasing undertones, were all men.
"Do you think the Dean was foolish back then to insist on breaking off the engagement?"
"Who says the Dean broke it off? Wasn't it always just a rumor, never confirmed?"
"Word from the Li Palace says the betrothal contract has vanished from the Zhechong Hall."
"So what if he broke it off?"
"I'm just curious about what really happened back then."
"That's a long story. They say two years ago in spring, the Dean came from Xining Town to the capital and knocked on the door of the East Divine General's Mansion..."
"Tsk tsk. To suffer such humiliation from the Divine General's Mansion, to be so suppressed—even I couldn't bear it, let alone the Dean."
"The Dean later worked hard and achieved his current success. Perhaps it was the immense stimulation from back then. Now that he's risen to power, of course he wants to slap the Divine General's Mansion in the face. So they say, don't bully a youth for being poor. As long as we study hard and cultivate, we too can be so spirited one day."
"But... according to those rumors, isn't the Dean regretting it now? Wouldn't that mean he's slapping his own face?"
"You're the one who said that."
This exchange took place among the students of the National Academy.
Advancing in cultivation brings many benefits, but also many unexpected troubles. For instance, your five senses become far sharper. Whether it's market women gossiping behind their hands, neighbors grinning and whispering teasingly, or your own academy students murmuring among themselves, it all clearly reaches your ears.
Chen Changsheng sat in the carriage, watching the snowflakes drift past the window. He looked very calm, only his slightly clenched hands betrayed his current embarrassment.
Tang Thirty-Six had sent the dancer back. Now sitting across from Chen Changsheng, he watched his expression and revealed a cold sneer.
Chen Changsheng appeared focused on the snow, but in truth, he was very aware of the reactions around him. Ever since that rumor spread, he had become somewhat sensitive.
"What are you laughing at?"
"At your stupidity."
The carriage fell silent again—an awkward silence. Tang Thirty-Six looked at him with extreme disdain and said, "Back at the Plum Orchard Inn, I said that you and Xu Yourong were both people who left others speechless. Now it seems you're also textbook examples of self-destruction."
Every time this topic came up, a casual remark from Tang Thirty-Six could leave Chen Changsheng with nothing to say.
Having nothing to say on the matter, he had to change the subject. He asked seriously, "I once asked Luoluo to help me investigate that Xiuling clan girl from the Zhou Garden. Now that I know it was a misunderstanding, I want to write to her and explain, but it doesn't seem quite appropriate. What do you think?"
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him with contempt and said, "What do I think? If you don't see how inappropriate that is, then you really are a pig."
"Then what should I do?"
"I'll write a letter to Princess Luoluo, and you can mention it in that letter."
Tang Thirty-Six offered his suggestion.
Chen Changsheng thought about the whispers he'd heard outside the mansion earlier and still felt frustrated. He asked, "Why doesn't she agree to let me go to the Divine General's Mansion to propose?"
"Propose?" Tang Thirty-Six asked him. "And then what?"
Chen Changsheng said matter-of-factly, "I go to propose, she agrees, and all these rumors end, right?"
Tang Thirty-Six asked, "What makes you think she'd agree to marry you?"
Chen Changsheng was stunned. He thought, isn't it obvious?
"You go to the East Divine General's Mansion to propose. Would Xu Shiji agree? Or are you counting on Xu Yourong to insist on her own?" Tang Thirty-Six looked at him angrily. "Back then, you were the one crying and begging to break off the engagement. Now you want her to cry and beg to marry you? Have you considered how humiliating that would be for her?"
Chen Changsheng had truly never thought about this. Now that he did, he realized it made a lot of sense.