Zhou Zhen was a noble young man of wealth and privilege, his father the head of Chongzheng Academy and a strongman of the Eleventh Tier, thus he was born into unparalleled nobility.
From the moment of his birth, his fate was set to stand atop the ruins of the masses, destined to smoothly become a figure who shapes countless destinies, yet now he faces such humiliation, with his fiancée embroiled ambiguously with another man, imaginable is his anger and frustration.
Zhang Chen watched Zhou Zhen in his drunken stupor, momentarily unsure how to offer comfort, for anyone faced with such a circumstance would indeed collapse.
Especially in this rigidly law-abiding ancient era, such an occurrence utterly shatters one’s dignity.
Thinking back to Zhang Chen’s previous life in the nineties, when divorce or rescinding a betrothal happened, it was indeed a matter of ruined reputation and life prospects, much more so in this stricter ancient time?
In this era dominated by nobility, even the slightest blemish could render one a laughingstock.
Zhang Chen lifted the wine goblet to accompany Zhou Zhen in a drink, soon Zhou Zhen fell deep into intoxication, until sunset sank and fireflies floated in the night, Zhou Zhen staggered and vanished into the darkness.
Watching Zhou Zhen’s departing silhouette, Zhang Chen’s own drunken haze evaporated in an instant, a solitary sigh echoed in the mountains: "Zhou Zhen’s reputation is ruined for sure!"
Though it wasn’t Zhou Zhen’s fault, there are always those who will seize on rumors, devouring gossip.
The next day Zhang Chen arrived at the academy, spotting Shen Qiu within the Exquisite Tower, now still the embodiment of despair, gazing at the lines on the jade wall seeking insights.
"He hasn’t been expelled from the academy as expected. Truly strange," Zhang Chen quietly muttered to himself.
"To think Shen Qiu hasn’t been thrown out, indeed strange? Could it be the headmaster being lenient?" someone murmured nearby.
"It’s not unwillingness to expel him, but keeping him in the academy is the best choice. Driving him away might spark more rumors," someone gloatingly remarked.
Beside them, Zhang Chen froze upon hearing this, then realized it indeed made some sense, and afterwards, things seemed to settle down, everything sinking into tranquility.
Time slipped by gradually, Shen Qiu truly no longer stirred trouble, quietly seeking the mysterious insights within the Exquisite Tower.
Three days before the big wedding
The Chongzheng Academy was touched by festive air, red lanterns hung high, red silk adorned the mountain landscape.
The sole son of Chongzheng Academy’s headmaster Zhou Qiucheng was marrying, a major event for Jinling City, with the entire city enveloped in indescribable jubilance.
Zhang Chen stood in the Exquisite Tower, watching Zhou Zhen and Jiang Nan together, smiles spreading across their faces, appearing sweet and content, no sign of the previous night’s drunken despair, as if longing for death after facing life’s great upheavals, a sight that struck Zhang Chen as strange, with something seemingly amiss.
"Could Jiang Nan have coaxed Zhou Zhen again? This woman truly is frightening." Zhang Chen was inwardly alarmed.
At noon, Zhou Zhen invited Zhang Chen for drinks, still in that same pavilion, Zhou Zhen revealed the wine jar, placing it before Zhang Chen.
"How strange that you were so gloomy before, how do you accept the marriage so cheerfully now?" Zhang Chen took the wine jar, puzzled, and asked Zhou Zhen.
"Hahaha, one must learn to be open-minded, right? You were still living well after being rejected by Shen Ling, still at ease, what is this to me?" Zhou Zhen said, "Moreover, the misunderstanding between Jiang Nan and Shen Qiu is cleared, it truly was Shen Qiu’s one-sided wish, so my heart is not as troubled."
Hearing this, Zhang Chen’s face darkened, he raised the wine jar towards Zhou Zhen: "Drink, drink, I’m unwilling to speak to you."
As they drank, suddenly Zhang Chen’s eyes darted afar, freezing, inwardly questioning: "Why have Jiang Nan and Shen Qiu come to this desolate place?"
Zhang Chen’s sudden pause prompted Zhou Zhen to curiously follow his gaze, instantly causing Zhou Zhen’s expression to turn livid, his eyes blazing with rage, his entire being seething with fury.
In a secluded corner, Jiang Nan and Shen Qiu approached a seldom-frequented pavilion, their faces devoid of expression.
Shen Qiu halted, turning to Jiang Nan with complex emotions in his eyes.
"Speak then, what did you want to see me for? If you have nothing to say, I’ll leave!" Jiang Nan looked at Shen Qiu irritably.
"I am leaving now! Before departing, I wished to see you one last time." Shen Qiu gazed at Jiang Nan full of deep emotion: "I cannot bear watching you marry another man."
"You should have left long ago! As you insist staying here, none of us are happy." Jiang Nan’s voice was steady, with no emotional ripples, instead exhibiting lightness.
Upon hearing this, Shen Qiu wore a bitter smile, only sighing wistfully after a while: "Do you truly feel nothing for me anymore?"
Jiang Nan, hearing this, remained silent.
Seeing Jiang Nan without response, Shen Qiu’s mouth curved in a smile: "I am about to leave, may I hug you once more please? Just consider it bidding me farewell, I will never entangle you again. Think of it as the final embrace, as vast as the world is, perhaps the chance to meet again will never come."
Jiang Nan sighed deeply upon hearing this, and locked eyes with Shen Qiu. Finally, she slowly opened her arms and embraced Shen Qiu.
"Jiang Nan!!! What are you doing!!!" Zhou Zhen’s voice, full of fury, echoed through the mountains, startling the birds into flight.
Upon hearing this familiar voice, Jiang Nan and Shen Qiu quickly let go of each other, only to see Zhou Zhen, separated from them by a valley, glaring at them with a face twisted in rage like a demon from hell.
Seeing this, Shen Qiu didn’t say a word and immediately transformed into a shadow, disappearing into the mountains. Realizing the situation was bad, he chose to flee.
However, Jiang Nan was left standing there in a daze, unsure of what to do.
Zhou Zhen suddenly stood up and quickly made his way down the mountain. On the other side of the valley, Jiang Nan seemed to come to her senses and rushed down in a panic, blocking Zhou Zhen’s path.
"Zhou Zhen, listen to me, it’s not what you think..." Jiang Nan explained, her face pale with fear.
"Vile woman! Stop talking immediately! I saw it with my own eyes, and you dare to argue?" Zhou Qiucheng scolded angrily, his voice thunderous, and slapped Jiang Nan hard, making half of her face swell: "We’ve known each other for so long, and I haven’t even hugged you, and yet you secretly rekindle with some wild man here, aren’t you making a fool out of me?"
Zhou Zhen’s voice was filled with anger as Jiang Nan, clutching her face, tearfully pleaded, "Please listen to my explanation, it’s not what you saw."
Zhou Zhen refused to listen and tried to walk around Jiang Nan to leave, but she clung onto his sleeve, begging:
"I beg you, just listen to my explanation, give me a moment, please."
"Get out of my way!" Zhou Zhen kicked Jiang Nan, knocking her to the ground, intending to continue on his way, but Jiang Nan grabbed his ankle once again: "It’s not what you think, it’s really not."
Zhou Zhen looked at Jiang Nan angrily and without hesitation kicked down with his other foot. After a few kicks, Jiang Nan was left with bruises all over her face and her hands were bloody and raw. Zhou Zhen took this chance to free his leg, turned around, and stormed off in anger.
Zhang Chen sighed lightly as he watched the scene, looking down at a bloodied Jiang Nan, unsure of what to say.
"This girl is usually smart, how could she do something so foolish?" Zhang Chen shook his head, ignoring Jiang Nan on the ground, and turned to follow Zhou Zhen.
"Zhang, you must vouch for me, that woman was the first to break the vow. I want to cancel the engagement, I want to end the marriage." Zhou Zhen grabbed Zhang Chen’s arm, his eyes red like a rabbit’s: "Since the day I was born, I’ve never been so humiliated."
Zhang Chen could only advise, "Zhou, be at peace!"
He had the ability to hear sound waves, so he knew what happened between Jiang Nan and Shen Qiu, but why should he explain? Would Zhou Zhen even listen if he did?
Zhou Zhen would absolutely not listen or believe.
Most people in the world only believe what they see.
So Zhang Chen knew that his advice was useless. Zhou Zhen was probably already beside himself with rage; no man could endure such enormous humiliation.
As they spoke, the two arrived at Zhou Qiucheng’s bamboo house, where they saw Zhou Qiucheng lowering his head and sorting through some books.
"Father! I want to call off the engagement!" Zhou Zhen announced loudly in an indisputable tone, standing in front of Zhou Qiucheng.
"Why?" Zhou Qiucheng asked without looking up.
"That vile woman Jiang Nan colluded with Shen Qiu, hiding in a remote corner to canoodle—this I saw with my own eyes!" Zhou Zhen said.
"Oh? You saw it with your own eyes? Did you actually see them engaging with each other?" Zhou Qiucheng finally raised his head at these words and looked at Zhou Zhen, asking.
"I saw them embracing! That’s enough! I want to end the engagement!" Zhou Zhen said.
Zhou Qiucheng shook his head upon hearing this, "There might be more to this story. It’s not too late to invite Jiang Nan here to clarify things before making a decision."
"Father! I saw it with my own eyes, how can it be false? You’d rather believe that vile woman than me?" Zhou Zhen’s eyes were full of disbelief, feeling as if his world was collapsing.
"It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that I also trust Jiang Nan," Zhou Qiucheng said slowly and calmly.
As they were speaking, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, and they saw Jiang Nan rush in, kneeling directly in front of Zhou Qiucheng: "Master, please listen to my explanation, it’s not what it seems."
"Take your time, I’m listening," Zhou Qiucheng reassured Jiang Nan.
"Master, it was Shen Qiu who said he was leaving the academy and promised never to appear in front of me again. His only request was for me to hug him once. To get rid of him and avoid trouble for the academy, I agreed to hug him," Jiang Nan quickly explained.