Chapter 39: A Clever Plan (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Xu He did not yet know this woman's origins, so naturally, he remained somewhat guarded, intending to wait until the matters regarding the Du family were settled before proceeding.

At this moment, Du Yu had returned, and Xu He had no idea what his true intentions were.

He nodded and walked out, feeling both trusting and suspicious.

Upon reaching the front hall, he found Du Yu standing with his hands behind his back by the door. The previous fury had vanished from Du Yu's face, replaced by a pleasant and amiable expression as he looked at him.

"Boyun," Du Yu called him by his courtesy name. "There were some misunderstandings regarding the Fu family. I left in haste just now because I did not know the full story.

"I went back to consult my father, and he was also quite surprised and very angry. It turns out this entire matter was orchestrated privately by the Xu family; they not only deceived you, but they deceived us as well."

Du Yu had never held someone like Xu He in high regard. There were countless talented scholars in the world, yet not every top scorer in the imperial examinations ended up enjoying glory and prestige.

Whether one could rise to prominence depended on one's background and whether there were people willing to promote them.

He had not expected Xu He to actually produce that legal petition!

That he could possess such a thing!

Even though Du Yu was usually capable of handling affairs on his own, seeing that petition had truly caused him to lose his composure, making it impossible for him to utter any further accusations.

However, after leaving, he deeply regretted his impulsiveness. Whether this marriage would proceed or not was one thing, but Xu He was indeed someone who needed to be tied to them.

The person pulling the strings behind the Du family clearly did not want the Emperor to personally cultivate his own talent, which was why they were even trying to snatch away this sole top scholar designated by him.

If he returned in disgrace, how could he account for himself?

After riding his horse around the streets for two laps, he had ultimately steeled himself to return.

The Xu family lacked background after all. Even if this marriage was called off, he did not believe that if he came to apologize personally, Xu He would be so ungrateful as to remain relentless.

Xu He had not expected him to truly come seeking a way to save face.

In the short time he had been gone, for Du Yu to have found Du Minghuan and clarified the situation was nothing short of a miracle!

But this only served as further proof that the trouble the Fu family faced was a scheme manufactured by them!

Xu He gritted his teeth inwardly, but he had to maintain appearances: "The Marquis has always looked after me, so I presume the Marquis would not make things this difficult. I, too, believe this must be a misunderstanding.

"However, I wonder where I have offended Lord Xu? To think he would go to such lengths to make things difficult for me and the Fu family."

"My distant uncle is a stubborn man; I suspect he fell prey to the slander of some petty person and acted foolishly," Du Yu said with a gentle face. "Rest assured, leave this matter to me. Within three days, I will ensure justice is restored to the Fu family and provide you with an explanation.

"I only hope that, for the sake of our past friendship, you will not hold a grudge against us."

Xu He bowed his head, forcing himself to remain composed: "What does this have to do with the Marquis? The Heir Apparent speaks too heavily."

...

After seeing Du Yu off, Xu He unclenched his fists. He stood still for a moment before walking toward the side hall.

It could be said that from beginning to end today, it was this woman who had helped him escape his predicament. Logically, he should offer her proper thanks.

But they were neither kin nor friends; there was no reason for her to do this. Was it truly just out of "compassion"?

Yue Tang's tea cup was already empty.

Xu He sat down across the tea table. "Your foresight is divine; I am deeply impressed. I have already instructed someone to seal fifty taels of silver as my thanks to you."

Helping him so selflessly without reason surely meant she had an ulterior motive.

Rather than letting her open a wide mouth first, it was better to take the initiative himself.

Fifty taels of silver—not a vast sum, but not a small one either.

Yue Tang smiled. "There is no need to rush your thanks. Although your maternal grandfather and uncle will surely be out of danger, the Du family's attitude is already quite clear: they do not intend to let you go.

"I can guarantee that this marriage with the Duan family will be brought up again sooner or later.

"Does the top scholar wish to marry Miss Duan, who comes from a family of fifth-rank officials?"

Xu He's expression froze. "Why would they still pursue the marriage?"

"They are after you. One of the best ways to bind you is through marriage.

"Since you have already forgiven the Du family, what would stop them from bringing up the marriage again at that time?"

Xu He's mask of composure gradually crumbled.

Indeed, Du Yu's attitude just now was sufficient proof that the Du family had designs on him.

Furthermore, since he had not dared to directly declare the marriage void earlier, the Du family would naturally not abandon their objective.

Yue Tang withdrew her gaze from his stunned face. "If you are unwilling to part with the Du family's power, there is no harm in marrying Miss Duan.

"However, if the person behind the Du family reveals themselves in the future, the Emperor and the Mu family will certainly not be pleased."

Hearing this, Xu He's heart suddenly jolted.

The one orchestrating this conspiracy through the Du family certainly wasn't the Emperor. If it were something that could be accomplished with a single imperial decree of marriage, the Emperor would have no need to take such a circuitous route.

And if he did not cut the Gordian knot immediately, the Du family would most likely dig another pit for him.

He had escaped by luck this time, but would he be so fortunate next time?

If he failed to escape, how would the Emperor treat him?

Even if he wasn't killed for it, it would be utterly impossible for him to rise in this lifetime!

His hand on the armrest involuntarily clenched into a fist. He had thought that by resolving the Fu family's matter, he would be safe, but instead, he had found himself in a dilemma.

The marriage had to be called off, but since Du Yu had shown such sincerity in promising to resolve the Fu family's issue, if he were to directly propose breaking the engagement now, wouldn't he be turning a reasonable situation into an unreasonable one?

The Du family would surely use that as a pretext to manipulate him!

Watching his throat tighten, Yue Tang spoke again: "If you find it difficult, I have a clever plan. It will allow you to completely extinguish the Du family's hopes of matchmaking, while also allowing you to preserve their dignity and propose the cancellation of the engagement without causing offense."

"What is this clever plan?" Xu He turned to her.

"I know you have an original wife in the countryside of Luoyang, surnamed He," Yue Tang said, her lips curling into a smile. "Tell me, if this rural wife—whom no one in the capital has ever seen—were to show up at your door, brandishing the marriage contract made between your two families years ago and accusing you of abandoning a wife to marry another, would the Du family still persist?

"For the sake of the reputation of the Du family and Miss Duan, wouldn't you be forced to 'reluctantly' propose the cancellation of the engagement?"

Xu He was stunned.

He was indeed a man who had left a wife to marry another, yet Miss Duan was still a maiden, and the Marquis of Guangling himself had acted as the matchmaker. If the marriage were to proceed, the Du family would lose all face.

Moreover, it was a fact that he had once been married, and it was the Du family who had helped him sever ties with the He woman.

This could not be called a lie! And if he used this as a reason to block them, the Du family would likely be more concerned with hiding from the arrival of the He woman than with pursuing him.

If he then presented the reason of protecting the reputation of the Du family and Miss Duan, they would be unable to label him as ungrateful.

Xu He's expression instantly brightened.

But then, he furrowed his brows. "How could you know about this?!"

(End of Chapter)