Friends 06

However, Vice Minister Liu was not a cruel man. Even in such a situation, he merely had Lin Chengze beaten severely before expelling him from the Liu residence. As he was thrown out, Lin Chengze caught a distant glimpse of Liu Ning standing in a corner, watching him with wary eyes.

Lin Chengze felt as though something had slipped irrevocably away from him.

Rumors once again began circulating in the streets, this time in their final version. Lin Chengze’s act of saving a life was twisted into a calculated scheme—he had allegedly pushed the Liu family’s young lady into the water only to rescue her afterward, all in pursuit of the family’s gratitude. Given the earlier scandal, this new claim instantly set the capital abuzz with gossip. The name "Lin Chengze" was now thoroughly tarnished.

Grimacing in pain, Lin Chengze staggered down the street. He couldn’t comprehend what he had done wrong, but with matters having come to this, he could only cast a resentful glance back at the gates of the Liu estate, silently vowing to one day rise to prominence and humiliate the Liu family. No—what truly mattered was Fang Zhiyi! It was all his fault, coming up with such a ridiculous idea!

Vice Minister Liu even made a point of sending someone to inform Fang Zhiyi about the incident. In his eyes, Fang Zhiyi was a young man of remarkable promise—excellent in literature, calligraphy, and character—destined for greatness. Thus, he felt it necessary to keep Fang Zhiyi in the loop.

Fang Zhiyi’s reply was succinct: "He brought this upon himself."

His attitude earned Vice Minister Liu’s admiration. Lin Chengze, meanwhile, never imagined he would end up as a mere tool to strengthen the bond between Fang Zhiyi and the vice minister.

As Lin Chengze trudged onward, he spotted a thief in the act of pickpocketing.

The woman ahead, bent over inspecting goods at a stall, remained oblivious. Seizing the moment, Lin Chengze rushed forward, twisted the thief’s arm, and snatched back the stolen purse. But before he could speak, a hand clamped onto his shoulder, forcing him to release the thief, who promptly fled.

"Brazen theft in broad daylight!" came a familiar voice. Lin Chengze froze, but as he turned, a fist collided with his face, sending him howling in pain as he clutched his eye.

The commotion drew the attention of passersby, including the woman, who turned to see a shabbily dressed man crouched on the ground, holding her purse while covering his face.

"Tired of living? How dare you steal from me?" Xu Yan’er, known for her fiery temper, bellowed. At her call, several burly men rushed out from a nearby shop.

"Young Mistress, what’s the matter?"

Xu Yan’er pointed at Lin Chengze. "This thief stole my purse. Beat him half to death, then drag him to the magistrate!"

She then turned to the stranger who had intervened and nodded. "Thank you, young master. I am Xu Yan’er."

"No need for thanks. I am Fang Zhiyi."

Lin Chengze was pummeled mercilessly, denied even a chance to explain.

At the mention of Fang Zhiyi’s name, Xu Yan’er’s eyes lit up. She was well-informed—rumors of an impoverished scholar had recently spread among the elite, and she had never expected to meet him today.

Xu Yan’er insisted on repaying Fang Zhiyi’s kindness, leading them to a nearby tavern. Throughout the meal, Fang Zhiyi occasionally glanced at Lin Chengze, watching as he was hauled off to the magistrate’s office.

Xu Yan’er was effusive in her hospitality. Though her family was in trade, they lacked strong official connections, especially amid the chaotic political climate. She saw no harm in cultivating new ties—if she could bring Fang Zhiyi into her circle and nurture him until he entered officialdom, the payoff would be immense.

But to her frustration, Fang Zhiyi seemed interested only in the meal. He responded to her chatter with absentminded nods, thanked her perfunctorily once he was full, and then simply walked away, leaving her at a loss.

To make matters worse, the thief had escaped custody!

Battered and bruised, Lin Chengze hid in an alley, seething with rage. Fang Zhiyi again! Was that bastard doing this on purpose? But after some thought, he dismissed the idea—Fang Zhiyi wasn’t that clever. He was just an idiot!

Still, what was he to do now?

Expelled from the Liu estate, penniless, and stripped of his borrowed finery, he was back in his tattered old clothes—now further torn where Fang Zhiyi had grabbed him.

Lin Chengze felt like dying.

With no other options, he followed the same path Fang Zhiyi once had, taking up backbreaking labor as a porter in exchange for meager wages. His injuries slowed him down, earning him shoves, curses, and kicks from the foreman.

Dark thoughts festered in Lin Chengze’s heart. He resolved to claw his way to the top, no matter what.

Fang Zhiyi, meanwhile, lived far more comfortably. Having scraped together the funds for the imperial exams, he secured a recommendation from Censor Sha and breezed through the written tests. Rather than exerting himself, he simply recycled essays from past top scorers in his memory, consistently ranking first.

Amid the court’s turmoil, corruption in the examinations was rampant. Fortunately, Fang Zhiyi had the backing of reformist officials, allowing him to advance smoothly. His essay on statecraft stunned the court, and soon, high-ranking ministers flocked to congratulate him.

When he first stood in the imperial court, he was surprised to find Lin Chengze’s fate realigning—albeit with some reshuffling.

While hauling goods, Lin Chengze had crossed paths with General Zhenyuan’s concubine, and the two took an instant liking to each other—though the concubine wasn’t particularly discerning. Later, he encountered Xu Yan’er again. Since he had covered his face during their first meeting, she didn’t recognize him, but he remembered the Xu family’s young mistress well. For him, climbing the social ladder trumped all else.

Thus, Xu Yan’er hired him as a servant, pulling him out of destitution.

True to form, Lin Chengze poured on the flattery, earning Xu Yan’er’s growing favor. But this time, his status was different—he was her subordinate, forced to tread carefully. As he gazed at her, vengeful fantasies simmered in his mind.

Fang Zhiyi observed him quietly, taking no direct action. Xu Yan’er, after all, was no pushover.

Sure enough, Lin Chengze resumed his "resource accumulation"—dallying with General Zhenyuan’s concubine, seducing a merchant’s illegitimate daughter, and cozying up to various young ladies. His confidence swelled; success seemed within reach.

Yet he chafed under Xu Yan’er’s tight control, feeling like her personal plaything.

When he learned through her that Fang Zhiyi had been appointed to office by the emperor himself, he nearly bit through his teeth in fury. Xu Yan’er pressed him for details, and he eagerly embellished tales of Fang Zhiyi’s stupidity. Xu Yan’er nodded along—after all, she had met him once, and he had seemed dull, interested only in eating.