Chapter 841: A Dream of Millet

The laughter around him only made Fan Tong burn with shame and rage.

Seeing him so down and out, they just didn’t believe he had that kind of ability, huh.

A whole bunch of fools who only judge people by their status.

Fan Tong glared at Gu Honglian and Tong Pandi.

Just you wait, there’ll be a day you’re the ones crying.

Gu Honglian was a little worried. She knew Fan Tong had latched onto Prince Ning. She didn’t know exactly how much power Prince Ning held, but she did know that a commoner like her couldn’t afford to provoke him.

Tong Pandi, having been influenced by Mr. Su’s teachings, knew that the Spring Examination was something no one could lay a hand on. Even if political enemies attacked each other, they would never interfere with the talent selection exams.

Fan Tong was truly as stupid as a pig. He himself was a scholar, yet he didn’t even understand this basic principle.

No wonder he failed the provincial exam three times.

Serves him right. If someone like that entered officialdom, who knows how he’d trample the common people.

The corner of Fan Tong’s mouth curled into a smile that made people want to slap him again. He said, “Say I ruin your nephew—will your eldest sister-in-law hate me, or will she hate you? Unless you come back and be my concubine, I might spare Gu Jingzhe.”

Gu Honglian’s face flushed red with anger.

Tong Pandi gave Gu Honglian a reassuring look and said in a low voice, “Don’t be afraid. No one can tamper with the Spring Examination.”

Gu Honglian faced Fan Tong and said, “Now we all know your worth. Drink a bit of wine and you start raving like a lunatic.”

Fan Tong’s cold eyes suddenly narrowed. He said, “You don’t believe me. Just wait and see.”

Hearing Fan Tong’s threats, Tong Huaqiong thought to herself that there was a real downside to being a frog in a well: not only did he not know how small his own world was, he had no idea how vast other people’s worlds could be.

“Su Qing, spread what Fan Tong just said. Make sure it reaches the Prince Ning Mansion.”

Even if he’d already clung onto Prince Ning’s thigh, it wouldn’t help.

Prince Ning might even make him pay dearly for it.

Prince Ning would never let him off.

Tong Huaqiong stepped out of the carriage.

When Fan Tong saw Tong Huaqiong coming, hatred flashed in his eyes.

But his face had been slapped swollen by Tong Pandi and Gu Honglian, and his eyes were puffed up into slits. The way he tried to look fierce only struck Tong Huaqiong as ridiculous.

“Eldest Sister-in-law.”

“Aunt.”

Tong Huaqiong nodded slightly to Gu Honglian and Tong Pandi.

Someone recognized Tong Huaqiong and made way for her.

Tong Huaqiong walked up to Fan Tong and asked, “You said you’re going to ruin Gu Jingzhe? Just how capable do you think you are?”

Fan Tong couldn’t stand the contempt in her voice and said, “Aren’t you curious why I’d say that?”

Tong Huaqiong said, “Because your brain’s waterlogged.”

Fan Tong ground his teeth. Tong Huaqiong looked down on him that much—she refused to believe he could have any luck of his own, refused to believe he could find a good future after leaving the Gu Family.

Anyway, he wasn’t planning to hide it anymore.

He lifted his swollen eyes arrogantly and said in a low voice to Tong Huaqiong, “I’ve got Prince Ning behind me.”

Tong Huaqiong not only didn’t show the slightest fear, she actually looked at Fan Tong the way one looks at an idiot.

Clearly this fool still didn’t know that the lifesaving he impersonated had already been acknowledged by the original person.

Fan Tong was puzzled. Why wasn’t she afraid?

Looked like she wouldn’t shed tears until she saw the coffin.

If that was the case, there was nothing more to say.

Just as Fan Tong was about to turn and leave, Tong Huaqiong said in a low voice, “You don’t even know which way the gate of the Prince Ning Mansion faces, do you? You latch onto the Chief Historian of the Prince Ning Mansion and already start strutting.”

Fan Tong froze for a moment. How did Tong Huaqiong know he’d latched onto the Chief Historian Deng?

But then he thought of how he’d gone in and out of the Deng Mansion many times without avoiding the eyes of others, so it was normal that Tong Huaqiong would know by now.

Fan Tong sneered. “Since you know Chief Historian Deng, you should know what position he holds in Prince Ning’s heart?”

Tong Huaqiong nodded. “I do. But what does that have to do with you?”

Fan Tong thought, as expected of a merchant—short-sighted, can’t see that by clinging to Chief Historian Deng, he’s already clung to the Prince Ning Mansion.

Tong Huaqiong just refused to take him seriously and kept underestimating his abilities.

Fine then, he’d make her regret it—regret not marrying Gu Taohua to him.

Fan Tong sneered. “You’ll naturally find out what it has to do with me when the time comes. Just don’t come crying and begging me then.”

Tong Huaqiong’s face suddenly blossomed into a smile, which in Fan Tong’s eyes looked like a demon’s grin.

“Fan Xiucai, the one who saved Chief Historian Deng on the night of the Lantern Festival was someone else. Chief Historian Deng already knows. You don’t, do you?”

“You’re a scholar. Do you know what ‘a dream of yellow millet’ means?”

“A golden hairpin that falls into a well—if it’s not yours, it’s not yours.”

Hearing this was like being struck by lightning. Fan Tong’s whole body began to tremble.

No—how did Tong Huaqiong know?

There had been no one else in that alley that night.

He’d vaguely seen an old woman and a child hurriedly cover Chief Historian Deng with clothes, then leave two steamed buns and go. At the time he’d prayed those two would be hacked to death by the chaotic soldiers.

And now Tong Huaqiong was saying Chief Historian Deng already knew the truth.

Impossible. Impossible.

If Chief Historian Deng knew the truth, why would he still allow him to come seek refuge?

Merchants were always insidious—Tong Huaqiong must be trying to trick him.

He absolutely couldn’t show any cracks.

That’s right, Chief Historian Deng was saved by him.

With that thought, Fan Tong turned around and hurried off toward the Deng Mansion.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, what if Fan Tong really trips Jingzhe up in the Spring Examination?”

On the carriage ride back, Gu Honglian’s face was full of worry.

If that really happened, even if it had nothing to do with her, she’d have no face to stay in Shengjing.

Tong Huaqiong said, “He can’t.”

Tong Pandi asked, “Aunt, what did you say to Fan Tong just now? He was scared half to death.”

Even though Fan Tong had tried hard to hide it, Tong Pandi could still see how frightened he was.

Tong Huaqiong’s lips curved into a smile. “Fan Tong is about to be driven out by Chief Historian Deng. On the night of the Lantern Festival, Chief Historian Deng wasn’t saved by him at all. He impersonated someone else’s lifesaving.”

“Pah, shameless.” Tong Pandi cursed.

Previously Tong Huaqiong had only suspected it; now it had actually been confirmed.

Tong Pandi thought, so Fan Tong’s behavior was even more shameless than she’d imagined.

Gu Honglian asked curiously, “Eldest Sister-in-law, how did you know?”

Tong Huaqiong said, “Chief Historian Deng was saved by Xu Po, who had a stall at the door of Taohua Dessert. Chief Historian Deng has already found Xu Po and bought a shop for her. I heard it from Xu Po.”

Gu Honglian and Tong Pandi said in unison, “Serves him right.”

Tong Huaqiong sighed. “If Fan Tong hadn’t abandoned you, he might really have gotten away with stealing that merit.”

He thought that once he climbed up to Chief Historian Deng he had a bright future, and couldn’t wait to throw away his first wife—right on Chief Historian Deng’s landmine.

What kind of person is Chief Historian Deng?

How could he be so easily moved? Even if he wanted to repay his lifesaver, he would still carefully inquire about the person’s situation.

How could he just take Fan Tong at his word when he claimed to be the benefactor, without any suspicion?

Of course he’d investigate.

Tong Huaqiong had deliberately let someone send news about Fan Tong to Chief Historian Deng.

And now Fan Tong had exposed himself.

Fan Tong, soul crushed, arrived at the Deng Mansion.

He rushed into his own room, took out the two National Governance Strategy essays he’d written, then dashed back out, heading straight to see Chief Historian Deng.

He couldn’t wait another moment.