"If I really did that, what would I become! You just refuse to call off the engagement! I don't know what kind of bewitching potion you fed the Empress Dowager to make her agree to such an absurd matter!"
Song Chujie stepped forward: "Mother, why don't I take care of him for you!"
"What sins have I committed to deserve this!"
…
On Mingtang Street stood a massive pavilion with double-eaved pyramidal roofs, surrounded by water on all sides. Covering an area of thirty thousand square meters, it replicated the imperial academy of the Zhou dynasty, known as the Imperial Academy, with over two thousand students currently enrolled.
At the western gate of the Imperial Academy, atop the water bridge, stood the highest institution of literary scholars—the Hanlin Academy.
In a side hall of the Hanlin Academy, officials had already begun arriving for duty, bustling with activity.
Rows of towering bookshelves reached the rafters, with rolling ladders constantly in motion.
Kang Rui had just arrived when a colleague approached him with gossip: "Have you heard? Someone from the Ministry of Works has married into nobility."
Kang Rui signed in, unwilling to participate. When he was engaged to the Princess, his colleagues had spread plenty of unpleasant rumors. Putting himself in others' shoes, he didn't want to gossip about anyone.
But the topic was too hot to ignore. As Kang Rui remained silent, Compiler Zhao, who had just signed in, immediately chimed in: "I heard! From now on, he can do whatever he wants at the Ministry of Works! He can take on any project he desires."
"Think bigger. It means whatever project he says can be done will be done. If he says it can't be done, even the Minister of Works would have to reconsider whether it's feasible."
The two shared a knowing smile, envy written all over their faces.
Kang Rui turned away: "It can't be that exaggerated. It's still the same job."
Compiler Zhao and Compiler Zhou immediately followed: "The same?" Nothing was the same. "Do you know who that guy is engaged to?" The Number One Scholar had excellent academic achievements and decent work, but he was somewhat aloof. Scholars entering officialdom shouldn't focus solely on academics; they needed to understand human relationships.
Kang Rui sat down and took out the loose-leaf books he had proofread yesterday: "Who?"
"Who else? The legitimate daughter of the Anguo Duke Mansion, Anguo County Princess."
The books in Kang Rui's hands suddenly scattered and fell to the ground, pages spreading everywhere.
Compiler Zhao glanced at the title and was startled: "How could you be so careless? This book took ages to organize, and it's urgently needed above. We're done for—a month's work wasted. We might not even meet the deadline."
Several colleagues working on the same book immediately rose from their seats and hurried over to pick up the pages.
"How could you be so careless!"
"The cover clearly says 'handle with care'."
"Kang Rui, what's wrong with you? How could you make such a mistake?"
Kang Rui was completely stunned. Engaged to whom?
He felt like he had spoken aloud, but no one around him answered. Their mouths opened and closed, but he couldn't make out what they were saying.
Song Chuyu was engaged? How was that possible? She was his wife. He must have misheard.
Kang Rui suddenly grabbed Compiler Zhao.
Compiler Zhao frowned, holding the scattered pages, saying something to him.
Kang Rui couldn't hear anything: Was she engaged?
Zhao Rong broke free from his hand; without seven days and seven nights, they shouldn't expect to complete the task.
Kang Rui suddenly heard the rustling of paper again, his palm tightly gripping the table: "Zhao Rong, who did you say was engaged?""
"The Princess is engaged! Whether the Princess is engaged or not, we won't be leaving work on time tonight!" How could Kang Rui make such a mistake.
Kang Rui felt weak all over. How could this happen? Where did things go wrong?
"I heard it was that hero from the Ministry of Works who saved the beauty, and the Duke didn't mind his background, making it a happy match." He thought the Number One Scholar was still worth befriending: "I'll take these few pages to organize." A small favor to grant.
Reluctantly, people took portions one after another; otherwise, the whole group would face criticism: "Be more careful next time. Why get excited just because someone else climbed up the social ladder?"
"Exactly, it's not like you're the one—"
Someone immediately nudged the speaker: "Keep it down." After all, this was the Number One Scholar—who knew if he might catch the eye of those in power?
The person fell silent.
Kang Rui grabbed the last one, Zhao Rong: "What hero saving the beauty?" In his past life, he'd never heard of anyone playing hero to save a beauty.
Zhao Rong glanced at the pages in his hand, then at Kang Rui, pulling over a chair to sit: "Weren't you at the Autumn Frost Banquet too? After it ended, the Grand Princess kept the Princess talking, so she left later. When the Princess reached the west gate, she encountered a brawl, and that guy from the Ministry of Works saved her. If I'd known, I would've gone to the west gate that day too."
Kang Rui numbly released his grip. The Autumn Frost Banquet? In his previous life, she hadn't attended the Autumn Frost Banquet at all, and neither had he.
In this life, he went, Chuyu went too, and the Grand Princess even kept her behind to talk—yet such an accident occurred.
This was no accident. This was—this was—
Kang Rui felt his entire life had been turned upside down. How could such a deviation happen? How could there be any deviation? Chuyu was his wife, he was her husband—how could there be any accident!
Kang Rui never knew that predetermined events could still go awry! Was she unwilling? Was the Duke forcing her? She clearly loved him!
But Kang Rui only now realized that even if Chuyu loved him, it would be futile against her parents' decree.
But, but… something must be wrong! Chuyu loved him. If—if Chuyu knew he loved her too, would she fight for him?
Kang Rui stood up abruptly.
Someone from the neighboring group suddenly asked, "Does anyone know Lin Qingyuan? Lin Qingyuan from the Ministry of Works?"