Before coming, Xu Mo had already made up his mind.
In all honesty, he had good judgment of character, and his friendship with Zhu Sihuan could also be considered deep.
Not to mention deceiving Zhu Zhi, giving him a kick in front of the Wenchang Pavilion, as well as sending 200 taels of silver in the snow, were all things that could have been avoided, yet the help in the snow had genuinely occurred.
In one's lifetime, the moments of glory that come surging forth are all from those who stand to gain, only those who stretch out a hand in times of adversity are truly lending a hand.
Perhaps between them lay a gulf of distinguished families, of interests, of ancestors.
But sincere hearts are hard to change.
Xu Mo had also come this time fully prepared, one hand to cross swords in words with Zhu Sihuan, one hand to yield and compromise.
He had deliberated at length over the story of romance in wind and snow. It was both to awaken the conscience of the young master, and also to pave the way for his shattered reputation.
When this poignant story was known by countless people, the young man striving for love could always elicit admiration, perhaps there would still be slander, perhaps there would still be rebukes, but it was far better than the present miserable state.
Zhu Sihuan suddenly understood, the moment he bravely confessed, not only did he help Xu Mo, he also helped himself.
"Brother Xu," the youth choked up, unable to speak for some time, "I've already done this to you..."
"What you said is indeed the truth, I did once ghostwrite," Xu Mo brought the topic back on track, "This is also the only dishonest thing Xu Mo has done in this life, Xu Mo is willing to bear the consequences."
Even if he was about to face rebukes, face the possibility of a blemish marring his life's trajectory, he was fearless.
What was done had been done, he would bear it if he had to bear it.
But those things that hadn't happened, those unfounded rumors, don't even think of making him admit to them!
"Unexpectedly the young master of Qingzhu would also ghostwrite for others, in vain as one of us." Indignant voices immediately rose from the crowd.
Qi Huai and An Jun were also incensed, but had not yet had the chance to speak up, when an even greater clamor rose.
"The young master of Qingzhu also did it to consummate love."
"He fulfilled the loving couple, his merit outweighs his fault."
"If you're so capable, you can also write a poem to consummate a loving couple."
Men of letters, ardent lovers of wind, flowers, snow and moon, believers in true love.
Perhaps ghostwriting would become a blemish in Xu Mo's life, but consummating love would also bring him new heights of admiration and praise.
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. He was experiencing this to the fullest right now.
Especially with voices of adulation drowning out those of indignation, the entire Wenchang Pavilion was awash with joy, as if forgetting about the cheating in the imperial examinations, forgetting about the disgrace of ghostwriting.
Jiang Sheng was also overjoyed, and was just about to run out to buy a candied haws to celebrate.
A girl in a goose-yellow skirt walked up to the outside of the Wenchang Pavilion, her clear voice piercing like a blade through all before it, directed right at Xu Mo, "What a hypocrite, making ghostwriting sound so refreshing and unconventional."
The previously cheerful atmosphere instantly quieted.
The girl in the goose-yellow skirt pressed her advantage, "It's only you this habitual ghostwriter who can pick up and put down such a matter so casually. With so many people's admiration, so many friends' trust, don't you feel ashamed?"
Having said this, she looked sympathetically at Zhu Sihuan, "Young master, please wake up. Just a few words swayed your sincerity. This person's scheming runs deep, he is not as he appears on the surface."
Her words, both spoken and unspoken, were full of condemnation.
Some tried to retort, but found she made quite a bit of sense.
They had thought there would be a huge battle today, but the young master of Qingzhu had convinced young master Sihuan with just a few words, and the other party had even agreed to testify for him.
This this...anyway, he was crafty and scheming, there was no escaping that.
Zhu Sihuan stood there in a daze, his eyes darting about, clearly thinking at high speed.
Qi Huai and An Jun were hopping mad, speaking in unison to condemn, "Who exactly are you to be spouting nonsense here?"
Wang Yuyao gave a cold laugh and evaded the question, but insinuated meaningfully, "It seems the young master of Qingzhu is quite capable, not only has he charmed the young Zhu master, even the legitimate son of the Minister of Rites follows his bidding. What kind of chill from an ordinary family is this, to be so formidable?"
Her words were loaded with meaning and insinuation, stirring up everyone's feelings.
Jiang Sheng in the crowd could stand it no longer, and clenched her fists, ready to start cursing.
Xu Mo came to his senses in time, covering his sister's mouth. He spoke lightly and casually, "So it turns out to be an old acquaintance from Anshui, Miss Wang, I wonder how is Brother Fufeng?"
It was on account of Wang Yuyao's endless scheming that they had left Anshui prematurely all those years ago.
He didn't expect to meet her again in Fengying nearly three years later.
She was still vicious and cunning in her scheming, but now had Fang Yuan's strategy, making it even more meticulous and airtight.
Like having Zhu Sihuan reveal the ghostwriting from years ago, damaging Xu Mo's reputation, and bringing up subsequent doubts.
Like having Zhu Sihuan come to the Wenchang Pavilion to confront him, knowing full well he would be persuaded, then taking advantage of that persuasion to underscore how crafty and scheming Xu Mo was, provoking a new round of doubts.
The Fang family never intended to rely on Young Master Sihuan to take Xu Mo down from the very beginning. All they wanted was to tarnish Xu Mo's image, create more clouds of suspicion and confusion.
The people involved seemed to also realize this layer, looking completely doubtful.
Xu Mo gave him a look, then gently shook his head. Only then did Zhu Sihuan restrain himself.
"How dare you ask about my brother?" Wang Yuyao gave a cold laugh. "You thieving little thief, deceiving my brother, you villain that used brotherly affection to cheat my cousin into ghostwriting for you. For so many years you've reaped rewards in fame and gain, even reaching the position of top scholar. How do you still have the gall to mention my cousin?"
"What do you mean by this?" Xu Mo knitted his brows.
Wang Yuyao enunciated word for word, "What I mean is, my brother has been bedridden by illness, and it's all because of you. He should have been the even more remarkable Young Master Fufeng. His name should have gone down in history. Yet half of his reputation was alive and taken by you! You hypocrite! You little thief who stole another's reputation!"
She said a lot, but all Xu Mo could retain were the key points.
"Bedridden by illness", "not going to make it".
He vaguely recalled Wang Fufeng's promise to never let Wang Yuyao enter Fengying before she was married. Yet she had appeared before the new year even arrived, and was even pushing the cheating in the examinations. It was evident she had not just arrived recently.
Right, if Brother Fufeng were truly well, he would surely have kept this Wang girl in check.
Only if something had happened to him would he let her come prematurely to Fengying.
So much time had passed, how was he, was he still lucid?
Even someone as steady as Xu Mo felt unrestrainable anxiety at this moment. He urgently wanted to open his mouth and ask for clarity.
Wang Yuyao took the chance to cry loudly, "Your young master of Qingzhu is panicked, he's afraid, he's a thief who stole another's poems and stole another's top scholar title."
Having said this, she decisively took out some letters from her sleeve.
"I am Wang Fufeng's sister. I have introductory letters and identification. He is unwilling to be deceived all these years, so specially asked me to come to Fengying to retrieve justice for him. You can take a look, see clearly my brother's blood and tears. You cannot continue to be deceived!"
She really was crafty, even involving Wang Fufeng's wellbeing in her plot.
And the men of letters, seeing Xu Mo's urgency with their own eyes, then looking over the tearful notes of misery, were once again swayed.
"Young Master Fufeng's literary talent is indeed superior. His sister's words can hardly be false."
"The young master of Qingzhu does seem anxious. Is it fear? Is he afraid?"
"Even his own sister has come to expose him. Who else can you believe if not her? Who could be closer than siblings?"
"To even steal the poems of a bedridden sick man, how despicable. Such a person is utterly unfit to be our top scholar."
"Who should we believe?"
The crowd discussed again, bewildered, credulous, indignant, confused...all kinds of feelings abounded.
In contrast, Xu Mo was quiet once more.
"Brother Xu, don't just stand there dazed. What should we do?" Qi Huai and An Jun were like ants on a hot pan. "Can we really just let them smear his name like this?"
"This scheme is too difficult to break." Zhu Sihuan murmured, "Everything leading up to now has just been paving the way. Wang Fufeng's sister's identity is the final blow. If this continues, Brother Xu's reputation will be destroyed, pointed at by thousands."
With a few back and forth reversals, public sentiment had soured. Xu Mo would only plunge deeper into the abyss unless some more powerful evidence could wash away all the stains on him.
But who could provide that?
It would have to be the person involved, right?
At the crowded entrance of the Wenchang Pavilion, a sickly youth heaved a long sigh.
"Brother Xu, your fate is truly bumpy."
