The carriage slowly departed from the street where the Shen residence was located. The rhythmic and muffled sound of the wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs seemed to beat time for the thoughts of the two people inside the cabin.
Shen Ninghuan leaned against a soft pillow. Her gaze seemed to fall on the street scenery flashing by the window, but her mind had already drifted back to the conversation they just had in the carriage.
Her husband, relying solely on the case details she relayed, was able to quickly deduce the suicide method of using ice to secure the knife. This sharpness and associative ability were definitely beyond the reach of ordinary scholars.
What caught her attention even more was the fleeting, almost satisfied gleam in her husband's eyes after solving the case, as well as the clear notification sound at the bottom of her heart—
[Ding! Successfully consumed the gossip of the County Governor's Locked Room Suicide Mystery, Gossip Points +250]
This was already the second time she had heard a similar voice.
The first time was in the main hall of the Shen residence, when the absurd marriage-swapping storm settled. The increase in gossip points on both occasions vaguely followed a certain pattern.
Shen Ninghuan lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the magnolia pattern embroidered on her cuff. The thoughts in her mind flew like a needle threading through flying lines, rapidly connecting many details:
In the main hall of the Shen residence, her husband was one of the parties involved. He was on the scene and witnessed the whole process of that scandal with his own eyes. He could even be said to be the core victim. That incident not only involved the dignity of both families but also directly changed two marriage contracts, having a profound impact.
Afterward, the point reward she heard was one thousand points.
As for the locked-room case just now, her husband was not personally at the scene. He merely solved the puzzle and uncovered the truth of a murder disguised as suicide through her recounting and his own reasoning. Although this matter was bizarre, her husband was not present after all. Considering the overall impact of the case, the reward was two hundred and fifty points.
It seemed that the system's gossip point rewards...
...were related to whether one was on the scene, whether one was a party involved, the authenticity of the event, the completeness of the details, and the magnitude of the event's impact...
Shen Ninghuan's eyes flickered, and her mind suddenly became clear.
So that was it.
This was the evaluation standard for the amount of gossip points.
In that case, her husband's usual idleness, spending every day in the teahouse listening to neighborhood gossip, was incredibly inefficient!
Firstly, the authenticity of rumors was hard to distinguish; secondly, the impact was minimal. How many points could he get?
The best way to quickly accumulate those magical gossip points to exchange for more incredible things like the Face-Preserving Pill was definitely not to kill time in teahouses and taverns.
But rather...
Shen Ninghuan raised her eyes and looked at Pei Cijing beside her, who had resumed his lazy posture, leaning against the carriage wall as if resting his mind.
The sunlight cast soft shadows on his handsome side profile through the gauze curtain.
This man possessed the wisdom to see through the slightest details, yet he happened to be born with lazy bones, only willing to be a carefree, wealthy idler under the shelter of the Marquis's mansion.
But in this world...
Where was there an unchanging shelter?
Shen Ninghuan sighed softly in her heart, and then a very faint, gentle curve appeared on her lips.
Since they had become husband and wife, his path was naturally her path too. If he only wanted to lie flat and do nothing, she would have to let him know—beneath this flat ground, there might already be hidden ravines.
"Husband," she spoke softly, breaking the tranquility in the carriage.
Pei Cijing turned his head at the sound, his eyes still carrying a bit of the grogginess from his mind wandering just now: "Hmm? My wife?"
"Listening to my husband analyze the case just now, peeling back the layers to point straight to the crux of the matter, truly fills me with admiration," Shen Ninghuan's eyes were clear, and her tone was sincere. "My husband's quick wit and unique insights are truly beyond compare to ordinary scholars."
Pei Cijing's ears grew slightly hot from the praise, but he felt sweet in his heart. That little bit of smugness popped up again, though he still had to pretend to be modest on the surface: "Ahem, my wife overpraises me. It's just... well, I usually read a mixed variety of leisure books and just thought about it randomly."
"You shouldn't be so modest, husband," Shen Ninghuan smiled slightly, but the topic naturally shifted, "Today in the study, when father tested your academic progress, he seemed... quite approving of you?"
At the mention of this, Pei Cijing's invisible tail instantly perked up. He tried hard to keep his expression neutral, but his tone couldn't hide his high spirits: "Although father-in-law asked profound questions, your husband has seriously studied for a few years after all. I couldn't possibly embarrass my wife, could I?"
"Of course you wouldn't." Shen Ninghuan followed his lead, her tone soft yet guiding, "Father is strict and proper; he doesn't praise people easily. Since he was willing to spend time testing you and showed his approval... In my humble opinion, father probably has some intentions."
"Intentions?" Pei Cijing raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Shen Ninghuan nodded, looking at him with clear eyes. "Although father is an upright civil official, he is not a pedantic person. Seeing the affairs of the Marquis's mansion... he probably doesn't have much expectation for the heir anymore. And you, my husband, although you are the son of the second branch, you are also of the Marquis's bloodline, and more importantly, his son-in-law."
She paused, her voice slowing down but every word clear: "If you are willing to make progress and take the orthodox path of the imperial examinations, father would certainly be happy to support you. After all, the marriage between the Shen family and the Marquis's mansion—if the son-in-law has a bright future, it would be a good thing for the Shen family and for us as a married couple."
The smile on Pei Cijing's face faded a bit.
Here it comes.
Sure enough, it still circled back to this matter.
He knew that marrying a wife who was too smart would probably hinder his grand plan of living a carefree life.
"My wife," Pei Cijing scratched his hair, rarely showing a bit of genuine distress, "I know you mean well, and father-in-law also has good intentions. It's just... I'm not a man with great ambitions. Although the Marquis's mansion isn't at the pinnacle of wealth, it's enough to keep our second branch well-fed, carefree, and comfortable. As for the imperial court..."
He sighed and looked at Shen Ninghuan, his eyes turning serious. Aside from the system, which was his biggest secret that he couldn't reveal yet, he didn't want to hide anything else from her.
"My wife, look at the imperial court. It looks glamorous on the surface, but underneath are surging undercurrents. The old emperor is advanced in years, several princes are fighting openly and secretly, the civil official group and the noble faction are crushing each other, and the partisan struggles between the old and the new have never ceased. To enter at this time is tantamount to throwing oneself into the center of a whirlpool. One wrong step, and it's eternal damnation."
"Your husband has no grand ambitions. I only want to guard my parents, and guard... you," his ears grew a little hot as he said this, but he insisted on continuing, "and live a peaceful and stable little life. The Marquis's mansion is a big tree; isn't it nice for us to just enjoy the shade underneath it? Why must we risk our lives in the teeth of the storm?"
These words were spoken sincerely, even carrying a bit of the clarity and detached mindset he had gained from living two lifetimes.
Shen Ninghuan listened quietly.
She didn't immediately refute him.
She could hear the true thoughts in his heart—that aversion to complex political struggles, the yearning for a stable life, and his cherishing of her and this new home.
Her heart softened slightly.
"I understand what you are saying, husband," she spoke softly, her eyes filled with understanding and gentleness. "Living a peaceful life is indeed a blessing. I am not insisting that you must fight for fame and fortune."
Pei Cijing had just breathed a sigh of relief.
But then he heard her tone shift once again. Her voice was still gentle, yet it was like a pebble dropped into the lake of his heart:
But Husband, you wish to enjoy the shade under the tree of the Marquis's mansion, but have you ever thought... whether this tree itself will always remain so stable and lush? Will it... always be able to shelter us from the wind and rain?
Pei Cijing froze.
Shen Ninghuan shifted her gaze out the window, seemingly admiring the street view. Her tone was as flat as casual chatter. The Weiyuan Marquis's mansion seems prominent now, but the only one holding up the family's honor seems to be the Marquis alone. Your father... has a lenient temperament and hasn't achieved much in his official career or estate management. As for the heir...
She stopped at exactly the right moment, not continuing, just letting out a barely audible sigh.
But those unspoken words.
That sigh.
Were more effective than a thousand words.
Like a sudden thunderbolt striking Pei Cijing's lazy mind, he suddenly sat up straight, his expression changing slightly.
Right!
He was only thinking that the Marquis's mansion was currently powerful and influential, and as a son of the second branch, he could just piggyback on the family's dividends and happily lie flat for the rest of his life.
But he forgot, or rather, he subconsciously ignored, that the Marquis's mansion would eventually be handed over to Pei Ciling!
With a piece of trash like Pei Ciling?
For the sake of a woman, he could hook up with his future sister-in-law right before his younger brother's wedding, get caught red-handed, cause a city-wide scandal, and make both the Marquis's mansion and the Shen family lose all face.
Such an impulsive, brainless, lust-driven, and reckless character!
Hand the Marquis's mansion over to him?
Pei Cijing could almost see the future: Pei Ciling would either be used by others, dragged into partisan struggles, and pull the Marquis's mansion into the mud; or he would dig his own grave, cause a monstrous disaster, and implicate the whole family!
When that time came, could he, a second-branch young master who just wanted to slack off and watch the drama, stay out of it?
In his dreams!
This wasn't the modern era where one person takes responsibility for their own actions.
This was ancient times, a patriarchal society that practiced collective punishment, where families rose and fell together! If Pei Ciling really caused a massive disaster, the entire Weiyuan Marquis's mansion would suffer! As a son of the mansion, where could Pei Cijing run?
Unless...
Unless he stood high enough himself!
Possessing enough power and status to, to a certain extent, break free from the shackles of the Marquis's mansion, and even... turn around and become the mansion's pillar of support, or at least a safe harbor.
And in this era, for a second-branch son without inheritance rights to quickly gain such status and a voice, the most realistic and orthodox path seemed to truly be...
Entering officialdom through the imperial examinations.
Pei Cijing raised his hand and weakly covered his face.
Damn it.
He just wanted to simply lie flat, enjoy some gossip, and dote on his wife. Why was it so hard?!
This damn feudal society! This damn clan implication system!
Shen Ninghuan quietly cast a sidelong glance at him. Seeing his devastated, completely-done-with-life appearance, a very faint, triumphant smile flashed through the depths of her eyes, which was quickly covered by gentleness.
She knew.
Her goal had been achieved!
She knew very well that forcing someone to do something often made them hate it. If she forcefully pushed her husband to be ambitious, it would only provoke his rebellious side and damage their marital affection.
So the best method was to let him see reality for himself and make his own choice. Since her husband wanted to lie flat, she had to make him realize that he couldn't lie flat.
Although the process might be a bit heart-piercing.
But for their long-term, true stability, this step had to be taken.
The carriage continued to move at a steady pace toward the Weiyuan Marquis's mansion.
Inside the carriage, Pei Cijing lowered his hand and let out a long, deep breath. The playful cynicism on his face completely faded, replaced by a resigned, slightly exhausted seriousness.
He turned his head to look at his still quiet and beautiful wife beside him, twitching the corners of his mouth to reveal a somewhat bitter smile. Wife...
Your husband suddenly feels...
You are right.
It seems... I really have no choice but to take the imperial exams.
Shen Ninghuan met his gaze, the corners of her lips curving up. That smile was like the melting of spring water, warm and bright.
She gently held his hand. Her fingertips were slightly cool but carried a comforting power.
I will always stay by your side, Husband.
No matter what lies ahead.
Pei Cijing backhandedly grasped her slightly cool hand tightly, his palm warm.
Well then.
The lie-flat plan was officially declared bankrupt.
From today onward, he, Pei Cijing, a salted-fish transmigrator determined to just eat melons and watch the drama, had to embark on the most competitive path of all, just so he could safely eat melons in the future.
The imperial examinations.
His heart was so tired, but he still had to keep smiling.
He wept silently in his heart.
Ding! Successfully consumed the gossip: The shattered dream of lying flat for the Second Young Master of the Weiyuan Marquis's mansion. Gossip points plus 99.
Pei Cijing was speechless.
Was this system an idiot? Did his shattered dream of lying flat count as gossip too? It usually didn't react at all, so why was it coming out to mock him now?!
