A piece of Japanese incense

"The number one scholar is here!"

"Make way! Make way! The number one scholar is coming!"

My cousin rode his horse through the crowd, the sound of his horse's hooves stepping on the bluestone road made a crisp sound that echoed above the bustling market.

His arrival attracted people's attention and the people around him began to talk about it.

"This is incredible! This has even alarmed the number one scholar!"

"It turns out that this top scholar also likes to watch the fun just like us!"

……

"Uncle!" I ignored everything else, ran to the horse and grabbed the saddle.

Yu Tuan came running from behind, panting, "I was going to report to the authorities, and they were parading right at the government office, and the number one scholar... the number one scholar saw me and asked me what was going on... and he... he rode his horse..."

Yuyi patted Yutuan's back to help her calm down.

Without even saying hello to me, my cousin got off his horse and ran towards Yu Nian and the others who were still beating.

"Yu Nian! Stop now! Yu Nian!"

When everyone saw that the top scholar had also intervened, several men stepped forward and finally separated them.

Bai Xuan spat out a mouthful of blood and tried to move forward, but was held back by several people. He angrily dropped the belt in his hand.

Yu Nian sat on the ground, hugging his left arm. The left side of his face was swollen, his left eye was tightly closed, blood was oozing from the corner of his mouth, and his face was blue and purple.

"Brother Nian!" I moved forward to his side.

The cousin helped Yu Nian stand up and sit on the stone steps in front of the breakfast shop.

"Oh~ No wonder he is so arrogant! It turns out he has the support of the top scholar!" Bai Xuan said sarcastically.

"My dear, I think you two have already had your fight and your anger has subsided. Why don't you just let it go?" The cousin advised in a friendly manner.

"Who the hell is angry? He broke my nose!" Bai Xun pointed at his nose and showed it to everyone.

"It's obviously you who are arrogant and domineering! You flirted with our girl in the street, and my master couldn't stand it, so he punched you to teach you a lesson. Your nose is fine! It's just a little nosebleed!" Yu Tuan was domineering.

"You little girl! Don't talk nonsense. I saw that the girl was unsafe standing on the table, so I wanted to help her out. How can that be considered teasing?" Bai Xuan argued cunningly.

"You're talking nonsense! The owner of the breakfast shop is here in front of everyone!" Yu Tuan stomped his feet and pointed at everyone, but found that the breakfast shop had already quietly closed its doors.

"Who saw it? Who saw it!" Bai Xian raised his chin proudly.

"My dear, I think this is just a misunderstanding. It is better to make a big deal out of a small matter and let it go. Why make a fuss about it and let it know about it to everyone?" The cousin tried to mediate.

"Well! For your sake, let that boy kowtow to me! And compensate me with 1,800 taels of silver, and we'll let this matter go!"

"You!" Yu Nian was so angry that he stood up by holding the wall.

"Brother Nian!" I held him down and said to him in a voice that only the two of us could hear: "This man is a scoundrel. Don't waste your time on him."

Yu Nian took a deep breath, glanced at Bai Yan, clasped his hands together and said perfunctorily, "Excuse me, my pharmacy is just in front, you guys can go there to get medicine to treat your injuries, and I will bear all the expenses."

"These are your responsibilities, and now you have to kowtow to our master!" Bai Xian's servant shouted.

"How dare you! What has it got to do with you! It's because of you, a foolish and ignorant servant, that my cousin has become so arrogant and conceited!"

The sound came from a carriage. Hearing the noise, everyone made way for the carriage.

A man dressed in a green brocade robe slowly stepped down from the car.

"Good brother! You came just in time! Are you here to support your brother?" Bai Xian hurriedly went to Fang Sinian.

Fang Sinian brushed his hand away and walked towards his uncle.

The uncle clasped his fists and saluted, "Young Marquis..."

"Hey, hey, hey! No! No!" Fang Sinian stepped forward quickly to stop his uncle, and said with a smile: "Brother Jinqi has been personally appointed by the emperor to be a compiler in the Imperial Academy. He will soon be in the upper study to teach the crown prince and the prince. He will be our mentor and friend. How can I accept such a great gift from you?"

The uncle smiled calmly and said, "You are too polite, young marquis. Yu Nian is my classmate and good friend. This year, she has also passed the imperial examination and ranked twelfth in the second class. This girl is my distant niece, Zhi Yihe, and her father..."

"Sir, there is no need to say more. We are all family. Yihe is my classmate, right, Yihe!" Fang Sinian turned and looked at me sideways.

I forced a smile, narrowed my eyes slightly, and nodded.

My cousin stretched out his hand and called me over.

I had no choice but to walk up to him and kowtow respectfully, "Young Marquis, how are you?"

"Yihe! The prince and I were talking about you yesterday! My little sister hasn't left her room since she returned home, but you look very energetic, it seems you are much better now!"

I thought I still had to maintain the image of a weak woman, and I started coughing.

"Ahem! I'm still not feeling well, but I heard that my uncle won three prizes in a row, so today, ahem! I came out to celebrate for my uncle, ahem! Ahem!"

"Ah He, tell the young marquis what happened today, and we will clear up the misunderstanding and put an end to the past grudges."

"Well, it's just..."

"Sir, there is no need to explain further. I know my cousin's temper best. I will ask her to apologize to Yi and her sister right away."

After saying that, he grabbed Bai Yan by the collar and shouted angrily, "Quick! Say sorry to Yi and your sister!"

"Ah? This..."

Fang Sinian kicked Bai Xian in the knee. Bai Xian knelt on one knee and glared at Fang Sinian.

"You still hold a grudge?! Do you understand what you have done?" Fang Sinian hit Bai Xuan's back hard with the handle of the knife in his hand.

"Si Nian, why are you..."

"If you continue to be stubborn, don't blame me for not caring about family ties!"

Bai Xuan bowed to me with his hands clasped together, looking resentful, and said angrily, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

I ignored him and turned to Yu Nian, saying confidently, "Young Marquis, my brother is the one who is most wronged. He stood up for me and not only was he blackmailed for a thousand taels of silver, but he also had to kowtow to him and admit his fault!"

"No! No! No!" Bai Xian glanced at Fang Sinian, stood up, and bowed to Yu Nian, saying, "I am blind and have offended you, please don't mind."

Yu Nian stood up straight and said modestly, "I was impulsive today and shouldn't have thrown a punch. Please forgive me, brother."

"Sir, look, isn't this the problem?" the young marquis said, hugging his uncle's shoulder.

My cousin smiled.

"Today we came here to see you, but this incident has disturbed everyone's mood. Let me invite you to have a drink at Wei Ding Xuan! Brother Yu can also come with us! Let's drink and chat happily, and shake hands and make peace!"

"I should not have declined the young marquis's invitation, but I am sorry for having to deliver the gift and go out for medical treatment as my mentor asked me to do." My cousin looked at me meaningfully.