After being reborn, her aloof ex-husband and her crazy deceased husband got into a fight.

As Meng Yu's arrogant and unrestrained laughter faded into the distance, Gan Cai'er felt a tightness in her heart. Then, looking at Lan Tingzhou blocking her way, she couldn't help but feel annoyed.

She shoved Lan Tingzhou away forcefully, her anger flaring: "Your back injury hasn't fully healed, and you're still going to drink with people?!"

"Are you complaining that your injury is healing too fast?!"

"When can't we hold a thank-you banquet? There will be plenty of time once we get to Kyoto."

Lan Tingzhou simply looked at her without saying a word.

Gan Cai'er wore a light green light jacket and dress today, with a white fur-trimmed cloak over it. In the bright sunlight, she looked exceptionally fresh and pleasing to the eye. Standing there gracefully, she resembled a peach blossom blooming on a branch in early spring, fair and delicate, exuding an ethereal beauty.

She was glaring at him angrily, her puffed-up cheeks making her red lips and white teeth stand out even more, her bright eyes sparkling. Her every glance and movement made her appear radiant, charming, and captivating.

Gan Cai'er's every smile, frown, anger, and pout is lively and agile, like a mountain stream leaping, clear and sparkling, or like the warm winter sun, shining brightly.

Lan Tingzhou wasn't surprised at all that his wife would attract unwanted attention.

From childhood to adulthood, there have always been many people who coveted Gan Cai'er! But she always stood firmly by his side and never left his side.

He himself never imagined that one day he would be separated from her.

Ever since Gan Cai'er became attached to him when she was eleven years old, and no matter how much he struggled, it was to no avail, he had already tacitly agreed that he would stay with her for the rest of his life.

Day after day, this realization was etched into his mind like a brand. He had no other thoughts besides this.

But today, when he saw Meng Yu smiling and laughing with Gan Cai'er, that mark on him loosened for a moment. A surge of anger welled up in his heart, along with a vague and inexplicable sense of unease.

She disliked the way Meng Yu looked at her, very much so. She had a gut feeling that this man was different from others.

Inside a guest room on the third floor of the "Fuqing" ship, Feng Zhao looked at Meng Yu with deep concern.

Since returning from getting some fresh air on deck, my young master has already changed his clothes three times. Is he going to a banquet, or is he going to a beauty contest?

When he saw Meng Yu put a dagger into his pocket, he could no longer hold back.

"Young Master, you and Young Master Lan... you won't get into a fight, will you?" Feng Zhao asked cautiously.

"What are you thinking? Is your young master the kind of person who only knows how to use violence?" Meng Yu raised an eyebrow and sneered disdainfully.

Ha, he would never lay a hand on Lan Tingzhou.

If Lan Tingzhou were truly harmed in the slightest by him, Nannan might hate him even more. He wouldn't be foolish enough to do something that would backfire.

His private meeting with Lan Tingzhou was intended to try and change Lan Tingzhou's mindset.

Meng Yu and Gan Cai'er had been married for almost ten years, so he could guess what she was thinking to some extent.

There are essentially two reasons: first, she doesn't want to disturb Lan Tingzhou's mind before the imperial examination and delay his chance to become the top scholar; second, she wants to repay Shen Yunxi's kindness and hopes to bring the two of them together as soon as possible.

Gan Cai'er's repeated talk of divorce likely occurred after these two met.

He could certainly lend a hand in this matter.

Meng Yu looked at himself in the bronze mirror and was quite satisfied. Not bad, he looked dashing and spirited, full of youthful vigor.

He happily picked up the embroidered purse beside him, hung it in the most conspicuous place on his waist, and then went out of the room.

Feng Zhao opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end he obediently shut his mouth and silently followed behind Meng Yu.

What you're doing, young master, is really not very ethical.

However, Feng Zhao only dared to complain in his heart.

The "Thank You Banquet" of Lantingzhou was held in the restaurant on the ground floor of Fuqing. Because it was on a ship, the restaurant did not have many fresh dishes available, and almost all of them were platters of braised dishes, but the wine was unlimited.

When Meng Yu arrived at the private room of the restaurant, Lan Tingzhou was already seated, and he was the only one there. Lan Tingzhi was not present, and even his personal servant was nowhere to be seen.

Lan Tingzhou was sitting by the window, gazing at the river view. When Meng Yu pushed open the door and entered, he rose to greet him. But halfway through the greeting, Lan Tingzhou's gaze suddenly sharpened and darkened.

"Young Master Lan, no need for such formalities." Meng Yu smiled and offered a helping hand, appearing to be in a very good mood. He lifted his robe and sat down opposite Lan Tingzhou.

Meng Yu wore a moon-white brocade robe, his attire simple and without any jingling ornaments, which made the purse at his waist stand out all the more. It was a dark blue purse, made of Suzhou brocade, embroidered with a cluster of light green bamboo.

It was a very ordinary design, with a very common pattern, except that the bamboo seemed unfinished; a few leaves were missing. Lan Tingzhou stared at it, looking at it several times, his expression inscrutable.

Meng Yu seemed even more pleased.

Feng Zhao stood behind Meng Yu, eyes downcast, mouth down, mind on his own, saying nothing. He silently cursed inwardly, thinking, "This move by the young master is worse than just stabbing him directly with a knife."

Lan Tingzhou lowered his eyes, picked up the wine pot, and slowly poured wine for Meng Yu. When the wine cup was full, his expression returned to normal.

"I toast this cup to Young Master Meng to express my gratitude for his help that day."

After Lan Tingzhou finished speaking in a calm voice, he raised his head and drank the wine in one gulp.

"Okay!" Meng Yu also readily drank it all in one gulp.

In their past lives, Meng Yu and Lan Tingzhou had drunk together many times, and for a period of time they could be considered friends. Although they weren't inseparable, they did have a mutual respect. It wasn't until the incident between Gan Cai'er and Meng Yu that the two became bitter enemies.

Once the cup was empty, Lantingzhou refilled it.

"The second cup of wine is to toast Young Master Meng for patronizing my wife's shop, and to your recognition of her talent."

Lanting Zhou drank it all in one gulp.

"Hmm, Miss Lan's embroidery skills are unique; every stitch is just what I want." Meng Yu said with a half-smile, as he also downed his drink.

When it came to the third cup of wine, Lan Tingzhou was about to raise it again, but Meng Yu stopped him.

“This third cup of wine is for me to toast Young Master Lan,” Meng Yu said with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

Lan Tingzhou raised his eyes and looked at him calmly: "Oh? Why is that?"

"Young Master Lan has achieved first place in all four examinations, and the world praises you as the reincarnation of the God of Literature. I also deeply admire Young Master Lan's talent, so I placed a heavy bet that you will become the top scholar in the imperial examination."

"I even used all the money I had for the dowry to get married."

"Young Master Lan, you must achieve top honors in the imperial examinations and not disappoint our high expectations."

"Come, come, this glass is for you!"

Meng Yu smiled and downed his wine in one gulp. Lan Tingzhou picked up his wine cup and slowly drank it all.

"Young Master Lan, have you decided which master you will study under on your trip to the capital?" Meng Yu asked.

Lan Tingzhou raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling somewhat puzzled as he inquired about the matter with Meng Yu. He hadn't expected Meng Yu to genuinely care about his exam.

However, there's no point in hiding it. A candidate like him, practically a commoner, went to the capital early precisely to find a recommender and a mentor.

So, Lan Tingzhou slowly said, "It's not completely certain yet. I'll just go and see for myself. I don't know which lord will take a liking to me."

“Shen Jinlun, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, you could give him a try. He will like you,” Meng Yu suggested.

Lan Tingzhou was truly surprised.

Like his father, Shen Jinlun was notoriously bad-tempered. He would curse and beat anyone who didn't study hard. It's said that he even beat the Regent Prince Gongsun Yi.

Shen Jinlun is extremely strict with his students. Although Lan Tingzhou is always self-disciplined and has high expectations of himself, he does not want to torture himself.

What Lan Tingzhou didn't know was that in his previous life he had two mentors. One was Zhang Jun from the Ministry of Rites, whom Lu Qingning introduced him to, whom he himself had personally sought out. The other was someone who relentlessly pursued him, insisting that he become a disciple—that was Shen Jinlun, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

"Lord Shen is a man of high moral character and great prestige. Countless people wish to become his disciples. What merit do I, Lan, possess to dare to trouble him?" Lan Tingzhou shook his head, unwilling to do such a futile effort.

"You can do it. That old man likes someone like you who is both smart and good at studying. There are only a handful of people who have achieved the title of top scholar in the hundreds of years since the founding of the Great Yong Kingdom." Meng Yu laughed nonchalantly.

Suddenly, he changed the subject: "By the way, Lord Shen has a granddaughter who is extremely talented. She is proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and is also skilled in poetry and prose. She is known as the most talented woman in the capital."

"If you meet her, you will know that if all the women in the world have ten points of talent, six points are in the capital. If all the women in the capital have ten points of talent, then Shen Yunxi alone possesses four."

The moment Meng Yu mentioned Shen Yunxi, he immediately became energetic and began to shower her with praise, sparing no words of compliment.

Lan Tingzhou frowned slightly, wondering what Meng Yu was up to.

The second half of the thank-you banquet ended peacefully as Lan Tingzhou quietly drank his wine and Meng Yu occasionally praised Shen Yunxi.

Meng Yu was very satisfied with the meal.

He didn't care about the taste of the food, nor did he mind the simplicity of the restaurant. Just recalling the deep look in Lan Tingzhou's eyes as he looked at the purse at his waist made him feel extremely pleased.