Arrogant and domineering because of his good looks: His Majesty always pretends to be righteous

"Why did you come back alone? Where is my brother?" Lin Yue asked.

"Your brother is second in the imperial examination, so he'll probably be working in the capital from now on," Xia Zhishu said with a smile. It's all good news. "By the way, we'll be having a welcome banquet at noon, and everyone from this circle will be coming."

"They're all coming! Our yard can't hold that many people," Lin Yue said with frustration. "We haven't bought any groceries or anything. What are we going to do when they arrive?"

“It’s not in our yard, it’s at the village chief’s house. You don’t need to prepare any vegetables or anything. There are also several boxes of reward money outside.” Xia Zhishu’s smile grew brighter and brighter as she returned.

"A reward?" Lin Yue got up and walked outside, seeing several large boxes. "You, you, how did you carry all that back? How heavy is that?"

"I didn't carry it back myself. The clan chief had people pull a cart to help me bring it back." Xia Zhishu started carrying the things. "It's not all reward money. There are also many other things. I also brought back some gifts for you."

Lin Yue took over, and Xia Rongliu also wanted to help, but unfortunately, her body was too weak to do so.

It would get cooler soon, and Lin Yue was about to cook when Xia Zhishu stopped her, saying, "I'll go, you rest well."

"What are you saying? You're the one who needs to rest, not me. Go and rest." The two of them kept pushing each other, and finally went to the kitchen together.

Xia Rongliu, having finished eating the dog food, said she was full.

The meal was ready, and Old Madam Xia woke up. She saw Xia Rongliu sitting on a stool in the main room, lost in thought. "Oh, up so early today?" Old Madam Xia said sarcastically.

"Aren't you the same?" Usually, Xia Rongliu would only get up when Lin Yue called her to eat, and if she wasn't called, she would sleep for a long time. Xia's mother, on the other hand, would get up around mealtime, which was better than Xia Rongliu's.

"I don't know why, but I can't sleep soundly." Old Mrs. Xia said, squinting her eyes. She was still a little sleepy but just couldn't sleep soundly. She didn't want to sleep anymore, so she got up and saw that Xia Rongliu was also awake.

"Perhaps it's because something big is going to happen today, and you're preparing in advance." Xia Rongliu said this expressionlessly, which made Old Madam Xia think it was something bad.

Old Lady Xia waved her hand. "What big thing is going to happen? You little girl, don't be so lifeless, it's creepy."

Xia Rongliu chuckled inwardly, wondering who had previously said that girls should be reserved and complained that she was too lively. "Grandma doesn't know yet? It's a joyous occasion!"

"Go away, what good news has anything to do with you?"

Xia Rongliu: ...It's not that I don't want to talk about it, it's that Grandma doesn't want to listen.

Just then, Lin Yue and Xia Zhishu came in from outside the door carrying food. "Mother, dinner's ready," Lin Yue said first. Old Madam Xia was about to turn around and tell Lin Yue about Xia Rongliu when she was caught off guard and saw Xia Zhishu, and she was stunned.

"Zhi Shu? He's back?"

"Mom, I'm back! Come and eat!" Xia Zhishu responded. His mother hugged him tightly. "You didn't even say hello when you got back, no wonder..."

Old Mrs. Xia suddenly realized, "Am I the last one to know?"

"Mother, I came back before dawn. I didn't wake you because I was afraid of waking you. We're going to the clan chief's house for a banquet at noon." It's quite remarkable that a village has produced even one scholar who passed the imperial examinations.

"What are you saying? This girl is awake and didn't even call me. Eat, eat quickly, my son has become so thin from hunger." After not seeing him for more than ten days, Old Madam Xia looked at Xia Zhishu with heartache.

After dinner, Xia Rongliu could sense that her mother's mood had clearly improved; she stopped picking on her and instead surrounded Xia Zhishu, asking her all sorts of questions. Xia Rongliu felt even more bored.

A banquet was held at noon.

During the banquet, Old Lady Xia was even more of a focus of attention than Xia Zhishu. She would toast at one table and chat at another, her lips never drooping.

"Oh my, you've raised such a good son! He even passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. Unlike my son, he's useless." Aunt Li was genuinely envious and teased him with a smile.

"No, I just kept a little extra attention. It's my son Zhishu who's so capable and doesn't give me much to worry about, hahaha."

"You're really living the good life now, with such a wonderful son and such a gentle wife. You have no idea what my wife is like..."

At this time, Xia Rongliu, Xia Zhishu, and Lin Yue were all sitting at the table eating. Xia's mother was the most hospitable in terms of hospitality. Lin Yue was drinking corn porridge, while Xia Rongliu was eating small bites.

As Xia Rongliu ate, she glanced at Aunt Wang out of the corner of her eye. Aunt Wang was sitting at the table, but she didn't seem to be eating anything; she just sat there with empty eyes. Just then, Xia's mother returned to the table with a smile.

"Grandma, look, isn't that Aunt Wang? Why isn't Uncle Wang here?" Xia Rongliu said casually. Following Xia Rongliu's gaze, Xia's mother saw Aunt Wang sitting in a small corner, looking out of place.

Grandma Xia went over to greet her, "Why are you sitting here all alone? You came in but didn't say a word to me. Where did Wang Runfa go? Go get something to eat."

As Xia Laoniang spoke, she realized something was wrong. Aunt Wang had tears in her eyes and looked at Xia Laoniang, choking back sobs, "Wang Runfa and I had a fight, and I don't live at home anymore."

"Arguing? What happened?" Old Mrs. Xia was surprised. Wang Runfa was known to be afraid of his wife and rarely argued with her. He even angered his aunt so much that she had to move out.

"He said he always had to go out to earn money and was often not home, sometimes even staying out for several days at a time. I thought I'd never seen him like this before, so I followed him, but who knew..."

Aunt Wang sobbed, her hands trembling as she spoke of her most painful moments, "Who knew he would go off to that brothel to have fun, leaving me all alone at home. When I went to make a scene, he actually protected that little slut..."

Old Mrs. Xia was also angry when she heard this. "All men are the same. Don't be sad. Come stay at my house for now, and I'll go with you to ask him another day."

Xia Rongliu just watched quietly.

When they returned, Lin Yue and Aunt Xia took Aunt Wang home first, while Xia Rongliu and Xia Zhishu went to the street to buy some things before heading back.

On the way back, Xia Rongliu walked beside Xia Zhishu, holding Xia Zhishu's hand. A woman walked towards them, wearing a thin summer shirt even though it was autumn.

She was heavily made up, and the strong scent of rouge could be smelled from several steps away. She was quite pretty, considered a beauty in such a small town. As she walked past Xia Rongliu, she suddenly fell to the ground.

Xia Rongliu turned to look at her and frowned. She had never seen her here before. Her bright yellow dress was quite eye-catching.

"Little sister, what are you doing?" Cai Qiao'er got up from the ground, her eyes sparkling with autumn water, and pouted as she spoke to Xia Rongliu.

Xia Rongliu was completely bewildered. What had she done? She looked at Cai Qiao'er and said, "I... I didn't do anything. You tripped over yourself." She then took a step back.