Volume One, Chapter 16: The Gu Family's Marriage Discussion

Ye Feng’s suspicion was merely a minor episode during the evaluation of the trial task.

This time, 126 members of the Alchemy Institute participated in the trial, and Jiang Heng was unquestionably first, which surprised many, prompting them to cry out in disbelief.

But Instructor Lin publicly stated, “There is currently no evidence to support any cheating by Jiang Heng, so his results in this trial are genuine and valid. If anyone has concrete proof, they may file a complaint at the teaching office.”

“However, if there is no real evidence and someone spreads baseless rumors, the academy will punish them severely. Do you understand?” Instructor Lin said sternly.

“Yes, understood!” Although many were resentful, they had no choice but to fall silent.

Then everyone returned to the academy. Ordinarily, Jiang Heng would have been at a disadvantage, yet everyone kept their distance from him as if he had done something wrong.

Instructor Lin, an inner disciple of the sect, followed Jiang Heng somewhat intentionally, asking, “Everyone is ignoring and isolating you. How do you feel about that?”

Jiang Heng shook his head. “The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind; it’s unavoidable. Should I deliberately perform poorly just to accommodate them?”

Instructor Lin laughed heartily. “There’s no need for that! Just be yourself. I’m rooting for you!”

“Thank you!” Jiang Heng sincerely replied.

Back at the academy, Jiang Heng unexpectedly received an invitation. “Marriage? Already getting married?” he was taken aback.

He was sixteen now, the same age as Han Jingyue and Gu Lan. In his previous life, he hadn’t married until after eighteen.

Han Jingyue also thought it was a bit early! But the Han family couldn’t afford to lose face. After several members returned home, they first beat Han Jingyue severely, then went to the Gu family and violently assaulted Gu Lan.

Yet beating someone didn’t solve the problem!

“Gu family, what do you plan to do about this?” Han’s father said angrily.

Gu Lan’s mother, Madam Gu, was a strong-willed woman. Had she not been resilient, guarding the family’s inheritance after her husband’s death while raising her only son, their wealth would have long been squandered.

“What problem?” Madam Gu crossed her arms, her eyes sharp as she stared at the Han couple.

“Don’t play dumb!” Mrs. Han shouted in anger. “Your son took advantage of my daughter and ruined her purity. How do you intend to handle that?”

Madam Gu sneered coldly. “Ha! That’s a laughable accusation. My son ruined your daughter’s purity? No, it’s your daughter who ruined my son’s! If this matter didn’t make women lose face, do you think I’d let you strike my son? Dream on!”

“Madam Gu, do you even speak like a human?” Mrs. Han cursed furiously.

“Hmph!” Madam Gu rolled her eyes. “Don’t think your deeds are unknown! Why do you think things ended up like this? It’s all because your precious daughter tampered with the ‘Isolated Fragrance’ medicine. What is this medicine for, and where did it come from? Should we have a proper discussion?”

“Your old man Han searched the entire village for this ‘Isolated Fragrance.’ Do you think it’s for cats or dogs?”

Madam Gu went on, “You think I don’t know your little schemes? You wanted to entrap the young master of the Jiang family but failed, so you let my Lan take the fall. Hmph. My Lan was doing well studying talisman crafting—he’s already capable of drawing basic talismans. Instructor Lin even said he has great potential. Now, his future is completely ruined.”

“If anyone should compensate, it’s your Han family for my losses. Otherwise, I’ll take the matter to the Jiang family. They’re the direct descendants of a Golden Core Elder; do you think you can scheme against them so easily?” Madam Gu said firmly.

The Han couple was immediately silenced.

Indeed, their actions were not secretive. Many in the village knew about the medicine. If the matter hadn’t been exposed, it would have been easier to manage. But now, half of the entire Xuanyuan Sect likely knows about it. In a village of just over a thousand people, what secrets remain?

Surely, from the eldest at eighty to the youngest at eighteen, no one is unaware of this scandal.

Their daughter’s reputation was utterly destroyed. A woman drugging a man—what kind of disgrace is that?

“But… but my Jingyue is still a girl, and your son didn’t suffer any loss!” Mrs. Han grew uneasy.

“Bah!” Madam Gu jumped up and pointed at her nose scornfully. “No loss? I suffered the greatest loss! If Gu Lan had stayed at the academy long enough, he might have become not just a primary talisman master but even a secondary one. At that point, we wouldn’t fear your Han family or even ten times stronger families.”

“Hmph! What’s so special about your Han daughter? It’s just that the Jiang young master was blinded and thought she was a treasure. Look at the other families in the village—who still takes her seriously? Besides her four-element spiritual roots, what else does she have? Herbal knowledge? Talisman crafting? She’s just a decorative pillow, a pretty but useless fool.”

“You…” Mrs. Han trembled with anger, but what Madam Gu said was true. Their daughter indeed lacked any talent in these areas.

In recent years at the Alchemy Institute, if not for Jiang’s protection, she would have been expelled long ago.

Meanwhile, their son actually had some gift.

But no matter how poor their daughter’s talents were, it was no excuse for an outsider to slander her so harshly.

“Hmph,” Mrs. Han took a deep breath and said, “Regardless, my daughter was pure when she became involved with your son. You must take responsibility, right?”

“Bah!” Madam Gu was about to retort angrily, but Gu Lan, rubbing his bruised face, weakly said, “Mother, it’s true that Jingyue’s purity was ruined because of me. I’m willing to take responsibility.”

“See!” Mrs. Han’s eyes lit up, pointing at Gu Lan. “Your son says so himself. What else do you have to say?”

Madam Gu was infuriated. She had almost completely outmaneuvered the Han couple and gained a significant advantage. But this boy’s reckless words squandered all her hard-earned leverage.

Truly a foolish son! As dumb as a dog!

“Hmph,” Madam Gu snorted coldly. “You say you’re willing to take responsibility? I’m not willing! You’re my only son. I was counting on you to succeed in your studies so I could enjoy a peaceful life. And now, it’s all ruined by this foolish woman.”

“Who are you calling a foolish woman?” Mrs. Han shouted furiously.

“Calling her foolish is already polite; she’s both foolish and malicious!” Madam Gu said bluntly. “When she pursued him before, what did you do? You drove her away with your foolish methods and then tried to patch things up? Really, I’m old enough to say I’ve never seen or even heard of such nonsense!”

Madam Gu’s words stirred painful memories for the Han couple.

Indeed, she was a fool—no doubt about it. But no matter how foolish, she was their daughter. They still had to solve the immediate problems she faced.