Chapter 25
Lu Yang and Xie Yan walked quickly, only slowing down once the village was no longer in sight.
Xie Yan, unused to such physical exertion after years of scholarly study, was exhausted. Every step felt like a struggle, his legs as heavy as lead.
Seeing this, Lu Yang led him to rest by the roadside, teasing with a grin, “Did you use up all your strength on me last night?”
Xie Yan, caught off guard, blushed furiously. He hadn’t expected his husband to say something so bold in broad daylight.
Lu Yang found his reactions endlessly amusing. Xie Yan was always so serious—easily flustered, but refreshingly straightforward once he understood. A person like that had great potential for… transformation.
Making sure no one was around, Lu Yang leaned in and kissed him.
“This morning, when you were sitting at the doorway watching me, you wanted to kiss me, didn’t you? I could see it in your eyes—you were practically eating me up.”
Xie Yan instinctively glanced around again, still cautious. He clutched his chest as if to steady his racing heart. “Stop talking… I won’t be able to rest if you keep going.”
Lu Yang burst out laughing. “Alright, I’ll save it for tonight.”
Xie Yan, his mind flashing back to last night’s passionate encounter, instantly wilted. He was completely at Lu Yang’s mercy.
Once rested, they continued their journey.
###
Xie Yan’s friend was named Wu Zhigao, courtesy name Pingzhi. Their fellow scholars simply called him Wu Pingzhi. His family owned a well-established fabric business, with multiple storefronts, even in the provincial capital.
Lu Yang had heard of the Wu family’s business before—far beyond the reach of an ordinary commoner like him. Yet, after marriage, he found himself heading to their home as a guest.
Unfortunately, today was not a good day. Wu Pingzhi had accompanied his father to the provincial capital for year-end accounting.
With that option gone, Lu Yang decided to head to the east city gate to find another acquaintance.
Since Xie Yan was exhausted, they agreed that he would rest at their family’s shop while Lu Yang ran errands.
The shop was small, originally a rice store, but it had struggled due to poor supply chains and lack of management. After closing, they had planned to rent it out, but village affairs had kept them too busy to handle it.
The inside was relatively clean, though covered in dust, and all goods had been cleared out.
Lu Yang wiped down a chair and a table for Xie Yan, handed him his manuscript papers, and said, “Make do and read something to pass the time.”
Xie Yan: “…”
Even in his rare moments of free time, he was expected to study? Clearly, his husband had high expectations.
Lu Yang, grinning mischievously, teased, “Scared to be alone, future top scholar?”
Xie Yan sighed. “I won’t pass the exam…”
Lu Yang didn’t take his words seriously.
Only one person became a top scholar every three years—he was just saying it to tease.
Still, he found it fun to push Xie Yan’s buttons. Watching his husband struggle between helplessness and reluctant acceptance was too amusing.
“Then study harder,” Lu Yang chuckled before heading out.
Lu Yang left Xie Yan behind with a bright laugh and took off running toward the east city gate, racing against time.
That area was where the Chen family had run a tofu shop for over a decade—it was also where he had grown up.
All his connections were there. Even if he wasn’t going to the yamen directly today, he at least needed to bring back a government officer to stay in the village overnight and put some fear into the villagers.
If he returned empty-handed, the villagers would realize his threats were just bluffs, and things would only get worse. No matter how fierce he was, he couldn’t fight an entire village alone. If he didn’t break the cycle now, things would escalate to a deadly confrontation sooner or later.
On the way, he bought two jars of Jinghua wine for four silver coins.
This wine, brewed in the capital, was strong and rich—a drink that packed a punch.
With the wine in hand, he turned into a familiar alley and knocked on the Luo family’s door.
The Luo brothers worked as clerks at the yamen. Their positions were low-ranking, but wearing those government uniforms and patrolling the streets gave them an authority that few dared to challenge.
Lu Yang had grown up with them. The Luo brothers were five years older, and in his youth, he had admired strength and toughness, always tagging along with them like a little shadow.
Even when he later left with Old Chen to live in the village, the Luo brothers hadn’t wanted him to go. They had even tried to arrange a marriage for him to keep him in the county.
Unfortunately, the offered betrothal gift had been too small, and Old Chen had refused.
Looking back, Lu Yang thought maybe it was for the best. At least he got to reunite with his younger brother and return to his two fathers.
The Luo brothers’ wife opened the door and was delighted to see him. She hurriedly ushered him inside.
“Yang-ge’er is here!” she called out, then chided him, “Why bring wine? This place is like your own home!”
Lu Yang grinned. “I got married but didn’t invite you all for the feast, so I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Since I’m in town today, I bought some wine to make it up to you and big brother.”
He had only just returned to the village, and now he was already married. Luo Da-sao was surprised, then sighed, feeling a pang of concern. “How could you have had time to get to know anyone properly? You’ve been away from that place for so long—how much do you even know about those people? Old Chen really is something else… Where did you marry into? What is the family like?”
She was quick with her words, rattling off questions about the wedding date, the betrothal gift, and the dowry. When she heard the answers, she let out a string of curses.
Luo Dayong, the older brother, was at home. He had done the math—Lu Yang got married yesterday, and today, he was already back in town.
He raised a hand to silence his wife and asked, “You’re in trouble, aren’t you? Just tell me, and I’ll take care of it.”
Luo Er-sao arrived, too; their two families lived in the same courtyard. She told Lu Yang that Luo Er-ge was on duty, but if there was a problem, he could tell her instead.
The truth about him switching places with his brother wouldn’t stay hidden forever. These two families were like real family to him, so he told them the short version of his situation, then got to the real issue.
By the time he finished, the three of them were stunned—then furious.
It was getting late, and he needed to return to the village before dark. Luo Dayong told him to wait, then had his wife fetch some silver. He changed into his government uniform, strapped a long knife to his waist, pulled on his official boots, and came out, ready to escort Lu Yang back to the village and back him up.
Lu Yang beamed with satisfaction.
On the way, they made a detour—Luo Dayong borrowed a donkey cart.
Lu Yang didn’t come to town often, so he took the opportunity to buy some meat, eggs, rice, flour, oil, and salt—supplies were running low.
