Chapter 115: A Heart Growing Cold on the Roof

Chapter 115: A Heart Growing Cold on the Roof

Zhu Xiurong spoke very seriously to Fang Jifan, telling him what was in her heart!

But…

“…” Who spread that rumor?

Fang Jifan was speechless.

But he didn’t need to think to know that it must have been Zhu Houzhao who couldn’t keep his mouth shut and talked nonsense.

The incidents of spending money to force Ouyang Zhi and the other two to become his disciples, as well as the bet with Tang Yin—Zhu Houzhao knew all about these things. Likely… in his view, these were all incredible feats, so he enthusiastically told his younger sister about them. But oh, Crown Prince, you and I share similar interests; what you consider amazing, when told to others, just ruins my reputation.

Seeing Fang Jifan remain silent, Zhu Xiurong sighed softly and continued, “This Palace says all this for Chief Fang’s own good. This Palace is grateful for Chief Fang’s kindness and naturally hopes… that you can gain acceptance in both the court and among the people, so as not to be shunned by the literati circles. This Palace often reads books…”

“Ahem… ahem…” The Old Matron desperately coughed again, interrupting Zhu Xiurong.

Zhu Xiurong understood and had to smile lightly. “It’s getting late. This Palace hopes Chief Fang will not take offense at these words. This Palace bids farewell.”

Being lectured by a young girl made Fang Jifan feel like finding a block of tofu to crash into and die.

Zhu Xiurong saw Fang Jifan’s expression, which looked like he had swallowed a fly, and felt a bit sorry. “This Palace means that it’s not that Chief Fang is wrong, but…”

“Your Highness, it’s getting dark,” the Old Matron beside her hurriedly urged.

“Alright.” Zhu Xiurong could only let out a sigh.

Fang Jifan then said, “Your servant respectfully sees off Her Highness the Princess.”

The princess’s palace education really wasn’t up to par. Fang Jifan felt a bit depressed, but he disdained to explain. He silently escorted the princess to the middle gate. Outside the residence, a carriage was already waiting, with seven or eight Imperial Guards standing by.

Zhu Xiurong glanced back at Fang Jifan, seemingly feeling that her earlier words had been too harsh and wanting to explain something. But after looking at the Old Matron beside her, she had to swallow her words. Then she slowly boarded the carriage.

Fang Jifan saluted. Unexpectedly, at that moment, a shout came: “Benefactor, please do not disdain and accept this student as your disciple!”

With this sudden shout, the Imperial Guards near the carriage immediately panicked, thinking they had encountered an assassin. They reached for their swords, looking around, but the streets were empty.

“Benefactor… this humble scholar Xu Jing has long admired Benefactor’s great name. I hold you in the highest esteem and regard you as my role model. If Benefactor does not accept me, I… I will jump from here!”

Only then did everyone notice that across from the Fang Family was a two- or three-story building. There stood Xu Jing on the roof ridge, standing tall, his face flushed with excitement.

“I, Xu Jing, mean what I say! Today, I have resolved to die. Either Benefactor permits me to serve you from now on, or I jump from here and die in front of Benefactor’s residence, with no regrets even in death!” As he spoke, he began sobbing profusely. “Benefactor… this humble scholar’s desire to become your disciple comes from the bottom of my heart. Today, even if I die, I will make my resolve clear…”

“…”

Inside the carriage, Zhu Xiurong lifted the curtain in surprise, looking up at Xu Jing on the roof ridge. Her pretty face was filled with shock… and embarrassment.

“…” It was indeed a bit awkward. Her cheeks flushed slightly, feeling ashamed. Her elder brother had always been unreliable; indeed, not a single word he said could be trusted. And to think she had spent so long ‘lecturing’ Chief Fang.

But… why would someone be so eager to become his disciple?

He always seemed rather crude.

Fang Jifan took a long time to react… What the hell was this? What kind of act were they playing?

When Fang Jifan finally grasped the situation, he was furious. Damn it, they were trying to pull this on him, Fang Jifan?

If he let Xu Jing threaten him like this, he wouldn’t be named Fang anymore—he’d take Xu Jing’s surname instead!

He bared his teeth at Xu Jing on the roof ridge. “You bastard! How dare you! Come on, jump! Jump and let me see! Do you think if you jump, I, Fang Jifan, will take you as my disciple? You son of a bitch, jump and show me…”

“…” His words were filled with crude language. Inside the carriage, Zhu Xiurong’s cheeks turned even redder, and she… seemed at a loss.

Fang Jifan laughed arrogantly. “Come on, jump! Someone, bring a chair for this Young Lord, and some tea! This Young Lord wants to see if you, little turtle, dare to jump. If you don’t jump, you’re a coward.”

Xu Jing had obviously planned this in advance.

So when he made a commotion upstairs, Tang Yin, Ouyang Zhi, and the others were already prepared.

They all rushed out of the residence in a flurry, and even Deng Jian hurried out after them.

“Mentor…” Tang Yin ran over frantically. Seeing his Mentor also enraged, he turned pale with fright and quickly knelt down. “Mentor… Brother Xu’s desire to join your school is sincere. Please relent and accept him.” As he spoke, he began to sob, continuously wiping his tears.

Ouyang Zhi and the other two, who didn’t know what kind of sweet talk Xu Jing had given them, also knelt down and said, “Mentor, Xu Jing is a person of good character. We beg you to take him under your wing.”

Deng Jian stuck out his rear, craned his neck, and looked up at Xu Jing above, shouting, “Young Lord, he’s really going to jump, he’s really going to jump.”

Fang Jifan laughed. Were they messing with him?

With a bold and heroic air, he declared, “Jump, jump down. You bastard, this Young Lord wasn’t born yesterday. Listen, Xu Jing, when I was pulling this kind of stunt, you hadn’t even touched a woman yet. Today, I’m not doing anything else; I’m just waiting for you to jump. To be honest, there’s no way you can enter my school!”

This was clearly a trick. Who was the idiot who taught you this?

Fang Jifan’s original intention was to temper Xu Jing’s edges, but this guy actually tried to play him.

Xu Jing immediately felt like he wanted to die. Now he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Tang Yin felt like he had a hole in his brain. If he had known it would come to this, he wouldn’t have suggested such a bad idea. He clung to Fang Jifan’s leg, sobbing miserably. “Mentor, Mentor… please agree, or else… or else Brother Xu… Brother Xu will…”

Fang Jifan just sneered. “Let him jump down first, then I’ll see.”

Ouyang Zhi and the other two craned their necks, shouting, “Don’t jump, don’t jump! Think of another way, find another method!”

Standing high up, Xu Jing felt a chill. Below, his Benefactor’s words made him want to die of sorrow. He swallowed and felt his legs go weak. Hearing Fang Jifan insist that he jump, Xu Jing felt like crying but had no tears. “I… I’m really jumping, Benefactor… I’m jumping.”

“You jump, you jump down. This Young Lord wants to see it. Don’t chicken out; jump down, and I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.”

Xu Jing covered his chest. Those heartless words made his heart ache inexplicably.

Suddenly, he felt all hope was gone. Gritting his teeth, his eyes turned red. “Benefactor, here I come…” With courage from who knows where, he stepped forward…

A black shadow traced a not-so-graceful arc from top to bottom.

Thud…

Then came the sound of flesh and bone colliding with the bluestone bricks.

Fang Jifan was stunned… Damn… He… he really jumped.

Inside the carriage, Zhu Xiurong saw all this. Her heart leaped into her throat. Her pretty face lost color, and she let out a startled cry.

The Old Matron was also scared out of her wits, her face turning green. Suddenly remembering that the Princess should not be frightened, she hurriedly urged the carriage drivers, “Go, go, hurry up and go!”

The carriage moved off. The group of Imperial Guards didn’t dare to look any longer; their duty was to protect the Princess. They quickly surrounded the carriage and hurried away.

“…”

In front of the Fang Family, peace returned once more.

Looking at Xu Jing, who had fallen at their feet, everyone held their breath.

They were… playing for real!

Fang Jifan stared in stunned disbelief.

Tang Yin clutched his chest, wailing like a ghost. “Brother Xu, Brother Xu! I harmed you, I harmed you!”

Deng Jian darted forward and after a quick search, said, “Young Lord, Young Lord, it’s alright, it’s alright. His face didn’t hit the ground first. He’s still alive, still alive!”

Ouyang Zhi exclaimed in shock, “Quick… quick, get a doctor! Where’s the doctor? Hurry and get a doctor!”

The entire Fang Family was in an uproar.

After a long while of commotion, the doctor came to check Xu Jing’s injuries. Luckily, the building wasn’t very high—only about four or five meters—and as Deng Jian said, his face didn’t hit the ground first, so Xu Jing was quite fortunate. He only had two broken bones.

Fang Jifan was a bit dumbfounded. Did people in ancient times really act like this? They were too earnest.

He suddenly realized that when faced with such a troublesome person, he didn’t have much resistance left. He couldn’t very well let the guy climb back up and jump again.

Kindness had always been Fang Jifan’s greatest weakness.

So three days later, Fang Jifan sat in the main hall like a kidnapped bride. Xu Jing, limping along, was like a groom about to enter the bridal chamber. Happily, he performed the formal ceremony to become a disciple, presented the tuition gift, and warmly called Fang Jifan, “Mentor.”

Fang Jifan didn’t say anything. After a long while, he finally responded, “Oh, is it over? Good, that’s that then.”

“Mentor…” Xu Jing cried tears of joy.

Such is human nature—people are inherently prone to feeling unworthy. The more Fang Jifan showed disdain, the more Xu Jing felt he had found a treasure.

He felt both gratitude toward Fang Jifan for saving his life and the belief that his Mentor was an extraordinary man, unmatched under heaven. Overjoyed, he said, “This student wrote home yesterday to inform my mother and my humble wife about Mentor. I wanted them to manage the household at ease. As for me, in the Capital, I will focus solely on serving the imperial court and attending to Mentor.”

Although these deeply moving words made Fang Jifan feel a bit better, he still felt somewhat forced into this arrangement.

“Hmm…” Should he say something? So he said, “Although you are about the same level as one of my disciples…”

This time, the Mentor specifically spared Jiang Chen some embarrassment, but Jiang Chen’s face still turned slightly red.

“But, this Mentor will treat everyone equally. Hmm, study well and prepare for the Palace Examination.”