The Abused Novel Heroine Became a Clingy Sweetheart [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 45.2

The child called Xiao Liu answered without lifting his head, “I’m not going.”

“I want to practice writing. Don’t block me.”

The group of children burst into laughter, “Xiao Liu, are you dreaming of taking the imperial exams and becoming a high official, just like that silly bookworm in the east house?”

“Hahahaha, forget it. How could people from here ever become high officials! What’s the point of reading when you can’t even fill your belly!”

Xiao Liu looked up and glared at them, “You are not allowed to speak ill of Mr. Deng! He is not a silly bookworm. He is a Xiu Cai (successful candidate in the imperial examination at the county level)!”

“Mr. Deng is very capable and will definitely pass the Juren (successful candidate in the imperial examination at the provincial level) exam!”

Seeing his stubbornness, the group of children made faces at him, “You continue with your scribbles here. If you don’t go begging for money, let’s see what you eat tonight!”

Then they scattered, running towards the street, probably heading to the bustling market to beg from pedestrians.

And that Xiao Liu continued to draw and write on the ground with his twig.

You Ting took Qing Su and walked towards the writing child.

Sensing that the light in front of him was being blocked, Xiao Liu frowned and raised his childish face.

He looked at You Ting and Qing Su’s clean and tidy clothes, and their good complexion, which could be seen even with a veil covering their faces.

They were obviously not original residents of Beitang Street.

Xiao Liu asked vigilantly, “Who are you?”

Qing Su rummaged through the sachet hanging from her waist and found a piece of broken silver.

She handed it to Xiao Liu and said with a smile, “You, child, are quite vigilant. Don’t worry, we mean no harm.”

“My noble… my mistress has something she wants to ask you. Just tell us whatever you know.”

Seeing the broken silver, a light flickered in Xiao Liu’s eyes—this was worth a lot of food, enough for him and his mother to eat for quite some time!

If there was any money left over, maybe he could even buy the lowest quality paper.

Xiao Liu hesitated for a moment and then spoke, “What do you want to ask? Go ahead.”

Qing Su was amused by his mature demeanor despite his young age. She reached out, wanting to pinch his cheek, but Xiao Liu turned his head to avoid it.

Xiao Liu said earnestly, “Mr. Deng taught me that there should be no close contact between men and women.”

Qing Su laughed even harder.

“What I want to ask is about this Mr. Deng you mentioned.”

You Ting looked at Xiao Liu and said gently, “May I ask where he lives? Can you lead the way for us?”

The original plot only briefly mentioned that this Mr. Deng lived on Beitang Street but did not specify the exact address.

When Mr. Deng was mentioned, Xiao Liu immediately showed a look of admiration and respect, “So you’ve come to find Mr. Deng.”

He scrutinized You Ting and Qing Su, and asked suspiciously, “The Imperial Examination is coming soon. You’re not bad people who want to do something bad to Mr. Deng, are you?”

Qing Su was amused. She put her hands on her hips and said, “Your idea is truly fanciful, child. How could we be bad people? There’s no one in the whole world better than my mistress!”

Although she didn’t know what You Ting wanted with this Mr. Deng, Qing Su would absolutely and unconditionally support and trust You Ting!

As expected of a child from the slum, young in age but with many thoughts.

Qing Su added, “Besides, that Mr. Deng should be a man, right? What could two weak women do to a grown man like him?”

You Ting said, “I have very important business with Mr. Deng. Moreover, it is definitely a rare piece of good fortune for him.”

Xiao Liu pondered for a long time before finally nodding: “Alright, I’ll take you.”

He stood up, “The road here is not easy to walk. Follow me.”

As they walked, Xiao Liu secretly sized up the expressions of You Ting and Qing Su.

Seeing that they didn’t look like bad people, Xiao Liu led them, turning left and right, until they arrived at a dilapidated thatched hut.

“Here we are.”

He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Mr. Deng! Someone is here to see you!”

Before long, the rickety door of the thatched hut was opened from the inside, and a thin young man appeared before them.

He was truly frail. His features were delicate, but his skin had a slight yellowish tint from long-term malnutrition.

He wore a washed-out old robe, with many patches on the cuffs and body, and it was noticeably too short.

It had clearly been worn for an unknown number of years.

He looked at Xiao Liu, then at You Ting and Qing Su behind Xiao Liu, somewhat confused. “This is?”

You Ting took a step forward and asked with a gentle smile, “Are you Deng Jia, Mr. Deng?”

Deng Jia quickly bowed, saying, “I wouldn’t dare. How can a student be worthy of the title ‘Sir’ or ‘Mr.’? Xiao Liu must have spoken carelessly again. Esteemed lady, please just call me by my name.”

Xiao Liu mumbled, “Mr. Deng teaches us how to read and write, so you are naturally a teacher!”

“I only do this when I have nothing else to do,” Deng Jia sighed softly, a hint of melancholy in his tone. “Besides you, who else has come to learn even half a character?”

Xiao Liu didn’t care. He heard the young masters on the street address their private tutors as ‘Sir.’

Even though Mr. Deng didn’t run a private school, since he taught him, he was a teacher!

“A teacher is a person who imparts the Way, gives instruction, and resolves doubts,” You Ting said, looking at Deng Jia. “Since you answer Xiao Liu’s questions, you are worthy of being called ‘Mr.'”

Xiao Liu brightened up, instantly finding You Ting much more pleasing to the eye.

He had received the reward for leading the way. Thinking of his mother at home, he waved to Deng Jia, “Then I’ll be leaving, Mr. Deng!”

With that, he ran off in a flash.

Deng Jia thought for a moment, a slightly embarrassed look on his face, “Ladies, please come in. It is just a humble dwelling, I’m afraid I have no fine tea to offer.”

You Ting and Qing Su followed Deng Jia into the thatched hut.

What Deng Jia called a “humble dwelling” was no exaggeration; the hut was practically bare.

The room could be seen in its entirety at a glance, with very little furniture. The most numerous items were books.

There was a stack here, and a pile there.

It was evident that Deng Jia loved books. Although the books were slightly curled from frequent reading, they were still kept very clean.

Deng Jia searched for a long time before finding two small wooden stools for You Ting and Qing Su. He said somewhat awkwardly, “Ladies, please have a seat.”

From the inner room, separated by a curtain, came a few coughs from a woman, followed by her weak voice: “Jia’er, has someone come?”

Deng Jia spoke up, “Yes, Mother, we have guests.”

The woman coughed more intensely, and her vague voice continued, “Are they your friends? Then you must treat them well. My body…”

The rest was a continuous, heavy coughing sound.

Deng Jia looked worried. He bowed to You Ting, “Please forgive me, esteemed lady. Please wait for me for a moment.”

He rushed into the inner room, presumably to serve the woman medicine.

Qing Su took the opportunity to whisper in You Ting’s ear, “Your Highness, this Mr. Deng’s home is truly simple. Can he really afford to take the imperial examination?”

“He is a Xiu Cai, why is he still so poor?”

You Ting pointed to the stacked books, “Paper is more expensive than rice. It’s clear that Mr. Deng’s money was all spent on books and medicine.”

Qing Su pondered, “You’re right. As soon as we entered, we smelled a strong scent of medicine. Judging by the sound, Madam Deng must be seriously ill.”

Illness strikes like a mountain collapsing and leaves like silk being drawn out.

The poorer the family, the more they fear serious illness.

The already impoverished family circumstances would only get worse.

Qing Su sighed with emotion, “Mr. Deng is truly filial.”

The noise in the inner room slowly subsided. Deng Jia wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

He came out and smiled apologetically at the two women, “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. My mother is not well and has just fallen asleep.”

“It’s nothing.”

You Ting gave Qing Su a look. Qing Su understood and pushed a previously prepared bundle forward.

Deng Jia’s bright eyes showed a hint of confusion. He asked, puzzled, “What is this?”

“Inside is a bank draft for a hundred taels of silver, as well as the urgently needed medicinal herbs for your mother.”

“I know Mr. Deng has been looking for Tianshan Red,” You Ting tapped the bundle with her finger. “This is it.”

Deng Jia’s eyes suddenly lit up.

A hundred taels of silver was enough for him to move his mother to a better place to live.

Tianshan Red was an rare and exceptional medicine that could treat his mother’s persistent cough.

He had been searching for it diligently for years, but unfortunately, he had found nothing.

Now, this opportunity suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

After a moment, Deng Jia shook his head: “One should not accept rewards without merit. Esteemed lady, please take it back.”

“I never take back what I give.”

You Ting curved her lips, “This is not given to you for free, Mr. Deng. I only need you to agree to a few things.”

Deng Jia asked, “What things?”

You Ting said, “The first thing is to ask you to do your utmost to secure a ranking in the upcoming Imperial Examination.”

What kind of request was this?

Deng Jia was surprised.

Even if You Ting hadn’t said it, he would have done so.

Sensing his confusion, You Ting looked up, gazing directly into Deng Jia’s eyes.

She spoke slowly: “The officialdom needs people like you, Mr. Deng.”

“This path might be difficult,” she paused, “I hope you can persevere.”

The woman’s voice was gentle, yet it seemed to possess an incredibly resilient strength.

She wore a veil, revealing only a pair of bright, ink-black eyes.

Like an immaculate bronze mirror, Deng Jia saw his own reflection in them.

His heart briefly paused, and he suddenly spoke with a serious expression, “Please rest assured, esteemed lady. Ever since I began to study and gain wisdom, I have firmly resolved to do good deeds for the common people.”

Many people on Beitang Street believed that he studied so diligently all these years in order to pass the exams and become rich and successful.

But that was not the case.

Wealth was merely transient. What Deng Jia wanted was to completely rescue more people like those in Beitang Street.

For the first time in so many years, someone seemed to understand his ambition.

“And what is the second thing?” Deng Jia quickly asked.

“No rush,” You Ting smiled slightly, “Let’s talk after you pass the highest level of the exam.”

“You only need to know that I am not a bad person. I have only come to help you achieve your ideals and ambitions.”

She pushed the bundle towards Deng Jia, a slight smile on her lips: “Consider these things a congratulatory gift prepared in advance for your future success in the examination.”

Deng Jia still wanted to refuse, but You Ting had already stood up with Qing Su.

“I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t trouble you any further, Mr. Deng.”

You Ting concluded, “All I ask is that in the future, Mr. Deng can… speak a few words for me.”

Deng Jia was bewildered.

You Ting did not offer further explanation. After leaving the items, she said goodbye and left the thatched hut.

Walking for a good distance, Qing Su looked back and saw the scholar still maintaining his bowing posture.

She said, “This Mr. Deng is not old, but his temperament is quite rigid.”

You Ting patted her head, “That’s called being courteous.”

Deng Jia was not an ordinary person.

In the original plot, this man topped the Imperial Examination and was subsequently appointed to the Hanlin Academy by Emperor Ning Jing.

Before long, he displayed his superior talent, solving several issues concerning the refugees migrating south, which earned him great respect from everyone.

He Zhige found Deng Jia’s weakness—his gravely ill mother—and then sent people to collect Tianshan Red.

He put on a pretense of valuing virtuous scholars, gradually winning Deng Jia’s heart.

Later, He Zhige was able to gain the support of the civil officials and firmly secure the position of Crown Prince.

Aside from Song Yaozi’s backing by the Song family, Deng Jia’s contributions were indispensable.

Unfortunately, after He Zhige ascended the throne, his ‘white moonlight’ died, and Song Yaozi also passed away from illness.

He became even more cold-blooded and ruthless.

He Zhige was ambitious and constantly sought to annex the neighboring Wujin Kingdom.

The society at that time was not suitable for continuous warfare. Deng Jia submitted memorials advising against it, but He Zhige angrily rebuked him multiple times, and his official rank was repeatedly demoted.

Seeing the monarch’s lack of morality and the people’s grievances.

Ultimately, Deng Jia could only choose the most tragic way for a civil official—dying by advising the emperor—by striking his head against a pillar in the Hall of Golden Chimes.

You Ting truly could not stand by and watch such a loyal and good official, who cared for the country and the people, be so mistreated by He Zhige.

Now that she had found Deng Jia one step ahead, it was equivalent to directly severing He Zhige’s left and right arms.

Let’s see how this scoundrel can smoothly ascend to the throne now.

“No wonder Your Highness asked this servant to look for Tianshan Red so long ago,” Qing Su said. “So it was for today.”

She did not ask why You Ting would have known about the present situation years ago. Her Highness naturally had her reasons for doing things.

She only needed to obey and trust.

“Let’s go,” You Ting said. “If we hurry to Yaoshan now, the timing should be just right.”

The two returned the way they came, found the coachman in the teahouse, and took the carriage to Yaoshan.

For some reason, Qing Su felt that Your Highness’s mood on the way to Yaoshan was quite subtle.

It couldn’t be described as good, nor bad; it was just… odd.

One moment she was tidying her sleeve cuffs, the next she was adjusting her skirt hem.

She asked, “Is Your Highness thinking about meeting Miss Song?”

You Ting was drinking tea. Hearing the question, she coughed, choking.

She frowned: “What?”

Qing Su giggled, “I knew Your Highness cared a lot about Miss Song. Otherwise, why would you specifically tidy your clothes?”

You Ting paused, then said, “I was just bored and passing the time.”

Qing Su just smiled without speaking, her face clearly showing disbelief.

You Ting didn’t bother to respond. She lifted the curtain and asked the coachman, “How much longer until we arrive?”

The coachman replied, “To answer Your Highness, about half a ke (quarter of an hour) more.”

The sky was gradually turning dark. You Ting felt her body temperature seemed to rise as well, though she wasn’t sure if it was psychological.

It was clearly a cool evening breeze, yet she seemed to feel a trace of heat.

Just like that night.

It wasn’t until they reached the foot of Yaoshan that a question suddenly occurred to her—what if Song Yaozi didn’t come?

It seemed she had never considered that Song Yaozi would refuse her invitation.

“Your Highness, what’s wrong?” Qing Su turned around and asked, seeing You Ting stop in her tracks.

You Ting said with a strange expression, “Do you think Miss Song will come?”

This drew a muffled laugh from Qing Su.

You Ting gave Qing Su an exasperated look, stopped pondering, and walked straight up the mountain path.

If Song Yaozi hadn’t come…

The worst that could happen was that she and the female lead would perish together, and the mission would fail.

She just didn’t know if there would be any punishment for this failure.

When they were halfway up the mountain, they suddenly saw two familiar figures.

Among the woods, under the moonlight.

It was Song Yaozi and Ying’er.

Separated by a distance, their gazes met across the space.

For some unknown reason, You Ting felt her mood suddenly become much lighter.

Qing Su let out a soft “Ah,” “Your Highness, Miss Song is here!”

Besides the sound of the wind, they could vaguely hear the sound of the monks ringing the bell from the temple.

You Ting suddenly stopped and said to Qing Su, “Let’s go pay respects to the Buddha.”

“Huh? Aren’t we supposed to be admiring the moon?” Qing Su was a little confused.

You Ting answered casually, “Who says you can’t admire the moon at a temple.”

She paused, then added, “Miss Song is not in good health. It’s cool outside.”

Qing Su instantly understood.

She knew it! Your Highness truly valued Miss Song as a friend!

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