Transmigrated into a Historical GL Novel as the Scumbag Heroine - Chapter 43

In the front hall, Madam Cheng glanced at the two who had risen late, then subtly dabbed the corner of her eye.

She and the little maid seemed to have reached the same conclusion: These two… last night, could they have…?

Throughout breakfast, Madam Cheng couldn’t help but keep stealing glances at the pair.

Qiu Luo was puzzled, and once she finished eating, she left to continue scouting for business locations.

Cheng Yu, however, didn’t go to the study. Instead, she walked directly over. “Mother, is there something you want to say?” she asked, having clearly noticed her mother’s gaze.

Madam Cheng reached out and gently patted her daughter’s arm, smiling warmly. “Nothing at all. I just saw how well you two get along and started wondering if perhaps we shouldn’t have postponed the wedding.”

She had originally planned to arrange the marriage after the New Year, but with Father Cheng and Shen Yanding causing constant headaches, she delayed the matter until they reached the provincial capital.

Once there, Madam Cheng grew preoccupied with Ah Mo and Qiu Erlang’s matters. And with the exam approaching, she thought: No harm in waiting. Good things are worth the wait.

But now, watching her daughter and Qiu Luo together every day, she began to question herself. Young people… how can they possibly remain restrained when their beloved is right in front of them? Married or not, it’s not much of a barrier. Still, Yu has always had a mind of her own. She wouldn’t let her feelings interfere with serious matters.

With that thought, the words she had planned to say were swallowed back down. It might be best to let things unfold naturally.

“It’s good to wait until after the exam,” Cheng Yu said earnestly. “Then I can help you plan the wedding, and you won’t have to exhaust yourself.”

Hearing this, Madam Cheng felt deeply comforted. “I’m not tired. You just focus on preparing. We’ll handle everything else later.”

“Yes, Mother. You can rest assured.”

Not long after, Ah Mo arrived in the capital, bringing Qiu Erlang along. Everything in their hometown that could be sold had been sold. Their ties to that place were growing ever more distant.

Qiu Erlang also brought news: they had encountered members of the Shen family on the road.

Shen Yanding had also come to the provincial capital to prepare for the exam, and he wasn’t alone. He arrived in grand fashion, accompanied by a dozen attendants. Apparently, County Magistrate Lu held great hopes for his son-in-law.

Qiu Luo only listened in silence. She didn’t even think it was worth mentioning to Cheng Yu.

But one day, on her way home, she noticed a group of people loitering near their residence, pointing and whispering—she even heard Cheng Yu’s name.

Qiu Luo immediately grew alert. She circled the area once before returning home and reported the matter to Madam Cheng that very night.

“Auntie, perhaps I’m being overly cautious, but just in case, I think we should hire some guards. Better to be prepared.”

To be honest, her first suspicion was Shen Yanding. The male lead really is like a ghost that won’t leave.

The plot had already shifted dramatically. Though there was no way Cheng Yu would end up with Shen Yanding now, it never hurt to stay vigilant—especially since the original story’s biggest antagonist, Lu Jiaojiao, was still alive and well. Who knew if she’d come looking for trouble?

Madam Cheng had already heard from Ah Mo that the Shen family was in the capital. Now, hearing Qiu Luo’s report of people asking about them—and that her daughter was mentioned—she too suspected Shen Yanding.

After all, they had kept a low profile since arriving. Their residence was quiet, and they barely interacted with the neighbors. Who else would be prying into their affairs?

Madam Cheng made up her mind and nodded. “You’re right. Since Ah Mo and Erlang are here, I’ll start arranging it tomorrow. Don’t worry—Shen Yanding won’t even set foot through our door. And if he dares stir up trouble, we’ll report him to the authorities.”

This, in fact, was a major reason they had moved to the capital.

County Magistrate Lu was both Shen Yanding’s father-in-law and a local official. If anything happened, he’d surely side with his own people.

Leaving that place was part of a larger strategy. No matter how far Magistrate Lu’s influence reached, it couldn’t touch the provincial capital. That was the Prefect’s domain.

And Madam Cheng didn’t worry about possible collusion. If Magistrate Lu really had connections in high places, he wouldn’t have spent over twenty years stuck in a small county post with no promotions.

The next day, Ah Mo brought back confirmation.

“Madam, our people discovered that the ones secretly snooping on us were servants under Young Master Shen.”

Ah Mo was referring, of course, to Shen Yanding.

Madam Cheng’s face turned dark. “That damn leech. He’s really shameless. Hire some strong guards—if he dares show up, let him in.”

“Let him in?” Ah Mo was confused.

Madam Cheng sneered. “Yes. Let him in so we can throw him out crying. Some people are just stubborn. Until they get smacked down, they never learn.”

Strangely enough, Shen Yanding didn’t make a move. All the way up to the day before the exam, he remained silent.

Instead, he sent Cheng Yu a letter.

Madam Cheng didn’t even glance at it. She burned it on the spot.

The exam’s tomorrow. Who knows what poison that bastard’s written to mess with my daughter’s focus?

—

In Shen Yanding’s residence:

When his page returned, he asked anxiously, “Did you hand the letter to Cheng Yu personally?”

The servant, afraid of punishment, nodded hastily, not daring to meet his master’s eyes.

As if I could even get near her. Even the young master wouldn’t be able to see Cheng Yu. What chance did I have?

But Shen Yanding was satisfied and returned to his study. He’d already investigated thoroughly—Cheng Yu still hadn’t married Qiu Luo, which meant he still had a chance.

Just as he’d written in the letter: Once I top the exam rankings, I’ll divorce Lu Jiaojiao and take Cheng Yu as my one and only wife.

He was confident.

Nearby, two of the bodyguards exchanged a glance and nodded. That night, one of them snuck into the kitchen.

—

On the first day of the exam, Madam Cheng, Qiu Luo, and Qiu Erlang escorted Cheng Yu to the exam grounds.

The juren exam lasted three days, during which examinees lived and ate on-site—a true test of endurance and mental strength.

After Cheng Yu entered, they waited outside for another half-hour before preparing to leave.

“Have the servants keep watch here. Let’s go back,” said Madam Cheng.

But just as they turned, a commotion broke out near the examination gate.

Everyone turned to look, nervous.

Two constables were dragging someone out, covering their noses as they went.

When they got a clear look at the person being dragged, no one recognized him, and the crowd collectively relaxed. Some felt pity; others took pleasure in his misfortune.

“He reeks… did he crap himself right after going in?”

“What bad luck! Thank goodness I packed all my son’s meals myself.”

“These exams test more than talent—they test fate. He looks like a young master from a wealthy family. Such a pity.”

The chatter grew louder.

Qiu Erlang stared in disbelief. “Sis, pinch me. I must be hallucinating.”

Qiu Luo rolled her eyes—and pinched him hard.

“Ow!” Qiu Erlang howled, scooting over to Madam Cheng. “Auntie, she’s bullying me!”

Madam Cheng chuckled at the siblings’ antics. “Let’s head back. Nothing to do with us.”

Qiu Luo nodded, especially cheerful today—because the person being dragged out… was Shen Yanding.

He didn’t even finish the first round and already got hauled out? So much for becoming a scholar. Seems the plot’s gone completely off the rails.

Shen Yanding was carried home. After seeing a physician, he was told he’d consumed something laced with a powerful laxative. Furious beyond reason, he roared:

“Find out who did this! I’ll kill them!”

It was all ruined. He missed his chance. The next exam would be three years away.

Would Cheng Yu wait three years for him?

But no matter how hard they searched, they couldn’t find the culprit. Shen Yanding grew increasingly irritable, especially toward the people sent by Magistrate Lu. He wanted to kill them all.

Looks like he’d have to delay divorcing Lu Jiaojiao for now.

—

Cheng Yu, of course, would not wait three years—or even a single day.

Three days later, when she emerged from the exam, Madam Cheng told her about the burned letter and how Shen Yanding had been carried out in disgrace on the first day.

Cheng Yu merely smiled. “Mother, you truly see far ahead. If that letter had reached me, I might’ve caught his sickness just from reading it.”

There was no trace of blame in her tone—only amusement.

Relieved, Madam Cheng replied, “Exactly. From now on, anything from that family gets burned on sight. Don’t even touch it.”

On the carriage ride home, Qiu Luo sat beside Cheng Yu, beaming in silence.

Cheng Yu shot her a look. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Qiu Luo answered bluntly, “Auntie said that once you’ve rested a couple of days, the wedding will be held. I’m just… too happy for words.”

Cheng Yu blinked, then looked down shyly. A small smile tugged at her lips. She turned her face away from Qiu Luo’s scorching gaze and murmured softly, “Scoundrel.”

“What was that?” Qiu Luo asked, leaning in.

“Nothing… I’m happy too,” Cheng Yu whispered again.

This time, Qiu Luo heard her clearly. She pulled Cheng Yu into her arms and kissed her lightly on the brow.