Chapter 167: Chapter 84 Sunken Boat_2

The master’s offspring are masters generation after generation, and the servant’s offspring are servants generation after generation...

Isn’t that so? He had been running around for days, seeking help and giving gifts, to get Jiu’er into school, but Fan Zhenglian always gave him the brush-off. And when he tried hard to please Zhao Feiyan, she had the audacity to re-gift the local products he carefully prepared to the servants, ridiculing them as "pickles offered by poor ghosts".

Jiu’er couldn’t get into the official school and could only attend those disreputable private schools. Even if there was an opportunity to compete in the future, what would the Shengjing officialdom be like in many years? Would it be as it is now, with the Ministry of Rites Examiners colluding with others, and rampant corruption in the tribute examinations? Whether Jiu’er would end up like him, or become another Wu Youcai who never made a name for himself, no one could say for sure.

In this world, being a servant was doomed to be bullied, whoever had power, was the master.

Lu Tong’s words reechoed in his ears.

"However, now that Lord Fan is in trouble, Record Keeper Qi is not implicated yet, but his close connections with the Fan Family might cause others to misdirect their anger at you."

Her tone was full of concern, "Record Keeper Qi, you have to prove that you have not been colluding with them."

Qi Chuan stood at the entrance of the Fan Mansion, his eyes reflecting a changing expression.

When Fan Zhenglian was taken down, his act of taking the exam in Fan Zhenglian’s stead hadn’t been exposed. But as the case deepened, those old stories might be dug up by others.

Once it came out that he took the place of Fan Zhenglian in the exam, he too would be thrown into prison, and along with him, Jiu’er would become the son of a criminal, scorned by others.

Unless... he sought another backer.

Since Fan Zhenglian’s return to Shengjing, he had risen quickly among the ranks, offending many people in court in the process.

These days, there were plenty who wanted to kick him while he was down and take his place.

He had always remembered the kindness the Fan Family showed him in his youth and had never thought to betray it, but if it concerned Jiu’er...

He could be Fan Zhenglian’s knife, and naturally, he could be someone else’s knife as well.

"Record Keeper Qi?"

Qi Chuan came back to his senses and looked at the woman Doctor in front of him, his gaze shifting slightly.

"Thank you for your concern, Doctor Lu."

Lu Tong smiled slightly, a subtle shyness in her smile.

She said, "I just hope that Record Keeper Qi can think more for himself."

Yin Zheng’s teasing gaze swept over the two of them, and she said cheerily, "Miss, it’s getting late. We still need to visit other shops."

Lu Tong lowered her head and bid farewell to Qi Chuan, "Record Keeper Qi, I have other matters to attend to, so I must take my leave now."

Qi Chuan nodded in response.

As Lu Tong turned around, her skirt accidentally collided with two children who were playing at the entrance of the Fan Mansion; the water in the tile they were using spilled everywhere due to the bump, and the paper boat folded from a white sheet was capsized, half of it sinking into the water, threatening to go under.

Lu Tong steadied the boy who nearly fell and glanced at the tile he held tightly in his arms.

The water in the tile rippled, the paper boat unable to withstand the water, gradually sinking. Two ants were frantically scurrying about.

She stood up straight and gently reminded them while looking at the ants in the tile,

"Your boat is about to sink. Aren’t you going to escape quickly?"

Qi Chuan was startled and subconsciously looked back at her, but she seemed completely unaware and continued walking into the bustling crowd of the market.

...

It was a long time after they had entered the market that Yin Zheng looked back to see the man still standing at the entrance of the Fan Mansion, his figure like a blurry statue.

She turned her face and asked in a low voice to the person beside her, "Miss, will he really accuse Fan Zhenglian?"

Lu Tong laughed softly,

"Perhaps."

Qi Chuan had served the Fan Family loyally for many years, and though Fan Zhenglian outwardly treated him leniently, he firmly held him back from climbing the ladder, halting his career path there for a lifetime.

If that was all, it might be fine, but unfortunately, Qi Chuan also had a son.

Just as her cousin Liu Kun would risk it all and betray his kin for the sake of his son’s future, Qi Chuan too would consider his son’s luxurious life and treat Fan Zhenglian as a bargaining chip.

Qi Chuan had followed Fan Zhenglian since he was a child. Although on the surface, some of Fan Zhenglian’s secret affairs did not involve Qi Chuan, someone as astute as Qi Chuan likely held some leverage over Fan Zhenglian.

If Qi Chuan could add fuel to the fire on Fan Zhenglian’s case, that would be best. But if he couldn’t...

She had other means to ensure that Fan Zhenglian could not turn the tables.

Seeing the decisive look on Lu Tong’s face, Yin Zheng didn’t ask further, just smilingly said, "Then shall we head back to the clinic now?"

Lu Tong was about to reply when her expression suddenly changed, and she swiftly turned around.

Yin Zheng was taken aback, and following her gaze, the street was bustling, with a constant stream of visitors in front of the teahouses and wine shops; in the distance, at the entrance of a small alley, a vendor of calligraphy and paintings was energetically hawking his wares.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read