Chapter 50: Cowardly Ma Wencai

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Liu Yitang blocked his path. “Wencai, people’s mouths are their own, and there is no stopping them anytime soon. I’ll have Yiqing move into Young Master Wang’s room. That should quiet the rumors at the academy and also prove that the two of you are innocent.”

“Minister Liu, are you really comfortable letting Yiqing live with Wang Lantian? Do you know what kind of person he is?” Ma Wencai demanded, pointing at Wang Lantian.

Brother Wencai, before you came to the academy, I was already sharing a room with Wang Lantian. And frankly, I was convinced that living with Wang Lantian was far better than living with Ma Wencai.

Liu Yitang smiled knowingly. “Wencai, I know you care about Yiqing, but you needn’t worry. Our Liu family has some acquaintance with the Wang family, and I have complete confidence in Young Master Wang’s character.”

“But—”

“Young Master! Young Master, something terrible has happened!” Matong and Yezi came rushing toward the doorway. “Young Master, there’s been a major incident!”

Seeing that Liu Yitang was occupied, Matong immediately fell silent. Yezi hurriedly explained, “Young Master, they put a picture up on the notice board. They’re saying that you and Young Master Ma have a taste for men. A great many people have gathered around it, gossiping.”

“What?” Liu Yitang gave us a helpless look and strode toward the notice board.

Even from a distance, I could see that the area around it was packed with people. Everyone from the kitchen and the laundry room had come running to watch the spectacle. What was going on? It was only a drawing. Was there really any need for such a commotion? I wanted to see what it depicted.

Before we even reached the board, we heard Qin Jingsheng’s voice. “The coward Ma Wencai, hiding in the cabinet, throws himself into Liu Yiqing’s arms and cries for his mother! Hahahaha…”

“Hahaha…”

Upon hearing this, Ma Wencai rushed forward and angrily tore the drawing from the notice board. Like a horse gone wild, he plunged frantically through the crowd, demanding of everyone he saw, “Who did this?”

“Was it you?”

“Or you?”

…

I followed Ma Wencai to the notice board. The picture showed Ma Wencai and me hiding inside the cabinet, with him weeping in my arms. Beside it was written: The coward Ma Wencai, hiding in the cabinet, throws himself into Liu Yiqing’s arms and cries for his mother!

“Who did this? Who did this?” I could not help roaring as well. Whoever had done such a vicious thing had dared to turn even that incident into public mockery.

Liang Shanbo stopped me. “Yiqing, don’t panic. We all believe you.”

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“Whoever saw it must be the one who did it!” Liu Xiangdong added fuel to the fire.

He was right. Whoever had seen it could have done it. Xia Yunuo and Xin’er had already gone down the mountain, and Governor Ma had left long ago. Matong would never have had the nerve. Liang Shanbo certainly would not do such a thing.

Could it be… Zhu Yingtai?

What reason would she have? But who else could it be? She had seen me climb into the cabinet with her own eyes.

I viciously crumpled the drawing into shreds, then seized Zhu Yingtai by the collar. “Did you do this?”

“Me?” Zhu Yingtai stared at me in shock. “Liu Yiqing, don’t make baseless accusations. How could I possibly have done it?”

Yes. How could she have? No matter what, Ma Wencai had been her companion since childhood. She would never do something like this to hurt him.

Then who was it?

Liu Yitang took the crumpled drawing from my hand, his expression darkening at once. “I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If I discover who is responsible for this drawing, that person will be punished severely.”

His face was livid. He glared at everyone before angrily sweeping away in a whirl of robes.

I had surely brought the Liu family endless shame this time. Liu Yitang was a stern man, but ever since he had come up the mountain, I had never seen him so furious. Whoever had made that drawing was certainly doomed.

That vile creature deserved no pity, even in death.

“Hey… Brother Wencai—”

“Wencai…”

I turned at the sound of their voices. Ma Wencai was running so desperately—where was he going? Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai, and I hurried after him.

That direction again. Could he be planning to hide in the cabinet at the back of the mountain once more?

“Brother Wencai!” With his long legs, Liang Shanbo quickly overtook us and caught Ma Wencai beside the stables. “You can’t hide in there again.”

Ma Wencai struggled against him. “Get away from me! Let me go…”

His eyes were filled with terror and unease. He was trying to escape reality once more, trying to lock himself inside some dark corner where he could weep alone.

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Liang Shanbo and Ma Wencai wrestled with each other—one determined to climb inside, the other refusing to let him. Liang Shanbo wrapped his arms around Ma Wencai’s waist and dragged him backward, but Shanbo was a frail scholar. How could his strength compare with Ma Wencai’s? After only a few steps, Ma Wencai flung him to the ground.

Then Ma Wencai suddenly clamped both hands around Liang Shanbo’s throat. “Tell me! Was it you? Did you do it?”

At first, I thought Ma Wencai was merely acting out of control. The last time, in the peach grove, he had not actually harmed Zhu Yingtai. But this time, he seemed truly intent on it.

“I want you dead! I want you dead!”

Unable to speak beneath Ma Wencai’s grip, Liang Shanbo’s face flushed crimson. I realized how serious the situation had become and hurried forward with Zhu Yingtai to pull Ma Wencai away.

“Ma Wencai, let go! Shanbo couldn’t possibly have done it. Let go!”

Ma Wencai’s expression grew dazed, and little by little, he released Liang Shanbo.

“Don’t go.” Seeing that he seemed about to climb into the cabinet again, I immediately caught hold of him.

Ma Wencai had lost all reason. His sole desire was to crawl into that cabinet. I could only wrap my arms around him and drag him back, but he was far too strong and flung me aside. I quickly stepped in front of him again. After several heated exchanges, I finally slapped him.

Tears filled Ma Wencai’s eyes as he stared at me, terror shining in them.

“Ma Wencai, no one here is going to hurt you. What are you so afraid of? You coward. You frightened little coward.”

Ma Wencai collapsed onto a wooden bench, covered his face, and lay across the table. From the trembling of his shoulders, I could tell that he was crying. Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai, and I exchanged helpless glances. There was truly no knowing what to do with Ma Wencai.

“Yingtai, stay behind and try to persuade him. I’m sure he needs your help.” I patted Liang Shanbo on the shoulder. I was determined to find the culprit behind all this.

Zhu Yingtai nodded. I had just turned to leave when Ma Wencai suddenly rose behind me.

“Go on, leave! Move in with Wang Lantian right now. Isn’t that what you wanted? Go!”

With his back turned, Ma Wencai braced both hands against the table. His face was streaked with tears.

“Ma Wencai, this matter has nothing to do with whether I change rooms or not. Don’t confuse the two. Do you really want to keep being pointed at by everyone and carry this disgrace on your back?”

“I don’t care.” Ma Wencai staggered toward me and gripped my shoulders with both hands, his voice urgent. “I truly don’t care.”

I glanced at Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. They were watching Ma Wencai and me with strange expressions. I pulled Ma Wencai’s hands away.

“But I do.”