The case of Fan Ning was publicly tried at the government office the next day.

Ning was wounded by a sword, but the stab was not deep. After urgent treatment by a doctor, he was in no serious condition.

Fan’s head was also injured. The two were carried to the trial by their respective attendants, lying down to listen to the proceedings.

Besides the two of them, a woman from the Red Sleeves Hall was gravely wounded by the enraged Fan and could not attend the trial. The manager of the hall represented her.

The Prefecture’s government office rarely opened even once a fortnight, but this trial was so grand due to the special status of Fan Ning and Ning.

In the courtroom, the two former friends turned against each other, causing a scene in the public hall, providing the Prefecture’s people a good show.

The incident was quite clear: it all started with Mr. Fan, who wielded a sword in drunken rage and injured two people, warranting immediate compensation and imprisonment.

But since the other party offered a high compensation, Red Sleeves Hall withdrew their charge, and Ning agreed to reconcile on the spot, resulting in their acquittal.

During this period, scholars who accompanied Ning the previous day were called to testify in court.

Liu Ji escaped the ordeal last night but couldn’t avoid it today.

He was staying at Prefect He’s residence, and this morning, Prefect He directly waited for him at the guest courtyard, and both entered the government office together.

However, it was merely a formality, as this matter was unrelated to Liu Ji. As long as he explained the events at Dengyun Building clearly, it was sufficient.

The case ended by noon, and everyone dispersed.

Fan Ning and Ning went their separate ways, likely never to associate with each other again.

As for how the people at Red Sleeves Hall learned of Fan’s family secret, the beauty explained she heard it from someone, but Fan didn’t believe it.

He was convinced that Ning leaked the information.

Because Ning indeed had no control over his mouth, he himself was unsure whether he revealed it drunkenly.

Neither of them considered that there might be a deliberate design behind it all.

After all, you see that obsequious smile of the scholar in white, how could he harbor such scheming motives?

Even if he did, being a rustic villager, how could he dare to plot against a noble family?

A day later, families from both Fan and Ning sent people to forcibly bring them home, to prevent further disgrace and protect the family reputation.

Falling out over a courtesan, and making it a public spectacle, was utterly shameful for the entire family!

There were less than two days left until the examination results were announced, and Liu Ji, along with his teacher and senior brother, visited the Guangwen Book Hall again. Looking at the neatly arranged bookshelves inside the hall, he felt invigorated.

No more howling dogs were barking now.

Gongliang Liao routinely went to the library’s backyard to play chess with the manager, leaving only Qi Xian and Liu Ji’s senior brother in the Book Collection Pavilion.

Liu Ji selected an ancient book, found a sunny spot by the window, sat down, and calmly perused it.

The sunlight on him made him appear dignified and solemn, a stark contrast to his usual raffish demeanor.

Qi Xian stood in front of him with hands behind his back, staring, feeling that the matter of Fan Ning and Ning was not so simple, but lacking evidence.

However, the biggest flaw is that there is no flaw.

"Junior brother, you’ve become quite steady lately," Qi Xian said lightly, neither complimenting nor criticizing, merely reminding him that his overly normal reaction made him seem abnormal.

Everyone in the library knew that Fan Ning took Liu Ji, this lackey, as their target for bullying.

Therefore, Liu Ji should rightly resent these two.

Fan Ning caused the trouble and was forcibly taken home by their family; even if Liu Ji wouldn’t celebrate, he shouldn’t be so indifferent now.

Qi Xian seriously warned, "This is very suspicious."

At this, seeing Liu Ji’s faint reaction by the flickering of his eyelash, Qi Xian knew he had listened and turned away to find a book for himself.

Liu Ji raised an eyebrow, suddenly closed the book, dropped all pretense of calm, quickly caught up with the youth ahead, and grabbed his head from behind, rubbing it harshly.

"Oh my little senior brother, how can you be so clever!" Liu Ji gritted his teeth and said.

Qi Xian instantly burst into anger, elbowed him, but Liu Ji dodged successfully, turned around, and was about to punch him, only to have his forehead pressed down by Liu Ji’s long arm.

Qi Xian’s swinging fists hit nothing but air, always an inch away from reaching Liu Ji, causing him to shout in anger, "Someone, help!"

Shi Tou and the guards immediately rushed in, causing Liu Ji to shiver, "Hey, Qi Xian, don’t play like this!"

Quickly letting go, he slipped away with great speed.

Shi Tou quickly scanned his young master, seeing him uninjured but with hair tousled like a bird’s nest, then asked about the escaping figure outside:

"Young master, should we chase him?"

Qi Xian waved it off, tidied up his clothes, recombed his hair, patted his knees, and went after him himself.

"Liu Ji, stop right there!"

The guards watched the brothers chase each other around the flowerbed, helplessly exchanging glances, speechless.

Who knows, when returning to the Capital City, if the old Family Head sees such ’lively’ young masters, he might just beat them with a stick.

Appearing to fight, yet it was really just the junior brother teasing the senior brother, the two played around for a long while before reconciling, reading and taking notes together.

By evening, they went to the backyard to escort their teacher, left the book hall, and returned to the city.

The three of them crossed the city gate just before it closed. Qi Xian intended to ask Liu Ji if he wanted to dine together, but then saw Liu Ji’s smug smile: "I’m dining with my wife tonight."

Finally, under the observant gaze of Gongliang Liao and Qi Xian, he added, "I won’t be back for the next few days; I’m staying with my wife."

With that, leaving the two single souls, he lifted the carriage curtain, scoped out the inn, and deftly jumped off the carriage as it passed the inn.

Song Yu and Qin Yao were about to escort Manager Fang of the lumber business out, and the couple exchanged a look. Without words, Liu Ji quickly transitioned into the role of the husband’s hostess, warmly greeting Manager Fang.

After sending him off, Liu Ji immediately leaned closer, smiling: "Wife, how did the business go?"

Qin Yao gestured for Song Yu to order a meal and led Liu Ji to find an empty seat in the inn’s hall, sitting down before saying: "It went quite smoothly."

Manager Fang agreed on the price, promising her that this batch of lumber wouldn’t increase in price.

But he couldn’t promise the same for the next batch unless Qin Yao increased her order by thirty percent.

Unfortunately, Fulong Trading Company has yet to give her a definitive answer; they are still deliberating over the Lady’s Box matter.

But this was manageable for Qin Yao. The profits from the last batch, after deducting costs and taxes, netted six hundred and fifty taels.

Combined with their original savings, they now had a grand sum of one thousand five hundred and ten taels of silver.

Even if they did nothing thereafter, with the savings and estate, they could live without worry.

Of course, that is assuming there are no unforeseen disasters or mishaps.