News about Jiang Pengji's archery challenge had traveled fast. As she expected, people focused more on her archery skills than her arrogant challenge, so her reputation hadn't been affected much.
Liu She was sitting up straight with a bamboo sheet before him. On the paper were Liu Lanting's birth date and time.
"How was your day?" asked the father teasingly.
Jiang Pengji grumbled, "Boring! Those langjuns moaned over little things like the weather. My mood was completely ruined."
Liu She nearly laughed out loud. "That is true. Gatherings like the one today are usually tedious. Yet I must remind you to be more prudent when dealing with people like Zheng Bin. I cannot imagine what would have happened if your archery skills were not as good as you thought."
Jiang Pengji shrugged as she sat next to Liu She at the desk. "Did he come with his family to cry in your face?"
Would Zheng Bin yell for help at home and bring his parents here to protest?
"I would toss him away if he did. The Zhengs would not trouble me with these matters." Liu She shook his head and shared his concern. "You leave no grace for others, and that can be dangerous, especially when you do not have absolute control over what they can do afterward. Just learn to save some face for people. Do you understand?"
Save face for others, and they will save yours.
This might have appeared to be advice telling her to treat others better, but there was, in fact, an implied meaning.
As Liu She said, she should show others grace when she did not have "absolute control" over them. That meant that if she had the methods to restrain them, she could act freely as she wanted.
Liu She didn't mind clearing up his daughter's messes. He had done the same for his deceased wife. Yet his protection could not last forever. Who would watch over her after he passed away? Liu She decided he needed to correct her temper while he was still there.
"I know Zheng Bin's good deeds," Jiang Pengji replied patiently. "He is taking the examination to become an official. He must maintain a positive image of an upper-class langjun who is respectful to his parents, talented, and handsome. His reputation is the key to his success. If I had actually scarred him, he would have no chance of entering the court."
Liu She was surprised. "What do you know about him?"
"One can hardly tell from his proper manners that he is a pedophile and is addicted to violence. He has killed quite a number of children," Jiang Pengji said with distaste. "If Zheng Bin was already admitted to the court, the scandal would have merely brought him criticisms from the other bureaucrats. But he is sitting for the exam, and the test is demanding about the participants' images, so…"
She did not finish the sentence, but her meaning was clear enough.
This roused Liu She's curiosity. "How do you know about his obsession?"
Jiang Pengji replied, "Anyone with eyes can see it."
Liu She touched his forehead and glanced at the sheet on the desk. He then asked abruptly, "What about me? What can you tell about me right now?"
"I recognize the scent on your clothes from the monastery. It can be found nowhere else because of a unique fragrance that makes it special. You are wearing the same clothing as yesterday. Although they are still clean, there are marks on the corners from the dew at night. I guess you visited Master Liaochen last night to deal with my marriage with Jing'er?"
Chapter end
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