Does the Top Scholar Regret It Today? - Part 1

第1章 Chapter 1

Moling House in Hugui is considered a wealthy family, but unfortunately their birth was not high.

Their family started as peddlers, and it took three generations of hard work to expand the business. By the time of Moling's grandfather, they were mainly engaged in tea production and silk, and they had purchased a scattered official position.

Nowadays, even though they look respectable, they can still see officials without bowing their heads and sit on benches when appearing in court. But if you really consider your ancestors, compared to those families that have been reading books for generations, it is still lacking in foundation. In the eyes of the readers, it was just a nouveau riche.

Fortunately, their family's house rules were still acceptable, and after their business had grown larger, they did not bully the villagers around them but instead acted kindly by repairing bridges and paving roads, which earned them a reputation for being benevolent. Because of this, even though their birth was slightly worse, when people mentioned their family, the readers would nod their heads and call it "kindness".

Especially since Old Master's fourth daughter had married into a truly scholarly family, which made others look up to them.

Thinking about it, it all depended on Old Master's compassion back then.

That year, there was an uprising in the capital, and many officials were exiled thousands of miles away. Many could not withstand the hardship and died on their way.

At that time, Old Master was still young and traveling outside when he encountered such a person. The official runners only waited for that person to die before burying him on the spot and continuing on their journey. Old Master saw that the male child accompanying the official had a sense of calmness and firmness amidst his sorrow, which was exactly what he admired in "scholars", and he suddenly felt compassionate. He spent money to treat the official, saving a life.

He thought it would just be a brief encounter that would disappear with the wind, but who knew that several years later, after the official had been reinstated and exiled again, he specially came to Hugui looking for his benefactor from back then.

The male child from back then had also grown into a young man by then. Even though he was raised in such a desolate place, it could not erase his clear and elegant appearance. Old Master loved him dearly.

Perhaps he liked him too much that he couldn't hide it, and others noticed it. The father said: "If not for Master Molin back then, I would have died in Guchou. If I had died, my widow and orphaned child would also have no way to live on. This child's life was given by Master Molin, so let him be your half-son."

A son-in-law is considered a half-son. When he said "half-son", it meant the son-in-law.

He had already been reinstated and exiled again, and in terms of status, the Moling family could not reach that level. Suddenly, a good marriage opportunity fell from the sky, Old Master was delighted.

The two families then formed a marital relationship, and the Moling's daughter who was just at the right age to marry married into an official family as if in a dream.

After marrying for several years, Lady Pingshu returned to her hometown to visit relatives. The Moling family warmly welcomed their daughter back home.

Only this joyous occasion had one small unpleasant matter — Old Master's third son, Moling Sanlang, had lost his concubine, Yan Niangniang.

"She shouldn't have picked such a time to die and cause trouble for others on the day of the celebration. The concubine also lacks eyesight."

"What are you talking about? Who can still choose what day to die?"

"It's not like Lady was able to pick this day to pass away, but Old Madam is very unhappy because of this matter. She gave a look to our lady."

"When Sanlang proposed to put the little girl in her courtyard, Lady had already agreed at first, but now she has changed her mind again."

"It's really not easy for our young miss…"

"That can't be blamed on others, it's all because of her birth mother."

The maidservants' voices were not too quiet. At least, Moling could hear them clearly from the inner room.

She had been lying there for two days now. Right now, she had sorted out her identity — that was right, she was the one mentioned in the last sentence with "her". She was Yan Niangniang's daughter, Moling Sanlang's daughter, whose nickname was Moling.

Of course, the real "Moling" little girl died on the night of her mother's death from a high fever. Her soul had already been taken away by her mother to be reborn.

The current Moling is a reincarnator who came through time and space here for the second time.

"I say, the young master looks really handsome."

The maidservants thought that Moling was still asleep, so they chatted while resting. Their voices were full of excitement.

"You saw him?"

"I sneaked a peek at you when you and the table brother were entering the door just now, I actually got to see him for an instant, he's really good-looking. If he grows up, who knows how good-looking he'll become in the future? Apparently, Pingshu is also a handsome man."

"I heard that when Third Auntie and Fourth Auntie were supposed to get engaged, Grandma said that Third Auntie was the eldest daughter and should take this marriage. But Grandpa arranged for Pingshu to meet both ladies across the pond from afar without saying anything. The young master himself chose Fourth Auntie."

"This is what people say… Actually, since Third Auntie is a legitimate daughter, it shouldn't matter if they are merchants' daughters or not, naturally they would choose the one with the better appearance."

"Fourth Auntie is a concubine's daughter, but her appearance is outstanding. So of course she would give birth to such an attractive young master."

"The Old Lady scolded our lady because it's not that Yan Niangniang died at the wrong time, but because your elder sister Sanlang went widowed last year while Fourth Auntie was living so well, bringing along our young master who is also favored by Grandpa. How could Old Madam not be angry?"

"Shh…"

Another maidservant heard these words and was shocked: "Don't let the miss hear it…"

"She's still sleeping, isn't she? Let me check."

The storyteller's maidservant also became cautious because they were serving a young lady who was exactly at that age when children loved to gossip. If she heard this and repeated it in front of their masters, the ones who would be punished first would still be them.

Moling had just arrived for two days, but the original Moling's mind only held such limited information. In order to secure her future survival, she wanted to know more information, so when she saw the maidservant come in, she quickly closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.

The maidservant carefully entered and lifted the curtain to glance at her before lightly exiting and closing the lattice door: "No worries, she's still sleeping."

Another maidservant sighed: "So young and already without a mother… it's really pitiful."

The one who had been gossiping earlier snorted: "What are you talking about? No matter how pitiable, she's still this family's miss. Do you think we slaves have it easy?"

This slave girl was actually quite right.

Moling didn't dislike her calculations. In many cases, people must calculate before they can obtain greater benefits and live better lives.

However, Moling had already looked up at the room above her — that was painted with lacquer on all sides of the beam, decorated with paintings.

And the table in front of her was set with pink and white porcelain, young and lovely.

Then she looked down again. Two maidservants, regardless of whether they were doing it for real or just because they had been assigned to her room without any other options, but whatever their intentions, they were all serving her daily life needs.

She had a separate courtyard, would not starve, would not freeze, and there were people waiting on her — that was already very good.

It was really already very good. There was no need to stir up trouble anymore.

So even though Moling knew that Yan Niangniang was right, she still felt that after weighing the pros and cons of her efforts against what she gained, this was enough to satisfy her and there was no need for her to humbly submit like this little slave girl had suggested by going out to curry favor with a "better" one.

Just let it be.

"I'm thirsty." Moling sat solidly on the bed's edge without being flustered or frightened by their urging, she even patted her stomach and looked up at the maidservant: "I'm also hungry."

At eight years old, why was this girl still only thinking about eating and drinking?

The ambitious maidservant nearly died from anger when faced with such an idle miss.

Old Moling's fourth daughter had married into the Pingshu family in the capital.

She was Moling's daughter who married the best among all her sisters. This marriage made Moling House proud. More importantly, through this connection, Moling House also got a protective umbrella for its place of origin. In the past, many things that were difficult to solve could be easily resolved by going to invest with the name of their uncle-in-law.

Moling House's development these years was due to Pingshu family helping out in so many ways.

Therefore, even though Pingshu was not present in Hugui, there was still Moling's fourth miss' courtyard preserved intact at Moling Manor. Everything was kept as it had been before, cleaned regularly, waiting for the day when the young miss would come to visit.

And indeed, that day had now arrived.

Pingshu was currently entertaining her eldest brother-in-law Sanlang's wife in her own former courtyard.

Brothers and sisters, Pingshu and Moling were one mother and father. Among them, Pingshu and Moling Sanlang were full siblings, so Sanlang's wife was her dearest sister-in-law.

Sanlang's wife brought over the children of the third branch: "Everyone come here."

There were both boys and girls among the children who came forward. They all greeted: "Auntie."

Regardless of whether they were legitimate or illegitimate, these were all Sanlang's children, Pingshu's dearest nephews and nieces. Even though they had seen each other in the main hall earlier, because Aunt was there at that moment, Pingshu also could not single out only her brothers' children to be intimate with. It would have been unfair to the other nephews and nieces.

Now that it was just them here, seeing so many children healthy and lovely, Pingshu's heart filled with joy and she smiled: "Quickly come, let me see."

She patted this one's head and asked another how they were doing. As a daughter who had married far away, seeing her nephews and nieces like this was the same as being able to be with them.

Then she called over her own son and instructed him: "These are my dearest relatives."

第2章 Chapter 2

Ping shu smiled warmly at Moling as she entered the room, "Don't be nervous, child. You're among family now." She gestured for Moling to sit beside her on the plush sofa.

Moling nodded obediently and perched stiffly on the edge of the cushion, hands folded tightly in her lap. Ping shu's maidservant entered with a tray of snacks and drinks which she set down before Moling.

"Please, have something to eat," Ping shu said kindly. "You must be famished after your long journey." She smiled warmly as Moling tentatively reached for a pastry.

As Moling nibbled on the treat, Ping shu studied her niece with a sympathetic gaze. "I know this is all very sudden and overwhelming for you, my dear. But I want you to feel at home here."

Moling looked up shyly from beneath her lashes. "It's just...so different from what I'm used to," she admitted quietly.

Ping shu reached over to pat Moling's hand comfortingly. "Of course it is. But that's all the more reason for you to explore and have some fun! Let me show you around the manor tomorrow and we can do something together."

Moling smiled tentatively, still unsure of what this new life would bring but grateful for her aunt's kindness.

第3章 Chapter 3

Moling looked at the delicate little girl in the mirror and couldn't help but reach out to touch her face.

This little girl was so pretty.

Poor thing.

She hoped that she and her mother could both be reborn into good families in another world.

Whatever happened, now she was "Moling".

Moling stood up from the mirror and began to take over "Molding"'s life.

First, she had to go pay respects to her stepmother Madam Moling and make an appearance to show that "Moling" had recovered from her state of shock and fever.

But when she arrived at Madam Moling's courtyard, Madam Moling was just leaving for a chat with Ping shu.

Jianyan heard this and became restless.

In the end, Hugui was just a small place, and everyone here yearned for "The Capital". This longing fell on the specific person of Pingshu who had returned from The Capital.

Jianyan then urged Moling to go see Ping shu.

Moling sighed. She had specifically brought Jianyan because she felt that Jianyan was a clever girl, but didn't expect her to be so greedy and easily make mistakes.

She tugged at the mourning clothes on her body: "Is this suitable?"

It wasn't appropriate, but after hesitating for a moment, Jianyan said: "Maybe Auntie will feel sorry for the girl and care more..."

"Will she really think I'm unlucky and avoid me from now on?" Moling asked. "Can you guarantee it?"

Jianyan of course couldn't guarantee it. She was just a 13- or 14-year-old girl after all. What could she guarantee?

If Auntie really avoided her, Madam Moling got angry because of this, these consequences were not something that Jianyan as a maidservant could bear. Jianyan lost her spirit.

Madam Moling's lady attendants had all gone to Ping shu's place with her, so Moling went to the head maidservant who was staying behind: "Sister, please tell Mother that I'm alright."

"It's good that you're alright, but Miss is still weak, and should still rest well," said the head maidservant. Her attitude wasn't very warm, but also not cold.

So... everyone was just an ordinary person after all, eating this meal, doing their own job, getting along ordinarily. Not as dramatic as in those novels Moling had seen in her other life.

Moling observed and let out a breath of relief, lightly and easily returning to her room.

She hadn't been back long when Madam Moling returned. After the maidservant reported that the Fourth Miss was alright, she just said: "I know."

But with her own confidante mommy Auntie, she chattered about Ping shu's reaction: "Sister, how could I let a son from the Pingshu house marry one of my daughters again? Not to mention that our room doesn't even have an eldest daughter. I said he was just dreaming awake, but he still didn't want to listen."

From her nose, she let out a sound of disdain.

Mommy Auntie pulled at her sleeve: "When you say it, also keep your voice down a bit, don't be so... cough, pay attention to your tone."

At least try not to offend the man's face.

Three Madame said: "I know."

But as she said this, she still couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Mommy Auntie just looked up at the ceiling.

On Moling's side, after returning to her own courtyard, she relaxed. She dismissed the maidservants and went around in circles herself, familiarizing herself with everything here.

Just after turning twice, suddenly there was a noise outside, and soon the maidservant rushed in in a panic: "Oh no!"

Moling had just arrived from another world to take over "Moling"'s identity when she heard this and her eyebrows twitched: "What's wrong?"

The maidservant said: "Young Master has come!"

"?" Moling paused for a moment before asking, "Which young master?"

The maidservant hurriedly said: "Of course it's the young master from the Pingshu house in The Capital."

If she hadn't misunderstood, according to the information she had collected from the maidservants' idle chatter over the past two days, that young master from the Pingshu house in The Capital wasn't just a kid who was about the same age as "Moling"?

Moling sighed inwardly.

For someone like Moling's maidservant, a young master from The Capital would be a big deal even if it was just a kid. So facing this little boy, she panicked.

On the other hand, it also showed that the quality of the maidservants in her courtyard wasn't very high either. Of course, there were definitely some good ones, but they probably wouldn't land on her.

Fortunately, these maidservants were all over 13 years old. According to this world's rules, a few more years and they would all have to get married. She could select the new ones herself later and slowly train them.

She had wandered off, now deal with the present.

Moling asked: "Where is the young master?"

The maidservant steadied herself for a moment before saying: "Young Master is in the courtyard, but he insists on being greeted first."

Moling understood immediately. It was definitely because of Jianyan's previous performance that she had made her own courtyard people too eager and directly bypassed Moling to invite this young master into the main room, resulting in... being rejected by him.

Moling, although she had just arrived from another world, still knew a bit about this world. She was shocked. Such a small child actually insisted on rules like this, it was too strict.

Her nerves that had just relaxed tightened again.

She quickly tidied up her clothes and said to the maidservant: "Where is he? Take me there."

The maidservant led her out, and Moling stepped out of the main room door when she saw a little boy on the steps below. Behind him were two more maidservants.

Jianyan was next to them smiling obsequiously.

Hearing that she had come out, Pingshu raised his eyes. The two children stood facing each other for an instant.

Moling marveled. The maidservants weren't wrong, this table master really looked good.

At such a young age, he already had distinct features of the nose and eyes. As long as he didn't become ugly later on, who knew how many little girls he would charm?

Pingshu saw the girl on the steps, and in his mind flashed "its appearance graceful, its beauty refined; its temperament pure, its grace soft and gentle". This table sister was like a fallen cherry blossom, poor thing had lost her mother.

He felt even more sorry for her. He called out: "Table Sister?"

Moling hurriedly walked down the steps to greet him: "Is it Pingshu?"

"?" Moling paused for a moment before asking, "Which young master?"

The maidservant hurriedly said: "Of course it's the young master from the Pingshu house in The Capital."

Moling sighed inwardly.

For someone like Moling's maidservant, a young master from The Capital would be a big deal even if it was just a kid. So facing this little boy, she panicked.

She had wandered off, now deal with the present.

Moling asked: "Where is the young master?"

The maidservant steadied herself for a moment before saying: "Young Master is in the courtyard, but he insists on being greeted first."

Moling, although she had just arrived from another world, still knew a bit about this world. She was shocked. Such a small child actually insisted on rules like this, it was too strict.

Her nerves that had just relaxed tightened again.

She quickly tidied up her clothes and said to the maidservant: "Where is he? Take me there."

The maidservant led her out, and Moling stepped out of the main room door when she saw a little boy on the steps below. Behind him were two more maidservants.

Jianyan was next to them smiling obsequiously.

Hearing that she had come out, Pingshu raised his eyes. The two children stood facing each other for an instant.

Moling marveled. The maidservants weren't wrong, this table master really looked good.

At such a young age, he already had distinct features of the nose and eyes. As long as he didn't become ugly later on, who knew how many little girls he would charm?

He felt even more sorry for her. He called out: "Table Sister?"

Moling hurriedly walked down the steps to greet him: "Is it Pingshu?"

"?" Moling paused for a moment before asking, "Which young master?"

The maidservant hurriedly said: "Of course it's the young master from the Pingshu house in The Capital."

Moling sighed inwardly.

For someone like Moling's maidservant, a young master from The Capital would be a big deal even if it was just a kid. So facing this little boy, she panicked.

She had wandered off, now deal with the present.

Moling asked: "Where is the young master?"

The maidservant steadied herself for a moment before saying: "Young Master is in the courtyard, but he insists on being greeted first."

Moling, although she had just arrived from another world, still knew a bit about this world. She was shocked. Such a small child actually insisted on rules like this, it was too strict.

Her nerves that had just relaxed tightened again.

She quickly tidied up her clothes and said to the maidservant: "Where is he? Take me there."

The maidservant led her out, and Moling stepped out of the main room door when she saw a little boy on the steps below. Behind him were two more maidservants.

Jianyan was next to them smiling obsequiously.

Hearing that she had come out, Pingshu raised his eyes. The two children stood facing each other for an instant.

Moling marveled. The maidservants weren't wrong, this table master really looked good.

At such a young age, he already had distinct features of the nose and eyes. As long as he didn't become ugly later on, who knew how many little girls he would charm?

He felt even more sorry for her. He called out: "Table Sister?"

Moling hurriedly walked down the steps to greet him: "Is it Pingshu?"

"?" Moling paused for a moment before asking, "Which young master?"

第4章 Chapter 4

Moling lives in Moling Manor after her mother's death.

She overhears maids gossiping about Old Madam blaming Yan Niangniang's death during Lady Pingshu's celebration.