Chapter 64: Chen Fan's Thoughts
"If I go, will you miss me?" Chen Fan continued in a soft voice.
Although he knew that these words were heard only by the two of them, Su Wenqi felt even more nervous.
She did not know whether her nervousness stemmed from the fear of being overheard or from the uncertainty of how to reply.
"Chen Fan, you..."
"If I go to the Imperial Academy, I will not bear to leave you behind."
Just as Su Wenqi was about to speak, Chen Fan proactively interrupted her.
These words left Su Wenqi frozen in place, as she had never expected Chen Fan to say something of the sort.
Chen Fan himself did not know why Su Wenqi's figure had constantly been appearing in his mind over the past few days; perhaps this was simply a common affliction among men!
"Mother, what is wrong with you?"
At that moment, seeing Su Wenqi stop in her tracks, little Lanlan looked up at her curiously.
"Let's go home."
Su Wenqi picked up Lanlan and, as if fleeing, briskly walked out of the Chen residence.
Su Wenqi could feel her heart beating rapidly within her chest; it had been a very long time since she last experienced such a sensation.
The last time she felt this way was when she was with her late husband.
Watching Su Wenqi's retreating figure, Chen Fan's eyes revealed a trace of lingering reluctance.
By the time Chen Fan returned to his chamber, the two sisters had already packed several bundles of items for him.
"I heard that the capital is rather cold, so we must pack some thick clothes for our husband."
"That's right, we cannot let our husband catch a chill."
...
The sisters discussed among themselves while packing the garments.
"Husband, is there anything else you need to pack? We can help you gather it all."
The two sisters asked.
Instead of answering, Chen Fan pulled them to sit down on the edge of the bed.
"Do you want me to go to the Imperial Academy?"
Chen Fan asked, holding the hands of both sisters.
"Of course we do! That is the Imperial Academy after all!"
Though unaware of why Chen Fan would ask such a question, the two sisters replied without the slightest hesitation.
This response placed Chen Fan in a difficult position.
"If I do not go to the Imperial Academy, would you be sad?"
Hesitating for a moment, Chen Fan finally voiced the question.
Hearing this, the sisters exchanged glances.
"Husband, do you not wish to go to the Imperial Academy?"
The sisters asked with a hint of surprise.
Chen Fan nodded.
"The Imperial Academy is not a place I yearn for."
"In this lifetime, I only wish to hold my wives and live a prosperous life, with no desire to become an official."
Chen Fan expressed his true thoughts.
This left Yingchun and Yingxia somewhat astonished.
After all, the status of the Imperial Academy in the hearts of the people of Great Xia was truly irreplaceable.
"Husband, if you do not want to go, then you need not go. We cannot bear to part with you either," Yingxia said.
"Husband, the two of us sisters have no grand demands; we only wish for our family to live happily together. Since you do not wish to go, then let us stay," Yingxia added.
Hearing their words, a wave of warmth surged through Chen Fan's heart.
Unable to resist, Chen Fan leaned forward and planted a firm kiss on both of their cheeks.
"Husband, the two dignitaries said earlier that they would come to fetch you in person tomorrow, and that if you refused, they would tie you up and drag you along. What shall we do then?"
"Those are the Imperial Tutor and Director Liu!"
The sisters suddenly looked at Chen Fan with worried expressions.
Yet Chen Fan remained entirely calm, showing not a shred of panic.
"I have made up my mind. Tomorrow we shall..."
Chen Fan whispered softly into the ears of the two women.
Upon hearing his words, astonishment instantly washed over their faces.
"Can this really work?"
The two women asked doubtfully.
The next day, Fang Zhengru and Director Liu rose at the crack of dawn, preparing to personally fetch Chen Fan, fearing that if they arrived too late, he might change his mind.
Thus, they set out very early in the morning.
Zhao Hongwei had already prepared the carriage.
As a disciple of the Imperial Academy himself, Zhao Hongwei was naturally returning to the capital alongside Director Liu and Fang Zhengru.
Outside, a large gathering of scholars was already waiting, everyone eager to witness the scene of the Imperial Tutor personally coming to escort an ordinary citizen to the Imperial Academy.
Before long, the grand procession made its way toward Chen Fan's courtyard.
Looking at the dense crowd of scholars following closely behind, Zhao Hongwei felt a surge of intense jealousy.
To his knowledge, ever since the founding of Great Xia, this was the very first time an Imperial Tutor and such a massive entourage had personally gone to invite a single individual.
The presence of so many people parading through the streets naturally aroused the curiosity of the townsfolk.
Upon learning that they were on their way to welcome Chen Fan into the Imperial Academy, the onlookers joined the procession as well, hoping to share in the auspicious occasion.
Soon, the crowd behind them swelled even larger.
More and more people continued to pour in from all directions.
Witnessing this spectacle, Zhao Hongwei's jealousy reached its absolute peak.
He certainly had not been accorded such treatment back then!
In no time at all, the procession arrived at the Chen residence.
Chen Fan was nowhere to be seen outside to welcome them; only old steward Fu stood nervously at the entrance.
"Chen Fan knows full well that the two dignitaries have come to fetch him, yet he fails to come out and greet them. He simply has no regard for the two lords whatsoever," Zhao Hongwei said with a sarcastic tone.
"We merely arrived too early; do not blame him," Fang Zhengru and Director Liu said in unison.
They showed not the slightest sign of blame toward Chen Fan, their faces still wreathed in smiles.
As long as Chen Fan could be persuaded to enter the Imperial Academy, what did waiting a little longer matter?
"Go tell your master to hurry up. We will wait right here for him," Director Liu instructed old steward Fu.
"My... my lords, our master is not at home. He went out last night," old steward Fu stammered nervously.
Hearing this, the smiles on the faces of Fang Zhengru and Director Liu instantly froze.
The scholars behind them also fell dead silent upon hearing the news.
"Chen Fan, you come out this instant..."
Sensing that something was amiss, Director Liu cursed inwardly, leaped down from the carriage, and stormed angrily into Chen Fan's home.
Fang Zhengru followed closely behind him.
Seeing this, the scholars outside surged inward as well.
Old steward Fu did not dare to stop them in the slightest.
"Search everywhere! Even if you have to turn this house upside down, find Chen Fan!"
"Once you find him, bind him up immediately!"
Director Liu commanded the scholars with a furious expression.
Fang Zhengru, too, wore a darkened expression.
Neither of them had expected Chen Fan to pull such a stunt.
Eager to impress Director Liu and Fang Zhengru, the scholars immediately sprang into action.
Meanwhile, a mocking smile played at the corner of Zhao Hongwei's mouth.
"Our master is truly not at home!" old steward Fu cried out repeatedly.
However, the angry crowd paid him no heed.
After searching the entire Chen residence from top to bottom, they still found no trace of Chen Fan.
Only then did Fang Zhengru and Director Liu accept the reality that Chen Fan was genuinely gone.
"Where has your master gone?"
"Th... this humble servant truly does not know!" old steward Fu said anxiously.
"If you do not speak the truth, this old man will beat you until you do!"
Director Liu clenched his fists and barked angrily at old steward Fu.
Clearly, his anger had reached its boiling point.
"Thud."
Frightened out of his wits, old steward Fu dropped directly to his knees.
"Spare my life, my lords! This servant truly does not know where the master went!"
"However, the master did leave a letter for the two dignitaries."
Trembling, old steward Fu retrieved a letter from his bosom and held it out.