The court officials who hadn’t left yet paused in their tracks at the sight.
Not far behind Commander Xie, a knife-wielding guard gestured, and soon a group of eunuchs dressed in festive red came trotting over.
Jiang Huaichu saw the gongs in their hands and slightly widened his eyes. His expression was more resistant than ever before. Without a sound, he took two more steps back.
Xie Zhe cleared his throat and approached him. “His Majesty’s decree.”
“…” Jiang Huaichu already knew what this was about. He had deliberately researched it before taking the exam—Great Ning no longer did this kind of parade.
“Didn’t His Majesty abolish this three years ago?” he asked.
When scholars paraded through the streets, it was often more extravagant than a wedding procession.
Xie Zhe remained composed. “You ranked first in all three levels of the exams. That makes you different. If we don’t hold a parade, the people may think the emperor is neglecting talent. Besides, this is a momentous occasion—it will inspire other scholars to study harder so they, too, can rank first and parade through the city, bringing honor to their families.”
It was the longest speech Xie Zhe had ever given in one breath. Knowing he couldn’t escape this, Jiang Huaichu forced a smile. “…I thank His Majesty for this great honor.”
Xie Zhe let out a breath of relief. Since there were no bystanders nearby, he lowered his voice and said, “His Majesty just finds you interesting. He enjoys new things, but his enthusiasm usually fades after a while. Look at that horse—His Majesty liked it for three or four days, then forgot all about it.”
“So for the next few days, stay low-profile. Do whatever others do, don’t stand out, and, most importantly, don’t actively seek His Majesty’s attention. If you avoid making an impression, he’ll forget about you in a few days, and this will all be over.”
Jiang Huaichu: “…”
Xie Zhe, thinking his advice had been well-received, pulled the horse closer and formally said, “Top scholar, please mount.”
Only then did he realize—the horse was taller than Jiang Huaichu.
At nearly nine feet high, it was massive.
The court officials burst into laughter.
Jiang Huaichu: “…”
In Nanruo, he had never been considered short. Among men, he was actually on the taller side. But here in Northern Ning, surrounded by brawny northern warriors, he suddenly looked slight.
Xie Zhe stifled a laugh. “Top scholar, do you know how to ride?”
Jiang Huaichu shook his head.
As a child, he had been kicked by a horse, and ever since, his older brother had forbidden him from riding. Nanruo was a scholarly nation, so horseback riding wasn’t a required skill for the royal family.
He wasn’t afraid—just inexperienced.
Xie Zhe beckoned, and the nearest eunuch quickly trotted over, bending at the waist in front of Xie Caiqing. Xie Caiqing lightly stepped on the eunuch’s back to test, but still couldn’t get onto the horse.
“…” Xie Zhe smacked his forehead, wondering what on earth the emperor was thinking. His own brain must not be working properly either. With such a tall horse—His Majesty, with his tall, lean frame and excellent horsemanship, barely managed to mount it comfortably—how was the top scholar supposed to get on?
“How about we forget this?” Xie Caiqing smiled gently, his tone full of consideration.
“I’ll go request His Majesty to assign you a different horse,” Xie Zhe said.
Xie Caiqing: “…Alright.”
Just as Xie Zhe was about to leave, the nearby officials watching the spectacle suddenly bowed respectfully in one direction. Xie Zhe turned and saw the emperor stepping out, now dressed in casual robes.
Behind the emperor trailed three to five eunuchs, each holding a small stack of memorials. One eunuch read at lightning speed, received His Majesty’s ruling, and the next immediately continued.
“Seventy percent? He dares to say that to me? If he can’t collect eighty percent, I’ll confiscate his family property to cover the spring tax—”
Xiao Yun suddenly caught sight of Xie Caiqing, standing beside the horse but still not as tall as it, and paused mid-sentence. Then, he burst out laughing.
The top scholar turned away, pressing his forehead against the horse’s belly, as if refusing to look up.
Xie Zhe approached the emperor and whispered a report: “…The top scholar can’t get on.”
Xiao Yun froze for a second, then laughed even harder. With the emperor present, no one else dared to make a sound, so for a while, the only thing echoing through Dongan Gate was his laughter.
Once he finished laughing, Xiao Yun pressed his thumb and forefinger to his lips and whistled. The previously calm horse beside Xie Caiqing twitched its ears, turned its head, and, upon spotting Xiao Yun, immediately galloped excitedly toward him.
Xie Caiqing had been holding the reins, so when the horse suddenly bolted, he was pulled forward into a half-run toward Xiao Yun.
Xie Caiqing quickly let go of the reins.
The horse gleefully rushed up to Xiao Yun and began rubbing its face and mane against him. After circling around him once, it resumed its affectionate nuzzling.
“Come here,” Xiao Yun said.
The top scholar remained still.
“Top scholar, I was talking to you, not the horse,” Xiao Yun added.
“…” The top scholar briskly walked over.
Xiao Yun eyed him.
Even while walking quickly, in moments when others might lose their composure, the top scholar was more graceful than even the most refined noble ladies. Against the wind, his long, jet-black hair flowed behind him, making his delicate, picturesque face even more striking.
Xie Caiqing stopped before him. “…Your humble servant is incompetent.”
Xiao Yun, still holding the reins, gestured him closer. “Come a bit nearer.”
Xie Caiqing hesitated, then stepped forward again.
Xiao Yun, holding the horse, suddenly let go of the reins and, without warning, placed a hand on Xie Caiqing’s waist.
His hands were large and burning hot. Xie Caiqing’s eyes widened in shock, his entire body stiffening. He was particular about cleanliness and had always felt a slight aversion to physical contact.
Xiao Yun’s arms were long and strong, his grip firm. With just a slight lift, Xie Caiqing was off the ground.
The abrupt feeling of weightlessness, his body no longer under his control, made Xie Caiqing’s heart skip a beat.
In the next second, he found himself half-lifted, half-thrown onto the horse’s back, seated securely, both legs on the same side, facing Xiao Yun.
“Spread your legs, straddle it properly, and sit straight,” Xiao Yun said lazily from below.
“…” Xie Caiqing’s ears began to burn uncontrollably. It was the first time he had ever parted his legs under the gaze of another man. With an expressionless face, he slowly adjusted himself into the proper riding posture.
Xiao Yun said, “Hold the reins. Just stay still, it’s a well-trained horse. Don’t look down—you won’t fall.”
Xie Caiqing nodded stiffly and did as he was told.
“All set?”
When Xie Caiqing remained silent, Xiao Yun chuckled, patted the horse’s hindquarters, and whistled again. Bai Yu flicked its tail and carried the exquisitely beautiful top scholar forward, out of Dongan Gate.
An eunuch immediately rushed forward to take the reins.
A group of eunuchs dressed in festive attire, holding gongs, cheerfully followed along.
Xie Zhe, standing close by, had witnessed everything and coughed slightly, thinking to himself that His Majesty’s enthusiasm seemed a bit excessive.
He stood beside Xiao Yun, watching the scene at Dongan Gate, and remarked with a smile, “The top scholar is quite shy. It’s only his first day in court—he’ll get used to it soon enough.”
Behind them, an eunuch had finished reading a memorial and was waiting for a response, but after a long silence with no reply, he glanced helplessly at Xie Zhe.
Xie Zhe: “Your Majesty?”
Xiao Yun, still gazing lazily in the direction of Dongan Gate, finally withdrew his gaze and chuckled. “He’s quite light… and I wonder what fragrance he’s wearing.”
Xie Zhe: “…”
