Outside the study, a dark blue curtain hung down. All the servants had been dismissed, and the entire courtyard was quiet, making the voices from within the study even clearer.
He heard a vigorous male voice say, “Jinghua, you passed as a juren at twelve. When we were young, how much did Grandfather look forward to your success, have you forgotten? The two of us had to get up before dawn to study. You began your education at three, such a tiny child, in the dead of winter, your hands would freeze red. The two of us stood in that study without even a brazier. You were afraid I’d be hungry, so you specially got roasted sweet potatoes from the kitchen to share with me, have you forgotten all that?”
Listening outside, Zhao Baozhu felt somewhat moved hearing about Ye Jinghua’s childhood studies, when he suddenly heard the man’s light voice drift out: “Elder brother remembers incorrectly. You were afraid Grandfather would discover it, so you forced the sweet potato into my hands.”
Inside the study, the Ye family’s eldest brother was clearly choked by that reply.
Then he said, “There’s no need to dwell on such details. I’ll just ask you this, if you don’t obtain an official degree, aren’t you afraid Grandfather will come from Xingyang and beat you with a bamboo stick?”
Inside the room, Ye Jinghua was silent for a moment before saying, “Before Grandfather left the capital, he already said matters of official career are up to me.”
The elder brother choked again. After a long while, he said faintly, “…Grandfather has favored you since childhood. You should also know to repay that.”
The jealousy in his tone practically drifted outside the door.
Even Zhao Baozhu, who was holding his breath outside, couldn’t help but curve his lips into a smile. Although eavesdropping was not something a gentleman should do, the conversation between the two brothers was truly interesting. After sneaking around outside for a while, Zhao Baozhu walked to a small tree near the study, deciding not to disturb them and to wait until they finished speaking before going in.
Inside the room, Ye Jinghua lowered his eyes and took a sip of tea.
The study was filled with the fragrance of Meishan Qinglu tea. Seeing his younger brother looking as though he might renounce the world at any moment, Ye Yanzhen grew irritated and set his teacup down heavily on the table.
“After Mother returned to the residence, she has been crying for days over your refusal to take the exam. She has doted on you since childhood. Ever since you moved out, she worries day and night, whenever she gets anything good, she always has someone send you a share.”
Ye Yanzhen frowned at Ye Jinghua and said, “Jinghua, you’ve always been the most intelligent among us brothers. I can’t see through your thoughts, but I have one thing to advise you.” His brows furrowed slightly as he clasped his hands over his knees. “Since the start of the year, His Majesty has summoned you to the palace three times, and has repeatedly sent people to ask whether your name card has been submitted to the Government Studies Bureau. You should understand what this means.”
Ye Yanzhen’s gaze darkened slightly as he looked at Ye Jinghua, who still sat at the desk with lowered eyes, and said in a deep voice: “His Majesty will no longer tolerate you continuing to withdraw from the world.”
His voice tightened.
Hearing this, Ye Jinghua’s expression did not change much. Through the rising steam, he lifted his eyes and placed the teacup back on the table.
Ye Yanzhen stared at him closely and said, “His Majesty has greatly favored Father over the years. Before the new year, Eldest Sister was promoted to Consort Chen, and the Fifth Prince is gradually growing up, now there are rumors in court that after the ancestral rites, His Majesty has decided to confer the title of prince upon the Fifth Prince.”
The Fifth Prince was the biological son of the Ye family’s eldest daughter, now the most favored Consort Chen in the harem, and had just turned thirteen. One must know that according to the customs of the dynasty, princes were only granted titles after reaching adulthood. Even the Crown Prince in earlier times only formally ascended his position and moved into the Eastern Palace after coming of age. Yet the Fifth Prince was rumored to be granted a title at only thirteen, the implication was self-evident.
“Now the honor and disgrace of the Ye family all rest on you alone. Jinghua, have you thought about it? If you continue to stubbornly go against His Majesty’s will, how will Father answer to the emperor in court? And how will Eldest Sister conduct herself in the harem?”
His words were heartfelt and cutting, every sentence striking at the heart. If an ordinary person heard this, they would immediately kneel and admit their unfilial conduct.
But Ye Jinghua remained calm. He slightly raised his eyes, stood up from the desk, and walked slowly to Ye Yanzhen, handing him a folded letter.
“This was sent by Grandfather yesterday.”
Ye Yanzhen was taken aback. The old master of the Ye family had long since retired and returned to his hometown in Xingyang, rarely concerning himself with matters in the capital. Among the family, only Ye Jinghua corresponded with him.
He glanced at Ye Jinghua in confusion, then lowered his head and unfolded the letter. On the paper were written two bold, powerful lines:
Climb high, fall hard
Merit too great overshadows the lord
There were no other words on the page, but these characters were written with sharp force, their strokes pressing through the paper, making one’s heart tremble at a glance, like a warning, or perhaps a threat.
Seeing those two lines, Ye Yanzhen’s brow twitched, his heart jolting. Then he heard Ye Jinghua say softly: “It is precisely because Father stands at the pinnacle among ministers, and Consort Chen is favored above all in the harem, that I must not enter officialdom.”
Ye Yanzhen’s breath caught. He naturally understood Ye Jinghua’s meaning. But now the Ye family was at the height of its power in the capital, especially after what happened to the Crown Prince three years ago, faced with such an opportunity, no one could help but be dazzled by wealth and glory. After a moment of silence, he raised his head and said, “…His Majesty is a wise ruler and has treated the Ye family generously. It may not necessarily—”
Ye Jinghua cut him off, his glass-like eyes showing a trace of coldness in the spring sunlight. “Are you willing to place the life and death of the Ye family entirely in His Majesty’s single thought?”
Ye Yanzhen froze, falling silent. After a long while, he let out a deep sigh, lowered his head, and supported his forehead with his hand.
Ye Jinghua withdrew his gaze, folded the old master’s letter, and held it to the candle flame, burning it. Turning back, he saw Ye Yanzhen looking dejected. He personally poured a cup of tea and placed it before him, saying calmly: “With Father and Elder Brother in court, it is enough.” He sat down on the opposite chair. “Since childhood, I have had no great ambitions, you know this, Elder Brother.”
Hearing this, Ye Yanzhen suddenly raised his head and looked at him. “…Are those words truly from your heart?”
Ye Jinghua met his gaze for a moment, then turned his head and lowered his eyes. “Naturally.”
Ye Yanzhen stared fixedly at this younger brother of his, who had the bearing of an immortal, his expression complicated. In the end, he let out a long sigh, lowered his head in dejection, and raised his hand to rub his hair in disarray: “…It was your elder brother who held you back.”
He said it gloomily.
Ye Yanzhen had known since childhood that his younger brother was exceptionally gifted. Ye Jinghua had become jieyuan at twelve, entered the palace at thirteen as a study companion, and at the time went in and out together with the Crown Prince, who did not praise them as a perfectly matched pair of a wise ruler and capable minister? In terms of talent, temperament, and ability in officialdom, Ye Yanzhen asked himself and knew he was inferior to Ye Jinghua in all three. Thus he worked even harder, thinking that as the elder brother he must never bring shame upon his younger one. And Heaven rewards diligence, he indeed placed as tanhua in the spring examinations and entered official life. Ye Yanzhen was full of ambition, only waiting for the day Ye Jinghua would take office so he could lend him some support.
Who could have known that fate outstrips human calculation? No one expected that the Crown Prince, almost certain to inherit the throne, would meet with mishap, and that the situation at court would be overturned overnight.
“If I had known that only one of us brothers could enter officialdom, I would never have stood in your way.”
Supporting his forehead with one hand, Ye Yanzhen spoke in deep pain. He knew his younger brother was the most suited among the younger generation of the family to become an official. Now Ye Jinghua, to avoid suspicion, had even split off his residence and withdrawn from society, aside from Madam Ye, how could Ye Yanzhen not feel heartache?
Ye Jinghua sat to one side, yet showed not the slightest trace of sorrow. Instead, he glanced at the sky outside the window. “It’s getting late. Elder brother should return to the residence. I won’t keep you for a meal.”
Ye Yanzhen’s grief stalled. Raising his head, he saw Ye Jinghua half reclining against the table, idly playing with a piece of jade, as if he hadn’t listened to a word just said.
At once Ye Yanzhen choked with anger. “You, you!” He pointed at Ye Jinghua several times. Seeing him somehow produce a carving tool and begin engraving patterns into the jade, he burst out angrily, “Toying with trifles ruins one’s ambition! I say you’re not thinking of the family at all, you clearly just want to slack off!”
Ye Jinghua didn’t even lift his eyelids. “Yueqin.”
As his voice fell, a maid in a rosy dress silently emerged from inside. She bowed to Ye Yanzhen. “This servant will escort Eldest Young Master out.”
Looking at the maid before him, Ye Yanzhen’s handsome face flushed from green to white to purple, so everything he’d just said had been treated like nonsense! He glared hatefully at Ye Jinghua and said angrily: “Fine, fine! Let’s see if I’ll ever eat a single grain of rice from your Little Ye residence again!”
With that, he flicked his sleeve and left. Yueqin hurried after him, lifting the curtain for him.
Ye Yanzhen’s face was dark. With a belly full of anger, even the bright sunlight outside made his vision blur for a moment. He shut his eyes hard twice, and when he opened them, he saw a vague figure standing beneath an osmanthus tree not far away, dressed in a short robe, looking like a servant.
The attendants should all have been dismissed before their conversation.
Ye Yanzhen’s eyes sharpened. He barked, “Who’s there?”
The one under the tree was Zhao Baozhu. He had meant to wait for Ye Yanzhen to come out before going to persuade Ye Jinghua to participate in the spring exams, but unexpectedly overheard such a secret, leaving him greatly shaken.
Zhao Baozhu stood there stunned. Before nobles of the imperial family, his peasant timidity surfaced again. At the sharp gaze of Ye Yanzhen’s dark eyes, he trembled, then hurried forward, cupping his hands.
“Greetings, Eldest Young Master.”
Already full of pent-up anger, Ye Yanzhen was about to berate this sneaky servant for eavesdropping when he suddenly caught sight of half of Zhao Baozhu’s profile.
“You—”
His brow twitched; his heart paused. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he spoke after a moment: “Raise your head.”
Zhao Baozhu did as told, looking cautiously at him. Seeing his face, the anger in Ye Yanzhen’s brows lessened by three parts. His gaze swept carefully over the boy’s cat-like eyes, and suddenly he nodded, certain.
“So it’s you.”
His abrupt words left Zhao Baozhu confused. “Ah?”
“You’re called Baozhu?”
Even more surprised, Zhao Baozhu said, “Eldest Young Master knows me?”
Ye Yanzhen did not answer. He looked him over from head to toe once more, as if examining something, then slowly withdrew his gaze and murmured, “Passable enough.”
Zhao Baozhu was baffled, thinking the young master must have been angered senseless. Then he saw Ye Yanzhen remove a jade pendant from his waist and hand it to him.
“I didn’t bring anything else today. Take this for now, consider it a meeting gift.”
It took Zhao Baozhu a moment to react. The jade pendant felt smooth and cool in his hand, engraved with the character “Zhen”, clearly a personal item. His eyes widened, and he turned anxiously.
“E–Eldest Young Master, I can’t accept this—”
But Ye Yanzhen had already thrown the pendant to him and left. Tall and long-legged, he was already near the gate. Hearing Zhao Baozhu call out, he merely waved from afar.
Watching him slip out, Zhao Baozhu held the jade pendant, unsure what to do.
At that moment, Ye Jinghua’s voice came from behind him. “Baozhu?”
Zhao Baozhu turned and saw Ye Jinghua standing under the corridor with his hands behind his back. Seeing him, a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes as he beckoned.
“Come here.”
Zhao Baozhu walked over. Seeing a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead, Ye Jinghua took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped it for him.
“Where did you run off to play? You’re all sweaty.”
“Young Master…” Zhao Baozhu awkwardly showed him the jade pendant. “Just now Eldest Young Master gave me this, said it was a meeting gift.”
Seeing the pendant, Ye Jinghua’s brows immediately furrowed slightly. When he noticed the “Zhen” character, his expression darkened at once.
As he turned it over in his hand, his expression unreadable, Zhao Baozhu asked in confusion, “Young Master, what does this mean?”
After a long while, Ye Jinghua finally looked up, glancing at him. “It means nothing.”
For some reason, that glance made Zhao Baozhu shiver. He thought his master seemed to be in a bad mood.
Ye Jinghua closed his hand around the pendant and tucked it into his robe. “I’ll hold onto it for you for now. I’ll return it to him another day, alright?”
Zhao Baozhu stared blankly, thinking: You’ve already put it away before asking me? Seeing him not respond, Ye Jinghua turned his face slightly and narrowed his eyes.
“What? Unwilling?”
“No, no—”
Zhao Baozhu shook his head like a rattle drum. The jade pendant was valuable and a personal belonging of Ye Yanzhen, he didn’t dare keep it anyway.
What he didn’t know was that when this matter later reached Madam Ye’s ears, she was so shocked that she immediately dragged Ye Yanzhen back from the office and scolded him harshly.
Kneeling before his mother, though already married and an official, Ye Yanzhen lowered his head like a child, not daring to utter a word.
Madam Ye glared, pointing at him with a finger stained red with nail dye. “Say that again!”
Ye Yanzhen’s lips moved. “I… I didn’t bring anything else… and since my younger brother and he, as the elder brother, I couldn’t give nothing…”
Madam Ye was furious, throwing the account book at him.
“Brainless fool!”
“What top scholar, what high official, looks to me like all your studying went into a dog’s belly! You might as well resign early and stop causing trouble for the court–”
After a long tirade, seeing him remain silent, she sighed deeply.
“Precisely because Qing’er and he are like that, you should never have given him a personal item, especially a jade pendant…”
At the thought, her temples throbbed. “You, how could you be so careless?”
“He… he’s a boy,” Ye Yanzhen muttered. “I didn’t think much of it.”
“A boy is no excuse!”
Madam Ye snapped. Her hair ornaments jingled as she turned and glared. “Just wait, next time you go to his residence, see if he doesn’t skin you alive!”
Ye Yanzhen raised his head, about to argue, but recalling his younger brother’s crystal-like eyes, and the many times he’d been schemed against in childhood, he shuddered and bowed.
“Please instruct me, Mother.”
Only then did Madam Ye wave him up. “In a day or two, have your wife pick out a proper gift and send it over.”
Ye Yanzhen felt as if pardoned. “Thank you, Mother.”
After dismissing him, Madam Ye sighed again, glancing at the budding branches outside.
There was still more than a month before the spring examinations. Whether the Ye family would have a turning point remained unknown.
***
Back to the present.
Having overheard everything, Zhao Baozhu had already lost most of his courage. Seeing Ye Jinghua’s poor mood, he dared not persuade him further. Even his own brother couldn’t convince him, what use would an outsider’s words be? Besides… from what Ye Jinghua had said earlier, the political situation seemed unclear. If, for his own selfish wish, he pushed Ye Jinghua into danger, what then?
Moreover, Zhao Baozhu glanced secretly at the man’s jade-like profile. He thought Ye Jinghua was the most formidable person he had ever seen, his decisions must have their reasons.
Unaware of Zhao Baozhu’s overflowing admiration, Ye Jinghua was at that moment gripping the jade pendant tightly, silent for a long while. Only after some time did his expression ease slightly. He called someone to send the pendant away, then walked past Zhao Baozhu and lowered his head to look at the characters he had written: “The jade pendant… if you like it, I’ll carve another one for you another day.”
Zhao Baozhu was writing, not even raising his head as he said, “What do I need a jade pendant for?”
By now he was used to Ye Jinghua speaking from behind him from time to time and was no longer startled. Hearing this, Ye Jinghua’s brows knitted slightly, then relaxed. Looking at Zhao Baozhu’s focused profile, he said softly: “If you don’t like jade pendants… you were born in the Year of the Rabbit, how about I carve you a little rabbit.”
Once Zhao Baozhu began reviewing his studies, all his attention went into the book. For a moment he didn’t clearly hear what Ye Jinghua was saying, and replied vaguely, “Mm, anything’s fine.”
How could Ye Jinghua not hear the perfunctory tone? At once he narrowed his eyes and slowly straightened up.
Zhao Baozhu was writing when he suddenly felt a chill at the back of his neck, his brush leaving a dark blot of ink on the paper.
“So cold!”
He shivered and turned his head, only to see Ye Jinghua holding a piece of jade, one brow slightly raised at him.
Having grown familiar with him, Zhao Baozhu no longer held back much. Seeing this, he said with mild annoyance, “Young Master, what are you doing? I’m writing.”
When people grow close, their true nature shows. Though Zhao Baozhu came from a poor family, he had been doted on since childhood. As he spoke, his lips puffed slightly, half-complaining, almost like he was acting coquettish.
Ye Jinghua was momentarily taken aback, then a faint smile appeared. He stepped closer and said softly by Zhao Baozhu’s side, “Alright, write. I won’t disturb you.”
Zhao Baozhu glanced at him, pursed his lips a little, then turned back to continue writing. Ye Jinghua watched for a while, then suddenly reached out from behind and took hold of Zhao Baozhu’s right hand.
Startled, Zhao Baozhu was about to pull back when Ye Jinghua said near his ear, “Don’t move, I’ll teach you.”
With that, Ye Jinghua’s long fingers wrapped around his hand, guiding the brush to trace an elegant downward stroke on the paper.
Zhao Baozhu stared, captivated, forgetting even the faint fragrance from Ye Jinghua behind him. He held his breath, focusing on the force guiding his hand.
But as he focused, his thoughts gradually drifted. He first noticed that Ye Jinghua’s fingers were longer than his, warmer too. There was a faint scent from his clothes. Because he was taller, his shadow fell over Zhao Baozhu and onto the paper before him. Zhao Baozhu grew distracted, staring at that shadow, and unconsciously hunched his shoulders.
“Look, the character ‘yu’ should be written like this…”
At that moment, Ye Jinghua’s calm voice sounded by his ear. Zhao Baozhu seemed to wake from a dream, shivering. Before his mind caught up, his mouth spoke first. Turning his head, he said, “Wasn’t Young Master going to carve me a little rabbit?”
Ye Jinghua paused and looked at him.
Zhao Baozhu’s lips trembled slightly, unsure what expression he wore. Then he saw Ye Jinghua smile at him with great indulgence, release his hand, and straighten up.
“Alright, I’ll carve the rabbit first.”
With that, he turned, took up a carving knife, and indeed took that fine piece of mutton-fat white jade to the window seat to carve the rabbit.
Watching him leave, Zhao Baozhu felt inexplicably relieved and slowly let out a breath.
That day he studied in a daze. Though Ye Jinghua didn’t come tease him again, Zhao Baozhu remained distracted, even at meals his eyes were unfocused. Deng Yun, who was used to Zhao Baozhu eating like a starving ghost every day, found it strange that he ate poorly today and even left braised pork on his plate. After watching him for a while, he flicked Zhao Baozhu on the forehead.
“Ah!” Zhao Baozhu cried in pain, turning to glare. “Deng Yun! Why did you hit me?”
Deng Yun snorted. “Finally back to your senses.” Then he rolled his eyes and leaned in to whisper, “Tomorrow’s your day off. What do you want to buy when you go out? I’ll tell you where to get it.”
Zhao Baozhu froze. “Day off?”
“Yes, your monthly leave. You can go out tomorrow. You forgot?”
Zhao Baozhu was blank for a moment, then suddenly slapped his forehead. “Right! I forgot–” his name card!
Only then did he remember his missing name slip. The next morning he got up early, packed his small bundle, and tried to rush out without even eating, only to be spotted by Ye Jinghua in the main room, who caught him, made him eat breakfast, and put on extra clothes before letting him leave.
“Be back before the hour of You.”
Ye Jinghua, lowering his eyes as he adjusted Zhao Baozhu’s collar, instructed him.
Zhao Baozhu looked at him oddly, not expecting him to even control his return time.
Not hearing a reply, Ye Jinghua raised his eyes. “Do you understand?”
Zhao Baozhu quickly nodded. Only then was Ye Jinghua satisfied. He untied his money pouch, took out a handful of broken silver, and stuffed it into Zhao Baozhu’s hands.
“Don’t carry whole ingots when you go out. Take these, it’ll be easier to buy things.”
Zhao Baozhu’s eyes widened. He pushed it back. “Young Master, why give me this? I brought money.”
Seeing him refuse, Ye Jinghua looked at him for a moment, brows slightly furrowed. “What are you buying that needs whole silver?”
Zhao Baozhu’s eyes widened further. The silver Ye Jinghua gave him could support a family of three for years! He didn’t dare touch it. He quickly untied his bundle to show him.
“Young Master, I really brought money!”
Ye Jinghua glanced down and saw a string of copper coins wrapped in cloth. His brows drew tight. “How can that be enough?”
“It’s really enough!” Zhao Baozhu insisted.
Too lazy to argue with this stubborn little mule, Ye Jinghua stuffed the silver into Zhao Baozhu’s pouch anyway and waved him off.
“Go. Come back early.”
With no choice, Zhao Baozhu left carrying a pouch heavy with silver, though he resolved not to spend Ye Jinghua’s money.
To prevent him from getting lost, Deng Yun gave him a newly drawn map of the capital, said to be personally drawn by Fang Qin. It outlined the East and West Markets and marked each shop precisely. When Zhao Baozhu first arrived in the capital, he had been dizzy and overwhelmed by its splendor, losing his way. Now everything was clearly laid out on paper.
Entering from the Huaihua Gate in the southwest, he followed the direction that General Lan had once pointed out. He should have walked along the palace wall toward Tongqing Market at the east gate, where many inns were marked. But midway he encountered that peddler and was led astray toward the city center.
Seeing this now, Zhao Baozhu understood immediately.
“That really happened!”
Clutching the map, he burned with anger. That peddler had clearly cheated him! If he ever caught him, he’d give him a thorough beating!
Anger aside, he had more urgent matters. Calming himself, he followed the map to the Government Studies Bureau. But after asking the duty clerk, no one had turned in a found name card.
Every spring exam, it was common for candidates from distant places to lose or have their name cards stolen. The clerks were used to it. Seeing Zhao Baozhu’s worried face, the clerk kindly said: “Even if we send a letter to Yizhou for your original record, it’ll take at least half a month round trip, might not make the exam. I’ll send the letter today, but to be safe, you should keep looking.”
Zhao Baozhu quickly bowed. “Many thanks for your help. I will remember this kindness.”
The clerk flushed, actually thinking Zhao Baozhu must have powerful relatives in the capital given his bearing.
After thanking him, Zhao Baozhu left. The government offices stood on higher ground. Looking out, he saw the bustling East and West Markets below, already crowded early in the morning. He sighed, feeling his chances of finding the name card were slim.
Indeed, retracing his route, asking every inn and restaurant, no one had found it. Some attendants recognized him, shocked that the former beggar now looked so respectable. Some suspected he was lying; others, recalling how they had thrown him out before, turned pale and knelt to beg forgiveness.
Zhao Baozhu frowned and helped them up. “There’s no need. I don’t mind what happened before.”
But the attendant kept kowtowing. “This lowly one was blind and offended a noble person. Please spare me this once!”
He even began slapping his own face. Zhao Baozhu hurried to stop him, assuring him repeatedly he wouldn’t pursue it. Only then did the man stop, cheeks swollen, still smiling as he saw Zhao Baozhu out.
Walking away until he could no longer see him, Zhao Baozhu sighed deeply and looked at the sky.
“Morals are declining in the world!”
He knew why the attendant had been so fearful, it was because of his fine clothes and the valuable jade at his waist. Just a change in attire had brought such a drastic shift in attitude.
In the capital, powerful officials and nobles were everywhere; even their servants outranked ordinary people. These attendants judged by appearances to avoid offending the powerful.
But to Zhao Baozhu, it stirred other reflections. Walking absentmindedly down the street, he murmured softly: “If I put on a better set of clothes and that shop attendant is frightened into such a state, it shows just how those powerful and noble people in the capital usually bully others by relying on their influence, for them to be so afraid of offending anyone.”
Zhao Baozhu understood it clearly. Whether it was that shop attendant or the peddler who tricked him, they weren’t born fawning over the powerful and trampling the weak, nor naturally adept at reading people’s expressions. As the saying goes, “When the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked.” It must be those high officials and noble relatives, the imperial kin, acting arrogantly day after day, that even the entire atmosphere of the capital had become like this.
As he thought this, Ye Jinghua’s face surfaced in his mind. Their young master would absolutely never do something like bullying others through power.
Zhao Baozhu didn’t notice his thoughts drifting back to Ye Jinghua again. Just as he was about to speak aloud, he suddenly heard a voice: “If we’re talking about putting on airs, who can compare to that one from the Ye family?”
Zhao Baozhu had just been thinking of Ye Jinghua, and suddenly hearing “Ye family,” he looked up and saw two scholars seated on the second floor of a tavern, directly above him.
The one on the right held a folding fan and was saying animatedly to the other: “Last spring exam he already made a fuss, pulling that stunt of splitting his residence. Now he’s making trouble again. I heard His Majesty has been sending people to the Ye residence every day, urging him again and again, yet he still won’t submit his name card. Today he claims illness, tomorrow he’s not at home, the day after he says he’s unmarried and shouldn’t take office. I say the tricks he uses for excuses alone could fill a whole book!”
Though he didn’t name anyone, Zhao Baozhu knew at once he was talking about Ye Jinghua, and every word carried ill intent. He immediately stopped walking and narrowed his eyes to look over.
The man in blue sitting opposite the one with the fan smiled and said, “By refusing again and again like this, isn’t he slighting His Majesty?”
“Exactly!” the fan-holding scholar said, eyebrows dancing. “Think about it, three years ago he didn’t take the exam; you could say it was because of that incident. After all, he was the Crown Prince’s study companion, so saying he was too grief-stricken was passable. But now three years have passed, if he still doesn’t take the exam, how will the Ye family explain it?”
The man in blue only smiled faintly and drank his tea. The fan scholar grew more excited, grinning wickedly.
“I say this so-called prodigy should have fallen long ago. What kind of prodigy keeps dodging the exam? Look at that one from the Cao family, he only became a juren at fifteen, but in the spring exam he took first place, and he’s already been an official for three years! Back then the Crown Prince covered for him, now that’s gone, let’s see what excuse he uses this time!”
He spoke enthusiastically, not noticing Zhao Baozhu standing below, staring coldly. After hearing this, Zhao Baozhu understood, their words all implied that Ye Jinghua was undeserving of his reputation, insinuating he avoided the exam due to lack of ability.
Clenching his fists, Zhao Baozhu walked into the tavern with a cold face. A waiter came up at once.
“What would you like to eat, sir? Do you have a reservation?”
“I’m going upstairs.” Zhao Baozhu kept his eyes fixed on the two men above. “Just bring whatever.”
“Right away!” The waiter, seeing how straightforward he was, led him up smiling.
Zhao Baozhu sat in a corner on the second floor, watching the two by the railing. The man in blue said with a smile: “What does it matter what excuse he uses? His sister is a consort in the harem, his father a chief minister. How could he lack excuses? Any one would be enough to brush you off.”
The fan scholar snorted, snapping open his fan. “People like us from humble backgrounds are easy to dismiss. The Ye family is vast and wealthy, just the gold and silver bestowed by His Majesty each year is enough for an ordinary family to live on for a lifetime. I’ve heard that separate residence of his was specially built in a secluded place. The pillars are made of jade, the entrance inlaid with gold, and he keeps a house full of pretty maids, utter luxury and indulgence. Who knows what he’s doing all day in that nest of gold and silver, not marrying or taking office?”
Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu’s eyes burned with anger. Jade pillars? Gold? Only idle gossips could come up with such nonsense!
The man in blue chuckled. “Gold and silver are fine, but the sages say: frugality brings prosperity, indulgence brings ruin. This Young Master Ye is rather short-sighted, favored by His Majesty thanks to his father and sister, yet so arrogant. That won’t last.”
The fan scholar laughed. “You call that arrogance? I say he’s currying favor in a roundabout way! Putting on that aloof, reclusive air, not showing his face, making His Majesty invite him again and again, he’s just whetting His Majesty’s appetite, making him think the Ye fellow is some unparalleled talent. I say he shouldn’t be called Huiqing at all, call him Nonsense instead!”
Pleased with his own joke, he waited for a response, but heard none. Opening his eyes, he saw his companion looking oddly to the side.
Turning, he saw a very handsome young man standing beside their table, smiling at them.
The boy wore a pale robe embroidered with light yellow flowers, looking quite young. The scholar froze, wondering if he knew him.
“Who are you? Why are you standing here?”
“Nothing.” Zhao Baozhu smiled brightly. “Just wanted to see what two long-tongued gossips look like.”
His voice was neither loud nor soft, but just enough for the entire tavern to hear. As soon as he finished, laughter broke out among the patrons.
Being insulted so directly, both men froze, then flushed with anger.
Ignoring their expressions, Zhao Baozhu let his gaze pass over them leisurely. “You two are well dressed and seem learned. With less than a month before the spring exam, you must be completely confident, hence having time to gossip here.”
Though his words held hidden barbs, he bowed politely. “In that case, I should make your acquaintance.” Straightening, he pointed at the man in white. “This one is sharp-tongued, judging by how he nitpicks, he must meddle in everything under heaven. A top scholar in the making.”
Then he turned to the man in blue. “And this one is elegant, wearing powder on his face, so fond of beauty. Surely a tanhua!”
Zhao Baozhu said this with a smile, but it was clear from his words that it was a veiled criticism, implying that the guy in white was annoying for his gossipy nature, always commenting on things that didn’t concern him. He also said that the guy in blue was pretentious, pretending to be refined while actually wearing makeup like a woman.
Both men’s faces turned pale with anger. The man in white slammed the table and stood up, pointing furiously. “Where did this brat come from, daring to cause trouble here?!”
Zhao Baozhu remained calm, smiling. “Why are you angry?” Then, as if realizing something, he looked between them in mock surprise.
“Could it be… that neither of you plans to sit for the examinations?” Zhao Baozhu blinked. Seeing both men’s expressions suddenly change, he tilted his head and added, “Or perhaps neither of you has even earned the rank of juren?”
That truly struck at the deepest sore spot for the two men. Even the man in green robes, who had been pretending calmness the whole time, darkened his face and tightened his grip on the folding fan in his hand. The scholar in white shot his brows upward, veins bulging on his forehead from anger as he glared at Zhao Baozhu.
“You ignorant brat! Do you know how difficult it is to pass the provincial examinations and become a juren? Is it something you can casually criticize with that loose tongue of yours?”
The moment he said this, he indirectly admitted that neither of them was actually a juren. The green-robed man with the fan shot him a resentful glare. What an idiot!
Zhao Baozhu’s expression suddenly turned cold as he said darkly, “Since you know becoming a juren is difficult, then surely you know that the young master of the Ye family became jieyuan at the age of twelve?”
Of course the scholar in white knew. Not only he knew, everyone in the capital knew.
Back then, Ye Jinghua, the legitimate second son of the Ye family, had placed first in the provincial examinations at the mere age of twelve. The following year, he entered the palace as the Crown Prince’s study companion and won the Emperor’s favor. He had become the hottest child prodigy in the capital. At the same time, Ye Jinghua was also like a looming shadow hanging over every scholar of his generation.
The scholar in white immediately exploded. Already furious, he lost all restraint under the provocation and blurted out recklessly: “Who knows how he got that title of jieyuan? The Ye family’s influence reaches the heavens—”
Before he could finish speaking, a sudden sharp pain struck his waist, and he crashed against the railing.
“Bullsh*t!”*
Zhao Baozhu had been enraged beyond endurance. Any refinement he’d learned from scholars was tossed aside, and the domineering streak from his village days burst back out. He directly drove a vicious kick into the scholar’s chest and stomach, knocking him to the ground, then pointed furiously at the toppled scholar and shouted:
“Try spewing filth from your mouth one more time! See if I don’t tear your d*mn mouth apart!”
The scholar in white had never seen such a scene before.
First, Zhao Baozhu looked handsome and delicate, so he had never expected him to suddenly attack. Second, Zhao Baozhu appeared thin and slight, yet unexpectedly possessed tremendous strength. After taking that kick, a piercing pain immediately shot through his waist and back. For a while, he could not even stand up.
Smoke practically burst from Zhao Baozhu’s seven orifices from sheer fury. He stepped forward to kick him again, but the green-robed man hurriedly rose to stop him, pointing his fan at Zhao Baozhu.
“Who are you? How dare you behave so wildly beneath the Son of Heaven’s feet! I’m telling you, what you’re doing violates the law—”
Seeing this fake moralist made Zhao Baozhu even more disgusted. He turned and glared at him, speaking with forceful clarity: “I’m your f*cking grandfather!”
The green-robed man stared in shock. The next instant, the folding fan in his hand was snatched away.
After grabbing the fan, Zhao Baozhu noticed a crystal-clear jade pendant hanging from the bottom. One look told him it was extremely valuable. He immediately sneered and rolled his eyes at the green-robed man.
“You just said, ‘Frugality brings prosperity, indulgence brings ruin.’ Since you understand that principle so well, I assume this fan of yours can’t be worth much either, seeing as you dislike extravagance so much.”
The moment the words fell, he tore the fan apart in just a few motions, then smashed the jade ornament onto the ground and stomped on it several times.
The green-robed man sucked in a sharp breath upon seeing this and tried to stop him, but it was already too late.
After crushing the jade pendant beneath his feet, Zhao Baozhu lifted his head, slapped two copper coins onto the table, and raised his chin proudly.
“There. Compensation for your fan.”
With so little money, how could it be enough?
The man in blue turned pale. That pendant on his fan was Hetian jade! But even though his heart was bleeding, he couldn’t say anything, if he demanded compensation and revealed the pendant’s true value, wouldn’t that be the same as refuting his own words and admitting that he too was someone who admired vanity and pretended to be lofty?
The man in blue was left speechless when Zhao Baozhu shot him a mocking glance, then turned to look at the scholar in white lying on the ground, even lifting his foot to kick him again: “Let’s see if I don’t kick you to death! Say it again? Go on, say it again!”
“Ow!”
Zhao Baozhu had once been a good street fighter in his village and knew well the principle of aiming for the face. His foot came down heavily toward the white-robed scholar’s face. The scholar clutched his nose as it began to spurt blood, rolling on the ground and wailing as he begged for mercy: “Ahh! Stop hitting, stop hitting! Sir, sir! Spare me this once!”
Seeing Zhao Baozhu’s ferocity, someone in the tavern let out a soft “yo” and quietly instructed a companion to “go bring him over.”
Thus Zhao Baozhu only managed to kick the white-robed scholar’s face four or five times before he was suddenly restrained from behind. Two men, one on each side, twisted his arms and pulled him back.
Still in a rage, Zhao Baozhu glared at the man on the ground, not yet satisfied, and spat toward the two from afar: “What trash! You call yourselves scholars? All your learning’s gone into a dog’s belly! If you’re not afraid of getting beaten, then come, let’s see if I don’t beat you two good-for-nothings to death today!”
