Ye Jinghua’s brows twitched slightly, the smile at his lips fading a bit.
Zhao Baozhu didn’t notice the change in his expression and continued, “It must be so. Last time madam came to urge you, you didn’t say anything and just sent her away. Madam must have been angry, so Consort Chen summoned you into the palace.”
In Zhao Baozhu’s view, even in his poor rural village, there were very few men who reached adulthood without marrying. Unless the family was truly impoverished, most would take a wife once they came of age. If even farming households were like that, then the wealthy young masters in the capital must be even more so. Like the minister’s son Madam Ye mentioned last time, he was already married at seventeen. Ye Jinghua still hadn’t married, so it must be because he was too picky.
But Zhao Baozhu also felt that Ye Jinghua’s pickiness was justified. Ye Jinghua was the most outstanding man he had ever seen in his life, an ordinary woman surely could not match him.
Zhao Baozhu worried to himself for a while, then raised his head, only to see Ye Jinghua looking down at him, his expression somewhat cool.
“?” Zhao Baozhu froze, puzzled. “Did I say something wrong? Wasn’t Niang Niang urging you to marry?”
Ye Jinghua’s lashes trembled slightly. His gaze fell on Zhao Baozhu’s somewhat hesitant face. After a pause, he let out a nearly imperceptible sigh and said softly, “No, you’re right. Niang Niang is urging me to marry soon.”
“Ah.” Zhao Baozhu’s eyes brightened, and he smiled, two small dimples appearing at the corners of his mouth. “I knew it, Consort Chen must be annoyed with you.”
Seeing him smile so happily, the inexplicable gloom in Ye Jinghua’s chest suddenly dissipated, and a trace of a smile appeared on his face again. After smiling, Zhao Baozhu became worried for him once more. “Now that both madam and Consort Chen have personally urged you, young master should take it seriously. A marriage follows the parents’ command and the matchmaker’s word.”
Seeing him, at such a young age, putting on the airs of an old-fashioned moralist, Ye Jinghua found it both irritating and amusing. For a moment, he was at a loss with him and could only shake his head helplessly, letting him be.
***
At the same time, in the inner palace.
Eunuch Xia, after exhausting great effort, finally had to call over the chief palace maid from Consort Chen’s side to subdue the Fifth Prince and send him back to Wenyuan Pavilion. He made his way all the way to the imperial study, paused at the palace entrance, took out a handkerchief to wipe the fine sweat from his forehead, then stepped inside.
It was early spring, and the weather was still slightly cool. Silver-thread charcoal braziers were placed in various corners of the imperial study. The hall was very quiet; palace maids and young eunuchs stood together with their heads lowered and eyes downcast. Eunuch Xia quietly circled behind the screen and saw a middle-aged man in a narrow-sleeved robe embroidered with golden dragons standing behind a nanmu wood desk, looking down at something.
The man was somewhat older, his temples already streaked with gray, but his posture was straight. On his right hand he wore a jade thumb ring, which was tapping lightly against the desk.
Eunuch Xia approached quietly and said in a low voice, “Your Majesty.”
Hearing his voice, the man raised his head. His tiger-like eyes were bright and full of spirit. He was the current emperor, Emperor Yuanzhi.
“Have you sent Little Fifth back?” he asked.
Eunuch Xia quickly replied, “He has been sent to Wenyuan Pavilion. He slipped out while the Grand Tutor wasn’t paying attention, the Grand Tutor was quite angry.”
Emperor Yuanzhi turned back, picked up the scroll on the table, and said while looking at it, “Zhou Jin is old. How could he possibly restrain Little Fifth?”
Hearing this, Eunuch Xia also sighed. In the past, when the Crown Prince and Second Young Master Ye were in the palace, the Fifth Prince was as obedient as a cat. Now, the older he grew, the more unruly he became. He dared not say this directly and could only speak tactfully: “The Fifth Prince ran into Second Young Master Ye outside and was so frightened his face turned pale.”
Hearing this, Emperor Yuanzhi smiled faintly. “Little Fifth has always been afraid of Huiqing.”
“Isn’t that so?” Seeing the emperor in a good mood, Eunuch Xia leaned closer and joked, “In my opinion, throughout the entire palace, only Second Young Master Ye can keep the Fifth Prince in check.”
Back when Ye Jinghua was still in the palace, the Fifth Prince would sit obediently in Wenyuan Pavilion before dawn every day. After lessons, he would even be dragged over while the Crown Prince and Ye Jinghua discussed affairs to have his schoolwork checked. Watching from the sidelines, Eunuch Xia felt that the Fifth Prince’s handwriting back then was far better than now.
“In this old servant’s view, it would be best for Second Young Master Ye to teach the Fifth Prince. Though this old servant’s knowledge is shallow, when Second Young Master Ye was in the palace, no one failed to praise his character and learning. Even the Grand Tutor said that his innate intelligence was unmatched.”
Hearing this, Emperor Yuanzhi snorted coldly. “Foolish thing, do you think Zhen doesn’t know he is excellent?”
Eunuch Xia fell silent and looked carefully. Only then did he notice that the scroll in the emperor’s hand bore Ye Jinghua’s handwriting. The inked characters were grand and powerful, a pair of five-character couplets about loyalty to the ruler and devotion to the country.
“Look, well written, isn’t it?” Seeing that he had noticed, the emperor tilted the paper slightly for him to see.
“Good, excellent, truly excellent,” Eunuch Xia nodded repeatedly.
Emperor Yuanzhi chuckled. “Today I summoned him and made him stand outside for a quarter of an hour first. When he came in, I had him write a couplet about loyalty and patriotism.”
Hearing this, Eunuch Xia was startled inwardly. Wasn’t that a deliberate show of authority? He had brought Ye Jinghua into the palace but then hurried off to find the Fifth Prince, thus missing the audience. But the emperor had always greatly admired this Second Young Master Ye, and with Consort Chen’s relationship as well, he had never spoken harshly to him before. This kind of ‘difficulty’ was already unusual.
It must be because he was dissatisfied with Ye Jinghua’s continued refusal to sit for the imperial examinations, Eunuch Xia thought, cautiously raising his eyes to observe the emperor’s expression.
Yet Emperor Yuanzhi showed little anger. Instead, he sighed. “After hearing it, he came in, sat down, and finished writing this couplet in less than a quarter of an hour. I’ve looked at it from every angle, there’s not a single flaw.”
Eunuch Xia smiled. “Second Young Master Ye has always had exceptional literary talent.”
Emperor Yuanzhi looked at the writing in his hand and shook his head. “His talent is good, but his temperament is even rarer. After finishing, he set down the brush and left. Zhen’s attempt to intimidate him didn’t affect him in the slightest!”
Hearing this, Eunuch Xia’s heart skipped again. Taken seriously, this could be considered disrespect toward the ruler! But when he looked up, there was no anger on the emperor’s face, rather, there was faint admiration.
Placing the scroll down, Emperor Yuanzhi sighed. “Mount Tai could collapse before him and he still wouldn’t change expression. In the end, it’s the Ye family that produces such refined seeds. If among my remaining sons there were even one like him, Zhen wouldn’t have worries a hundred years from now!”
The emperor could say such words, but Eunuch Xia dared not respond. Setting aside the comparison between the Ye family and imperial blood, just the phrase “my remaining sons” was enough to make him tremble. Emperor Yuanzhi clearly favored the Crown Prince; with the Crown Prince gone, among the remaining princes only the Fifth Prince showed a bit of intelligence, but he was far too unruly.
Eunuch Xia did not dare involve himself in matters of succession and could only smile. “Second Young Master Ye is only like this because Your Majesty indulges him.” If the emperor truly intended to make things difficult, he wouldn’t have allowed him inside after waiting, nor would he have made him stand for only a short while.
Emperor Yuanzhi chuckled and shook his head, handing the scroll to an attendant. He cast a sideways glance at Eunuch Xia. “You said Little Fifth ran into Huiqing at the palace gate.”
Such matters naturally could not escape the emperor’s awareness. Eunuch Xia nodded. “Yes.”
Emperor Yuanzhi snorted. “When Little Fifth cried and fussed, did he do anything?”
“Th-this…” Eunuch Xia’s smile stiffened slightly.
With a glance, the emperor knew Ye Jinghua had done nothing at all. He slammed his fist onto the table. “He’s protecting himself now, he doesn’t want to get involved at all! He won’t take the examinations, won’t accept an official post, and now he won’t even bother with Little Fifth if he can avoid it. I think he really intends, just as that bald monk said, to ascend to the heavens and become an immortal!”
Seeing his anger, Eunuch Xia quickly tried to persuade him. “This matter cannot be blamed on Second Young Master Ye. It was the Fifth Prince who insisted on dragging along a servant that Young Master brought into the palace to play, which made him leave in displeasure.”
“Oh?”
Hearing this, Emperor Yuanzhi’s brows lifted slightly in surprise. “He would get angry over a servant?”
Eunuch Xia said, “This time it’s a new face, quite an exceptionally handsome child.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yuanzhi slowly turned around, his gaze settling on Eunuch Xia as he narrowed his eyes slightly. “Tell me the details.”
Eunuch Xia stepped closer and lowered his voice, recounting the entire matter from beginning to end. When he finished, he added, “This old servant observed coldly that Second Young Master Ye is extremely attentive toward him, considerate in every way. Everything the boy wears and uses is of the finest quality.”
Emperor Yuanzhi crossed his arms over his chest, fingers tapping lightly against his sleeve. After a moment of silence, he said coldly, “So that’s why, when I said last month I wanted to betroth Jinghuan to him, he refused no matter what. Turns out he’d been waiting for this.”
Hearing this, Eunuch Xia assumed the emperor was displeased that Ye Jinghua had rejected a princess for the sake of a mere servant boy. He did not dare speak and simply stood to the side with lowered eyes. Yet after half a quarter-hour, he suddenly heard the emperor let out a mocking laugh.
“Zhen thought he truly was some immortal, devoid of all seven emotions and six desires—”
Deep in thought, Emperor Yuanzhi walked out from behind his desk and paced back and forth a few times before stopping in front of the bookshelves. “Go to the treasury and pick out some toys children would like. Send them to his residence.”
Naturally, this “his” referred to Ye Jinghua. Eunuch Xia nodded in acknowledgment and was just about to carry out the order when the emperor suddenly turned around again.
“Wait.”
Eunuch Xia halted and raised his head. He saw Emperor Yuanzhi frowning, head lowered in thought for a moment before finally saying, “No, this would be inappropriate. There’s no need to make it known yet.”
Eunuch Xia was somewhat puzzled. In his eyes, the appearance of such a servant boy beside Ye Jinghua was a perfect opportunity. As long as the emperor casually sent over a few gifts to show he was aware of the person’s existence, he would effectively have grasped one of Ye Jinghua’s weak points. An ordinary servant with no family background whatsoever, if the emperor wanted him alive, he would live; if he wanted him dead, crushing him would be easier than squashing an ant. That way there would also be no need to worry about Ye Jinghua refusing to participate in the spring examinations.
One glance was enough for Emperor Yuanzhi to know what Eunuch Xia was thinking. He waved a hand and said, “Forget it. Wait a little longer.”
Eunuch Xia did not understand, nor did he dare speculate on the emperor’s thoughts, so he merely nodded and withdrew.
Once the only elder in the palace qualified to joke with the emperor had left, the study returned to silence. Emperor Yuanzhi clasped his hands behind his back and walked to the window, looking outside through the papered panes. Much of the snow in the capital had already melted. A few late-blooming red plum blossoms still clung stubbornly to their branches, unwilling to fall.
The emperor’s eyes darkened thoughtfully.
Since Ye Jinghua had brought the person along, he must have anticipated that the emperor would find out.
That young man was sly beyond measure. The elder one was already a slippery old fox; the younger one hid even deeper schemes in his belly. To guard against whatever backup plan he might have, the emperor would need to observe a while longer.
***
Meanwhile, Zhao Baozhu had no idea that before he had even stepped foot into the inner palace, his name had already been noted by the reigning emperor.
The carriage slowly made its way toward the Ye residence. Just as the wheels turned into a narrow alley, the curtain of the carriage was suddenly lifted, and Fang Li’s voice came from outside.
“Young Master, the Cao family’s carriage is parked outside the residence gates.”
Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu turned back in surprise. Reclining lazily inside the carriage, Ye Jinghua slowly opened his eyes.
Sure enough, the moment they stepped out of the carriage, they saw Cao Lian standing at the entrance with tightly furrowed brows. Seeing Ye Jinghua and Zhao Baozhu alight together, he first froze, then strode forward. His gaze lingered on Zhao Baozhu for a brief moment before turning to Ye Jinghua.
“You took him into the palace?” he demanded urgently.
After stepping down from the carriage, Ye Jinghua subtly drew Zhao Baozhu behind himself before leisurely lifting his eyes. “I did.”
Cao Lian’s thick brows shot upward at once. Since they were standing outside the residence gates, he forcibly lowered his voice. “Have you gone mad?!”
Zhao Baozhu was utterly bewildered. Seeing the anxiety on Cao Lian’s face, he looked worriedly toward Ye Jinghua.
Ye Jinghua frowned slightly and shot Cao Lian a cold glance. “If you want to go mad, save it for your Cao residence.”
With that, he brushed past Cao Lian and led Zhao Baozhu inside.
Cao Lian nearly crushed the folding fan in his hand from anger and hurried after them, scolding as he walked.
“Well done, Ye Er! I think you’ve spent too many carefree days loafing around until your brain’s turned to mush! Just wait, I have words for you!”
Ye Jinghua paid no attention whatsoever to his scolding. When they reached the study entrance, he turned slightly toward Zhao Baozhu. “You ate breakfast in a hurry today. You must be hungry. Go eat first.”
Zhao Baozhu did not understand why Cao Lian was so furious. His gaze shifted between the two men before he nodded and turned to leave.
With a grim expression, Cao Lian followed Ye Jinghua into the study. The moment he entered, he blurted out: “The couplet His Majesty ordered you to write has already spread through every street and alley in the capital.”
Ye Jinghua walked behind the desk and sat down, lifting his eyes slightly, his expression unchanged. The moment Cao Lian saw that look, he knew Ye Jinghua had already anticipated that the emperor would deliberately spread word of the incident from the palace. His own expression relaxed a little, and he too sat down before the desk.
“His Majesty has gone this far. Looks like he’s determined to force you into official service this year.” Cao Lian tapped the table lightly with his knuckles and looked at Ye Jinghua. “I think you should make preparations early. There’s less than a month left before the spring examinations. If you fail to take first place, where will the Ye family’s reputation be left?”
In Cao Lian’s view, Ye Jinghua had already “wasted” three years. Every day he either wrote idle poetry or buried himself in miscellaneous books from who knew where. After too many carefree years, his studies had inevitably slackened. Rumors about Ye Jinghua, this “fallen prodigy”, were already rampant throughout the capital. Even if the emperor favored him, he still had to display real ability.
After a moment’s thought, Cao Lian said gravely, “If you ask me, you should head to Xingyang right now to see your family’s old master. Pick your studies back up and return only when it’s time to sit for the spring examinations.”
As he spoke, maids brought in two cups of hot tea. Through the curling steam, Ye Jinghua lifted his eyes and said: “I will not participate in the spring examinations.”
His tone was calm and indifferent.
Cao Lian jerked his head up. “You—you—!”
He had not expected Ye Jinghua to remain this stubborn even now. Cao Lian drew several deep breaths with difficulty before barely suppressing his emotions. He squeezed his eyes shut hard.
Only after a long while did he let out a heavy breath. Lowering his head, he placed both hands on the table and said quietly: “Jinghua, tell me honestly. Are you so stubborn about staying out of officialdom because of… because of the Cao family?”
A sheen of sweat appeared at Cao Lian’s temples, his voice rough with difficulty.
“…I know that ever since the Crown Prince disappeared, my father’s become somewhat obsessed. In court he and the Prime Minister are like fire and water, and regarding Consort Chen—”
At this point, Cao Lian stopped himself. Secretly steadying his breath, he raised his head again. “I just mean… you absolutely mustn’t hold yourself back because of concern for me—”
Yet the moment he looked up, he saw Ye Jinghua’s eyes cool and indifferent, his expression aloof. His face practically had the words “you’re overthinking it” written across it in ink.
Cao Lian felt his breath catch in his chest. He suddenly thought the version of himself who had just wanted to speak heart-to-heart with Ye Jinghua was unbelievably foolish.
Ye Jinghua raised a brow slightly and took a sip of tea. “There’s no need to think too much. I have my own plans.”
Seeing his breezy, unconcerned demeanor, another burst of anger flared in Cao Lian’s chest.
Suppressing his temper, he demanded, “If it’s not because of the Cao family, and His Majesty has already pushed you this far, then why are you still so stubbornly refusing to participate?”
Ye Jinghua looked at him calmly, just about to speak, when Cao Lian cut him off: “Don’t give me that ‘one’s merits are so great that they terrify the ruler.’ nonsense! Maybe those excuses can fool your foolish elder brother, but don’t bring them before me!”
Ye Jinghua therefore closed his mouth.
When Cao Lian realized Ye Jinghua had indeed intended to fob him off with those excuses, he became so furious smoke nearly came out of all seven orifices. He slammed his hand heavily onto the table.
“Speak! Let’s hear what else you have to say!”
The fine nanmu wood desk shook from the blow. Ye Jinghua frowned and lifted his eyes. “Stop taking your anger out on my belongings.”
Under Ye Jinghua’s cold gaze, Cao Lian’s heart trembled, and a good portion of his fury dissipated. To be fair, though Ye Jinghua’s courtyard looked sparse and secluded, the room actually contained quite a few precious imperial gifts. If he damaged something, there was a real chance he could not afford compensation.
Cao Lian resentfully withdrew his hand, stubbornly maintaining the anger on his face. “Then tell me this, now that things have reached this point, how exactly do you intend to end it?”
In his eyes, the emperor’s actions today could practically be considered a final ultimatum. Today he merely made Ye Jinghua write a loyalist couplet. If Ye Jinghua continued stubbornly refusing to participate in the examinations, next time it likely would not be so simple as writing a piece of calligraphy.
Ye Jinghua pushed the teacup beside his hand away and picked up another miscellaneous book to read. “That’s none of your concern.”
Blood rushed to Cao Lian’s head, and he was so angry his chest hurt. He truly must have been insane to waste words arguing with Ye Jinghua! Good intentions treated like donkey liver and lungs!
Unable to endure any longer, Cao Lian shot to his feet and pointed angrily at Ye Jinghua. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking! Ye Er, you’re just a lazy ghost reincarnated from a past life! All you want is an easy, carefree existence, and you don’t care in the slightest whether anyone else lives or dies!”
Ye Jinghua treated him like nothing more than a barking mad dog. Holding his book in one hand, he did not even lift his head. “See the guest out.”
The two maids immediately stepped forward to escort Cao Lian away. Cao Lian shook off their hands unwillingly. “Ye Er, think carefully! There’s already plenty of criticism about you in the capital these past few years. If you truly never enter officialdom for your entire life, won’t that suit them perfectly? Who knows what they’ll say about you then? Even if you have no grand ambitions, shouldn’t you at least fight for this bit of pride?”
Hearing this, Ye Jinghua slowly raised his head, one brow lifting slightly. “Who are ‘they’? Are they worthy of me fighting for such pride?”
There was little emotional change on his jade-like face, yet somehow it radiated a layer of lofty arrogance. It was as though no one in the world was worthy of entering his eyes. The opinions and voices of the masses were merely passing clouds, while he alone remained peacefully detached in his own corner of the world, carefree as an immortal.
Cao Lian was rendered speechless. He wanted to argue back but could not find a single reason. His face turned purple from holding it in. The two maids hurriedly seized him from either side, half-pulling and half-dragging him outside.
Cao Lian arrived at the Ye residence gates full of pent-up frustration. He spat viciously onto the ground and pointed at the Ye family plaque. “Ye Jinghua! I’ll never step foot in this den of thieves again!”
With that, he flung his sleeves and climbed into the carriage, which sped away in a cloud of dust.
The two maids who had escorted him out returned to report, somewhat worriedly saying: “Lord Cao was extremely angry. He said he’ll never come again.”
Ye Jinghua continued reading his book, turning a page as he said, “No need to mind him.”
The maid added, “Baozhu is waiting outside.”
Ye Jinghua suddenly raised his head. “Baozhu?” He immediately set down the book, stood, and walked to the front of the study. Lifting the curtain, he indeed saw Zhao Baozhu standing by the wall, holding a plate of pastries in his hands, his head lowered.
Hearing the movement, Zhao Baozhu raised his face. When he saw Ye Jinghua, a faint smile appeared on his slightly reddened face from the cold.
“Young master.”
