When Zhao Baozhu awoke, the first thing he saw was a moon-white robe embroidered with golden cloud patterns extremely close before his eyes. Blinking in confusion, he realized his head was resting against a smooth piece of wood.
A man’s voice came from above him. “Awake?”
Zhao Baozhu gave a vague hum. Having slept too comfortably, he could not fully wake at once.
Since childhood, he had always loved sleeping. Though his family had been poor, Father Zhao had doted on him immensely, often indulging him by letting him sleep in even during the busy farming season. Because of that, Zhao Baozhu had developed this habit.
Still sleepy and unwilling to open his eyes, he instinctively turned his head and buried his face into the fabric before him.
Unbeknownst to him, that turn brought nearly half his body into Ye Jinghua’s embrace.
After a long moment, several low chuckles sounded above his head. A hand patted Zhao Baozhu lightly on the back, and someone said warmly: “Sleep a little longer.”
Thus Zhao Baozhu naturally drifted back into slumber once more.
Who knew how much time had passed before a burst of noisy voices startled him awake again.
“Lord Cao, Lord Cao, you really can’t go in—”
“Young Master said no one is allowed inside—”
Beneath the urgent voices of two women came the sound of rapid approaching footsteps. Cao Lian’s deep, resonant voice rang loudly through the air. “Move aside, move aside! I have important business with your master!”
The maids anxiously chased after him, but how could they possibly keep up with the tall, long-legged Cao Lian? They could only cry out sharply: “Lord Cao, if you keep this up, we’ll call the guards!”
Cao Lian said impatiently, “Go ahead and call them! I’m going in first.”
“Lord Cao—”
Naturally, the maids did everything they could to stop him.
Zhao Baozhu had already awakened the moment he heard the words “Lord Cao.” Raising his head, he saw Ye Jinghua’s jade-like face. Ye Jinghua was slightly turned to the side, frowning toward the window, his pale lips pressed into a faintly cold line.
Sensing movement, Ye Jinghua turned his face back. Seeing Zhao Baozhu awake, the sharpness in his expression softened.
“Awake for real this time?”
Blinking his cat-like eyes, Zhao Baozhu finally realized he had fallen asleep on the couch while listening to Ye Jinghua explain texts to him. Instantly, he sprang upright from the couch with a “whoosh.”
“I—I—you, I—”
His face turned bright red, and he nearly bit his own tongue trying to speak.
Ye Jinghua also straightened up alongside him, setting aside the round fan in his hand before naturally resting that hand on Zhao Baozhu’s shoulder.
“What is it? Why is your face so red?” Ye Jinghua frowned slightly. “Are you blaming me for not waking you? I saw how exhausted you were. Working hard at your studies is good, but missing one day won’t matter.”
His tone and expression were full of concern, as though he found absolutely nothing improper about the two of them lying together.
Zhao Baozhu could not get a word out. Stumbling off the couch, he hurriedly straightened his robes and said with a flushed face: “Y-young Master… Baozhu has been discourteous.”
Seeing how awkward and flustered he looked, Ye Jinghua frowned and slowly sat upright, just about to speak when Cao Lian’s booming voice came from outside the door: “Ye Er! Come out and see me!”
Ye Jinghua’s brows knitted sharply together. Turning toward the window, he said coldly: “Tell him to get lost.”
It sounded as though someone outside had heard that sentence, because chaotic footsteps immediately erupted.
But Zhao Baozhu could not bother with any of that. Lowering his head, he bolted for the study door as though oil had been smeared beneath his feet. Yet the instant he rushed out, he slammed directly into someone.
“Baozhu?”
Cao Lian had just broken free from the people restraining him and reached the study entrance when Zhao Baozhu crashed straight into him. Looking down and seeing it was Zhao Baozhu, he froze. “You—”
He looked at Zhao Baozhu’s crimson face, then glanced up at the plaque above the study. His stunned expression slowly turned meaningful.
Zhao Baozhu had no time to notice his expression. Hurriedly giving Cao Lian a clumsy bow, he said anxiously: “Baozhu greets Lord Cao. Baozhu will take his leave first.”
With that, he turned and fled at full speed, disappearing around the end of the corridor in the blink of an eye.
Cao Lian raised his brows high as he watched Zhao Baozhu’s retreating figure. After a moment, he let out an amused “oh ho,” then lifted the curtain and entered the study.
Inside, Ye Jinghua stood in the middle of the room with an icy expression.
Cao Lian was not afraid of his frosty face at all. Raising his brows, he pointed his fan up and down at Ye Jinghua. “Usually you act all lofty and refined. I thought you were some upright gentleman. Who would’ve thought you’re just a beast in gentleman’s clothing.”
Already irritated because Zhao Baozhu had fled in embarrassment, Ye Jinghua’s eyes instantly turned knife-sharp at those words. “You tired of living?”
Under Ye Jinghua’s flesh-carving glare, Cao Lian shivered slightly, but still said: “Hey, hey, you’re the one doing bad things, and you still have the nerve to threaten me? Tell me honestly: what indecent thing did you do to Baozhu in this study just now that made him run out looking ready to cry?”
At those words, Ye Jinghua’s brows furrowed even tighter. “He cried?”
Cao Lian froze. He had only made it up casually, but seeing the worried look on Ye Jinghua’s face, he immediately nodded firmly.
“Of course. He cried miserably. Didn’t even greet me before running off.”
Ye Jinghua frowned deeply, staring at him for a moment before turning his head and summoning a maid. “Go check on Baozhu.”
Yueqin nodded in acknowledgment and withdrew.
At once, Cao Lian knew his little lie had already been exposed, but he was not too worried. Smiling brightly, he leaned closer to Ye Jinghua. “I understand now. You clueless fool definitely didn’t know how to be gentle and frightened him half to death, didn’t you?”
Ye Jinghua was lowering his eyes while extinguishing the calming incense in the room. Without looking up, he said coldly: “One more word of nonsense and get out.”
Cao Lian sucked in a breath. Every time he came to the Ye residence he got scolded like a dog, yet often could not refute a single thing. But this time he finally had some confidence. Circling around in front of Ye Jinghua, he demanded: “You dare say you didn’t do anything to him just now?”
Ye Jinghua was covering the incense burner when he lifted his eyes at those words, one brow arching sharply. “Do what? Baozhu is still young.”
Cao Lian froze, then thought about it. “Sixteen… isn’t that young anymore.”
The instant he said that, Ye Jinghua abruptly looked up. The sharpness in his gaze sliced toward Cao Lian like blades. “Stay farther away from Baozhu.”
Cao Lian was stunned for a moment, then exploded with anger. “Ye Er, what kind of person do you take me for?!”
After extinguishing all the incense burners, Ye Jinghua walked around him and sat behind the desk, saying coldly: “A beast in gentleman’s clothing.”
Cao Lian’s own insult boomeranged straight back into his face.
He was so angry his chest hurt. Pointing at Ye Jinghua for a long time, he could not say a single word. Finally he let out a heavy sigh and sat down before the desk. “Forget it. I can’t win against you.”
Waving a hand, he changed the subject and looked up at Ye Jinghua.
“This time, I admit defeat. I never expected you actually did have a solution regarding the spring examinations!”
As Cao Lian spoke to this point, he clicked his tongue in amazement: “Who would’ve thought General Chang still had this move, everyone under heaven has completely forgotten him, yet you, this crafty creature with seven apertures in your heart, still remember that that old master’s legitimate grandson should be sitting the exam this year.”
What Cao Lian spoke of was precisely what had been mentioned in the letter Deng Yun had submitted. General Chang was a veteran general who had died for his country three years ago in the war against Chan Country. At that time, during a siege, he volunteered to stay behind to cover the crown prince’s retreat, ultimately dying on the battlefield. Before the crown prince returned to court, he had already submitted a memorial along with the battle report requesting honors for him. Upon receiving it, the emperor issued an edict posthumously honoring him as Cavalry General and granting his wife the rank of first-grade titled lady. However, the Chang household had few descendants, his only legitimate son had also died on the battlefield years earlier, leaving behind only a single legitimate grandson.
After General Chang’s death, with no one from the Chang family serving in court and their lineage dwindling, the family quickly declined and moved away from the capital. This legitimate grandson had passed the provincial exam early on, but because of the three-year mourning period, he missed the metropolitan examination, and only now had he submitted his registration to the Government Studies Bureau.
The Chang family’s ancestral home was in Lingnan, so the name card took quite a long time to reach the capital, and young master Chang himself was still on the road to the capital. Yet Ye Jinghua seemed as if he possessed ears that could hear the wind and eyes that could see a thousand li, he had long anticipated that the Chang family’s legitimate grandson would sit for the imperial examination.
Leaning back in his chair, Cao Lian tapped the table with one hand: “The Chang family is loyal and righteous to the last. In the old master’s final letter, it was explicitly stated that this grandson must not become a military officer again. So he can’t enter officialdom through hereditary privilege from his grandfather; he must take the civil examination route.”
“I’ve heard this young master Chang’s learning is quite solid, he was already the top candidate in Lingnan Prefecture during the provincial exam. If he performs well in this spring examination, a zhuangyuan is guaranteed for him… The emperor, mindful of the Chang family’s loyalty and the southern military defenses, will certainly not treat him poorly. But if you also sit the exam this year, then it’ll be troublesome.”
Cao Lian spoke slowly.
Ye Jinghua represented the stance of the refined nobility of the capital. Now at court, the faction of the Fifth Prince and Consort Chen had risen to a boiling point, faintly opposing the old Crown Prince’s faction. If the Chang family’s legitimate grandson, as part of the former loyalist faction, were to sit the exam at the same time as Ye Jinghua, then who would be awarded the top scholar? If there were a large gap in their abilities, it would be easy to decide, but this young master Chang also appeared to be full of talent. At that time, even if both were placed among the top three, no matter who was named zhuangyuan, there would inevitably be a tug-of-war at court, it would truly be a complicated situation.
Cao Lian looked up at Ye Jinghua and sighed: “This move of yours is indeed brilliant. Now that young master Chang’s name card has been submitted to the Government Studies Bureau, I’m afraid His Majesty will no longer urge you.”
He greatly admired Ye Jinghua’s scheming methods. Logically speaking, Ye Jinghua had already left the palace for more than three years and even split from the Ye residence, yet his insight into court affairs remained sharp, Cao Lian sighed inwardly. In terms of learning, he still felt he could compete, but in terms of being an official, Ye Jinghua was no less capable than his own prime minister father.
Ye Jinghua made no comment on his words, simply lowering his head to take a sip of tea, then suddenly said, “I’ve already submitted my name card to the Government Studies Bureau.”
He said it lightly. Cao Lian, upon hearing this, froze for a moment before asking, “What?”
Ye Jinghua frowned slightly, set down his teacup, and looked up: “I’m sitting the exam this year.”
This time, Cao Lian heard clearly. His face froze in shock as he slowly rose from his chair, meeting Ye Jinghua’s calm amber eyes, his expression suddenly changing drastically.
***
On the other side, Zhao Baozhu fled back to his room in a panic, sat on the edge of the bed catching his breath for quite a while, then looked up at the sky and realized it was already close to noon.
Ye Jinghua had actually let him sleep for more than two hours.
Zhao Baozhu felt another wave of embarrassment and annoyance, how could he be this lazy? Someone had kindly been teaching him, yet he had fallen asleep just like that, and even slept so soundly! Just like a pig!
Zhao Baozhu scolded himself fiercely in his heart before gradually calming down, staring somewhat blankly at the doorway.
Ye Jinghua’s gentle expression still lingered before his eyes. Thinking of how close they had been when he woke up, Zhao Baozhu’s cheeks, which had just cooled, flushed red again.
As it was said in old books, close friends might sleep with their feet touching,
Zhao Baozhu thought blankly, then suddenly shuddered and shook his head hard. What “sleeping with feet touching”! There had still been the distance of a hat between him and Ye Jinghua! And it wasn’t even on a bed!
The more he thought about it, the more improper it seemed! Zhao Baozhu squeezed his eyes shut, forcing his scattered thoughts back together. Just then, he suddenly felt something cool in his right hand. Looking down, he realized he was actually clutching a fine jade pendant.
The jade pendant was smooth and lustrous, glowing with a milky white sheen, with a tassel woven from multicolored cords. In the center was carved the character “Hui.”
“Hui”, Huiqing. Zhao Baozhu immediately realized this must be Ye Jinghua’s personal belonging; he must have tugged it off while asleep. Zhao Baozhu knew he had a habit of grabbing things in his sleep, but never expected to grab something this important. At once, as if holding a hot potato, he jumped up from the bed.
Oh no! Zhao Baozhu cried inwardly, this absolutely had to be returned!
At that moment, a gentle female voice came from outside the door: “Baozhu, Baozhu.”
Recognizing her voice, Zhao Baozhu stepped forward and opened the door: “Sister Yueqin.”
As the door opened, Yueqin’s gaze immediately fell on Zhao Baozhu’s face. Seeing that his expression was fine and there were no tear marks, she let out a breath of relief and said softly, “You ran off in such a hurry, so the young master had me come check how you are.”
Zhao Baozhu said urgently, “Sister Yueqin, quickly take me to see the young master, something of his was left with me.”
“Something?” Yueqin was taken aback. Glancing down, she saw the jade pendant in Zhao Baozhu’s hand and paused slightly. “This…”
This jade pendant had been bestowed by the Emperor Yuanzhi when he granted Ye Jinghua his courtesy name, and Ye Jinghua had always worn it close to his body. This was an imperial gift, logically, it shouldn’t be given to others. But since it had ended up in Zhao Baozhu’s hands, it was also possible that Ye Jinghua had given it to him.
Yueqin hesitated, but Zhao Baozhu didn’t want to wait any longer and urged, “Sister Yueqin, let’s go quickly.”
Thinking it would be best to confirm the matter face to face with the young master, Yueqin led Zhao Baozhu toward the study. But just as they passed through the courtyard gate, Cao Lian’s loud cursing could be heard from afar: “Ye Er, you madman! Treating people like monkeys to toy with! I’ll never come back to this devil’s den again–”
From a distance, Yueqin and Zhao Baozhu saw Cao Lian being half-dragged and half-pulled out of the courtyard by Deng Yun. He spat fiercely on the ground in front of the study, then flicked his sleeves and strode off in anger.
Seeing that his actions were almost exactly the same as last time, Zhao Baozhu asked in surprise, “What happened this time?”
Yueqin was already used to it. Watching Cao Lian storm out, she said calmly, “No need to worry, Lord Cao will come again.”
With that, she continued leading Zhao Baozhu toward the study. As the two turned a corner, they ran into Steward Li, who seemed to have just returned from outside. He appeared to have walked quite a bit, his forehead covered in fine sweat, breathing slightly heavily, his cheeks flushed, his face showing joy one moment and worry the next, looking rather comical.
“Steward Li,” Zhao Baozhu called out, curious. “Where have you just come back from?”
Hearing the voice, Steward Li turned around. Seeing Zhao Baozhu, his eyes lit up immediately. He quickly walked over and, under Zhao Baozhu’s puzzled gaze, raised his hand and gave his right shoulder two firm pats: “Baozhu, this time you’ve rendered great service.”
Zhao Baozhu was stunned. “Steward Li, what do you mean by that?”
Steward Li smiled broadly. “I just delivered the young master’s name card to the Government Studies Bureau. Though the young master didn’t say it outright, I know it must have been you who persuaded him. When the young master returns crowned as zhuangyuan, you’ll be credited with first-class merit!”
