The day before the spring examinations, Zhao Baozhu did not dare cling to Ye Jinghua and ask him to teach as usual. He went to bed early.
After all, once he stepped into the examination grounds tomorrow, he would have to remain inside the tiny examination cubicle for a full nine days. Getting proper rest now was the most important thing.
But even though Zhao Baozhu had lain down as soon as night fell, he tossed and turned like a pancake on a griddle. His heart thumped wildly, and sleep simply would not come.
One moment his mind replayed the policy essay questions he had practiced yesterday. The next, it drifted to lines from the classics and poetry. Then, after a while, he started worrying about what he would do for travel money home if he failed.
And so he continued flopping about in bed long after the sky outside had turned completely dark.
Spring nights were very quiet. The faint sounds of melting snow from before were gone, and it was still too early for birdsong. The entire courtyard was so silent that even a dropped pin could be heard.
Suddenly, the night wind carried the sound of footsteps.
Zhao Baozhu heard them clearly. He pushed himself upright in bed and saw the shadow of a tall figure reflected against the window.
The door opened.
Seeing who it was, Zhao Baozhu looked slightly surprised. “Young master.”
Ye Jinghua wore snow-white sleeping robes. Moonlight spilled across the dark embroidered cloak draped over his shoulders, making him seem as though he had arrived cloaked in stars and moonlight.
The moment he looked up, he saw Zhao Baozhu sitting on the bed with loose hair spilling around him, his cat-like eyes wide awake. Ye Jinghua frowned slightly.
“You’re still not asleep?”
Zhao Baozhu scooted closer to the bedside as Ye Jinghua approached. “I went to bed ages ago, but I couldn’t fall asleep. Why has young master come?”
“I came to see you,” Ye Jinghua said softly.
He sat beside Zhao Baozhu and raised a hand to brush the boy’s black hair behind his back. Then he touched the damp bangs stuck to his forehead with sweat.
“What’s wrong? You’ve worked yourself into a sweat.”
Embarrassed, Zhao Baozhu smiled sheepishly. “The spring examinations are tomorrow. I’m terribly nervous.”
Ye Jinghua laughed at that. “What are you nervous for?”
As he spoke, he turned and took out a small bowl of milk custard from the food box beside him.
“Eat. You barely touched your dinner earlier. You must be hungry now.”
He was right. Zhao Baozhu had been too nervous during dinner to eat much, and now he really was hungry.
The milk custard had been prepared wonderfully, sweet, smooth, and fragrant, with osmanthus honey added to cut the richness. It carried a faint floral aroma.
Zhao Baozhu’s appetite immediately returned. He devoured it in a few bites.
Ye Jinghua then opened the second layer of the food box, revealing a neat stack of plump white sugar cakes.
Zhao Baozhu’s eyes lit up instantly.
“You’re not allowed to eat them all. They’re hard to digest,” Ye Jinghua said softly.
Zhao Baozhu nodded vigorously and immediately stuffed one into his mouth, looking exactly like a greedy little cat.
Watching him eat so happily, traces of laughter appeared in Ye Jinghua’s crystal-like eyes.
As Zhao Baozhu chewed, he looked up at him. “Young master, do you want one?”
Ye Jinghua shook his head. His gaze flowed over Zhao Baozhu like water, unbelievably gentle beneath the moonlight.
The look made Zhao Baozhu’s entire body tingle. His face heated up as well. Even the way he ate the sugar cake became more restrained as he softly asked: “Young master really isn’t nervous at all?”
Ye Jinghua’s lashes trembled faintly. He smiled softly. “What would I be nervous about?”
His expression was gentle, and his tone calm, but somehow Zhao Baozhu still heard the implication beneath it: If anyone ought to be nervous, it should be everyone else.
That was true, Zhao Baozhu secretly thought.
Though Fang Qin and the others often spoke of some Young Master Chang whose learning was excellent, no matter how he thought about it, Zhao Baozhu simply could not imagine anyone in the world surpassing Ye Jinghua.
Part of it was admiration. In Zhao Baozhu’s eyes, Ye Jinghua was like the reincarnation of the God of Literature descended from the heavens, his status only slightly below that of the emperor himself.
Ye Jinghua’s calmness gradually infected him as well. Zhao Baozhu slowly stopped feeling so nervous.
After eating two or three sugar cakes, drowsiness finally crept over him with the sugar.
Seeing his sleepiness, Ye Jinghua closed the food box, wiped Zhao Baozhu’s hands clean with a cloth, and helped him lie down.
“Sleep,” Ye Jinghua said softly.
He raised a hand and gently stroked the boy’s forehead before tucking the blankets securely around him.
“Tomorrow, at a quarter past six, I’ll come wake you.”
Zhao Baozhu nodded obediently and closed his eyes.
After a while, he heard the sound of Ye Jinghua opening the door and leaving.
This time, his mind felt strangely peaceful. All those tangled thoughts seemed to have been carried away together with Ye Jinghua’s departure.
Very quickly, he fell into a deep, sweet sleep.
***
At dawn, Zhao Baozhu was awakened by someone shaking him vigorously.
The moment he opened his eyes, he saw a dark figure standing beside his bed.
Startled out of all sleepiness, Zhao Baozhu jerked violently. “!”
“Shh, shh, ” The visitor swiftly covered his mouth. “Good child, it’s me.”
Zhao Baozhu blinked and finally recognized the face. Steward Li stood at his bedside, urging him on. “Hurry and get up already. The carriage is waiting outside.”
Zhao Baozhu froze for a moment before springing upright like a carp leaping from water. “Steward Li!”
He had slept so deeply he had not woken at all. Hadn’t young master said he would come wake him?
Zhao Baozhu immediately hurried to dress and tie up his hair. He washed his face with the hot water Steward Li brought him.
But as he bent to pull on his shoes and socks, he casually glanced out the window and suddenly paused.
The sky outside was still dark, with only the faintest streak of dawn at the horizon. It was obviously still very early.
“?” Zhao Baozhu looked at Steward Li in confusion. “Steward Li, isn’t it still before six?”
But Steward Li seemed oddly anxious. Wiping sweat from his brow, he frowned and said, “It’s not early at all! How much longer were you planning to sleep? It’ll still take half an hour to reach the Confucius Temple. If you arrive earlier, maybe you’ll get assigned a better examination cubicle. Otherwise if you’re one of the last to arrive, they’ll stick you in the foul, rotten cubicles. Let’s see how you’ll write essays then! Hurry up already!”
After being scolded like that, Zhao Baozhu also felt the reasoning made sense.
Seeing how anxious Steward Li looked, he quickly finished tidying himself and followed him outside.
In the faint morning light, the entire Ye residence was quiet. A thin mist lingered in the courtyard. Zhao Baozhu followed behind Steward Li, glancing around, but did not see a single person.
Zhao Baozhu frowned slightly, feeling that something was off.
When he realized that Steward Li was heading toward the back courtyard, Zhao Baozhu simply stopped and asked with a frown, “Steward Li, where is the young master?”
Hearing this, Steward Li turned his head slightly. “Why are you asking about the young master? The carriage is waiting at the back gate, hurry and come with me.”
Zhao Baozhu hesitated. “But… but the young master said last night he would go with me.”
Steward Li turned his head in surprise, staring at Zhao Baozhu. “The young master went to see you last night?”
Zhao Baozhu felt a bit puzzled and nodded. “Yes.”
Steward Li fell silent for a moment, his gaze toward Zhao Baozhu somewhat complicated. Zhao Baozhu felt uneasy under his stare and said softly, “Steward Li, let’s go wake the young master as well.”
If, as Steward Li said, going late would result in getting a bad exam cubicle, then it would be better to go earlier.
Steward Li paused, then turned back. “The young master was called back to the main residence early this morning by the master and madam.”
“Ah?” Zhao Baozhu froze at this, then frowned. It was normal for parents to call their legitimate son over to encourage him before an exam, but why call him now, of all times, on the very morning of the exam? As far as he knew, the main Ye residence was still some distance away, making Ye Jinghua expend energy so early in the day,
Though Zhao Baozhu grumbled inwardly, he did not dare criticize the master and madam, and could only nod somewhat dejectedly. “I see… then let’s go.”
He wondered if, upon arriving at the Confucius Temple, he might be able to catch a glimpse of the young master before entering the exam grounds. Zhao Baozhu followed behind Steward Li, thinking to himself.
Meanwhile, Steward Li secretly let out a breath of relief. Glancing sideways at Zhao Baozhu’s slightly downcast little face, his heart tightened, and he couldn’t help but feel a trace of guilt. What he had done was indeed not upright. After… after the spring examination, he would find a way to make it up to Baozhu.
The two walked in silence from the front courtyard toward the back. As they got closer, Zhao Baozhu could vaguely see through the mist two red lanterns hanging at the southwest corner gate. Outside, there was indeed a small dark-blue sedan chair, with a horse tied in front. A middle-aged man in coarse clothes held the reins.
“Uncle Liu will take you to the exam grounds,” Steward Li said, turning his head to look at Zhao Baozhu. Suddenly, he took out a paper-wrapped bundle from his sleeve and said in a low voice, “This is osmanthus cake just steamed in the kitchen. Take it and eat it on the way.”
Zhao Baozhu was taken aback. Looking at the pale yellow, petal-shaped cakes in his hand, his heart warmed at once. Osmanthus cake, its name echoes “plucking laurels in the Moon Palace.” Steward Li had still been thinking of him.
Zhao Baozhu smiled, dimples appearing at the corners of his mouth, his eyes bright as he looked at Steward Li. “Thank you, Steward Li. I will definitely do well on the exam.”
Seeing the boy’s sincere smile, Steward Li felt a mix of emotions and let out a quiet sigh. Softly, he said, “Good child, do your best and come back with the jinshi title. The young master will surely be happy as well.”
Zhao Baozhu smiled even more brightly and nodded vigorously. “Mm.”
Steward Li raised his hand and patted Zhao Baozhu on the shoulder. “Go on, get in the carriage.”
Zhao Baozhu nodded and was just about to turn around when, at that moment, a voice suddenly sounded behind them.
“Baozhu.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Zhao Baozhu froze and suddenly turned his head.
The Ye Jinghua whom Steward Li had said had gone to the main residence was standing right behind them.
Tall and elegant, he held the reins in one hand. The snow-white horse named Chen Yue stood quietly at his side, its dark eyes lifting beneath thick lashes as if curiously looking at the two of them.
Ye Jinghua’s glass-like eyes first paused on Zhao Baozhu’s surprised face, then shifted to Steward Li, who had already gone stiff. Without saying a word, his expression turned icy cold.
“Young master!” Zhao Baozhu did not notice Steward Li’s instantly pale face. He ran forward in delight. “Weren’t you going back to the main residence?”
Ye Jinghua’s gaze lingered on Steward Li for a long moment before he withdrew it. Lowering his head, he tucked a stray lock of hair behind Zhao Baozhu’s ear. “I just came back.”
Hearing this, Zhao Baozhu immediately felt a bit distressed and muttered, “Then you must have gotten up so early. That’s too exhausting.”
At this, Ye Jinghua’s expression softened slightly, the coldness fading. He smiled faintly. “It’s nothing. Chen Yue runs fast.”
“Ah.” Zhao Baozhu understood, it was because he rode a horse. Ye Jinghua’s hand slid down from his temple and rested on Zhao Baozhu’s shoulder, drawing him gently to turn around. “Come, let’s have breakfast first.”
Half held in his arms, Zhao Baozhu looked up in confusion. “But Steward Li said if we go late…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, because Ye Jinghua’s expression had become somewhat frightening. Zhao Baozhu slowly closed his mouth, glancing at his cold profile. Why did it feel like the young master was angry? Zhao Baozhu wanted to turn back to look at Steward Li, but his shoulder was held firmly, and he couldn’t turn, so he could only follow along toward the inner rooms.
From beginning to end, Ye Jinghua did not say a single word to Steward Li.
***
After breakfast, Deng Yun and the Fang brothers, along with several more presentable servants of the Ye household, gathered at the front gate. A large group stood there, their faces filled with a mix of tension and worry. For good fortune, the maids had all pinned red flowers in their hair, and Zhao Baozhu even spotted one of them holding a statue of Confucius.
This display was far too exaggerated. Zhao Baozhu was dumbfounded.
Ye Jinghua, however, looked no different than usual. Keeping Zhao Baozhu by his side, he turned to glance at the bustling courtyard and frowned. “Deng Yun, Fang Li, Fang Qin, come with me. Everyone else, go back.”
Hearing this, Fang Qin hesitated and raised his head. “Young master, this…” The area around the exam grounds would surely be chaotic today. Bringing more people would be safer in case anything happened. Fang Qin felt that bringing only three people was inappropriate, but under Ye Jinghua’s gaze, he swallowed the rest of his words and cast a somewhat dissatisfied look toward the back of the crowd, where Steward Li lingered. For some reason today, Steward Li seemed distracted and said nothing when he should have spoken. And just now, the young master hadn’t called his name at all.
Fang Qin vaguely felt something was wrong but couldn’t pinpoint what.
Meanwhile, Ye Jinghua had already taken Zhao Baozhu onto the carriage.
The others exchanged glances. The Fang brothers followed first, Deng Yun shot Steward Li a strange look before also following, and the rest gradually dispersed.
***
By the time the carriage arrived at the Confucius Temple, it was already bright daylight.
Zhao Baozhu pressed close to Ye Jinghua, looking at the surrounding crowd. There were far more provincial graduates participating in the spring examination than he had imagined. From their dress and appearance, one could tell they came from different regions, northern candidates mostly wore white or black, while southern scholars often dressed in green, carrying a refined Jiangnan air. He even saw one very tall candidate carrying a basket full of white steamed buns.
Those from wealthy families and those not were easy to distinguish at a glance. Noble sons wore fine clothing and were followed by one or two attendants carrying food boxes. Most of the less privileged candidates came alone, carrying bundles on their backs, often muttering texts under their breath.
Zhao Baozhu thought to himself that it was fortunate Ye Jinghua had not brought the entire household, it would have been far too conspicuous.
Even so, when Ye Jinghua stepped out of the carriage just now, he had already attracted immense attention.
Nine out of ten scholars waiting outside the exam grounds looked over, as if wanting to carefully examine what the famously gifted, emperor-favored son of the current prime minister looked like.
They rarely had the chance to see members of the Ye family. Now that they did, many were immediately struck by Ye Jinghua’s tall and handsome appearance. Quite a few had previously held biases against him due to his reputation among the ladies of the capital, assuming he must be a delicate, overly adorned dandy. Yet at a single glance today, many felt embarrassed.
Ye Jinghua’s appearance and bearing were far removed from anything “affected” or “pretentious.”
He didn’t even need to speak, one sweep of those glass-like eyes set him apart from ordinary people. His demeanor was extremely cold and distant, making others not dare approach lightly. He was clearly not someone one could casually strike up a conversation with.
For a moment, whether those who had secretly disparaged him or those who had intended to curry favor, all quietly retreated.
Meanwhile, Ye Jinghua focused only on helping Zhao Baozhu down carefully. Afterward, he reminded him not to go near crowded areas in case he got hurt by careless people.
Zhao Baozhu shrank his shoulders and followed close beside him, not quite used to all the attention. “Young master, so many people are looking at you.”
Ye Jinghua didn’t even lift his eyelids. “Ignore them.”
Deng Yun leaned in and said, “It’s always like this when we accompany the young master to places full of scholars, we’re used to it. Don’t be fooled by how educated scholars are, their tongues are sharper than anyone’s, and their sourness…” He clicked his tongue.
Zhao Baozhu agreed wholeheartedly and nodded. “That’s true.”
Deng Yun craned his neck to look around and pointed in a certain direction. “Look, that’s the legitimate grandson of the Chang family.”
Zhao Baozhu immediately turned his head to look. He saw a young man in green standing in a corner, with long, narrow phoenix eyes, arms crossed as he spoke to someone. His build looked less like a scholar and more like a martial artist.
Zhao Baozhu looked him up and down, then pursed his lips. “I think he’s far inferior to the young master.”
Deng Yun laughed, about to agree, when suddenly the Chang family’s grandson seemed to have heard something and turned his head in their direction.
“Oh no!” Zhao Baozhu panicked and hid behind Deng Yun. “Did he hear that?”
Deng Yun was also startled and shielded Zhao Baozhu behind him. “What nonsense are you saying? How could he hear from that far?”
Zhao Baozhu’s face flushed red and then pale. He was not someone who spoke ill of others behind their backs, this time, he had only spoken out of protectiveness for Ye Jinghua. If the other party had heard, he would be so embarrassed he’d want to dig into the ground. Hiding behind Deng Yun, he said softly: “I read in storybooks that martial artists have eyes that can see a thousand miles and ears that can hear with the wind. Is that true?”
Deng Yun nearly laughed in exasperation. “Ignorant little thing. What kind of nonsense are you reading all day?”
Zhao Baozhu puffed his cheeks out a little in dissatisfaction. Fortunately, the movement from that Young Master Chang seemed only accidental; he quickly turned back around again. Zhao Baozhu let out a breath of relief. But when he turned back, he saw that Ye Jinghua seemed not to have heard their conversation at all. He was looking off in another direction, his brows faintly furrowed.
Following his gaze, Zhao Baozhu saw a man in a dark blue robe standing beneath the corner wall. He did not look like an examinee, nor like a servant from any household. He simply stood silently in an inconspicuous corner with his head lowered. If one did not look carefully, one might not even notice someone was standing there.
“Who is that?”
Zhao Baozhu frowned.
Hearing this, Ye Jinghua turned back and lightly pushed Zhao Baozhu’s head away. “Don’t look.”
Zhao Baozhu raised his head at him in confusion, only to hear him say calmly, “That’s someone from the palace.”
“Ah.” Zhao Baozhu froze for a moment, then let out a surprised sigh.
That was true, his bearing did indeed resemble that of a palace eunuch. Zhao Baozhu understood immediately. Ye Jinghua had a prior record of “refusing the examinations,” so the Emperor was surely worried that something might happen at the last moment and had sent someone to watch until he entered the examination hall. But then again, the Emperor could easily have sent someone carrying an imperial edict to forcibly “escort” Ye Jinghua into the exam grounds. Sending someone here so discreetly was clearly also for the sake of preserving Ye Jinghua’s dignity.
Among the crowd, there were naturally a few people favored by imperial relatives who also saw through the situation. Those who understood what was going on all clicked their tongues in amazement at how deep the Emperor’s favor toward Ye Jinghua ran.
Everyone harbored their own thoughts. Time quickly passed. The academy officials beat the drum three times, signaling that the gates were opening and the examination candidates could enter.
The moment the gates opened, some examinees shoved desperately forward while holding up their identification slips. Others lingered at the very back, practically wishing they could chew up the books in their hands and swallow them before entering the exam hall.
Deng Yun and the Fang brothers all became alert, each positioning themselves around Ye Jinghua protectively, afraid someone with ill intentions might come forward and try some dirty trick.
Ye Jinghua was not in a hurry, nor did he deliberately delay. One arm vaguely shielded Zhao Baozhu as they followed the flow of people forward.
Only upon reaching the gate did Ye Jinghua release Zhao Baozhu and hand his identification slip to the academy official.
The official clearly recognized him. He did not even bother to look at the slip before stamping it, respectfully saying, “Young Master Ye, please enter.”
Ye Jinghua nodded, then turned and took from Fang Qin the writing materials and supplies that had long been prepared, along with a food box filled with various pastries.
Seeing that everything had been properly prepared, the three attendants finally relaxed. Steward Li had not come with them today, and they truly had been afraid something unexpected might happen. Now that Ye Jinghua had taken his things and was walking into the examination grounds, it felt as though a massive stone had been lifted from their shoulders. Once inside the examination compound, there was no reason for him to come back out. All that remained now was to wait for the rankings to be posted,
Yet just then, Zhao Baozhu, who had been standing beside them, suddenly stepped forward and actually followed after Ye Jinghua as though he intended to enter as well.
The Fang brothers had not yet reacted, but Deng Yun darted forward first and grabbed Zhao Baozhu.
“Baozhu, are you stupid? Get back here!”
Pulled off balance, Zhao Baozhu stumbled. “Ow! Let go of me!”
Hearing the commotion, Ye Jinghua, who had already walked ahead, turned back as well. Seeing that Zhao Baozhu actually looked as though he intended to follow him inside, the coldness in his eyes softened and he smiled faintly. “Baozhu, go back with them. I’ll only be inside for nine days.”
Zhao Baozhu froze at his words. After two breaths, he asked in confusion, “Young Master, I’m here to take the exam too.”
The examinees around them were noisy and bustling, but Zhao Baozhu’s voice still reached Ye Jinghua’s ears clearly.
For one instant, his expression went utterly blank.
Deng Yun was the first to react. He burst out laughing and tugged Zhao Baozhu backward again. “Silly boy, what are you talking about? It’s barely dawn and you’re already dreaming.”
Beside him, Fang Qin frowned too. “Baozhu, don’t fool around here.”
Zhao Baozhu looked baffled. “Who’s fooling around with you?” He shook off Deng Yun’s hand and pulled an identification slip out from his small bundle, handing it to the academy official. “Greetings, sir. I am a juren of Yizhou Prefecture from the thirty-fifth year of Yuanzhi, named Zhao Baozhu.”
The official took the slip, verified the seals from both the county educational office and the prefectural educational office, then nodded.
“Juren Zhao, please enter.”
Those words, “Juren Zhao”, crashed onto everyone’s heads like a great bell.
Deng Yun and the Fang brothers all froze at once.
The academy official’s words could not possibly be false. Everyone’s eyes lowered at the same time, finally noticing the somewhat yellowed identification slip in Zhao Baozhu’s hand. Written clearly upon it was indeed Zhao Baozhu’s name.
Deng Yun stared blankly for a long while before jumping up in shock.
“You, you, you!” He pointed at Zhao Baozhu for half the day without managing to say anything. Finally, his trembling lips forced out a sentence: “You really are a Juren?!”
Fang Qin was equally thunderstruck, unable to speak for a moment.
Fang Li, however, seemed suddenly struck by realization, as though remembering something. “You… the thing you were always looking for before… it wouldn’t happen to have been your name card, would it?”
Zhao Baozhu looked puzzled. “Of course. Didn’t Young Master tell you all?”
Only after seeing everyone’s astonished expressions did he belatedly sense something was wrong. Why did these people look as though they had never known about this?
Confused, he pressed his lips together and turned around.
Ye Jinghua stood three paces away from him. His expression revealed nothing unusual, yet his eyes were fixed tightly upon Zhao Baozhu, dark and deep as a still abyss.
For some reason, Zhao Baozhu felt a little alarmed under that gaze. Softly, he asked, “Young Master, what’s wrong?”
The academy official beside them had no idea why the group was all staring at one another. Seeing that the examinees lined up behind them were also craning their necks to look over, he urged, “Young Master Ye, Juren Zhao, please go inside quickly. The people behind are all waiting.”
That sentence seemed to abruptly awaken Ye Jinghua. His expression shifted almost imperceptibly. His gaze moved away from Zhao Baozhu and turned toward Fang Qin.
“Where are the extra supplies?”
Fang Qin froze for a moment before suddenly reacting. He hurried to the carriage and brought over another set of things. The Ye household had prepared thoroughly for the spring examinations: all writing materials and food had been prepared in duplicate, just in case.
Zhao Baozhu accepted the bundle and food box. Combined with the things he had already prepared himself, the weight dragged his body downward a little. Turning back toward Ye Jinghua, he said, “This…”
But Ye Jinghua did not look at him. Avoiding his gaze, he uttered a single word: “Go.”
There was not much time left before the examination began. If he entered now, he could still make some preparations. So Zhao Baozhu gathered up the things securely, turned and nodded toward Deng Yun and the others, then hurried after him inside.
Only then did the academy official let out a sigh of relief and begin calling the next examinee forward.
Deng Yun, Fang Qin, and Fang Li stepped aside to make way for the examinees, standing there dumbfounded for a very long time.
After quite a while, Deng Yun slowly opened his mouth wide. Thinking back on how he normally fooled around with Zhao Baozhu, he blankly turned to Fang Li and asked, “Baozhu’s a Juren Master now… he’s not going to chop my head off later, is he?”
Fang Li ignored him entirely, still lost in his own daze as he muttered, “So he really had lost something…”
Usually the calmest among them, Fang Qin too seemed shaken out of his senses. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
“Do you think… Young Master knew about this?”
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