Chang Shouguang stared at Ye Jinghua for quite some time, his gaze intense enough to burn holes into the man’s back. When Ye Jinghua finally turned around, Chang Shouguang deliberately clicked his tongue loudly, wearing a half-smiling expression.
Who would have thought Ye Jinghua would not even raise his eyelids? Calm as still water, he grasped the reins with one hand and leapt smoothly onto the horse in a single motion.
The eunuch tending the horse nearly died of fright and hurriedly rushed forward to steady the saddle. If the newly crowned zhuangyuan fell and injured himself, ten lives would not be enough to compensate for it!
But to Chang Shouguang, the scene carried a completely different flavor.
Not only had he lost the examination, even the opportunity to look impressive had been stolen from him!
Had he not seen the nearby palace maids staring at the fluttering scarlet hem of Ye Jinghua’s robes as he mounted the horse? Their cheeks pink, eyes shimmering like autumn waters, looking ready to faint on the spot?
Outrageous!
Chang Shouguang nearly exploded from irritation. Surely he could not possibly lose when it came to martial prowess too? He immediately swung himself onto his own horse as well.
Deliberately, he avoided using his hands to brace against the saddle, trying to make himself appear light and graceful.
Unfortunately, the palace horses raised for appearance were nowhere near as sturdy as the frontier warhorses he normally rode. A man over eight feet tall like him came crashing down hard enough that he nearly broke the poor beast.
The horse instantly threw back its head and neighed wildly. The stable eunuch hurriedly seized the reins, struggling for quite some time before finally calming it down. Only then did he wipe away cold sweat and say fearfully to Chang Shouguang: “Lord Chang, that was far too bold! If the animal had been startled and thrown you off, what then?”
Failing to imitate a tiger and ending up looking like a dog instead, Chang Shouguang’s handsome face flushed bright red. Amid the quiet giggles of the palace maids, he finally sat obediently on the horse.
“Escort the zhuangyuan, bangyan, and tanhua out of the palace!”
As the eunuchs stretched out their bright celebratory cries, the court musicians began playing festive music. Two rows of beautiful palace maids lined the path before Taihe Palace, scattering fresh peony and peacock flower petals all the way toward Shenwu Gate, filling the air with fragrance.
Even Chang Shouguang, still bitter about losing first place, gradually found himself infected by the atmosphere and began smiling.
Once they exited the palace, things became even more lively.
Everyone in the capital already knew the palace examination results were being announced today, and that the zhuangyuan was the famous second legitimate son of the Ye family. Thus the crowds that came to witness the spectacle were especially enormous. All wished to see whether this legendary young master, said to look like an immortal descended from heavenly jade terraces, could truly live up to his overwhelming reputation.
The streets were packed solid with people, and even the teahouses and wine towers lining both sides were overflowing with spectators.
When the two eunuchs bearing fly whisks emerged first from the palace gates, followed by the top three jinshi riding high horses, the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.
Ye Jinghua, riding at the front, frowned faintly.
Chang Shouguang, however, was delighted. He loved excitement and spectacle. Seeing such an enormous crowd filled him with pride no less intense than the first time he had hit a bullseye on the training grounds.
The people saw him seated atop a magnificent horse, chin slightly lifted, youthful and handsome, and so they joined in the merriment enthusiastically.
Before Chang Shouguang had even traveled two li, he was already covered in flower petals, silk handkerchiefs, and fragrant sachets. Sweet perfume surrounded him so thickly it felt as though he had fallen into a pile of girls’ cosmetics.
There was an old saying about “catching a son-in-law beneath the rankings,” but to catch one while he was mounted in full procession was an even greater joy.
On this day, the people of the capital cast aside their usual restraint and propriety. Young ladies either personally tossed sachets and handkerchiefs, or pushed fathers and brothers forward to inquire on their behalf: “Has the bangyan married yet? This humble one has a daughter of perfect age—”
“Does the tanhua already have a wife?”
“Young Master Chang! The pink silk handkerchief with blue trim and lotus embroidery belongs to my younger sister!”
The calls came endlessly.
Chang Shouguang had spent most of his life on the frontier and had never before encountered so many sheltered noble girls at once. He found himself enjoying it immensely, cheeks flushed red, the ends of his brows nearly flying into his temples from delight.
Yet before long, he noticed something strange.
Ye Jinghua had not received a single sachet or handkerchief.
Oh?
Chang Shouguang raised a brow. Part of him felt smug that he himself had received so many gifts, but another part found it odd. Could it be that Young Master Ye’s face simply was not to the liking of the girls outside?
Curious, he deliberately urged his horse forward until he rode side by side with Ye Jinghua.
Then he turned his head to look, and immediately thought:
Oh my.
That face looked cold enough to frost over.
No wonder he always thought Ye Jinghua was putting on airs. Ever since the palace examination began, this man had constantly worn a cold expression, speaking to everyone in a detached manner and refusing closeness with anyone. It honestly made Chang Shouguang uneasy.
Yet now he realized that Ye Jinghua had actually been comparatively pleasant inside the palace. His current expression was truly enough to freeze someone to death.
No wonder the girls did not dare throw handkerchiefs at him. With a face like the King of H*ll, who would not avoid him?
Just as Chang Shouguang was inwardly mocking him, some bold young lady tossed a handkerchief through the air. It landed squarely on Ye Jinghua’s body.
From the side, Chang Shouguang watched Ye Jinghua’s eyelashes tremble slightly as he lowered his gaze and casually brushed the handkerchief away with his fingertips.
The fragrant silk floated to the ground and was immediately trampled beneath horse hooves until it became coated in dust.
How utterly lacking in tenderness.
Chang Shouguang shook his head inwardly and muttered softly to himself: “The Ye household truly is strange. The master’s like ice, while the servant’s like a firecracker.”
He had spoken extremely quietly, his words buried beneath the roar of the crowd. No one should have heard him.
Yet Ye Jinghua suddenly turned his head. Light flashed from the corner of his starry eyes as he looked directly at Chang Shouguang.
Caught red-handed, Chang Shouguang froze briefly.
“You heard that?”
Ye Jinghua looked at him and asked: “What does Young Master Chang mean?”
“Ah.” Chang Shouguang replied, “Nothing much. I just happened to meet that servant from your household, the one called Baozhu. He beat someone until they were black and blue. Fierce little thing. I was just making a casual comment.”
The moment he said this, he felt Ye Jinghua’s gaze change entirely. Only now did it seem as though Ye Jinghua was truly looking at him seriously.
“…You’ve met Baozhu?”
Chang Shouguang blinked, then nodded.
“Yeah. Isn’t he that servant of yours who passed the jinshi examination? On the day the rankings were posted, he was drinking at Tengjin Pavilion. I happened to be there too.”
Hearing this, Ye Jinghua seemed to recall something. His brows drew together almost imperceptibly before he nodded. “So that was it.”
Then he lifted his eyes again toward Chang Shouguang. “You said he beat someone that day?”
Remembering the incident, Chang Shouguang found it rather amusing. But seeing Ye Jinghua’s clear concern, he suddenly did not want to tell him so easily.
He briefly considered how to tease the man a little first. Maybe make him call him “big brother” once?
But the moment Chang Shouguang looked up and met Ye Jinghua’s glass-clear eyes, the end of his brow twitched. Tiny goosebumps immediately rose along his arms.
Forget it. Too creepy.
Rubbing his arm, he gave up and simply told the whole story: “On the day the rankings were announced, there was some idiot surnamed Wang badmouthing you. Baozhu got angry and lectured him thoroughly. Then, by sheer bad luck, they ran into each other again at Tengjin Pavilion, and Baozhu beat him up. Kid’s surprisingly strong too, those kicks had power.”
Though he spoke only briefly, Ye Jinghua understood perfectly.
He was well aware of the gossip surrounding him. Combined with the earlier incident Cao Lian had witnessed, he already knew Zhao Baozhu probably was not nearly as obedient in front of others as he appeared before himself.
Still… if he was going to fight, then fight. Yet he had injured himself in the process, gotten drunk beyond recognition, and even swollen his foot so badly.
Though Ye Jinghua felt distressed, the fact that Zhao Baozhu had repeatedly stood up for him made his heart feel deeply warm and settled.
But for matters like this… why should Baozhu have to dirty his own hands?
Chang Shouguang glanced sidelong at Ye Jinghua’s expression. Seeing the faint chill in his features, he assumed Ye Jinghua was displeased that a servant had behaved so arrogantly. Chang Shouguang found Zhao Baozhu far more likable than Ye Jinghua himself, and immediately felt alarmed. He hoped he had not accidentally caused Baozhu trouble by speaking carelessly! So he quickly changed his tone: “But he didn’t actually kick the man to death or anything. It wasn’t serious.” He cleared his throat. “Besides, that fellow Wang really did speak horribly. Getting beaten up wasn’t undeserved.”
At those words, Ye Jinghua shifted his gaze slightly, seeing through Chang Shouguang’s thoughts at once. His eyes narrowed faintly. In his own eyes, Baozhu was good in every possible way; clearly, other people saw him that way too.
And that was precisely the problem.
He was too lovable.
Chang Shouguang said awkwardly, “I only told you this because I didn’t want it to—”
“I understand,” Ye Jinghua interrupted, lowering his eyes before turning away again. “Thank you for telling me, Young Master Chang.”
Though he was saying words of gratitude, his expression somehow looked even colder than before. Chang Shouguang paused, feeling something strange about Ye Jinghua’s reaction, though he could not pinpoint what. He could not be bothered to dwell on it, but he was curious about one more thing regarding Baozhu.
“Hey, is he really just a servant in your residence?” Chang Shouguang urged his horse forward slightly, curiosity plain on his face. “Now that he’s passed the jinshi examinations, surely you can’t still treat him as a servant? Where’s he going to be assigned? The Ministry of Justice?”
He truly was curious. In his view, the Ye family had deliberately selected a literate servant and carefully cultivated him as future support for the Ye brothers in court. The political situation was already turbulent, and this year’s examinations had revealed all sorts of hidden undercurrents. The Ye family’s move had been brilliant, after all, who in the capital was not now praising the Ye family’s scholarly heritage, when even a servant from their household could become a jinshi?
Besides, Chang Shouguang thought Baozhu’s personality suited the Ministry of Justice quite well. He had a ruthless streak, unlike those soft scholars whose brains had rotted from reading too many books.
But Chang Shouguang’s question stabbed directly into the sorest place in Ye Jinghua’s heart.
His expression did not change, but his gaze deepened. Amid the noisy crowd, his straight-backed figure resembled an eternal glacier untouched by thaw, one that not even the crimson robes of the zhuangyuan could soften.
“The assignment of officials is for His Majesty to decide.”
Only after a long pause did he answer.
Chang Shouguang curled his lip, thinking inwardly: There he goes acting again. As if the Ye family couldn’t place him wherever they wanted if they truly wished to.
***
What Chang Shouguang did not know was that, less than ten miles away, the Ye residence had already descended into utter chaos.
Servants and maids crowded around Ruilai Courtyard in layers upon layers, surrounding it so tightly that not even water could pass through. At the very front, Steward Li paced back and forth anxiously, sweat pouring down his face as he pointed toward the gates and shouted: “The people sent to the main residence still haven’t returned?!”
Receiving another negative answer, Steward Li sighed heavily and shook his head nonstop.
“Hopeless! Completely hopeless! A bunch of damned fools, how could they assign such an official post–”
The Fang brothers and Deng Yun had all been sent out by him. One group went to find the Ye family’s master and madam to seek a solution, while another hurried off to intercept Ye Jinghua during the victory parade outside. As for Steward Li himself, he remained guarding outside Ruilai Courtyard, trying to stall things for as long as possible!
Inside the room, however, Zhao Baozhu was packing his belongings.
In truth, there was not much to pack at all. Ever since the day he entered the Ye residence, he had anticipated that such a day would come. Thus, he had always kept his things neatly gathered together. Everything Ye Jinghua had given him, along with all the monthly stipend money he had received, had been carefully stored away without losing a single item.
Now he had changed back into his coarse cloth clothes. Wrapped inside his bundle were three tattered books and a split writing brush. He removed the jade tag engraved with his name, the one he had worn for so long, and placed it gently on the table.
Jade was said to nourish its wearer. Having worn it close to his body for such a long time, the creamy white jade now seemed even smoother and finer than before. Zhao Baozhu held it in his hands and rubbed it softly, an unexpected trace of reluctance rising in his heart.
After all, he had stayed here for so long. To say he felt no attachment whatsoever toward the Ye residence would have been a lie.
Lifting his head, Zhao Baozhu slowly swept his gaze around the room before finally letting it settle on the small wooden table in front of him. Most things he had long planned to return to Ye Jinghua. Yet there remained three items he simply could not decide about.
On the left lay the little jade rabbit Ye Jinghua had personally carved for him, its round belly gleaming softly. In the center rested the expensive Western-style picture tube inside its long box. And finally, there were the Four Books and Five Classics Ye Jinghua had used to teach him, still filled with his casual handwritten annotations.
Zhao Baozhu looked at them for a long while.
In the end, he packed all three away.
These were gifts from Ye Jinghua, he told himself silently.
That didn’t count as stealing.
Once he had made up his mind, Zhao Baozhu slung the bundle over his shoulder and pushed open the door.
Then he was completely stunned by the sight before him.
His mouth fell open as he stared at the courtyard overflowing with people. He was utterly dumbfounded.
“Steward Li, what’s going on?” His gaze landed on Steward Li standing at the front.
Steward Li’s face was full of anxiety. The moment he saw the bundle on Zhao Baozhu’s shoulder, his heart sank violently. “Baozhu… you… you’re leaving for your post already?”
Zhao Baozhu nodded. After the initial surprise, a smile appeared on his face. “Are all of you here to see me off? There’s really no need for so many people. Don’t delay your work because of me.”
There was no way to explain his suffering. The people sent to fetch the master and madam still had not returned, and Ye Jinghua himself was absent. At the moment, there was no one in the entire residence capable of making decisions. No matter what they said, they were still only servants. Zhao Baozhu held an imperial edict in his hands, they could hardly physically restrain him from taking office!
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Steward Li forced out a strained smile.
“This… why is it so urgent? Look at the weather today. It might rain this afternoon. Why not wait one more day? You can leave tomorrow after seeing how the weather turns out.”
Weather?
Zhao Baozhu looked up at the sky overhead. The heavens were perfectly clear without even a trace of cloud. How exactly had Steward Li determined it was going to rain?
He shook his head. “I can’t delay. The imperial edict said I must depart immediately.”
Hearing this, Steward Li froze. He grabbed the edict and looked more closely. Sure enough, the words clearly stated that the recipient was to leave at once.
The moment he saw those lines, his mind exploded with a roar.
This was bad.
Truly bad.
No matter how powerful the Ye family might be, once an imperial edict had been sealed, stamped, and written with Zhao Baozhu’s name, there was absolutely no taking it back.
Steward Li had no idea which part of the process had gone wrong, but this was far beyond what mere servants could solve. Thus, as Zhao Baozhu headed toward the residence gates, Steward Li could only trot after him desperately, trying his best to persuade him to bring more belongings: “Even if you’re leaving, you can’t possibly take only this little! You’re departing immediately, how could your things possibly be properly prepared in time, ”
Zhao Baozhu turned back and smiled at him lightly.
“What’s so troublesome about it? There’s no need to worry. The yamen already gave me five taels for travel expenses.”
“Five taels?!” Steward Li practically lost his mind, his voice shooting up sharply. “What can five taels possibly do?!”
Zhao Baozhu blinked, then laughed even more brightly. “Enough to buy an old horse and a small cart.”
Steward Li remained frozen with his mouth hanging open for a long moment, unable to speak. The instant Zhao Baozhu turned away again, he hurriedly ordered the servants to fetch a horse and carriage from the rear courtyard.
By the time the servants returned leading the horse and carriage, they found Steward Li and Zhao Baozhu still arguing at the gates.
“No, really, there’s no need, Steward Li—”
No matter what anyone said, Zhao Baozhu absolutely refused to accept the Ye family’s horse and carriage.
“I truly can’t accept them. You’ve already cared for me so much during my stay here, and I have no way to repay that kindness. Now that I’ve been appointed to office, how could I continue troubling the residence like this?”
A horse from the Ye residence was worth far more than five taels, likely not even fifty taels would suffice! The carriage was even more extravagant, made from the finest materials. Besides, he was only traveling to assume office, and the roads from the capital to Qingzhou were much smoother than the route to Yizhou. Most of it was flat terrain. If he traveled quickly, he could arrive within half a month. Perhaps he would not even need a horse at all; a sturdy donkey might suffice.
Steward Li looked close to tears.
“Oh heavens, my young master, I beg you, please just take them!”
“No.”
Zhao Baozhu’s attitude remained firm. Turning to the servant holding the reins, he said seriously: “You may go back. I absolutely cannot accept this.”
The servant immediately froze. Perhaps it was because Zhao Baozhu held an imperial edict, or perhaps because the usually gentle young man now looked unexpectedly imposing, but the servant actually stammered and retreated two steps before turning around and leaving.
Steward Li nearly fainted on the spot.
Despair covered his face. Seeing Zhao Baozhu about to walk out of the Ye residence with almost nothing to his name, he gritted his teeth and suddenly dropped to his knees with a loud thud.
Zhao Baozhu was horrified.
“Steward Li?! You–”
Steward Li burst into tears. “My ancestor, if you won’t take the horse, then at least bring some silver with you! If the young master learns that I simply let you walk out like this, I truly won’t have the face to remain in this residence any longer!”
How could Zhao Baozhu allow him to kneel like that? He hurried forward to help him up, but Steward Li stubbornly refused to rise. Unable to win against him, Zhao Baozhu finally accepted twenty taels of silver with great reluctance.
Originally, Steward Li had wanted him to take two hundred taels in banknotes. Zhao Baozhu explained that if he carried that much money, he likely would not even make it to Qingzhou before bandits robbed him of both silver and horse. Only then did Steward Li reluctantly give up.
After carefully putting away the silver, Zhao Baozhu stood at the gates of the Ye residence and looked once more at the grand vermilion archway above him with quiet nostalgia.
He knew it was finally time for him to leave.
Drawing back his gaze, he bent deeply toward Steward Li in a respectful bow.
“It is thanks to your noble residence’s generosity that Baozhu did not end up wandering homeless, frozen to death in the snow. Now, having received the court’s grace, I have no choice but to bid farewell to everyone. Yet I will never forget your kindness for as long as I live. So long as I draw breath, I will surely seek an opportunity to repay all of you.”
Seeing him bow so deeply, Steward Li felt his nose sting with sudden emotion despite all his other worries. He hurried forward to help him up. “Good child, quickly rise. There’s no need to speak of repayment or anything like that—”
Then he remembered the moment when he himself had foolishly altered Zhao Baozhu’s letters. His eyes reddened. Raising a hand to press at the corner of his eyes, he said softly: “If anything, I’m the one who has wronged you in far too many ways…”
Zhao Baozhu raised his head and smiled softly at Steward Li. “Once I arrive, I’ll write back immediately.” He paused, then said to Steward Li, “And when young master returns, please congratulate him for me on placing first in the examinations. I’m truly happy for him. Leaving without saying goodbye is my fault, I ask that he forgive me.”
Steward Li could not say a single word. He did not even dare imagine what the estate would become once Ye Jinghua returned. Stiffly, he nodded, watching as Zhao Baozhu turned and stepped out through the manor gates. He stomped his foot heavily against the ground and anxiously asked: “Have Fang Qin and Fang Li still not come back?”
The servant beside him shook his head. Steward Li sighed deeply and muttered, “Retribution, all of it retribution!”
These years, the Ye family had simply lived too smoothly. Steward Li thought that as long as one lived in this world, there was no escaping love, hatred, greed, anger, and obsession. Years ago, when he saw Ye Jinghua drifting through life like a passing cloud, he had already vaguely felt that one day something like this would happen.
And now, that day had finally come.
***
By now Zhao Baozhu no longer felt unfamiliar with the capital. After leaving the Ye residence, he easily found the marketplace where horses and carriages were sold. Between the money from the government office and the silver Steward Li had given him, he had enough to buy a decent horse and a small carriage.
Under the horse dealer’s recommendation, Zhao Baozhu chose an entirely black horse. It was strong and well-built, yet extremely gentle. Whenever Zhao Baozhu lifted his hand, the horse would tilt its head and press its long nose lightly into his palm.
Zhao Baozhu was very satisfied. Looking into the horse’s dark, grape-like eyes, even his longstanding fear of horses faded considerably.
“I’ll take this one.” Zhao Baozhu stroked the short coarse hair on the horse’s nose and turned to ask the dealer, “Does it have a name?”
The horse dealer replied, “Sure does. I call him Little Black.”
Zhao Baozhu’s hand paused. Then he turned back and thought for a moment before saying, “Then I’ll call him Molin.”
He sensed in the horse a kind of quiet steadiness, like a forest tree. Especially those dark, glossy eyes, like two smooth black gemstones. The horse wasn’t afraid of people at all, merely calmly observing the crowds around it.
The horse dealer let out an impressed “oh!” and sighed, “You scholars sure are refined. Even naming a beast, you give it a person’s name!” Then he had someone lead the horse away to fit horseshoes. As he did, he glanced Zhao Baozhu up and down curiously. “You’re heading off to be an official, aren’t you? How come you’re not wearing better clothes?”
Zhao Baozhu blinked in surprise. “How did you know I’m going to be an official?”
The dealer chuckled. “Some of the silver you paid me with is official silver. Been in this trade long enough, and you can spot it at a glance.”
“I see.” Zhao Baozhu nodded. He lowered his head to look at his clothes. Though patched, they were still clean, so he said, “Once I reach my post, the yamen will issue official robes. I figured there was no need to change.”
Hearing this, the horse dealer shook his head and sighed. “Not many officials as frugal as you these days!”
Just as they were chatting, a sudden uproar broke out in the distance, as though countless people had erupted into cheers at the same time.
Curious, Zhao Baozhu turned to look, but the bustling marketplace blocked his view and he saw nothing.
The horse dealer said beside him, “Oh, that’s the top scholar parade! Half the city’s gone to watch.”
“What?” Zhao Baozhu’s eyes lit up instantly. “Really? Do you know which street they’re taking?”
The dealer replied, “The good spots along the road were probably claimed long ago. But if you want to see it, I can tell you a shortcut. Once your horse is ready, take the narrow alley beside the sugarcake shop. It leads straight to a street corner where you can see them pass from afar.”
“Really?” Zhao Baozhu grew even happier. He had thought he would leave without seeing Ye Jinghua one last time. Immediately anxious, he hurried onto the carriage shaft once the horse was fully fitted and brought over. Waving back at the horse dealer, he guided Molin toward the alley the man had described.
Just as the dealer said, the alley was frighteningly narrow. Zhao Baozhu had to carefully control Molin’s pace to keep the edges of his newly bought carriage from scraping the walls. Fortunately the alley was not very long. As they neared the exit, the noise outside gradually intensified. By the time they finally emerged, the roar of voices crashed over them like a wall of sound.
Blinking against the suddenly brilliant sunlight, Zhao Baozhu waited for the white glare before his eyes to fade. Then he saw it, layers upon layers of crowds packed before him.
The dealer had not lied. Both sides of Vermilion Bird Avenue, which cut through the capital, were packed with people. Flowers, sachets, and handkerchiefs filled the air like a storm. Yet through all that flourishing spectacle, Zhao Baozhu spotted the man in red at the very front with a single glance.
Ye Jinghua sat tall upon his horse, wearing the top scholar’s hat and a crimson robe embroidered with cranes. His pale jade-like profile flashed amid the rain of flower petals.
Bathed in golden sunlight, he looked like a comet descending through clouds.
Red suited Ye Jinghua even better than Zhao Baozhu had imagined. Standing amid the crowd, staring fixedly at the man’s upright figure, Zhao Baozhu felt his chest swell with pride. In his heart, Ye Jinghua’s brilliance had always deserved the admiration of ten thousand people.
Like a peerless sword finally seeing daylight again, who in the world could rival him now?
Zhao Baozhu gazed from afar at Ye Jinghua’s figure. Emotion swelled in his chest until it completely filled him. He did not even notice who the second and third place scholars were. He simply stared until his eyes became dry and painful, only then slowly drawing back his gaze.
Ye Jinghua’s figure had already become distant and indistinct.
Zhao Baozhu knew that the top three graduates still had to return to the palace for the Qionglin Banquet that evening. The banquet usually gathered the examiners from that year’s examinations, imperial princes and descendants, and many important court officials besides. Afterward, Ye Jinghua would most likely enter the Hanlin Academy. With the emperor’s obvious favor toward him, in a year or two he would probably be assigned an official post.
Where would young master serve as an official? Zhao Baozhu wondered. No matter what, he would likely remain in the capital as a court official.
As for himself, once he left, who knew when they would meet again?
Watching the parade disappear into the distance, Zhao Baozhu suddenly remembered a line of poetry.
“Carriages and crowns fill the capital, while this man alone grows haggard.”
It was written by a poet surnamed Du from a previous dynasty, and it even happened to suit Ye Jinghua’s name.
For some reason, the moment the line surfaced in his mind, a sharp sadness suddenly welled up in Zhao Baozhu’s heart, as though some venomous insect had fiercely stung the tip of his heart, leaving him in unbearable pain for an instant.
After that brief stab of pain came an even longer, lingering sense of loss.
He lifted his eyes and stood on tiptoe, trying once more to glimpse Ye Jinghua through the sea of people, but he could no longer see him clearly.
At that moment, Molin turned its head and puffed a warm breath onto Zhao Baozhu’s face, stamping its hoof hard against the ground as though dissatisfied that its master was still standing there dazed.
Dust flew from the horse’s hooves, making Zhao Baozhu choke and cough against his chest.
The sound jolted him fully awake. In an instant he pulled himself free from that earlier melancholy.
No, things were not like that.
Young master might be the one of whom it was said, “Carriages and crowns fill the capital,” but he himself was not “alone and haggard.” He had carried the hopes of his hometown all the way to the capital, passed the examinations, and now been appointed by the imperial court. The emperor needed him to go to Qingzhou and become a magistrate for the local people.
To pass the examinations, serve the people as an official, repay his parents, and not fail the emperor’s grace, that had always been his greatest wish.
Now that he finally had the opportunity to serve as an official, with so many things left for him to do, what reason did he have to be despondent?
Zhao Baozhu tightened his grip on Molin’s reins, feeling the rough leather scrape against his palm. Though during these months in the Ye residence he had witnessed wealth and power beyond what ordinary men could attain in a lifetime, Zhao Baozhu had always understood clearly that he and young master were ultimately different people. Ye Jinghua had his own path.
And regardless of whether they would ever meet again in the future, young master would surely understand his heart.
Zhao Baozhu cast one final glance toward the direction Ye Jinghua had gone. Then he turned, climbed onto the carriage, and headed off toward the city gates, the exact opposite direction from the top scholar’s procession.
Once he passed through the gates, the clamor of the capital seemed to fall far behind him. Before him stretched only orange skies and pink clouds, with green forests lining both sides of the broad official road. Gone were the wine shops, street vendors, and bustling crowds. The late-spring, early-summer wind already carried a hint of warmth, mixed with the scent of grass, refreshing and pleasant against his face.
One man, one horse, one carriage traveled along the road as dusk shone from behind, casting long shadows across the ground.
Molin was wonderfully obedient. Without even being urged, it quickened its pace on its own, trotting leisurely down the road, occasionally snorting little bursts of warm air from its nose. Zhao Baozhu stroked the short fur along its neck, closed his eyes, and quietly breathed in the faint fragrance carried by the spring breeze. His heart felt broad and open, and even the last traces of lingering gloom faded away.
After traveling several more miles, Zhao Baozhu finally looked back over his shoulder.
The capital lay against the fading light, its city walls reduced to a dark silhouette sprawling across the earth, vast and imposing. Though he had lived there for months, seeing it now from the outside still filled him with awe at its enormity. Just as when he had first arrived, he thought the flourishing city resembled a giant beast trapped within a cage.
He had only spent a few months in the capital, yet looking back now, it felt almost like several years.
A dream beneath the southern bough, eventually, all dreams must end.
Zhao Baozhu engraved the image of the capital deeply into his mind. Then he turned back around, a broad smile spreading across his face.
His future did not lie behind him, but beneath his own feet.
***
Meanwhile, within the parade procession, Chang Shouguang had already lost the initial thrill of the event and was beginning to tire.
After all, they were only human. Though the crowds along the streets constantly changed, the gazes burning into them seemed capable of drilling holes straight through their bodies. Once the first rush of pride faded, he began feeling like some performing monkey on display in the marketplace. His cheeks were nearly stiff from smiling, yet with so many eyes upon him, he could not dare let his expression fall.
No wonder the ancients spoke of “Wei Jie being stared to death.” This truly was not something ordinary people could endure.
Only now did Chang Shouguang begin to envy Ye Jinghua.
That fellow had worn a cold face from the very beginning. Now it was turning out quite advantageous for him.
Chang Shouguang lifted his eyes toward the figure of Ye Jinghua ahead. At that very moment, Ye Jinghua suddenly paused and turned his head toward a certain direction.
Following his gaze, Chang Shouguang looked over as well, but saw nothing. Noticing that Ye Jinghua continued staring in that direction for quite some time, he asked, “What is it?”
“…Nothing.” Ye Jinghua withdrew his gaze.
Just now, he had felt something inexplicable, as though someone was watching him with an intensely burning gaze. Perhaps it had only been his imagination.
The procession continued forward. Fortunately, most of the route had already been completed; only the final stretch back to the palace remained. As they neared the imperial palace, the number of commoners lining the streets gradually dwindled. Chang Shouguang removed the scattered sachets, handkerchiefs, and other gifts hanging from his person until both hands were full with nowhere to put them. Looking up, he saw that Ye Jinghua was exactly as expected: empty-handed, neat and unburdened, sitting alone atop his horse.
After making the entire circuit, Chang Shouguang found himself genuinely impressed by the man surnamed Ye. Whether his aloofness was genuine or feigned, he had won first place in the examinations without showing the slightest trace of joy from beginning to end. Despite the grandeur of the champion’s parade and the crowds surrounding him with admiration, he displayed not a shred of pride. Throughout it all, he remained coldly self-possessed and detached as still water. His temperament truly differed from that of ordinary people.
Yet just as they were about to reach the palace gates, a sachet suddenly flew out from the thinning crowd. The thrower possessed remarkable strength; the sachet shot straight toward Ye Jinghua’s face.
Fortunately, Ye Jinghua reacted quickly and caught it with one hand.
“Who goes there?!” The sudden incident caused an Imperial Guard escorting the rear of the procession to bark out a sharp warning, fearing that someone might be attempting to harm the newly appointed officials amidst the confusion.
But before the guard could move forward, Ye Jinghua had already recognized the thrower, it was Deng Yun.
“It’s a servant from my household,” he immediately called out, stopping the guard. Nodding to him, he said, “Sorry for the trouble.”
“It’s nothing.”
Seeing that it was merely a servant from the Ye residence joining in the excitement, the guard sheathed his drawn blade and stepped back into formation.
Meanwhile, when Chang Shouguang heard it was one of Ye Jinghua’s servants, he initially thought Zhao Baozhu had come to join the festivities. Following Ye Jinghua’s gaze, however, he saw instead another young attendant he had met outside the examination grounds. The man was extraordinarily tall, standing out from the crowd like a crane among chickens. His face was flushed red as he gestured frantically toward Ye Jinghua.
He didn’t look like someone simply enjoying the excitement. Rather… he seemed anxious.
Puzzled, Chang Shouguang shifted his gaze back and, sure enough, saw Ye Jinghua slowly furrow his brows. After a long moment, he turned away and tucked the sachet into his robes.
Whatever the case, the procession had to continue. Deng Yun’s figure soon disappeared into the crowd.
The group returned to the palace and dismounted with the assistance of the stable attendants.
A sunset red as blazing fire shrouded the imperial palace. Less than an hour remained before nightfall, and preparations for the Qionglin Banquet were still underway. The three newly appointed scholars were escorted to a side hall to rest and compose themselves.
Upon entering, palace maids immediately assisted them in changing out of their clothes, which had become saturated with the scent of cosmetics and perfume. They were then required to bathe, burn incense, and thoroughly groom themselves in preparation for their audience with the Emperor that evening.
When Chang Shouguang emerged, he felt completely refreshed.
Those young ladies had certainly been enthusiastic, but the perfume had been overwhelmingly strong.
Yet the moment he stepped out, he saw that Ye Jinghua had already changed and was seated beside a low table, his head slightly lowered.
At a single glance, Chang Shouguang sensed that something was wrong.
The young palace maids attending Ye Jinghua stood around him in complete silence. Their faces were no longer flushed with excitement, and none dared even raise their eyes.
One eyebrow lifting slightly, Chang Shouguang walked over.
“Second Young Master Ye?”
As though hearing his voice, Ye Jinghua stirred slightly and looked up.
The instant their eyes met, Chang Shouguang felt as though something had stabbed into him. An instinctive urge to step back rose within him. His pupils contracted slightly, and the corner of his brow twitched.
“What’s gotten into you now?”
Why do you look like you’re about to devour someone?
Under the dim yellow candlelight of the inner hall, Ye Jinghua’s eyes were dark as a bottomless abyss. His face was taut, as though he were suppressing some extraordinarily violent emotion.
His right hand was clenched into a fist upon the low table. Beside it lay the opened sachet, within which a slip of paper covered in inked writing could be faintly seen.
