#Both gong and shou are pure#
Zhao Baozhu is a fine young man from a remote mountain hollow. As the first scholar from Zhao Village in hundreds of years to pass the provincial exam, the villagers, who had been poor for most of their lives, pooled the strength of the entire village to send him to the capital for the imperial examination, hoping that one day this “precious pearl” could become a prime minister or be granted a noble title, and return home in glory.
Who would have thought that because Zhao Village lay in a remote ravine in Shu, it took Zhao Baozhu three whole months just to get out of the mountains. By the time he finally arrived, the prosperous capital was already packed full with examinees from all over. With no acquaintances, Zhao Baozhu carried his bundles around the city, running east and west, yet couldn’t even find a single inn with an empty room.
He was so hungry his chest stuck to his back. By sheer accident, he stumbled upon a vermilion gate hidden in a secluded alley. Using the last of his strength, he knocked on the door, only to run straight into a richly dressed young man with handsome brows and jade-like features who had just stepped out.
Zhao Baozhu, dizzy from hunger, only managed to shout, “Shopkeeper, give me something to eat!” before fainting.
The current prime minister’s son, Ye Jinghua: …?
***
When Ye Jinghua first met Zhao Baozhu, his greatest impression was the hardship of the common people.
The Ye family had long been an esteemed and noble clan, famous in Gusu since the previous dynasty. Countless people came seeking to become servants of the Ye household. With a father who was the prime minister, Ye Jinghua belonged to the most prestigious branch, and outside the Ye residence near Shenwu Gate, people lined up every day hoping to secure a future for themselves.
Preferring quiet, Ye Jinghua deliberately chose a remote residence to prepare for the palace examination. Yet even so, someone still came knocking.
Looking at the young man who had grabbed his robe and fainted on the ground, dressed worse than a street beggar, like a refugee child from the south, he felt a moment of pity.
He thought the little beggar looked fairly presentable. Leaving him outside, who knew how he might be bullied? Better to take him in as a servant. The Ye family was wealthy; it was no trouble to add another pair of chopsticks.
Thus, the misunderstanding began.
When Zhao Baozhu woke the next day, he thought he had met a great benefactor. Not only was this “shopkeeper” handsome, but also kind-hearted, feeding and clothing him without asking for a single coin. All he had to do was run errands and assist with writing materials, and at the end of the month, he was even given money.
Holding the silver, Zhao Baozhu was shocked and kept refusing:
“How, how can this be? A gentleman loves wealth but acquires it properly.”
“Where did you learn that?” Ye Jinghua raised a brow slightly and stuffed a few more silver pieces into his hand. “Go buy some sweets.”
Thinking that the child was not only good-looking but also clever and quick-witted, perhaps he could keep him by his side and teach him to read.
Until the eve of the spring examination, when Ye Jinghua, fully prepared, took the writing tools and belongings prepared by his servants and headed to the exam hall. Upon reaching the entrance, he saw Zhao Baozhu still following him and asked in surprise:
“Baozhu, why are you still following?”
Zhao Baozhu looked up innocently. “Huh? I’m going to take the exam too.”
Ye Jinghua: …??!!
***
At the palace examination, some rejoiced while others grieved. As expected, Ye Jinghua was named top scholar. After the Qionglin banquet, when he wanted to find Zhao Baozhu and clarify things, he suddenly learned that Zhao Baozhu had already accepted an assignment from the Ministry of Personnel and taken up a post as magistrate in a small, poor county.
A week later, an urgent letter was sent from the Ye residence in the capital to Qingzhou, delivered to the county office.
At that time, Magistrate Zhao, wearing slightly worn official robes, was writing furiously at his desk. “Hm? What’s this?”
He picked up the letter and saw the familiar handwriting, strong and forceful. The first line asked whether he was eating well and sleeping well. Immediately, tears poured down his face, and he said sorrowfully:
“Young Master Ye is so kind, he still remembers me!”
After being sentimental for a second, Magistrate Zhao tossed the barely-read letter aside, suddenly stood up, and hurled a teapot at the local gentry below:
“Surname Chen, I’m telling you, if you don’t cough up the silver you embezzled, this magistrate will take your dog life today!”
Zhao Baozhu stood with hands on his hips, adopting the domineering stance he used back in his village, glaring fiercely:
“I don’t think your old mother needs a coffin anymore, I’ll send your whole family down for a reunion right now!!”
The gentry was smashed until his head bled, immediately kowtowing frantically. Looking at Zhao Baozhu on the platform, hands on hips, face like a demon, he wept inwardly—
What scholar well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics? He’s clearly a bandit thug!!
Other officials: Who would go to Qingzhou? Poor land breeds unruly people.
Magistrate Zhao: Poorer than my village? More unruly than my neighbor Ergou?
Notes:
- Proud, scheming noble young master gong × beautiful unlucky poor scholar shou
- Gong dotes on shou; shou is stubborn and often leaves gong speechless
- Group-pampering trope
- Involves some court politics
- Shou may be rustic, but he’s beautiful
Volume One: A Poor Scholar Accidentally Enters a Noble Residence
