In the eyes of the couple Yu Qing’s words meant he had no problem taking the top place in the palace examination.
With such an excellent son in law even with certain pressures it was worth it.
Putting the palace examination aside Wen Jianhui suddenly said, “Shihueng, I also like poetry very much. Could you find time one day to write a few poems for me?”
Recently the noble ladies who often interacted with her had come one after another to visit. They wanted to ask the top scorer for poems in person and by the way see what the full mark top scorer looked like. However Zhong Su was furious and absolutely refused to let these messy matters disturb Yu Qing before the palace examination. Those noble ladies could only entrust the request for poems to Wen Jianhui.
Zhong Su knew at once what his wife was thinking. His cheeks tightened. Sometimes he really did not know what was in this woman’s head. The man had just left the examination hall. Even if she wanted to mention it she should at least let him catch his breath. It was not appropriate to argue in front of their prospective son in law so he subconsciously looked at Yu Qing’s reaction.
Yu Qing naturally felt very speechless. Earlier a dead eunuch had asked for poems and he did not know how to deal with it. Now another person wanted several poems. Did they want him to live or not?
He was easy going so he forced a smile and gave one reply. “All right.”
Wen Jianhui naturally beamed with joy.
However the three of them soon discovered that the carriage they were riding in was slow to move on the return journey. They parted the curtain and looked out only to find that someone had deliberately blocked the road outside.
“Top scorer come out.”
“Top scorer show your face for us to see.”
“Yes if you do not let us have a look at the top scorer’s bearing we will not let the top scorer pass.”
“Come out.”
“Come out.”
In the end the shouts formed a continuous chorus on the scene. It scared Wen Jianhui so much that her face turned pale. She had never seen such momentum.
Zhong Su kept a straight face.
Yu Qing leaned against the carriage wall and looked expressionlessly at the patterns on the carriage roof. No matter what was happening outside it no longer mattered.
Fortunately the court personnel were nearby. Hearing such momentum they dared not let anything happen to Yu Qing. A group of men rushed over with knives and spears to drive away the people blocking the road and clear a path for the Zhong residence carriage. It was a false alarm.
This scene made the other tribute scholars who took the palace examination extremely envious. They even wished it had been them who were surrounded.
After the palace examination the crowd outside the palace gradually dispersed. All the candidates were looking forward to the golden list rankings the next day.
According to custom the palace examination papers would be graded that same day and the golden list would be posted the next day.
Unlike the metropolitan examination with tens of thousands of participants there were only around two hundred candidates here and only one question. It was not difficult to produce results on the same day.
“Master.”
“Madam.”
“Young master.”
These were the forms of address Yu Qing heard all the way after returning to the Zhong residence.
At the moment of parting inside the residence Zhong Su invited once more. “Now that both the metropolitan examination and the palace examination have passed smoothly you can finally breathe easy. Let us have a family table at noon to celebrate together.”
Wen Jianhui was also enthusiastic. “Yes yes Shihueng it is worth celebrating together as a family.”
They were intentionally trying to bring the young couple together for a meeting.
This was already the Zhong family’s countless invitation. Yu Qing himself was almost out of excuses to refuse so he simply brought out a proper reason. “Uncle and aunt since the man is not yet married and the woman is not yet married it is better not to meet for the time being.”
With these words the couple suddenly felt a little embarrassed as if they lacked propriety. They could only drop the matter.
Yu Qing who was leaving after bidding farewell sighed inwardly with emotion. Not meeting A Shihueng’s fiancée was to avoid suspicion. He could not explain other matters but on this one he believed he could still give A Shihueng an account.
Zhong Su who had stopped to watch him leave said, “It seems we thought too much.”
They had invited him many times without success. They were not fools and had vaguely sensed that Yu Qing seemed to be deliberately avoiding their daughter. Only now did they learn the reason.
Wen Jianhui also nodded. “Scholars really pay attention to propriety in these matters.”
Zhong Su immediately turned and warned her. “Since you know he cares about propriety in this regard you must keep a close eye on your daughter. Before she marries she should stay in her own courtyard and avoid meeting other men as much as possible. Do not let her be dragged around by that crazy second sister or people will look down on her.” Speaking of his younger daughter he himself felt a headache. He really did not know which proper family of equal status would dare to marry her.
“Do I need you to tell me? I am the one managing both daughters.” Wen Jianhui grumbled at length.
In the east courtyard as soon as Yu Qing returned Insect who was wiping the stone platform and stone table in the pavilion immediately put down his work and ran over. “Young master you are back. Young master are you tired?”
“Tired, heart tired. It is far less relaxing than killing a couple of people.” Yu Qing mocked himself.
Insect took it as a joke.
Yu Qing walked under the eaves and sat directly on the steps. He pointed at his shoulder.
Insect immediately climbed onto the higher step behind him and sat down. He rubbed his hands hard on his clothes before placing them on Yu Qing’s shoulders to massage and knead them.
His junior martial uncle had said not to bully Insect and had even removed his slave status while claiming him as a junior brother to make them equals. Yu Qing did not accept that. The sect head was the sect head.
So from the beginning he had decided not to indulge Insect in this habit. He could not allow Insect to rely on his junior martial uncle and disregard him as the sect head. Therefore he had added some work tasks for Insect.
Thus Insect who previously only cleaned now also had to massage Yu Qing’s hands and feet and knead his shoulders and so on.
In the past when Insect followed Xu Fei, Xu Fei had never used him like an ox. In short Yu Qing now did not move if he could avoid it and used Insect in whatever way made himself comfortable.
Yet on the contrary Insect seemed to come alive. The previous sorrow or unease had disappeared. His relationship with Yu Qing became closer again. Day by day he gradually became very happy as if the more work he did the happier he was.
While kneading the shoulders Insect asked with concern, “Young master how did the palace examination go?”
Yu Qing snorted. “How it went, do you not already know in your heart? You are not unaware how I passed the metropolitan examination. It is just the skill of copying.”
Insect shook his head. “That is not how it is said. I heard from Young Master Xu that even if the questions were made public not everyone could achieve full marks. So young master’s talent is obvious.”
Yu Qing raised one arm backward, touched Insect’s face, pinched his nose and shook it hard. “Where is your brain? I already said it was copied. Any talent belongs to someone else.”
Insect whose nose was blocked spoke in a muffled voice. “It is only that young master is modest.”
“Alas!” Yu Qing gave up on him and let go.
At that moment Steward Li appeared from outside the door and strode over. Insect quickly stood up and bowed respectfully.
Yu Qing also stood and cupped his hands.
Steward Li came with nothing else in mind. He similarly asked how the examination went, whether it was hard, and if there was any need.
Seeing there was nothing else he left the east courtyard and went straight to the inner residence to find Zhong Su.
After inviting the master of the Zhong family aside Steward Li spoke softly. “Master according to custom the palace examination results will come out tonight. We have some connections in the palace. Do you want them to keep an eye on it?”
Having built such a large family business in the capital the Zhong family knew some people in the palace one way or another especially some eunuchs responsible for purchasing.
Master Zhong thought for a moment and shook his head. “There is no need to stir up trouble. Do you think that if we do not contact them the people inside will not contact us? It is not a matter of leaking secrets. There is no risk and there are benefits to be gained. Those eunuchs run faster than anyone. Rest assured. As soon as Shihueng’s ranking result comes out someone will actively come to ask for a reward. Just prepare the赏 silver.”
Steward Li thought about it and laughed. “Master is right. Good. Today I will wait for the news. As soon as it arrives I will notify master immediately.”
Everyone was in a fairly good mood. Those who had entered the tribute list were basically undefeatable. It was only a matter of the ranking on the golden list. With the prospective son in law of the Zhong residence the result should not be too bad no matter what.
Moonlight flowed like water over the towering palace city.
In the Hall of Great Peace, the place where the emperor of Jin handled state affairs, the lamps burned brightly after nightfall and the atmosphere was unusual.
The palace examination essays and the candidates’ name list were all there. This year’s top three rankings would be decided here.
Inside the hall it was sometimes quiet and sometimes filled with the discussion voices of the sovereign and his ministers. There was also the sound of the sealed names on the scrolls being opened with the name “A Shihueng” announced.
After a wave of praise a small eunuch standing outside the hall listening intently rubbed his stomach. He went to a colleague to ask for leave saying his stomach hurt and he could not hold it. He left first. After avoiding attention the small eunuch looked left and right and hurried towards the rear palace.
Under the night curtain of the capital the brightest lights marked the most prosperous areas.
In the quiet Plum Residence amid the noisy city, inside a study screened by several trees with faint fragrance, the Minister of Works Mei Sanghai in plain clothes was bent over writing some things at the desk.
Steward Kong Shen hurried into the study. He waved directly at the serving maid who was always attending inside the study. The maid quietly withdrew.
Kong Shen walked to the desk, bent at the waist, and reported, “Master, word has come from the palace. Although the top three list is still being discussed that ‘A Shihueng’ has already received a result. He is exactly the new top scholar of this examination. After His Majesty looked at the selected papers A Shihueng’s answers caught the imperial eye and were personally designated by His Majesty’s golden mouth. It is said that after the metropolitan examination His Majesty already appreciated this youth greatly and even prepared to question him before the throne during the palace examination.”
Mei Sanghai’s brush hand stiffened. He frowned and muttered, “First place in the metropolitan examination and first place again in the palace examination. A Jiezhan really trained a good son.” He slowly placed the brush on the brush rest, leaned back in the chair, and stared at the lamp flame falling into deep thought. His eyes flickered with uncertain light and shadow.
After a moment he suddenly declared, “Someone is deceiving the emperor!”
Kong Shen quickly asked, “What do you mean?”
Mei Sanghai said, “If no one deliberately concealed A Shihueng’s background His Majesty would not like him even if he did not dismiss him. If no one deceived him with His Majesty’s keen ears and eyes it is impossible that he still does not know he is A Jiezhan’s son.”
Kong Shen was startled. “Correct. Someone is exerting effort behind the scenes to help!”
“Help, so what? He is just a weak seedling.” Mei Sanghai said indifferently as if he had already made up his mind. Calmly he continued, “A Shihueng is A Jiezhan’s son. A Jiezhan was dismissed and driven out by His Majesty which led to his entire family suffering disaster and a blood feud for the whole household. How could it be easily forgotten? If instead he feels gratitude and respect towards His Majesty is it sincere or false? If false what is his intention? Go make arrangements. Have the long time companion beside His Majesty remind the emperor. Remind him in this way.”