The more Wang Cai ran, the more energetic he became, occasionally calling out a couple of times. Xiao Ya was so excited her face turned completely red, her small hands gripping the reins, continuously urging Wang Cai on with “giddyup, giddyup!” But Wang Cai didn’t want to run fast—that would be too tiring. So he just took small steps, strolling through the mountains. The spring mountain in March was full of fresh, tender green everywhere. Yun Ye had seen enough of the withered yellow of the grasslands over the past half year. Now, situated in a world of green, every cell in his body began to cheer.

Yun Ye’s carriage passed through the academy but didn’t stop. He hadn’t enjoyed enough of Yushan’s spring scenery yet. How could those few rotten old men compare to the beauty of spring’s flowers and birds? It wouldn’t be too late to visit after seeing enough. After these three days, he wouldn’t be able to find leisure time even if he wanted to. Since he had come out today, he might as well have a thorough good time and also compensate Xinyue for her hard work throughout the winter. She had spent almost the entire winter at the Yun household. Old Grandmother had turned the Yun family’s affairs inside out for her. Now everyone in the Yun household called Xinyue “Young Madam.” Whatever she said probably carried more weight than what Yun Ye said.

Before they knew it, the two were already leaning against each other. No outsiders could be seen here. Xiao Ya was busy pulling the reins and urging the horse on. Although Wang Cai didn’t listen to her, she still urged him on enthusiastically. Exchanging glances with Xinyue, their eyes were full of smiles.

Wang Cai was tired. His plump body was covered in sweat. He stopped by the river, panting heavily. Worried he might catch cold, Yun Ye unharnessed Wang Cai from the carriage and used the hemp cloth from the carriage to wipe him down. Xinyue also found a piece of cloth to help wipe.

“You’re so good to Wang Cai, even better than to me.” Xinyue pouted, somewhat jealous of Wang Cai.

“Wang Cai is my first companion in this world. He even got injured for my sake. This is what I owe him. On the wilderness, I told Wang Cai that in the future I would definitely let him eat well and drink well. How could I not do it?” Brushing aside his hair that had fallen down, he smiled at Xinyue across Wang Cai.

“You’re someone who values long-lasting affection. I’ve known this for a long time. Whoever shows you kindness, you’ll repay a hundredfold. Whoever treats you well, you’ll treat them well too. Grandfather told me there was an extraordinarily talented young man at the academy who wanted to propose marriage to me. I wondered who it could be. No matter how I guessed, I never thought it would be you. Although you’re also a young man, I never considered you to be the same kind of person as the other young men at the academy.”

“Would you really think of me as an old man?” Yun Ye looked at his own young hands, unable to see where he had aged.

Xinyue didn’t answer and continued talking to herself: “That morning, Grandfather said he wanted to eat some wild vegetables and asked me to go dig some from that grassy area. This reason was somewhat unreasonable. Grandfather never liked eating wild vegetables—he had eaten enough of them in those years. Suddenly asking me to dig wild vegetables, I knew something would happen. And sure enough, I encountered you.”

Yun Ye rarely had heart-to-heart talks with girls, but his experience from his previous life told him that keeping quiet and listening to her now should be the best choice.

“That day you weren’t wearing brocade clothes, just wearing an academy robe, and you just stood there looking at me. You looked at me until my heart was in chaos. If Xiao Ya hadn’t been there, I would have wanted to run away.” Xinyue rubbed her nose and said to Yun Ye indignantly.

“I’m not a monster. I was very politely talking to you there. What would you run for?” These words hurt Yun Ye deeply. He had even brought out his best state, yet she wanted to run when she saw him? This was a devastating blow to Yun Ye.

“Who told you to smile at me so strangely? I almost thought you were a lecher.”

“Don’t slander poor Dengtu Zi. He was just an ugly man who loved his wife, had four or five children with his ugly wife—what business was it of Song Yu’s? Why did he need to write an essay cursing him, causing his bad reputation to remain unwashed for over a thousand years? I think you all help that guy Song Yu speak ill of Dengtu Zi just because Song Yu was good-looking.”

A single “Ode on the Lustfulness of Dengtu Zi” completely destroyed a good family man, turning him into a lecher. This was Song Yu’s sin.

Xinyue looked clever, but actually her tongue was clumsy. Whenever she couldn’t win an argument, she would resort to physical action. Xiao Ya ran to the riverside to watch Huang Shu catch fish. Without any concerns, Xinyue naturally gnashed her teeth and pounced on Yun Ye, scratching wildly.

As a result, her chest was attacked again. Yun Ye looked at the red marks on the back of his hand and grinned lecherously. How could a woman fighting with a man still take advantage?

Her face flushed bright red, Xinyue really couldn’t stand this supreme martial art Yun Ye had inherited from later generations. She vented all her anger on Wang Cai, grabbing Wang Cai’s ear and not letting go. It looked like his long ear was about to become three. Wang Cai still didn’t resist. Bullying my brother—how could this be acceptable? Yun Ye rushed forward, picked up Xinyue, hoisted her over his shoulder, and gave her bottom a smack, startling Xinyue into crying out, then quickly covering her mouth.

“If you’re capable, go ahead and shout. This great king has come down the mountain today to snatch beauties like you. If I don’t snatch ten or eight of them, I absolutely won’t return to camp.” Yun Ye really missed the sensation from just now and wanted to find an opportunity to do it again.

Tang Dynasty women were truly wonderful! One slap left Xinyue’s whole body soft and weak, humming and not moving, not speaking either, softly lying on Yun Ye’s shoulder catching her breath.

“Ah, Brother Buqi, today on this beautiful spring day, this younger brother came out to relax, never expecting to encounter Brother Buqi here, playing with a beauty by the waterside. This truly makes others envious.” A duck-like voice came from the side.

Before Yun Ye could react, Xinyue jumped down from Yun Ye’s shoulder, covering her face and hurrying away. It seemed she wouldn’t have the face to see anyone for the next few days. Yun Ye was furious. Who was so tactless as to completely spoil the mood when he was having fun with his wife?

Pei Laosan? This bastard was actually also wearing an academy’s sky-blue robe, presenting himself in human form there performing courtesies. Seeing him made Yun Ye’s anger grow even stronger. Last year when returning to the capital, it was he who planned together with Yun Ye to go to Maiji Shan to steal a couple of Buddhist statues to play with. As a result, they were caught by the old monk Tanyin. This bastard immediately cleared himself completely—a standard fence-sitter. Never expected to encounter him here. How could old grudges and new grievances be let go?

“Pei Laosan, when did you arrive at the academy? As the Vice Dean of Yushan Academy, why don’t I know about this?” Yun Ye spoke in an official tone.

“My good brother, didn’t I just return from Longyou? I hadn’t even been home for a day when Grandfather sent me to the academy to attend classes. Seeing Brother Yun traveling with a beauty, younger brother came to take a look. Brother indeed has excellent methods—younger brother admires you.” The words were fine, but his winking and grimacing were annoying.

“Hold your head, squat down.” Yun Ye ordered Pei Laosan.

The dignity of a teacher was not to be trifled with. Although Pei Laosan didn’t understand why he had to do this, he still obediently held his head and squatted down. Yun Ye jumped up and delivered a violent beating—fists, feet, palms, elbows, knees—everything available was used. After beating for a long time until his hands were soft and feet numb, he leaned against Wang Cai, panting heavily.

Pei Laosan stood up inexplicably. This bastard, aside from his hair being a bit messy, was actually completely unharmed. Yun Ye looked at his own hands, covered in blood. His knees, elbows, and feet all hurt terribly—probably already bruised. Looking this guy up and down twice, he pounced forward and opened his outer robe. Sure enough, this bastard was actually wearing inner armor, covered all over with densely packed copper studs.

Yun Ye lay limply on the sandy beach. He hadn’t gained any advantage from beating someone—this was more humiliating than being beaten. Did he not check the almanac before going out today? How did he encounter such a pervert who wore armor even when traveling and enjoying scenery? Yun Ye didn’t want to lie down, but his feet hurt terribly.

“Brother Yun, why is this? Where did younger brother displease Brother Yun, getting beaten up as soon as we met? Could this be the academy’s way of showing authority?”

“You tell me first why you’re still wearing armor after arriving at the academy?”

“Yesterday when younger brother returned to the capital, I gathered with friends at Meianchun Tower. Seeing that the songstress on my side was beautiful, someone tactless came to provoke. Brother knows younger brother’s temperament—how could I endure this? So together with friends, we broke that guy’s legs. Never expected that guy had considerable backing—he was the young master of the Dou family. His parents came to our door, and Grandfather was so angry he sent younger brother to study at the academy, not allowing me to return home whether there’s business or not.” Speaking of this matter, Pei Laosan looked completely proud.

“Impossible. If it was just breaking legs, could one duke go make trouble for another duke?” There was a problem here—he needed to ask clearly.

“I heard that as soon as brother arrived in Chang’an, you crippled all five limbs of someone tactless. Younger brother admired this, so naturally I learned from your example. However, younger brother was timid and didn’t dare use deadly force—I only smashed that guy’s vital area twice with a chain hammer.”

Yun Ye’s hands were trembling. Who goes drinking at a flower house carrying a chain hammer? Could there be anything good after getting hit twice with a chain hammer on the family jewels? The hammer head even had wolf-tooth studs on it. What kind of family was the Dou family? Li Yuan’s empress was surnamed Dou—a prominent clan from Qinghe in Beizhou, with immense prestige in Henan and Shandong. They had two ancestral halls alone—one called Shihe Hall, one called Cheng’en Hall. Their ancestral lineage could be traced back to the Xia Dynasty, China’s first dynasty. This was a truly great aristocratic clan, far beyond what the Qinghe Lu family could compare to.

“Are you crazy? How could you strike so heavily? Can your Pei family afford to provoke this tiger? Even if your grandfather has the deepest friendship with the Retired Emperor, he can’t withstand you doing this!” When it came down to it, they were brothers who had stirred the same pot with the same ladle. Now seeing him almost at wit’s end, the anger immediately dissipated, leaving only worry.

“It’s not such a big deal. At worst, younger brother will just pay with his life. What else can happen? If brother feels this matter can’t be handled, younger brother will return to the capital right now and submit to whatever the Dou family decides.” Pei Laosan still seemed not to understand the seriousness of the matter. This situation could no longer be resolved by just paying with one life.

“What did your grandfather say?” Yun Ye had to understand his grandfather Pei Ji’s opinion. If Pei Ji had no good solution, Yun Ye could only give up. This level of confrontation was far beyond what the Yun family could participate in. Even Li Er probably had no way to untie this deadly knot. The young master of the Dou family was going to marry Princess Lanling in the future. Yun Ye just couldn’t understand—why would a thirteen or fourteen-year-old brat go to a brothel? Even if he kept his life this time, he’d have nothing to do with brothels for the rest of his life.

“Grandfather said everything was on him, telling me to obediently stay at the academy attending classes. Even if anything happens, I’m not allowed to go home. Otherwise, even if I’m hacked to death, it would be a death in vain.” Pei Laosan finally sensed the matter was serious and told Yun Ye everything his grandfather said, word for word.

“Then listen to your grandfather. Stay properly at the academy, don’t run around, don’t go out. This is all your brother can do.”