The rain in the capital came suddenly.

The osmanthus tree leaves by the window were beaten down by the rain, scattered all over the ground. The rain curtain under the eaves fell densely without cease, making heaven and earth seem like a vast expanse of white.

In Prince Wen’s residence, Princess Consort Pei Yunshu stood at the door, hurriedly rising to welcome the person from outside.

The young man’s crimson brocade robe was somewhat dampened by rain. Coming in from the courtyard through the fierce wind and driving rain, his clothing and bearing remained elegant, showing not the slightest trace of dishevelment.

Pei Yunshu pulled her brother into the room, complaining as she did: “Coming suddenly without word – when Fang Zi told me, it gave me quite a fright. With such heavy rain outside, why didn’t you bring an umbrella…”

Pei Yunying smiled and cut off her words: “I was passing by on official business and came to see you along the way.”

Along the way?

Pei Yunshu looked at the large boxes and small baskets his servants brought in, pursed her lips, and said nothing.

At lamp-lighting time, the night was thick as black ink, with only the pattering rain wrapping heaven and earth in its fine, dense sound.

The maid Fang Zi brought Pei Yunying a clean cloth. He took it to wipe the rain traces from his body, then noticed a maid standing nearby hesitating at the door with medicine, his eyebrows slightly raised: “Still taking medicine?”

Pei Yunshu was startled and shook her head: “I stopped taking the pregnancy medicine long ago. This is porridge the Prince had the small kitchen prepare.”

Pei Yunying nodded, his voice bland: “Eating so late – that’s not a good habit for a midnight snack.” After speaking, he smiled and glanced at the maid holding the medicine.

Hearing this, the maid’s face immediately paled.

This Heir of Duke Zhaoning came to the Prince’s residence every so often, ostensibly to visit his elder sister but actually to back up his unfavored sister. Even the Prince had to be wary of him. Though he appeared affectionate and gentle before his sister, that glance just now, though accompanied by a smile, had extremely cold eyes – it was simply… simply like being stared at by a wolf.

The maid shivered and didn’t dare say anything, quickly bowing to Pei Yunshu before retreating from the courtyard.

Only after the maid’s figure disappeared outside the courtyard did Pei Yunshu sigh: “You’ve intimidated everyone in this Prince’s residence from top to bottom. What exactly did you come here to do?”

The young man turned back, all the coldness from his face completely fading. He sat down before Pei Yunshu, took the teacup from Fang Zi’s hands and drank, smiling: “I told you – passing by, came to see you along the way.”

Pei Yunshu looked at him, her heart slightly darkening.

She knew better than anyone what Pei Yunying had come to do.

Prince Wen favored his concubine and neglected his legitimate wife – the entire Prince’s residence knew this. Now that she was pregnant, she was even more of a thorn in certain people’s eyes. Though Pei Yunying was formidable, he couldn’t stay by her side constantly, only visiting periodically to issue subtle warnings.

Though presumptuous, the effect was quite good. This pregnancy had proceeded safely through seven months. In just over two more months, she could give birth smoothly.

Pei Yunshu lowered her eyes, placing her hand on her swollen belly, her gaze gentle.

She hoped there would be no disturbances.

Pei Yunying seemed to see her worry and only said: “Fang Zi and Qiong Ying are both by your side. For anything at all, feel free to order them. Don’t worry.”

Fang Zi and Qiong Ying were people Pei Yunying had sent in. Getting people into the Prince’s residence wasn’t easy – not because of Prince Wen, but for fear of arousing the current emperor’s suspicion.

However, these two maids had now become the people Pei Yunshu trusted most in the Prince’s residence.

Pei Yunshu smiled: “I know. My courtyard is quiet, and it’s good to have them for company. But you yourself…” She looked at Pei Yunying with some worry in her tone. “I heard that recently Master Yan from the Privy Council made things difficult for you in court. Nothing serious happened, did it?”

The current emperor was skilled in the art of balance. The Privy Council and Palace Command had never gotten along. Privy Council Commander Yan Xu was narrow-minded and harsh, repeatedly creating obstacles and playing dirty tricks against Pei Yunying in court.

Pei Yunying played with the teacup in his hands, chuckling lightly at her words: “Where did you hear such rumors? He’s just an old man – how could he make things difficult for me?”

Pei Yunshu sighed: “I’m afraid he’ll work behind the scenes. After all, he resents Father and takes it out on you…”

Privy Council Commander Yan Xu hated Pei Yunying to the bone, not just because as fellow imperial guards, there was subtle balance between the two departments. It was also because Privy Council’s Master Yan had once been rejected by the young Duchess of Zhaoning for marriage.

Yan Xu had been deeply devoted to Pei Yunying’s mother, but his beloved had married another and became the Duchess of Zhaoning. Yan Xu lost face and, love turning to hate, came to despise the entire Duke of Zhaoning’s family.

Now that the Duchess of Zhaoning had passed away and relations between the Privy Council and Palace Command were tense, Yan Xu naturally extended his hatred to Pei Yunying. It was said that years ago, Pei Yunying had originally planned to join the Privy Council, but Yan Xu used his power to interfere, forcing Pei Yunying to join the Palace Command instead.

Thinking of these matters, Pei Yunshu’s worried expression deepened. Seeing this, Pei Yunying sighed and closed his tea lid: “Sister, why do you always think the worst? Think positively – Yan Xu was deeply devoted to Mother. I’m Mother’s son. When he sees me, it’s like seeing an old friend. Maybe he’ll remember old feelings and even help me.”

Pei Yunshu glared at him: “That was so many years ago. Mother had already married and had children, yet he still thought of a married woman. You think this is a storybook – where in the world are there such devoted men?”

Pei Yunying’s gaze paused on the plate of green plums on the table. Suddenly remembering the lingering sour smell that had permeated the Palace Command for some time, his eyes moved slightly, and he curved his lips: “That’s not necessarily true. Perhaps there really are men in this world who fall in love with married women and become hopelessly infatuated.”

“Stop talking nonsense!” Pei Yunshu said irritably, then suddenly paused, looking at Pei Yunying somewhat suspiciously. “What do you mean by that? Don’t tell me you’ve also fallen in love with a married woman?”

Pei Yunying: “…”

She seemed to remember something, leaning forward closer to Pei Yunying and lowering her voice: “Some days ago at the Summer Viewing Banquet, a lady told me you seemed to have someone you fancied. When I asked who, she absolutely refused to tell me, being all mysterious. I thought she was bluffing me.”

She stared at Pei Yunying intently: “A’ying, tell your sister – have you made a mistake?”

Pei Yunying fell silent.

He took a deep breath and looked at Pei Yunshu with a smile: “You believe such talk?”

“I do believe it.” Pei Yunshu answered honestly: “You’ve attracted girls since childhood, but all these years I’ve never seen you truly care for anyone. Your temperament is willful and your courage great – if you really fell for some married woman, it wouldn’t be impossible. You don’t care about others’ words either. If you fell in love, not only would you feel no shame, you’d quite enjoy it. Tell your sister honestly – which lady have you fallen for?”

Pei Yunying: “…”

He said: “There’s no such thing.”

“Really not?”

“No.”

Pei Yunshu stared at him seriously for a long while. Seeing his composed expression that didn’t look like lying, she finally relaxed and sat back in her seat, murmuring with some regret: “So there really isn’t anyone…”

Pei Yunying was silent for a moment before speaking: “The Palace Command has been busy these past days. I need to go out for a while. Don’t let Fang Zi and Qiong Ying leave your side for even a moment. If anything happens, go to the Marshal’s residence to find Vice Commander Xiao – he’ll help you.”

He placed his teacup on the table beside him and stood up. Pei Yunshu asked: “Are you leaving?”

He looked at the water clock on the table: “It’s getting late.”

Pei Yunshu nodded and had Qiong Ying bring an umbrella while Fang Zi helped her escort Pei Yunying to the courtyard gate.

The rain wasn’t as heavy as when he’d arrived. Heaven and earth were misty like smoke.

Pei Yunying stood at the gate. Under the eaves, the lamplight was dim and hazy. In the gentle drizzle, the young man stood tall and graceful, with endless night behind him, like a painting of the mortal world hanging at the entrance of the Immortal Encounter Tower.

He was about to leave with his umbrella when he suddenly thought of something and turned back.

“By the way, who was the one talking nonsense to you at the Summer Viewing Banquet?”

“The Summer Viewing Banquet?” Pei Yunshu was startled.

Then she came to her senses, curved her eyes, and smiled: “You mean the one who told me you had someone you fancied? Actually I’m not very familiar with her either. It was rather strange when she came to talk to me.”

“It was Madam Dong from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Minister’s residence.”

…

The night rain in the capital drenched the courtyards of noble officials and also soaked the homes of common people by the temple entrance.

In the Criminal Court, lights burned brightly.

Detailed Judgment Official Fan Zhenglian sat at the table in his room. The desk lamp illuminated his face, making the excess flesh on his face gleam like oil. His official robes were somewhat tight, stretched taut across his body like ropes binding a beast, as if they might burst at any moment.

Usually at this hour he would have finished work, but tonight he lingered, unwilling to leave. In the pattering rain, the door was pushed open and a man entered from outside, most of his body soaked by rain, looking somewhat disheveled.

This was Criminal Court Clerk Qi Chuan.

Qi Chuan handed a volume from his chest to Fan Zhenglian. The volume was dampened with water, so Fan Zhenglian lifted it with his little finger and shook off the moisture.

Qi Chuan stood to one side and spoke respectfully: “This is this year’s autumn examination roster prepared for delivery to the Ministry of Rites. Please review it, sir.”

Fan Zhenglian hummed acknowledgment and slowly opened the volume in his hands.

The first day of next month would be the autumn examinations. Every year at this time, countless students took the tests. Everyone wanted to climb higher, but there were only so many positions. With more people than opportunities, naturally they had to show their various abilities.

“Showing various abilities” meant competing over who spent more silver and had better connections – it had nothing to do with scholarly talent.

This volume in his hands was to be sent to the Ministry of Rites – this year’s people who had “shown their various abilities.”

They were also the people who would definitely appear on the success announcement in a few months.

Fan Zhenglian drank some hot tea. On this lonely, cold rainy night, the hot tea dispelled some of the chill. He squinted his eyes slightly, his expression particularly comfortable.

He looked down on scholars.

What was so great about scholars? They thought themselves clever beyond measure, their learning encompassing heaven, their eyes practically growing on top of their heads. Little did they know that in this world, the thing least lacking was people who could read.

Every year when the roster was sent to the Ministry of Rites, when autumn examination results were announced, the happiest were often not those scholarly people. Just like himself back then – mediocre in talent, not particularly outstanding in the academy, yet in the end, he held the highest office and had the smoothest official career.

Conversely, the top student in the academy who had been most favored by teachers and was accomplished in poetry, painting, and composition was now mediocre and willing to serve beneath him, grinding ink and holding brushes, toiling in the rainy night.

Fan Zhenglian glanced at Qi Chuan standing respectfully to one side, his smile becoming even more satisfied.

He casually flipped through the roster in his hands.

The people in the roster had already sent him their bribe money in advance. Of course, part of this silver still had to be divided with the Ministry of Rites Vice Minister. That year he had used the Vice Minister’s connections, having Qi Chuan take the examination for him, smoothly passing. After working as a laborer in Yuan’an County for several years, now back in the capital, he conspired with the Ministry of Rites Vice Minister to personally participate in this business, doing it with increasing skill.

In officialdom, with money and connections, there was no fear of failure.

Fan Zhenglian turned to the last page and suddenly paused.

After a moment, he frowned and pointed to a name in the roster, asking Qi Chuan: “Who is this person? Why did he only send eight hundred taels?”

The silver to buy off chief examiners and Ministry of Rites grading officials was at least a thousand taels or more. Of course, such matters often couldn’t be bought even with money – those who could get on this roster usually had some connections at home.

Qi Chuan stepped forward to look. The person being pointed to was named “Liu Zide.”

Qi Chuan thought for a moment before answering: “Reporting to sir, this person’s father is Liu Kun who runs a noodle shop on Sparrow Street. Two years ago, Liu Kun’s eldest son Liu Zixian was on the roster and passed. This year he’s sending his younger son.”

Fan Zhenglian’s frown deepened: “I’m asking what this person’s background is.”

A noodle shop owner whose two sons could both pull strings was naturally extraordinary. But with his usually busy affairs and so many names on the autumn examination roster, how could he remember everyone? For a moment, things were unclear.

Qi Chuan beside him reminded in a low voice: “Sir, two years ago there was a robbery case in the capital. The robbers fled, but this Liu Kun reported where the robbers were hiding, leading to their capture.” Seeing Fan Zhenglian still silent, Qi Chuan added: “You even posted wanted notices throughout the city then.”

At these words, Fan Zhenglian’s eyes lit up: “Oh, it’s him!”

He hadn’t held the detailed judgment official position long, and nothing major had happened in the capital these past years. City-wide manhunts had only occurred for a few cases. Two years ago… wasn’t that the Grand Tutor’s residence incident?

Fan Zhenglian stroked the two slick whiskers on his chin, his eyes somewhat shifty.

That young man surnamed Lu hadn’t known his place – stupidly arrogant to the point of being laughable. Overestimating himself by taking a single letter to seek justice, not knowing that lowly lives were cheap. People like him were less than dogs in the Grand Tutor’s residence’s eyes – they could be killed at will.

There was also that Liu Kun, who originally should have been silenced as well for safety. However, though Fan Zhenglian lacked scholarly ability, he had some cunning in officialdom. By killing that young man, he had sold the Grand Tutor’s residence a favor, thus establishing a thread of connection with them. But that connection was truly tenuous. If something happened in the future, this meager favor with the Grand Tutor’s residence might not be worth much.

So Fan Zhenglian had kept Liu Kun as a future bargaining chip.

Moreover, Liu Kun was quite sensible and sweet-tongued, so when his eldest son took the autumn examinations last year, Fan Zhenglian had given him an opportunity. He enjoyed this power of holding others’ official careers in his palm. Furthermore, when these people became officials in the future, they would remember his favor and provide support everywhere in officialdom, making his path even smoother.

He hadn’t expected this person to come again this year. Fan Zhenglian stared at Liu Zide’s name in the roster, his expression somewhat grim.

These lowly people were truly greedy.

Qi Chuan saw his displeasure and asked: “Sir, should this person be removed from the roster?”

Fan Zhenglian didn’t speak, only tugging at the whiskers on his chin. After a moment, he said: “Go tell him to send another eight hundred taels of silver.”

Eight hundred plus eight hundred made sixteen hundred taels. Qi Chuan said: “Liu Kun probably can’t produce that much…”

“If he can’t produce it, he shouldn’t come.” Fan Zhenglian sneered coldly. “Sixteen hundred taels to buy an official position is already quite a bargain.” He half-closed his eyes. “If not for this official’s kind heart, willing to give him a ladder, he’d be a lowly person scraping for food in the mud his whole life.”

Qi Chuan’s expression changed slightly, which Fan Zhenglian didn’t notice.

“Oh yes,” the man thought of something else, opened his eyes, picked up the hot tea on the table and took a sip. “That female doctor who used to come to the residence – why haven’t I seen her recently?”

Two months ago, Zhao Feiyan had invited a female doctor to the residence for consultations. Fan Zhenglian had accidentally encountered her once. The female doctor had a plain face, growing like a lily in a mountain valley – soft and tender, making one’s heart itch. He had immediately paid attention.

It was just that the woman didn’t come often, and Zhao Feiyan was present. Moreover, by the time he finished work and returned home, the female doctor had long since left. He couldn’t find a good opportunity and couldn’t be too obvious lest people notice – after all, he was now the upright “Judge Fan.”

Qi Chuan answered: “I heard from Madam that the illness is completely cured, so Doctor Lu won’t need to visit anymore.”

“Oh?”

Fan Zhenglian squinted his eyes.

Beautiful women of lowly birth were like lovely wildflowers – everyone wanted to pluck them, and everyone could pluck them. Just buy a residence, show her wealth and luxury, and she would willingly shrink into a cage, singing daily for her master’s pleasure.

After all, lowly people were born to be trampled upon.

Fan Zhenglian put down his teacup. “After the autumn examinations, have her send this official some medicine too.”

Qi Chuan bowed his head: “Yes.”

Little Pei: Eating melon only to find it’s about myself [sweating]