Following the Imperial Guard to De Xin Garden, Xu Qi An was informed that Huai Qing had just finished sword practice and was bathing, asking him to wait outside.
Heh, did she deliberately take a bath after hearing I was coming… Xu Qi An mused inwardly.
So he waited outside De Xin Garden for half an hour. A young palace maid in a light yellow palace dress stepped over the threshold and said softly, “Sir Xu, Her Highness requests your presence.”
Entering the elegant garden, he met the freshly bathed Huai Qing in the reception hall. Her exquisitely beautiful face bore two rosy blushes, her eyes gleaming brightly.
She had gained some of a woman’s charm, losing a bit of her noble coldness.
It felt like a jade beauty had come to life.
This is more womanly. Being cold and noble day after day, putting on princess airs, isn’t cute at all… Xu Qi An cupped his hands:
“This humble official greets Your Highness.”
Huai Qing ordered a palace maid to serve tea, her voice cool and melodious: “What brings Sir Xu to see me?”
“My cousin has become the top scholar, but he’s from Yunlu Academy. I’m worried about his future,” Xu Qi An sincerely asked for advice:
“Does Your Highness have any good strategies?”
When one can’t figure something out, asking a smart person is the best choice. One must learn to reasonably utilize all available tools. If the Princess had no ideas, he would go ask Wei Yuan.
Huai Qing’s eyes flickered as she took a sip of tea. She immediately understood Xu Qi An’s meaning. He didn’t want Xu Ci Jiu to be branded as part of the “eunuch faction.”
A cunning rabbit has three burrows; smart people never put all their eggs in one basket.
Although Xu Ning Yan is a warrior, he’s incredibly intelligent… Huai Qing smiled: “You’ve been to Qing Province. How much do you know about it?”
“The administration is clean and efficient. Purple Yang Recluse has governed Qing Province in an orderly manner…”
As he said this, Xu Qi An suddenly understood Huai Qing’s meaning. Qing Province was now Purple Yang Recluse’s domain. With him in charge there, if Yunlu Academy graduates went to work in Qing Province, they could excel without being suppressed.
“Qing Province is the pure land that Yunlu Academy has carved out for Confucian scholars,” the Princess didn’t keep him guessing.
This… I only have this one brother in our family line, I’m reluctant to let him go to Qing Province. A brother traveling a thousand miles makes his elder brother worry!
Xu Qi An sighed: “This humble official understands.”
Never mind, let Second Young Master stay in the capital for now, and think of other ways later. Perhaps he can find his patron.
“By the way, I wonder if Your Highness is interested in novels?” Xu Qi An finally revealed his true purpose.
“I’ve never been interested in such things,” Princess Huai Qing replied haughtily as if a female doctorate saying: “Web novels? Hah, I never read such things!”
“This humble official has found a good book. Your Highness might enjoy reading it in your spare time… Oh, please keep this a secret for me.” Xu Qi An took out “The Domineering Female Lord Falls in Love with Me” from his pocket and placed it on the table.
Huai Qing didn’t even look at it, merely nodding politely.
After seeing Xu Qi An off, she was about to order a palace maid to put the novel away when her gaze swept over the cover, and her eyes suddenly froze.
The Domineering Female Lord Falls in Love with Me… Female Lord?!
Such an outrageous book title… Huai Qing’s interest was immediately piqued. Since she had nothing pressing to do, she decided it wouldn’t hurt to take a look.
So she sat back down and opened this novel with its outrageous title.
The story was about a scholar who accidentally entered the demon realm. He was talented and knowledgeable. But the demon realm residents wanted to eat the scholar, setting up a cauldron to fry him.
At this moment, the Female Lord appeared. She was the only literate person in the demon realm, possessing superior wisdom and culture. She saved the scholar and kept him in her harem. They composed poetry together and discussed ancient and modern affairs.
Throughout the process, the Female Lord fully displayed her domineering and cold demeanor, but she cared deeply for the scholar in her heart, just didn’t know how to show it. Her favorite catchphrase was: “Man, you’re playing with fire.”
Huai Qing had never seen such an interesting novel. It had no depth to speak of, and there was nothing to learn from it. It was worlds apart from the abstruse ancient texts she loved to read.
But for some reason, even though it was just about trivial daily matters and boring conversations, it seemed to have a special magic.
It made Huai Qing unable to resist wanting to see the Female Lord’s various… shows of superiority?!
Yes, that’s it. Shows of superiority.
Trampling men underfoot, keeping men in her harem, and treating men with a domineering and cold attitude, but even such a cold-hearted Female Lord had tenderness in her heart.
And that scholar, was completely obedient to the Female Lord, always considering her feelings. He would even get angry and jealous when the Female Lord drank with the demon realm generals.
Before she knew it, dusk had fallen. She had been reading for over two hours.
Huai Qing also discovered another advantage of this novel: it didn’t require much thinking.
It was simply entertaining.
After the rush of excitement, Huai Qing suddenly felt a surge of anger. What have I been doing?
I’ve spent two hours reading such a nutritionless, knowledgeable book?! How is this any different from wasting my life? How could I waste time and energy on something so utterly useless?
She felt a deep sense of guilt about this.
“It’s just a frivolous book…”
Huai Qing disdainfully tossed the book aside and got up to leave the reception hall. A few minutes later, she returned, hid the book in her sleeve, and took it away.
It wasn’t to review it again while sleeping at night, but because this book couldn’t be seen by others, just like those secret boudoir books that can’t see the light of day.
…
At the same time, in Shao Yin Garden, Lin An was immersed in “The Great Sage of Love,” unable to extricate herself.
“So, so this is what intimacy between men and women is like… Ahhh, how could that dog servant give such a thing to me to read?”
Lin An rolled around on the bed, her face red to her ears. When she got to the 5,000-word content of Zi Xia Immortal and Long Ao Tian rolling in bed, she kept exclaiming: “Nasty, nasty!”
But she read every word, visualizing the scenes in her mind.
Then she felt her body burning hot, her legs occasionally rubbing together, her round face as red as a ripe apple. Her peach blossom eyes, already alluring, now covered with a layer of mist, appeared even more seductive, extremely enticing.
However, the intimate affairs between men and women were just embellishments to the story. The core of the story was the love between Zi Xia Immortal and Long Ao Tian.
The first two-thirds was a sweet romance, while the last third was heartbreaking.
When she read about Long Ao Tian being skinned and his bones extracted, cast into the cycle of reincarnation to be reborn as beasts forever, while Zi Xia Immortal was eternally imprisoned in the Moon Palace, Lin An found her pillow wet.
She sniffled, angrily saying: “Why does it end here? Dog servant, why does it end here?”
After ranting indignantly, she called for her palace maids, saying: “I want to bathe. Prepare hot water.”
“?”
The palace maid asked in surprise: “It’s almost time for dinner. Why bathe at this hour?”
Biao Biao suddenly became angry out of embarrassment: “Just do as I say.”
Soon, the hot water was ready. After adjusting the water temperature, the palace maid attended to Lin An’s bath.
Her snow-white body was soaked in the water, flower petals floating on the surface, revealing her round, slender jade shoulders and a pair of delicate collarbones.
“Tell me, among my guards, who is the most handsome, the most talented, the most interesting, and the most loyal to me?” Lin An suddenly asked.
“They’re all quite loyal, but as for interesting and talented, we servants don’t know. However, if it’s not limited to guards, I have someone in mind.”
“Who is it!” Biao Biao immediately asked.
“It’s Sir Xu, of course. Sir Xu is handsome, talented, and interesting. He often makes Your Highness laugh. Although he’s not a guard, he’s Your Highness’s trusted confidant. And he’s not a scholar, but a night watchman, which sort of counts as a guard, I suppose.”
Lin An bit her lip, gently stirring the flower petals. As they scattered, she saw her face reflected vaguely in the rippling water – beautiful features, rosy cheeks, seeming somewhat shy.
…
In the Imperial City, at the Wang Mansion!
In the study of Prime Minister Wang Zhen Wen, the golden-red sunset shone through the latticed window. The Prime Minister, over fifty years old, finished reviewing the memorials and swept them all into a corner.
He then spread out a sheet of Xuan paper, placed a paperweight on it, and picked up his brush to write… At this moment, Miss Wang entered carrying a bowl of wolfberry and ginseng soup.
Prime Minister Wang ignored her, seizing the moment of inspiration in his chest to put brush to paper.
“A golden goblet of fine wine worth ten thousand coins,
A jade plate of rare delicacies worth tens of thousands.
…
The journey is difficult, the journey is difficult,
Many forked roads, where are they now?
When the long wind breaks the waves, there will come a time,
To hoist the cloud sail and cross the vast sea.”
Miss Wang put down the soup and came over to look. Unable to move her gaze for a long time, she murmured: “Father, you’ve written an immortal masterpiece.
“When this poem is published, it will surely shock the entire court.”
As a female literary enthusiast, she had some appreciation ability. Miss Wang was captivated by the spirit within this poem.
Prime Minister Wang shook his head, picked up the ginseng tea, and took a sip, exhaling contentedly: “This wasn’t written by me. It was written by the new top scholar. Didn’t you go to the Examination Hall today? Didn’t you see him?
“I heard he’s quite handsome, a rare beauty among men.”
“Daughter didn’t see him. Daughter just went to join the excitement,” Miss Wang flatly denied, her gaze frequently turning towards the desk.
“Back when I reintroduced poetry to the imperial examinations, I put in a lot of effort. There was tremendous resistance,” Prime Minister Wang tapped his finger on the paper, making a tapping sound, his smile unreserved. “Now that such a fine work has emerged, I can hold my head high. I’ve done right by the scholars of the world and our ancestors, not letting the treasure of poetry fall into complete decline.”
After the Apricot Blossom List was released, Xu Xin Nian’s “The Difficulty of the Journey” spread among the examiners. Those who heard it applauded in admiration, their blood boiling with excitement.
After a few more days of fermentation, this poem would spread throughout the capital, widely sung and recited.
“I heard that top scholar is a student from Yunlu Academy,” Miss Wang said “casually.”
Prime Minister Wang pondered for a moment, then sighed: “What a pity.”
The court officials rejected scholars from Yunlu Academy. As Prime Minister and exemplar of civil officials, he couldn’t compromise on this point.
The more talented Xu Xin Nian was the more vigilant Prime Minister Wang became, and the less likely he was to employ him.
“Father!”
Miss Wang, while helping to tidy up the memorials, said: “Daughter wants to hold a literary gathering at our mansion, inviting famous scholars from the capital to participate. It would need to be in your name.”
The initiator of a literary gathering must be a person of high virtue and prestige; Miss Wang didn’t have this qualification. However, she had hosted many literary gatherings at the mansion before, all convened in Prime Minister Wang’s name.
With the spring examinations just concluded, holding a literary gathering was perfectly reasonable.
Prime Minister Wang nodded: “Very well.”
…
At Yunlu Academy on Clear Cloud Mountain.
In the glow of the setting sun, a rider galloped along the official road, raising clouds of dust.
The horse stopped at the foot of the mountain. A scholar in Confucian robes leaped off the horse’s back, holding a list in his hand, and ran swiftly towards the mountaintop.
“Good news! Good news!”
He shouted as he ran, quickly entering the academy.
Along the way, many students came out to see what was happening, asking questions, but the messenger ignored them all, heading straight for Great Confucian Zhang Shen’s study.
Zhang Shen, having heard the commotion, was already waiting outside his study, looking calmly at the messenger.
“A scholar should maintain composure. Neither great joy nor great sorrow should shake one’s resolve.”
After this admonishment, Zhang Shen smiled: “Judging by your expression, it seems all our students who took the spring examinations have passed.”
“Teacher, it’s more than just passing,” the messenger exclaimed excitedly. “Xu Ci Jiu has become the top scholar!”
Zhang Shen thought he had misheard and asked sternly: “The top scholar?!”
The messenger nodded vigorously, “This is the list of academy students named on the Apricot Blossom List. Xu Ci Jiu is indeed the top scholar, it’s true.”
Zhang Shen excitedly snatched the list, which contained the names and rankings of the academy students who had taken the spring examinations.
At the very top was Xu Ci Jiu, ranked first, the top scholar.
Zhang Shen stared at the list for a long time, then suddenly let out a roar, shouting: “Academy Head, Chen Tai, Li Mu Bai… My student has become the top scholar! My student has become the top scholar!”
The messenger was dumbfounded.
Soon, Academy Head Zhao Shou and two other Great Confucians were alerted. Using the Bragging Technique to ignore distance, they appeared outside Zhang Shen’s study.
Academy Head Zhao Shou, with his graying hair and disheveled appearance, was the first to ask: “Is it true? Which student became the top scholar?”
“Xu Ci Jiu!” Zhang Shen said proudly.
Zhao Shou frowned, thought for a moment, and then exclaimed: “Is that the student who never lost an argument?”
“… This proves his unparalleled eloquence,” Zhang Shen said.
“Congratulations, congratulations!”
Li Mu Bai and Chen Tai were both happy and a bit sour.
Of course, they were happy that a Yunlu Academy student had become the top scholar. Every teacher in the academy would be happy, even dancing and drinking heavily in celebration.
But it didn’t prevent them from feeling a bit envious, because Xu Ci Jiu was Zhang Shen’s student.
Academy Head Zhao Shou frowned: “By rights, he shouldn’t have been the top scholar. What essay did Ci Jiu write?”
Based on previous years’ metropolitan examination situations, there must have been cheating in this session. As a Yunlu Academy student, Xu Ci Jiu wouldn’t have been part of any cheating.
But to say it was purely based on ability seemed a bit far-fetched.
Zhang Shen suppressed his joy, grunting in agreement: “Ci Jiu’s policy questions and classical interpretations were all excellent choices, but to say they were brilliant and unparalleled, they fell a bit short.”
But if it wasn’t brilliant and unparalleled, how could at least two of the three chief examiners strongly support him?
When he first heard the student’s report, he even doubted if he had misheard.
Li Mu Bai, seeing the messenger still there, beckoned him over and asked: “Is there any other news from the capital?”
Originally, it was just a casual question, but the messenger student immediately nodded. “Yes, after the students transcribed the results, they found Xu Ci Jiu’s performance in the exam rather extraordinary, so they treated one of the examiners to a meal.
‘The meal cost fifteen taels, and I was just about to submit the reimbursement to the academy.’”
Several scholars nodded in agreement. The students trained at Yunlu Academy were highly capable and certainly not rigid or narrow-minded.
After finishing, the messenger student took out a piece of paper from his pocket and said, “I heard that during the third round, Xu Ci Jiu composed a poem that received high praise from the Eastern Pavilion Grand Scholar. The other examiners were also impressed. Coupled with his outstanding scores in the first two rounds, that’s why he became the top scholar.”
A poem? The scholars exchanged glances, intrigued.