This shout startled Li Tong and the maid who were about to help Li Huaiqing, and they froze.

What?

They stood there dumbly, even maintaining their postures of reaching out and bowing.

“Indeed recovered,” the Emperor said with a laugh, making tsk-tsk sounds. “Elder Li, that was really quick movement.”

Elder Li was almost crying.

“Your Majesty, why did you come? How did you leave the palace? It’s so late? Did you bring people? Who’s accompanying you? Does the Empress Dowager know? Do the Five Cities Military Commission know?” he asked breathlessly, one question after another.

The Emperor just smiled, clapped his hands, and stood up.

“Really, you’re more adorable lying down,” he said with a laugh. “I’m leaving.”

His movements were too fast—Elder Li didn’t even react.

The Emperor walked past Li Tong, who was standing there dumbly.

“Here, this is for you,” he said, remembering something and stuffing the teacup in his hand to Li Tong.

“Ah, kneel down!” Elder Li shouted.

Only then did Li Tong drop to his knees with a thud, prostrating himself and trembling all over, feeling footsteps pass by in front of him.

He didn’t know about the chaos that followed. He just knelt there like that, his mind in turmoil, with only one thought repeating over and over.

The Emperor!

The Emperor!

He had seen the Emperor!

He had even spoken with the Emperor!

He had even served tea to the Emperor!

The Emperor!

My heavens…

Li Tong really wanted to hide somewhere with no one around to calm himself down, but this was impossible, because in this household, probably only he had spoken with the Emperor!

Elder Li was also lying down, sitting up. Elder Li couldn’t stand either and sat down. Even the retainers and advisors were all invited over. A roomful of people surrounded Li Tong, making him recount word by word everything the Emperor had said to him, even every glance and gesture.

By the end, Li Tong didn’t even know what he was saying.

“His Majesty asked who you were?” Elder Li asked.

Li Tong nodded.

“This grandson was dull-witted, not knowing what kind of tea it was, and even answered like that,” he said, lowering his head.

Elder Li looked at him and nodded.

“You answered very well,” he said.

Li Tong looked at Elder Li.

“His Majesty is too clever, so he likes people who are somewhat dull-witted,” Elder Li said, looking at him with a smile. “You responded very well—the most difficult thing in the world is naturalness.”

A huge weight lifted from Li Tong’s heart.

“Alright, you may go. You’re exhausted too—go rest quickly,” Elder Li said, looking at Li Tong with kindness.

Li Tong responded and only then withdrew.

Watching him disappear at the room’s entrance, everyone hadn’t yet withdrawn their gazes.

“This kid really is…” Elder Li couldn’t help muttering.

Really has luck…

“So they say, it’s better to have good fate than good character,” Elder Li said with a smile. “No matter who it is, this is good for our Li family.”

That was true. Everyone was very happy, thinking of the Emperor’s personal visit. This was truly incomparable honor, though unfortunately this honor couldn’t be spoken of.

“Speaking of this honor would invite jealousy—it’s enough that we know,” Elder Li said, exhaling heavily. He felt his illness was half-cured again. “Has Tong’er passed the imperial examinations?”

Who would know that…

Elder Li felt somewhat embarrassed.

“Whether he’s passed or not, there’s been a vacancy for a clerk in the Cabinet recently. Go make arrangements and let him go,” Elder Li said.

Elder Li gasped, good heavens.

Although this was a job serving people and running errands, one could see the Emperor!

But this was actually quite suitable.

Elder Li responded affirmatively.

This kid really was too blessed, wasn’t he?

Li Tong almost ran back to his own home. The Li family hadn’t yet divided the estate—all four houses were crammed into this one alley, separated only by a few walls.

“Brother, brother!”

As soon as he entered, Li Tong was called by a female voice, then saw his sister rushing over joyfully.

“Brother, thank you, thank you,” Li Tong’s sister pulled her brother’s arm and cried.

Li Tong was somewhat confused by the thanks and crying.

“What’s wrong?” he asked quickly.

“Father, father canceled my engagement to that consumptive ghost,” Li Tong’s sister said, crying with tears.

Li Tong was overjoyed.

“Brother, you spoke to father, didn’t you?” Li Tong’s sister said, wiping her tears. She didn’t need to ask—only her brother, besides her brother, who else would care about her?

Li Tong also felt his nose getting sour, not knowing what to say.

All this came too fast, too much…

But he still hadn’t anticipated enough. Soon, Elder Li sent someone to tell Li Tong’s father about having Li Tong go to the Cabinet as a clerk in a few days.

Li Tong’s father was stunned.

Li Tong’s mother and several brothers in the room were also stunned.

Just earlier, Li Tong’s mother had been complaining because Li Tong’s father canceled that marriage arrangement.

“Isn’t it just inviting a doctor to cure the old master? Even if they say he has merit, what great merit could it be? It’s the doctor’s achievement—is that worth you protecting him like this?” Li Tong’s legitimate mother said very unhappily.

But at this moment, she also stared wide-eyed, unable to speak.

Clerk? Cabinet?

“Why?” Li Tong’s father couldn’t help asking.

This question was asked on behalf of everyone.

The Emperor’s visit had become the Li mansion’s highest secret—only those few people knew, while others naturally weren’t qualified to know.

The retainer who came to deliver the message smiled.

“The old master sees him idle at home with nothing to do and wants him to go help out,” he said lightly, then took his leave after speaking.

The room fell silent.

“Why? Why not let me go help out?” one of Li Tong’s brothers stared and shouted. “I’m idle too.”

“Because you didn’t invite a good doctor…” Li Tong’s father was still the father after all, hitting the nail on the head.

After breakfast, a new day began. Fan Yilin finished attending to his corridor of birds and prepared to lounge on the long chair listening to the little maid play the qin.

“Young Master, like this every day—don’t you get tired of listening?” a servant sitting on a small stool nearby said with a bitter expression, pointing at the little maid. “I say, Ruhua, can’t you play a different tune? Always the same one—really makes me want to vomit.”

Fan Yilin quickly got up to stop him, but it was too late.

The little maid snorted.

“Then have someone else play,” she said, pushing away the qin and running off with quick steps.

“Look what you’ve done! Young Master, what an attitude from this little hussy!” the servant said angrily, glaring.

Fan Yilin gave him a slap on the head.

“You little bastard, Young Madam only left me this one qin-playing maid. Now that you’ve done this, what am I supposed to do!” he scolded.

“Young Master,” the servant said, holding his head pitifully. “It was really too awful… we can’t suffer like this.”

Fan Yilin sighed and lay back on the reclining chair.

“At least it was some noise. Otherwise, just lying here with no human presence…” he said with a sigh.

As they were talking, a servant came running in from outside.

“A visitor! A visitor!” he shouted breathlessly.

Fan Yilin lay there without moving.

“Young Master, Young Master,” the servant called. “A visitor.”

Fan Yilin simply closed his eyes.

“Visitors, visitors all day long—what’s it to me?” he said irritably.

“Young Master, the visitor is here to see you,” the servant replied breathlessly.

“Me?” Fan Yilin suddenly opened his eyes, pointing at his own nose. “Which blind fool came to visit me?”

The servants stared at him dumbfounded.

The blind visitor had already drunk three cups of tea in the reception hall, and Fan Third Master, who was keeping him company, felt somewhat embarrassed.

“Go find a way to get that little bastard here immediately, no matter what,” he called over a servant and said through gritted teeth quietly.

Before he finished speaking, Fan Yilin’s deliberately loud coughing could be heard outside the room.

“He’s coming,” Fan Third Master breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile.

Then everyone looked toward the door and saw a man in floral clothes, holding a folding fan, obviously dressed up, swaying as he walked in.

Fan Third Master covered his face, unable to watch.

Father, you saying you’d go out at this time was really too wise…

“Who’s looking for me? I’m quite busy…” Fan Yilin said.

Before he finished speaking, he saw someone rush over and bow to him.

“Young Master Fan, thank you, thank you so much,” Li Tong said with a trembling voice.

Fan Yilin was startled. Such a grand gesture…

“Young Master Li, what’s this about?” he asked. Before he finished speaking, he saw the gifts piled up in the room.

Fan Yilin forgot about Young Master Li, his eyes lighting up as he looked at those large and small boxes and fabrics.

“Are all these for me?” he asked.

Li Tong bowed again.

“A small token of appreciation—please don’t disdain it, Brother Fan,” he said.

Fan Yilin had already shamelessly opened the top box and found it was a set of the Four Treasures of the Study.

Fan Yilin chuckled.

“This thing is useless to me… ah! This, this is Ouyang Xiu’s!” His laugh suddenly stopped and turned into an exclamation. “Ouyang Xiu’s inkstone!”

Fan Third Master, who had been covering his face, couldn’t help but look over.

“Actually, it’s Li Tingguei’s inkstone…” the middle-aged man sitting to the side said with a smile.

Fan Third Master suddenly stood up.

This was worth more than Ouyang Xiu’s!

Fan Yilin also stared wide-eyed. Though he was a good-for-nothing, to appear cultured, he still knew these Four Treasures of the Study and their stories.

“Little Li, you’ve really spent a fortune. To support your brother, just a token would do—this is really going too big,” he said, staring. “I won’t be able to match you next time…”

Li Tong was amused by him.

“Brother Fan, I’m giving this to you with complete sincerity,” he said, bowing again.

Fan Third Master also looked at the sitting man.

“Master Li, this is too precious!” he said, bowing to Li Tong’s father.

“Young Master Fan deserves it,” Li Tong’s father said with a smile, then added, “This is my father’s intention.”

Elder Li!

Fan Third Master was stunned, his expression becoming serious.

“This, this… what virtue or ability do I have?” he asked quickly.

“Yes, yes, why did Elder Li suddenly discover this gem like me?” Fan Yilin also asked quickly.

Fan Third Master felt regret that he shouldn’t have called this kid over.

“It’s because Young Master Fan recommended a doctor for my son, which saved my father from danger. Such life-saving grace—these small material things can only slightly express our feelings. We hope Young Master Fan won’t disdain them,” Li Tong’s father also stood up and said solemnly.

From beginning to end, he hadn’t forgotten to glance at the gift boxes, afraid he might lose control and hug those Four Treasures of the Study and cry.

Such good things—he could never get even one in his lifetime…

Yet they were given to this good-for-nothing…

Such waste of precious things…

Really, good character is not as good as good fate…

One has to accept destiny…

Li Tong’s father wept inwardly.

What a sin…