In the 22nd year of the Ming Yin Dynasty, during the Jingyuan period, a case of someone taking the imperial examination under another person’s name was discovered by the Eastern Bureau’s investigation. As a result, one of the top scorers became vacant.
However, the benevolent emperor granted the scholar Jian Yujue, who was involved in the case, an official position. If he passed the reexamination, he would be qualified for the palace examination.
After the reexamination, to everyone’s surprise, Jian Yujue unexpectedly took the top spot. The Ministry of Rites selected the top 300 scholars who would participate in the palace examination in the fifth lunar month.
The palace examination only lasted for one day. At dusk, the answer sheets were collected by officials responsible for receiving, checking, sealing, and other procedures. Then, eight examiners reviewed the papers, and finally, the emperor personally reviewed them.
On the 21st day of the fifth lunar month, Li Zhanggui stood at the end of the long street outside the palace, waiting for Jian Yujue from the first light of dawn until the sunset. Finally, when he saw him from afar, Li Zhanggui furrowed his brows, seeming worried.
Jian Yujue approached, and seeing that Li Zhanggui was waiting for him, he wasn’t surprised. “Uncle Li, let’s go back.”
Li Zhanggui guessed that Jian Yujue might not have performed as well as expected. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Yujue, but so many things had happened recently. People were not like plants; how could they be unaffected?
He pondered, “Yujue, entering the palace examination this time is already an experience in itself. Even if this old man accompanies you for another three years, you’re still young, and it’s not a big deal.”
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“Zlp.”
…
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“Hey, have you heard? The top scholar this year is that poor scholar who repaired books at Tingfang Shop.”
“Of course I heard. Isn’t he the one who almost ended up in the prison of the Eastern Bureau for taking the examination under someone else’s name?”
“He wasn’t a substitute. The emperor issued an edict stating that he had been wronged! Otherwise, why would he be given the opportunity to participate in the palace examination?”
An old woman selling cabbages nearby listened and proudly said, “You’ve only heard about it, but he actually bought vegetables from me. He has a handsome appearance, even more beautiful than a girl!”
Li Zhanggui passed by while buying vegetables and heard these words. He felt delighted. Yujue had never been to the vegetable market, so the old woman was just making things up. But since it was a happy occasion, Li Zhanggui didn’t want to expose the old woman. He happily carried the purchased vegetables and returned to the old bookstore.
There were many people standing in front of the old bookstore who had come there out of curiosity. The narrow Xishui Street was even more crowded, leaving only a small gap for people to enter.
Jian Yujue was still sitting calmly behind the counter, checking the accounts, seemingly undisturbed by the noise outside. It was as if the clamor couldn’t enter his ears through the door.
“Yujue, I’m back.”
“Yes.”
Li Zhanggui was now pleased with everything he saw. Even though there were so many people crowding at the entrance, making it inconvenient for their livelihoods, he still felt happy.
However, Jian Yujue’s calm demeanor didn’t match that of a newly crowned top scholar. His way of speaking and habits remained unchanged. Li Zhanggui felt like he was dreaming, as if it wasn’t real.
“Yujue, tell me, are you really the top scholar?” Li Zhanggui asked foolishly, biting his teeth. On the day of the return ceremony, he happened to be away from the capital and missed the whole scene.
Jian Yujue finally put down the account book, looked up, and smiled. “Uncle Li, I will attend the palace banquet tomorrow and receive the official seal and treasures. Only then will you believe me.”
Li Zhanggui burst into laughter. “I’m just too happy. I was talking nonsense.”
“Can you meet the chief of the Eastern Bureau at the palace banquet?”
Jian Yujue remembered Qin Yan’s cold gaze. “I don’t know, but he seems to dislike me.”
“How could that be? This time, the emperor granting you the title of scholar is most likely thanks to the chief. You should thank him properly.”
When Li Zhanggui initially sought help from Su Mi, he didn’t expect much. Who would have thought that he would actually get another chance? He had nothing valuable to repay Su Mi, so he could only treat the bookstore more seriously. However, he was afraid that Yujue would be angry, so he didn’t tell him about it.
So Jian Yujue thought that Qin Yan had found out the truth and reported it to the emperor, and it was the emperor’s grace that granted him the title of scholar.
“Yes, alright.”
***
The banquet for the newly appointed scholar, which was held on the day following the announcement of the palace examination results, was organized to show the emperor’s favor, with the emperor personally bestowing flags, plaques, and silver.
On the day before the banquet, in the small courtyard where the sun shone on the west side of Chuxiu Palace, Zhu Jingyu sat on a low wooden stool, awkwardly washing Eggheart fur. Perhaps his hand wasn’t skilled, which made the chubby lynx quite unhappy. It kept twisting its body, trying to slip away. However, the emperor’s grip was strong, and despite several unsuccessful attempts, Lü Dehai and Shuangfu, who were guarding outside the door, almost burst into laughter.
“Your Majesty, you shouldn’t hold Eggheart like that. It will feel uncomfortable.”
Zhang Yue’er, seeing Zhu Jingyu’s slender fingers not knowing where to rest, couldn’t help but chuckle. Naturally, she reached out and took Eggheart in her arms.
“Your Majesty, if you hold it like this, just release one hand to scoop water and wash it.”
As Zhang Yue’er spoke, her hand rested on the back of the yellow lynx, gently scratching its yellow fur. Eggheart let out a comfortable purr and glanced at Zhu Jingyu with what seemed like a disdainful expression.
The wooden basin was not very big, and Zhang Yue’er could easily touch Zhu Jingyu. However, he seemed oblivious, bowing his head and absentmindedly touching Eggheart, occasionally accidentally brushing against Zhu Jingyu’s fingers.
“You…” Zhu Jingyu felt the occasional soft touch on his fingertips and hesitated to speak.
He was not used to physical contact, even though she was different in his heart from others. He still found this feeling unfamiliar, yet strangely addictive. Just like the feeling of being desired and liked when she hugged him tightly that day, it was the first time he truly experienced it.
He wanted to push her away, but instinctively, he didn’t want to. The words “don’t touch me” didn’t come out of his mouth. In fact, what he feared most was that she genuinely didn’t want to touch him anymore.
Zhang Yue’er lowered her head, pretending not to notice, but her face had already turned slightly red. She felt uneasy, fearing that Zhu Jingyu would push her away, but fortunately, he didn’t continue speaking.
To distract the atmosphere, Zhang Yue’er casually brought up a topic: “Your Majesty, I heard from Grand Chamberlain Lü that there will be a banquet for the newly appointed scholars tomorrow?”
“Hmm?” Zhu Jingyu was still engaged in an internal struggle over whether to push her away or not and didn’t catch what she said.
“I mean, the banquet for the newly appointed scholars.” Zhang Yue’er raised her head and looked at Zhu Jingyu’s puzzled expression, repeating her words with a hint of doubt.
Zhu Jingyu didn’t pay attention and assumed that Zhang Yue’er also wanted to go. “Hmm, besides the newly appointed scholars and the examiners, there are a few other courtiers, just a regular banquet.”
“If you want to go, you can.”
“Great!” Zhang Yue’er’s eyes curled into crescents as she spoke with joy in her tone.
“It’s just a regular banquet. Why are you so happy?” Banquets are the most boring, following the same rules and regulations every time. Just thinking about it, Zhu Jingyu found it uninteresting.
Zhang Yue’er smiled brightly. “Because I can be with Your Majesty.”
Her voice was not low, and Lü Dehai outside couldn’t help but cover his mouth and laugh. Zhu Jingyu’s ears turned pink, and he immediately turned around, his voice sounding stern: “I don’t want to wash Eggheart anymore. It doesn’t like me. You wash it.”
“Oh.” Zhang Yue’er didn’t see Zhu Jingyu’s expression and thought he was genuinely upset with Eggheart. She obediently took the chubby lynx and continued washing it.
“Your Majesty, will the Chief of the Eastern Bureau be present tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Then Sister Su will also come. I haven’t seen Sister Su in a long time.”
“She should come.”
***
The banquet in the palace was scheduled for the hour of Dog (early evening), and it was set in the East Palace main hall, similar to a family banquet.
In the carriage of the chief’s residence, Su Mi looked radiant, dressed in a jade-colored robe embroidered with golden threads. Her robe’s train was long and flowing. Perhaps concerned that the length of her robe would hinder Qin Yan, she spontaneously sat opposite him.
Qin Yan was reading a book in his hands, while Su Mi, bored, propped up her chin and looked at him. Her lips were slightly parted, and her eyes were seductive as silk. After becoming intimate with Qin Yan, her charm became even more apparent. At this moment, although her gaze seemed ordinary, for Qin Yan, who had endured not touching Su Mi for a long time, it was clearly too alluring.
Qin Yan had been flipping through the pages without turning a single one. Finally, he closed the book and pushed it toward Su Mi. “Read.”
“Hmm?” Su Mi put down her hand, sat up straight, and looked at the book, called “Chronicles of Bamboo,” that Qin Yan had pushed towards her. At a glance, it looked like a historical book, but why did he want her to read it?
“Lord, do you want me to read this?”
“Yes.”
Su Mi didn’t understand, but she still took the book and earnestly flipped to the first page.
Qin Yan leaned back, his left arm resting on the armrest, his gaze falling directly on Su Mi, who was “seriously” reading the book.
He had endured for so long, reaching his limit. If Su Mi continued to look at him like she did just now, he feared he would have her right there in the carriage.
“Lord, why do I need to read this book?”
“For your own good.”
For her own good? Su Mi didn’t understand Qin Yan’s meaning, but since she had no choice, she continued to read. However, she found the content to be dull. Although she didn’t lift her head, she sought another topic to talk about.
“Lord, I heard that the top scholar is the same scholar from my bookstore?”
Qin Yan’s mood was initially fine, but when Su Mi mentioned Jian Yujue, his voice involuntarily turned cold. “Hmm, you’ll be able to see him at this banquet.”
Su Mi nodded. She was somewhat looking forward to it. Normally, she couldn’t casually meet a man privately, but with so many people present this time, it happened to be convenient.
Qin Yan noticed that although Su Mi’s eyes were on the book, her face showed a pensive expression. He knew she was thinking about that scholar and sneered, “Read it aloud for me.”
Su Mi’s thoughts were interrupted, and she was momentarily stunned. Looking at the cold expression on Qin Yan’s face, she wondered why the lord was upset again. So she obediently read aloud.
Reading was different from simply looking at a book. It required full concentration. Thus, she spent the entire journey reading historical books in the carriage.
***
The Enrong Banquet was held in the East Palace main hall. During the previous dynasty, the banquet used to be grand, with hundreds of guests. However, the ancestors later felt it was too extravagant and changed it to only invite the top three scholars from the palace exam and a few others, including those who had passed the imperial examination and those who were from the same background as the top scholars.
As a result, the scale was smaller compared to the festive banquets during the New Year. Most of the attendees were ministers responsible for grading the exam papers, ceremonial guards, and others. Qin Yan’s purpose for attending was purely as one of the emperor’s close aides, accompanying the emperor.
The banquet tables were arranged in two rows, with the newly appointed scholars on the left and the high-ranking ministers on the right. The top scholar, coincidentally, was seated directly across from Qin Yan.
When Qin Yan and Su Mi arrived, the high-ranking ministers had already taken their seats, but there was no one at the table opposite them where the newly appointed scholars were supposed to sit.
He knew that Su Mi was unaware, so he whispered softly, turning his head to the right, “The Emperor personally presents the garments, and they will enter and take their seats in order.”
To outsiders, this whispering seemed incredibly intimate, sparking a few discussions among the crowd. However, as Qin Yan casually glanced over them, those people suddenly fell silent, afraid to speak any further.
“The Emperor arrives!” An eunuch was announced loudly outside the hall, and everyone in the hall stood up and bowed.
Zhu Jingyu stepped down from the imperial sedan and approached the center of the hall. Su Mi had seen the Emperor before, so she didn’t carefully examine him. She simply followed suit, bowing her head. As the procession, led by the Emperor, passed in front of her, she suddenly heard a voice say, “Sister Su.”
The voice was soft but familiar. In Su Mi’s mind, an image of a girl with bright eyes and white teeth emerged. Wasn’t that Zhang Yue’er?
“No need for excessive formalities. Take your seats.”
As the Emperor spoke, Su Mi finally lifted her head. There were several consorts seated beside the Emperor, but Zhang Yue’er was not close to him. However, Su Mi immediately spotted her.
Taking advantage of the lack of attention, Zhang Yue’er raised her right hand to her ear, as if tidying up her stray hair. Su Mi responded with a smile, exchanging a secret greeting. It had been almost two years since they last met. Su Mi wondered if Zhang Yue’er was happy in the palace. However, with Zhang Yue’er’s optimistic and lively nature, it seemed unlikely that she would be unhappy.
Zhu Jingyu caught sight of Zhang Yue’er’s smile and her secret interaction with Su Mi from the corner of his eye. His lips curled slightly upward. For the first time, he felt that this banquet wasn’t entirely boring.
“What’s her name?”
A low voice came from beside Qin Yan. Su Mi instinctively replied, “Zhang Yue’er. She is also from Jiangling City in Jiaozhou. Doesn’t the Lord remember?”
Qin Yan glanced at Zhang Yue’er without much expression. How could he remember these women? However, as he looked at Zhu Jingyu, who kept stealing glances in that direction, and recalled Ling An’s words, he understood in his heart.
…
As in previous years, the chief eunuch in charge shouted to start the banquet. The Emperor proceeded from the back to the front, calling out the names of the newly appointed scholars and presenting them with garments. This was to showcase the Emperor’s favor and imply that even when entering officialdom in the future, they should remember the grace of the Emperor.
Zhu Jingyu had done this several times, so the presentation of the garments proceeded smoothly and unconsciously reached the last position, the top scholar.
Regarding the top scholar among the new scholars, people were naturally curious, especially since they knew that the scholar resembled Su Mi.
So compared to just now, the people in the hall became more attentive. As the bell rang, a figure in green appeared at the gate of the hall.
Jian Yujue wore a new garment this time, persuaded by Li Zhanggui. It wasn’t expensive; it was just not bought from the estimated clothing store. Instead, it was a long robe made by a tailor.
Although he still seemed to come from a humble background compared to other successful candidates, his radiant and elegant appearance made people completely disregard his attire.
Jian Yujue’s footsteps were calm and orderly, and he walked towards the front of the hall with a straight back, showing no signs of nervousness.
At first, Su Mi was merely curious, so she glanced hastily when Jian Yujue entered. It was hard to see clearly from a distance, but when he approached, Su Mi almost jumped up.
Perhaps others could only see the superficial resemblance between him and Su Mi, but Su Mi could see much more. She could even hear her own heartbeat thumping.
Jian Yujue, who was usually composed, showed a slight crack in his calm expression as he passed by Su Mi. His heart was beating rapidly, a sensation similar to the dull pain he had experienced several times before that was strange and impossible to diminish. He hadn’t even looked to the right, but he strangely sensed intense gazes.
And it wasn’t just Su Mi who kept staring at Jian Yujue, but also Zhang Yue’er.
Women are naturally more sensitive than men. Although Zhu Jingyu and Qin Yan had seen Jian Yujue at different times, they only saw him as someone who resembled Su Mi. In their eyes, it was just a common occurrence to find similarities in the world. But women were different.
After gazing for a while, Zhang Yue’er looked back at Su Mi. She felt that these two people clearly had some kind of connection, as if he were Su Mi’s younger brother!
But Su Mi didn’t have a younger brother. Could he be a cousin?
Both women, in different places, kept staring at Jian Yujue, which made Qin Yan and Zhu Jingyu increasingly frustrated.
Zhu Jingyu’s peripheral vision caught Zhang Yue’er’s unwavering gaze. He had found the banquet somewhat interesting earlier, but now he just wished for it to end quickly. It was uncomfortable for him to see Jian Yujue as well. After presenting the top scholar with his garment, he allowed him to take a seat.
At this point, the banquet officially began.
The Enrong banquet was meant to celebrate, held on the day after the imperial examination. It was not meant to be too formal, so the Emperor allowed the civil officials below to freely toast and chat.
The first thing Jian Yujue did after sitting down was to look across the table. He was not a curious person, but he couldn’t ignore the uncontrollable tremor in his heart.
When Jian Yujue met Su Mi’s gaze, he suddenly froze. This…
Clearly, they were strangers—people who had never met before. But at this moment, neither of them wanted to look away. Compared to the occasional connection between Su Mi and Su Xian, the connection she felt with this man was much stronger.
Su Mi had a conjecture, but he was supposed to be Li Zhanggui’s nephew. No, that’s not right. She had to clarify this. After seeing Jian Yujue, this thought became even stronger.
Su Mi’s mind was filled with images of Jian Yujue and uncontrollable speculations. She didn’t even realize that Qin Yan, who was standing beside her, was on the verge of exploding.
The anger and coldness in Qin Yan’s eyes contrasted with the fire and chill, and the curve of his jawline was as cold as ice. He lowered his gaze and folded his sleeves, speaking in a voice that Su Mi happened to hear clearly: “Since you enjoy looking so much, how about I, the Lord, send you to him so you can have a closer look?”
Someone is so jelly😂😂😂
Cembukurrrrrr