Chapter 46

After the flood in the river was cleared up, the restrictions on the official road in Xuzhou were lifted again.

The carriage traveled from Xuzhou to Capital, and they were only a few days away.

Upon reaching the southern gate of the capital, Qin Yan got off the carriage and mounted his green horse, heading directly to the palace.

Feng Bao stood at the side of the carriage, watching the gradually fading figures of Qin Yan and Ling’an. He lightly kicked his feet and sat back on the seat of the carriage.

“Madam, let’s continue heading back to the Master’s Mansion.”

“Alright.”

At the entrance of the master’s mansion in the east courtyard, Chun Mei was already waiting eagerly. Although she set off half a day later than Su Mi, she didn’t take the official road but a small path.

Due to the delay caused by the flood, Chun Mei actually arrived in the capital one night earlier than Su Mi.

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Fw Yk bye clld pvyukdt kd vbl twlpv nswavuyae. Gzvbswtb vbl xykd nswavuyae bye clld aldshyvle yde lhld bye y dlo tyaeld, Ckd Zyd byed’v xldvksdle xshkdt, yde pbl oyp vss zygu vs xyjl ydu xsal nbydtlp.

“Chun Mei, when you left, how was Mother doing?”

Chun Mei thought for a moment. “Hmm, Madam is doing fine.”

After a while, she added with a hint of resentment, “Li Xiuyuan’s hand was severed. The doctor said it couldn’t be treated, and I heard he was sent to the capital overnight!”

Upon hearing this, Su Mi looked at the angry Chun Mei and knew that Chun Mei must have heard some rumors from Chunlan, which made her harbor resentment towards Li Xiuyuan for her sake.

In the midst of their conversation, the two of them returned to the guest courtyard.

The courtyard had been cleaned by servants for the past ten days, and Chun Mei had tidied up last night, so it was clean and tidy, but it lacked some liveliness.

Chun Mei brewed a pot of grain flower tea for Su Mi and placed it on the green jade table. Meanwhile, Su Mi began to go through the accumulated letters brought by the gatekeeper during these days.

“Miss, yesterday I saw one letter that was sent by Shopkeeper Li.” Chun Mei poured a cup and handed it to Su Mi.

“Hmm.”

While Chun Mei was brewing tea, Su Mi had already sifted through some social invitations and was now reading the letter sent by Shopkeeper Li.

It was quite an effort for an old man like him to start a business. When Su Mi went to Jiangling City, she entrusted the affairs of the shop to him.

“Miss, did the old shopkeeper mention the name of the new shop?”

Chun Mei asked while pouring tea. Su Mi had instructed her to ask Shopkeeper Li about it before she left, so she was concerned about this matter.

“Yes, it’s decided. It’s called Tingfang Shop, and it sounds quite nice.” Su Mi smiled.

“What else did he say?” Chun Mei asked curiously.

“He also said that a scholar from Yong’an Street helped come up with the name.” Su Mi finished reading the contents of the letter and looked up at Chun Mei. “Chun Mei, tomorrow, go to Xishi Alley and pay half a month’s wages in advance. From now on, we’ll pay on the fifteenth of each month.”

During the MingYin dynasty, taxes were levied per acre and collected per household. Ordinary families usually owned one or two plots of land, and Shopkeeper Li was a scholar who hadn’t passed the higher examinations, so he couldn’t be exempt from taxes.

Around the middle of each month, he had to personally go to the government office to pay taxes. Therefore, Sumu decided to arrange the salary payment for the middle of the month, making it more convenient for him.

Chun Mei didn’t know the reason behind it, but naturally, she followed Su Mi’s instructions.

“Oh, by the way, Chun Mei, on your way, tell the shopkeeper that if that scholar comes to borrow old books, he can waive his rental fee.”

“Yes, Miss.”

***

Xishi Alley had become livelier than before because a new secondhand bookstore had opened there half a month ago.

It was said that the owner had directly bought the shopfront, so it might not necessarily be a loss, but it certainly wouldn’t make much profit. Therefore, everyone was curious about who would waste so much money buying the shop.

Word spread, and as a result, more and more people began to frequent the alley.

Shopkeeper Li had a kind and gentle appearance, was always cheerful, and had some knowledge of literature. He could engage in conversations with the scholars who came. Over time, this place became a gathering spot for poor students. When school was over, one could hear intellectual debates in Xishi Alley.

Shopkeeper Li looked happily at these young scholars, feeling content. Being a shopkeeper allowed him to regain some of his youthful vigor, and he worked even harder to manage the secondhand bookstore.

Just now, the young maid from the owner’s house had paid him half a month’s wages in advance. Coincidentally, in two days, he had to go to the government office to pay taxes. He couldn’t help but wonder if the owner had deliberately considered his situation. He felt even more satisfied.

He thought, “Why not take the opportunity to celebrate the owner’s return to the capital and invite Yujue to have a feast of pig’s ears when he came to read in the evening?”

Shopkeeper Li was still leisurely and happy, unaware that at the entrance of the alley were three young men dressed as scholars, one of whom looked disdainfully in the direction of Tingfang Shop.

As for the other two, one of them was Su Mi’s cousin from the Yu family, Yu Zhiqiu.

“Master Lu, are you thinking of visiting the newly opened secondhand bookstore?” Yu Zhiqiu, weak and delicate in appearance, stuttered as he spoke to Lu Guanlin, lacking confidence.

In truth, he did want to go and take a look at the secondhand bookstore, considering that new books were excessively expensive. So when he saw Lu Guanlin glance in that direction, he thought they had the same idea.

Lu Guanlin frowned as he looked at Yu Zhiqiu. Did he really need to go to a secondhand bookstore? He was truly lacking in discernment. He was obedient and hardworking and could be given some minor tasks, but Lu Guanlin didn’t even want to see him around if he had a choice.

Afterward, Shangguan Yan looked at the two before him, a fleeting sneer crossing his face, instantly replaced by a sincere smile.

He tapped Yu Zhiqiu’s shoulder with a bone fan in his hand. “Zhiqiu, the Guanlin family has a collection of ten thousand books. Why would you need to go to a secondhand bookstore? Your question is unnecessary.”

Lu Guanlin’s complexion returned to normal upon hearing this statement. Although he had heard it several times already, he still seemed quite pleased.

As the legitimate son of the Minister of Revenue, he was greatly favored in his family. Before he even entered the imperial college, they had built a room dedicated to historical books and literature.

He had no need to visit those secondhand book stalls. Shangguan Yan had a clear understanding of this. Yu Zhiqiu was nothing more than an ordinary acquaintance!

“Of course not. Do I still need to go to such a rundown place?”

Yu Zhiqiu dared not speak any further and walked behind them with his head down.

Last year, he passed the imperial examination at the provincial level, and Yu Rongshi broke off his engagement with Su Mi on his behalf. However, he failed the next examination afterward, but luckily, he was chosen for the provincial-level tribute and entered the Imperial college as a student.

Being a student at the imperial college naturally meant having the qualifications to become an official. However, even if it was just a low-ranking county official at the eighth or ninth rank, the competition was fierce, and most positions were bought by wealthy families. There was no place for him.

…

The three walked together and strolled through Yong’an Street. Lu Guanlin came from a prestigious family, and Shangguan Yan came from a wealthy family. They were dressed in luxurious clothing, especially Shangguan Yan, who had a graceful and handsome appearance that attracted frequent attention from passersby.

As a result, Yu Zhiqiu became the least noticed among them. Bored, he looked around aimlessly, but suddenly, he stopped in his tracks in front of a calligraphy stall.

Yu Zhiqiu lightly exclaimed as he seemed to recognize this scholar. He had seen this person standing straight in front of the National Academy’s gate on the day he went to the academy for registration, but he never went in.

This scholar had an extremely beautiful appearance, and what’s more, Yu Zhiqiu always had the feeling that he resembled his cousin, Mi’er. That’s why he kept him in mind.

Later, he heard people say that he was the top scholar in Qingzhou and was selected as a tribute student, but because he didn’t complete the required rituals, he ultimately failed to become a student. Yu Zhiqiu felt regretful.

Lu Guanlin sensed the person behind him distancing himself and impatiently asked, “What are you looking at? Why are you walking so slowly?”

“It seems he’s a champion scholar from Qingzhou.” Yu Zhiqiu hesitantly remarked . The champion scholar of that day was now selling calligraphy on the street…

“The champion scholar of Qingzhou…” Lu Guanlin’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing that name, and his expression turned grim.

The Imperial College only selects one hundred students every three years, mostly from candidates recommended by various provinces, with a small portion being tributary candidates. He belonged to the latter group.

He had become accustomed to a life of luxury and had no intention of pursuing an official career. However, he suddenly had a change of heart. The one hundred spots for scholars had already been filled, and he had originally planned to ask his father to dismiss one of them at will. But to his surprise, the bookish scholar from Qingzhou, Jian Yujue, who was supposed to be a selected tribute student, didn’t come to the Imperial College, thus creating an additional vacancy.

He remembered his father mentioning that the scholar was Qingzhou’s top scorer, named Jian Yujue.

At this moment, whether it was due to hearing about this incident or not, Lu Guanlin, who cared the most about his reputation, didn’t like it when people mentioned it anymore. Otherwise, it would seem like he owed something to that scholar.

Unexpectedly, he encountered this Qingzhou scholar on the street this time, which fueled his hatred and made him unable to resist provoking him.

“Hmph, what Qingzhou scholar? Just a name with no substance. Otherwise, how could he have failed to pass the imperial examination earlier this year?”

Lu Guanlin snorted coldly and walked confidently toward Jian Yujue. Yu Zhiqiu didn’t understand why he suddenly acted this way, so he could only obediently follow along.

Shangguan Yan knew a bit about the situation and found it amusing. He casually walked over with Yu Zhiqiu, lightly pressing his temple, anticipating the upcoming excitement.

As Lu Guanlin approached, Jian Yujue’s figure became even more distinct. Although he had only seen him from afar before and didn’t want to admit it, he reluctantly acknowledged that Jian Yujue had an elegant and upright stature, barely comparable to his own.

Now, up close, Jian Yujue’s appearance was exceptionally handsome, with gentle and jade-like eyebrows and eyes. If anyone else were sitting in such a humble rattan chair, practicing calligraphy, they would undoubtedly appear pitiful. However, Jian Yujue didn’t. His posture while sitting there was elegant and unique, exuding an undeniable charisma.

The more Lu Guanlin thought about it, the more infuriated he became. He, the son of the Minister of Revenue and a student at Imperial College, couldn’t even surpass a scholar selling calligraphy on the street. This deepened his envy and resentment.

“Hmph.” He disdainfully looked at Jian Yujue, who was immersed in his writing, and let out a snort.

He thought that at least Jian Yujue would look at him once, but to his surprise, from the moment they approached, Jian Yujue remained focused on his calligraphy, never casting a glance their way.

Lu Guanlin’s anger grew even stronger. “What kind of characters are you writing? And you have the audacity to sell them as copybooks.”

His voice wasn’t low, and his words attracted the attention of some passersby. However, Jian Yujue continued as if he hadn’t heard, without even pausing his brush.

Yu Zhiqiu, standing behind them, approached curiously and wanted to say, “Young Master Lu, these characters are clearly—”, but the word “good” got stuck in his throat as Shang Guanyan swiftly pulled him back.

Shang Guanyan smiled and shook his head at him, placing a finger on his lips and signaling him to enjoy the show.

Yu Zhiqiu’s weak-willed nature kicked in, and he became too frightened to speak, hiding behind Shang Guanyan.

Lu Guanlin repeatedly provoked Jian Yujue, but he remained calm and focused on his calligraphy.

Finally, Lu Guanlin couldn’t hold back any longer. With a loud bang, he kicked over the rattan chair in front of Jian Yujue.

The inkstone fell to the ground, splattering ink, and the carefully written copybooks were also stained with ink, creating a messy scene on the ground.

Jian Yujue still held the brush in his hand, but he finally raised his gaze. His eyes seemed to contain a deep blue lake, calm and undisturbed. Although he didn’t show any emotions, one could sense his anger, like a hidden vortex in the depths of the lake that you couldn’t see but undeniably existed.

That indescribable heaviness struck Lu Guanlin’s heart, causing it to tremble inexplicably. He stiffened his neck and said, “Why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t do it on purpose!”

Jian Yujue stood up upon hearing his words, towering over Lu Guanlin. He looked at him with a gentle voice, but there was an unexplainable chill in his eyes.

“Why are you treating me poorly?”

“What… what are you saying?” Lu Guanlin felt a shadow cast over him, and he suddenly stuttered. He had thought that Jian Yujue was easy to deceive, so why did he now appear different?

Lu Guanlin thought of calling for help, but Shangguan Yan and Yu Zhiqiu had joined the crowd watching the scene without him noticing. He couldn’t help but take a step back.

Unexpectedly, Jian Yujue took a step closer. “There’s a reason for everything. Why are you treating me poorly?”

Startled by his sudden dominance, Lu Guanlin was dumbfounded for a moment.

Suddenly, he realized that he was the legitimate son of the Minister of Revenue. Why should he be afraid of a stallholder? He had been momentarily deceived by his imposing manner earlier, but now Lu Guanlin has gained some confidence. He had three people on his side, so how could they not defeat a bookish scholar?

Just as Lu Guanlin was about to call for someone to teach him a lesson, a voice erupted from the crowd: “He dares to act this way because he is the Minister of Revenue’s son, allowing him to behave recklessly!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers felt they had found something to gossip about.

At this moment, Lu Guanlin was truly panicked. How could pedestrians know his identity?

If his father found out that he was causing trouble again, he would undoubtedly receive another round of education and have to kneel before his ancestors for several days.

With more and more people gathering, the discussions in the crowd grew louder. Seeing that the situation was turning unfavorable, Lu Guanlin hurriedly said to Jian Yujue, “I just don’t like you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he hurriedly left the scene as if escaping. Shangguan Yan followed behind him, sighing. This commotion dispersed quickly. However, Shangguan Yan turned back and glanced at Jian Yujue. This person was somewhat interesting.

…

Shopkeeper Li received a notification of the disturbance on Yong’an Street and hurriedly arrived, only to see Jian Yujue bending down and tidying up the mess on the ground.

“Uncle Li, you’re here.” Jian Yujue looked up with a gentle smile. The ink stains on his white fingertips were oddly heartbreaking.

Shopkeeper Li sighed and squatted down beside him.

“Yujue, I suggest you stop setting up this stall. With the passage of carriages and horses, it’s inevitable that things will get bumped into. Now even troublemakers have shown up. The shop is in need of a scribe. How about I talk to the boss and let you stay?”

***

Far away, at the end of Yong’an Street, the three companions walked in a line.

Lu Guanlin had an angry expression and shouted at the two behind him, “Why did you two go into the crowd earlier? Were you watching the spectacle?”

Yu Zhiqiu hesitated and didn’t know what to say, while Shangguan Yan beside him shook his folding fan and laughed, “Who knew someone would recognize Brother Guanlin?  We just wanted you to make a name for yourself.”

Lu Guanlin let out a disdainful sound, trying to steal the limelight and making a complete fool of himself!

“Hmph, if I get my hands on this Jian Yujue, he will regret it.”

Shangguan Yan nonchalantly responded with a grunt and then patted his pocket, saying, “Oh, it seems like I’ve lost my purse.”

Lu Guanlin turned his head and frowned. “Such bad luck today? Well, go look for it. Yu Zhiqiu and I will go back first.”

“Do you want me to accompany you?” Yu Zhiqiu softly suggested . He didn’t want to walk alone with Lu Guanlin, as it would likely lead to more frustration.

“Hmph, why would I need your company? Just keep up,” Lu Guanlin coldly retorted. Yu Zhiqiu glanced at Shangguan Yan and silently turned back to catch up with them.

…

As Shangguan Yan watched the two of them walk away, he headed towards the location where Jian Yujue had set up his stall on Yong’an Street. However, when he arrived, the stall had already been packed up, leaving only stubborn ink stains on the ground.

“Ah, I didn’t get to meet him. What a pity.”

T/N: omaiiiiiii goshhhh… i previously translate the imperial college into national academy… my bad…done fixing it back