Chapter 20

In the autumn light, a gentle breeze blew, and the stream flowed quietly.

As a group of scholars crossed the bridge, Ye Zifan noticed the scene under the artificial hill and smiled.

Cao Hushan paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the young girl and Ye Qing, and he smiled, “Seeing the pavilion filled below, it’s clear that the Ye family is thriving, creating such a grand scene!”

At this moment, Ye Zifan showed no trace of melancholy, his manner free and easy, “Sir Cao, you flatter me. With the guidance of the matriarch, the noble family has produced many talents in recent years. Most of my nephews are not very capable and need to be disciplined to make progress.”

Cao Hushan’s smile deepened; such flattery was always welcome.

Ye Zifan extended his hand in invitation, “Please take your seat.”

“Dare not!” Cao Hushan sat down, glancing at the crowd below, divided into various groups, and thought to himself, “The Ye family is impressive, but compared to twenty years ago, it has declined somewhat.”

On the platform of the pavilion, the arrival of strangers caused some whispers below. Cao Baijing, with a disdainful curl of her lip, asked Ye Qing with a smile, “Can you guess who it is?”

Ye Qing glanced up and said casually, “Cao Hushan!”

“Ah, how did you know?” Cao Baijing was somewhat surprised, lowering her voice, “Father only returned from his studies this year!”

Though seemingly modest, it was clearly a show of pride.

Ye Qing, noticing the resemblance between the girl and Cao Hushan, felt a stirring in his heart and explained, “Though he isn’t wearing official attire, the emblem on his brocade robe is clear.”

In the county, the six departments, with the lowest standard for the head of the department being a scholar, were typically filled by candidates. However, being a candidate was just the basic requirement. In reality, most were those who had no hope of passing the exams and had joined a Daoist sect, and theoretically, there were even those who had cultivated virtue and achieved a spirit.

“Uncle looks quite young. He must have returned from his travels to take up the position of department head. Which sect did he study under?” Ye Qing asked, inwardly skeptical.

Cao Baijing, unaware of his thoughts, was pleased, “Xiao Qingzi, you have a good eye. Let me tell you, the Golden Mountain Changqing Prefecture, you haven’t heard of it...”

As they chatted, Cao Hushan on the platform occasionally cast his gaze in their direction.

Ye Qing noticed this and smiled warmly, his witty remarks causing Cao Baijing to giggle continuously. Unconsciously, she moved closer to Ye Qing, sitting increasingly near him.

This drew the envy and jealousy of nearby clan members, who had tried to chat with her but received no such treatment!

Unconsciously, the sun rose higher, and everyone lost interest in conversation, gradually looking toward the distance.

Even the county’s noble families could not change the fact that there were only twenty scholars selected every three years in the county. The resources allocated to each family member were limited, and they had to compete with other counties. Who could guarantee that they would definitely pass the scholar exams?

If it was so difficult for scholars, it was even more challenging for those above, like Ye Zifan, who, despite being a direct descendant, could only stop at the level of a candidate. It was clear how difficult it was.

Seeing the atmosphere among the crowd, Cao Baijing frowned and waved her fan, “Hmph, men are all sycophants!”

Ye Qing couldn’t help but laugh, “Sister, if men don’t achieve anything, they will resort to sycophancy, and you might look down on them even more.”

However, the dramatic scenes of success like those of Fan Jin on Earth were rare. Those who passed could cultivate Daoist techniques and wouldn’t go mad or have a stroke.

Even in a large family like the Ye family, there were rules: anyone who passed the scholar exam and did not pursue further exams would be supported to become a clerk.

Ye Zifan, who had taken the candidate exam but stayed at home to manage the family, was rare!

As the saying goes, “County magistrates come and go, but the clerks serve for life.”

Though becoming a clerk meant giving up the imperial exams, these clerks formed the foundation of the long-lasting power of noble families, a force that even the Daoist sects and the imperial power had to compromise with!

However, this couldn’t be explained, so Ye Qing changed his words, “Moreover, passing the exam will certainly raise one’s status in the clan, so it’s no wonder everyone values it.”

Cao Baijing rolled her eyes, “There’s no need to explain so clearly. I don’t understand your men’s thoughts, and I’m not concerned about everyone.”

What a sharp-tongued girl!

Ye Qing, not wanting to provoke her, wisely kept quiet and changed the topic.

Soon, it was noon, and everyone gradually showed signs of disappointment. There were only five teams in the county to deliver good news. Generally, if there was good news in the morning, it meant the top ten, and by noon, it was usually the bottom ten. However, as long as one passed, it was a cause for celebration!

Cao Baijing and Ye Qing sat side by side, almost in the manner of a married couple if not for the separate seats.

She didn’t notice the strange looks around her, only feeling that she had never had such a pleasant conversation. She couldn’t help but worry, “Qingzi, will you really pass? It’s already noon...”

Seeing the time pass, Ye Zifan on the platform was also struggling, thinking, “Could it be that none of our clan members passed this year?”

As the sun rose higher, the atmosphere in the Ye family’s East Lake Garden became gloomy.

Ye Qing calmed his mind, but sweat trickled down his back, muttering almost inaudibly, “Could it be that even with my literary talent, the clan’s fortune, and the golden cup’s luck, I still can’t pass?”

Just as he thought this, he caught a whiff of a subtle fragrance. Cao Baijing, covering her fan, cautiously asked, “Qingzi, are you... okay?”

“Uh, I’m fine!” Ye Qing said, and at that moment, Cao Hushan on the platform coughed loudly.

Cao Baijing, realizing the ambiguity between them, blushed slightly and quickly straightened her posture. She felt a bit strange, wondering how she had lost her guard in the presence of a man. She hesitated about whether to move away, but only said, “That’s good...”

However, this cough was like a stone thrown into water, creating ripples. The elders on the platform moved, and the crowd below buzzed!

In the forest, pavilions, and by the stream, various small groups whispered.

“Why haven’t they come yet? This year, not a single scholar from our Ye family?”

“Unimaginable.”

“At least one in the previous session, that was the minimum...”

“The time hasn’t come yet. We’ll know in another half hour!”

Just as they spoke, a series of gongs sounded in the distance. Hearing this, Ye Zifan stood up in a fluster, regardless of the outcome, someone from the clan had passed the scholar exam.

The next moment, the sound of horses and people shouting faintly reached them, “Congratulations on passing! Congratulations on passing!”

The crowd below immediately showed signs of joy, discussing, “Our Ye clan still has someone who passed, but we don’t know who yet.”

At this moment, three Ye family members clenched their fists, though seated, they all looked toward the distance.

Ye Sheng, without realizing it, had broken his fan.

Amid the expectant gazes of the crowd, the steward Xu hurried in, his face beaming, and bowed to the platform, “Congratulations to Ye Qing, the young master has passed as the nineteenth scholar of Pingshou County!”

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. For a moment, the platform and the pavilions below were silent, not even a pin could be heard.

Cao Hushan was startled, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and he saw Ye Zifan’s face turn pale, but in an instant, he regained his composure, earning his admiration.

“Nineteenth, quite low—” a clear female voice said, immediately drawing everyone’s attention. Cao Baijing, seeing the crowd’s focus, quickly covered her face with her fan, feeling deeply embarrassed.

At this moment, Ye Zifan had already calmed down and stood up under everyone’s gaze, “Everyone, this is a great joy for the clan. In every session, we have someone who passes, which allows our Ye family to develop. Now, as a scholar, he may one day be like me, or even pass the provincial or imperial exams!”

“I will immediately report to the clan leader. It’s not early, please everyone join the feast!” He bowed and turned to leave.

The clan members, upon hearing the news, showed various reactions—some were dissatisfied, some envious, some resentful, but most were joyful. Regardless, having a clan member pass the scholar exam was a small step forward for the clan.

Ye Sheng, unwilling to leave, hesitated, “The time hasn’t come yet, I need to wait...”

A maid, blushing, covered her face with one hand and tugged at his sleeve with the other, urging him in a low voice, “Don’t say that, young master, if you don’t leave, you’ll get a beating from the master...”

But Ye Qing sat motionless, like a statue, and everyone smiled understandingly, not urging him. The clan knew Ye Qing’s story—his parents had died early, he had been neglected, and had only a maid for company. Recently, there had been many conflicts, but now, with his passing, everything was forgotten.

They gave him time to compose himself.

“Ah...” Cao Zijing, receiving a look from her father, reluctantly stood up, took a few steps, and called out, “Qingzi, don’t forget to come over for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and don’t forget the poem you owe me. You’ve delayed for half a year, and if you delay further, it will become a dowry!”

“What nonsense is this girl talking?” Cao Hushan stumbled, a vein throbbing on his forehead, and almost covered his face with his sleeve, pulling his daughter along faster.

Ye Qing, covering his forehead in exasperation, narrowed his eyes slightly, seeing the threatening gesture behind the girl’s back, and smiled bitterly, whispering, “Thank you, I will come!”

Help comes at a price; being naive doesn’t mean being foolish, and no one is a fool!

As for the messengers, the clan members took care of them. The steward came over, saying, “Congratulations, Young Master Qing, please distribute some money!”

As he spoke, another round of gongs sounded, and a group of people carried several baskets of money, all shining yellow.

Ye Qing had no choice but to step forward, giving one tael of silver to each member of the messenger team from the county. Then, the servants of the manor came to ask for lucky money, and everyone gathered around, shouting, “Congratulations, Young Master Qing!”

It seemed as if there had never been a Wu Tiesi, and there had never been a coalition to ostracize Ye Qing. Ye Qing smiled, and as each person came up, he grabbed a handful of copper coins and distributed them.

Qianqian, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, was about to run to him but, seeing the situation, hid in a corner, leaning against the wall and watching.

As she watched, tears began to fall. The hardships of the past five years suddenly welled up, and she felt both proud and wronged, looking into the distance, “Master, Madam, did you see? Young Master Qing has made it!”

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