Chapter 29

As night fell,

Mr. Kou blew out the oil lamp and lay down on the bed.

The autumn wind blew into the room, and Mr. Kou, with his eyes wide open, was lost in deep thought.

He had read books since he was young and once had dreams, such as becoming a scholar, a literatus, or a provincial candidate. However, in the harsh reality, these dreams had all faded.

After much deliberation, he relied on his skill in physiognomy and joined the Yu family. The Yu family was a prominent clan in the county, having produced many provincial candidates and imperial scholars, and was home to numerous scholars and literati.

The head steward, Mr. Zheng, once said, "The Yu family has many extraordinary people, some with martial prowess and others with wisdom. Your skills are not impressive enough to stand out. Mr. Dai is ten times better than you. Only by being diligent and honest can you earn respect."

Thinking about this, he found it hard to sleep. After lying down for a while, he finally got up.

He lit the oil lamp again, and the flame flickered dimly. Mr. Kou squinted and stared at a piece of paper, which contained information about Ye Qing. He read it carefully, focusing on the line, "When he went out, the servant blocked him, and he killed the servant and left." He read this part several times and sighed, "This boy might be a great threat to the young master, but unfortunately, the young master has not yet decided to eliminate him."

As someone who had been a servant for a long time, he understood the hidden difficulties. A mere impoverished youth daring to kill someone showed a terrifying courage.

However, the young master, Mr. Yu, did not take it seriously. It wasn't that he hadn't seen it, but for someone like the young master, killing a servant was no different from killing a chicken, so he couldn't understand the predicament and courage Ye Qing had faced.

Of course, Mr. Kou also knew that killing a scholar would be a direct affront to the court and the heavenly laws, so the young master couldn't act so recklessly.

After a moment of thought, a cool breeze blew in, and he shivered. He heard the distant rumble of thunder. Gradually, his expression became resolute. "Well, the young master doesn't take it seriously, but as his guest, I must plan ahead for him."

With this in mind, he got up, dressed, and called out, "Someone!"

"Here!" Two soldiers responded.

"Outside, don't wear armor. Take it off and follow me."

"Yes!" Both were tall and imposing, exuding a fierce aura. They removed their armor and carried long knives.

Mr. Kou thought to himself, "My authority only allows me to bring two soldiers from the manor, but that should be more than enough to deal with a scholar."

"I can't kill him, but I must get that servant. She has a seductive nature and carries good fortune, which would be very beneficial to the young master."

"Moreover, humiliating this boy will break his spirit, and he will be suppressed at the poetry gathering."

With this decided, he saw that it was drizzling outside, took an oil umbrella, and went out. The rain was light and cool, and he walked slowly, soon arriving at the tavern.

"Ah, sir, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?" The tavern was brightly lit by candles, and there were about seven or eight guests, some eating and others drinking and chatting.

"Is Master Ye here?" Mr. Kou asked.

The waiter replied, "Yes, are you here to see Master Ye? It's late, though, and he might already be asleep."

"It's still early, I'm sure he hasn't gone to bed yet. It wouldn't be a problem to introduce me, right?" As he spoke, Mr. Kou took out a piece of silver from his pocket and tossed it to the waiter.

The waiter caught it. Having worked as a waiter for many years, he could tell the quality of goods. He saw and weighed the silver, which was a fine piece, probably about an ounce. His face lit up with a smile, and he bowed, saying, "Thank you, sir!"

He then led the way inside.

It was just getting dark, and there were still guests upstairs. The sound of bamboo flutes filled the air as they walked down the corridor to a private room, their footsteps blending with the wind and rain.

At that moment, Ye Qing was standing, lost in thought. He saw the dark clouds and the raindrops hitting the ground. A gust of wind blew by, and he sat down in a chair, lost in deep contemplation.

When he came here, Ye Qing had told the Ye family that he was "avoiding the heat by the lake to relax and clear his mind for the county examination during the End of Heat season."

During the ten days of travel, he was actually involved in a hidden struggle of qi. Fortunately, Qianqian had skillfully mediated, and he had even met the Dragon Lord, who was unfathomable. This had resolved many of his concerns, and his mind had become clear.

Now, he glanced at the inner room, where a delicate face was sleeping. His thoughts slowly spread out, expanding to the vast horizon and beyond.

The encounter at the Yellow Dragon Tower had gone well, but he knew that the upcoming visit to the Dragon Palace would not just be a test of poetry. It wasn't a government examination, so they wouldn't use a luck-stabilizing artifact to ensure fairness.

Rumors said that at the Dragon Lord's banquet, scholars gathered, and the exchanges were intense, with open and hidden conflicts. The competition would be comprehensive, covering literary talent, wisdom, insight, appearance, character, and fortune. The scholars who received the Dragon Lord's praise would be truly talented, and one of them would become the top scholar in the third list, "Passed the Imperial Examination," just a step away from the second list.

The second list was for official imperial scholars, and there were only about thirty of them, all the best talents from the vast territory of the Great Cai Dynasty.

"Although I am not afraid of my talent and insight, what makes me confident that I can surpass such talents in this comprehensive competition and stand out?"

Ye Qing's thoughts centered on this core issue, and he pondered it carefully, patiently unraveling the threads to gain an advantage.

A knock on the door startled Ye Qing, and he frowned. "Who is it?"

"Master Ye, a guest is here to see you." The knock came again, and Ye Qing got up, pulling the curtain to close off the inner room.

He then went to the door, and as soon as he opened it a crack, someone pushed it open, and a gust of rain swept in, making Ye Qing shiver.

There were three people in front of him. One looked familiar, around thirty years old, holding an umbrella. Another was a waiter. Ye Qing's gaze swept over the two behind them, and he was immediately alarmed.

"Please come in, guest!" Ye Qing smiled, but to the waiter, he said, "A guest has come, and we can't entertain without wine. Go and order a table of food, and tell them it's on me..."

He smiled and stepped aside to let them in. Mr. Kou smiled and said, "It's late, how can I let Master Ye spend money..."

"Guests are to be treated well," Ye Qing said with a smile. "Also, bring more candles, it's too dark to talk."

Mr. Kou was taken aback but couldn't refuse, so he said, "Then I'll follow your lead..."

The sky was getting darker, and the rumble of thunder could be heard. The four of them went inside, and Mr. Kou and Ye Qing sat down, with the two others standing on either side.

Mr. Kou looked at Ye Qing, who seemed indifferent, and felt a bit disappointed. He smiled and said, "I have long admired your name. I couldn't sleep tonight, so I came to visit. Please forgive me."

Ye Qing smiled and said, "I am just a young scholar, and poetry is not the main path of the imperial examinations. It's just a game of literature."

He then recited, "Wandering in the world, I carry wine, the slender waist of Chu is light as a feather. Ten years of dreams in Yangzhou, I earned the name of a faithless man in the green houses!"

As Ye Qing recited, Mr. Kou was stunned, the words touching his heart.

Many scholars, unable to pass the imperial examinations, turned their great works into entertainment for the courtesans, truly earning the name of faithless men!

He came to his senses and sighed, "It's truly good, but a bit melancholic. However, as a young scholar, you shouldn't get involved in such things."

He then looked at Ye Qing and said, "My young master heard your poetry at the tavern and thought it was excellent, but also very regrettable. With the enlightened emperor on the throne and a clear government, you should focus on the classics."

He smiled and gave a command, and one of the men brought a package to the table, filled with white silver ingots.

"This is a gift from my young master to support your studies!"

"Thank you for your young master's kindness," Ye Qing said with a smile. "I am only fifteen, and I came here to relax and clear my mind, but I am grateful for your young master's advice."

"However, though I am not wealthy, I have no worries about food and no family ties... I cannot accept this gift. Sir, you must have another reason for coming. Please be straightforward."

"..." Mr. Kou was taken aback, then smiled. "Master Ye, don't misunderstand. This is indeed a sincere gesture from my young master. Poetry is a minor art, but the classics are the true path. My young master loves talent and doesn't want you to fall into decline, so he sent me with this gift."

"However, there is indeed a small matter. My young master came here without his family's personal servant, and I came to ask if you would be willing to transfer your maid to us." Mr. Kou smiled. "This is a small matter in noble families, and I'm sure you won't mind."

It turned out they wanted Qianqian. Ye Qing was furious, his face darkening. He said coldly, "Your late-night visit was already strange, and now I see you are a malicious guest. Qianqian is dear to me. We don't see eye to eye, so please leave."

He stood up and gestured to dismiss the guest.

Mr. Kou, having seen many things, knew that in many situations, a show of force could make it hard for the other party to refuse. He was about to threaten Ye Qing, but was surprised by the sudden change in the young man's demeanor. He was at a loss for words and said, "We are from the Yu family..."

"I know you are from the Yu family. The two behind you, though dressed casually, have a uniform build and a calm demeanor, clearly first-class warriors. If my guess is correct, they have practiced the Great Yi Martial Canon!" Ye Qing said with a cold smile, pointing. "The Great Way is clear as the sky. Though martial arts are a minor path, this canon has been refined through countless trials and is only passed down in noble families and the military. How could I not know?"

"And you, with a scholarly aura but a shadow following you, must have been involved in divination for a long time, revealing great secrets, which has shortened your lifespan. If you restrain yourself, you might live another ten years, but if you act recklessly, your life will be in danger."

Ye Qing smiled contemptuously. "If my guess is correct, your position in the Yu family is not high. You brought people into my room to intimidate me?"

"How foolish. I am a scholar, though low in rank, I am protected by the imperial laws and heavenly codes. I may not be famous throughout the county, but I am known in the county. Who are you to bring soldiers to intimidate me?"

"Do you believe that if I shout, or if something happens to me later, your young master will have to come and apologize to me tonight to save the Yu family's reputation?"

With that, Ye Qing spat. "Get out!"

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