Chapter 39

Cangzhou · Pingshou County · Ye Mansion

In the southern warmth and northern cold, when they arrived in Cangzhou, the world was already covered in ice and snow, with snowflakes everywhere. A gust of wind brought snowflakes to their faces, and Ye Qing leaned out, saying, "Cold, isn't it? How about another pot of wine?"

The driver was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, "Thank you, young master!"

As he spoke, he took the pot and drank, feeling a warm current rush to his dantian. He shouted, "Good wine!"

Ye Qing looked around and smiled, "Just ordinary green, what's so good about it?"

"The young master may find it ordinary, but to me, it's good wine. In the half month I've been with you, I've had plenty of good food and wine, even if it's a bit cold!"

Hearing the driver's words, Ye Qing pointed not far away and said, "Stop here. After hundreds of miles, we've finally arrived!"

As he spoke, he slowly got off the ox cart, helped Qianqian down, and took out two silver ingots from his chest. After thinking for a moment, he added a piece of broken silver, saying, "The meat and wine on the cart are all yours. It wasn't easy to bring you this far. Here are ten taels for the fare, and the remaining three taels are for you to drink some warm wine to warm your body."

Ye Qing walked away, leaving the driver who was profusely grateful.

It was now December, and he had been away for several months. Everything seemed a bit unfamiliar, but the hand he held reminded him that Qianqian was still by his side.

Ye Qing couldn't help but smile. In this rebirth, only this maid had been with him all along.

In his previous life, during the chaos and great calamity, the Ye Mansion was destroyed, and Qianqian disappeared without a trace. Whether she had found another opportunity or was more likely... directly killed!

Such a thing must never happen again in this life.

But at this moment, thinking too much about it, Ye Qing gave a self-deprecating smile and directly went to the gate of the Ye Mansion.

"Oh, it's Young Master Qing!" The gatekeeper, shivering from the cold, saw the person and, after a closer look, hurriedly came out to greet him, "A few days ago, Third Master mentioned you and was worried about you! Now that you're back, he must be so happy."

Ye Qing smiled and took out a tael of silver from his chest, tossing it over, "Here, for you!"

As he spoke, he pulled Qianqian and quickly walked away. Seeing him leave, someone said, "It's Young Master Ye Qing. Should we report it?"

"Of course, go quickly!"

After Ye Qing left, the guards were left to gossip. Although Ye Qing had been away for months and now had an official title, it didn't stop people from speculating.

Ordinary people, lacking joy in their own lives, sought it elsewhere. Ye Qing deeply understood human nature and, though he heard the gossip, didn't intend to pay much attention.

Following his memory, he soon arrived at the courtyard, and both he and Qianqian were stunned.

The walls were newly decorated, and the courtyard, which was already large, had a pond and artificial hills. Even in the snow, there was a stream flowing.

Inside, everything was completely renovated, divided into three main rooms, with corridors on both sides. Behind the corridors were five side rooms, and two maids were cleaning. Seeing them enter, they recognized them and hurriedly greeted, "Greetings, Young Master Qing, greetings, Miss Qianqian!"

After bowing, they added, "We were sent by the clan to serve Young Master Qing. Please accept us!"

Such formalities made Ye Qing pause, and he couldn't help but ask, "The clan only provides this treatment for scholars, why are you here?"

"Young Master Qing, your victory at the Dragon Lord Banquet has been heard here. The clan leader personally ordered the renovation, and the craftsmen worked hard to finish it before your return."

The maid led them into the house, where the three main rooms had walls covered in mulberry paper. One was a living room, one a study, and one a bedroom. The bedroom had a large bed and a table, while the study had a row of bookshelves filled with books. The living room had a screen and a guest table, very elegant.

They then went to check the side rooms. The first was a financial room with a money cabinet, the next was a grain store with dozens of stones of new rice and some miscellaneous items. Ye Qing didn't look further and turned to the left, where people lived. The room was small but had walls covered in mulberry paper, with a wooden bed taking up half the space.

Seeing the two maids looking expectantly, Ye Qing said, "Qianqian, you'll manage these things. These two maids will stay, and you can arrange their living quarters, one room each."

"Thank you, Young Master Qing!" The two maids quickly bowed. One added, "This month's salary has been paid, but the clan has prepared it. Once you've reviewed it, it will be sent over."

"There's no need for me to review it," Ye Qing said casually. "Qianqian, you'll handle these things. Go and collect the salary, and inform the clan hall that I've returned. I'll pay respects tomorrow morning."

Qianqian smiled and immediately instructed the maids, "Clean the main room early so the young master can rest."

The maids left, and soon the room was warm with burning charcoal. Qianqian changed Ye Qing's clothes, putting on a new set.

"After paying respects tomorrow, I'll study the classics and prepare for the scholar exam. If anyone comes to disturb me, turn them away," Ye Qing said, warming his hands.

This was a surface statement, but in reality, he was accelerating his cultivation to prepare for the next step.

Qianqian was delighted and agreed. She then instructed the maids to clean and contacted the kitchen. Qianqian herself went to the clan hall.

Hearing it was Qianqian, the guard didn't even report and led her inside. From a distance, she saw a pavilion with a stone table and bamboo chairs, where Ye Zifan and a few others were enjoying the snow and chatting.

"Oh, it's Qianqian. Qing has returned?" Ye Zifan came to his senses.

"Yes, Third Master. Young Master Qing sent me to pay respects and said it's too late today, so he'll come to pay respects to the clan leader and Third Master tomorrow morning."

Ye Zifan listened, feeling a bit melancholic, and sighed, "It should be so... The clan leader has ordered that Qing now receives the scholar's monthly allowance of fifteen taels, and seasonal gifts of cloth and silk. Everything has been arranged, so you can collect them."

"Also, the small kitchen can be built, but since Qing hasn't yet passed the scholar exam, if he wants it, he'll have to pay for it himself."

"Yes, I'll tell the young master."

"By the way, the news of Qing winning the Dragon Lord Banquet has reached here. Did you go with him? Tell me all about it!"

"Yes, but I didn't have the fortune to attend the banquet. However, I know other things." Qianqian then recounted everything she could, omitting some details, especially financial matters.

Ye Zifan listened, feeling both happy and sad, and after a long pause, said, "These days, I've thought a lot. Some of the servants misunderstood and were overly critical, misleading many of the clan's elders, causing Qing to suffer. But now the clouds have cleared. Even the wicked wife of Wu Tiesi has been demoted to raising pigs. I hope Qing will no longer hold a grudge and will focus on his studies. The procedures for the spring exam have already been completed!"

Qianqian naturally agreed but felt a shiver. The young master had killed Wu Tiesi out of necessity, and his wife had caused trouble, but they didn't feel it was wrong.

However, after winning the poetry contest, the clan's attitude changed dramatically. Renovating the house and courtyard was one thing, but demoting Wu Tiesi's wife to raising pigs seemed too harsh.

But at this moment, she couldn't say anything and quickly agreed, then left after a few more words.

The sky was overcast, and the snowflakes grew larger. Inside the inner room, Ye Qing sat on the bed, meditating. Since returning from the ox cart, he had put aside all matters and focused on cultivation, aiming to lay a solid foundation. He practiced morning exercises with the rising sun and evening exercises with the moon, maintaining a calm and pure state.

The accumulation of the five elements in his body grew thicker, thanks to his position and destiny, but more importantly, to the Six Yang Diagram.

The Six Yang Diagram was said to be a technique passed down from the Daoist Lord, subtle and profound. What Ye Qing valued most was its ability to protect his spiritual roots from the corrupting influence of the world, which was crucial in the great calamity.

Ye Qing's breathing became slower and slower, each breath causing his entire body's blood and qi to vibrate, a sign that the foundation was nearly complete.

After a while, he stopped the practice and focused his mind.

In these days, he had come to understand that the change in his destiny was a matter of fate, which he couldn't change, but he had a choice. No matter what destiny he faced, as long as he maintained a pure heart and focused on the Dao, what could he fear?

The success at the Dragon Lord Banquet meant that the scholar title was almost certain, and the next step, the provincial exam, was not far off. With his memory of three thousand poems, he was well-prepared and didn't need to worry.

The only concern was his Daoist cultivation.

Although the imperial exams didn't test Daoist skills, they required a pure foundation. Those who couldn't endure the solitude and learned various Daoist techniques were often looked down upon, considered impure in their Daoist cultivation. Even if they passed the exams, they were often just "same-rank" scholars.

However, the Six Yang Diagram, passed down from the Daoist Lord, was pure and flawless, with no issues.

While passing the scholar, provincial, and imperial exams would grant him certain privileges, they were not the ultimate goal. In the great calamity, it would be his Daoist cultivation that would truly matter.

From this perspective, Daoist cultivation was even more important than the imperial exams!

As he was thinking, he heard a sound from outside, and Qianqian entered, excited, "Young Master, I've collected the monthly allowance for three months, forty-five taels, and a bolt of high-quality gray silk."

She then recounted the process, but her voice lowered when she mentioned Wu Tiesi's wife, "Young Master, I secretly took a look."

"Wu Tiesi's wife is very thin and weak, with two children, raising pigs in the cold. It's almost dusk, and no one has brought them food."

Ye Qing listened, silent, his facial muscles twitching. He then heard Qianqian's low voice, "Moreover, many people bully them, even those in the same courtyard."

At this, Qianqian felt a chill and shivered, stopping.

Ye Qing listened, paused for a long time, and sighed. Wu Tiesi was not a good person, lusting after Qianqian and trying to curry favor by stepping on him. He had no regrets about killing him and would do the same again.

But Wu Tiesi's wife and children were pitiful.

When Ye Qing provoked the anger of the servants, many of them united to push the wife and children to the front. But when he passed the child scholar exam and won the poetry contest, these servants turned against them, trampling the mother and children to clear their names, hoping to gain his favor.

This was human nature!

"Move them to my private fields. Farming away from the main house will be good for them. Give them ten taels for settling in. More might be too much for them to handle and could harm them—Qianqian, am I being too sentimental?" Ye Qing said, giving a self-deprecating smile.