Chapter 96: Stop Being a Lover and Be a Concubine (Twenty-three)

Young Master Lan Chang swallowed his saliva and didn't dare to move. His eyes looked timidly in the direction of Jiang Ye.

Jiang Ye looked away, the smile not reaching his eyes: "My husband is right, you are doing as usual, you don't need to look at me."

Master Lan Chang had no choice but to put the zheng on the table, then stepped forward to pour wine for the two of them. As he moved, his blue cuff brushed against the wrist of the young man who was leaning against the window. The two pieces of material, one dark and one light, the same blue color, actually began to become an eyesore.

Young Master Lan Chang didn't notice it either. After doing all this, he returned to the zither table and raised his ten slender jade fingers to touch the zither strings.

His voice is very unique, with a hint of hoarseness when he speaks, and the tone is well-controlled, gentle and pleasant, which is really refreshing.

The young man by the window nodded to the rhythm, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed, looking as contented as a little fox.

The music in his ears suddenly became harsh. Jiang Ye curled his fingertips tightly, and wrinkles appeared on his cuffs for no reason.

When the song ended, Master Lan Chang reached out and pressed the vibrating zither strings, and the room fell silent for a moment.

Jiang Ye clapped his hands and praised, "Mr. Lan Chang's little song is indeed beautiful. Even the hands that pluck the zither strings are as white as snow. It makes people feel pity for him. I want to steal it home and treasure it."

Upon hearing this, Master Lan Chang's body trembled almost imperceptibly. He had been in the entertainment industry for many years, and his job was to sell his smiles, so it was natural for him to be able to read people's faces.

Although Jiang Ye didn't show it on his face, there was a hint of murderous intent in his words, and coupled with that beautiful face, it was simply creepy.

Once again, he looked pitifully at the boy by the window, but the other party seemed to be unaware of anything. He didn't know what was attracting him outside the window, and he couldn't even concentrate on the room.

A hint of resentment flashed across Master Lan Chang's eyes.

Well, I've known for a long time that he's unreliable. People just like to listen to his singing. If he's gone, they can just find another one. Who would stand up for an unnecessary object?

Young Master Lan Chang gave up hope, lowered his head, folded his hands, and said softly, "It is a blessing for Lan Chang's hands to be favored by the princess."

Jiang Ye's eyes slid towards the window, and the boy suddenly waved to him.

He reached out and turned his wheelchair to move forward. The man handed him a plate of peeled chestnuts and pointed to the mansion across the street with a gloating look in his eyes: "Look, the house of Lord Gu, the chief examiner of this year's special examination, has been surrounded by candidates. There will definitely be some fun to watch soon."

Jiang Ye tilted his head and listened attentively, and could still hear faint noises.

"Unfair grading! Favoritism and fraud!"

"Unfair grading! Favoritism and fraud!"

"Unfair grading! Favoritism and fraud!"

Everyone was shouting, and the noise was getting louder and louder, until they finally forced Lord Gu out of the mansion.

Gu, the Grand Tutor who presided over the imperial examinations, held a self-righteous position, his eyes tinged with disdain: "I have lived an upright life and would never do anything to seek favoritism or commit fraud! You don't study hard, but only blindly envy the southern candidates. It's simply despicable!"

What the northern candidates hated most was the arrogant looks of the southern candidates.

This was like igniting a bomb, and the northern candidates became excited.

Jiang Ye's eyes moved slightly, and he reached out to pick up a peeled chestnut. His gloomy mood began to brighten, and he talked more.

"The drawbacks of the northern and southern imperial examinations have long existed. Southern officials have always felt superior and arrogant. This time, no northern candidates made the list, which fully exposed these drawbacks.

There will be more wrangling at court, with the six ministries arguing constantly. Prince Yan and the Crown Prince each have their own considerations, and the one who must be most troubled must be Father."

Yu Huo hummed, walked to the table, picked up the wine jug, and poured himself a drink. During this time, his eyes never fell on Lan Chang, who lowered his eyes and remained silent, as if the other party did not exist at all.

It wasn't until the boy walked up to him and sighed that Jiang Ye came back to his senses and asked, "What's wrong?"

Yu Huo's narrow eyes were filled with laziness, and he always looked listless.

“It’s called the Northern and Southern Imperial Examinations, but in fact it’s because of the huge gap between the rich and the poor in the north and the south.

The south had maritime trade, and taxes were several times higher than those in the north. Coupled with good weather, many common people could afford to send their children to school, so literature naturally flourished.

In the north, candidates for the imperial examinations often have to tighten their belts to support their children's studies. How many of them can turn a deaf ear to what is happening outside?

If this continues, talent won't be retained. Without guidance, even the most talented will be delayed. They're not fighting for rankings; they just feel wronged."

"But the emperor won't care about these..."

Before Jiang Ye could finish his words, Yu Huo snatched the chestnut fruit from his hand and gently put it into his mouth. His warm fingertips scraped across his lips and then left.

Jiang Ye was stunned for a moment, then he chewed the chestnut in his mouth and slowly tasted a hint of sweetness.

He asked, "What do you want to say?"

The young man turned his gaze to himself, his eyes pleading: "Jiang Ye, do you care?"

"You think I care?"

"I think so." Yu Huo bent down to close the distance between them. His voice was very soft, as if there were countless small hooks buried in his voice, plucking people's heartstrings.

If Jiang Ye hadn't seen his lip movements, he wouldn't even have heard it clearly.

Looking at the boy's handsome and serious face, Jiang Ye felt as if his eyes were burned. He turned his eyes away gently and responded in an equally low voice: "Since you want it, then it's as you wish."

Yu Huo smiled, his narrow eyes shone with a charming fluorescence, noble and romantic.

At this moment, the young man in front of him seemed like a fox spirit. With his eyes slightly raised and the corners of his mouth slightly curled up, he could easily bewitch people.

He blinked quickly, lowered his head, picked up two chestnuts from the plate, stuffed them in his mouth, and chewed them hard, as if he was suppressing something.

Yu Huo was stunned for a moment, and sighed in his heart: I can't seduce her, what should I do?

Seeing that most of the chestnuts on the other person's plate had disappeared, he coughed lightly and asked, "Didn't you have enough for lunch?"

Jiang Ye opened his crimson lips slightly, paused for a moment, and then nodded embarrassedly.

"Okay, then let's go to Juxianlou to eat something before going back?"

Before Jiang Ye could speak, Yu Miao, who was pretending to be a quail, twitched his ears and ran forward: "I'm going too!"

Yu Huo now finally understood why his mother was bothering him...

When the three were about to leave, Jiang Ye suddenly stopped his wheelchair and looked back.

Thinking he had escaped, Young Master Lan Chang's back stiffened slightly, but the brothel owner raised his finger and pointed at Yin Xian, who was quietly sitting in the corner, and asked the brothel owner, "How much silver do you want to redeem this young master?"

Yin Xian was stunned for a moment, and the brothel owner was also a little confused. He glanced at the silent Yu Miao and smiled awkwardly: "Your Highness the Eighth Princess, Yin Xian is the family member of a convicted official."

Jiang Ye looked up in surprise: "What happened?"

The brothel owner said: "The person who sent it here said it was corruption..."