Chapter 151 The Powerful Minister Returns to His Youth 5.

Everything that's lively will eventually fade away.

After those who knew him and those who didn't, those whose memories were still vivid or faded, had all offered their congratulations with either joy or jealousy, only Yu Dashu remained beside Yu Shiqing.

Yu Dashu was overjoyed, grinning from ear to ear, still excited: "Seventh Brother, the top scholar! If I hadn't come to the prefectural city, I would never have seen a single scholar in my life, let alone a top scholar! This is incredible, this is an incredible event, our Yu Family Village is going to be glorious, from now on, everyone in the surrounding villages, no, the entire Feishui County, will respect us!"

After gesturing excitedly for a while, Yu Dashu remembered the serious part: "Right, speaking of Feishui, Qilang, we've been waiting in the prefectural city for so many days for the results to be announced. When are we going home? The expenses in the prefectural city are quite high. It's fortunate that you sold your calligraphy and paintings for some money, Qilang, otherwise..."

Yu Shiqing responded to Yu Dashu's delight with a smile, "Don't worry, Brother Dashu, we won't stay long. After the Deer Cry Banquet tomorrow, we'll rest for one night and then head back."

Upon hearing this, Yu Dashu felt relieved and couldn't contain his excitement, already imagining the scene of thousands of people cheering when he returned to the village.

This was the second time Yu Shiqing had experienced this scene. Although he was still somewhat infected by the joy of the crowd, he didn't have much to think about.

The sun was rising higher, and the crowds on the street had thinned considerably. He looked around but didn't see Ye Zangxing, so he said, "Brother Dashu, you should go back to the inn first, I..."

Before he finished speaking, an old woman selling sweet soup by the roadside came over and said with a smile, "Young Master Yu, congratulations on passing the imperial examination! The young master who was drinking sweet soup with you just now asked me to pass on a message. He said that there were many people today, and knowing that you were busy, he also had something to do, so he left first. When you return to your hometown, you can go to the white-walled courtyard with three big willow trees near Wangxing Tower to find him. He will treat you to a drink."

Yu Shiqing paused. "He was here just now, but he's already left?"

“Yes,” the old woman said, “He saw you surrounded by layers of people, laughed for a while, then asked for a bowl of sweet soup before leaving and saying goodbye.”

"So that's how it is," Yu Shiqing sighed, but still smiled and bowed to express her gratitude, "Thank you, Auntie."

"It's alright, it's alright!" The old lady waved her hand with a smile. Just then, a customer came to the dessert stall, so she hurried back to scoop out some dessert.

Having met in this life, he had hoped to become more familiar with the other person, but it all ended too quickly. Yu Shiqing couldn't help but feel regret, but he also knew that this was normal. The two had only met once and felt an instant connection, but there wasn't a deep emotional bond between them. The fact that Ye Cangxing had waited for him for a bowl of sweet soup was already a pleasant surprise for him.

Moreover, Ye Zangxing's presence here was not for idleness or genuine leisure.

In his previous life, Yu Shiqing became acquainted with Ye Zangxing and learned that Ye Zangxing left the capital and came to Jiangnan mainly to study, broaden his horizons, and visit several reclusive Confucian scholars along the way.

Emperor Tianxi doted on his youngest son and originally wouldn't have allowed him to travel so far. However, since Prince Yong was going south to inspect the officialdom, Emperor Tianxi felt somewhat relieved to have his elder brother accompany him and thus granted permission.

Ye Zangxing's trip to Huai'an was to visit the Weiwen Academy in Huai'an, accompanied by Qiu Jingsong, a renowned scholar from southern Jiangsu. Coincidentally, the results of the provincial examinations were being released at this time. Qiu Jingsong was interested, and Ye Zangxing also found it intriguing, so he volunteered to go and see the results.

That's how they met in their past and present lives.

As for the courtyard with the three large willow trees, it was Mr. Qiu's villa in Huai'an. Yu Shiqing was once a frequent visitor there.

Now that the list of successful candidates has been released, Mr. Qiu and Prince Yong are probably somewhere waiting for Ye Zangxing's return. Even if Ye Zangxing wanted to stay longer, he couldn't. But that's alright, as there will naturally be many more interactions between them in the future.

With a silent laugh, Yu Shiqing stopped thinking and called Yu Dashu to return to the inn.

The official messenger should already be waiting at the inn. Besides, there are many other matters to attend to, and his dazed state of mind needs to be sorted out. Returning to the age of seventeen from forty-four still requires some adjustment.

At the same time.

Ye Zangxing quickly walked through the streets and alleys, arrived at a restaurant, and bought a roast chicken.

As he emerged, he beckoned, and the eunuch Xile, who had been secretly protecting him, immediately appeared, subtly following him. He took the roast chicken, frowned, and whispered, "Young Master, you shouldn't have taken such a risk. There are so many people near the examination hall; how could you have squeezed in? You are of noble birth; what if there were some bad guys inside…"

"Don't you trust my skills, young master? I can chop up any ordinary thug in no time. How could I let him hurt me!" Ye Zangxing patted Xile on the shoulder.

Xi Le said, "Even with your exceptional skills, you should still be careful. Didn't the Grand Tutor say, 'A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall'? And that sugar water—it wasn't tested for poison. You allowed Yu Shiqing to get so close; how do you know he wasn't an imposter, but someone who came to assassinate you..."

"Alright, you're such a nag and suspicious kid. You even said that Yu Shiqing is a fake," Ye Cangxing tapped Xile's head. "What kind of assassin would impersonate a famous and exceptionally handsome scholar like Yu Shiqing?"

“That’s true…” Xile covered her head, pondered for a moment, nodded, and agreed with what her prince said.

Then, as if realizing something, she looked up in surprise at Ye Zangxing: "Young Master, you actually praised other boys your age for being handsome! Didn't you say that you were the most handsome? Even the son of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the most handsome man in the capital, you said he was nothing special..."

Ye Zangxing's ears burned upon hearing this, and he grabbed Xile's head, saying, "What are you talking about? Handsome is handsome, and not handsome is not handsome. Your young master is just telling the truth. Tell me, isn't Yu Danzhi more handsome than all those young masters and gentlemen in the capital?"

"It seems so..."

“Look, you agree!” Ye Zangxing said.

Xile felt something was off, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. Before he could think further, Ye Cangxing said, "By the way, Xile, the day the crabs were steamed on the lake, didn't Mr. Qiu mention wanting to take on a closed-door disciple? I was a bit drunk then, so I don't remember very clearly..."

“It was mentioned, but not in detail. Mr. Qiu was also drunk,” Xile said.

Ye Zangxing's bright eyes darted around, then he patted Xile's head and turned to head back to the restaurant.

Xi Le was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly chased after him: "Young Master, Young Master, what's wrong with you again?"

“I have a favor to ask of Mr. Qiu, and one roast chicken is not enough!” Ye Zangxing replied, his voice carrying far away.

...

The day after the results were announced was the Deer Cry Banquet, which all the candidates eagerly awaited.

Yu Shiqing naturally attracted much attention at the banquet. Coming from a poor family, he had never received guidance from a famous teacher or been taught at an academy, yet he won first place and outshone countless talented students from prestigious families, which was quite remarkable.

In addition, he was a young prodigy, extremely pure and filial, and most examiners and students admired him greatly.

Occasionally, there were a few who couldn't hide their jealousy, and Yu Shiqing paid a little attention to them, but didn't take them to heart.

Compared to those old foxes in the imperial court, all the scheming and infighting here is nothing but a joke.

The deer feast went relatively smoothly and peacefully.

The only minor incident was when the provincial education commissioner called Yu Shiqing over for a question-and-answer session, seemingly intending to take him on as a disciple. However, Yu Shiqing knew that the commissioner ultimately did not accept him.

Although he had been reborn, Yu Shiqing did not do anything high-profile. He talked with the education commissioner in a proper manner, and afterwards, they drank wine and composed poems until the banquet ended.

After the Deer Cry Banquet, Yu Shiqing and Yu Dashu returned to their hometown.

The two rented a carriage and traveled for three or four days, finally arriving in Feishui County. The county magistrate was quick to learn of the county's top scholar, and people greeted them at the city gate. Yu Shiqing first paid his respects to the magistrate, and then went to the school to meet the teacher who had helped him so much.

After two days of delay, they finally returned to Yujia Village in the carriage gifted by the county magistrate.

Over the years, Yujia Village has produced many students who passed the imperial examinations, and even some who passed the county-level examinations, but it has been extremely difficult to find a successful candidate who passed the provincial-level examinations. Now, however, one has emerged, and he is even the top scholar in the provincial-level examinations. The excitement surrounding this achievement goes without saying.

When Yu Shiqing arrived, the three-day, three-night feast in Yujia Village was still being held outside the ancestral hall without stopping.

Receiving guests, opening the ancestral hall, paying respects to ancestors, and having long talks with the elders of the clan—four or five days had passed in the course of all these tasks.

Finally, as August drew to a close and the Double Ninth Festival approached, Yu Shiqing found some free time.

On this day, the grass was covered in white frost, and a thin mist hung in the air. Before dawn, Yu Shiqing changed into an ordinary coarse cloth short brown outfit, carried a basket on his back, and followed his long-forgotten memories to the back mountain of the village.

This mountain is low, and there are no jackals, wolves, tigers, or leopards; only wild grass and trees and graves dot the landscape.

Yu Shiqing waded through the wild grass and came to several graves that were almost completely buried by weeds. Near the graves, there was also an abandoned thatched hut.

Yu Shiqing looked around, put down his basket, rolled up his sleeves, and began to pull weeds.

After clearing away all the weeds around him, he lifted the cover of the basket, took out the offerings and incense, and placed them in front of the tombstones.

“Grandpa, this is fine wine from Huai’an Prefecture. You always talked about it, saying that you only went to Huai’an Prefecture once in your life. You were so intoxicated by the aroma of the wine on the street that you took out all the copper coins you had to buy a cup to try. But when you got to the shop, you couldn’t bear to spend the money. You took a sniff of the aroma and then ran away with the copper coins in your pocket…”

“In my past life, I promised you that when I grew up, I would bring back fine wine from Huai’an. But later, my mind was filled with other thoughts, and I forgot. This pot of wine is so late, so many years late. It is truly my unfilial son who has failed you…”

"Grandma, this is chestnut cake from Huai'an. It's incredibly soft and melts in your mouth, perfect for seniors with difficulty chewing. I bet you'll love it..."

"Father, are you doing well in the afterlife...?"

Incense ash fell, and smoke drifted slowly.

In the silent mountain mist, the boy knelt, oblivious to the dirt, burying his forehead deep into the damp earth.

He rose and knelt before each grave, the boy's face obscured by grass and mist. Finally, he stood before the last grave and slowly opened his mouth.

"Mother, I..."

After more than twenty years of wandering away from home, Yu Shiqing saw his mother again. He had a thousand words to say, but when the words reached his lips, he could only utter the word "mother." Any more would only bring bitterness.

Tears welled up silently from his eyes.

Yu Shiqing's mouth and nose trembled with soreness.

He wanted to tell her that in his previous life, he had earned her an imperial title, making her a first-rank noblewoman. He wondered if she would be happy if she knew this in the afterlife. It was just a pity that the court was unstable at the time, and he was unable to come and congratulate her in person...

He also wanted to tell her that he had not let her down, that he had lived a life of self-discipline, integrity, and a clear conscience...

He wanted to tell her that he had found the person he wanted to spend his life with. Maybe she wouldn't agree, and might even scold him, but she knew he was a stubborn rock...

"Mother, I've almost forgotten what you look like..."

In spring, there was bean soup; in summer, a palm-leaf fan; in autumn, a hunched figure on the ridge of the field; and in winter, the last pot of good charcoal. The toddler stretched out his arms and cried out, which became the word "mother."

Yu Shiqing was thirteen years old when he lost his grandparents and mother. For the next thirty years, he never forgot them, day and night.

His forehead sank into the mud again.

Fragrant hills, that's my hometown.

Yu Shiqing closed his eyes, his mind at peace.

...

After an unknown amount of time, Yu Shiqing put away the offerings, composed himself, and was just about to pack up and head down the mountain when he suddenly heard Yu Dashu calling from below: "Qilang! Qilang! Are you on the mountain?"

The voice sounded somewhat urgent, which surprised Yu Shiqing. He called out, "Brother Dashu, I'm here!"

Hearing the voice from the foot of the mountain, a figure quickly ran up: "I told you you went up the mountain... Qilang, have you finished the worship? If you have, come down the mountain with me quickly. A little boy came to the village entrance and specifically asked to see you!"

"Little baby?"

Yu Shiqing paused. Why did this sound so strange? What kind of little child would come looking for him and make Yu Dashu so anxious? It couldn't be his child, could it? Regardless of his past and present lives, his primordial yang energy was still intact!

Yu Dashu seemed to see Yu Shiqing's doubts and hurriedly said, "Oh dear, that's no ordinary child, Qilang! That child was riding in a carriage, accompanied by a large group of soldiers, dressed in gold and jade, and she called herself some kind of princess!"

Princess?

Yu Shiqing was taken aback, and his brows furrowed instantly.

Author's Note:

New outline, new drafts, let's get going!