Chapter 159 The Powerful Minister Returns to His Youth 13.

Yu Shiqing wanted to start investigating the Yongwang Rebellion right now and do his best to quell the disaster. However, with a young princess who was suspected of being reborn by his side, he couldn't completely deviate from the trajectory of his previous life in many things.

Moreover, he is currently just a candidate for the imperial examination, and there are some things he wants to do but cannot reach.

Therefore, at present, he only has two viable paths.

One option was to retrace his past life's path, naturally uncovering new clues through his interactions with Ye Zangxing. This was the safest and least risky choice, and it was also his plan before meeting the young princess.

But now, things have changed. If he continues down the same path, he will be too passive. Choosing the second path—starting directly with the young princess who may also be reborn, and with the Yongwang family—is inevitable.

However, this "second path" did not seem to arrive as quickly as Yu Shiqing had imagined.

Since the day of the painting examination, for five or six days in a row, the "person" that Prince Yong had promised to send to his door has still not appeared.

Ye Zangxing was also nowhere to be found. Even when he went to Qiu Jingsong's place to become his apprentice on the last day off, he couldn't find him, as if he was deliberately avoiding him.

Yu Shiqing understood this.

Even when Ye Cangxing is completely drunk, he will never forget anything. So when the boy woke up from his drunken stupor that day and remembered his behavior the night before, he must have felt embarrassed and wanted to hide for a few days.

His daughter, Xuan Shu, is easily embarrassed, that's why she's like this.

Such hiding usually lasts no more than two or three days, but five or six days is a bit too long now, though not unusual. Students are not allowed to leave the academy on a daily basis, and Yu Shiqing pondered this, planning that on the next day off, if the mountain wouldn't come to him, he would go to the mountain.

With this in mind, Yu Shiqing calmed down at the academy and focused on his studies, hoping to quickly pick up the neglected knowledge of the eight-legged essay. If he hadn't prepared these things before the provincial examination, he wouldn't even be able to pass the imperial examination, let alone anything else, which would be even worse than in his previous life.

Moreover, considering the time frame, he hasn't touched these things for twenty or thirty years. Many things are still in his mind, but they are also vague.

Looking back at my own policy essays from that time, it's both regrettable and lamentable.

Unfortunately, due to his limited age and experience, he couldn't see things clearly or write them thoroughly, resulting in articles that inevitably appeared superficial and exaggerated. It's lamentable that his sharpness and ambition at this time were incomparable to his later years of experience navigating the officialdom, not to mention his talent. Even in his forties, Yu Shiqing believed he still possessed some of that, but how could such a tiny bit compare to that of a seventeen-year-old?

"That's just too ridiculous..."

Yu Shiqing shook his head and mocked himself, then put down his pen and set aside the revised policy essay.

With that glance, he saw Bao Shaojie again.

This time, instead of tiptoeing into the dormitory, he came out from his neighbor's room and hurried out in the twilight, heading towards the main gate of the academy.

Even at this hour, he still looks the same at the main gate…

Yu Shiqing sensed something was wrong, took two quick steps, and pushed open the door: "Brother Bao!"

Bao Shaojie was startled and stopped on the gravel path: "Brother Yu?"

Yu Shiqing walked closer, his gaze shifting almost imperceptibly as he scanned Bao's appearance: "Brother Bao, are you in such a hurry because you have something important to attend to when you come down the mountain?"

"Yes and no," Bao Shaojie sighed, his brow furrowing. Then, as if remembering something, he looked at Yu Shiqing with some surprise. "Oh right, Brother Yu is going to Yongwang Villa to be a calligraphy and painting teacher. Didn't you know?"

"Know what?" Yu Shiqing's eyes flickered slightly.

Bao Shaojie's father was one of the ministers who accompanied Prince Yong on his southward journey. He was the Left Councilor of the Court of State Affairs. Although he was not a confidant of Prince Yong, he was still considered to have some influence in the group.

"this……"

Bao Shaojie paused, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Brother Yu, although we can be considered classmates and friends, if you don't know about this kind of thing, I can't say much. Anyway, it's not a big deal..."

"Is this matter related to the Yong Prince's Mansion?" Yu Shiqing asked. "Brother Bao, to tell you the truth, I had a pleasant drink with the Sixth Prince a few days ago. When we parted, we agreed that he would come to find me in two or three days. But now, it's already much later. I'm worried, but I can't leave the academy, and I don't have any servants to send out."

"I didn't mean to pry into anything, I was just worried about the Sixth Prince. You know he's not one to break his word, so his failure to come as promised must mean something's holding him back..."

Yu Shiqing's words were a mix of truth and falsehood, spoken off the cuff. Bao Shaojie's expression shifted slightly, as if he thought there was some truth to what he said. However, after hesitating for a moment, he still shook his head: "Brother Yu, I can only say that it doesn't seem to be a big deal at the moment, and you don't need to worry about the Sixth Prince's safety. As for other things, I still can't..."

Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door of the dormitory. The gatekeeper of the academy poked his head in, bowed, and said, "I'm sorry to disturb you two. May I ask if student Yu Shiqing is here?"

Yu Shiqing returned the greeting: "That is me."

The servant said, "Quickly, please go to the mountain gate. The Left Chief Secretary of the Prince Yong's Mansion has come to invite you."

Yu Shiqing was taken aback and looked at Bao Shaojie, only to see that Bao Shaojie was also stunned, with a look of surprise on his face.

"May I ask if this Chief Secretary has stated his purpose?" Yu Shiqing asked.

The servant said, "It is said to be His Highness Prince Yong's intention to invite a teacher."

Now?

Yu Shiqing raised his eyes.

It was already late afternoon, the sun was setting, and dusk was falling. Who would invite someone to their home at such a time, hire a tutor, and serve tea and wine?

Something unusual must be going on.

Yu Shiqing's thoughts shifted slightly. He said, "Wait a moment," and went back inside. He quickly changed his outer robe, grabbed his things, and followed the servant out. After walking a few steps, Bao Shaojie trotted up to him, winking and making faces.

"What's going on?" Bao Shaojie asked in a barely audible voice.

Yu Shiqing shook his head, indicating that he did not know, and gestured with his eyes, "You should know, right?"

Bao Shaojie wanted to speak, but after glancing at the servant in front of him, he kept quiet.

The two walked out and arrived at the mountain gate, where they saw several tall horses and a carriage parked by the roadside.

The Left Chief Secretary of the Prince's Mansion, with his small mustache twitching, greeted Yu Shiqing with a smile as soon as he saw him come out. After exchanging pleasantries, he led Yu Shiqing to the carriage.

Bao Shaojie chatted for a few words with the old servant who came to pick him up, then strolled over: "Chief Secretary Fei, it's been a long time. We're going the same way, could we hitch a ride? I strained my back these past two days and can't ride a horse. Luckily, my father didn't know and didn't send a carriage."

"Don't worry, I know Brother Yu, he won't mind."

Upon hearing this, Fei Changshi remained calm and returned the greeting with a smile and a cupped-hand salute, saying, "If Mr. Yu does not mind, then I certainly have no objection."

Yu Shiqing said, "I'm fine."

"I knew it!" Bao Shaojie grinned broadly. "Let's go, let's get in the car!"

After exchanging a few words, the three of them boarded the carriage together and headed down the mountain.

After exchanging pleasantries inside the carriage, they arrived at the foot of the mountain. Fei Changshi said that the carriage was stuffy and he felt a little dizzy, so he got off the carriage and went outside to ride a horse.

As soon as Fei Changshi left, Bao Shaojie breathed a huge sigh of relief, like a drowning person surfacing. He then turned and opened his mouth to speak to Yu Shiqing. But Yu Shiqing shook his head and spoke first.

"Brother Bao, why do you think His Highness Prince Yong invited me to his residence at this hour? Nobody holds a formal apprenticeship ceremony for their child at night, right?"

Bao Shaojie was taken aback. He felt that Yu Shiqing's words made sense, but they were also strange.

Yu Shi glanced at him, tilted his head slightly, and gave him a look that pointed outwards.

Bao Shaojie looked puzzled, then astonished, and pointed at himself and Yu Shiqing in disbelief. Yu Shiqing nodded firmly. Bao Shaojie was still confused, but after glancing outside, he followed Yu Shiqing's words and said, "Perhaps it has been dragging on for too long."

Yu Shiqing's expression was indifferent, but his tone was quite emotional: "I'm also wondering why it's taken so long. I thought we would have settled all these matters during the last day off..."

Bao Shaojie knew someone was eavesdropping, so he spoke more carefully. However, there were still some things he wanted to tell Yu Shiqing, lest Yu Shiqing's trip end in bad luck instead of good fortune.

“The prince suddenly fell ill with a headache and was unable to handle many matters, so naturally he couldn’t take care of you, his calligraphy and painting tutor,” Bao Shaojie said. “This matter was kept secret in the past, but it shouldn’t be considered secret these past two days.”

Headache?

Yu Shiqing frowned slightly.

Prince Yong suffered from a headache, which would occasionally cause him to become irritable and unpredictable. Yu Shiqing only learned of this a year or two later, after he had become very close to Ye Zangxing.

This was a royal secret, but now that Bao Shaojie knows it, he says it's no longer a secret?

"How so?" Yu Shiqing asked with pure curiosity.

“You’ll know when we get to the street,” Bao Shaojie said. “For some reason, Prince Yong suddenly posted an official notice seeking the best doctors in the country to treat his headaches, offering a reward of a thousand taels of silver. This happened yesterday morning and hasn’t reached the academy yet, but everyone in Huai’an City already knows about it.”

"Everyone's talking about it."

Post notices and seek out good doctors?

In my previous life, wasn't this something that happened about six months before the Yongwang Rebellion broke out? How come it's happening now?

Because of the young princess?

Yu Shiqing's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unchanged: "So that's how it is..."

“Indeed,” Bao Shaojie glanced carefully out the car window again, choosing his words carefully, “So, Brother Yu, when you meet the Prince later, you must be careful to observe proper etiquette. Although I don’t know why the Prince is in such a hurry to see you tonight, not even waiting until tomorrow, I’ve heard that when the Prince’s headache flares up, he does do some things that are not normal, and he is a little less easy to talk to than usual. You must not offend the Prince.”

Bao Shaojie's words were indeed quite tactful.

Is it just that she does things that defy common sense and isn't easy to talk to?

Yu Shiqing remembered that in his previous life, whenever Prince Yong suffered from headaches, even Ye Zangxing would have to walk by with his tail between his legs, otherwise he would definitely be scolded.

At such times, he seemed to become a different person, disliking his own children and the Princess Consort of Yong, often uttering strange words, and scolding and punishing certain people without reason. As for beating or killing, he wouldn't do that, otherwise he would have been impeached by the censors long ago.

However, Prince Yong's headaches had only flared up a few times in total. According to Ye Zangxing, he had only seen him suffer from them twice before coming to Huai'an. But after that, when he returned to the capital and went to Cenzhou, the headaches became more and more frequent, to the point that he had lost count.

But, did this happen in Huai'an in a previous life?

Yu Shiqing doesn't quite remember that he directly encountered Prince Yong during a period of headache.

As for this time...

"Young Master Bao, you've arrived."

Suddenly, Fei Changshi's voice came from outside the carriage.

Immediately afterward, the carriage stopped, and the curtains fluttered in the wind. Unbeknownst to them, Yu Shiqing had already entered Huai'an Prefecture while lost in thought.

Bao Shaojie winked at Yu Shiqing, mouthed a warning, and then got off the carriage.

Fei Changshi did not enter. The carriage paused briefly before continuing its journey.

Yu Shiqing lifted the curtain of the car window and looked outside. Occasionally, some idle chatter from the streets and alleys drifted in, and Yu Shiqing listened quietly without showing any expression.

As the carriage moved further and further into the quiet, passing by three large willow trees and a courtyard named "Huai Liu Ju" by Qiu Jingsong, and turning into a deeper and larger area, a clear shout suddenly came from ahead.

"Chief Secretary Fei, have you gone to fetch Danzhi?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

That voice... it's Ye Zangxing!

Yu Shiqing snapped out of his daze, leaned over to the car door, and lifted the curtain.

As the lanterns were lit, a young man dressed in flowing blue, his hair ribbon fluttering, hopped down the stone steps in a few strides and hurried over.

Author's Note:

Late but still here! Almost always before 11 PM this week [doge emoji with rose in hand]