In line with the principle of keeping a low profile, no one from nearby was invited. Instead, the General's Mansion held a banquet to celebrate for Ye Zelin behind closed doors.

Madam Ouyang used her own money to give one or two taels of silver to each of the servants in the mansion.

Hua Fushu was straightforward and spent a lot of money to give rewards to everyone in the General's Mansion.

At the same time, Ye Zelin also received a wave of valuable gifts, especially from the old general, who gave Ye Zelin a piece of top-grade hibiscus jade with excellent texture.

Ye Zelin was quite surprised by the old general's generosity. He wanted to decline, but the old general said, "Your grandfather is not a stingy person. Just take it if it's given to you."

Hua Fushu took Ye Zelin's long arm and said, "Just accept the gift your grandfather gave you."

Ye Zelin had no choice but to accept it.

The next day, several classmates of the Kong family who made the list came to find Ye Zelin and said that a three-day banquet would be held in Lefeng Building, and all the students who made the list would attend the banquet.

Hua Fushu was afraid that Ye Zelin didn't want to go, so he said, "You go ahead. If you don't go, you'll be ignoring your classmates' kindness."

A student from the Kong family said, "Since your sister-in-law is so considerate, please come with us."

"The palace examination is in March. We will relax for a few days, drink with friends, and recite poems and couplets."

"That's right."

Ye Zelin couldn't resist, so he followed him.

After the examination, some Confucian scholars, writers, or wealthy nobles would host banquets in restaurants and invite all the students to attend. This became a tradition, happening every year, and this year was no exception.

A few people arrived at Lefeng Building, reported their names, and someone led them in. Many students had already gathered in the building.

"The Kong family is here, and the Kong family is here too."

Someone shouted, and all the students looked over.

A young man slowly walked towards Ye Zelin and others. He was wearing a green robe, with a raised eyebrow and a lazy smile on his handsome face. Everyone's eyes were focused on him.

He bowed to Ye Zelin and introduced himself, "I am Han Xingxiu, the champion of this year's imperial examination. I believe you are the last disciple of the old chief priest of the Kong family, Ye Yushi, the young general of the Ye Mansion."

Ye Zelin returned the greeting and said calmly, "It is me."

The young man said, "Mr. Ye did very well on the exams on classics and policy essays. I imagine your poetry is also quite good. We have just written a poem on the theme of 'Peach Blossoms'. Why don't you write one too?"

Ye Zelin's "Classics" and "Strategies" were very good, but his poetry was not good. He came to the banquet because he was invited by his classmates and because he just wanted to watch the fun and had no intention of participating.

He said, "I am not proficient in poetry and prose. The rhythm of my poems is not clear. I am afraid that they will offend Han Huiyuan and my fellow examiners. So I will not write poetry anymore."

Han Xingxiu was a bit aggressive, "Mr. Ye, are you looking down on me by making excuses like this?"

Ye Zelin: "Not really..."

Han Xingxiu interrupted Ye Zelin, a glint of contempt in his eyes. "The most dignified disciple of Master Kong, the chief priest, is actually not versed in poetry and prose. Could it be that all students of the Kong family are not versed in poetry and prose? If they are not versed in poetry and prose, then wouldn't the Kong family's reputation as a world-renowned talent be in vain?"

"Hahaha..." Han Xingxiu laughed.

Several students behind him also laughed.

It is true that Ye Zelin is not good at poetry, but it is not acceptable for this guy to use him to insult the Kong family!

The oldest of the Kong family students walked up to Ye Zelin and said to Han Xingxiu, "Han Huiyuan, Yu Shi's poems are indeed not good. How do you know that none of us are proficient in poetry? How about you and I write a poem on the theme of 'bamboo' and let our classmates judge and see who is better."

"Okay." Han Xingxiu responded loudly.

The Kong family student said, "If Han Huiyuan's poems are not as good as mine, please tell everyone here that you are wrong. My Kong family is not just a name."

Han Xingxiu stood tall and proud, determined to win. "Let's see if Kong Gongshi has what it takes. If I, Han Xingxiu, lose to you, I will certainly apologize to your Kong family!"

"You come first." said the student from the Kong family.

Han Xingxiu pondered for a moment, then composed a poem: "Section after section, a thousand branches and a thousand leaves. I wish I would never bloom, never attract bees and butterflies."

After the poem, there was applause.

The student of the Kong family sneered. He thought Han Xingxiu's poems were very good, but they were just so-so.

He chanted: "In the cold and frost, the body is as graceful as jade and snow. Even if no one paints it, the moon will convey its spirit."

After he finished speaking, the whole audience fell silent.

Soon, warm applause and cheers rang out.

The winner and loser are immediately apparent.

Han Huiyuan was defeated by the students of the Kong family.

The Kong family student looked Han Xingxiu in the face and said, "Han Huiyuan, please fulfill your promise."

Han Xingxiu looked embarrassed. He should not have said such a thing earlier. The Kong family is a literary giant of the time. How could there be any ordinary people among the family?

A gentleman should keep his word as heavy as gold when he is in power.

It's just a sentence.

He bowed to the Kong family and apologized: "I was arrogant and spoke without thinking. The Kong family has not earned its reputation in vain. I hope the Kong family will forgive me."

The Kong family student said, "I forgive Han Huiyuan's gaffe."

Han Xingxiu said, "Thank you, Master Kong."

…

What Ye Zelin said is about to come true.

At night, the candlelight flickers, lacking romance.

Ye Zelin didn't know what was wrong with him. He pulled Hua Fushu over and asked her to sit on his lap. He stared at her fair and pretty face and asked, "Shu'er, do you know what day it is today?"

"February 29th." Hua Fushu replied him.

Ye Zelin shook his head slightly, "No."

Hua Fushu was a little confused. Today was clearly February 29th, so why did he say it wasn't?

Ye Zelin reminded her, "Think again, what was the last February 29th?"

The 29th of February last year? Wasn’t that last year?

February 29th of last year was their wedding day.

Suddenly, Hua Fushu thought of something. Ye Zelin had said before that they would make up for the wedding night after the Spring Examination.

Could it be that he wants to make up for it tonight?

As expected, Ye Zelin held her hand and said, "I owe you a wedding night. How about making it up to you today?"

Hua Fushu nodded.

If other women heard their husbands say such things, they would definitely be ashamed.

But Hua Fushu was different. She was thick-skinned and had teased Ye Zelin many times, saying even more explicit things. She listened to Ye Zelin's words without her ears getting hot, nor did she have the usual shyness of a girl.

She took the initiative to stretch out her arms, put them around Ye Zelin's neck, and offered her red lips to him.

Ye Zelin hugged her small waist tightly, lowered his head, and pressed his thin lips against her delicate lips, first lightly pecking them like a dragonfly touching the water, then deepening the kiss, making it hard to let go.

The veil fell, and clothes were thrown onto the bed one by one. Under the dim candlelight, the veil reflected two intertwined figures.

After an unknown amount of time, a woman's pleading voice and a man's panting could be heard from within the gauze tent...