Chapter 150 The Powerful Minister Returns to His Youth 4.
“Yu Shiqing…”
Ye Zangxing was taken aback upon hearing this, quickly pulling his thoughts away from the beautiful woman before him, and exclaimed in surprise, "You're that Yu Danzhi?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Ye Zangxing realized his mistake and quickly added, "It was just an accident, not..."
"Brother Ye, you don't need to worry, I understand." Yu Shiqing smiled and his eyes deepened slightly. His gaze lingered on Ye Cangxing's brows for a moment before he quickly concealed his emotions, leaving only a faint smile.
This encounter occurred much earlier than their previous life, and Yu Shiqing's mind was still somewhat unsettled, assuming that Ye Cangxing, like himself, might have returned to his youthful days. However, the distant gaze he had just witnessed, coupled with their immediate meeting, clearly indicated that this was not the case.
Ye Zangxing was not reborn, nor did he know him.
Perhaps it was all just a coincidence.
In his previous life, he was a genuine seventeen years old. No matter how composed he was, he couldn't help but feel anxious and uneasy on the day the results were announced. So at that time, he squeezed under the wall of the examination hall with Yu Dashu, not in the teahouse, and did not place any bets with anyone.
It is precisely this slight difference that leads to the difference between past and present lives.
Seeing Yu Shiqing's beautiful smile, Ye Zangxing felt a slight relaxation, but his breath inexplicably tightened.
“Brother Yu is a man of broad mind,” he said, trying to suppress some of his chaotic thoughts, and respectfully cupped his hands. “I am Ye Xuanshu, a man from the capital. I have just arrived in Huai’an Prefecture to visit relatives and study. I have heard of Brother Yu’s reputation. What I did just now was just a spontaneous act. Please do not take it to heart, Brother Yu.”
The current emperor has six sons and two daughters. The first three sons died young due to palace turmoil. Of the remaining three sons, the first two were enfeoffed as princes and established their own residences at the age of sixteen. Only the sixth son, who is seventeen years old, has not yet entered the court and still lives in the Wenhua Hall villa.
This sixth prince, unfamiliar to both court officials and common people, was named Ye Zangxing. Although he had not yet reached adulthood, he already had a courtesy name, Xuan Shu.
Ye Xuanshu is none other than the sixth prince, Ye Zangxing.
Yu Shiqing didn't understand before, but later, after hearing Ye Zangxing make up fake names by speaking human language to human beings and ghost language to ghosts, he realized that it was such a weighty name that he could say "Xuan Shu" on their first meeting.
He must have caught his eye.
Yu Shiqing was lost in thought, but the smile on her face remained unchanged.
"It should be taken to heart."
He said.
Ye Zangxing paused and looked up.
“Brother Ye and I are complete strangers, yet you are willing to speak up for me. How can I not take it to heart?” Yu Shiqing suppressed his stiff tongue and said in a low voice, “If Brother Ye is willing, I will invite you to drink at Qingfeng Tower tonight. How about it? Qingfengzui in Huai’an Prefecture is the most famous. You must have heard of it.”
"Qingfengzui? I've heard of it!" Ye Cangxing's eyes lit up for a moment, but then he seemed to remember something and frowned dejectedly, shaking his head and saying, "Brother Yu is very kind, but I have some things to do lately and cannot drink."
"Besides, the tea house is really nothing. That's what I thought, and that's what I said. Upon closer examination, it wasn't for anyone's sake. I just didn't expect that Brother Yu would be even more outstanding than I imagined!"
He looked at Yu Shiqing and smiled again, his dark blue eyes filled with the shimmering morning light.
Looking at that smile and light, Yu Shiqing's fingers clenched silently.
"To be honest, Brother Ye," he said in a gentle voice, "thanking you is only one reason. The reason I stopped you and wanted to invite you is because I like you and want to befriend you. It doesn't matter when or where, whether we drink tea or wine."
For seven years in my past life, I never uttered the word "I like you." But when I finally did, it wasn't difficult at all.
However, Yu Shiqing also knew that in this situation, the "like" that Ye Zangxing heard was definitely not the kind of "like".
Even so, he still had to speak.
All the worries and anxieties of the past, however numerous and overwhelming, have been worn away in those twenty years of barrenness.
"So Brother Yu wants to be friends with me," Ye Cangxing's eyes widened slightly, and he pursed his lips somewhat shyly. He was only surprised and embarrassed, but not flustered. He didn't think much of it and just smiled. "Everyone says that you people from Jiangnan are reserved, but I think Brother Yu is clearly very open and sincere."
Yu Shiqing was also smiling, but his voice was very calm: "If you like something, you like it; if you don't like something, you don't like it. There's nothing to hide. Sometimes not saying it isn't because you're reserved, but because you're afraid."
"Fear?" Ye Zangxing looked at Yu Shiqing.
“Fear…of not being able to bear the consequences of speaking.” Yu Shiqing looked back at him.
In what seemed like a dazed moment, Ye Cangxing suddenly saw Yu Shiqing's eyes clearly. They were pitch black and without light, like a deep pool in the depths of a forest, filled with countless unreadable thoughts, mysterious and enigmatic, leaving one bewildered and dizzy.
But soon, he could no longer see clearly.
The scholar in the blue robe lowered his eyelashes very slightly, his face showing only a gentle smile.
For some reason, Ye Zangxing felt breathless and a sudden pang of sadness gripped his heart. He could only hastily and carelessly squeeze out a sentence: "I...I also want to be friends with Brother Yu."
In his previous life, such an answer would have been enough to satisfy Yu Shiqing. But in this life, it's not the same.
Yu Shiqing's smile deepened: "In that case, Brother Ye, would you accept the invitation tonight?"
"I would like to, but I really can't spare the time tonight," Ye Zangxing sighed in distress. "My older brother at home is very strict."
The only person Ye Zangxing would address as his elder brother is Prince Yong, who is also born to Consort De. Sure enough, he has also come to Huai'an Prefecture.
Yu Shiqing's eyes turned slightly cold.
"Since Brother Ye is unavailable, let's meet again another day," Yu Shiqing said softly, without revealing his emotions.
Although he wanted to spend more time with Ye Zangxing, he also knew that haste makes waste. Their beginning was different from that of their previous life. What started as a fleeting encounter under the wall of the examination hall had turned into a deep and meaningful friendship. Why would the future not be better?
He shouldn't be in such a hurry.
It can't be rushed.
Yu Shiqing said this without changing his smile, but Ye Cangxing looked at him and seemed to have noticed something, blinking his eyes slightly.
The next moment, the young man spoke up: "Brother Yu wanted to invite me for a drink, but that won't be possible today. However, there's still time for a bowl of sweet soup. I've heard that the sweet soup in Huai'an Prefecture is very sweet, but I've never had any before. Would Brother Yu like to invite me for a bowl?"
Ye Zangxing deliberately turned his gaze to the dessert stall by the roadside.
Yu Shiqing paused, then smiled as if remembering something, "If Brother Ye likes it, that's naturally good."
He responded, took out a few coins, and bought two bowls of sweet soup from the stall.
A rough earthenware bowl, honey water, brewing the gentle breeze of Jiangnan.
Yu Shiqing rolled up his wide sleeves and handed the bowl over. Ye Cangxing took it without any formality, glanced around, found a step, sat down, lowered his head, and began to drink the sweet soup.
Seeing this, Yu Shiqing smiled, lifted his robe, and sat down to one side.
"So sweet!" Ye Zangxing sipped the soup like a little animal, praising, "Sweet but not cloying, rather refreshing. Indeed, the sweet soup in Huai'an is better than that in the capital!"
Seeing his joyful expression, Yu Shiqing's heart softened, and he said softly, "Huai'an not only has good sweet soup, but also good pastries. I'll buy some next time and bring them to Brother Ye."
Few people knew that Ye Zangxing had a sweet tooth and a fondness for wine. In the past, he had worried about his health and always kept an eye on him, but now, while he was still young, he would allow the young man to indulge himself for a couple of years.
"No, no, I've already eaten all those pastries..."
Ye Zangxing waved his hand. He knew Yu Shiqing's background and was also aware of his family's circumstances, and did not want him to spend money.
At this time, Ye Zangxing had not yet been tempered by the court and the battlefield, and his thoughts could not be well concealed. Naturally, he could not hide them from Yu Shiqing, who had been navigating the treacherous waters for many years.
Yu Shiqing saw through his thoughts, and felt a mix of bitterness and sweetness in his heart. His voice was gentle to the point of being tender: "Four strokes of Feishui, Brother Ye, you probably haven't tried it before. It's a pastry from Feishui, and it's rarely sold in Huai'an. This pastry isn't expensive, and the style isn't particularly special, but it tastes good. Brother Ye, please don't refuse it."
Ye Zangxing's ears turned slightly red from the sudden closeness of Yu Shiqing's voice. This person's body temperature should not be high, but why is he like a furnace? If you get too close, you'll be burned.
Ye Zangxing was puzzled, but upon hearing this, he understood what Yu Shiqing meant, so he said no more, only saying, "Then Brother Yu, please don't bring too much. I have a small appetite and can't eat much."
Recalling the image of Ye Zangxing squatting in the central command tent and stuffing ten large steamed buns into his mouth, Yu Shiqing couldn't help but chuckle and replied with a smile, "Alright, I'll do as Brother Ye says."
Hearing Yu Shiqing's laughter, Ye Zangxing raised his hand to touch the side of his neck and said, "Speaking of which, Brother Yu, you saw us placing bets at the teahouse just now, why didn't you say anything? What do you think your ranking will be in this provincial examination? Will I be able to get my twenty taels back?"
Yu Shiqing felt helpless upon hearing this.
I just saw Ye Zangxing bet twenty taels, and I thought he was being generous for once, but it turns out he's still the same stingy guy. On the first day of his reign, he reduced the imperial harem's meals to three dishes and one soup. Apart from disaster relief and military supplies, he's practically penniless.
"At least four times."
Yu Shiqingdao.
"What?"
Ye Zangxing didn't react for a moment.
But there was no need for him to react.
The next moment, Yu Dashu's voice, along with the shouts of many others, rang out, "The results are out! The results are out!"
As soon as the voices rose, a surge of people in blue robes and scholar's caps appeared beneath the walls of the examination hall.
As dawn broke and the sky was ablaze with rosy clouds, the vermilion gates of the examination hall swung open, and a group of examiners and soldiers slowly emerged, their bearing solemn and dignified. Among them, two men, carrying a long scroll of paper, approached the wall, dismissed the crowd, unfurled it, held it high, and affixed it to the wall.
Amidst the clamor of the crowd, the names and hometowns of the seventy-seven successful candidates in this provincial examination were all revealed.
"I...I won! I won! I really won!"
"Young master, young master, you've won! Sixty-third place!"
"Erniu, I saw it! I saw your name!"
"Where...where am I? Where is Wang Fang from Mingzhou...Where is Wang Fang from Mingzhou? I should have won, I should have won..."
"Another three years have passed. How many more three years do I have? My family is already struggling to make ends meet..."
"Year after year, it's the same, only emptiness and sorrow remain..."
Beneath the wall, sometimes people weep with joy, running and laughing, and sometimes they cover their faces and sob, looking forlorn and hunched over.
One imperial examination, ten years of hard study, and a diverse range of experiences.
Amidst the commotion and noise, some onlookers shouted, "The top scholar! The top scholar in this provincial examination, Yu Shiqing of Feishui! Who is he!"
"Yu Shiqing? The top scholar Yu Shiqing?"
"Go quickly and announce the good news! The top scholar is Yu Shiqing of Feishui!"
The noise grew louder and louder, pushing from the foot of the wall to the teahouse, and then to the street corner.
Huai'an Prefecture is located in Jiangnan and can be considered a place with a flourishing literary tradition. There are countless talented people with reputations. However, no matter how many talented people there are, every three years they are competing for the same title of Jieyuan.
This time, in these three years, Min Dongshan of Feng County was defeated, Lu Hong of Ningzhou failed, and Fu Jiaxi of Huishan only came in second.
So who is number one?
The Fei River is clear when it is lush!
The long street shook.
Countless scholars rushed out of the teahouse in alarm, and head after head peered into the private rooms of the teahouse. Fei Shui Yu Shi Qing, who is this person who can suppress so many popular candidates for the top prize!
"Oh, I remember now, he's on the betting list! He's ranked after seventy!" someone exclaimed, filled with regret. "If I had known, I would have bet on him to be the top scholar; that would have at least quadrupled my bet!"
So this is what the Fourth Division is all about.
Ye Zangxing looked at the person sitting next to him, stared blankly for a moment, then suddenly jumped up and hugged Yu Shiqing: "Brother Yu, you've passed the imperial examination, the top scholar!"
Yu Shiqing was startled, his hand trembled, and the empty bowl smashed on his leg.
"I made a profit too, over three hundred taels!" Ye Cangxing's eyes brightened. He quickly released the person, put down the empty bowl, and ran off. His voice was clear and lively, carried by the wind, "Brother Yu, I'll go get the money first, and I'll treat you to something delicious later!"
Before he could finish speaking, he had already disappeared into the crowd.
Yu Shiqing stood up, and before he could look for anyone, he was surrounded by people who had heard the commotion. Some had met him once or twice and came to offer their congratulations, while many others came to catch a glimpse of the top scholar's honor so they could go back and talk about it, or perhaps even try to gain some literary luck.
Suddenly, a surge of people rushed into the street corner, almost shoving Yu Dashu, who had been too afraid to disturb him earlier but had finally managed to squeeze through, away again.
Amidst the attention and cheers of the crowd, Yu Shiqing responded with a smile, as if he had heard everything, yet also as if he hadn't heard anything at all.
His heart was filled only with that hasty embrace.
Like the warmth of the autumn sun, like the fragrance of cypress wood, the silk ribbon is soft, and as it is tossed, it brushes against the cheek, bringing a ticklish sensation like the morning breeze.
Yu Shiqing lowered his eyes slightly.
Suddenly, amidst the surrounding voices, he heard his own abrupt breathing.
It turned out that during that embrace, he had been holding his breath and not daring to hear anything for such a long time.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com