Chapter 66 Xiao He also hadn't gone to sleep.
Fuhua Building.
The man in plain clothes wearing a straw hat moved the display shelf aside and entered the dark tea room through an inconspicuous doorway.
As the shopkeeper read out the accounts, the person in the room picked up a teacup with his right hand. The jade ring on his finger clinked against the cup, making a crisp sound. Steam rose from the rim of the cup, blurring his tired face.
"Master." The man in plain clothes removed his straw hat and bowed.
Xie Shichang looked up from the white mist, lifted his eyelids to glance at him, and asked, "Is the person dead?"
The man in plain clothes lowered his head. "I have failed in my duty. Please punish me, my lord."
Xie Shichang's gaze sharpened. He slowly put down his teacup and said sternly, "You eight strong and robust men can't even get rid of a weak woman who can't even kill a chicken. What use are you to the Xie family!"
The man said in a panic, "I underestimated her. I didn't expect this woman to be so courageous and skilled at riding, daring to gallop at full speed down the mountain road..."
The person in the room took a deep breath, his eyelids drooped, and he gently turned the jade on his right thumb with his left hand, his expression unreadable.
After a moment's hesitation, the man in plain clothes said, "This person lives alone in a house on the west side of Chongrenfang. I will make my move tonight."
"No!" Xie Shichang suddenly opened his eyes and rebuked him, "How dare you commit violence under the very nose of the emperor?"
The man nodded silently, awaiting the patriarch's decision.
Xie Shichang turned to look at the ledger in the shopkeeper's hand and said leisurely, "Never mind, fortunately I still have a backup plan."
After saying that, he coldly glanced at the man in plain clothes below, waved his hand, and said, "You can leave now. Tell them to hide properly so that no one can find any evidence against them."
The man in plain clothes responded with a "yes," his back already soaked with cold sweat. He hadn't expected the patriarch to let him off so easily after his mistake, without any punishment whatsoever.
He floated away from the dark room, and the display shelf returned to its original position.
It was already afternoon when Yu Mingshu and the others left the government office. The sun was setting in the west when a man rode a black horse galloping by.
When He Zheng learned that she had been assassinated on her way back from Cheng'an Temple, he immediately rushed from the East Palace. Only when he saw her standing unharmed beside the carriage did he feel relieved.
Just as Yu Mingshu was about to say that it was illegal for him to ride a fast horse through the city, his lips parted slightly, but before he could utter the first syllable, he was struck by a warm, hot chest.
Her cheek was pressed against his chest, and she could clearly hear the pounding of his heart.
His heart was pounding, whether from the bumpy ride or from anxiety, he couldn't tell.
His hands, which were usually so steady when holding a knife or a gun, trembled involuntarily at this moment, and he gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
The people around were stunned, their eyes wide with astonishment.
The two of them just hugged like that?
Yu Mingshu noticed many strange gazes around him, slowly raised his hand, and then quickly lowered it again.
She didn't push him away. She waited until his heartbeat gradually calmed down, and he took a half step back before she spoke softly.
"you……"
"I'm glad you're alright."
He Zheng's voice still carried a hint of lingering fear, drowning out the words she hadn't yet uttered.
What were you trying to say?
"It's nothing, I'll take my mother home first."
The war-damaged carriage that returned from outside the city was left in the government office as evidence, and Gu Yu just rented a new carriage nearby.
Yu Mingshu and Jiang Ruan each took Wu Qiuniang's arm and led her to the car, while Gu Yu drove outside as usual.
He Zheng did not leave. He mounted his horse, glanced at the crowd of onlookers, and then followed slowly beside the carriage, keeping level with the side window of Yu Mingshu's carriage.
She could see his profile simply by lifting the curtain.
Jiang Ruan's gaze fell on the curtain that was occasionally lifted. He loosely grasped Wu Qiuniang's hand and gestured for her to look at the two silent people through the window when she looked over.
Wu Qiuniang glanced at it once and then looked away as if it were commonplace, gently shaking her head at her daughter-in-law.
Jiang Ruan was even more confused.
He Erlang's attitude towards his elder sister is clearly unusual, and Yu Mingshu doesn't seem to be uninterested in him either. Since they are both in love, why not discuss marriage?
What is the mother-in-law thinking? Does she really want to keep her daughter at home until she becomes an old maid, keeping all men losing interest, ruining her reputation so she can never get married again?
Is she her daughter or her enemy?
Back in Yongningfang, as soon as I got off the bus, I saw two anxious figures standing in front of the Yu family's house.
Xie Huaijin was completely focused on the carriage. He stepped forward to shield Yuan Yi behind him, his gaze first falling on Yu Mingshu's slightly tired face before he composed himself and greeted his elder.
"Auntie, I heard you were attacked. Were you injured?"
Wu Qiuniang said gently, "It's alright, I'm sorry to have worried you."
Yuan Yi's voice then came from behind.
"Has the perpetrator been caught?"
Yu Mingshu said helplessly, "Not yet. At the time, I didn't have anyone with martial arts skills around me, so I was in a hurry to escape and didn't dare to stop for a moment. Those people aren't stupid. They will definitely find a place to hide after this failure. Even if I report it to the authorities and they do their duty to investigate, it will be difficult to catch them."
Along the way, He Zheng had thought things through thoroughly and understood the pros and cons perfectly. At this moment, he showed no kindness towards Xie Huaijin and Yuan Yi.
"I can't think of anyone else in the whole world who would dare to plot to kill Ming Shu and hire someone to assassinate him right under the emperor's nose."
Xie Huaijin instinctively felt that his gaze was like a knife piercing him. If invisible knives could kill, he would already be being slowly sliced to death by now.
Feeling uneasy at the inexplicably tense atmosphere between the three, Jiang Ru'an gave Gu Yu a wink and coaxed Wu Qiuniang into the room first.
After they had gone some distance, Xie Huaijin sighed deeply, "Such an arrogant act, if it really was his doing, then the Xie family's glory days are numbered."
His tone was extremely cold, as if Xie's blood had never flowed in his veins.
Yuan Yi frowned slightly, then looked steadily at Yu Mingshu, "The new imperial examination system was reformed under the leadership of the Crown Prince. The grievances should be attributed to the perpetrators, and these people should not take their anger out on you under any circumstances."
“Last year, I wrote an essay titled ‘On Cultivating Talent’ in the examination hall. It already mentioned the content related to the new imperial examination system. Anyone could tell that the proposal came from my hand.”
Yu Mingshu was getting tired and didn't want to continue the topic, so he abruptly changed the subject, saying, "There's no news from the government yet, so let's not talk about this for now, lest Sanlang get distracted before the exam."
He Zheng looked at her and asked, "Going home?"
She paused for a few moments, then nodded.
Xie Huaijin watched as Luo Yan led the horse over and suddenly said, "You were frightened today, so take a day off tomorrow and rest at home."
"It's not that fragile."
Yu Mingshu stepped onto his horse using the stirrups, looked up at the blinding sunlight, and suddenly smiled.
“They want to kill me, but I’ll walk into the imperial city, into the Eastern Palace, and up to a high place in the world.”
Xie Huaijin paused, while Yuan Yi silently clenched his sleeves, a complex mix of emotions surging in his eyes.
He Zheng spurred his horse forward and said, "Let's go."
That night, the pond in the courtyard reflected a half-moon. The trees were still and the wind was silent. Apart from the crackling of the candlelight in the room, there was no other sound.
After a long while, a few wisps of cold wind blew in through the cracks in the window. Yu Mingshu, who was on the bed, pulled the quilt tighter, turned over, and soon lay back down.
I had a hard time sleeping that night.
Every time she closes her eyes, she recalls the terrifying image of an arrow hurtling towards her and whizzing past her ear.
My body kept reliving the feeling of galloping on horseback, just like getting off a roller coaster at an amusement park in modern times and having recurring dreams of that weightlessness all night long.
The candle outside the bed curtains had burned down to a third of its way. She opened her eyes, lifted the covers, got out of bed, put on her coat, and walked out into the courtyard. When she looked up, she saw the clear moonlight and a familiar figure.
He Zheng sat on the roof of the west wing, facing the neighboring courtyard. He looked up, took a sip of fruit wine, and then focused his gaze on her bright eyes.
"Get down."
Her voice wasn't loud, but he heard it.
He Zheng jumped down from the roof, and she opened the side door. The two didn't go inside, but sat on the steps outside the main house. The cold light shone through the cracks in the bricks, making the small pebbles look sharp and distinct.
"What are you looking at on the roof in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"
He Zheng's thin lips moved slightly, and he stretched out his leg to crush the pebbles in the cracks between the bricks with the tip of his shoe. "It's stuffy inside, come out and get some fresh air."
It doesn't sound like the truth.
He turned his head and asked, "And you? Why did you suddenly come out?"
Yu Mingshu took a deep breath and told him without any reservations, "I can't sleep. Thinking about what happened during the day, I feel a lingering fear."
"I closed my eyes, and all I could see was a barrage of arrows. Even though I was lying in bed, I felt like I was still on a horse, running for my life. The night was quiet, and I always felt like an assassin would suddenly appear under the bed, or someone would break in through the window in the middle of the night and strangle me."
He Zheng looked at the stray hairs on her forehead that were being blown by the wind, and her long, upturned eyelashes that trembled almost imperceptibly, and his heart ached.
He reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her collar tighter. "I'll keep watch here; not even a fly can get in."
Yu Mingshu looked up at him, "Don't you need to sleep?"
He Zheng did not answer her question, but said in a deep voice, "Once we catch those assassins, I will execute them myself."
The next day, news came from the south of the city that Gongsun Hong had drawn up the blueprints and was about to start construction.
Yu Mingshu suddenly remembered the little device in Master Gongsun's house that would ring a bell when stepped on. It would be perfect to install one in his own home as a security device.
"You want to install a doorbell?" Gongsun Hong asked, somewhat surprised.
Yu Mingshu nodded. "Yes, is this expensive?"
"How expensive can a rope and a copper bell be?"
Gongsun Hong wiped the sweat from his hands with the fabric of his clothes at his crotch, then beckoned over an apprentice with round, vacant eyes who looked rather dull.
“This kid is my apprentice. Just ask him to make a trip, and he can install it for you.”
He Zheng returned to the An Yuan Marquis's residence and saw a strange man crawling around in Yu Mingshu's courtyard, breaking bricks.
What is he doing?
Upon hearing the sound, Yu Mingshu went outside. "I hired someone to install a doorbell. As long as someone steps on the brick in front of the door, the bell under the window will ring, so I'll know immediately if someone comes in."
He Zheng curled his lip. "What nonsense is this? You'd rather believe an unknown craftsman than me?"
"You don't appreciate kindness. I was just worried you'd die from staying up all night," Yu Mingshu said, poking his shoulder.
This was no ordinary craftsman, but she couldn't tell He Zheng that she had contacted Master Gongsun yet. Otherwise, with his sharp mind, he would immediately think of forging a sword from meteorite iron, and there would be no surprise on his birthday next month.
After everyone had installed the bells and left, He Zheng circled around the bricks that had been tampered with twice.
Yu Mingshu, unaware of what he was looking at, stepped forward and tried to step on it. As expected, a pleasant bell rang out from under the eaves of the main house window.
He Zheng said, "This thing makes a sound when the wind blows, how do you know that an assassin is coming?"
Yu Mingshu smiled and said, "The bell inside is tied with a thin rope, so it won't make a sound in the wind. You can rest assured."
Seeing that he still looked serious, gazing up at the copper bell under the window, she poured him a cup of tea and handed it to him.
“There is a curfew in Chang’an, and guards patrol at night. That person should not have the courage to break into a house and assassinate someone. I did these things just to put my mind at ease.”
He Zheng glanced at her, took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp, then said nothing more.
…
On the day of the imperial examination, the Crown Prince, just like last year, presided over the examination hall, accompanied by Yang Leyi.
The Yu family had a candidate this year. To avoid suspicion, Yu Mingshu did not go to the examination hall, but only watched Yu Dan get into the carriage from the door of his house in Yongningfang.
She made a cheering gesture through the car window and said happily, "I wish you outstanding performance and a resounding success."
Jiang Ru'an, holding her mother-in-law's arm with one hand and nervously twisting her handkerchief with the other, said upon hearing this, "My lord is usually diligent and hardworking; he will surely pass the imperial examination with flying colors this time!"
For a moment, Wu Qiuniang was dazed; the words "diligent and hardworking" could actually be applied to Sanlang...
She still remembered how, every few days, the academy would send people to her home to complain, and Ming Shu would go to the East Market to arrest them every two days.
In the past two years, Sanlang has never skipped a class, and he doesn't need anyone to watch him when he studies at night. The academy teacher has never called his parents again. This child has truly grown up and become sensible.
In Yu Mingshu's words, this means that puberty is over and they've become more obedient.
Jiang Ruan had never felt that a day could be so long. He sipped his tea slowly all morning, and by lunchtime his mouth still tasted bitter and he had no appetite at all.
Seeing that she had a poor appetite, Wu Qiuniang did not force her to eat. She only said to Gu Yu, who was anxiously standing by, "Don't worry about her. Tell the kitchen to leave her two pieces of brown sugar rice cake. She can eat when she gets hungry in the afternoon. If she really can't eat, we'll wait for Sanlang to come back in the evening and then the whole family can have a good meal."
Jiang Ru'an suddenly asked, "Mother-in-law, were you this nervous last year when you and Sanlang were waiting at home for your eldest sister to come back?"
Wu Qiuniang glanced at the handkerchief that she had crumpled into a strip and said helplessly, "Relax. An exam won't determine anyone's life or death. As long as you can think positively, you won't feel anxious."
How could I possibly come to terms with it?
The new imperial examination system will be implemented next year, and the number of candidates will at least double. If the competition is not fierce this year and you cannot pass the exam, the chances of passing in the future will only become more and more slim.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ruan glared resentfully at Yu Mingshu.
Why couldn't this new imperial examination system be implemented at any time? It wouldn't be too late to reform it after Sanlang passed the exam, but they insisted on causing trouble when things were still uncertain.
I've never seen anyone so ruthless as to betray their own family.
When the time was almost up, the family set off for the examination venue, parking in the same spot as last year, waiting for Yu Dan to come out.
He Zheng also came, saying it was to prevent anyone from taking advantage of the chaos to commit violence. He stayed by Yu Mingshu's side almost every step of the way.
His gaze was so intense that Yu Mingshu vaguely felt that the thin veil between them was so thin it could break at any moment.
“Sanlang is out,” she suddenly said, drawing He Zheng’s attention to the other side.
"My lord!" Jiang Ru'an went up to greet him and embraced Yu Dan, who was walking towards his family.
With so many people watching from afar, and in front of his good brother and sister, Yu Dan's cheeks flushed red, and he hurriedly pushed away the woman clinging to him.
"You...you let go first, we can talk about it at home..."
Jiang Ruan looked at him with heartache and held his hand tightly, refusing to let go.
"Is it cold in the examination room? Is my lord feeling cold? The steamed buns I brought this morning will definitely be cold by noon. My lord has suffered so much, you should drink a couple more bowls of soup at dinner to warm your stomach."
Wu Qiuniang turned her face away and coughed twice. Jiang Ruan, who had been busy showing concern for her, finally came to his senses and became more composed.
Seeing He Zheng's amazed expression, Yu Mingshu lowered his voice and said, "My sister-in-law has a fiery personality and is very clear about her likes and dislikes."
Yu Dan finally managed to leave his wife behind and come to his good friend, only to hear He Zheng tease him, "Life is really different after marriage. Isn't it wonderful to be loved?"
Yu Dan rolled his eyes at him and said, "Envious? Why don't you just marry a wife yourself?"
He Zheng's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously looked at the person next to him, only to meet Yu Mingshu's ambiguous smile.
"Let's not talk about that." He waved his hand to change the subject, patted Yu Dan on the shoulder and asked, "How did you do on the exam? Are you confident you'll make the list?"
Yu Dan gave a meaningful smile, met the tense gazes of his family, and said cheerfully, "Tell Fengyang Tower to prepare a banquet, and wait for the victory celebration."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ru'an was so overjoyed that she almost jumped up, grabbing Wu Qiuniang's arm and saying, "Mother-in-law, did you hear what Sanlang said?"
"I heard you, I heard you." Wu Qiuniang helplessly pressed her hand down. "There are too many people talking outside, let's go home and talk about it."
There were fewer candidates for the Ming Dynasty law exam, so the grading process was faster than for the imperial examination. In early March, Yu Mingshu learned that the results of the Ming Dynasty law exam would be released soon.
The newly appointed palace maid in Zhaohua Palace smiled and said, "Sister Mingshu, since you care so much about Yu Sanlang's grades, why don't you just ask His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Another palace maid added, "That's right. His Highness has been going to the Taiji Hall to discuss matters these past few days, so he has probably already seen the list of those who made the list. Sister, you are highly regarded by His Highness. If you ask him, he will definitely not hide it from you."
Yu Mingshu chuckled and shook his head, saying, "I won't do anything against the rules, so as not to give outsiders any leverage."
The results will be announced in the next day or two.
On the morning of March 15th, Yu Mingshu, as usual, came to Zhaohua Hall to clock in and met Liang Yuanjun, who smiled at him.
"Congratulations, Yu Qing."
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