Chapter 57 The Seven Clouds Obscure the View
Wang Yuying instantly recalled Hugu Xumi's previous evaluation of Zheng Yangzhi: "as clear as ice," "as pure as jade," "overflowing with talent"... all were words of praise, while Zheng Yangzhi had not a single good word to say.
This comparison...
In the past, she would have simply bypassed Zheng Yangzhi and left, but now she remembered his encouragement when he braved the snow to visit her.
Wang Yuying then took a deep breath and tried to keep her tone as calm as possible: "Zheng Yangzhi, please rest assured that I will always keep your last sentence in mind and never forget it. Whether Ami is good or bad, I will make my own judgment. If something really happens, I will put the country first."
Upon hearing the name Amitabha, Zheng Yangzhi lowered his eyes, intending to speak again, but seeing Wang Yuying's parted lips, clearly intending to continue, he did not interrupt.
"As for what you said earlier... You used to slander me in front of others, and now you're belittling Ami in front of me. I wonder who you'll go and criticize in front of Ami in the future?" Wang Yuying paused. "I didn't mean to hold a grudge, nor did I intentionally try to annoy you. Actually, you're a good person in every other way, except you always talk badly about others behind their backs, secretly frame them, and elevate yourself by stepping on others. You're not upright at all, not a gentleman, and certainly not a hero. You said you wanted to change your ways, and you did stop talking badly about me, but please treat everyone the same and don't talk about others. As the saying goes, 'Reflect on your own faults in quiet contemplation, and refrain from gossiping about others in idle talk,' and 'Those who spread gossip are themselves gossips.'"
Zheng Yang's jawline was taut, and he tried his best to keep his body steady. His throat didn't move, and only his eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly. His lowered eyelids cast a shadow in his eyes.
The young eunuch who had run off came running back in a flash, bowing and smiling obsequiously: "Lord Wang, His Majesty is waiting."
Wang Yuying glanced at Zheng Yangzhi again, hesitated for a moment, and then said "I'm leaving" before walking around and following the eunuch.
Zheng Yangzhi slowly raised his eyes, gazing at Wang Yuying's retreating figure, and suddenly thought: If only he had never slandered her before. If only he hadn't framed her, over and over again, for years. If only he hadn't falsely accused her of being violent and vindictive, hadn't used such vicious words, and hadn't denigrated her as a prostitute.
If this is the first time he has spoken ill of someone, will she believe him?
As Zheng Yangzhi gazed into the distance, it felt as if dust particles had flown into his eyes, causing a sharp stinging sensation.
Wang Yuying's figure gradually blurred and disappeared.
Xu Heng summoned her to the Imperial Study.
Recalling the unpleasant parting at this place last time, Wang Yuying looked at the plaque, took a breath, and then entered the room.
Xu Heng slowly put down his pen and silently gazed at Wang Yuying.
She would look away as soon as her eyes met his, and then she would walk into the study and stop seven or eight steps away from the desk.
Wang Yuying looked down at the ground: "Your Majesty."
"How many warriors have registered for this year's martial arts examination?" Xu Heng asked first.
"As of yesterday, more than 1,700 people had reported."
"How many should each prefecture and county report?" Wang Yuying was taken aback. Why ask such a detailed question? Fortunately, she had done it herself and remembered everything. Moreover, she had brought a list with her when she came, which contained statistics on the candidates' hometowns and backgrounds. She just took it out.
Qingfu immediately jogged over to take it and handed it to Xu Heng. As Xu Heng picked it up, he ran his fingertips along the edge of the book she had just been holding, turned the pages one by one, and gently put it down.
He remained silent for a long time. Wang Yuying thought she was being suspected of fabricating information, so she spoke up to clarify: "I have reported everything truthfully."
Xu Heng said calmly, "This year, more people from remote prefectures and counties have submitted applications than in previous years, and poor scholars are eager to take the exams. We should select talents from humble backgrounds and choose generals from soldiers. The military examinations should not be restricted by social status."
Wang Yuying stood silently. At first, these words went in one ear and out the other, but then a sudden flash of inspiration made them go back into her right ear—he was reminding her to promote more people from poor families, who would become her students in the future.
This is Xu Heng's real purpose in sending her to oversee the martial arts examination.
Or does he have some other trick up his sleeve to ambush her?
After a moment, Wang Yuying nodded slightly.
Xu Heng noticed this, his eyelids twitched slightly, but his lips remained closed.
The room remained silent for a long time.
Wang Yuying frowned. Could Xu Heng really be planning to keep silently waiting on her like this?
The affairs at the Ministry of War are piling up to the point of blocking the entrance!
Not wanting to waste time and energy, she casually cupped her hands in a gesture of respect: "If there's nothing else—"
Before he could even say goodbye, Xu Heng interrupted, "You spent the entire day yesterday with Hugu Xumi."
Wang Yuying frowned even more deeply; he was indeed still monitoring her.
Xu Heng slowly spoke from the head of the table: "I have already investigated for you. He has a clean background and has not been tainted by worldly affairs. He is fit to spend the night with you."
Wang Yuying was stunned for a moment, and when she realized what Xu Heng was saying, she suddenly looked up and locked eyes with him. Xu Heng had one hand on the table and the other on the armrest, craning his neck to meet her gaze. Wasn't she only interested in this type of person? As long as she was still by his side, he could tolerate it.
Wang Yuying's cheeks flushed rapidly. She shifted her gaze to the left, avoiding eye contact, but spoke angrily: "Xu Qilang, what kind of person do you take me for? How can you be so filthy and vicious! Ami and I are sworn brothers, following the example of Zuo Yang and Guan Bao!"
She kept recalling Hugu's righteous and stern clarification on Mount Sumeru, and how Hugu had still paid for the books after she had stated that Jingye was her lover, which made her feel quite at ease. If she truly harbored romantic feelings, even with a broad mind and magnanimity, it would be impossible for her not to feel uncomfortable at all, yet she could still laugh and joke without even frowning!
Her shoulders trembled even more violently, and her chest heaved violently: "Back in the Northern Frontier, you often made malicious assumptions about him, and later you made a big fuss about the tribute, fabricating malicious words and slandering people!"
Xu Heng stared intently at her as she blushed and angrily rebuked him, her words flowing endlessly, even spitting out a few drops of foam.
He couldn't help but recall the moment he caught her and Jing Ye together; she had been so calm and composed, responding succinctly without uttering a word of explanation.
As for Zheng Yangzhi, he's not even worth mentioning.
She continued, "What law forbids people from taking care of old friends? Besides, Ami considers me his only true friend. He's coming to the capital, so why can't I host him?"
Xu Heng suddenly recalled that many years ago, he seemed to have looked like her several times, and the resemblance was striking.
His heart suddenly sank into the void, he panicked uncontrollably, and then plummeted downwards.
A chill ran through my body, and I instinctively swallowed, trying to suppress the terrifying coldness.
Wang Yuying breathed a sigh of relief, and added at the end, "I have received you with the utmost sincerity; how have I overstepped my bounds?"
Xu Heng finally couldn't help but blurt out: "He always had ulterior motives. Once, even though I was at home, he called out 'Sister-in-law, open the door!' first!"
Wang Yuying scoffed, involuntarily directing her anger at Xu Heng for Zheng Yangzhi's words: "You're just nitpicking and narrow-minded! Only Ami is different from you. He never stirs up trouble, whether in the Northern Frontier or right now, he has never said a bad word about you in front of me! Yet you speak ill of me, it's all prejudice!"
Wang Yuying glanced at Xu Heng and sighed again: "Your Majesty, when you see someone virtuous, think of emulating them and choose the good ones to follow."
Xu Heng almost choked on his breath: She was trying to persuade him to learn from Hugu Xumi!
Wang Yuying turned and left. What used to be ten steps to the study door had taken her only eight, and she left without looking back. Xu Heng watched her receding figure, his heart filled not only with a chilling feeling, but also with a growing sense of absurdity.
On her way back to the Ministry of War, Wang Yuying's anger lingered, and her mind was in turmoil. She couldn't help but look around.
No, she couldn't let it interfere with politics. She suppressed her anger, quickly adjusted her breathing at the entrance of the Ministry of War, and shook her head as if to put all distracting thoughts behind her before entering.
They treated handling affairs as routine.
Liao Qing then privately inquired after a short while: "I noticed that you look unusual, sir. Is it due to the strain of paperwork? If you are feeling unwell, you may take a break. We can share the usual administrative duties."
Wang Yuying was taken aback. Was something still wrong with her? She clearly hadn't read aloud the words spoken in Xu Heng's study.
"No, no," she denied. "I'm fine, but I have a lot on my plate. We need to step up our efforts."
Liao Qing nodded.
From then on, Wang Yuying never thought of Hugu Xumi again. That day, everyone was busy until 7 PM before they finished their shifts.
For the next few days, he did the same, working from dawn till dusk, focusing solely on the martial arts exam, without a single distraction.
Another day, just after dusk, Wang Yuying and Chu Ying stepped out of the palace gate and spotted a tall figure pacing back and forth in the distance, leading a horse. Wang Yuying called out with a smile, "Aye!"
Jing Ye had already spotted her and hurried over. It had been so long since they last met that his eyes were glued to her face, as if he wanted to make up for all the time he had missed during the past month.
"Get on the horse and go home!" Wang Yuying and Chu Ying both mounted their horses, and Jing Ye followed suit.
The three of them went to Yongjia Lane to ride horses. It was so late, and Jingye was most worried about Wang Yuying's health. He asked, "Yingniang, have you eaten dinner?"
Recently, when duty ended late, the Ministry of War provided extra food. Wang Yuying replied, "I ate." Without elaborating, she asked Jing Ye, "What about you?"
"I've already eaten."
The two fell silent.
Although they didn't chat, Jingye's joy was undiminished. He thought that he was probably really happy to see Yingniang, and he even felt that the lanterns along this road were particularly bright, almost as bright as the torches in their camp.
He had the love poem on his mind, but firstly, Chu Ying was present, and secondly, it would be too informal to give her the poem immediately. He decided to give it to her when he went to Yongjia Lane!
Jing Ye didn't realize that he kept glancing at Wang Yuying, but Wang Yuying noticed and couldn't help but smile and remind him, "Watch where you're going."
Jingye immediately gripped the reins and stared intently ahead.
Wang Yuying smiled and said, "I picked out a few books for you. They're at home. I'll give them to you later. Remember to remind me if you forget."
Jingye was overjoyed and turned his head again: "I've finished reading all the books I've read before, and I'm just wondering what to read next!"
It seems I don't need to consult Zheng Yangzhi for now.
"Have you finished reading them all? What have you been reading lately?"
“The Classic of Filial Piety,” Jingye replied, then recalled the poem and slowly recited it like a lover’s whisper: My heart is filled with love, how can I not speak of it? I cherish it in my heart, how can I forget it?
He couldn't help but touch the envelope containing the poem, which he had tucked into his chest, through his clothes.
The letter must be as hot as blood.
Wang Yuying, oblivious to Jing Ye's actions, looked ahead and asked, "Is there anything you don't understand? You can't just skim through what you read."
"Don't worry, I'll ask the acting clerk anything I don't understand." Jing Ye immediately told her how he seized every break during training to ask questions, and also mentioned that the "Book of Rites" and "Book of Etiquette" he had been studying were more difficult to understand than the "Classic of Filial Piety" because he had so many questions. So he simply had the acting clerk stay in his tent at night so he could ask her questions whenever he wanted. One time, it was so late that the acting clerk stayed overnight and said that Jing Ye was reciting the "Book of Rites" in his sleep.
Wang Yuying and Chu Ying both laughed heartily. Wang Yuying thought to herself that she still couldn't let Jing Ye choose books by himself; she would help him choose them from now on.
Jing Ye turned his head to look at Wang Yuying and asked with a smile, "Yingniang, how have you been lately?"
Wang Yuying unconsciously curled up the corners of her lips: "Recently, an old friend of mine came to Beijing. We haven't seen each other for a long time, but we still get along as well as before."
She suppressed her smile: "We went together to pay respects to my parents and General Wei. He had visited our home before..." Wang Yuying smiled again, "We also had some delicious fish soup."
The more Jing Ye listened, the less his smile faded. Ever since that time at Yuqing Temple, every time they met, he couldn't help but share with her the interesting things that had happened during their separation.
Wang Yuying rarely shares her daily life, and even when Jing Ye inquires, she only mentions it briefly.
He had been hoping for her to share in such detail and joy for a long time, but why did he only feel cold and stiff when his dream came true?
Jing Ye carefully examined Wang Yuying's eyebrows and eyes. Her eyebrows were so relaxed. If she were to laugh out loud now, her laughter would surely be joyful and would infect everyone around her, making them feel great!
Jingye's horse, which was about to turn right, continued walking forward. Wang Yuying couldn't help but call out urgently, "Hey, be careful! It's about to turn!"
I just reminded you, why don't you remember to watch where you're going?
"I forgot for a moment." Jing Ye smiled again, grinning and showing his teeth. The young lady's smile just now was exceptionally rare, and he hoped she would smile more and didn't want to ruin it.
Therefore, the love poem was not sent on the day off.
He didn't ask Wang Yuying a single word about this old friend, in any case he was certain that she was not the one who gave him flowers on the Double Ninth Festival.
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