After the Qionglin Banquet, the top three scholars (first and third place) would be directly granted official positions and enter the Hanlin Academy to engage in civil service work, cultivate their abilities, and accumulate seniority. The top scholar (Zhuangyuan) would be granted the official position of compiler in the Hanlin Academy, while the second and third place scholars (Bangyan and Tanhua) would be granted the official position of editor in the Hanlin Academy.
Yan Liang never expected that he would become a civil servant one day, and his feelings were quite complicated.
As subtle as it may be, he still worked diligently. The senior members of the Hanlin Academy were kind and helpful, offering guidance and teaching them step by step.
During his spare time from work, Yan Liang also contacted a reputable local escort agency and asked them to bring Yan Shenming to the capital from Yan Shendu's hometown. He paid a deposit first, and the remaining amount would be paid after he met Yan Shenming.
He had originally intended to pick them up personally, but the journey was long and asking for leave would be quite troublesome, so Yan Liang had no choice but to opt for a relatively safer method. The escort agency had a good reputation, and given Yan Liang's generous offer, the head escort readily agreed to the task.
After arranging for Yan Shenming to come to the capital, Yan Liang continued to work diligently, putting all his energy into turning his life around.
The colleagues in the Hanlin Academy were all very easy to get along with. Liu Changmin, who was the second-place scholar in the same year as them, was a little older and more mature.
Although, in terms of actual age, Yan Liangcai is the oldest.
After becoming familiar with their colleagues in the Hanlin Academy, they would sometimes go out for a drink and listen to some music together.
That day, Yan Liang and Li Xunle finished work, went home to change out of their official robes, and then went out to the restaurant where they had arranged to meet their colleagues from the Hanlin Academy.
Yan Liang stared at the plaque above his head and fell silent.
"Do you... know that Hongxiu Pavilion is a brothel?"
Yan Liang posed a question that came from the depths of his soul.
Li Xunle's expression was not good: "...I don't know."
They had always booked ordinary restaurants before, where they could have a meal, go home, and catch up with each other; this time, someone organized a gathering, and the two of them thought it would be the same as before, so they agreed.
...Who would have thought it was a brothel?
After a moment of silence, Yan Liang lifted his leg and started to walk inside—since he was already here, he should at least eat before going back, even if it was a brothel—but Li Xunle quietly grabbed his arm, and Yan Liang turned to look at him in confusion.
"Are we really going in?"
Li Xunle's ears turned a little red.
Yan Liang: "..."
Before Yan Liang could respond, the brothel madam came forward, and the other girls escorted the two of them inside.
"Is it Yan Tanhua and Li Zhuangyuan? Oh my, they are even more handsome in person than I've heard. You two, please come upstairs quickly. All the other officials have arrived. Miss Yuze agreed to accompany you today just to see the top scholar and the third-ranking scholar."
The madam kept talking, and Li Xunle panicked: "Wait, wait! I..."
When resistance proved futile, Li Xunle looked to Yan Liang for help, but Yan Liang was preoccupied with the "Miss Yuze" the madam had mentioned.
The two were led up to a private room on the second floor. Yan Liang pushed open the door and entered. All the people who had agreed to participate in the gathering were already seated, except for the two of them.
The music inside was melodious, like the babbling of a mountain spring. Wisps of incense smoke rose from the burner, their fragrance reminiscent of the pleasant scent of lilac.
In the center of the room sat a beautiful young woman in red, her eyes lowered as she gently stroked the strings of a zither.
The girl in red looked up at him, smiled gently, like a willow swaying in the breeze, her eyes like pools of water, full of tender affection.
Yan Liang's right eyelid twitched suddenly, and he felt a chill for some reason.
"Miss Yuze is indeed beautiful, Brother Yan, there's no need to stare at her like that."
Liu Changmin joked with a smile, and the others laughed along.
Yan Liang looked embarrassed and said to the girl Yu Ze, "Everyone has a love for beauty. I was impolite."
Miss Yuze smiled shyly and said softly, "Scholar Yan, there's no need to take it to heart."
Yan Liang smiled.
Once seated, the others joked one after another, saying that Miss Yuze must have been captivated by Yan Liang's charm, and Yan Liang smiled and accepted it as a compliment.
"Why is Brother Li blushing? Is this your first time in a place like this?"
Some people teased Li Xunle, and once one started, others joined in the teasing. The contrast between Yan Liang and Li Xunle was stark, so some joked that Yan Liang, at such a young age, must be able to dabble in countless women without getting attached, truly deserving of the title of "Third-Rank Scholar."
"This is indeed my first time in a place like this."
Although Li Xunle tried his best to hide it, his bright red ears betrayed his inner turmoil.
Everyone looked at him and laughed.
Yuze was not the only one serving; there were three other girls pouring drinks and keeping her company.
When Yuze poured wine for Yanliang with a blush on her face, she accidentally touched Yanliang's fingers. Startled, she withdrew her hand and looked at Yanliang shyly.
Yan Liang: "..."
He smiled at the shy girl.
And I felt a strange yet subtle sense of familiarity.
Their gatherings usually involved rambling conversations, rarely touching on politics. But this time, as they talked, Liu Changmin brought up the newly appointed head of the Western Depot by the emperor. After a few words, he was interrupted by a senior colleague. Liu Changmin suddenly realized his mistake and immediately changed the subject.
Court officials are not allowed to discuss political affairs in private, but Liu Changmin broke this rule this time.
Yan Liang didn't pay much attention to court affairs. When he heard Liu Changmin mention this matter, he thought for a moment and only remembered that the eunuch seemed to be named Yu Huatian.
Everyone tacitly agreed not to mention the matter again, and they resumed drinking and reciting poetry, returning to their previous lively state.
Yan Liang joined in the drinking, but felt a bit bald.
Yuze would always glance at him shyly, and when he looked back, she would lower her head and not look at him.
Yan Liang felt a chill run down his spine from all the stares. Everyone else was secretly laughing at him, even Li Xunle was laughing—their laughter probably meant something like acting as a matchmaker to bring about a good match—Yan Liang gave an awkward and somewhat melancholy smile and downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.
He stroked his wine cup, and Yuze's gaze kept drifting towards him. After holding back for a moment, Yan Liang suddenly turned his head and smiled at Yuze, and their eyes met.
"Is your surname Wang, young lady?"
Yan Liang asked in a gentle voice.
Miss Yuze blinked, seemingly somewhat surprised, and replied, "My surname is Chi."
Oh... his surname is Chi...
Yan Liang replied expressionlessly, "Oh."
"Chi Yuze... is a good name."
He gave a very fair evaluation.
"You flatter me, Scholar Yan..." Chi Yuze suddenly looked sad. "But what good is a good name if she's still just a woman of the night who can't be presented in public..."
Yan Liang gently took Chi Yuze's soft hands in his, and said in a gentle voice, "If you are willing, I am willing to redeem you from your servitude."
Yuze was surprised, but shook her head and said sadly, "I am not worthy of a man as virtuous and upright as Yan Tanhua... I appreciate your kindness in redeeming me."
Yan Liang smiled slightly and said softly, "Miss Yuze, what are you saying? I am unworthy of the title 'pure and bright,' Miss Yuze is too kind."
Li Xunle stared blankly at the two of them. It seemed like the development of their relationship was a natural progression, but he always felt that something was off.
Miss Yuze smiled and said, "Young Master Yan, please don't be modest."
Okay, go ahead and pretend, keep acting.
Yan Liang smiled broadly.
The two of them laughed at each other.
Yan Liang sighed, "Having met Miss Yuze today, I now know just how stunning her beauty is."
Chi Yuze lowered his head, looking very shy.
Just as Yan Liang was about to continue his act, he heard the other person whisper again, "If Scholar Yan insists on redeeming this young lady... it's not impossible."
Yan Liang: ...Is this plot not over yet?
The dashing and debonair scholar said regretfully, "...I am truly sorry, but I suddenly realized that I am penniless and have a younger brother to take care of. I am afraid I do not have enough money to redeem Miss Yuze."
Yuze: "..."
The crowd, who had been listening intently to the conversation, had expected to witness a beautiful story of a talented scholar and a beautiful woman getting married, something only found in traditional novels. However, they were surprised by the unexpected ending.
...And the reason is so simple and down-to-earth.
Yan Liang withdrew his hand, poured a cup of wine, and said softly and gently, "If you are willing to wait for me... then drink this cup of wine."
His voice was so gentle, his eyes tender and lingering, yet with an undeniable firmness.
Yuze felt a lump in his throat, reached out and took the wine cup, covered his face with his sleeve, and drank it all in one gulp.
After a hearty meal, the group left Hongxiu Pavilion together. Before leaving, Yan Liang exchanged a deep look with Miss Yuze and reluctantly departed from the place.
Everyone thought Yan Liang was very sad, and kindly comforted him.
Yan Liang could not hide his melancholy, but smiled and said that he was fine.
The words of comfort came even more intensely, especially from Liu Changmin, whose expression was equally melancholy, as if he too had a long story to tell. Yan Liang's shoulder ached from Liu Changmin's pats, but knowing it was meant to comfort him, he could only endure it.
After everyone parted ways, Yan Liang and Li Xunle walked home. Li Xunle thought to himself that even though Yan Liang said he was fine, he must still be upset about not being able to redeem Yuze from her servitude.
In this world, there are very few people who love each other but can stay together for life. Li Xun was happy to see that Yan Liang fell in love with Yu Ze at first sight, and he hesitated, hoping to help him get what he wanted.
However, given Brother Yan's proud and unyielding nature, he would probably be unwilling to accept his help...
Li Xunle's mind was in turmoil. He turned his head to look at Yan Liang, expecting to see a melancholy and sad expression on the other's face. However, to his surprise, Yan Liang smiled and his eyes were curved, as if he had encountered a great joy.
Li Xunle: ...? ? ? ?
Yan Liang noticed his gaze and realized that he was being too obvious in his joy, so he quickly composed himself, but the smile in his eyes could not be wiped away.
Li Xunle hesitated and asked, "Brother Yan seems very happy?"
Yan Liang smiled and said, "I met an old friend."
Li Xunle was puzzled. They had been in the Red Sleeve Pavilion all along. If they ran into an old friend... who could it be?
His doubts were quickly answered; Yan Liang's old friend was none other than Yu Ze, the girl from the Red Sleeve Pavilion.
That's not quite right either.
If you really want to be specific, Yuze isn't a girl, but a man, and a senior he knows.
The two of them returned to the mansion, and before they could even catch their breath, they saw someone in the courtyard.
The man sat by the stone table, his face obscured by the shadows of the clouds, with only the moonlight illuminating the corner of his robe, its crimson hue dazzlingly bright.
"You're walking too slowly."
The man said without any politeness.
Li Xunle was startled; the voice clearly belonged to Yuze from the Red Sleeve Pavilion.
Yan Liang said lazily, "After all, no one is as skilled in martial arts as you. This short distance is no problem for you, but it is a big problem for the two of us."
As the dark clouds gradually dispersed, the person's face was revealed to them, but it was not the girl Yuze that Li Xunle had thought she was.
Li Xunle stared at him blankly, then tentatively asked, "Senior Wang?"
Although Wang Lianhua and Li Xunle's father were far apart in age, they were close friends. Li Xunle had met him a few times when he was young, and now that they met again, he felt that Wang Lianhua was just like he was back then, with no change in appearance.
Wang Lianhua nodded to him, patted the stone table, and said, "Come and sit down."
He said this using his native pronunciation.
The two sat down at the table as instructed. Li Xunle explained his relationship with Wang Lianhua to Yan Liang, who nodded and said, "I see."
Li Xunle timely raised a question: "Could it be that Senior Wang is Miss Yuze from the Red Sleeve Pavilion?"
Wang Lianhua is known in the martial arts world as the "Thousand-Faced Gentleman." Li Xunle thought to himself that the girl Yuze must be Senior Wang in disguise.
Wang Lianhua said casually, "Today's Miss Yuze is me. I just borrowed Yuze's identity."
Yan Liang nodded and said, "I see."
Wang Lianhua raised an eyebrow and said, "Is this the only line you know?"
Yan Liang thought for a moment and said sincerely, "I have to say, your story is as tacky as ever."
Li Xunle: "...?"
Wang Lianhua chuckled: "You really haven't changed at all."
Yan Liang replied modestly, "Not at all, we're in the same boat."
The author has something to say: [Li Xunhuan is a scion of a prominent family, whose lineage has been outstanding for generations. His family has produced seven Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) across three generations, but unfortunately, none of them have achieved the highest rank of Zhuangyuan (top scholar). In Li Xunhuan's generation, his two sons are exceptionally talented and gifted. The old man places all his hopes on his two sons, hoping that they can achieve the highest rank of Zhuangyuan to make up for his own shortcomings.]
—The above is excerpted from Baidu Encyclopedia.
When I was writing it, I thought of "seven Jinshi from one family, three Tanhua from father and son", but I was a bit confused by the Baidu introduction. It is said that there were already seven Jinshi before Old Li became Tanhua, and then there were three Tanhua afterward.
There were seven Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) across three generations, including Li Xunhuan.
A little angel pointed this out today, so I searched it up again. Online, the phrase "a family with seven Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), and five of them, an uncle and his nephews, held the Hanlin Academy" means "a family produced seven Jinshi, five of whom were uncles and nephews who served as Hanlin scholars."
Then I understood.
I've misunderstood.
It should be "seven people from three generations, including Li Xunhuan, passed the imperial examinations".
I made a mistake, I'm so sorry OTZ
It's been corrected! Goodnight, everyone! Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants between 2020-02-15 19:10:40 and 2020-02-16 20:22:43!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: 1 three-zongzi;
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Xinliu (6 bottles);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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