After asking a few more casual questions, he suddenly noticed a middle-aged man reading the Eight-Legged Essay in a corner. He narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Why is there an extra person?”
“Reporting to the steward, that is the tutor Madam Mei found for the Fourth Young Master. The Fourth Young Master said he wants to take the imperial examinations,” Liu’er replied with downcast eyes and a submissive manner.
Hearing Liu’er’s words, the steward smiled mockingly. “Is that so? Then I hope the Fourth Young Master doesn’t disappoint his mother’s good intentions.”
However, as he was leaving, the steward glanced at the state of the villa, somewhat surprised.
He knew about this villa. It had long been in disrepair; the Ye family didn’t even hold the land deed for this area anymore. It had become a derelict property.
Why did it look somewhat… new today?
Especially the dog Liu’er was feeding.
The steward found it strangely familiar.
A few days ago, there were curly-haired dogs imported as tribute from Persia. He heard one cost several thousand taels of silver. The eldest young lady had always wanted to raise one but couldn’t, mainly because the Ye family couldn’t possibly spend thousands of taels to buy a dog.
Thinking this, the steward withdrew his gaze. It couldn’t be one of those tribute dogs.
The Fourth Young Master and his mother could barely afford food now. How could they possibly have money for such an expensive dog?
What Steward Ye didn’t know was that after he left, Liu’er, who had seemed so afraid of him, looked up. Not a trace of fear remained on her face.
“Old Wang, come here,” Liu’er picked up the dog. “Come on, sister will take you to find Madam Mei.”
Meanwhile, Steward Ye had already returned to the Ye residence.
“Well?” Madame Ye waved for the servants around her to leave and asked Steward Ye.
Steward Ye answered respectfully, “I didn’t see the Fourth Young Master. He had gone out drinking with friends. However, Madam Mei did find a scholar to act as a tutor for the Fourth Young Master, intending for him to take the imperial examinations. But the Fourth Young Master obviously isn’t interested; he hasn’t been studying properly at all.”
“That Concubine Mei still refuses to give up,” Madame Ye wasn’t angered; she just felt like laughing. “Her son, taking the imperial examinations? She must be daydreaming.”
Madame Ye knew all about Ye Shaohua’s character.
So, hearing that Concubine Mei had found Ye Shaohua a tutor, she didn’t pay it any mind.
After listening to a few more details, she dismissed the steward.
Her mind was now fully occupied with her own son.
Another two years passed.
The triennial provincial-level imperial examinations finally began.
“What? You really want to take the provincial exam?” Concubine Mei, holding the dog Old Wang, was shocked to see Ye Shaohua preparing to leave with Liu’er for the exams.
Over these three years, she had seen with her own eyes how Ye Shaohua left the scholar idling at the villa while she went out herself, hardly ever seen studying.
However, Concubine Mei also knew her daughter was truly capable.
She had been worried about Ye Shaohua at first.
But once, when Ye Shaohua casually jumped down from a rooftop and casually handed her two hundred taels in silver notes, Concubine Mei realized Ye Shaohua had secrets she didn’t know about.
Concubine Mei slept lightly these years.
Occasionally waking at night, she could see shadowy figures coming to find Ye Shaohua.
She pretended not to see.
But now, hearing Ye Shaohua was actually going to take the provincial exam, she finally voiced her doubts.
Ye Shaohua told Liu’er to shoulder the backpack. Hearing Concubine Mei’s words, she patted her mother’s shoulder. Although she was only fourteen, Concubine Mei was petite, and Ye Shaohua was already quite a bit taller.
“Mother, I’m off.”
Concubine Mei looked at Ye Shaohua’s face, fair as jade. Even dressed in men’s clothing, it couldn’t conceal her extraordinary bearing.
She was already beginning to regret. If not for her, her daughter would be at the age for marriage discussions now.
“Yes, I’ll wait for you.” Concubine Mei touched her head and saw her off to the street corner ahead.
The exam location wasn’t far, less than an hour by carriage. The exam lasted a total of three days.
Liu’er waited in the carriage. Seeing other candidates emerge looking haggard and utterly exhausted, she prepared a wool cloak to drape over her young master as soon as he came out.
However, when Ye Shaohua emerged, Liu’er found she looked nothing like the other bedraggled candidates.
This puzzled Liu’er, but she still draped the wool cloak over Ye Shaohua.
“Let’s not go back to see mother first,” Ye Shaohua leaned out from inside. “Go to the Evergreen Pavilion first.”
Liu’er knew of the Evergreen Pavilion. It was the number one restaurant in the capital, rumored to even have chain stores.
Even someone like Liu’er knew of this restaurant’s reputation, showing how famous it was.
Thinking Ye Shaohua wanted to go there, Liu’er assumed she was craving good food.
When they arrived at the entrance of the Evergreen Pavilion, Ye Shaohua didn’t get out, which Liu’er found strange.
“Fourth Young Master.” The owner of the Evergreen Pavilion had long been waiting respectfully. As soon as Ye Shaohua arrived, he handed her a wooden box.
Ye Shaohua gestured with her chin for Liu’er to take it.
Puzzled, Liu’er accepted the box.
**
Half a month later, the provincial exam results were finally posted.
Ye Shaoming was four years older than Ye Shaohua, already eighteen. If he hadn’t been so focused on the exams, he would have been married long ago.
Ye Qingweng was speeding through his official duties at the Grand Court of Revision.
Remembering today was the day results were posted, he wanted to hurry back and see if Ye Shaoming had passed the exam.
Just as he stepped out of the Grand Court’s main gate, he saw Minister Li, who usually paid him little mind, walking towards him with a smile. “Minister Ye, what excellent fortune you have, raising such a brilliantly talented son.”
Minister Li’s official rank was one level higher than his and they weren’t from the same faction.
But he was the chief examiner for this exam…
Now he was actually initiating conversation, praising him for having a good son.
Ye Qingweng immediately thought of Ye Shaoming. Especially since today was results day. Had Shaoming placed within the top three?
