CH 23

The restaurant’s business was booming that night. Some soldiers had to rush back to accompany their families, and left after drinking to make room for other guests.

After Yu Dali went out, Zhao Yelan opened the window and watched the guests coming and going below. It wasn’t until a group of scholars approached that he ordered Gao Tan: “Go, tell the shopkeeper to have these people go to the number two room.”

Not long after, there was a burst of laughter from the corridor. Gao Tan was about to speak, but Zhao Yelan made a gesture for silence and listened carefully to the movement next door.

This group of people was made up of the candidates who were to compete in the Imperial examinations, and they were already somewhat famous. After taking a seat in the room, they soon began to drink and compose poems. Occasionally, some people boasted, attracting the applause and praise of others.

Among the high-spirited voices, only one person’s voice was a little weak: “I won’t drink, I don’t have enough silver on me.”

“How can you leave without having a drink? How about this, you read a fu essay and if we are all satisfied, we will let you go without paying any money. Okay?”

The man was quiet for a while, and read a fu essay in front of everyone, referring to the theme of tonight’s banquet and satirizing inebriated people who made a pretense at being cultured. The blow hit, causing everyone’s expressions to change slightly. Knowing that he was making oblique accusations, they simultaneously challenged him.

The corner of Zhao Yelan’s mouth curled up, and he whispered something to Gao Tan in a low voice.

Gao Tan nodded, and knocked on the next door: “My lord, will you take a step out to speak?”

“Who are you?” Someone asked.

Gao Tan didn’t answer. The man just wanted to escape this place, so he immediately followed him to the next room. As soon as he entered, he saw a handsome gongzi sitting upright and was a little surprised: “You are?”

“May I have your name?”

“Wang Guisheng.”

“It is really you. Please sit down.”

Recently, Zhao Yelan knew a little about some well-known candidates, but only a few people caught his eye, and one of them was Wang Guisheng. Born in a poor family, not good at poetry, but with unique insights in his fu essays, their text full of critical words and phrases, with extraordinary courage.

“I have read a few of your articles, and I really admire them,” Zhao Yelan said.

Wang Guisheng was a little surprised. Anyone who heard that their talent had been recognized would be delighted, not to mention Wang Guisheng, who had always been ridiculed because of his family background. He flattened the corners of his lips and tried to appear calm: “Thank you, brother. May I ask which one is your favorite?”

“I like the one where you scold Zhao Yelan the most.”

“Really?” Wang Guisheng looked at him incredulously. Just because this article was discovered and publicized, many people laughed at him and condemned him for being overconfident, and even scolded him for not being afraid of death.

“Few people liked this article.” Wang Guisheng felt that he had met a confidant, and looked at him excitedly. Seeing his extraordinary clothes and appearance, he asked again, “May I ask who this gongzi is? Perhaps we can be friends?”

“Zhao Yelan.”

“En?”

“This one is Zhao Yelan.”

Thump –

Wang Guisheng directly fell off the chair. His face was pale, and he felt that his days were really over.

It was one thing to make insinuations against someone in an article, but another to meet them face to face. He said tremblingly: “So……are you here to kill me?”

“No.” Zhao Yelan took a slow sip of tea and smiled slightly. “I truly admire your talent. Do you dare to write articles like this during the exam?”

Wang Guisheng clenched and loosened his fists, and said, “Yes, I will still write like this!”

“You may try, but they might not necessarily let you write the characters.” 

“Then I’ll write about injustice.”

“Not bad, a little backbone. I hope you will remember that sentence when you take the exam.” Zhao Yelan waved his sleeves. “Come, let’s eat.”

Wang Guisheng looked at him in surprise: “Aren’t you going to kill me?”

“What’s the use of killing you? Since we met here by chance, why not make friends.” Zhao Yelan smiled and ordered someone to add bowls and chopsticks, along with a few more dishes. “Come, hurry and eat.”

Wang Guisheng ate the most thrilling meal of his life. In the end, he left safely, and the other party gave him a treasured fu essay.

While walking out the gate, he looked back at the shadow in the window of the second floor, a little confused – what kind of person was Zhao Yelan? Was it consistent with the rumors?

“My lord, he bad-mouthed you, why did you invite him to dinner?” After the other left, Gao Tan had some complaints.

“Because he has a bright future,” Zhao Yelan said.

This person’s words and deeds proved that he was the kind of person Zhao Yelan needed the most now. He was talented, courageous, and upright. The last person like this was Kan Chuan, who had already risen to the top.

Two days ago, Liu-daren of the Ministry of Rites was temporarily removed from the position of Chief Examiner due to his conduct. An exception was made for Kan Chuan, and it could be seen that Zhao Xuan favored this type of person.

He had read several articles written by Wang Guisheng, and the possibility of him entering the top grades of the Imperial exam was very high. Once Zhao Xuan discovered Wang Giuisheng’s innate disposition, he would definitely have use for him.

Then why not give Wang Guisheng favors in advance?

It was getting late. Zhao Yelan walked downstairs and saw the drunken soldiers in the lobby. Frowning subconsciously, he walked outside.

A short while later, he went back again. He grabbed the ear of Yan Mingting, who was lying on the table, and said with gritted teeth: “Stand up, we’re going back!”

“Aiayaya.” Yan Mingting stood up in a daze, his body slanted to the side as he touched his hand. “Not so hard.”

“General, you’re henpecked, ah.” He Cuizhang’s face was flushed from drinking, and when he spoke loudly, everyone at the tables laughed, pointing at Yan Mingting and jeering.

“Non-nonsense.” Yan Mingting’s face went red. He could barely keep his eyes open as he put his hands on his hips in protest. “I’m standing because I want to!”

“Speak less nonsense and go back quickly, you’re making a fool of yourself.” Zhao Yelan pulled his ear hard and Yan Mingting begged for mercy.

Amidst the laughter of the crowd, Yan Mingting followed him out at a crooked angle. He fell directly into the sedan chair and collapsed on the seat.

Shortly after Zhao Yelan sat down, the man closed his eyes and tipped over to lean against his shoulder. He seemed to feel uncomfortable and held onto his arm firmly. “Not drinking?”

“You’re drunk, get off of me.” Zhao Yelan ruthlessly pulled his arm away, but the other directly embraced him instead.

“Not allowed, not allowed to leave without finishing this cup!”

The more Zhao Yelan struggled, the tighter the other party hugged. He sighed powerlessly toward the sky. Why did he bother taking this drunkard home?”

Fortunately, after he stopped struggling, Yan Mingting stopped moving, and the two maintained this posture as everything finally became quiet.

He regulated his breathing and looked sideways at the fellow hugging him. A straight nose, moist lips, red face, and rather long eyelashes. In fact, he was considered one of the most outstanding romantic figures, but the two of them couldn’t get along from the beginning, so when looking at Yan Mingting, he always found his appearance distasteful.

But the conversation last night made Zhao Yelan slightly change his view of him.

Even if they couldn’t get along in harmony, it didn’t hinder his appreciation of the other party.

Today, seeing him compete with so many masters with his own eyes, he knew that his position of General was not in vain.

If there was no marriage, the two may have become friends, or Yan Mingting might have shunned him like everyone else.

Right and wrong, cause and effect, these were truly not things that could be figured out through random assumptions.

“My lord, over there……oh, sorry!” At this time, Gao Tan lifted the window curtain, saw Yan Mingting and Zhao Yelan tightly embracing each other, and immediately covered his face in embarrassment. “I didn’t see anything.”

“……” Zhao Yelan didn’t bother to explain, and feigned being calm. “What is the matter?”

“There are two sneaky fellows over there, and one of them looks familiar, like Li Yucheng,” Gao Tan whispered.

“Go catch them and return.”

Li Yucheng had just walked into an alley to meet the young servant boy. The last time he found someone to beat Zhao Yelan secretly, but who would have thought that a group of men in black clothes would suddenly appear. He was used as a scapegoat, and he could not give a clear explanation when he opened his mouth. He might be beaten to death by his father if he went back, so he simply ran away to hide for a while to see if the government could find the real culprit.

In the past few days, he was relieved to hear that the government had closed the case, but he didn’t dare to go home for a while for fear of being scolded, so he had continued to hide outside for a couple of days. The money he had on him was no longer sufficient, so he had to ask the servant boy to secretly get some money from home.

The two of them were covertly exchanging the money when someone grabbed their collars from behind.

“Hey, hey, who are you? Do you know who this gongzi is?!” While shouting, Li Yucheng looked back and discovered that it was a familiar-looking young man, but couldn’t remember who he was at the moment. “Let go of me, you hear!”

Although this man looked thin and weak, his strength was not small. He and the boy flailed for a time, but couldn’t escape from the other’s grasp.

Gao Tan walked up to the sedan chair with one in each hand, and said, “My lord, I brought them.”

“Who the hell are you! Let go of me, believe it or not, I will send someone to arrest you!” Li Yucheng stared at the culprit in the sedan chair and shouted, “Come out if you have the ability, what are you doing hiding in the shadows!”

The sedan chair suddenly shifted, and he heard a cold voice: “You behave for me, don’t go out and make a fool of yourself!”

Upon hearing this, Li Yucheng faltered: “Zhao Yelan……?”

The curtain was lifted, and Li Yucheng saw Zhao Yelan coming out, followed by a drunk fellow.

Zhao Yelan first glanced at Li Yucheng, and then glared at Yan Mingting: “Go back, do you hear me?”

Yan Mingting lowered his head, leaned on his right shoulder, and didn’t move.

Zhao Yelan: “……”

Li Yucheng looked at the two standing together and his expression sank. He completely stopped making a fuss and stared at them silently, his eyes filled with resentment and anger.

“The people you sent have been arrested by the government and also pleaded guilty. Your father made several trips for you to spare you from being sentenced,” Zhao Yelan said.

Li Yucheng’s mouth curled, and tears rolled down unconvincingly. He turned his head and sniffed hard, saying, “In the end, it’s in your hands. If you want to kill me or cut my flesh, you can do as you please, just don’t touch my father.”

“You’ve said this yourself.”

Zhao Yelan walked over, and Yan Mingting was supported by the bearer next to him before he could fall to the ground.

Li Yucheng was slapped crisply with a pa, followed by another slap on the other side, leaving hot and painful slap marks on both cheeks.

“Zhao Yelan, you really dare to hit me!” Li Yucheng held his face in his hands and glared at Zhao Yelan furiously. He wanted to resist, but was held tightly by Gao Tan, unable to fight back as occasional passers-by glanced at him. He had never lost so much face!

“Hitting you is a light punishment, what did you intend for those people to do to me?” Zhao Yelan asked condescendingly.

Li Yucheng was at a loss for words. Naturally, he was going to have him punched and kicked inside of a sack.

Zhao Yelan didn’t wait for him to quibble about it, and directly ordered: “Hang him up.”

“Yes.”

“I’m the son of the Prime Minister, how dare you hang me? You are demoted now, believe it or not, I will have my father kill you!” Li Yucheng cursed.

“Go ahead,” Zhao Yelan said, “You don’t even dare to return home, but you remember your father after having a mishap?”

Li Yucheng felt dejected at these few words, and in the blink of an eye, he was tied up by Gao Tan. By the time he realized it, he had already been hung upside down on the willow tree next to him.

“Let me go, you let me go!” Li Yucheng was strung up by his feet with his head down, and he was so uncomfortable that it was difficult to curse others. “Heh, Zhao Yelan, you don’t have many good days left, sooner or later you will be killed by that evil star, Yan Mingting!”

When Yan Mingting heard his name, he stood up straight in a daze. Looking up at him, he walked up to Zhao Yelan, tugged at his sleeve, and said dizzily, “Wife, he scolded me. Beat him up.”

Zhao Yelan: “……”

“He is an evil star, he’ll kill everyone! My sister was killed without even entering the door. Zhao Yelan, your days are numbered, haha!”

A gust of cold wind blew by. Zhao Yelan coughed a few times and suddenly noticed a figure passing by swiftly to let down the person in the tree.

“Yan Mingting, what are you doing? Are you opposing me?” He was about to become angry, when he saw Yan Mingting stuff a piece of cloth into Li Yucheng’s mouth, slap him twice, and kick him before hanging him up again.

“The mouth is for eating, not for farting,” Yan Mingting said in a profound voice.

Li Yucheng: “Wu wu wu wu wu……”

Yan Mingting clapped his hands, turned around, and walked toward Zhao Yelan: “Let’s leave, let’s go home.”

Zhao Yelan looked him up and down with a half-smile: “General Yan is quite sober.”

Yan Mingting: “ ! ”

“Aiya, I’m so dizzy.” Yan Mingting rubbed his temples and leaned against him weakly.

Zhao Yelan kicked him on the calf and turned around to get into the sedan chair. When he bent down, he felt a sudden weight on his shoulders.

He turned his head to see that Yan Mingting had taken off his cloak and placed it on him.

“It’s cool at night, don’t catch a cold.” Yan Mingting smiled.