Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Seeing his brother agree, Chao Yunping smiled with relief. After a few more words urging him to rest early, he got up and left the study.

The door closed softly, and the study returned to silence. Chao Cheyun put down the bowl of soup and leaned back in his chair, exhausted. Even for someone as clever as him, his temples were throbbing with pain.

For him, anything involving that person's name made him tread carefully and struggle to move forward.

Worry... worry...

***

In the Ji mansion's study, candles burned brightly. Ji Ye, seated behind his desk, twirled a string of smooth rosewood prayer beads, his gaze lowered, betraying no emotion.

Ji Zhou, meanwhile, sat off to one side, holding a teacup casually. The rising steam obscured his handsome features, making it difficult to guess his true thoughts.

Sitting across from them was a young candidate named Meng Yigui, dressed in a blue scholar's robe.

The young man still bore a scholarly air, yet his eyes revealed a shrewdness and urgency beyond his years.

"Lord Ji, Master Ji," Meng Yigui said, deliberately restraining his tone but unable to hide his urgency. "I heard they want to ask the Su family to preside over this spring's exam? This matter..."

Ji Ye slowly raised his eyes to look at him, then without immediately answering, turned his gaze to his son.

Ji Zhou set down his teacup and said calmly, "Yan Dongshan brought this up in morning court. His Majesty does intend to do so, but whether Su Zhanyu is willing to take this hot potato remains uncertain."

His words were light, as if he were commenting on some court gossip unrelated to himself.

In truth, Ji Zhou was not entirely bluffing. He had known Su Zhanyu since childhood and understood the lofty integrity of the man's character, as well as how deeply subsequent events had affected him. Su Zhanyu had been in seclusion for a long time; whether he would emerge easily due to the emperor's will and the recommendation of courtiers was indeed uncertain.

However, behind his calm analysis lay a hint of wariness. He knew Su Zhanyu, and precisely because he knew him, he understood that if this man were truly swayed, with his pristine reputation among the literati and his uncompromising nature, their original schemes of planting people in the examination hall and manipulating rankings would surely come to nothing.

Thus, his reply was simply a habit of careful calculation; he was unwilling to reveal his hand, even to his father's protégé.

"Uncertain?" Meng Yigui put on a look of concern for the nation. "Lord Ji, Master Ji, it's not that I am impatient, but if the Su family truly presides, with their principled style, they will be extremely harsh, which may dishearten the scholars under your patronage. Moreover..."

He looked earnestly at Ji Ye. "I have benefited from the careful arrangements of you, Lord, and Minister Tan of the Ministry of Rites, and only then... only then gained some slight hope. Wouldn't all our previous efforts go to waste? My personal future is of little account; I only fear failing to live up to the nurturing you and Minister Tan have given me."

Anyone can talk, and anyone can spout crap—just like anyone can pass gas. Meng Yigui had said so much, but inwardly he was burning with anxiety. He had studied hard for ten years, with his family's full support, just to win a jinshi degree and bring glory to his clan. And Ji Ye and Tan Huaiyuan had indeed secretly paved the way for him, even arranging how to manipulate the sealed name and copying process to ensure a high ranking. With success almost in sight, an unyielding Su Zhanyu might suddenly appear in his path. How could he not panic?

He had to stop it all.

After a moment, Ji Ye finally spoke, his voice steady. "Yigui, calm down." His gaze swept over Meng Yigui with a hint of scrutiny. "Zhou'er's words are not without reason. Su Zhanyu may not accept."

"My Lord," Meng Yigui continued to press, "this matter concerns the overall situation of the examination hall and the fairness of the court's selection. How can we rely on luck? I believe we should nip it in the bud. If we wait until the Su family actually receives the imperial decree, the matter will be settled, and then it will be too late to turn back."

His words were earnest, each sentence seeming for the public good, but every word was urging Ji Ye to make a decision early and take action.

Ji Ye pondered for a moment, the prayer beads in his hand turning faster.

He naturally understood Meng Yigui's underlying message. Tan Huaiyuan was his man, and this examination was originally an excellent opportunity to consolidate power and recruit fresh blood. Many arrangements were already in place and must not fail. Although he felt his son's reasoning was sound, Meng Yigui's concerns were more practical.

He could not afford to gamble on Su Zhanyu's "maybe not."

"Yigui's words also have some truth." Ji Ye said slowly, turning his gaze to Ji Zhou. "Zhou'er, what do you think should be done to 'nip it in the bud'?"

Ji Zhou met his father's gaze, understanding in his heart that his father was already tempted and wanted him to come up with a concrete plan.

He smiled slightly, his smile gentle and warm as jade, but his words carried a chill. "Actually, there are only a few methods: either make Su Zhanyu 'unable' to take the post himself—for example, by sudden illness or encountering some accident that requires a year or two of recuperation; or make the Su family 'inconvenient' to take the post—for example..."

He paused suddenly, then picked up his teacup again, blew on the tea froth, as elegant and noble as ever. "...falling into an incident that cannot be immediately clarified."

Though the plan came quickly and his movements were graceful, Ji Zhou's mind was racing. Directly attacking Su Zhanyu himself was too risky and could easily backfire. Moreover, when he heard the name Su Zhanyu, the face that came to mind was still that of the person in their youth—clear and upright. He... did not want to directly harm that person himself.

In comparison, creating a public opinion storm against the Su family was lower in cost, more concealed in operation, and even if it failed, there would be room to turn around.

Meng Yigui naturally knew nothing of Ji Zhou's calculations. Hearing this, he quickly chimed in, "Master Ji has a brilliant insight. I believe the latter is safer. The Su family has always prided itself on being pure and upright, with a strict family tradition. If it were revealed now that they have secretly accepted protégés and intend to show favoritism in the examination, their reputation would surely suffer. Even if His Majesty wanted to appoint them, the public outcry would eventually be hard to silence. To avoid suspicion, the Su family would surely decline."

He eagerly threw out his own ideas, even filling in specific content for the direction Ji Zhou had proposed.

A gleam flashed in Ji Ye's eyes, also finding the plan feasible. He looked at Ji Zhou. "Zhou'er, what do you think?"

Ji Zhou smiled wryly to himself. This Meng Yigui, after all, was not born into an official family; he was too impatient.

In such a short time, he had already thought of the specific charge to frame them.

His methods were crude and repulsive.

However, Master Ji, born into an official family, betrayed nothing on his face. He said slowly, "This plan is feasible. The key lies in where this 'protégé' comes from. This person must be a real candidate, and willing to come forward and bear false witness, in order to be convincing."

"I am willing to go and find someone," Meng Yigui immediately volunteered. "Among the examinees, there are always those who know they have no hope of passing and are eager to find a way out or some money. Just promise heavy rewards, and we will have no trouble finding someone to do it. Best to find a poor, repeatedly failed old candidate who is certain to fail this time. Let him claim that he has already presented his name card at the Su residence, offered gifts, and is a protégé of the Su family. At that time, with 'solid' witness testimony, the Su family will be unable to defend themselves."

The more he spoke, the more he felt this plan was absolutely flawless.

Ji Ye slowly nodded and finally made his decision. "In that case, Yigui, I will leave this matter to you. Be sure to be cautious. The person you find must be 'reliable,' and absolutely no trace linking to our Ji mansion should be left."

"I understand, my Lord. I will not fail your trust." Meng Yigui rose and bowed, his eyes shining with a gleam of determination.

Ji Zhou watched Meng Yigui's slightly hurried back as he left, then picked up the tea that had already gone cold and took a small sip.

He did not entirely approve of Meng Yigui's impatience and somewhat despicable methods, but he deeply understood his father's determination to protect the existing power structure, and knew that in the arena of power, sometimes one had to engage in such shady dealings. The only thing he could do was ensure that the dirty water was thrown far enough, cleverly enough, thoroughly enough, that it would not splash back on the Ji family.

As for Su Zhanyu...

A faint complex emotion flickered in Ji Zhou's eyes—perhaps a trace of insignificant apology toward an old friend, but a cold, ruthless calculation in the power struggle.

The chess game had long been set.

Compassion? Repentance? That's self-destruction.

Ever since Yan Dongshan's generous recommendation in court, the Su residence had been unusually quiet, with few visitors at the gate.

Because all who wished to come knew they would not be able to see him, only adding to the awkwardness.

***

One afternoon, Wen Buchi was invited to the Wanxiang Teahouse in the southern part of the city. The private room by the river was still tranquil. With the soft sound of footsteps, the shop assistant lifted the bamboo curtain. Outside the window, the canal sparkled with ripples. Su Zhanyu sat alone by the window, half a cup of clear tea already consumed.

Their gazes met briefly in the air. Su Zhanyu slowly stood up, bowed slightly in Wen Buchi's direction, and said in a clear and gentle voice, "I am grateful to Lord Wen for coming in person, and even more so for your hard work in recovering all of my elder brother's belongings and delivering them to my home."

Wen Buchi paused, accepted his bow, and then nodded slightly in return. His voice was as calm as ever, but without coldness. "Master Su need not be so courteous. Returning things to their rightful owner is simply my duty."

Su Zhanyu lifted his eyes to look at him, then gestured. "Please, sit, Lord Wen."

The two sat down facing each other. The waiter brought fresh hot tea and several delicate pastries, then silently withdrew and closed the bamboo curtain.

Logically speaking, the two had no connection—one detached from worldly affairs, the other holding heavy power—yet amid the wafting tea fragrance, the atmosphere was neither cold nor awkward.

Wen Buchi's reputation was notorious; he was the sharpest, most unfeeling blade in the emperor's hand. Countless rumors abounded on the streets about his humble origins, dirty methods, and deep scheming.

But Su Zhanyu seemed completely unfazed by this. For one, he was far removed from court disputes and had little interest in the nasty business of power struggles and factional infighting. For another, it was simply in his nature not to readily accept any one-sided account; he preferred to judge a person through his own observation and interaction.

At this moment, Wen Buchi was all restraint and politeness, showing no trace of arrogance despite his power. He made no mention of Jiangnan, the Luan family, or the fire at the Qi residence. He did not try to bring up any requests or pleas about the spring exams, nor did he probe or allude to any topics that might touch on Su Zhanyu's old wounds. This sense of propriety made Su Zhanyu feel at ease.

They exchanged a few casual small talk, mostly about tea or the view outside the window. Wen Buchi spoke little, but when he did, his words had substance and were never tinged with political maneuvering. Su Zhanyu also spoke sparingly, yet he responded to every remark with a gentle tone.

Thus, unexpectedly, the two carried on a peaceful, even harmonious conversation, as if they were merely two ordinary scholars meeting by chance for tea and light talk on a leisurely afternoon.

Meanwhile, Nan Wuxie and Chao Cheyun had just finished their lunch and were strolling out of a restaurant, one after the other.

Nan Wuxie still wore his usual devil-may-care attitude, twirling Wen Buchi's jade buckle in his hand as he cast a sidelong glance at Chao Cheyun, whose expression was far from pleasant.

"Second Master Chao," he drawled, "it's been a few days now. Got a plan yet? When are you going to knock on Su Mansion's 'noble gate' and ask our Master Su to come out of seclusion?"

His tone was thick with mockery, like he was itching for a show.

Chao Cheyun, already exasperated, really wanted to slap him.

But he had to maintain his composure and not show weakness, so he shot back haughtily, "What's the rush? Is this how you ask for a favor?"

Though he sounded tough, his heart was filled with uncertainty, having no confidence at all.

The two were bickering as they walked along the street when suddenly, the jade buckle in Nan Wuxie's hand stopped spinning, and he paused mid-step, his eyes fixed on something off to the side.

Chao Cheyun noticed something amiss and followed his gaze. As soon as he saw what it was, he too froze in place.

At the entrance of the Evening Fragrance Teahouse, the very person they had just been discussing was walking out slowly. And walking beside him, shoulder to shoulder, was the last person they ever expected to see.

Wen Buchi was murmuring something to Su Zhanyu, who nodded slightly with a smile. The next moment, as if sensing something, Wen Buchi looked up and happened to meet the stunned gazes of Nan Wuxie and Chao Cheyun.

The air froze for a moment.

There was no discernible expression on Wen Buchi's face, but his cool eyes lingered on Nan Wuxie for a brief moment, carrying a hint of smugness that seemed to say, "Didn't expect this, did you?" Then, he shifted his gaze to Chao Cheyun and gave a slight nod in greeting.

Throughout it all, Su Zhanyu kept his eyes lowered, his gaze resting on the stone steps ahead, as if nothing around him mattered, never glancing at the two dumbfounded men.

Then, under the thunderstruck gaze of Nan Wuxie and Chao Cheyun, Wen Buchi and Su Zhanyu naturally descended the steps, one on the left and one on the right, and walked away together in the opposite direction. Their strides were unhurried, their figures—one cool and aloof, the other calm and otherworldly—moved in harmony, creating an oddly fitting scene.

Nan Wuxie and Chao Cheyun stood frozen like wooden posts, their eyes glued to the retreating backs, their necks slowly turning to follow the direction of their departure, moving in perfect synchrony.

Only when the two figures turned a street corner and completely disappeared from sight did they begin to snap out of it, but their gazes still stubbornly lingered on the empty street corner, as if they could somehow conjure back that unbelievable sight.

After a long moment, Chao Cheyun murmured in utter bewilderment and disbelief, "This... what does this mean?"

Nan Wuxie's expression was also uncharacteristically blank. He blinked, equally baffled, and replied, "Beats me."

A warm spring breeze blew by, carrying a few flower petals that swirled and drifted past the feet of the two young noblemen, still trying to wrap their heads around it.