Chapter 51

Chapter 51

When young lovers meet, there are always endless sweet nothings to whisper and warmth to hold onto.

But today was just a stolen moment together, and they had little time to waste. After a quick cuddle session, Shen Qinglan couldn't help but ask Han Zhang about his studies.

"Brother Han, for next year's imperial exams, how confident are you about passing? The examination hall is like a battlefield—tough to crack. Even my elder brother, with the guidance of the Imperial Academy's tutors and my father's daily instruction, only barely scraped by as a second-rank *jinshi*."

"Though you are exceptionally talented, my father says the exams depend not only on skill but also on luck. If your essay style doesn't match the chief examiner's taste, it's not uncommon to fail!"

"Oh, and I snuck a few books out from my father's study. Take them back with you later. I don't know if they'll be useful, but reading more can't hurt..."

"But Brother Han, don't worry too much. Actually, my mother has already quietly given us the green light. She just fears I might suffer in the future, so she insists on waiting until you pass the exams before giving her blessing for marriage."

"If... if you truly don't succeed next year, it's fine. I won't marry anyone but you. At worst, I'll throw a hunger strike to protest against my mother and wait for you even if I become an old bachelor..."

He rambled on, his face full of worry, and in the end, it seemed more like he was comforting himself than Han Zhang.

Han Zhang could clearly feel the other's anxiety and concern.

Though he wasn't absolutely certain of passing either, he could never let himself seem weak in front of his beloved.

"Don't worry. The academy's tutors have long said I have a good chance. Now, with your gift of books, I'm even more confident. I won't boast of being the top candidate or the first rank, but making the list is definitely no problem."

Han Zhang soothed him gently, then teased with a smile: "But speaking of which, other young ladies and lads threaten hunger strikes to force marriage for their lovers—how come with you, it's a hunger strike to *wait* for your man? What happened to that whole 'I'll marry no one but you' thing?"

Such words would make other young ladies or lads blush with embarrassment.

But for Shen Qinglan, he was completely unashamed. First, he declared firmly: "Of course I'll marry no one but you, Brother Han! I'm yours for life."

Then he quickly turned around and said: "But I think my mother has a point. If you don't pass the exams and I marry you, I won't be able to wear pretty clothes or jewelry, won't get invites from other officials' households, and I'll lose touch with my old girlfriends."

"I love fine clothes and adornments, and I can't bear to part with my circle of close friends. So, for the best of both worlds, it's better to wait until you pass the exams before we marry."

"That way, I can look forward to marrying you while still living as a pampered son of an official—how wonderful!"

He spoke with great enthusiasm, unashamedly admitting he loved money and status, blunt and proud of it.

It just... didn't quite consider his beloved's scholar's pride.

Han Zhang thought: It’s a good thing I’m not one of those narrow-minded self-made types who turn into a faithless man once they make it big, or else I’d definitely hold a grudge.

He pinched his beloved's soft cheek and said with mock irritation: "Aren't you afraid I'll hold a grudge and abandon you in the future for being so blunt? Do you know that poor students like me are the most proud yet insecure, who'd sooner die than lose face?"

"I know, but Brother Han, you're different from others. I trust my own gut!"

Shen Qinglan replied without hesitation, his eyes shining with trust and love for Han, with a hint of cunning.

He wasn't truly naive; how could he not understand these principles?

He just wanted to test Han Zhang's boundaries and patience with him.

Because he was greedy—he wanted to be with Han Zhang, yet refused to change himself like his mother had for his father, losing who she was. He wanted to live boldly and freely.

Shen Qinglan would always stay proud and free.

And what Han Zhang loved was precisely that pure, fiery spark in him.

Han Zhang chuckled softly, echoed his tone and nodded: "Then your judgment is indeed good. Yes, your Brother Han is just that exceptional."

"So Brother Han, if you truly love me, you must study hard. Win a good rank in next year's exams, rise to Fifth Rank in three years and become Grand Secretary in ten! Let me become your glorious husband, getting back at everyone who bullied me and sticking up for my mom—got it?"

Shen Qinglan lifted his chin, speaking with a coquettish insistence, but his eyes sparkled with stars.

Han Zhang was caught between laughter and tears: "Fifth Rank in three years, Grand Secretary in ten? My worthy brother Lan, you think too highly of me!"

Even the famous Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng spent over twenty years navigating the bureaucracy before reaching that position.

Though he didn't consider himself mediocre, he didn't think he had such capabilities, for the officialdom was a place where ability alone didn't guarantee advancement—there are so many ins and outs.

But this little troublemaker, Shen Qinglan, simply wouldn't listen.

The young man looped his arms around Han Zhang's, gently swaying, his voice soft and sweet: "Brother Han～try your best～Doesn't it say in the storybooks that true love can move mountains? Whether it succeeds or not, you gotta have hope, right?"

"Brother Han, you'll work hard for me, right? You won't let me get looked down on at banquets after we're married, right?"

"Brother Han, I believe in you. You can do it..."

Those eyes, brimming with trust, could melt anyone's heart.

Han Zhang truly couldn't bear to see his beloved suffer, so he smiled and nodded: "Alright, I'll make sure you can stand up for your mother with pride soon."

"I knew Brother Han loves me this much!"

Having received his promise, Shen Qinglan jumped with joy. An idea struck him, and he added: "Brother Han is so good to me, I must not let your kindness go to waste. Brother Han, shall I perform a sword dance for you? I learned it from the Cavalry General's son—it's pretty impressive..."

"I look forward to watching."

Han Zhang stepped aside, his eyes smiling, signaling him to begin.

He hadn't expected his idle little husband to know how to sword dance. He was eager to watch.

"Brother Han, watch closely!"

Shen Qinglan walked confidently into the courtyard, picked up a suitable branch as a sword, raised an eyebrow, and twisted his wrist. The branch sliced through the air like a cold steel blade.

His figure moved like clouds, robes fluttering like snow, black hair flying—the picture of confidence.

Amid the apricot blossom rain, he spun and leaped, pointing the branch heavenward, bathed in golden light as if pouring from the nine heavens. He turned back, the sky reflecting in his eyes, radiant and resplendent, making his heart pound like thunder.

"There once was a beauty of the Gongsun clan whose sword dance shook the four corners. Onlookers were awed, heaven and earth lingered..."

In the past, Han Zhang never understood why ancients always felt the need to compose poems when seeing such sights.

Now he got it: only lines like that could do justice to the beauty before him.

A plain "beautiful" felt too weak, not even half worthy of his grace.

In a daze, the young lad had already closed in, his eyes full of pride yet hiding an eagerness for praise: "Brother Han, did I dance well?"

"Well. Qinglan is like a celestial being—one dares not speak loudly, for fear of disturbing the heavenly ones."

Han Zhang replied with a soft smile, his gaze gentle and coaxing.

Hearing this, Shen Qinglan was overjoyed, happily and shyly burying his face in Han Zhang's chest, his voice filled with elation and determination.

"Brother Han may not dare to disturb a celestial, but this celestial only likes you!"

Laughter echoed through a corner of the apricot grove.

The two held each other, being all lovey-dovey for a good long while before reluctantly parting.

...

Chan Ke Courtyard.

When Shen Qinglan, cheered up by his lover, returned, he tried again and again to wipe the smile off his face, but couldn't.

The radiant joy on his face was so obvious that Madam Shen couldn't bear to look at him directly.

"So you finally decided to come back? Why not just accompany your Brother Han up another mountain, roast another chicken, and scamper around like a mischievous monkey? Why come back so early?"

Truly, a grown son is beyond his mother's control. Now that her son's heart was filled with his Brother Han, she, his mother, was cast aside.

The little darling she had raised with such care was about to become another family's son-in-law, and from now on, seeing him every day would be difficult...

Madam Shen felt quite hurt and jealous.

Who was Shen Qinglan? Since childhood, his greatest skill had been coaxing his mother.

He immediately leaned in warmly, diligently rubbing his mother's shoulders and back. "Mother, what are you saying? How could I bear not to return? Though Brother Han is wonderful, he can never compare to you."

"I know you love the vegetarian feast at Jinguang Temple the most, so naturally I hurried back early to accompany you for a good meal. Second Sister-in-law has only been here a short while; how could she know your tastes the way I do?"

"Oh, Mother, do you know what Brother Han and I talked about just now? I urged him to study hard, and guess what he said?"

"Brother Han said he wants to rise to the Fifth Rank in three years and become Grand Councilor in ten! He said then he would surely stand up for you and me..."

Shen Qinglan talked a mile a minute, passing off his own words as Han Zhang's.

Though it was obviously made up, Madam Shen was delighted to hear it.

She couldn't help the corners of her mouth lifting in a smile but still pretended to scold, "Don't try to fool me with such nonsense. Fifth Rank in three years, Grand Councilor in ten? Do you think I'm stupid, buying that nonsense?"

"Oh, Mom~ Whether it's nonsense or not, just tell me: doesn't it make you happy to hear it? Brother Han not only thinks of me but also of you. In the future, he'll surely be a filial son-in-law~"

Shen Qinglan wheedled sweetly, coaxing and acting spoiled.

How could Madam Shen resist such a sugar-coated assault? She gave in with a helpless nod. "Fine, I'll wait and see how your Brother Han shows his filial piety to me later."

Having said that, she finally remembered Third Master He, who had just returned with a bloodied face.

Madam Shen quickly asked, "Oh, I almost forgot. When you went out with Third Master He just now, what happened? How'd he come back with blood all over his face?"

She said "quickly," but Madam Shen didn't sound the least bit worried.

No matter what happened, it absolutely couldn't be her little Lan's fault.

Her Lan Geer was the most well-behaved and kind-hearted; he never started fights for no reason. If he did fight, it must be the other party's fault.

The He family's rank wasn't as high as the Shens', and they had little backing—she could afford to mess with them.

Even if she couldn't, didn't she still have the master of the house?

The master was the most sly and scheming; if things got dicey, just sic him on them. That would surely work.

Master Shen: ...

There's no need to think so highly of me.