On the road from the capital to Ji'an Prefecture, Song Yu couldn’t stop muttering Ye Shijie’s name the entire way.
"Father, we’ll be seeing Lord Ye soon," Song Shihuan said, covering her ears. She had heard Ye Shijie’s name so often these past few days that her ears were practically calloused.
"Ah-Huan, just watch. The moment I arrive in Ji'an Prefecture, I’ll put Ye Shijie in his place," Song Yu grumbled, his chest burning with indignation. Never in his life had he been scolded in a letter—let alone one that spanned three whole pages!
"Father, the officials of Ji'an Prefecture will all be watching. Don’t let those who don’t know the full story think you’re still hung up on that old grudge with Lord Ye," Song Shihuan cautioned.
"That you’re being petty."
Song Yu deflated like a punctured balloon.
"So I’m supposed to greet him with a smile?"
Humiliating. Absolutely humiliating.
Outside Ji'an Prefecture, Ye Shijie led a delegation of officials to welcome Song Yu and Song Shihuan.
"Greetings to His Highness the Prince of Qin and the Lady of Fuan."
"Lord Ye looks quite hale and hearty," Song Yu remarked, his tone laced with sarcasm. Healthy enough to write three pages of insults, apparently.
"By Your Highness’s grace, this humble official is indeed in good health."
The smile on Song Yu’s face dimmed from seven parts to five.
"Lord Ye strikes me as a man of strict discipline. But one should be harsh on oneself and lenient toward others." Stop scolding people at the drop of a hat.
"Your Highness, this official believes that whether restraining oneself or others, strictness is paramount. Only by pointing out misconduct promptly can one correct it."
The remaining five parts of Song Yu’s smile vanished entirely.
Song Shihuan watched nervously from the side. How did Lord Ye manage to step on her father’s tail with every single reply?
"This prince will retire to the residence to change. Later, I will tour incognito—no need for any of you to accompany me."
Just looking at Ye Shijie made him furious!
"Your Highness’s consideration for us humble officials is deeply appreciated."
Ye Shijie inwardly sighed. He had thought the Prince of Qin had changed, but it seemed his temper was as volatile as ever.
......
No sooner had Song Yu settled into his residence than he rushed off to Yong'an County.
At Guo Mansion, the sight of Father Guo and Mother Guo, who looked at least ten years older, softened Song Yu’s voice. "How has the Guo family fared this past year?"
"All is well, all is well."
Father Guo bowed deeply. "Only, Lord Ye came looking for Your Highness several times, but this commoner managed to put him off."
Song Yu’s expression shifted.
"Ah, a few days ago, Lord Ye sent another set of examination materials. But since word arrived that Your Highness and the Lady would be visiting Yong'an County, we didn’t arrange to send them to the capital."
"More materials?"
Song Yu’s voice rose involuntarily.
"The messenger said Lord Ye felt guilty toward Your Highness, so this batch is three times the usual amount."
After Father Guo and Mother Guo left, Song Yu stood frozen, his mind adrift.
"This is Ye Shijie’s idea of remorse?" he uttered, his voice trembling.
Song Shihuan lowered her head and rubbed her nose. Well... no one could have expected Lord Ye’s apology to be so... rustic.
"I can’t accept this."
Song Yu slammed the table. "Can we send it back to Ye Shijie?"
He had heard of emperors who worked themselves to death handling state affairs.
But never of a prince who died from studying for the imperial exams.
"This is going to kill me!"
......
Meanwhile, back in the capital...
"By my calculations, the Prince of Qin and the Lady of Fuan should have arrived in Ji'an Prefecture by now, yes?"
In the Purple Palace Hall, Emperor Yuanyou stretched and turned to Wu Qi.
"Your Majesty, they likely arrived yesterday."
"Then announce the list of provincial examiners." Emperor Yuanyou chuckled shamelessly. He hadn’t dared to release the list while that rascal was still in the capital—his palace roof might not have survived the outburst.
But now that Song Yu was safely in Ji'an Prefecture, it was the perfect time.
"As you command."
Wu Qi silently lit three sticks of incense for Song Yu in his heart.
The prince’s path to the imperial exams was always fraught with unique hardships.
The announcement of the chief examiner for the provincial exams sent shockwaves throughout the Great Qi Empire.
Nearly everyone cast sympathetic glances toward the scholars of Ji'an Prefecture. They had survived the county and prefectural exams, only to fall right into Ye Shijie’s clutches.
When the news reached Ji'an Prefecture, even Ye Shijie himself was stunned.
"By protocol, His Majesty should appoint a local education commissioner..."
"Lord Ye, this is a tremendous mark of the Emperor’s trust in you," the messenger eunuch said with a smile. "His Majesty said no one in Yong'an Prefecture surpasses your scholarly merit. No one else is as suitable as you."
"I am deeply honored by His Majesty’s faith. I shall employ even stricter standards to select talents for Great Qi," Ye Shijie declared, a surge of conviction swelling in his chest. "I, Ye Shijie, stake my life on this: every scholar who emerges from Ji'an Prefecture will be a true talent, capable of achieving greatness for our empire!"
When Emperor Yuanyou heard Ye Shijie’s pledge, he laughed until tears streamed down his face.
"This Ye Shijie... what a character."
Even stricter standards?
That rascal was in for a world of suffering.
Back at Guo Mansion...
"The chief examiner for the provincial exams was personally appointed by His Majesty..."
"Now the whole empire is watching the spectacle in Ji'an Prefecture..."
Song Yu, who had been holed up in his study for hours, finally stepped out for fresh air—only to overhear Baoxia and Liuxi murmuring excitedly in the courtyard.
His heart skipped a beat at the words "chief examiner."
"Liuxi, has the chief examiner for Ji'an Prefecture’s provincial exams been decided? Who is it?" Song Yu pressed urgently.
At the sound of his voice, Liuxi stiffened.
"Your Highness, the chief examiner has indeed been appointed."
"Who?"
Liuxi knew he couldn’t answer that.
Unless the Lady was present, speaking up would only invite disaster.
"Why the silence? Baoxia, you tell me—who is Yong'an County’s chief examiner?"
Baoxia, now on the spot, began glancing around nervously. "Your Highness, this servant... this servant just remembered the pear soup for the Lady is still in the kitchen. I’ll go fetch it."
With that, she bolted.
My Lady!
Emergency!
Their evasiveness sent a chill down Song Yu’s spine.
"Don’t tell me... it’s Ye Shijie?"
Liuxi’s smile turned painfully strained.
Congratulations, Your Highness. You guessed right.
"Damn it!"
Song Yu swore and began pacing the courtyard like a headless chicken.
"Local education commissioner—Ye Shijie?"
"That old man has no shame! He must still be holding a grudge over something, deliberately making me suffer."
"Why does it always have to be Ye Shijie?"
Song Yu couldn’t fathom it. No matter how hard he tried to escape, those three syllables—Ye Shijie—always caught up to him.
Heaven has forsaken me!
