In the main hall, Scholar Zheng stood with his hands hanging at his sides, earnestly persuading, "How can your heart ailment ever improve if you keep moping around at home?"
"You're several years younger than me, yet now you look old enough to be my father. Life still has decades to go. If you don't find a way to be more open-minded, won't you suffer for a lifetime?"
He had gone to great lengths to get the students here, thinking it would kill two birds with one stone, but this man still had the same half-dead attitude, as if he could depart this world at any moment.
Ye Liangyu spread his arms out, looking down at his legs concealed beneath his clothes. "I'm just a useless cripple now. This is what my life has come to."
Scholar Zheng frowned solemnly. "Crippled legs don't mean a crippled heart. Since things have come to this, if you don't strive to live a long life, how will you ever see the day when the perpetrator gets their just deserts?"
Ye Liangyu leaned his head back against the chair, turning his face to gaze blankly out the window at the small pond.
"Brother Zheng, rest assured, I will teach these three students well. Perhaps one day they too will enter that place that devours people without spitting out the bones. When that time comes, will anyone at court remember me? Or will I have long been forgotten, like an insignificant person, scattered like passing clouds."
Scholar Zheng clenched his fists. Knowing it would be like this, it would have been better if he had never passed the exams in the first place.
An ordinary life would be better than this current existence of daily torment, self-mockery, and the complete loss of the passionate, sincere heart he once had.
After leaving the Ye residence, Scholar Zheng went to the inn.
"I will set off back to Xining City tomorrow. While you are studying at Teacher Ye's house, be sure to speak up more. If there's anything you don't understand, you must get to the bottom of it."
"Don't be afraid to talk to him. He has a gentle nature, just a bit stubborn. But he never takes his temper out on others, especially not on children like you."
Song Qiming asked, "Teacher, did Teacher Ye's hair turn white from worry?"
Scholar Zheng looked up and outward, as if recalling. "The last time I saw him was two years ago. We only exchanged one letter in between. His hair was still black then."
Wei Qianliang and Song Gaoli exchanged a glance. What kind of major event could turn one's hair completely white?
Scholar Zheng continued his instructions: "He has difficulty with his legs. In your daily interactions, walk closer to him and don't keep him waiting."
Song Qiming and the other two nodded seriously.
Knowing Scholar Zheng was returning, Song Dazhuang quickly had Song Gaoli write a letter for him to deliver to Song Mancang.
Song Jinzhao thought about it and also wrote a letter, a few brief lines informing Old Man Song about her late return.
Within just two days, Song Jinzhao had rented a house. The monthly rent was five taels of silver. It had two bedrooms and a living room, a kitchen, a latrine, and a small courtyard.
Most importantly, this house was right next door to Ye Liangyu's home. After breakfast, it was just a couple of steps out the door to get there.
The house Song Dazhuang rented, however, was much farther away—one room plus a kitchen and latrine. Walking to Ye Liangyu's house took nearly three quarters of an hour.
Song Shixue sat on a small stool, looking up at the loquat tree in the courtyard. "Elder Sister, how much longer until the loquats are ripe?"
The landlord had said this loquat tree was included in the rent. When ripe, they could eat them freely; the owners wouldn't come to pick them.
"Probably by the end of June. We'll definitely get to eat them before the lease ends."
Song Jinzhao was arranging a table. The location was very close to Anyang Academy. She planned to set up a stall at the entrance and start her business.
She couldn't just sit idle and live off her savings. Besides, her savings weren't that substantial anyway.
From then on, every morning Song Qiming went to Ye Liangyu's house for instruction. Three days later, Song Jinzhao had her stall set up.
At first, there weren't many customers. But as more people found out, every noon students would run over to buy a portion of cold skin noodles, cold noodles, and tea drinks to take back to the academy.
Su Luobai sat on a small stool beside the stall. "I heard from classmates a few days ago that a stall selling cold skin noodles opened near the academy. I didn't expect it was opened by Miss Song."
Song Jinzhao mixed a portion of cold skin noodles and handed it to him. "Qiming will be back soon. He really likes the current affairs articles you gave him. He often praises you in front of me."
Su Luobai grinned, feeling a sense of satisfaction from being a mentor.
"They're just articles classmates at the academy usually use for writing practice, not particularly valuable. I'll bring some more another day. Where has Qiming gone at this time if he's not home studying?"
Song Jinzhao pointed to the neighboring house. "Qiming's teacher asked a former classmate to give the three students some pointers. Before the prefectural examination, they study next door every morning and return at noon."
Su Luobai, his chopsticks poised over the cold skin noodles, paused and looked up at Song Jinzhao in astonishment. "The Ye residence next door? Is that person named Ye Liangyu?"
Seeing the mix of shock and pleasant surprise on his face, Song Jinzhao nodded. "Yes, Teacher Ye. Do you know him?"
Su Luobai stood up, placed his bowl of cold skin noodles on the stool, held his forehead, and spun in place three times.
I don't know him personally, but I know of him. Ye Liangyu was the seventh-ranked candidate in the second division of the jinshi examination in the special enke (imperial examination) of the third year of the Yongyuan era. He served as Deputy Censor-in-Chief, a Junior Third Rank official in the Censorate, and was a trusted confidant of the reigning Emperor.
When he first returned, many people from the academy went to pay him a visit, but they were all turned away without even seeing his face. Even when teachers from the academy invited him, he refused. I never imagined he would deign to give pointers to a few students preparing for the prefectural examination!
Even if he were to give pointers, he should at least give them to juren (provincial graduates)!
Song Jinzhao dried her hands with a towel. So his background was quite impressive. "From what I know, Teacher Ye seems to have already resigned from his official post."
Su Luobai sighed regretfully. "I heard he was injured by an assassin during this spring's imperial hunt. His legs were crippled, forcing him to resign and return to his hometown."
Remembering that she hadn't seen any female family members at the Ye house that day, not even a maid, Song Jinzhao couldn't help but ask curiously, "Are Teacher Ye's wife and children still in the capital?"
A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Su Luobai's mouth. "Lord Ye never married or had children in his entire life. After his parents passed away, he was left all alone."
Song Jinzhao blinked in surprise. For a man in ancient times to never marry or have children, that was quite rare. And an only child too.
"Was the assassin caught?"
Su Luobai shook his head. "I don't know about that. No one at the academy has mentioned it."
Shortly after noon, Song Qiming walked out of the neighboring gate, carrying his book bag.
When he saw Su Luobai, his clear black-and-white eyes instantly lit up like two little light bulbs. He ran over with a smile and called out, "Brother Luobai!"
Su Luobai inquired with concern, "How have your studies been lately? Any insights from being taught by a famous master?"
As he spoke, he quickly picked up his bowl and finished the remaining cold skin noodles. The two walked side by side into the house.
Song Jinzhao looked towards the neighboring gate. An assassination attempt during the spring hunt, injuring a civil official... the more she thought about it, the more bizarre it seemed.
Censors admonish the emperor on his faults and investigate the misconduct of all officials. They must have offended plenty of people. It was probably aimed directly at him.
If Ye Liangyu was truly the emperor's confidant, who would dare to move against him? There must be quite a story behind this.
Li Residence.
Li Zien sat in his study, his forehead resting in his hand, his brows tightly furrowed. Song Qiming's fushi (prefectural qualifying exam) results were excellent. With Ye Liangyu's guidance, the likelihood of him passing the yuanshi (prefectural examination) and becoming a xiucai (cultivated talent) was very high.
If he stayed in Anyang Prefecture to study, Song Jinzhao definitely wouldn't be content with just running a small stall. She would probably buy a shopfront on the street, which would surely impact the business of Sweet Snow Pavilion.
The study door was pushed open from the outside. Looking up, Li Zien immediately rose to his feet and called out, "Father."
Li Tianchong's face was dark, his lips pressed into a pale line. "Have you been inquiring about Song Jinzhao and her brother recently?"
Li Zien's face showed surprise; he hadn't expected his father to know even about such a minor matter.
"The tea recipe was purchased from Song Jinzhao. The contract signed at the time allowed her to run her own business. Now she's set up a stall at the gate of Anyang Academy, which has already cut into part of the academy's business. I'm worried that if this continues, it will start affecting our teahouse."
Li Tianchong sank heavily into a chair. His eyes were unfathomably deep, as if suppressing anger that could erupt at any moment, making Li Zien feel intensely nervous.
"Didn't you consider this possibility before signing the contract?"
Li Zien lowered his head, his gaze fixed vacantly on the floor, a trace of bitterness at the corner of his mouth.
"I didn't expect it to happen this quickly. I thought it would take at least three or four years, or even longer. After all, given her background, most people like her would never manage to leave Xining City."
