Ch125 - Grape Flavored Imperial Gong (5)

Translated by Hua Li ^_^

Under Gou Liang’s “affectionate” attention, Imperial Physician Zheng was carried up to the eaves by Ye Xiao and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Gou Liang’s scalding was not severe, and after applying medicine for a few hours, it healed. However, Dr. Zheng thoughtfully gave him medical advice: avoid spicy or stimulating foods for the next two days.

Facing a table full of delicacies, Gou Liang sadly ate a bowl of porridge and nibbled on vegetables. He watched as the Emperor, who usually restrained his diet, leisurely finished the food he had specially prepared for him, not even leaving a bite of fish—Gou Liang felt despondent.

Observing the grievances and frustrations leaking from Gou Liang’s forcibly maintained expression, the Emperor laid down his chopsticks and remarked, “You seem quite cheerful today, Aiqing.”

Gou Liang tensed his back but also put down his chopsticks, saying, “Your Majesty graces us with your presence today. Due to some matters, my father and father are not in the mansion, causing some negligence. I, on behalf of my father, apologize to Your Majesty.”

“It’s alright.”

Seeing him regain his composure, but still pretending not to understand the implication behind his words and maintaining a stoic expression, the Emperor decided to tease him. However, considering Gou Liang’s pitiful appearance from being scalded earlier and his missed chance to indulge in the delicacies, the Emperor restrained himself and merely said, “Ignorance is not a crime. Today, I was originally on a private visit incognito, so you need not be so formal.”

Upon hearing this, Gou Liang finally relaxed.

The Emperor got up and walked around, observing the courtyard while digesting his meal.

In front of the courtyard, a hibiscus tree was in full bloom, with pink and white flowers adding a touch of color to the elegant courtyard, surrounded by lush green bamboo, creating a pleasing sight. However…

“Aiqing, this place seems quiet.”

He had been eating for almost half an hour, but besides the two elderly servants, not even a personal attendant was seen coming in or out of the courtyard.

Could it be that the General’s Mansion was treating him so poorly?

A trace of coldness flashed across the Emperor’s brow.

Seeing this, Gou Liang knew he had misunderstood.

To prevent the true gender from being revealed, when the original owner was under ten years old, Lady Chu made every effort to keep him by her side for personal upbringing. When the original owner became self-sufficient, Lady Chu arranged for a few serious elderly servants to take care of him, fearing he would become spoiled and slack off. He never enjoyed the treatment of having personal attendants waiting on him.

This arrangement suited Gou Liang’s intentions.

“I prefer quietness and am not accustomed to being served. Please forgive me if it seems odd to Your Majesty.”

He smiled slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed but also open.

Seeing that he was not aggrieved, the Emperor did not say much more.

The Emperor was curious about Gou Liang’s upbringing, and he savored every detail of the surroundings. Time passed unnoticed, and as the outside heat subsided, Gou Liang sensed that the Emperor had no intention of returning to the palace. He then invited him to the Scholar’s Pavilion for a brief rest.

The Scholar’s Pavilion was originally an inn called Hongkeju. It gained its name because the champions of the literary and military examinations in the third and sixth years of the Chenwu era were both guests at this inn.

During the examination in the ninth year of Chenwu, scholars competed fiercely to stay there, resulting in several violent conflicts that almost led to loss of life. As the situation escalated, and the court could not use violence to suppress the scholars, the inn’s signboard was removed. The ten-mile long street was included in the venue, with the Emperor personally inscribing the stone tablet of the Scholar’s Pavilion, designating it as a place for scholars to stay, dine, discuss studies, and make friends.

As the new imperial examination approached, most scholars rushing to the capital had already checked in.

“Champion of the Moon Palace!” “Topping the Gold List!” “Taking the highest honors!” “Leaping over the Dragon Gate!” “Triple excellence in the examinations!”

As they entered the Scholar’s Pavilion, the cheerful voices of the waiters announcing the names of dishes filled the air, brimming with joy.

Despite the approaching sunset, the place was still bustling. When Eunuch Tong went to inquire, he found that not only were there no seats in the elegant rooms, but even the main hall was full.

Seeing that they appeared wealthy, the innkeeper enthusiastically called over a waiter to accommodate them along with other scholars. Eventually, they were seated at a square table on the second-floor corridor.

The two commoner scholars sharing the table with them were young and, although somewhat surprised by the Emperor’s luxurious attire, they warmly welcomed them without much scrutiny.

The waiter cheerfully asked them what they would like to order. Gou Liang glanced at the menu on the table and saw that the two commoner students had ordered a dish called “Three Top Scholars” – three large meatballs covered in a dark red sweet sauce. Seeing this, Gou Liang suddenly lost his appetite for trying something new and simply waited for the Emperor’s decision.

The Emperor, having eaten a lot for lunch and not desiring to eat much for dinner, ordered a few desserts and snacks, along with a pot of tea.

As he ordered, Gou Liang bowed to the two kind scholars who gave up their seats and thanked them, “Thank you, gentlemen, for your generosity. Otherwise, we would still be standing dumbfounded below.”

Hearing his witty words, the two scholars laughed.

Both sides exchanged names, and one of the tall, thin scholars named You Jing said, “This Scholar’s Pavilion is always crowded at this time of year. If we hadn’t come early to study here, we’d probably be standing dry-eyed below.”

This was his second attempt at the imperial examination.

The slightly chubby Tang Qingfeng, on the other hand, lacked his composure and said in a familiar manner, “Exactly! Not everyone is like someone else, clearly arriving late but still demanding others to give up their seats. Hmph, truly acting like a peacock with its tail up, unaware of its ugliness.”

Feeling embarrassed, You Jing cleared his throat and pulled Tang Qingfeng’s hand to make him say less. Then, he apologized to Gou Liang, “Tang is straightforward and outspoken. Please don’t mind his words.”

“How could that be?” Gou Liang smiled, “Is Brother Tang talking about the famous Lu Gongzi, known as the ‘Sixteen-year-old Champion’?”

“That’s him indeed. Now, everyone in the Scholar’s Pavilion knows his name!”

Tang Qingfeng exclaimed.

The Emperor then asked Gou Liang, “Since when did the dynasty have a sixteen-year-old champion? I… have never heard of such a thing.”

Tang Qingfeng looked at him in surprise. “Brother Jia, are you new to the capital?”

With just one sentence, he then enthusiastically started to explain the story of the “Sixteen-year-old Champion” to him.

This person’s name was Lu Yiming, a young talent from Jiangnan. At the age of sixteen, he achieved high scores in two consecutive imperial examinations, making him a prodigy well-known in Jiangnan.

Although Tang Qingfeng had some criticisms of this person, he had to admit that he had some real talent. Thus, he spoke with a sour tone, “In the ninth year of Chenwu, didn’t we have a seventeen-year-old champion? We all know that with his talent, he should have been the top scorer, but because of his young age and handsome appearance, he ended up third… Oh, Brother Hua, why is your face so red?”

Calling himself Hua Ming, Gou Liang replied, “It’s a bit hot.”

“Yes, this weather is really unbearable. If only it would rain.”

Tang Qingfeng said as he handed his folding fan to Gou Liang to fan himself, which the Emperor promptly took and began fanning Gou Liang.

Not to mention the gasp from the eunuch who sat to the table next to them, even Gou Liang was surprised. He was about to stand up when the Emperor pressed his shoulder and He then whispered, “Your Majesty…Brother Jia, I’ll do it myself.”

Using the alias Jia De, the Emperor continued to fan Gou Liang to cool him down, not engaging in conversation but instead asking Tang Qingfeng, “I wonder what connection Lu Yiming has with Lord Chu?”

“What kind of connection could that be?”

Tang Qingfeng scoffed, “The Lu family is also a top scorer, boasting that his talents surpass those of Lord Chu and his looks are more handsome. He thinks he’s the next champion. Lord Chu passed the exam at the age of seventeen, and he’s only sixteen this year, thinking he’s one step ahead of Lord Chu. Hmph, others mockingly call him the ‘Sixteen-year-old Champion,’ and he even boasts about it. Truly shameless.”

As they spoke, a middle-aged examinee walked over and greeted Tang Qingfeng, showing that the latter had a good reputation.

Tang Qingfeng also smiled and responded, then turned back and said with an unchanged smile, “The one who just passed by is Kong Zhao, Lu Yiming’s strategist.”

Tang Qingfeng smiled and returned the greeting, then turned to them and continued with a nonchalant expression, “The one who just passed by is Kong Zhao, known as the strategist behind Lu Yiming.”

“They are both from Cai Feng County in Yangzhou. Don’t be fooled by that old guy’s smiling face; his heart is as black as they come. Half of Lu Yiming’s reputation is built by himself, and the other half is thanks to Kong Zhao’s flattery. I bet Lu Yiming thinks he’s the best in the world, all thanks to being duped by Kong Zhao. If it weren’t for his clever schemes, who would believe him?”

Both Gou Liang and the Emperor looked at him in surprise – what a talented individual!

Gou Liang chuckled, “Brother Tang, with your two-faced nature, aren’t you afraid that we’ll see you in the same light as Kong Zhao?”

You Jing wanted to defend him, but Tang Qingfeng, indifferent, smiled and said, “I’ve always only spoken the truth to the right people. Don’t doubt it, brothers. I, Tang Qingfeng, come from a merchant background, and this ability to see through things has been passed down through generations.”

Gou Liang couldn’t help but laugh, saying, “Brother Tang, you’re quite humorous.”

The Emperor was unaware of his ease of conversation with outsiders, contrasting sharply with his rigid demeanor in front of himself.

Although he understood that this was due to their identities, he couldn’t help feeling a bit uncomfortable, shaking his fan a bit more heavily. He secretly glanced at Tang Qingfeng, thinking: “Ugly people are really strange.”

Tang Qingfeng stiffened for a moment, then looked around and said, “Why do I suddenly feel a chill in the air?”

He didn’t have time to investigate the source of this strange atmosphere because the table near the window suddenly became lively.

Tang Qingfeng excitedly explained to them, “Brothers, take a look at that guy who’s making trouble with the one who was sitting there earlier. He lost in a literary contest to Lu Yiming and gave up his seat. Hey, the person he brought with him is none other than Zhao Chuyang, the popular candidate who won the top spot in the recent imperial examination. His fame is no less than Lu Yiming’s. This is getting interesting!”

In contrast to the domineering Lu Yiming, Zhao Chuyang appeared to be a courteous and refined individual.

He bowed politely and said, “Brother Lu, please calm down. Since you won this seat in a literary contest earlier, it’s only natural for you to sit here. I also believe this spot is auspicious for scholarly pursuits, so I came here to test my skills against you. If I’m lucky enough to win, I’ll sit here for a while, and if I lose, I’ll leave with regret.”

Lu Yiming was about to decline the challenge, but he realized that he had put Zhao Chuyang’s companions in a difficult position earlier. In front of everyone’s eyes, if he refused to fight, it would appear that he was afraid of Zhao Chuyang.

After some calculation, Lu Yiming lifted his head and said, “What do you want to compete with me? Poetry, couplets, or prose, feel free to choose.”

Others shook their heads upon hearing this tone, but Zhao Chuyang didn’t mind. Instead, he smiled and said, “I’ve heard that Brother Lu excels in couplets. Here is the first part of a couplet for your appraisal.”

He recited the first line: “South Tongzhou, North Tongzhou, South and North Tongzhou connect north and south.”

While Lu Yiming and others pondered on the second line, Gou Liang chuckled and said to the Emperor, “This Zhao examinee must get along well with my elder brother.”

The original owner’s elder brother was the current Governor of Qinzhou, a well-known old fox.

The Emperor seemed to not have heard clearly and leaned closer to ask, “What did you say, Aiqing?”

The warm breath touched his ear, causing Gou Liang’s face to turn red. “Your… your Majesty…”

He momentarily forgot to control his volume, attracting the attention of the surrounding scholars. Zhao Chuyang smiled faintly and politely asked him, “Brother, do you have any opinion?”

Seizing the opportunity, Gou Liang stood up, moved away from the Emperor’s breathing range, and awkwardly apologized to Zhao Chuyang. “I apologize for interrupting your conversation.”

“No problem. May I have the pleasure of hearing your completion?” Zhao Chuyang, seeming a bit displeased with Gou Liang’s untimely interruption, graciously asked.

The Emperor glanced at Zhao Chuyang before focusing on Gou Liang’s face.

Gou Liang pretended not to notice Zhao Chuyang’s attempt to embarrass him and smiled faintly, saying, “Please excuse my humble offering.”

His completion was: “Spring reads, autumn reads, reading Spring and Autumn reads the Spring and Autumn.”

“Excellent couplet!” Zhao Chuyang’s eyes lit up, and he bowed to Gou Liang, apologizing for his previous rudeness.

Gou Liang returned the gesture, indicating that he didn’t mind.

Probably only Lu Yiming didn’t sense the underlying meaning in these exchanges. With a tap of his folding fan, he said, “I’ve got it! East pawnshop, West pawnshop, East and West pawnshops handle East and West!”

He showed some quick wit but knew that the imagery he presented was inferior to Gou Liang’s. He couldn’t help but glare at Gou Liang, who had stolen his limelight, then turned to Zhao Chuyang and said, “Are you going to compete with me or with someone else? If you want a different spot, don’t waste my time.”

Zhao Chuyang kindly apologized and then presented his couplet: “Overlooking the river tower, gazing at the river stream, from the tower, gazing at the river stream; the tower and the river stream endure for eternity.”

Gou Liang no longer sought attention, casually adjusting his position to be farther from the Emperor.

The Emperor pretended not to notice and moved closer to continue fanning him.

However, for some reason, Gou Liang’s face grew increasingly red and hot.

Tang Qingfeng looked at the two of them with some curiosity, while You Jing, who appeared upright, was unaware of Gou Liang’s discomfort and quietly expressed his admiration for him. Tang Qingfeng nodded in acknowledgment, then lowered his voice and said, “If it were me, I would find it really difficult to engage in poetry duels like that. Fortunately, the imperial examination places more emphasis on debate. Otherwise, with so many talented individuals in the capital, I’m afraid I wouldn’t stand a chance at the top.”

He nonchalantly admitted that his success in the provincial and prefectural examinations was largely due to luck.

Then, glancing at Lu Yiming and Zhao Chuyang, who were enjoying their fight, Tang Qingfeng continued in a lower voice, “They say scholars look down on each other, but in my opinion, it’s really boring. If it weren’t for my father’s insistence on me taking the imperial examination and entering officialdom, I’d rather be a businessman. However, luckily, there’s the Ministry of Revenue. If I’m fortunate enough to pass the imperial examination and enter the Ministry of Revenue to make money for the people, it would still be a good thing!”

He spoke with enthusiasm, and after expressing his lofty ambitions, the literary battle on the other side ended in a draw.

The discerning eyes could see that Zhao Chuyang was intentionally conceding, and Lu Yiming also felt that his chances of winning against Zhao Chuyang were slim. Reluctantly, he accepted the outcome, allowing Zhao Chuyang and his companions to sit down.

However, he still felt somewhat dissatisfied in his heart, so he turned his grief and anger into appetite and  swallowed ‘Three Top Scholars’ in a single loud gulp.

“Mmm!!”

Lu Yiming, choked and embarrassed, turned red and started rolling his eyes, seemingly on the verge of passing out, which startled everyone.

Gou Liang quickly stepped forward and said, “Make way! Don’t crowd around him!”

Ye Xiao and Eunuch Tong were afraid of someone accidentally bumping into the Emperor, so they rushed over and, at the Emperor’s signal, dispersed the worried scholars crowding around Gou Liang.

Gou Liang hurried to Lu Yiming’s side, motioned for Zhao Chuyang, who was patting Lu Yiming’s back, to step aside, and then pressed on Lu Yiming’s abdomen a few times. Lu Yiming immediately spat out the “Three Top Scholars” But it wasn’t over yet; his stomach contracted, and everything he had eaten tonight gushed out of his throat—

A foul smell permeated the air, and the scholars’ faces changed color. Some even dry heaved on the spot. Even Kong Zhao, who had just shown concern for Lu Yiming, hastily retreated several steps.

However, Zhao Chuyang remembered to pour Lu Yiming a cup of tea and asked if he felt better.

Lu Yiming, feeling uncomfortable from vomiting, shed a few tears and awkwardly thanked Zhao Chuyang, then looked at Gou Liang.

He took a step back, bowed deeply to Gou Liang, and said, “I have been offensive before. Please forgive me, Brother. I owe you a favor for saving my life. As long as it doesn’t violate morality or the law, just let me know, and I will repay you!”

Gou Liang was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, “Brother Lu, you’re being too serious. A little help doesn’t compare to saving a life.”

But Lu Yiming was stubborn and insisted that he couldn’t forget a favor. Only when Gou Liang agreed to give him the opportunity to repay the favor did he relent.

Because of this incident, the scholars who had gathered for the literary battle dispersed early today.

Back in their rooms, You Jing asked in confusion, “Tang, you’ve always been discreet in public. Why did you…?”

Tang Qingfeng replied, “Didn’t you notice, Brother You? One of them is using a false name, and the other is clearly not a scholar taking the current imperial examination. I observed their behavior, and it seems they are court officials who have come incognito to observe the conduct of the scholars. You know my talents; it’s nearly impossible for me to pass the imperial examination. I might as well take the opportunity to show my face in front of the nobles. Who knows, maybe I can secure a promotion in the future.”

He candidly confessed, and You Jing hurriedly comforted him, telling him not to underestimate himself and not mentioning anything else.

“…Aiqing seems to hold Tang Qingfeng in high regard?”

Gou Liang, monitoring the conversation between Tang Qingfeng and You Jing in the surveillance system, was somewhat surprised and said, “Your Majesty, why do you say that?”

The Emperor glanced at him but didn’t say a word.

In his mind, he thought: If that fat Tang guy is promoted, he must be sent far away, to Liangzhou in the west or Pingzhou in the north. Want to stay in the capital and hold a position in the Ministry of Revenue?

The Emperor only responded with a single word: “Heh.”