Chapter 41: The Discontented And The Contented Young Lady
“Why did I fail to be selected?”
“What right do they have to make me fail!”
In the early morning at Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, there was not the slightest bit of quiet; even standing outside the courtyard, one could hear Yang Hui’s crying from inside.
Ever since Yang Hui returned to the mansion crying yesterday, the entire mansion had become shrouded in gloom.
Along with the crying came the sounds of teacups and vases shattering with crackling crashes.
She had been making a fuss all night.
After an unknown amount of time, accompanied by Duke Ding’an’s Wife’s gentle coaxing, Yang Hui was also tired and cried herself to sleep.
The servant women and maidservants standing inside and outside the courtyard, who had also not slept all night and were exhausted, watched Duke Ding’an’s Wife come out from inside.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife looked fatigued, with deep-set eyes, rubbing her forehead with her hand, her gaze sweeping over the servant women and maidservants in the courtyard: “All of you guard the young lady well. If anything happens to her, I won’t spare you.”
The servant women and maidservants lowered their heads in acknowledgment.
“Madam, you should go rest quickly. You’ve been up all night,” a servant woman advised.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife indeed could no longer hold on; the last time she had suffered like this was more than a decade ago during the chaos under heaven.
But upon returning to the courtyard, she still could not rest, instead dragging Duke Ding’an, who was lying on the rocking chair, to his feet.
“You can still sleep?” she snapped.
Duke Ding’an Yang Bin was the eldest son of the old Duke Ding’an, now over forty years old. Although he came from a wealthy countryside family, after more than ten years of nourishment from his noble title in the capital city, his complexion was ruddy, he had fine sideburns, and he carried a somewhat dignified and luxurious air.
Being yanked up like this by his wife, he felt both ashamed and annoyed but did not dare to get angry, only saying repeatedly: “I haven’t slept all night and just lay down for a nap.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife flung him away: “Nap what? It’s dawn already. Why aren’t you hurrying to ask Marquis Yichun what’s going on? Did he really pass the word to the Empress or not?”
Duke Ding’an said: “He definitely did. The exam questions were given in advance…”
Having known the exam questions in advance, they selected the most suitable ones from them, wrote the answers ahead of time, and had Yang Hui memorize them.
“Hui’er also said that the exam question was indeed there.”
At this point, Duke Ding’an pinched his beard.
“Could it be that the answers were not good enough?”
His noble title was secure, his duties leisurely, and he did not need to keep highly capable advisors and hangers-on to scheme for his future prospects; the advisors at home who helped manage daily affairs had only average learning.
Duke Ding’an’s Wife slammed the table with a smack, fuming: “What do you mean ‘answers not good enough’? This has nothing to do with the answers! This is about whether they passed our Hui’er’s name to the National Academy.”
The Empress had agreed and would inform them of the questions in advance, while also telling the examiners at the National Academy ahead of time that this person’s scroll should be selected.
“Are they toying with us?”
At this point, Duke Ding’an’s Wife covered her face and began to cry.
“They are truly bullying us too much.”
She cried and cursed bitterly.
“Our Yang Family has already been humble enough.”
“They shouldn’t forget that if we hadn’t yielded back then, how could it have been her turn, from the Chai Clan, to become the Empress—”
Duke Ding’an lunged forward and covered his wife’s mouth: “Stop talking nonsense!”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife’s chest heaved violently, but she clamped her mouth shut and said no more, only flinging her sleeves angrily and sitting down to wipe her tears.
Even at home, Duke Ding’an still cautiously glanced outside before turning back with a sigh.
“Don’t be anxious. We still don’t know what’s going on,” he said. “I’ll go find Marquis Yichun and ask right away.”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife took a deep breath and looked at him: “It’s not about asking; it’s about telling him that Hui’er must go serve as companion reader to the Princess. This isn’t just about being a companion reader; all of the capital city is watching. If Hui’er isn’t selected, it means our family is nothing in His Majesty’s eyes!”
Duke Ding’an muttered: “It hasn’t gotten to that point…”
Duke Ding’an’s Wife angrily slammed the table again: “It has! It absolutely has! Don’t take it lightly! If Marquis Yichun doesn’t want to speak up for us, then I’ll go directly to His Majesty.” At this, she sneered, “Then he shouldn’t blame us for deliberately appearing before His Majesty.”
Duke Ding’an repeatedly soothed her: “Alright, alright, I know. I’ll go right now.” He also cautioned, “This is a small matter; we mustn’t let it reach His Majesty, or we’ll lose face and anger the Chai Clan. Sigh, although His Majesty is still healthy now, the world will eventually pass to the Crown Prince.”
The Crown Prince had no affection for their family, and Duke Ding’an’s Wife naturally knew this too. She clenched her hands and no longer clamored to see His Majesty, only gnashing her teeth: “Why aren’t you going yet!”
Duke Ding’an did not dare delay any longer and hurriedly left.
The room quieted down, but Duke Ding’an’s Wife still felt her ears buzzing and her heart tight.
Clearly, the past grievances had been settled, and from now on, there should be no more worries, everything going smoothly as wished.
Why had things suddenly gone awry?
……
……..
Yang Luo pushed open the room door and stretched lazily; it was already noon.
Mo Zheng was sitting in the courtyard chopping wood.
“Young lady, even after the exam is over, you can’t slack off. Even if you’re not hanging your hair from the beam and piercing your thigh with an awl, you can’t sleep until noon, right?” she said.
Yang Luo couldn’t help but laugh.
After being selected as companion reader yesterday, she had slept soundly for the first time.
Moreover, her neck did not hurt like it used to after a good sleep…
“Just laze for one day,” she said with a smile. “I’ll study diligently from now on.”
Mo Zheng nodded: “That’s good too; saves one meal.” With that, she stood up. “I’ll go make lunch for you now.”
But Yang Luo stopped her: “No need. Let’s go to the restaurant.”
Mo Zheng raised an eyebrow: “To celebrate?”
Yang Luo nodded with a smile: “Must celebrate.” Then she looked at Mo Zheng again. “Also to thank A Sheng.”
With that, she walked over a few steps and bowed solemnly.
Without A Sheng, she might still be helpless, hiding and dodging in Lu County right now; even if she had come to the capital city, she might have missed the exam and Miss Liu’s invitation.
After this rebirth, keeping A Sheng by her side had made everything go smoothly for her, everything turning out as she wished.
Mo Zheng smiled: “Young lady, you’re too polite. When the guard duty ends, just give more reward money.”
This young guard always talked about money, but in reality, he was not greedy for it. To become the bandit leader that the imperial court feared and who recovered a hundred thousand followers, he must have great ambitions. Though he had taken the crooked path, he could be considered a hero. Yang Luo said no more and gestured to him: “Let’s go…”
She had just taken a step when Mo Zheng stopped her.
“Young lady, you can’t go out like this,” Mo Zheng said, sizing her up.
Yang Luo touched her face: “I’ve washed up.”
Mo Zheng said, pointing at her face: “But you haven’t used that makeup powder. Remember, from the moment the selection after the exam began, you are Miss Liu from Fuzhou, every moment.”
Yang Luo came to a sudden realization: “I’ll go right now.”
With that, she hurried back to the room and sat at the dressing table, taking out the box of powder Mo Zheng had given her earlier.
This powder was very easy to use; she had learned after using it once.
While applying it in front of the mirror, she couldn’t help but look toward the courtyard.
The young guard put down the axe and fetched water from the kitchen to carefully wash his hands.
This young guard chopped wood, cooked, and seemed capable of handling a horse; he seemed to think of everything, know everything, and fear nothing.
Were all hunters like this?
Yang Luo felt it was somewhat strange.
But up to now, these strangenesses had not been bad for her; on the contrary, they had all been helpful.
Yang Luo withdrew her gaze and used the mirror to disguise her face into another appearance.
This time, she wanted those who had harmed her and her mother to die horribly; she did not care about the rest.
No update on the 15th; travel ends after this and will resume normally. Like this, hehe.
