The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits

“There’s no need for that.” Shen Yu refused without even thinking about it. He could imagine how the ministers would react if Shang JunLin grandly led him into the hall.

To avoid scandalizing all those officials, Shen Yu thought it would be better if he didn’t join in the excitement.

“What is Ah Yu worried about?” Shang JunLin rubbed the delicate skin on Shen Yu’s neck. “Thinking the ministers will oppose it? Don’t worry, they won’t say anything.”

Clearly, when Shang JunLin said he wanted to take him to watch the palace examination, it wasn’t a whim but something Shang JunLin had already decided. Shen Yu felt confused. “Why does Your Majesty want to bring me?”

“Did Ah Yu forget about the bet we made before? Doesn’t Ah Yu want to see the results in person?” Shang JunLin coaxed him in a low voice.

Shen Yu gave him a sideways glance. “Of course I didn’t forget. But Your Majesty settled the wager in advance. There’s not much difference between seeing the result of the imperial exam and not seeing it.”

When Shen Yu thought about what happened that day, his face grew hot.

The beauty’s eyes shied away, and his face was tinted light pink. Shang JunLin’s heart began to pound.

He closed in to plant a kiss on that pale pink skin. “This emperor personally wants to take Ah Yu there. Shouldn’t Ah Yu accompany this emperor?”

“Your Majesty.” Shen Yu felt moved, but he still reasoned with Shang JunLin. “Since ancient times, the harem is forbidden to interfere with politics. Your Majesty has already bent the rules by discussing court affairs with me. The imperial exam isn’t like other things. In any case, as a noble monarch, it’s improper for me to set foot there.”

“Husband and husband are one. There should be no distinction between Ah Yu and myself. Ah Yu can go wherever and do whatever this emperor can.”

Shang JunLin stroked Shen Yu’s cheek. “This emperor knows Ah Yu has tremendous aptitude. Being trapped in the harem is unfair to you. This emperor won’t accept it because this emperor refuses to cover up Ah Yu’s talent.”

Shen Yu was startled. He didn’t think Shang JunLin would say something like this. His heart softened, but he also felt a slight ache. An imperceptible sweetness that was hidden inside him slowly began to spread.

When he spoke, his throat ached a little. “I don’t care about those things. Your Majesty doesn’t have to do this for me.”

Shang JunLin held the man tightly in his arms. “Then do it to satisfy one of this emperor’s selfish wishes, Ah Yu.”

His Ah Yu should be an eagle soaring in the sky, but because of him, because of the Zhenbei Marquis’ foolishness, Ah Yu was trapped in the harem. Shang JunLin was too selfish to let him go. His Ah Yu had to remain by his side. Ah Yu must belong only to him!

After being worn down, Shen Yu agreed.

Shang JunLin hugged him happily and said quietly, “In fact, it’s boring to sit up there. It takes more than an hour and you can’t do anything.”

Shen Yu stroked a loose strand of the man’s hair. “Then Your Majesty wants me to accompany you to relieve your boredom?”

“It’s fine if Ah Yu thinks so.”

Shen Yu laughed softly and held the man’s face in his hands. “Your Majesty, please don’t feel like you’re holding me back from anything. It was my own choice to enter the palace. No one forced me. Your Majesty treats me so well, and I’m truly happy. Your Majesty doesn’t have to find ways to show off my talent. I don’t want it.”

Shen Yu gazed directly into Shang JunLin’s eyes, as if to see into his heart. He stressed once again, “What I want is to live freely and without restraint, not to become caught up in never-ending intrigues and deceit, Your Majesty.”

He felt at peace by Shang JunLin’s side. Maybe it was selfish or cowardly, but he was exhausted from calculating every step and every word so carefully in his previous life. When he first entered the palace he hadn’t intended to stay long. It was Shang JunLin who showed him another way of life.

—It felt good to have someone shelter you from the wind and rain.

Shang JunLin’s eyes were heavy and dark. After a long time, he suddenly smiled. “Ah Yu, even if you want to, this emperor won’t ever give you a chance to escape from me.”

Now that Ah Yu had come to him, he would never leave his side!

The news that Shang JunLin was going to bring Shen Yu to the palace examination was communicated in advance to the officials who were going to be present that day. Those who knew Shang JunLin’s temper didn’t put forward any objections but calmly accepted it. As for the ones who were unhappy, after they saw the prime minister and the others silently agree, they didn’t dare to speak up.

Afterwards, someone was puzzled. “Even if His Majesty dotes on the noble monarch, he should be measured about it. How does it look to bring such a person into the palace examination hall?”

“That’s right. Why didn’t the prime minister persuade His Majesty against it? Is it right to let His Majesty act on a whim?”

The prime minister methodically straightened his sleeves. Without looking up, he replied, “When His Majesty told us, do you think he was asking for our opinion?”

Several people thought about it, and their faces became a bit unpleasant.

“Obviously the rest of you know His Majesty has already made a decision. If we oppose him, what effect will it have except to increase His Majesty’s displeasure?”

“But… Since ancient times, the harem hasn’t been allowed to meddle in politics. On such an important occasion, isn’t it all the more vital for the noble monarch to avoid suspicion?”

The prime minister thought of the young man who proposed the new merchants law and came up with the method of flood control, and he sighed inwardly. “His Majesty has his reasons. Let’s not worry about it too much.”

If the Zhenbei Marquis’ shortsightedness hadn’t trapped that young man in the harem, he would have made brilliant achievements at court.

Seeing that the Prime Minister stood firmly on His Majesty’s side, the other ministers could only shut their mouths. As for broaching the subject with His Majesty directly, they wouldn’t dare.

The scholars who failed the metropolitan exam had left the capital one after another, either to earn a living or to return to their hometowns to study for the next exam, preparing to come back and fight again in three years’ time.

Jiang HuaiQing and Hè ChengYu, as the two top scoring candidates, had met with all kinds of well-wishers. Then they settled down and concentrated on studying for the palace examination.

Yingxing House also quieted down.

After obtaining His Majesty’s permission, the Minister of Works sent an official to Yan Zheng to discuss the topic of sponsorship.

After listening to the person from the Ministry of Works, Yan Zheng put away his fan. “This idea is only too favorable to us merchants. I never thought I’d pick up such a bargain.”

“You don’t have to say that, Young Master Yan. If it weren’t for your generous offer, we’d still be in a troublesome situation.” The visitor had a good impression of Yan Zheng and spoke with a degree of intimacy.

As the wine flowed, the atmosphere grew more and more friendly. Yan Zheng had been in business for many years, and as the saying went, his tongue could describe black as white. The official from the Ministry of Works had never dealt with such a person before. In a short time, he gave out a lot of information.

However, Yan Zheng was careful and only asked about some marginal things. When the official eventually sobered up, he wouldn’t feel alarmed about the things he said.

“Is this idea of ‘sponsorship’ something your senior minister thought of?” Yan Zheng glanced up, and the servant boy hurried to pour more wine for them.

The wine was a good, clear vintage with a refreshing flavor and a long-lasting, mellow fragrance. It was a good choice for welcoming guests.

The official from the Ministry of Works was already drunk, but his mind was sober enough to know what to say and what not to say. He lowered his voice and warned, “There may be big moves coming from above. Young Master Yan should seize the opportunity.”

After getting the information he wanted, Yan Zheng casually changed the subject.

Seeing that the man had stopped asking questions, the official from the Ministry of Works relaxed and felt more satisfied. He told himself that this person was informed and knowledgeable, a suitable long-term partner.

Late at night, Yan Zheng sent a servant to escort the official home. Then he stood by the side of the road. With an obscure look in his eyes he watched the carriage as it rumbled away.

The servant boy brought over a cloak and helped Yan Zheng put it on. “Young master, come inside.” 

Yan Zheng chuckled. “It was a good idea to make a trip to the capital.” 

The servant boy didn’t understand. “What does the young master mean?”

“Those people never would have imagined it, I’m afraid. They thought they were banishing me, but as it turns out, they built me a road to heaven. Compared with what I’m about to get, who cares about the things they’re grasping so hard?”

It really was a blessing and a curse. He thought it was going to take a lot of effort, but opportunity had already knocked on his door. This would greatly shorten the amount of time needed to achieve his goal.

Yan Zheng didn’t go to sleep that night. He stayed awake, carefully adjusting his plans. Heaven itself seemed to be helping him, and he had to make good use of it.

“Young master.” The servant boy came in with hot porridge. “As you requested, we made inquiries about those people. It’s strange, but we couldn’t find out any details.”

After parting from Shang JunLin and Shen Yu that day, Yan Zheng told his people to find out more about them. He didn’t want to do anything to them, he just wanted to get better acquainted. There weren’t many people with extraordinary conversation and looks that fit his aesthetics so perfectly. Setting aside anything else, it would be nice if they could become friends.

That was one of the major rules of business: making friends.

“Oh?” Yan Zheng stopped writing. “You couldn’t find out anything? What about the others?”

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“This servant made careful inquiries. The other party was Minister Fang and his family. As for the two young men the young master was curious about, this servant really couldn’t find out anything.”

“I see. Pull back my people and stop looking. In the future, pretend this never happened.”

Minister Fang—he was one of His Majesty’s most trusted officials. Although the man was subtle about it, Yan Zheng noticed Minister Fang’s respectful behavior towards the two young men that day, and it didn’t seem to be insincere. How many people could make Minister Fang behave that way?

Yan Zheng smiled. Really, no one could beat his luck.

Yan Zheng’s movements couldn’t be hidden from the Hidden Dragon Guard. Shang JunLin soon heard the news, but the palace examination was about to begin and the matter had to be set aside for now.

Shen Yu got up early and changed into more dignified clothes than usual. Shang JunLin wore his imperial robes with gold embroidery against a black background, displaying the majesty of the emperor.

There was no cover or screen. Shang JunLin took Shen Yu’s hand and sat beside him on high.

The ministers had been informed in advance. When they saw the two together, the ministers didn’t even exchange glances. They simply got ready to begin.

The candidates bowed their heads and paid homage to their superiors, and then they took their seats one by one.

Given the rule that forbade anyone from looking directly at the face of the emperor, no one dared to openly look up.

The palace exam wasn’t only a test of knowledge, but also mental endurance. Sitting above, Shen Yu could see the reactions of the scholars below at a glance.

Some were obviously nervous. Rather, the nervous ones were in the majority. Shen Yu looked around and saw that Hè ChengYu and Jiang HuaiQing seemed to be doing well, writing their answers in an orderly manner. Another person whose performance stood out was Fang JiaYi.

Fang JiaYi was dressed in a uniform student robe. Sitting with a straight back, she focused on the answer sheet in front of her.

Time passed slowly. Finally, it was over.

The candidates stopped writing, and a special person came forward to collect their answer sheets. The process had finally reached its end. Those who hadn’t performed well had pale faces.

The examinees entered the side hall to wait. Meanwhile, the ministers took the answer sheets and went through them. Barring exceptions, the new blood of the imperial court would be born here.

Shen Yu had sat for more than an hour. He stood up and moved his hands and feet. When he thought about the ministers who’d looked at him several times but never dared to say anything, he felt a little happy.

“How does Ah Yu feel?” Shang JunLin embraced the person and walked down the steps with him.

“Your Majesty is right. It’s hard to wait so long.” Shen Yu hadn’t been able to make big movements or speak the entire time. He felt that he shouldn’t have been so soft-hearted and agreed to Shang JunLin before.

But…

“Your Majesty, do you think Jiang HuaiQing and the others will be surprised when they see us later?”

TL Notes:

a road to heaven – 通天 – direct access to the highest authorities