Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Xie Chengze scrubbed a hand over his face, pulled Bian Yangchun to his feet, and addressed the crowd. “My friends, there’s no need for such ceremony. Here, I am only Cheng Ze, a merchant’s son.”
The scholars rose one after another, gazing at Xie Chengze with a tumult of emotion.
Who could have imagined that the delicate Brother Cheng Ze, who had drunk and laughed with them without the slightest air of superiority and looked as though a single shove might topple him, was actually Xie Chengze, the current emperor’s favorite Second Prince?
If the emperor had not deliberately sent this reward, perhaps the Second Prince’s contributions would have vanished from the world, all the credit falling to Prefect Liang.
That was not to say Prefect Liang had done nothing or did not deserve a good reputation. But at the very least, the Second Prince should not have given everything and received no recognition whatsoever. That would be far too unfair.
“Why put yourself through this, Your Highness?” Bian Yangchun sighed softly.
“Reputation is merely an embellishment to me. I can take it or leave it. What matters is that after I go, the people of Yizhou still have someone at their center who can support them and help them persevere.” Xie Chengze shook his head carelessly, then smiled. “Besides, I also did it so you wouldn’t call me Your Highness.”
The scholars’ eyes welled with sentimental tears once more.
The Second Prince was truly approachable, nothing like the rumors!
The people of Jian’an were blessed to have him!
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Xie Chengze cupped his hands to everyone. “It is growing late, my friends, and you should set out for home. I, Cheng, wish you a safe and smooth journey. Do good and ask not what the future holds.”
“We gratefully accept your good wishes, Brother Cheng!”
“Brother Cheng! Until we meet again!”
“Do good and ask not what the future holds! Everyone, let’s be off!”
Ouyang Jiu and Ji Songhua had arranged to travel home together. Jing Ze had found a kindred spirit in Ouyang Jiu and made a point of bidding him farewell.
“Brother Jing, we’ll meet in the capital for next year’s spring imperial examination!” Ouyang Jiu gave Jing Ze a tight embrace, reluctant to part. “With your talent, Brother Jing, your name is certain to appear on the examination rolls. Then we shall all don red robes and sing our way to the Qionglin Banquet!”
“Thank you for the good wishes, Brother Ouyang. Safe travels!” Jing Ze watched Ouyang Jiu depart, his own reluctance clear in his eyes.
Ji Songhua had been staring at Zhu Xiaobiao the entire time. Just before leaving, he finally could not hold back. “Brother Zhu, about what happened before…”
Zhu Xiaobiao shook his head and smiled. “It’s already in the past. I understand. To be honest, even I thought it was almost impossible at the time.”
Yet the Second Prince had made his boast come true.
Ji Songhua fell silent. After a long while, he spread his arms, hesitating. “Before I go, may I…?”
Zhu Xiaobiao scratched his neck, finding the whole thing awkwardly sentimental. But when he glanced at Jing Ze and Ouyang Jiu embracing nearby, he pursed his lips, opened his arms, and hugged Ji Songhua. “Fine. Safe travels to you too, Brother Ji.”
Zhu Xiaobiao had not hugged anyone in a long time, and his memories remained fixed on the hearty bear hugs he had given his beautiful concubines when he was still large and sturdy. This bear hug practically stuffed Ji Songhua straight into his arms…
But Zhu Xiaobiao was much shorter than Ji Songhua and had grown considerably slimmer. Rather than pulling Ji Songhua into his embrace, the hug sent his entire body tumbling into Ji Songhua’s. He still had plenty of soft flesh, so when he collided with Ji Songhua, it felt as though a warm, enthusiastic little mutt had bounded into his arms. The embrace felt… remarkably good.
Zhu Xiaobiao did not know how long scholars were supposed to embrace when parting. He assumed Ji Songhua knew, so he planned to let go only after Ji Songhua did. Yet after waiting for ages, he realized that Ji Songhua had not only kept an arm wrapped around his back, but had even raised the other hand to stroke his hair.
Zhu Xiaobiao: ?
Was this also some customary way for scholars to bid farewell?
Zhu Xiaobiao considered it and thought he ought to pat Ji Songhua’s head in return, lest he once again appear insufficiently “scholarly.” Before he could raise his hand, however, someone seized the back of his collar and plucked him straight out of Ji Songhua’s arms.
Zhu Xiaobiao looked back and found Jing Ze standing there, having finished his farewells at some unknown point. Ouyang Jiu stood beside him, watching Zhu Xiaobiao and Ji Songhua with great interest.
Jing Ze lowered his eyes slightly to meet Zhu Xiaobiao’s puzzled gaze and said coolly, “Has my lord not hugged him enough? If you cannot bear to part, why not keep Brother Ji here? You might as well keep Brother Ouyang too. If one is staying, two may as well stay.”
Ji Songhua coughed softly. “Brother Jing, you misunderstand. I lost my composure just now.”
Only then did Zhu Xiaobiao realize what had happened. His face instantly turned scarlet, and he stammered, “I-I’ve never said farewell to scholars like you before! How was I supposed to know the rules?”
“Don’t panic, Brother Zhu. There are no rules for scholars saying farewell.” Ouyang Jiu was accustomed to Zhu Xiaobiao’s stubborn, competitive nature and the solemnity he displayed while lecturing. This was the first time he had seen the man blush with embarrassment, and he found it immensely entertaining. Spreading his arms, he teased, “Come on, let’s have a hug too~”
Zhu Xiaobiao instinctively opened his arms. But just as his right foot left the ground, Jing Ze’s tall, slender figure stepped between them. His voice remained cool. “Enough. It’s not as though you’ll never meet again. Hurry up and go.”
Ouyang Jiu lowered his arms with a trace of regret and sighed. “You’re no fun at all, Brother Jing~ You were hugging me just now and saying you couldn’t bear to part~”
Jing Ze gave him a chilly look, then glanced at Ji Songhua. “Safe travels, Brother Ji.”
Ji Songhua coughed lightly. “Mm. Until fate brings us together again.”
With that, he glanced at Zhu Xiaobiao. “Brother Zhu, we’ll be going now.”
Zhu Xiaobiao waved a hand.
Go on. It was good that they were leaving. Once everyone was gone, no one would ever bother him… again.
Ouyang Jiu and Ji Songhua left, while Bian Yangchun and Gu Ying stayed behind. Gu Ying was to serve as Liang Wanda’s personal guard, and Bian Yangchun did not feel comfortable leaving Gu Ying alone, so he remained as well.
As for Zhang Yuheng…
“Brother Yuheng, aren’t you going home?” Xie Chengze asked curiously. He had always wondered why Zhang Yuheng, a scholar from Yuzhou, had appeared on Baoxie Road and traveled to Yizhou with Bian Yangchun and the others.
Judging by the travel time, Zhang Yuheng must have set out before the court announced the open examination question.
An old walking stick of unknown origin hung at Zhang Yuheng’s waist. It was the perfect length for writing on the ground. Slowly, he wrote, “My paternal grandfather is Zhang Kan, Prefect of Shuzhou. My father ordered me to travel to Shuzhou so our family could celebrate the New Year with Grandfather. It is still early in the year, so there is no rush.”
Xie Chengze: ???
What? Was he hearing things?
Who did you just say your grandfather was? Lord Zhang Kan, Prefect of neighboring Shuzhou???
So all this time, he had been ordering the grandson of the Prefect of Shuzhou to dig up and boil excrement for him every day?!
“Why didn’t you say so before?” Xie Chengze’s voice cracked.
Zhang Yuheng wrote on the ground, “For the same reason as Your Highness. I was afraid you would call me Young Lord Zhang.”
Xie Chengze: …
Damn it. He had no comeback!