Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Somehow, rumors began to circulate that I had a penchant for the “cut sleeve.”

The reasoning was that I had been seen frequenting brothels for men, spent my days carousing with other men, and had even stubbornly pestered Ye Qing to the point of confessing my feelings for him in front of the Emperor.

Now, this was something I could work with.

I had Zhao Yu and the others write sappy poems and doggerel for me-specifically the kind of romantic poetry shared between men and women.

They thought I had fallen for some girl and were incredibly enthusiastic.

I collected dozens of these poems and hired a different child every day to go to the gates of the Ye Manor and recite them.

“Commandant Zhou presents a poem to the Vice Minister! The Weaver Girl is in the sky, a lovesick fool is on the ground; the Beauty Ye is behind the door, a devoted soul is outside the gate!”

“Commandant Zhou presents a poem to the Vice Minister! A beauty dwells within the tower, a fool pines away in sorrow; may the beauty show some mercy, that they may never part until their hair turns white.”

There were many more like that.

When Ye Lan and the others found out I was using their poetry to harrass Ye Qing, they were so furious they nearly buried me alive.

This caused quite a stir.

It solidified my reputation as a bold, ignorant, and reckless profligate who had no sense of propriety.

Teacher Liu would just shake his head whenever he saw me, his face a mask of disappointment as if looking at a piece of rotten wood that could not be carved. The young boys in the class would dodge me the moment I appeared.

Most peculiar of all, an unremarkable scholar at the Academy-someone I usually never noticed-gave me a sachet.

He came and went in a flash, tossing it to me before running away.

I was stunned for a moment and was about to take a closer look when a gust of wind struck, and the sachet sent flying.

A flurry of punches and kicks followed immediately.

“You scoundrel, how dare you!”

I quickly blocked and retreated.

“Ye Qing, what madness has gripped you?”

Ye Qing’s eyes were bloodshot, yet they glinted with a cold, sharp light. His face was set in a grim mask, as if I were some villain who had committed an unpardonable crime.

He pointed at me in angry accusation. “Don’t you know what you’ve done?”

I was baffled. “What did I do?”

“Zhou Xuesheng! You heartless, fickle creature!”

“…”

What on earth?

Ye Qing’s face turned pale with rage. He gave me a harsh, cutting glare before flying off as if he were escaping.

…

Can even a Top Scholar use the wrong words when he’s cursing someone out?

Chapter 19

I don’t know when it happened, but Ye Qing somehow joined our group of troublemakers.

I asked Ye Lan why his brother, a man with an official rank, was hanging around with us.

He said he didn’t know.

It was just… very strange.

His clothing and demeanor were different from before.

In the past, he always wore muted, simple colors and carried himself with composed grace.

Now, he was actually wearing a vibrant ginger-yellow robe with a red hairband, and his behavior was particularly… well… flamboyant.

He even insisted on racing horses with me.

Zhao Yu and Yang Wenxu had invited quite a few young ladies for an outing.

We were catching rabbits and pheasants in the snow, hacking through ice to catch fish, and roasting game.

However, I had to admit that many of those girls were only there for Ye Qing.

They would conveniently trip in front of him or offer him roasted fish and meat at every turn.

Ye Qing tilted his chin up with a haughty expression. With a provocative look in his eyes, he said, “Commandant Zhou, do you dare to race me?”

“…”

Has he been possessed by a demon?

Is he going through a second childhood?

Where did the steady and composed Ye Qing go?

I refused him with a sneer.

“Lord Ye, I am not yet sixteen, while you are already twenty-three. Don’t you think winning would be a hollow victory?”

He was acting quite terrifying…

Ye Qing arched an eyebrow, his eyes reflecting the vast sky and the endless green fields. He looked bold and strikingly beautiful. “What is this, Commandant Zhou? Are you afraid?”

I glanced sideways at Ye Lan, asking him with my eyes, *What is wrong with your brother?*

Ye Qing’s horse suddenly moved into the middle to block Ye Lan. He said coldly, “Are we racing or not?”

“Fine,” I said.

I rode my horse to the starting line while shouting to Zhao Yu and Li Jingsong, “Hey! Get over here, old rules!”

No matter what kind of mischief Ye Qing was up to, if I was going down, I was taking everyone with me!

Xiao Yu and Xiao Hu pulled a long rope taut.

Ye Lan also timidly rode his horse over to Li Jingsong’s side.

Yang Wenxu, for some unknown reason, joined in as well.

Xiao Gang shouted, “Go!” and Xiao Yu and Xiao Hu released the rope simultaneously.

I snapped the reins hard. “Jia!”

The horses neighed loudly and galloped forward.

As the horses picked up speed, a fierce wind whipped past my ears, whistling loudly.

Ye Qing’s horse was slightly ahead of mine. His body was bent like a fully drawn bow, his black hair and red hairband dancing wildly in the air.

I cracked my whip in the air with a loud *thwack* and yelled, “Yoo-hoo! Let’s go!”

I leaned low over the horse’s back and squeezed its flanks. The horse galloped even harder.

For a moment, I felt as if I were back on the battlefield amidst the swirling yellow sands and the sound of warhorses neighing.

The clashing of steel, the sound of swords meeting, and the deafening roars of battle.

I lost, but I did it on purpose.

I was about to offer Ye Qing a few casual compliments when Zhao Yu suddenly leaped from his horse onto mine. He sat behind me and grabbed the reins. “Let’s go! Big brother is taking you to hunt some roe deer!”

I jumped in fright.

“You scared the life out of me! Can you stop acting crazy so suddenly?”

I immediately jabbed him twice with my elbows.

He parried them easily.

“Just say if you’re coming or not. Jingsong is going too.”

“I’m going, of course I’m going.” I cupped my hands toward Ye Qing. “Lord Ye is a master of the craft. This junior is impressed!”

Ye Qing, however, kept his face taut. His eyes were cold, and he looked quite displeased.

I didn’t quite understand.

This man was truly bizarre. He was the one who wanted to race, yet he wore a long face even after winning.

Well, it certainly had nothing to do with me.

“We’ll take our leave first.” I snatched back the reins and twisted around to shove him. “Get back to your own horse!”

Now that I’d had my fill of racing, it was time to hunt roe deer!

Hunt roe deer, my foot!

Zhao Yu had called us over just to watch the girl he liked!

It was the same girl with the round face and almond eyes who had told me not to even dream about Ye Qing!

Li Jingsong, Xiao Yu, and I were shivering behind a thicket.

Zhao Yu was chatting and laughing with Miss Lin, being incredibly attentive.

One moment he was offering her a hand warmer, the next a cloak, and then he was pulling snacks out from his robes.

That little girl even told Zhao Yu not to hang out with me, saying I was a profligate and a troublemaker who was up to no good.

That scoundrel Zhao Yu nodded repeatedly in agreement. “My father is very strict; he doesn’t let me play with shady characters.”

Li Jingsong and I looked at each other in disbelief.