Chapter 18: Mocked

Gao Feng truly lived up to his status as an honored guest within the household. Though a boy, no more than thirteen, he bore the delicate features of a girl, poised at that indistinct stage between genders, exuding a breathtaking beauty that could topple cities and nations.

“Brother Gao,” Cui Xiu halted his scrutinizing gaze and respectfully bowed.

Although... although Gao Feng, a towering man, had willingly fallen from grace and should have been scorned by the scholarly class, he had his reasons. His father, Gao Tianxiang, had once been the magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture—a man trusted by the emperor, with a promising career.

Alas, he was caught in the political turmoil of the court, nearly causing their entire clan to be purged and exiled. Fortunately, Gao Feng sought the protection of Princess Changping, saving the lives of all the Gao family elders and children.

This mercy also preserved the chance for the Gao family to rise again: Gao Tianxiang was merely demoted, his titles intact, and the rest of the family untainted.

For this debt of gratitude alone, Gao Feng would never betray Princess Changping.

Moreover, the Gao family had a tradition of scholarly examinations. Gao Feng had been educated from a young age and was once a proper student.

Having a scholar in the family lent the Cui household an air of reliability.

Cui Xiu pondered the winding path his tutor, Master Pei, had explained for forming alliances through mutual guarantees. His eyes gleamed with excitement because these were the deep-rooted traditions, the nuanced social graces and worldly wisdom that could not be captured in mere words—lessons patiently imparted by family elders.

This was his life—not as a mere stone to adorn, but as Cui Xiu, carefully guided by his forebears.

Meanwhile, Gao Feng regarded Cui Xiu, who dutifully performed the junior’s bow, with no trace of disdain but rather sparkling warmth. He bowed in return, “Brother Xiu.”

Nearby, Cui Cong noticed the sudden brightness in Gao Feng’s eyes, no longer the soft warmth but strict and proper. He gently nudged Cui Hu, signaling the rightful heir of the Rong household to show proper respect.

He had heard of Gao Feng’s plight. Gao Feng had bent his spine to secure peace, yet the Gao family’s so-called proud scholars scorned him, treating him with insults or beatings as if they wished to exile him themselves.

At home, Gao Feng bore this silently, but once outside, he would collapse, revealing wounds all over.

This behavior earned the Gao family a reputation for ingratitude.

His father had once remarked—enduring such humiliation with a hardened spirit and cunning methods, Gao Feng was destined for greatness.

Cui Hu signaled Cui Cong to proceed, winking—being a favored companion was also a new way to avoid exile.

Cui Cong was speechless.

Watching his two elder brothers bicker openly, Cui Xiu helplessly assumed the role of host for the young master, inviting Gao Feng to tea while racking his brain to say, “Uncle may have urgent matters. Brother Gao, please wait a moment.”

Although Gao Feng was a male favorite, he represented Princess Changping’s goodwill and trust toward the Cui family, so they must treat him well.

Besides... it was said that a sudden fall from grace often changed one’s temperament. What if Gao Feng misunderstood their aloofness as disdain?

Seeing Cui Xiu’s flushed face, as if awkward from telling his first lie, Gao Feng’s smile deepened. “Thanks to Duke Rong’s support, I had the chance to take the imperial exams. Waiting a moment is nothing—I would gladly stand like the disciples at Cheng’s gate.”

Raising an eyebrow with curiosity, he asked, “Brother Xiu, do you know the story of standing at Cheng’s gate?”

He had only heard the prince teasing that the Cui family was mad enough to even use a four-year-old as a prop. Yet this child’s every gesture already bore grace and sharp wit, speaking clearly and logically.

“I do. I’ve begun my studies,” Cui Xiu breathed a quiet sigh of relief at the topic and eagerly replied, “I know all the Three Hundred Thousand characters, and every day the tutor teaches me three idioms or stories!”

“Brother Gao, feel free to test me!”

—By the time of the exam, my father will surely know my eldest brother is still lazing in bed.

Gao Feng watched the proud Cui Xiu and glanced sideways at the legitimate heirs of the Cui family.

Cui Xiu’s eldest brother looked at him with sympathy, saying, “Brother Gao, this little brother is usually quiet, but when it comes to studying, he chatters from dawn to dusk.”

Cui Hu nodded proudly, “He recites every morning on time, even before the roosters crow. If our father had this perseverance, we wouldn’t be waiting here.”

Gao Feng smiled, hiding a trace of envy beneath his proud expression. “Then... then I shall shamelessly quiz you, Brother Xiu.”

Cui Xiu blushed and nodded firmly.

The Cui family was hopeless—such scandalous openness!

Seeing Cui Xiu’s flushed cheeks and fair face, he looked more delicate and adorable than ever. Gao Feng resisted the urge to tousle his hair and asked hopefully, “Do you remember the next line after ‘Treat the root through farming, attend to sowing and reaping’?”

Cui Xiu replied calmly, “Prepare the southern fields; I cultivate millet and millet. Taxes mature and tribute is new; encourage rewards and punishments...”

Gao Feng’s eyes widened at the flawless recitation. “Brother Xiu, are you by any chance gifted with a photographic memory?”

Cui Xiu humbly said, “I’m just parroting.”

At that moment, the voice of a servant announced, “Master has arrived.”

He sighed deeply, climbing down from the camphor chair taller than his legs to greet Marquis Cui En.

Upon seeing Marquis Cui En at the door, Cui Xiu’s eyes widened.

The marquis was dressed like a top scholar, radiating the proud triumph of a champion. His features gleamed with the rare elegance only a noble family could nurture. One couldn’t help but recall Madam Yu’s remark: “My son is so handsome; the ladies all fancy him!”

Cui Xiu glanced at his equally stunned brothers and carefully steadied himself before bowing, “Uncle.”

Cui Hu and Cui Cong followed suit.

Gao Feng bowed as well.

The marquis, pleased to see such handsome young men, waved them forward, “Come, let’s register!”

As they walked, he called out, “Gao Feng, I heard you’re good at painting? Make sure to keep your eyes wide open and capture everyone’s reaction when they learn I’m taking the imperial exams.”

“Just think, I’m the only duke in the dynasty, no—the only noble to take the exams since their inception!”

“I’ll be immortalized in history!”

“Not wasted getting up so early to dress up!”

Cui Xiu finally understood why their uncle was late.

He had dressed like a peacock just to be painted!

Sigh.

Just as Cui Xiu thought to himself how brazen his uncle was, he heard his uncle’s son say quietly, “Father, I heard the registration requires a portrait.”

“That’s why I look so good.”

“You must have a clean face,” said Cui Hu, “According to the rules, no makeup allowed.”

The marquis glanced at Gao Feng.

Gao Feng bowed, “Respectfully, Duke Rong, I wear no makeup.”

The marquis declared, “I don’t care. Our duke must dazzle everyone first! Otherwise, I won’t register or take the exams—I’ll skip them!”

Hearing this self-proclaimed threat, Cui Xiu comforted himself silently: Thank you, Uncle.

Without him, as the third-ranked scholar, he wouldn’t have paid attention to these alliance procedures, nor known that a duke and family head could throw tantrums.

Muttering to himself, Cui Xiu watched the acupoint master finally arrive and sighed with relief.

Well, at least some face was saved for Father Cui.

An incense stick’s time later, the six of them boarded the duke’s carriage.

Though six in number, the carriage was spacious enough for the duke to lie angrily across, showing his displeasure.

Cui Qianting did not indulge the duke at all. He glanced at Gao Feng, then at his three sons, and began plainly, “Since we share this carriage, before heading to the prefecture office, let’s go over some official etiquette. As the saying goes: past sins haunt this life. One’s misdeeds are fully repaid now. Among the ten magistrates of Shuntian Prefecture, eight are exiled, one faces execution, and very few are promoted.”

“But besides Shuntian’s notoriety, there is a hot potato—the capital’s counties.”

Shuntian Prefecture governed five states and nineteen counties; among them, Daxing and Wanping counties bordered the city, known as the capital counties.

The royal city’s central axis divided the east, which belonged to Daxing.

“By regulation, we all fall under Daxing County Magistrate’s jurisdiction. This position is low in rank but heavy in power.” Cui Qianting fixed his gaze on the only two serious exam candidates—Cui Cong and Gao Feng. “The current magistrate, Xie Zhongyuan, was the first champion since Emperor Mingde ascended. He is loyal to the regime. Six months ago, he was demoted due to a mistake but still serves as magistrate. Remember, no matter the rumors, always show respect to the magistrate.”

“You must keep this exam’s questions firmly in mind.”

The large carriage fell into solemn silence.

All nodded in agreement.

Even Marquis Cui En widened his eyes, trying to convey with his gaze that the champion magistrate might be the emperor’s secret agent monitoring the exam of officials’ sons.

=======

After an hour’s journey, they arrived at the Daxing county office.

Located in the eastern city, the office was smaller but exuded nobility unlike ordinary county offices.

Outside, luxury carriages filled the courtyard.

The duke’s carriage stopped but drew no attention.

Before stepping down, Marquis Cui En looked at Cui Qianting sitting inside, unwilling to disembark. “You really won’t come down? I’m worried if a dispute breaks out, Hu’er and the others won’t be able to control me.”

Cui Xiu, hearing this, hastened to get down faster.

He had learned thick-skinned shamelessness from his uncle!

But just as he stepped onto the stirrup, a sarcastic voice whispered in his ear, “Brother Lin, yesterday I learned a couplet: ‘Like a soggy crab in a red robe!’”

The malice in the words was blunt. Cui Xiu frowned, about to see who dared insult someone openly. Yet when he looked up, the carriage curtain blew aside, revealing a bright red robe.

Cui Xiu was speechless.