Chapter 23, Part Two

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An eerie silence surrounded them. The young man who spoke wore a look of careful consideration. Marquis Cui En’s eyes were purely filled with curiosity, like an innocent infant glimpsing the world for the first time, brimming with wonder and yearning. Anyone who saw him would involuntarily soften their heart a little.

Moreover, although Marquis Cui En had a somewhat rakish reputation from lingering among the flowers, he was fundamentally upright and never abused his power to bully others. Compared to those corrupt officials who exploited their ancestral privileges to prey on the villagers, he was honest and straightforward.

Recalling the remarks of his esteemed grandfather, the young man Su Jinyi finally bowed and broke the silence: “My lord Rong, this humble one, Su Jinyi, is rude to ask—have you ever visited Guoqing Temple to offer incense?”

Marquis Cui En looked puzzled: “Yes, I have.”

“In probably April or May,” Su Jinyi explained, “there are fields of rapeseed flowers blooming at the foot of the mountain.” He recounted how he was unfamiliar with them last year but happened to be out for a spring outing. His elder brother was taking the local imperial examination, and their grandmother went to pray for him at the temple. They were lucky to encounter the magnificent sea of blooming rapeseed flowers—it was a breathtaking sight!”

With a trace of nostalgia, Su Jinyi’s voice brightened: “Later, my elder brother assigned us a spring scenery essay, mentioning the flowers like scattered gold. That phrase comes from the poem ‘Chen Ji, County Magistrate Tongzhi’s Younger Brother’s Journey to Qingyuan to Visit Master Si Chan, with Record Attached.’ The original poem included lines about the spring day…”

Marquis Cui En blinked in confusion, setting down Cui Xiu, and waved his hand to interrupt Su Jinyi: “Wait a moment, the name of that poem is way too long. Isn’t it enough to test on Li Bai or Du Fu at the county exams? Do you really test on such obscure verses?”

Cui Xiu, who had been embarrassed to the point of wanting to hide in a hole, was utterly stunned to hear his own uncle, the Marquis, ask so naively and firmly. His expression could no longer maintain the innocence of a four-year-old.

Because… that poem was not obscure. In the past life, any family with two generations of imperial exam officials would have the Thousand Family Poems in hand. In short, it was essential knowledge for exam preparation.

Moreover, hearing the exact source from a young man who appeared to come from a scholarly family, combined with the names of brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones he mentioned, one could infer that this literary world, except for the current dynasty, shared the same cultural roots with other eras—all part of the Chinese civilization.

Therefore…

Cui Xiu stopped himself from further embarrassment and forced himself to think of a way to discreetly produce a Cui family edition of the Thousand Family Poems.

Meanwhile, Su Jinyi, who had been speaking so clearly and eloquently before, suddenly fell silent, unsure how to continue.

The poem was indeed not obscure, included in the Thousand Family Poems. Children from scholarly families like theirs would learn it in early education. After learning it, when they went on spring outings, their brothers or elders would casually mention a line to deepen their impression, subtly influencing them until they understood the essence of poetry.

Though he was only ten, Su Jinyi understood some basics.

But families like the Cui, who had risen from military merit within just three generations, likely did not know that prominent scholars in long-established families discussed and compiled literary anthologies for their offspring’s learning.

He also couldn’t publicly reveal where he had learned the poem.

Yet… Marquis Cui En was a duke, and seemed sincere.

Glancing at the young man who hesitated to speak, Marquis Cui En understood there was some family secret and that it was inappropriate to answer publicly. So, he put his hands on his hips and assumed the commanding air of a duke: “I see, you’re preparing for the exam, right? You young ones, don’t just look on—”

The marquis stood among them, not too close or distant, still quite amiable toward these young hopefuls his son’s age, and loudly declared: “Go back to your studies, and tell your fathers that I, Marquis Cui En, will take the exam again next year!”

“I want to see if I can pass next year!”

“I’ll keep taking it year after year until the year I do!”

His words were like thunder, shaking all the candidates, who openly stared at Marquis Cui En.

Taking the exam again?

They weren’t fools. This time, the elders at home each had their own thoughts, planning to observe. Some promising eldest sons hadn’t even registered.

If Marquis Cui En really took the exam year after year, it would surely give the elders headaches.

With a quick glance at the expressions of the young men, the marquis rolled up his sleeves fiercely: “I’m not fighting for a mere steamed bun, I’m fighting for pride. If in ten years I can’t pass, then by law and right of my hereditary privilege, a grand duke like me will serve as nothing less than a mere seventh-rank official—as the magistrate of Daxing County!”

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“From then on, this duke will set the exam questions!”

Cui Xiu looked up in shock at the examination hall’s plaque, as if his uncle, standing there like a great gatekeeper blocking thousands with mighty prestige, slowly raised a hand to cover his screaming mouth.

At only ten or eleven years old, Cui Xiu had still seen too little of the world.

Too little!

Su Jinyi was speechless.

Could it… really be like this?!

Just to be cautious, perhaps he should suggest his parents have another son, who might catch the good old days of the Daxing County exams “opening the floodgates”?

While Su Jinyi was lost in his wild imaginings, he noticed his brother Wen dragging him away, signaling urgently with his eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

Wen hurriedly pulled him along, whispering, “Didn’t you see everyone else was so shocked they fled? Jinyi, we should leave quickly too.”

Marquis Cui En was just relying on ancestral privilege to flaunt his power. But if Emperor Mingde could sternly discipline and train his own princes, could he not handle Marquis Cui En?

After all, he was just a pampered mascot.

Once Marquis Cui En exhausted his favor, it might well be the end of the Cui family.

Watching all the young men scatter like birds and beasts, disappearing without a trace as described in the poems, the marquis’s eyes held a hint of hurt. He patted Cui Xiu’s head and headed toward the waiting pavilion opposite the examination hall: “Come on, just the two of us here, it’s still peaceful!”

Since candidates waited for their companions after exams, Daxing County had set up sheltered pavilions to shield from rain and snow to prevent the cold.

Sensitive to the slight grievance in Marquis Cui En’s words, Cui Xiu exhaled slowly, jogging to keep pace, then took the marquis’s hand and feigned anxiety: “Uncle, you like that young man who answered the questions, but don’t like me?”

“With me here, it’ll be lively. I can do so many things and even imitate storytellers to tell you tales!”

Feeling the warmth of the marquis’s fingertips, Cui Xiu looked up at his face full of nervous fear. Suddenly, he recalled the troublesome news reported by Nurse Yu about the second wife’s household:

Cui Qianting’s second wife, Lady Wang, had agreed to be a nominal wife, managing the household’s inner affairs—a sort of female housekeeper—out of love for Cui Qianting. But Wang’s wet nurse, protective of her mistress, plotted against Cui Xiu, the illegitimate son. Taking advantage of the marquis leading the family to the summer villa, she secretly removed the ice blocks from Cui Xiu’s room, leaving him hot and suffocated, then exposed to water for cooling, triggering convulsions and a high fever.

If Nurse Yu hadn’t been bored and gone to check on the young master confined indoors during mourning, Cui Xiu might have died.

After the incident was uncovered, Cui Qianting never let Lady Wang return home, instead sending her and her entire retinue to the Cui family’s separate estate.

Thinking of how this matter forced Cui Qianting to desperately consider finding a wife for Cui Hu—after all, the household affairs of a noble family couldn’t be left in the hands of a secondary wife—gave Marquis Cui En a sharp headache.

Actually, Lady Wang was quite capable and efficient, despite her merchant origins. She greeted and hosted with proper etiquette, neither servile nor arrogant, quite poised. She even shielded him from shameless, fallen nobles trying to offer their daughters to the marquis.

For a duke like him, she was quite useful.

Sadly…

Seeing the fear mixed with flattery in Cui Xiu’s eyes, a flash of displeasure crossed Marquis Cui En’s face.

He raised his children—even the offspring of his mortal enemies, Cui Chong and Cui Yue—with confidence and spirit. They were bold and decisive, knowing when to flee from a tough fight.

Even though Cui Xiu was an illegitimate son, he never wanted him to be timid or petty.

He hadn’t taken him out to play only because of the mourning period!

Otherwise, forced to mooch off Emperor Mingde’s favors, he would have brought every single one.

Grumbling internally, Marquis Cui En bent down to pick up Cui Xiu, pinching his chubby cheeks: “Of course your uncle likes you, Xiu’er. You’re so cute, much more fun than your father.”

“So remember, your uncle likes you no matter if you have talent or can recite poems backward or not. I just like children, like all the children of the Cui family.”

Cui Xiu never expected to hear such stirring words from his uncle’s mouth. That he could be liked by his elders without having to perform well.

“You are a son of the Cui family. You must be confident, understand? Think about it—how many people dream of being reborn and still can’t be as lucky as you?” Marquis Cui En said proudly, then looked around the pavilion, chose a relatively clean seat, and sat down.

He set Cui Xiu down gently.

Cui Xiu felt the support of the bench beneath him but couldn’t help his gaze lingering on Marquis Cui En.

The marquis was now animated: “You’re just too quiet. When the time comes, I’ll take you to fight with the other kids; you’ll get wild. And don’t be like that literary young man earlier, going out to play and spouting poetry. When I go to Guoqing Temple, I treat the Bodhisattva like a mountain to climb, fish in the release pond, and use incense sticks as charcoal to roast turtles.”

Feeling his inner blood surge, Cui Xiu dared to ask cautiously: “Uncle, didn’t the monks at the temple kick you out for that?”

“Guoqing Temple is an imperial temple. Which old bald monk dares to kick me out?” Marquis Cui En raised an eyebrow smugly. “Go, bring me a cup of ginger tea. We’ll drink as I tell you—when I was young, I was lively and cheerful, loved by all.”

Cui Xiu dared not imagine how someone like that could be loved by all. He carefully climbed down and walked toward the attendant who brought the tea, speaking respectfully: “Uncle, may I trouble you for two bowls of ginger tea, please? Thank you.”

The weather was cold, and the exam pavilion even provided soup—how thoughtful!

The attendant looked down at little Cui Xiu, not yet taller than the tea bucket, then glanced at the unflinching Marquis Cui En nearby, who showed no concern about a four-year-old fetching tea. The attendant bowed and handed over two bowls of ginger tea: “Marquis, forgive my haste.”

Marquis Cui En absentmindedly felt his pockets and, seeing no tip, hummed: “Not bad. Come to the Rong Mansion tomorrow to collect a hundred taels as a reward from Xiu’er for your hard work.”

“Thank you, Lord Rong.” Knowing Marquis Cui En’s reputation for wealth, the attendant smiled sincerely and bowed gratefully.

“Thank Lord Xiu’er,” said the marquis, his gaze piercing the attendant.

The attendant, facing the rare sharp look, though puzzled, bowed again toward Cui Xiu.

Just as Cui Xiu was about to climb back up, he was startled: “Un… Uncle, this…”

“He helped you, you reward him silver.” Marquis Cui En glanced at the somewhat helpless Cui Xiu, frowning as he lectured: “We Cui family sons have clear rewards and punishments. Understand? Show your young master’s aura. If you’re too soft, how will you control your servants and prevent slaves from bullying their master?”

Hearing this, Cui Xiu only now realized Marquis Cui En was teaching him how to behave.

Although the marquis’s demeanor was haughty and arrogant, Cui Xiu felt his eyes squinting in the dust and wind, almost ready to cry.

So it was possible for him to be guided by his elders in everyday life.

He didn’t have to fight desperately in school for a word of praise.

He didn’t have to strive to top the class or win first place to earn his elders’ favor.

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