One month later, Jiang Huaichu arrived at the outskirts of Beining’s capital.
The trusted aide driving the carriage in front leaned toward the curtain and whispered, “Young Master, we’ll be entering the city in less than half an hour.”
Jiang Huaichu’s eyes remained fixed on his book. “Understood—”
Suddenly, the aide in front grew alert. “Who’s there?!”
A dark figure flipped into the carriage in a flash. Before Jiang Huaichu could even get a clear look at the person, they had already knelt on one knee beside his leg. “Young Master, I am Rushi, in charge of the intelligence network across Beining. I have been monitoring your journey and have come to escort and protect you. We have received news of the old master’s passing. From now on, the entire Beining network is under your command.”
“I am not the Young Master.”
“What are your orders, Young Master?”
“I am not—”
“What are your orders, Young Master?”
“…” Jiang Huaichu thought, Forget it. It’s not like I don’t know his temperament. He looked at the tall, silent man in black before him and smiled. “Rushi, it’s me.”
Rushi inexplicably found the voice familiar. He looked up, and his usually steady, resolute eyes trembled violently.
“Xie Caiqing?!”
The person before him looked completely different from the portrait of Prince Duan. In fact, his appearance surpassed even that of Prince Duan…
Only after uttering the name did Rushi realize how presumptuous he had been. He immediately lowered his head. “I have offended you, Young Master. Please punish me!”
“We’ve worked together for years. There’s no need for such formality,” Jiang Huaichu said gently. “Rise.”
Seeing that Rushi remained motionless, Jiang Huaichu sighed helplessly. “You’re not mistaken. This face is the real one. The person you know is Xie Caiqing. Prince Duan’s appearance was a human skin mask.”
Rushi suppressed the shock in his heart.
The intelligence network of Nanruo was entirely managed by Xie Caiqing. To facilitate communication with the headquarters of Beining’s intelligence network, Xie Caiqing had chosen to reside near the border of Beining for years.
Xie Caiqing was meticulous and flawless. In the three years they had worked together, there had never been the slightest error in their exchanges. He was far-sighted, low-key, and reserved, with unparalleled skill in poison arts. He treated others with warmth and handled affairs with decisiveness, earning him growing prestige and a multitude of followers.
After three years of partnership, Rushi trusted and admired him from the bottom of his heart, even considering stepping down to yield his position to him on numerous occasions.
Yet he never expected… he was actually the young prince.
No wonder the old master had disregarded almost everyone’s objections and handed over the entire Beining intelligence network to the young prince. Those who had opposed it would surely have nothing to say once they learned it was Xie Caiqing.
Outside the carriage, the guards at the city gate shouted, “Get down, get down! Routine inspection. Everyone out!”
The carriage slowly came to a halt.
The capital of Beining was peaceful, with bustling activity during the day. Moreover, as it was nearing mid-March, scholars from all over had arrived in the capital to await the Spring Imperial Examination. The city gate was crowded with people and an endless stream of carriages.
A guard outside wiped the sweat from his forehead. Seeing the plain, even shabby-looking carriage before him, he snapped impatiently, “What’s taking so long?! Hurry up and get down!”
A slender, pale hand lifted the curtain.
The cursing guard suddenly fell silent.
The man who emerged from behind the curtain, bending slightly, wore simple attire, nothing particularly striking, yet refined and clean. His face was as flawless as jade, exuding an air of cultivation and an indescribable grace. He stepped down from the carriage with ease, and though he spoke not a word, he naturally inspired goodwill.
Beining’s customs were open-minded, and many young women out for a stroll turned to look in his direction. Their expressions went momentarily blank, rooted to the spot as if unable to move. For a rare moment, the noisy city gate fell silent.
The Great Ning Dynasty had no shortage of tall, imposing, and valiant men, yet rarely did one encounter such an elegant and handsome beauty, more delicate and alluring than a maiden.
The guard’s attitude did a complete one-eighty: “What’s your name?”
“Xie Caiqing.”
“Where are you from?”
Jiang Huaichu presented his Fish Tally: “From Xicheng, Junzhou.”
The guard took it, glanced at it, and his enthusiastic expression cooled slightly.
Junzhou was on the northern border of Ning, and Xicheng was the poorest place even within Junzhou.
He was utterly astonished at how such a person could emerge from such barren and harsh lands: “What brings you to the capital?”
Jiang Huaichu retrieved an official document from his lapel and respectfully handed it over with both hands.
The guard opened it and skimmed the contents.
“So you’re a Juren, sir! My apologies for the disrespect!”
The guard paused, suddenly realizing something, and looked at the person before him in shock before hurriedly glancing down at the Fish Tally again.
The Fish Tally was engraved with this person’s birthdate—he was only eighteen this year.
An eighteen-year-old Juren.
As long as he could achieve a good ranking in the Metropolitan Examination, coupled with his appearance, his future was virtually limitless.
The guard flattered him with a pleasant expression, conducted a cursory inspection, and, finding no issues, respectfully allowed him entry.
Many watched as the carriage drove in, whispering among themselves.
A scholar suddenly slapped his forehead in realization: “No wonder the name sounded so familiar—Xie Caiqing, it’s Xie Caiqing! The Jieyuan from Junzhou who passed the provincial exam at fifteen! The ‘Xie of Xicheng’ whom the prefect unbuckled his belt to send off and treated as an honored guest!”
“I remember now! The one everyone bet would be the Zhuangyuan three years ago, but he never even showed up for the exam?”
“Yes, yes, that’s him!”
“A Jieyuan at fifteen?!”
“Why did he come to the capital for the exam only three years later? And so late at that…”
“Xicheng is such a remote and desolate place—it’s a miracle he made it here at all.”
“This year’s Zhuangyuan race is going to be interesting. There are quite a few formidable candidates this year.”
…
In the Tianzi private room of Yixian Tower, the largest teahouse in Northern Ning.
Xiao Yun, dressed in casual attire, leaned against the railing, idly rubbing his purple clay teacup as he asked ambiguously, “Which officials have been privately contacting candidates?”
“Your Majesty, the Vice Minister of Personnel has secretly accepted bribes from many candidates.”
Xiao Yun looked down at the candidates from various regions on the first floor: “That old fool surnamed Zhou is getting more muddled with age. He can’t even control his own son, and now, at his advanced years, not only does he cling to his position, but he also tries to foist his granddaughter onto me. What a calamity.”
“How does Your Majesty intend to handle this?”
Xiao Yun turned to his good friend Xie Zhe and smiled lazily: “That depends on whether their bribes are generous enough for me.”
“…Your Majesty is wise,” Xie Zhe calmly continued his report. “The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy has privately agreed to mentor a candidate. This person truly possesses the talent of a Zhuangyuan, hails from a prestigious family—a descendant of the Zhang clan of Yuanqi—and his literary reputation is widespread. However, his character is flawed: arrogant due to his talent, fond of boasting, and prone to picking fights…”
Xiao Yun drained the cup of renowned tea whose name he couldn’t recall: “Go on.”
After Xie Zhe finished reporting one by one, Xiao Yun’s expression suddenly turned cold: “They’re all quite capable, aren’t they?”
Xie Zhe remained silent. If this were in the imperial court, His Majesty would likely have hurled his teacup at the offending minister’s head.
Xie Zhe cautiously asked, “Does Your Majesty intend to follow precedent this year and appoint a Zhuangyuan from the Shijia, or promote someone from the Hanmen?”
Xiao Yun frowned: “Is there anyone from the Hanmen worth mentioning this year?”
Xie Zhe knew he detested impoverished scholars who were utterly useless in practice yet still arrogant and self-righteous.
In recent years, the emperor had favored the Shijia (prestigious clans), not because he truly looked down on the Hanmen (commoner background), but because the Hanmen simply had no one capable of being elevated—they were far less clever and adaptable than those from the Shijia.
“Originally, there wasn’t anyone, but…” Xie Zhe cautiously said, “just now, Your Majesty, I received news that Xie Caiqing from Xicheng, Junzhou, has arrived in the capital.”
Xiao Yun frowned, trying to recall this person in his mind, but came up with nothing.
There were too many matters for him to handle daily, and to avoid an early demise, he often discarded less important things from his mind the next day.
“Your Majesty likely doesn’t remember,” Xie Zhe said thoughtfully. “Three years ago, Qian Haozheng, whom you had demoted to serve as the prefect of Junzhou, sent over a dozen memorials to recommend this person for court service. His literary talent is exceptional—he achieved the Jieyuan (top scorer of the provincial exam) at the age of fifteen and is highly renowned in the Junzhou region. He should be no less talented than the Zhang family’s son from Yuanqi. The Zhang family’s son is famous, largely due to his ancestors’ influence and his residence in the capital, unlike Xie Caiqing, who comes from humble origins and hails from the borderlands.”
“That stubborn old man’s favored candidate?” Xiao Yun said, feeling a headache coming on. “He wouldn’tt be another stubborn mule, would he?”
“…No,” Xie Zhe replied with certainty.
Only then did Xiao Yun show a hint of interest. “How did I handle it back then?”
“You said to summon him to the capital for an audience, but he…”
Xie Zhe paused.
Xiao Yun asked, “What about him?”
Xie Zhe lowered his voice. “…He refused to enter court service.”
Xiao Yun was stunned for a moment.
The phrase “refused to enter court service” suddenly brought it all back to him.
Back then, that person had sent him a memorial, spanning thousands of words, filled with ornate language, parallel sentences, and masterful allusions—all praising his handsome appearance and unparalleled talent, surpassing all before and after him. It was ten times more flattering than the most sycophantic courtier at the time, leaving Xiao Yun utterly delighted. He had even considered keeping this person by his side for amusement. However, at the end of the memorial, the person claimed that although he admired him deeply, he was still too young to serve by the emperor’s side.
Playing the game of praising before criticizing—quite clever.
A refusal memorial written more beautifully than one of gratitude—it made Xiao Yun laugh in exasperation. He immediately called Xie Zhe over to show him this oddity.
With the memorial written in such a manner, even though it was a refusal, Xiao Yun couldn’t punish him. Arguing with a mere youth would have been beneath his dignity, but the incident had still angered him, leaving a deep impression even after three years.
Xiao Yun raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t he refuse to enter court service? Why has he come to the capital now?”
Xie Zhe replied, “…Perhaps, as he said, he has reached the age to serve? He should be eighteen this year.”
“So young,” Xiao Yun said, looking at Xie Zhe in surprise. “It’s been three years since this happened. How do you remember it so clearly?”
Xie Zhe coughed lightly. “To be honest, Your Majesty, what Xie Caiqing is most famous for in Junzhou isn’t his talent at all—it’s…his appearance.”
Xiao Yun laughed, teasingly saying, “How outstanding must his looks be for the Commander of the Changling Guard to remember him so clearly?”
Xie Zhe felt somewhat embarrassed. “My subordinate once saw Xie Caiqing in Junzhou and was utterly captivated. He secretly brought back a portrait, which was privately circulated as gossip. That’s how I caught a glimpse of it. He truly is one in a million.”
“Is he even better-looking than you?” Xiao Yun said, eyeing Xie Zhe’s face with a roguish grin.
There was a hint of friendly teasing in his words. Xie Zhe coughed again and replied honestly, “I am not worthy of comparison.”
Xiao Yun hadn’t taken it seriously before, but now he was intrigued.
Xie Zhe, the Commander of the Changling Guards, was renowned in the capital as a handsome man.
Knowing that His Majesty often judged people by their appearance, Xie Zhe remarked, “The commoners of Junzhou often boast to the people of Southern Yue across the border, saying that even a poor scholar from our Northern Ning, Xie Caiqing, surpasses the lofty Prince Duan of Southern Yue in both talent and looks. This alone shows how remarkable Xie Caiqing is…”
Xiao Yun’s expression grew indifferent, unimpressed.
He had never met Prince Duan of Southern Yue, so he refrained from commenting on his appearance. However, there was no doubt about the man’s unparalleled talent. Many elders in the court admired his brilliance, and though he hailed from an enemy state, they never spoke ill of him.
Such claims were undoubtedly exaggerated, merely a provocative remark born of rivalry.
Seeing Xiao Yun remain silent, Xie Zhe understood his lack of interest and tactfully asked, “Does Your Majesty intend to elevate Xie Caiqing this year to humble the Shijia?”
Xiao Yun scoffed, “Why elevate him? He’s clever enough—does he need someone to lift him up? Refusing to serve in court… Is our Great Ning lacking only him? Not sending him back where he came from is already an act of grace. He knows it well.”
“Xie Zhe—”
Xiao Yun’s gaze shifted to the staircase nearby, pausing briefly.
Xie Zhe waited a few seconds but received no command. Puzzled, he followed the emperor’s line of sight. At the stairway, a man ascending the steps had captured nearly everyone’s attention.
As if afraid of dirtying his sleeves, the man lifted the hem of his robe as he walked.
His steps were light and steady, making no annoying sounds on the hollow wooden stairs. His neck and spine were straight yet relaxed, not the slightest bit tense, accentuating the graceful curve of his waist.
More elegant than a maiden from a noble family.
Though Xiao Yun had seen countless beauties, he couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances. Casually teasing, he asked, “Is that Xie Caiqing as pretty as him?”
Author’s Note:
Explanation:
Hanmen does not equate to poverty.
In ancient times, buying books and attending private schools required significant money, which the truly impoverished could not afford.
Hanmen background actually refers to origins among ordinary commoners and above, distinct from the Shijia or noble clans.