Volume Two: Adults and Small People - Chapter 96: The So-called Love Letter

On the ninth day of the seventh month, Huang Ming returned to the Imperial Academy.

Just like modern students returning to school after a long holiday, everyone in the Profound Class clearly had not yet settled back into a studying mindset. Throughout the entire classroom, students were laughing, joking, and gossiping; absolutely no one was seriously applying themselves to their books.

Huang Ming was no exception. Just as he turned his head to say something to his two close friends, he noticed that Xu Qingzhi and Zhang Han, whom he hadn't seen for a few days, both had dark circles under their eyes and were yawning, looking completely drained and dissipated from too much wine and women.

Filled with curiosity, he tapped on their desks. "What on earth happened to you two? Have you been fooling around in the pleasure houses again?"

"Now, that's not fair of you to say, Young Master Huang. We were simply guiding the young ladies in their artistic talents," Xu Qingzhi replied immediately with a yawn.

Zhang Han chimed in, "That's right! Weren't we doing this to help you out? As the central figure behind this new courtesan ranking, how many days has it been since you last paid attention to our Twelve Mansions' business? Do you even know which courtesans currently hold the highest rankings, or what wonderful plays they have prepared to stage at the newly opened theater in the Zhengxi Ward? I suppose you haven't even visited the theater built half a month ago, have you?"

Huang Ming rolled his eyes repeatedly upon hearing this, though he found it hard to refute them, as what they said was entirely true.

Recently, as the business surrounding the Twelve Mansions' new courtesan ranking had gotten onto the right track, and with the madams having acted according to his blueprints—sometimes even drawing inferences from one instance to manage things even better—Huang Ming had simply chosen to step back from the entire enterprise.

After all, commercial ventures were not his true passion, and more important matters were following one after another. Naturally, his focus had shifted entirely toward things like uncovering the truth behind the death of the Zhengde Emperor and dealing with those ruthless criminals and bandits. Even the Great Rites Controversy seemed far more interesting than doing business.

"Keep putting up a front with those sharp tongues of yours. Let's just see if your constitutions can hold out longer than your mouths," Huang Ming could only offer a bitter smile. "By the way, do you two know that there will be a tribute examination in September? Our Imperial Academy has been allocated fifty spots for candidates."

"We've heard about it, but what does that have to do with the likes of us?" Zhang Han said indifferently.

Xu Qingzhi nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Our Imperial Academy is essentially a place where people with no prospects come to while away their days. Even if there are a few genuinely talented individuals, they are all studying in the Heaven Class. What possible chance would students like us in the Profound Class have?"

As he said this, the two of them suddenly reacted, turning to stare at Huang Ming. "Young Master Huang, you aren't planning to take part in this tribute examination, are you?"

"Why ever not?"

"You're certainly better than us, but how long have you even been studying books? How could you possibly compare to those fellows outside who have spent decades poring over their texts by the cold window? You probably don't even know how to write an eight-legged essay, do you?"

"Who says the tribute examination must rely on eight-legged essays? What if it's policy discourse?" Huang Ming said with a smile, looking entirely confident.

This only piqued their curiosity further. "Then how do you expect to make the Imperial Academy select you for that list of fifty?"

As the words left his mouth, Zhang Han answered his own question. "That part probably isn't too difficult. By now, Young Master Huang, you are already the most famous student in our Imperial Academy. Getting a spot shouldn't be too hard. But the two of us..."

Xu Qingzhi said with a very realistic appraisal of himself, "Let's forget it. Actually, you shouldn't waste your energy either—there's no chance for us."

Indeed, it wasn't just these two who thought this way. From the libationer down to every single student in the Imperial Academy, everyone held a dismissive attitude toward this tribute examination, believing it was merely an opportunity for the numerous scholars outside to secure official posts, and had absolutely nothing to do with scholars of the Imperial Academy.

Therefore, when Huang Ming approached Zhang Bi to help secure a spot for the tribute examination, it proved to be an easy task.

It was only after obtaining a definite result that Huang Ming sought out Xu Qingzhi alone and handed him a carefully sealed letter. "Young Master Xu, please deliver this letter personally to your elder sister."

"Huh?" Xu Qingzhi looked at his friend in momentary astonishment. A short while later, recalling certain rumors circulating around, he stared at him and asked, "Are you and my sister really..."

"The Duke of Dingguo once acted as a matchmaker with my father, and I also believe your sister is a fine match. Therefore, in a couple of days, I plan to pick an auspicious date and have my father come to your household to propose marriage," Huang Ming stated candidly.

Xu Qingzhi was left stunned yet again. After a long pause, he muttered, "Well, look at this. You're actually serious..."

Upon second thought, however, Huang Ming was truly an exceptional catch. Aside from his family background not sounding particularly prestigious, in every other aspect—his character, his abilities, and his intellect—he was of the highest caliber. As a younger brother, he was actually quite pleased to see his sister find such a destination.

Of course, deep down he still felt a rather peculiar sensation: how was it that a good friend of his was suddenly about to become his brother-in-law?

"Very well, hand it over then. Is this a love letter for my sister?" Snatching the letter from Huang Ming's hand, he couldn't help asking.

Huang Ming merely smiled at him. "This is a secret between her and me. Make sure you don't secretly open it and read it, or you will bear the consequences."

"Who cares to read it?" Xu Qingzhi rolled his eyes, then tucked the letter solemnly into his robe. "I'll give it to my sister the moment I get back."

Seeing this, Huang Ming finally felt truly reassured.

When school let out in the afternoon, Xu Qingzhi headed straight home and handed the letter directly to his sister. "Sister, Young Master Huang asked me to give this to you. He said it's a love letter for you."

"You... what nonsense are you spouting?" Xu Yunzhi's face flushed crimson, but she snatched the letter away all the same. Seeing that it was sealed tightly, a sense of relief washed over her, followed by a sweet, fluttering warmth in her chest.

Without lingering to argue further with her younger brother, she turned on her heel and hurried back to her bedchamber to read the letter.

Behind her, Xu Qingzhi curled his lip. "You two really are alike. You make me play the messenger, yet neither of you even says thank you. Truly, my life is bitter..."

In the quiet of her room, Xu Yunzhi smiled softly as she carefully broke the seal on the letter, then began to read it line by line.

The contents of the letter were actually quite down-to-earth, touching upon Huang Ming's romantic feelings for her and mentioning that the two of them had shared trials and tribulations together, meaning they were truly destined for one another.

Around the middle of the letter, however, the tone abruptly shifted. Huang Ming wrote: "I am unwilling to deceive you. There remains a gap between our family backgrounds, and only when I can stand as an official of the imperial court will I feel able to ask for your hand in marriage.

"Given my abilities, my only current opportunity lies in the tribute examination of September. By chance, I have recently obtained two examination prompts, which may well be the actual essay topics for the tribute examination. Yet, being of shallow learning and limited talent, I can only hope that Yunzhi might lend me a helping hand."

This statement alone was enough to send a jolt of alarm through Xu Yunzhi's heart, yet compared to the request that followed, it paled into insignificance.

Huang Ming's demand was shockingly direct and audacious: he asked Xu Yunzhi to compose an essay from the perspective of the Jiajing Emperor himself. The first topic compared the emperor to Emperor Wen of Han, an exemplary ruler of historical renown; the second used the principles of filial piety between father and son to assert that in all the world, this matter alone was unchangeable.

Although Xu Yunzhi did not often venture outside, she was well aware of the raging succession controversy currently tearing through the court. The moment she read the contents of the letter, she instantly understood Huang Ming's true intentions.

Being a woman of sharp intellect, she even vaguely guessed at a deeper, more profound truth underlying his actions. This realization caused her initially blushing cheeks to gradually turn pale, leaving her whole heart in absolute turmoil.