Volume Two: Adults and Small Men - Chapter 97: Only Hoping Your Heart Is Like Mine

After a few days of this, Huang Ming returned to the routine of traveling back and forth between the Imperial Academy and his home, seemingly no different from a few months ago.

However, only he knew how mixed his feelings of apprehension and anticipation truly were.

He had no idea how Xu Yunzhi would react or what she would think after reading his letter.

Would she really help him compose those two essays just as he had requested?

Or perhaps, assuming he was merely using her, she would choose not to reply, or even—

Huang Ming possessed a fair share of composure, allowing him to maintain a normal facade at first and keep himself from overthinking or worrying.

Yet, as the days drifted by and July neared its end with still no word from Xu Yunzhi, he inevitably began to vacillate between hope and despair.

On several occasions, he obliquely probed Xu Qingzhi about his sister’s well-being. But that young master Xu was entirely preoccupied with his own external amusements, paid little attention to his sister, and could offer no useful insight at all.

When questioned too often, Xu Qingzhi simply retorted, "If you care so much, go visit her yourself," leaving Huang Ming completely speechless.

Just as Huang Ming was on the verge of throwing caution to the wind and calling upon her in person, the morning of the second day of August arrived. After taking his seat, Xu Qingzhi suddenly flashed Huang Ming a smile. "Master Huang, a few days from now will be the final unveiling of the courtesan rankings and the grand finale performance. You will definitely be attending, won't you?"

"I suppose so," Huang Ming replied uncertainly. He had received a joint invitation from the Twelve Towers two days prior. It appeared they had spared no expense this time and invited numerous distinguished guests; the final showdown of the courtesan rankings was bound to be a momentous event.

Yet, with his mind entirely consumed by Xu Yunzhi and her letter, he could hardly muster any genuine interest.

Xu Qingzhi chuckled. "You're sure to be invited to the very top floor of the main building of the Courtesan Pavilion, sitting among numerous beauties, celebrities, and grand personages. That is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"So, could you help me secure a spot as well? Yingyue and I have already agreed that she will accompany me before everyone else—that would be quite the grand entrance."

During this period, Xu Qingzhi had been deeply infatuated with a courtesan of that pavilion named Yingyue, having long since relegated everything else to second place.

Huang Ming replied with a hint of disdain, "That won't be easy to arrange. How could you make such a promise?"

"Isn't it because my brother—no, my future brother-in-law—is none other than you, Master Huang? Your influence at the Twelve Towers is substantial enough that such a trivial matter should take nothing more than a word from you."

"But—" Huang Ming was about to refuse when he saw the other man grin slyly. "I am a wild goose, after all."

"What wild goose?" Huang Ming was momentarily startled before realization dawned. The other was referring to the wild goose bearing messages—in other words...

"Your sister finally replied to me? Hand it over immediately!" Galvanized, Huang Ming reached out an instant hand toward him.

"You must promise me first, or else—"

"Fine, I promise you. I'll let you bring your Lady Yingyue to the main building to show off."

"It's Yingyue!" Xu Qingzhi corrected him with a trace of dissatisfaction. After eyeing Huang Ming for a few moments, he finally drew a thick letter from his bosom and handed it over. "My sister is something else, actually writing this much to you after all these days. It seems her feelings for you are genuine. You mustn't let her down, not like me..."

He was certainly candid enough to use himself as a negative example.

Huang Ming snatched the letter away immediately and replied, "Naturally!"

Feeling the heft of the envelope, he felt a measure of reassurance, swept by a wave of profound emotion alongside his excitement.

She had indeed followed his wishes, and moreover, she had written the letter behind the back of her dearest younger brother. Judging by Xu Qingzhi's reaction, he was clearly completely oblivious to the inner workings, let alone the contents of the letter.

More importantly, Xu Yunzhi must have spent the past twenty days or so drafting those essays.

Those two essays were undoubtedly the crystallization of her efforts; she was helping him with utter disregard for the consequences!

This unwittingly deepened Huang Ming's affection for her considerably. To secure such a wife, what more could a husband ask for?

Of course, it was impossible to open and read the letter here. Huang Ming carefully tucked it away inside his robe, and for the rest of the day, he drifted through his classes in a daze, retaining virtually nothing of the lectures.

It was not until the afternoon when he returned home, boarded his family carriage under the watchful eye of Qi Changfeng, that he hastily pulled out the letter. He found over a dozen sheets of paper, completely filled with elegant and delicate handwriting.

The first page of the letter began with polite inquiries and warm greetings before cutting straight to the point:

"Your desires are entirely known to this concubine. If I can assist you in achieving your aspirations swiftly, it is only natural that I dedicate my meager learning to help you with all my might.

"Yet I fear my talent is shallow and my knowledge meager, and that the essays I pen may contain omissions that might dash your ambitions. Overwhelmed with anxiety, I could only make up for my clumsiness through diligence. After days of revisions, only today have I achieved something passable.

"I leave these two essays herewith. If they can aid you, then my heart is content. If they cannot, I can only hope you seek other means, and I dare harbor not the slightest resentment."

These words were deeply affectionate yet restrained, causing Huang Ming's hands to tremble slightly and his face to flush with heat. A sense of shame washed over him; he felt utterly despicable for utilizing a woman who held such tender feelings for him in this manner.

Yet, there was no other way.

Who could blame him for wishing to enter officialdom through the imperial examinations, or for failing to find a more suitable ghostwriter who could assist him on short notice?

"As long as this succeeds, once I take you as my wife, I will repay a thousand and ten-thousand-fold everything you have sacrificed for me!" Huang Ming resolved silently in his heart before solemnly turning his gaze to the two essays below.

True to form, Xu Yunzhi possessed exceptional scholarly talent, a woman whose brilliance yielded nothing to any man.

Her comprehension of the eight-legged essay format was inferior to no scholarly gentleman.

In these two essays, adhering strictly to the eight-legged format from the opening theme onward, she wrote seamlessly. Not only was every paragraph impeccably structured, but her arguments were precise and her interpretations brilliant, richly embellished with classical allusions from ancient sages such as Confucius, Mencius, and Zhu Xi. Upon inspection, one could find absolutely no flaws whatsoever.

More importantly, both essays precisely followed the intentions Huang Ming had outlined, viewed from the perspective of the Jiajing Emperor. One argued that the current Emperor possessed the demeanor of Emperor Wen of Han and would inevitably become an exemplary monarch of his generation; the other asserted directly that the crux of filial piety lay in continuing the path of one's father—how could one dare claim to be filial if one refused even to acknowledge one's own father?

Clearly, these were precisely the words the Jiajing Emperor longed to see.

Though the two essays comprised merely a few hundred characters, Xu Yunzhi had spent twenty days crafting them, and Huang Ming spent over half an hour reading them before letting out a long, slow breath. "Yunzhi, truly a talented woman of our age! How immensely fortunate I am to win your heart!"

As he spoke, he picked up the final page of the essay and moved it to the back, only to discover yet another sheet underneath, upon which a single sentence was neatly inscribed:

"This concubine labors much for your sake, praying only that your heart mirrors mine."

Gazing at these parting words, Huang Ming stood utterly transfixed...