Chapter 135: I Do Not Wish to Seize Power

The imperial examinations had always been held in Nanjing, the ancient capital in the south, but this time they were held in Beijing. This was novel for last year’s newly appointed scholars, yet not good news for those who were accustomed to the geography of Nanjing and often failed the exams. Coming to Beijing to take the exams naturally required accommodation, and whether it was inns or rented houses, Beijing was inferior to Nanjing in terms of quality yet charged higher prices. Those with wealthy families fared better, while the poor had no choice but to rent the cheapest rooms from locals, just to get by for those few months.

Seeing this situation, Zhang Yue thought of the three-section courtyard given to him by Zhang Fu, which was still empty, so he decided to rent out the dozen or so rooms first. With rising rents, the income from just three months was quite substantial.

After taking in the Fang brothers, Zhang Fu, the Duke of Britain, learned that Fang Rui was one of this year’s examinees coming to Beijing to take the exams. Without caring about the distance of kinship, he saw no cost to himself but great kindness to others—so he gladly helped out and even took the time to meet Fang Rui once.

Seeing that Zhang Fu could attend court again after the Lantern Festival and that Zhang Yue himself needed to take the exams, he left external affairs to Rong Shan and internal matters to Hu Po and Qiu Hen, focusing entirely on solving problems and writing essays. Occasionally, he would visit Du Zhen or go to the western courtyard to see Fang Rui. Since Fang Rui had no intention of collaborating on essays, Zhang Yue stopped pressing him.

By the end of January, Zhang Zhuo finally arrived in Beijing. This time, it was Zhang Yue who went to the Tongzhou port to greet him. To his surprise, his father not only brought several maids sent by Lady Wang, including Xi Yu, but also Wan Shijie. After exchanging greetings, Gao Quan hurriedly arranged luggage for Zhang Zhuo and the others, while Wan Shijie pulled Zhang Yue aside and got straight to the point.

“I originally planned to set off in November to arrive in Beijing early to prepare for the exams. Hearing that inns and rents are expensive in Beijing, and that travel costs along the way are also high, I delayed my departure and shamelessly hitched a ride on your father’s ship. Since you’ve been here for several months now, could you help me find a cheap place to stay?”

“A few days ago, two brothers from the Duke of Britain’s household came—both distant relatives, and the older one also came to take the exams. I asked my uncle to let them stay. Since you’re coming with my father, if you have no place to stay, just come and stay free of charge.”

“After all, we’re relatives. I’ve come with your father all this way, which has already saved me a lot of expenses. If I were to shamelessly stay at the Duke of Britain’s residence, that would be sheer arrogance on my part.” Wan Shijie said this with a chuckle, then took out a small cloth bag. “You and I are friends, and your father doesn’t treat me as a stranger. I’ve benefited greatly from this journey—really, I owe you thanks. Let me tell you, I sold paintings and calligraphy in Nanjing for a year and only managed to save about 200 guan. If that’s not enough for food and lodging, I’m willing to lend it to you!”

Zhang Yue knew well Wan Shijie’s temperament. Realizing it was just a joke, he laughed and said, “Just give me those 200 guan!”

Wan Shijie, however, remained cautious, holding onto the cloth bag and refusing to hand it over. “Don’t take my money and drag me to the Duke of Britain’s residence!”

Zhang Yue was both annoyed and amused. He immediately became serious and said, “That’s a house under my own name. It was originally rented to scholars coming to the capital to take the exams. There’s one room left reserved for you! If you don’t want to stay, fine—elsewhere I’d charge at least double!”

“Your house?” Wan Shijie widened his eyes and studied Zhang Yue for a while. Realizing it wasn’t a joke, he cheerfully handed over the cloth bag. “Yuanjie, you really did well on this trip to Beijing. You missed the provincial exams but became a scholar, and even got a house! Since you’ve already prepared a place for me, of course I’ll stay. Also, let this carriage take me along too!”

Faced with Wan Shijie, who was sometimes petty and at other times unrestrained, Zhang Yue didn’t know what to say. Suddenly, he punched him and turned to talk to his father, Zhang Zhuo. After sending Xi Yu and the others onto the carriage and packing Wan Shijie’s belongings onto another one, he got on horseback with Zhang Zhuo and a few attendants.

Leaving Wan Shijie and his luggage in Pailou Alley in the western city and assigning Lian Sheng and Lian Hu to take care of things, Zhang Yue led the others to the Duke of Britain’s residence in Qingshui Hutong. Now, compared to when Zhang Yue first arrived, the residence looked even more imposing. The three green-tiled, beast-faced gates were tightly closed, with only the side doors allowing entry and exit.

A few servants were already waiting at the side door. As soon as they saw people dismount from horses or cars, they rushed forward—some to take care of the horses, others to unload luggage. Yet none of them dared to stare at the beautiful young girls. Zhang Zhuo entered first, and Zhang Yue waved his hand, instructing Xi Yu and the others to follow inside first. He then called over a manager and pointed out several important pieces of luggage, giving instructions before ascending the steps and entering through the side door.

This time, Xi Yu was sent north by Lady Wang’s orders to accompany Zhang Zhuo. On the surface, her main task was to assist in managing the household affairs. As she passed through the screen door after going around the shadow wall, she saw that every servant bowed their heads and stepped aside, behaving in perfect order. After entering the second gate, she noticed that the maids, wives, and old women were all performing their duties without any disorder, which made her even more convinced that Lady Wang’s words before she left were entirely true. The several senior maids specially chosen by Lady Wang, however, were somewhat surprised to see such order in the household.

Zhang Fu was accompanying the emperor in the western palace today and was not there, so Zhang Yue accompanied Zhang Zhuo to his own courtyard, while Hu Bo and Qiu Hen took Xi Yu and the other maids to the main house. As soon as Father and son Zhang left, Xi Yu took Hu Bo and Qiu Hen by the hand and said with a smile, “You two have had to worry about all the affairs of this large household. You must be exhausted these days. Lady Wang said that once her mourning period is over and she returns to Beijing, she will definitely thank you both properly!”

“Sister, you’re joking. How could we deserve such praise?” Qiu Hen glanced at Hu Bo. Seeing that she remained silent, she knew it was her turn to speak. She smiled and said, “We were forced into this role and had no choice but to take charge. If it weren’t for Young Master and Manager Rong’s constant guidance, we would have made countless mistakes every day. It’s good that you’ve come. Now Hu Bo and I can step back and breathe a sigh of relief! Hu Bo, bring it over.”

Hu Bo took a bundle from a young maid nearby and handed it over carefully, holding it with both hands. “Qiu Hen and I have been keeping this for months, living in constant worry. Now that Sister Xi Yu is here, it’s only right that she take care of it.”

Without even opening the bundle, Xi Yu knew it must contain the matching keys to the British Duke’s residence in Beijing. She was slightly stunned. As someone who had helped Lady Wang manage the household and take on responsibilities, she understood well how uncomfortable it would be to lose such power. Yet she hadn’t expected Qiu Hen and Hu Bo to hand it over so readily.

Fortunately, she reacted quickly. After a brief pause, she hurriedly took the bundle and said with a smile, “We’ve been traveling by boat and carriage, barely having time to catch our breath, and you two already hand us this troublesome task. Isn’t that putting us in even more trouble?”

Though she said that, she still accepted the items. Immediately afterward, Xi Yu took a few people to check their respective accommodations, and seeing that bedding and other necessities were all available, she couldn’t help but thank Hu Bo and Qiu Hen for their thoroughness. After sending them away, she didn’t even have time to bathe or change; she quickly sent someone to call two lowly maids from the courtyard and gave them two small silver coins to ask questions. After about half an hour of questioning and gathering all the necessary information, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, secretly admiring Zhang Yue.

At that moment, a tall-faced maid beside her also smiled and said, “Sister, you needn’t have worried. Everything is fine after all. With the master recuperating for these days, no seductive women have caused any trouble!”

Although Zhang Yue hadn’t followed into the main house, now that the others had been sent away and only his father and the two maids from the third branch—Zhen Zhen and Shao Yao—were left in the room, he chuckled and said, “My aunt specifically sent Xi Yu over this time. She must be worried that something might be wrong with the maids in Beijing, fearing that when she brings them to Beijing, two new concubines might show up as well.”

“It’s good that you understand. Usually it doesn’t matter, but after all, your uncle is sick right now!” Zhang Zhuo let Zhen Zhen take off his outer coat and took the towel handed to him by Shao Yao. Instead of wiping his face right away, he stared at Zhang Yue for a while before finally showing a satisfied smile. “Since you’re confident enough to let Qiu Hen and Hu Bo take people to the main house, there probably won’t be any chaos there. I’ve seen everything along the way—you really manage this household well. The steward has produced an outstanding person; this is probably unprecedented.”

Zhang Yue didn’t want to be teased by his father and felt a bit embarrassed. Fortunately, Zhang Zhuo didn’t press the matter further and instead asked about his studies, even smilingly helping him solve a problem on the spot. After chatting for a while, the maids brought a wooden tub and hot water. He lifted the curtain and stepped outside, just in time to see Qiu Hen and Hu Bo returning together.

“Is everything settled?”

“Of course. Why would we keep that nonsense?” Qiu Hen laughed, clapped her hands, and stretched lazily. “We have to go to the small meeting hall every day to listen to all that nonsense—our ears are almost calloused from it! No way, young master. Let’s take the afternoon off today and sleep soundly under the covers!”

Even though Amber was usually quiet, she couldn’t help but chuckle at this moment. As soon as she smiled, Qiuhen rushed over, stared at her face for a long time, then exaggeratedly pinched it with one hand while using the other to scratch her armpit, teasingly saying, “No way! You, who always keeps a serious face, actually smiled!”

Watching Amber laugh and dodge Qiuhen’s attacks, Zhang Yue stood aside with his arms crossed. After observing for a while, he cleared his throat and said, “Alright, alright. Dad just arrived today, so I can’t let you two off. You can sleep until whenever you want tomorrow!”

Only then did Qiuhen remember another matter and quickly said, “I met a little girl on the way. She said that the young master of the Fang family heard that our lord had arrived and came specifically to pay his respects. He’s waiting outside the Chuihua Gate right now! That young master Fang is really strange. Usually, when I try to engage in literary discussions with him, he always finds excuses, but as soon as our lord arrives, he takes the initiative to approach us.”

Zhang Yue didn’t have as deep an impression of Fang Rui as his shy younger brother Fang Jing did. Hearing that he had come specifically to meet them, he found it strange. This man claimed to be there to take the imperial examinations, but after going there twice, Zhang Yue found that he hadn’t studied at all and spent most of his time outside. It was unclear whether he was confident in himself or had other motives.

“Go and inform one of the housekeepers. Tell them that Dad has been traveling all the way and has just arrived. Ask them to send him back first; it’s fine to meet again once Dad has some free time tomorrow.”