Chapter 119: Chapter 70 Scandal_2
Thinking of these matters, Pei Yunshu’s expression grew increasingly worried. Seeing this, Pei Yunmeng sighed and closed the teacup lid, "Sister, why do you always think the worst? Think about it the other way around. Yan Xu has a deep-seated affection for our mother; I am her son. To him, seeing me is like meeting an old friend. Maybe on account of the old affection, he might even help me."
Pei Yunshu glared at him, "That was so many years ago. Mother is already married with children. He is still pining for a married woman; do you think this is some storybook? Where in the world is there such a foolishly devoted man?"
Pei Yunmeng’s gaze paused on the plate of green plums on the table, then he suddenly recalled the lingering sourness within the Palace Front Office for some time. His eyes and eyebrows slightly stirred, and he tugged at the corner of his lips, "That may not be necessarily true. Perhaps there really are men in this world who fall in love with married women and can’t extricate themselves from their obsession."
"Stop spouting nonsense!" Pei Yunshu said irritably. Then, she paused, looking at Pei Yunmeng with some suspicion, "What do you mean by that? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for a married woman as well?"
Pei Yunmeng: "..."
As if she remembered something, she leaned closer to Pei Yunmeng and lowered her voice, "A few days ago when I went to the summer viewing banquet, a lady told me it seemed you had someone in your heart, but no matter how I asked, she refused to tell me who it was. It was so secretive; I thought she was just bluffing me."
She looked at Pei Yunmeng, her gaze intense, "Ah Ying, tell your sister, have you made a mistake?"
Pei Yunmeng was silent.
He took a deep breath and looked at Pei Yunshu with a smile, "You believe that narrative?"
"I do believe it," Pei Yunshu answered honestly, "You’ve been popular with the girls since you were young, but these years I’ve never seen you truly take anyone to heart. With your rebellious nature and boldness, if you really liked a married woman, it wouldn’t be impossible. You don’t care about other people’s words, and if you really liked someone, not only would you not feel a shred of shame, but you would probably quite enjoy it. Tell your sister honestly, which lady have you taken a fancy to?"
Pei Yunmeng: "..."
He said, "There’s no such thing."
"Really? There’s nothing?"
"Nothing."
Pei Yunshu looked at him intently for a while, and seeing his composed manner, not like one who is lying, she finally relaxed and sat back in her own seat somewhat disappointedly muttering, "So, there isn’t someone ..."
Pei Yunmeng was silent for a moment before speaking, "The Palace Front Office has been quite busy these past few days. I have to go out for a while. Don’t let Fangzi or Qiong Ying leave your side, and if there’s any issue, go to the Palace Marshal’s Mansion to find Deputy Envoy Xiao. He will help you."
He set the teacup down on the table beside him, stood up, and Pei Yunshu asked, "Are you going now?"
He glanced at the hourglass on the table, "The hour is late."
Pei Yunshu nodded and called for Qiong Ying to bring an umbrella while Fangzi helped her escort Pei Yunmeng to the courtyard entrance.
The rain was not as heavy as when they had arrived, and the misty world seemed vast and indistinct.
Pei Yunmeng stood at the entrance, under the eaves where the dim lantern light mingled with the fine rain. The tall and upright figure of the young man stood against the endless night, resembling a painting from the mundane world hanging at the entrance to Yuxian Tower.
As he was about to leave with his umbrella, something occurred to him, and he turned back.
"Right, who was it spouting nonsense at the summer viewing banquet?"
"The summer viewing banquet?" Pei Yunshu was momentarily taken aback.
Then, coming to her senses, she curved her eyes into a smile and said, "You mean the one who told me you had a love interest? Actually, I’m not very acquainted with her. It was a bit strange when she came up to talk to me."
"It was Lady Dong from Minister of Imperial Treasury’s household."
...
In Shengjing, the night rain drenched the mansions of high officials as well as the homes of common folks by the temple market.
The lights in the Trial Court were brightly lit.
The Examiner Official Fan Zhenglian sat at a table inside, the desk lamp illuminating his face and casting his superfluous fleshy cheeks as though they were coated in a layer of oil. His official robes, now a bit tight, strained against his frame like ropes binding a beast, threatening to burst any moment.
Usually, by this time, he would have already finished his duties and gone home, but tonight he lingered on, the patter of the rain accompanying the opening of the door, as a man walked in from outside, half-drenched by the rain and looking somewhat disheveled.
This was the Court Record Keeper, Qi Chuan.
Qi Chuan delivered a scroll from his arms into Fan Zhenglian’s hands. The scroll was wet, and Fan Zhenglian used his little finger to gingerly lift the scroll, shaking the water from it.
Qi Chuan stood to the side, respectfully starting, "This is the register for this year’s autumn examinations prepared for the Ministry of Rites, for your review, sir."
Fan Zhenglian grunted in response, slowly unfolding the scroll in his hands.
The first of next month marked the autumn examinations, a time when countless scholars competed. Everyone wanted to rise, but there were only so many spots. With more monks than porridge, naturally, it was time for everyone to pull out all the stops.