Chapter 9: Don

The lady on the couch lazily flipped through several answer sheets delivered by Manager Wu.

Manager Wu bowed and reported, “As per your orders, all male household servants of the Zhao family aged sixteen to under eighteen within the vicinity of Jingzhou City have arrived. Forty-seven in total.”

“After Master Shen’s selection, these five answer sheets are among the best.”

The person on the couch appeared not to hear; only the rustling of paper could be heard.

After a long while.

Tink~

The tapping sound rang out again.

Manager Wu immediately said, “One of them, Zheng Fa, is the one Master Shen considers the most gifted.”

The person inside pulled out Zheng Fa’s answer sheet.

“I’ve checked: Zheng Fa studied only one year in elementary school, so his literacy is limited. Though his sheet is full of misspellings, he remembered over ninety percent—more than double the others.”

The lady on the couch rose, set the other sheets aside, and finally spoke:

“You think Zheng Fa is the best?”

Her voice was even clearer and more melodious than the chime of the golden hairpin striking the jade ring.

“This servant’s vision is narrow; I can only speak of what I see,” Manager Wu bowed. “Compared to others, he has shortcomings. The rest have greater knowledge—they’ve studied for years, even earned official titles. Zheng Fa’s only advantage is slightly superior talent, but he still needs refinement. He’s not yet usable.”

The shadow behind the curtain nodded slightly, as if agreeing.

Yet after a moment, she let out a soft laugh: “The answer sheet with the neatest handwriting, and the second-most correct answers after Zheng Fa, belongs to Gao Yuan? I recall he’s the only son of the Second Branch’s senior manager?”

“Your ladyship sees clearly!”

Manager Wu’s back suddenly broke into cold sweat.

“Fine. These three.” The lady pulled out Zheng Fa’s sheet and two others, handing them to the attendant: “Take them to Xu Zheng.”

“Yes!”

Manager Wu took the answer sheets from the attendant, bowed his head, and slowly walked out of the pavilion. Outside, warm winds brushed gently—but he felt a chill sweep over his entire body.

Though the lady rarely managed affairs, spent her days reclining, and deigned not to speak more than necessary,

she understood everything. One sentence had made him tremble—the Second Branch’s senior manager had once been at odds with him, a fact few knew, and years had passed. His defense of Zheng Fa stemmed from unspoken, hidden biases against the senior manager, which he’d thought were perfectly concealed.

The lady…

Manager Wu shook his head. He knew he was still being entrusted with tasks—meaning he hadn’t truly lost her trust.

…

In the waterside pavilion, the boys gradually began to converse.

Within the Zhao estate, they dared not wander freely, yet their youthful nature left them impatient.

At first, they feared Master Shen and Manager Wu, but through the windows, they saw Manager Wu leave, then Master Shen stroll away—no longer wary, they gathered, exchanging words about the exam.

Since the test was merely recitation, each had a fair sense of his own performance.

Even upon submission, they could tell who had the best chance.

At this moment, half the boys clustered around a youth wearing a silk headband.

“High Brother, the position of page is surely already yours,” another scholar said, bowing with reluctant envy.

“That’s uncertain,” the young man named Gao shook his head rapidly, though a hidden smile lingered on his face. “Chen Brother’s talent equals mine—don’t you mean to flatter me into overconfidence?”

The Chen youth shook his head: “I’ve only read Confucian and legal texts. Daoist scriptures are rare—I’ve never encountered them before. Even the Qingjing Jing sounded convoluted to me. I’m clearly inferior in this area.”

Hearing his honesty, Gao Yuan didn’t know how to respond with modesty.

After all, he himself believed he had answered best among them.

The other boys noticed his confidence, and since even Chen, the most accomplished among them, had said so, they naturally deemed Gao Yuan the strongest candidate.

Zheng Fa watched the boys from the side. Though none were over seventeen or eighteen, their maturity far surpassed that of their peers in his former world.

They clustered around Gao Yuan, offering somewhat awkward flattery—quickly abandoning any sense of rivalry—or rather, they adjusted their positions with startling speed.

Their adaptability was remarkable.

“After today’s end, let’s feast at Juxing Pavilion—to celebrate Young Master Gao!”

Already, some were calling him “Young Master.”

“Yes, we all took the same exam—we’re bound by fate.”

“Count me in!”

Huang Yu had been among those fawning over Gao Yuan, but soon slipped away, walking to Zheng Fa’s side, gazing at Gao Yuan with a hint of envy.

Zheng Fa turned to look at him, his eyes questioning.

Huang Yu’s face flushed red with resentment: “They’re going to Juxing Pavilion for drinks… Gao won’t pay, so the rest will chip in. I—I have money at home… but I didn’t bring any.”

Understood.

Flattery had its price.

Zheng Fa nodded, speaking naturally: “Then I can’t go either. My family has no money—I couldn’t bring any even if I wanted to.”

Huang Yu looked at Zheng Fa, then back at the boys who ignored him.

He’d previously thought Zheng Fa was putting on airs.

But now, in contrast, he found Zheng Fa’s demeanor far more likable—and unconsciously felt closer to him.

“How did you do?” Huang Yu regretted the words the moment they left his mouth.

Zheng Fa shook his head, saying nothing.

He had a rule: never compare answers after an exam—yes, he saw it as a gamble with no benefit but great harm.

Seeing his silence, Huang Yu assumed he understood Zheng Fa’s mindset.

He’d studied five years in elementary school, yet wrote less than ten percent.

Zheng Fa must have done worse.

It was natural he’d be too ashamed to speak of it.

“It’s fine—I didn’t do well either!” Huang Yu clapped Zheng Fa’s shoulder firmly, sincerely encouraging him: “I might’ve done a little better, but just a little! Still, no use—we won’t be chosen!”

Then he leaned close to Zheng Fa’s ear, whispering: “I figured it out long ago—Gao’s just lucky. His father’s a manager, so he’s rich. If you had his advantages, you’d be just as good!”

Zheng Fa looked at his sour face and automatically replaced every “you” in that last sentence with “I”—and understood his true meaning.

As the two chatted, Zheng Fa suddenly noticed several boys by the window sitting upright—suddenly, he felt the familiar “teacher’s coming” vibe.

Sure enough, Manager Wu was approaching the pavilion.

Beside him, Huang Yu still enthusiastically invited: “Manager Wu’s here—we’ll probably be heading home soon. Why not come to my place today?”

Before he finished speaking, Manager Wu strode through the door.

“These three, come with me. The rest may leave.” Everyone saw he held three answer sheets.

“Gao Yuan.”

“Han Cheng.”

Then he paused slightly with the final sheet before speaking: “Zheng Fa.”

Huang Yu turned slowly, staring at Zheng Fa beside him.

Zheng Fa rose, replying to Huang Yu’s earlier invitation—with a faint, sincere apology on his face, his tone slightly embarrassed: “I’m afraid I can’t today. Perhaps another time?”