Chapter 564: Unlucky
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yu Youyao said, “Heir Song is just unlucky.”
Song Mingzhao was indeed unlucky. Originally, he had a bright future, but now that he was implicated in the examination fraud, even if he participated in the examination again, this matter would become a stain that he would never be able to wash away in his life. It would have a huge impact on his future.
Originally, after the palace examination, as long as his results were not bad, he would be placed in an important position.
However, because of this matter, there was no need to think about rising through the ranks.
At the thought of this, Yu Youyao changed the topic. “Brother Fang is in jail. What should we do now?
Old Madam Yu waved her hand and looked helpless. “What else can we do? We have to find out more information. No one dares to get involved in the matter of cheating in the examination. Think about it. If the Imperial Court becomes a method for the powerful ministers to nurture their henchmen and strengthen their power, this will shake the country. Anything can be tolerated. If we anger the emperor, it’ll be a light punishment to confiscate the family and exterminate the entire family.”
Fraud in the examination was a serious crime no matter which dynasty it was.
Yu Youyao returned to the Jade Courtyard and instructed Chun Xiao, “Bring me the striped box from my room.”
Chun Xiao immediately went over and quickly brought out a box that was three to four feet long.
Yu Youyao took the box and went straight to The Green House.
Her cousin was holding onto the wooden railing in the corridor and practicing walking.
After the fifth treatment, the acupuncture process was no longer as painful as before. Her cousin would spend some time practicing walking every morning and night.
Her cousin walked slowly and steadily.
In just half a month, he could stand up with difficulty. Now, he had already taken a stable path of recovery. Before long, he would be able to walk on his own without holding anything.
In that case, the gift she had prepared for a long time should come in handy.
Yu Youyao’s eyes welled up with tears as she recalled the day her cousin had just entered the residence.
At that time, he was a fourteen or fifteen-year-old young man sitting in a wheelchair. He was scrawny, like an isolated rock. His face was pale, and he looked sickly.
She subconsciously felt pity for her cousin and wanted to treat him well.
Now that her cousin’s leg was about to recover, Yu Youyao was both happy and disappointed.
Her cousin had used the identity of “Zhou Linghuai” to move into the Yu Residence. It was impossible for him to stay in the Yu Residence forever. Once his leg completely recovered, he would be free to do whatever he wanted.
At this moment, Zhou Linghuai stopped.
Chang An immediately pushed the wheelchair over and helped him into it.
Zhou Linghuai was so tired that he panted. Although he had walked steadily on this path just now, his legs had just begun to recover, and it was still very strenuous.
Yu Youyao quickly handed her a cup of warm water. “Have a glass of water first to calm down.”
There was also spiritual dew in the water. Ever since she found out about the origins of the spiritual dew, Yu Youyao had become much bolder in using it and used it more every day.
Most of it was still used on him.
While her cousin was drinking water, Yu Youyao instructed Chang An, “Go and arrange for Cousin to take a bath. Recently, the weather has been getting hotter and hotter day by day. Every time he practises walking, his body will be drenched. He’ll feel more comfortable after taking a bath.”
“By the way, remember to put medicinal dew in the water he will be bathing in. Previously, Cousin only practiced for the time it takes to burn an incense stick every morning and night. Now, it’s clearly more strenuous and tiring to practice for the time it takes to burn two incense sticks. Every time he practices walking, taking a medicinal dew bath will not only relieve his fatigue, but also strengthen his body.”
She was also worried that her cousin would be too anxious and overpractice and hurt his body.
The medicinal dew was soothing to the body. It was good to soak in it for a while longer.
Chang An quickly went down to make arrangements.
Yu Youyao brought over the box that had been placed on the wooden railing and handed it to her cousin. “I promised Cousin previously that if Song
Mingzhao doesn’t come to the Yu Residence to study, I’ll give him a gift.”
It was rare to see such a long box. Zhou Linghuai had already guessed what was in it.
He took the box and carefully opened it.
There was indeed a three-foot-long wooden staff lying inside. It was black and shiny. There were coiled dragon patterns carved on it, revealing a golden color with patterns floating.
On closer look, it was as if there was a golden coiling dragon wrapped around the pitch-black wooden staff. It looked like a dragon and was very ancient.
It was ebony wood.
The ebony wood was hard, did not fade, decay, and did not have insects. It was best used as a cane.
Yu Youyao smiled and said, “I heard that ebony is the essence of the world and the sun and moon. It’s the most suitable for making a cane. I prepared this long ago. Cousin’s health is recovering very well. I don’t think he needs to support himself against the wall or the wooden railing in a few days. He can walk on his own. With this ebony cane, Cousin won’t fall.”
Ebony wood was rare and precious. The escort business had gotten a few from Shuchuan.
The dark wood had golden threads. It was considered an expensive wood. This cane had the shape of a dragon. Yu Youyao was overjoyed when she saw it. She hired a master who was good at carving and to refine it a little. She changed the dragon pattern into Panlong and made this cane.
Her cousin was codifying in the Teng library and had a job. This wooden cane with golden silk was not an overstatement.
“This cane came at the right time.” Zhou Linghuai stroked the carvings on the cane. The dragon shape on it looked natural. The carver only carved it a little according to the situation, but it did not destroy its beauty.
The dark wood was was definitely buried underground. After tens of millions of years, it had all kinds of strange shapes. Naturally, Heaven was its most ingenious carver.
Just this staff alone had taken a lot of effort.
The little girl was meticulous and could always prepare what he needed in advance.
Yu Youyao’s lips curled up. “Since I’ve given you a gift, shouldn’t you tell me what’s going on with the imperial examination fraud?”
She did not know much about the cheating in the examination.
Zhou Linghuai held the cane. The handle was carved with a dragon head. There were natural dragon scale patterns on the dragon head, so it did not slip when held in his hand. The top was polished with wax, so it would not hurt his hand. There was nothing that was not meticulous.
Zhou Linghuai liked it very much. “In the past, the Weining Marquis Residence was a new noble in the court. They were favored by the emperor. In order to nurture his henchmen and strengthen his own power, the Marquis of Weining’s family intercepted talents from the imperial examination and paid a high price to sell the main examiner’s questions. They secretly interacted with students with no background and gave them a chance to soar into the sky.”
Yu Youyao’s expression was very complicated. “It’s very easy to endure ten years of hard work. The rare thing is that the imperial examination is like a thousand troops crossing a single bridge. There are tens of millions of students in the Great Zhou Dynasty, but in the end, only more than 300 people can get on the rankings. Those who don’t pass can only brace themselves and continue taking the examination.”
However, be it continuing to take the examination or donating to an official, this was not a good way out for many ordinary students. If they wanted to stand out, they had to take an unorthodox path and find a good way out for themselves..
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