Chapter 32: 30

After the Emperor commissioned the new scholars and rewarded them again, the banquet officially began.

Musicians and dancers filled the room, playing music and dancing in the courtyard. The elegant beauties fluttered the long sleeves of their dresses, dazzling people.

While enjoying the entertainment, everyone drank freely, and after some time, people started to walk around.

The high-ranking officials who were closest to the Emperor went to toast one after another and make some compliments. Yan Mingting couldn’t be bothered to climb up and smile, so he drank by himself and glanced at Zhao Yelan from time to time.

“General, I see that Kan Chuan looks pretty good, and I heard that he has a good character and a bright future,” He Cuizhang came around from behind and whispered. “How about making him Yuehong’s husband-in-law?”

When Zhong Yuehong heard this, she immediately became serious: “Don’t talk nonsense, he is already married, and I won’t be a concubine.”

Yan Mingting looked slantwise at Kan Chuan, and knew that the other party was secretly sizing up Zhao Yelan. He frowned subconsciously, but the other party only paused for a moment, then looked away.

“So, ah……the main thing is that all these officials have families, so it’s really not good to be too choosy……hey, I heard that the number one scholar has not yet married a wife, what do you think about him?” He Cuizhang said.

Zhong Yuehong glanced at him, and only then did she see the appearance of the new number one scholar, saying in surprise: “Isn’t that the little white face we saw by the river last time?”

He Cuizhang took a closer look: “Aiyo, damn, isn’t this the good friend of Zhao-daren?”

Yan Mingting gave him a sidelong glance.

“Pei, pei, definitely not a good friend.” He Cuizhang pretended to slap his mouth twice. His eyes had been fixed on Wang Guishang, and they widened in the next moment. “General, he went to find Zhao-daren!”

The three of them looked over together. The high-spirited first place scorer was surrounded by countless people, but he walked outside of the circle.

Wang Guisheng was also quite puzzled. The first-place scorer could be seen as proud and elated, and many people came to converse with him, but Zhao Yelan remained indifferent.

He had guessed beforehand that Zhao Yelan had visited him in advance to win him over, but right now he took no action, as if he didn’t exist. This piqued his curiosity. 

But he didn’t go directly to Zhao Yelan. Instead, he went to exchange pleasantries with a few bachelors from the Imperial Academy.

He had been observing Zhao Yelan from the corner of his eye, and the man had been fiddling with pastries and drinking tea leisurely. A bachelor took him to briefly introduce his colleagues, and when Zhao Yelan was introduced, the other lifted his head and smiled at him: “Congratulations to Wang-gonzi for achieving first place. Please give me advice in the future.”

It was very perfunctory. Wang Guisheng was stunned for a moment. There was an inexplicable emotion lingering in his heart, and he was debating whether to be polite. 

When the other members of the Imperial Academy saw this, they all observed with the mentality of watching a good show. After all, Wang Guisheng’s previous article insulted Zhao Yelan’s party. In the future, the Imperial Academy would be very lively.

Ruan Xian feared that the atmosphere between the two would be awkward, so he stood forward and talked with Wang Guisheng and introduced the affairs of the Imperial Academy in a lighthearted manner. Wang Guisheng smiled lightly, feeling good about him.

The senior officials near the center also noticed Zhao Yelan. This previously powerful person was now sitting on the outermost edge, and also had to smile ingratiatingly for the new generation of scholars. They watched this with great joy, muttering and whispering as they ridiculed him inwardly and out loud.

As it happened, Yan Mingting had good eyes and hearing, and his expression gradually dimmed as he stared at these people without saying a word. He didn’t even hear the Emperor calling him.

It wasn’t until He Cuizhang nudged him that he came back to his senses and heard the Emperor ask: “General Yan, I am sorry to trouble you with the Spring Hunt.”

“It’s all right, it is only a small matter,” Yan Mingting replied.

Zhao Xuan saw him sitting in his seat drinking alone with no one around him, and then looked at Zhao Yelan who was sitting on the periphery. He had the impression that there was discord between the two, so he smiled lightly and rewarded Yan Mingting with a pot of Jade Dew fine wine as a token of the Emperor’s favor.

After drinking three rounds, the Emperor and the Empress left first.

The courtiers were also a little drunk, drinking wine in small groups. Yan Mingting picked up two jugs of wine and walked to the opposite table, and those people looked at him foggily.

He gave them a simple and honest smile: “My lords, I wonder if you can do me a favor and have a few drinks with me?”

Those people were already dizzy from drinking, but it wasn’t easy to deny him to his face, so they had to continue drinking with him. Who knew that Yan Mingting would continue pouring wine for them, saying with a smile: “It hasn’t been long since I returned to Beijing, and I will need you all to take care of me in the future. This is good wine rewarded by the Emperor, I’ll offer it first in respect.”

These few people couldn’t evade in time, and after they were force-fed by him two or three times, they ran out of the banquet hall to vomit.

Yan Mingting looked at their backs, snorted coldly, and then immediately met Zhao Yelan’s eyes. Zhao Yelan gave him a questioning look, but he didn’t reply, sitting back down in his seat and gazing at him all the while.

Zhao Yelan wasn’t clear on why, so he planned to question him after he returned. He looked around, his eyes paused in a certain direction, and then he got up and walked out.

“Zhao-daren, where are you going?” Ruan Xian asked.

“Out.”

Zhao Yelan walked unhurriedly, and someone bumped into him from behind. It was Kan Chuan, who was in a rush.

“Kan-daren is in such a hurry, what is he planning to do?” Zhao Yelan asked.

Kan Chuan looked directly at him and replied: “I’ve had too much to drink, and I just want to alleviate it.”

Zhao Yelan nodded, appearing to mockingly say: “Kan-daren is now favored by the Emperor. There must be a lot of people who want to drink with you, just be careful not to drink too much, ah.”

Kan Chuan gave him a profound look: “What is the problem?”

The two looked at each other for a moment. Zhao Yelan was about to speak when he caught a glimpse of Yan Mingting approaching from the side. He ignored the other man and went straight to Yan Mingting instead: “Why did you come?”

“I feared you were being bullied by a drunkard,” Yan Mingting said, reeking of alcohol as he looked straight at Kan Chuan.

Kan Chuan sneered, turning around to stride away.

“I think you’re the biggest alcoholic.” Zhao Yelan frowned and dragged him toward the banquet hall.

“Aren’t you going to the toilet?”

“No.”

Yan Mingting hiccuped and followed behind him. It took him a long time to say: “Holding it in is bad for your health.”

“……”

Zhao Yelan ignored him. After thinking about it, he asked him a question in a low voice: “Why did you drink with those old-timers just now? Do you want to get closer to them?”

Yan Mingting said: “No, I just think they are a bit annoying and talk a lot.”

Zhao Yelan stopped abruptly, and it seemed he had guessed the reason. That group of people used to love to impeach him in court, and said mocking words behind his back. He looked back at Yan Mingting, lowered his voice, and said: “Don’t mind those old-timers.”

“Are you not angry?”

“Why be angry? They cannot make political achievements, so they can only wag their tongues.”

“It’s not pleasant to listen to idle gossip.” Yan Mingting hmphed coldly.

Zhao Yelan said dispassionately: “It is nothing to be uncomfortable with. If they truly annoy me, they won’t even have a chance to speak. They’re just a bunch of old things waiting to die.”

“Hush.” Yan Mingting suddenly covered his mouth, leading him to jump into the bushes next to them, hiding in the dark. “Someone is there.”

Zhao Yelan vigilantly pressed down the leaves in front of him, he looked around and caught a glimpse of two figures approaching each other in the distance, a man and a woman. It looked like a palace maid and a sixth-rank official.

The official whispered some orders to the maid and they began to flirt, chirping and chattering shamelessly and looking like they were about to kiss.

“……” Zhao Yelan was completely speechless. Turning his head to look at Yan Mingting, he found the other looking at him teasingly and raising a hand to remove a leaf from his head.

Zhao Yelan froze for a moment, then cast a meaningful look over there.

Yan Mingting nodded. He picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at the official’s head.

“Who is it?” The official yelled in fear, then led the other person away in a panic.

Zhao Yelan stood up and patted down his clothes: “Fancy that, you are also capable of sneaking around and listening to other people’s business.”

“When I heard stealthy footsteps, I thought it was something big, but who knew they were here to flirt.” Yan Mingting smiled helplessly.

“It wasn’t for nothing, don’t let him steal the scene.”

The official had arranged for the maid to lead the Emperor to a set position on the day of the Spring Hunt, so that he could lead people to pretend to be heroes. Such a clumsy drama.

“Don’t worry, I’m in charge of the hunting grounds. Would I let him take advantage of a loophole?”

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Neither of them went back to the banquet hall, walking out the door together. Zhao Yelan asked: “Are you going back as well?”

“It’s so late, why not go back? I don’t know many people who like to drink, unlike you, with so many little white faces drinking together.” Yan Mingting suddenly got kicked for his sarcastic remark. 

“Stop talking. Li Jinyu is over there, you go feel him out,” Zhao Yelan said in a low voice, and raised his chin toward the southeast.

“How do I feel him out?”

“You hit Li Yucheng. Apologize to him and see how he reacts.”

Yan Mingting nodded. After the other got into a sedan chair, he turned around, walked up to Li Jinyu with a smile on his face, cupped his hands, and said: “Li-daren, this Yan Mingting wanted to have a drink with you just now, but couldn’t get away. I hope you will forgive me.”

“It is no matter, General Yan is young and promising. It is normal for him to have a lot of entertainment.” Li Jinyu smiled kindly.

“Speaking of which, I also wanted to apologize to Li-daren. I drank too much wine in the restaurant last time, acted recklessly, and beat Li-gongzi. I regretted it afterwards……”

Li Jinyu smiled: “I would like to thank the General. If you had not hung him up, I’m afraid I would never be able to find that villain. Now he is behaving himself and staying in the mansion, he just doesn’t know how to be obedient.”

He and Yan Mingting smiled at each other and conversed for a while, then Yan Mingting returned on horseback to the General’s Mansion.

“How did he react?” Zhao Yelan asked when he came through the door. He was in the middle of washing his hands.

Yan Mingting recounted it in detail. Zhao Yelan pondered for a moment and wiped his hands: “This old fox is putting on a good face. It seems that just a beating can’t get him to act.”

“Then what? Kill Li Yucheng?” Yan Mingting asked.

“Do you dare?” Zhao Yelan looked askance at him.

“I don’t think so. Although Li Yucheng is a bit of a dandy, his nature isn’t that bad. Not to mention that I almost became his brother-in-law, how could I……” Yan Mingting stopped talking abruptly and gave Zhao Yelan a meaningful look. Seeing him wiping his hands as usual without a trace of jealousy, he felt a little disappointed for no reason.

“It’s useless to kill him. It would just be a waste of effort. As I said, all human beings have weaknesses. Li Jinyu’s weakness is Li Yucheng, and Li Yucheng’s weaknesses are……” Zhao Yelan put down the handkerchief slowly. The corners of his mouth curled up, but there was no smile in his eyes. “Many.”

Yan Mingting stared at him for a moment, and then wondered: “Everyone has a weakness……then what is yours?”

Zhao Yelan raised his eyebrows: “I have no weaknesses.”

“Impossible.” Yan Mingting at once drew his sword and placed it at his own throat. “You won’t say, so how about I kill myself before your eyes?”

Zhao Yelan raised his hand: “Please proceed quickly.”

“……” Yan Mingting felt disheartened. Sometimes he felt that Zhao Yelan liked him, while other times he felt that the other party didn’t care at all.

Zhao Yelan sat down to rest for a while, and was about to go wash, but Yan Mingting pulled him up.

“What are you doing?”

“Running.”

“It’s so late and you still need to go for a run?!”

“Persistence is the most important thing.” Yan Mingting took him to the courtyard without any explanation.

“Wait, wasn’t it decided before that you had to promise me something?” Zhao Yelan said.

“En, what have you thought up?”

“I want you to promise me that you will not pull me to exercise in the future.”

“……Impossible.”

Zhao Yelan didn’t expect him to refuse, and said scathingly: “A real man of character who doesn’t keep his word.”

“Yes, I am truly a villain, what can you do to me?” Yan Mingting stood upright and self-confident, with his hands on his hips. “Tonight, you must keep exercising.”

“……”

It seemed that this guy was determined to cheat.

Zhao Yelan had no choice but to be dragged along for a run. After half a circle, he was leaning weakly against a beam of the house, gasping for breath.

Yan Mingting came back and stood in front of him. To prevent him from escaping, he placed one hand against the beam and looked at him silently.

Zhao Yelan raised his head weakly. He no longer had the strength to scold him, and could only condemn his scoundrelly behavior with his eyes.

Yan Mingting looked into his eyes, averted his gaze, and reached out to smooth back the hair that had been blown to his cheeks by the wind. Then he turned around and walked into the house, sighing: “Okay, that’s it for tonight.”

Zhao Yelan turned his head and watched him slowly disappear into the corridor. He leaned on the railing and sat down on the chair next to him, taking in the evening breeze for a while before returning to his room.

Three days later, it was the Spring Hunt.

For the past three days, Yan Mingting left early and returned late every day. The two rarely met face to face, and Zhao Yelan had a few rare tranquil days.

This morning, he changed into light clothes and departed with Yan Mingting.

Several lieutenants were standing outside the door and followed them, riding on horseback around the sedan chair.

Zhong Yuehong had armed herself again, and exuberantly let it be known that she would hunt a leopard.

Everyone talked about the prey they were after. Zhao Yelan casually asked Yan Mingting: “What prey do you want to hunt?”

“I haven’t thought about it, I’ll see what’s there.” Yan Mingting lowered his head, wiping his sword.

Zhao Yelan originally wanted to remind him that the Spring Hunt was centered on the royal family, and tell him not to show off. But looking at his heroic profile and the group of lieutenants eager to try, he didn’t say anything in the end.

At worst, he would just let the Emperor save some face.

“What is wrong with you these past few days?” Zhao Yelan asked.

Yan Mingting eyed him uncertainly: “What’s wrong with me?”

“There is something wrong with you.” Zhao Yelan had naturally sensed his strangeness these past few days. He showed no small amount of reticence, and seemed more mature and steady than before, but it was just inexplicable……he wasn’t used to it.

“What’s wrong with me?” Yan Mingting asked again.

Seeing that he refused to speak, Zhao Yelan did not ask again, and remained silent the rest of the way.

After arriving at the hunting grounds, the group of people walked inside. This place was a closed royal hunting ground, usually reserved for only the children of the royal family. Only during the spring and autumn hunts could civil and military officials enter.

The camp was not far from the entrance, and as soon as they entered, they saw a lush forest which was stocked with countless prey.

After walking for a while, there was a sudden noise in the forest nearby, rushing toward them with a whoosh.

Zhao Yelan exclaimed in fright and grabbed Yan Mingting, squeezing in front of him in panic: “There’s something over there!”

Yan Mingting looked down and saw that his eyes were tightly closed, and he was so frightened that he practically clung to his body. The corners of his mouth rose wildly, and then he coughed, wrapping his arms around the other’s back to comfort him: “It’s all right, see for yourself what it is.”

Zhao Yelan slowly opened his eyes and raised his head to look at the branch. It was a squirrel.

The surrounding lieutenants all pursed their lips and held back their laughter.

“……” Zhao Yelan took a deep breath. Donning a straight face again, he was about to go forward alone, but Yan Mingting grabbed his arm.

“The road ahead is dangerous, don’t go too fast.” Yan Mingting took a step in front of him. “Follow me.”

Zhao Yelan lowered his head, always paying attention to the movement around him, and yielded after making a show of resistance. Suddenly, the hand holding his forearm slid down and grabbed his wrist.

He looked over at the other party. Yan Mingting smiled at him and said: “Keep up, don’t be frightened out of your body by kittens and puppies.”

Zhao Yelan struggled a bit, but the other held his wrist even tighter and said shamelessly: “I’m disinclined to protect normal people, but since you took the initiative to ask for help, I will take extra care of you.”

Zhao Yelan: “……”

Good, the familiar Yan Mingting was back again.

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