Chapter Eighteen: Triple Blessings Arrive

“Captain Lao Jia can testify that I will not hold you responsible in any way.”

Ye Wuji’s expression suddenly changed. “But if you don’t relay my words... According to the Great Qian legal code, breaking into a house to steal, Captain Lao Jia has the right to beat you twenty strokes before handing you over to the authorities! Do you think you can endure twenty strokes?”

“Master Ye, rest assured, I will definitely deliver your message,” Shi San repeatedly promised, only then did Ye Wuji let him go.

Zhao Yide, uneasy, followed Shi San all the way, only feeling assured when Shi San returned to the Shen residence.

After serving a pot of wine to Captain Lao Jia, Ye Wuji personally escorted him home.

Everything soon returned to calm. Ye Wuji collapsed onto his bed and quickly fell asleep, snoring shortly after.

Watching his carefree father, Ye Xiu covered his head with a blanket and gradually drifted off to sleep as well.

The next day, after the father and son finished breakfast, they opened the courtyard gates and all sat quietly outside, seemingly waiting for something.

Sure enough, footsteps echoed from outside.

Then Shen Wanshan entered the courtyard apologetically, followed by Shi San.

Shi San placed the gift boxes he was carrying neatly on the table.

He then directed the laborers to carry in brand-new furniture and a large bed, replacing all the old furnishings.

Once everything was done, Shi San bowed to Shen Wanshan. “Master, everything is settled. I will wait for you in the carriage.”

“Go ahead,” Shen Wanshan waved his hand. Shi San and the laborers then carried the old furniture away.

In the courtyard, the three sat facing each other but said nothing.

After a moment of awkward silence, Shen Wanshan awkwardly pulled a five-tael gold ingot from his sleeve and slowly pushed it toward Ye Wuji.

“You fatso, do you think I’ve never seen money before?” Ye Wuji’s face darkened. “Even half a month ago, our family’s treasury wouldn’t put a mere hundred taels of gold bricks on the shelf.”

“This is to apologize for last night’s incident. I hope Brother Ye will accept it,” Shen Wanshan said embarrassed. Damn that old Xie, what lousy idea did he come up with? The villain made me do all the dirty work.

“If you want a marriage proposal, just say so. How else would I know?” Ye Wuji glanced at the glittering gold ingot, tempted to accept but reason prevailed.

“Mr. Shen,” Ye Xiu spoke slowly, “we understand your intention is to pressure us. There are many ways to secure a marriage proposal, but do you think we have no countermeasures?”

“Dear nephew, what are you saying?” Shen Wanshan forced a smile more pitiful than tears. “Coincidentally, since leaving your Ye residence, my daughter’s foot ailment has miraculously healed. She can now walk not just ten miles, but hundreds of miles without trouble.”

Ha, ha! Both father and son sneered with contempt.

Knock, knock, knock!

At the sound of knocking, the three looked up to see Liu Hanqing, the venerable dean of Jinling Academy.

“Mr. Shen is here as well?”

Liu Hanqing entered the small courtyard, bowing politely to everyone.

“Dean Liu, this is...”

Shen Wanshan’s face showed suspicion and confusion. The Ye family had declined so much—why would Liu Hanqing still come here?

“I have come to deliver Ye Xiucai’s reinstatement for the retest,” Liu Hanqing said, producing an official certificate and handing it to Ye Wuji. “Wuji, I personally brought your reinstatement today.”

“Thank you, Dean Liu, for taking the trouble. I will certainly speak highly of you to my mentor in the future,” Ye Wuji accepted the certificate, lowering his voice. “I heard that since my mentor Wang Yuanhui was transferred to the capital, he will select professors from within Jinling, and the decision rests with him.”

“Before, I often said you were no ordinary talent; one day you will surely rise to great heights,” Liu Hanqing’s eyes lit up and his face shone. “The academy has set up a Hall of Fame, where the top scholars and those who have greatly contributed to the academy are honored with portraits. I believe your name will surely be among them.”

Hearing this, Ye Wuji immediately understood the hint.

If he could help Liu Hanqing rise to professorship, whether he passed the exam or not, his name would be immortalized in the Hall of Fame.

If he succeeded in the exam, with some lobbying near Wang Yuanhui, the professorship would be Liu Hanqing’s for sure.

With this thought, Ye Wuji looked at Ye Xiu. “Son, kneel!”

Ye Xiu was momentarily stunned but quickly knelt before Liu Hanqing. “Mentor, your student pays respects!”

Liu Hanqing was slightly baffled. Ye Wuji’s scheming was so loud it could be heard even in the capital.

But the atmosphere was set, and with Shen Wanshan present, he could not lose face.

“This disciple of mine, I accept him. I was in a rush when I came and brought no gift for taking a student,” Liu Hanqing paused. “How about this: when you pass the exam, Wuji, that will be the day I officially accept you as my disciple. How does that sound?”

“Agreed happily so,” Ye Wuji said.

The two struck hands in oath. Citing his busy academy duties, Liu Hanqing soon left the courtyard.

Throughout the process, Shen Wanshan was utterly confused, staring dumbfounded.

He realized how little he truly understood about the Ye father and son.

He had simply thought Ye Wuji was a waste who had been slacking for nearly forty years. Now... all that was a lie.

Ye Laotai held a high position and, barring accidents, would surely secure a cabinet seat within five years.

The father was wise and heroic; how could the son be any worse?

“Old Shen, today is truly a day of triple joy for our family,” Ye Wuji said calmly, sipping his tea.

“Triple joy?” Shen Wanshan asked, puzzled.

“Restoration of exam status—that’s the first joy; my son taking a master—that’s the second joy.”

Ye Wuji raised an eyebrow at Shen Wanshan. “As for the third joy... I’ve arranged a marriage for my son. Their family holds noble titles, and I’ve promised a primary wife. Do you understand what I mean?”

“What?” Shen Wanshan’s face darkened instantly. His eyes blazed as he glared at Ye Wuji. “Ye, don’t push me too far! I, Shen Wanshan, am not someone to be trifled with.”

“So you want to pick a fight? Go ahead and loudly say the word ‘break off the engagement’! If you can’t say it, then keep it to yourself!” Ye Wuji’s face turned cold.

“You... I...” Shen Wanshan was like a mute suffering silently, unable to speak his grievances.

Common folk and even wealthy merchants could easily break an engagement, but he dared not act first.

Constrained by his status, he was completely at Ye Wuji’s mercy.

As Jinling’s richest man with many commercial enemies, if news of a broken engagement leaked, opponents would fabricate all kinds of negative rumors to crush him.

He truly could not risk the legacy his family had built over generations on a gamble.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Wanshan nearly forced the words out through clenched teeth. “Ye Wuji, do you really think you can pass the provincial exam?”

Before Ye Wuji could reply, Ye Xiu spoke confidently, “Not just pass, even top the exam would be easy.”

“Ye Wuji, topping the exam might be a bit much for you,” Shen Wanshan said darkly.

“As long as you make it into the top three, I won’t ask a single coin from your Ye family. I’ll even see to it that these two young ones have a grand wedding and buy the largest forest estate in Jinling as a dowry for my daughter!”

Shen Wanshan stood, his face grim and voice sharp. “But if you don’t pass?”