Chapter 46

In February after the New Year, it was time again for the annual child-examination.
In the Jiang family, nearly a dozen individuals who had studied for several years, from Second Brother Jiang, whose son was already ten, down to the third son of the second branch, who had just turned sixteen, were preparing for the exam. Some had taken it many times before, while others were attempting it for the first time.
Lord Jiang had earned his juren title through the proper examinations and now held a respectable fifth-rank position as a local official. In contrast, Second Master Jiang had later purchased a minor official post. Second Master Jiang understood the importance of genuinely earning a scholarly title and thus placed great emphasis on his sons’ education.
Second Lady Jiang watched her husband oversee the children’s studies every day. The tutor at the private school constantly praised her third son, saying he was exceptionally bright, the most talented among all the Jiang family’s descendants, and that his essays displayed remarkable ingenuity.
Second Lady Jiang was immensely proud, bringing her daughters to visit Old Madam Jiang every day. She would sigh and say that even though the second son of the main branch had a son of his own, he still hadn’t passed the exams, better not to waste the silver. She also remarked that while everyone wanted to take the exams, only those destined by heaven could succeed.
Although Old Madam Jiang disliked Yan Yiming, she doted dearly on the two legitimate grandsons born to Lady Jiang. Hearing Second Lady Jiang’s words displeased her greatly, and she sternly replied that they should wait until the results were out before boasting, lest they end up embarrassed if they failed.
Second Lady Jiang rolled her eyes and snorted before finally falling silent. After a long while, she suddenly remembered Jiang Yi, who had been in the residence for nearly two months.
“Why hasn’t the boy brought back by Fifth Master Jiang gone to try?”
Her daughter glanced at her and said, “Isn’t he only thirteen?”
Before she could finish, Old Madam Jiang interjected with disdain, “What does he know about studying? Knowing a few characters to avoid embarrassment is enough!”
Everyone present burst into laughter.
Old Madam Jiang had a difficult temperament but didn’t go looking for trouble. She generally avoided people she disliked, claiming that seeing them affected her mood. Thus, she had exempted Jiang Yi from the daily greetings and told him and Yan Yiming to stay out of her sight.
However, whenever someone mentioned him, Old Madam Jiang couldn’t resist sneering and complaining about Jiang Yi. Sure enough, she quickly forgot Second Lady Jiang’s earlier faux pas and happily moved on to other topics with her.
Soon, the Child Examination began.
The first stage, the county exam, consisted of five sessions over three days. When everyone returned, they looked haggard and had visibly lost weight, especially those experiencing such an ordeal for the first time.
Old Madam Jiang, concerned for her grandsons, prepared a family banquet in the evening to let the children relax.
At the banquet, Lord Jiang anxiously asked all the Jiang family candidates about the essays they had written. If the essays were well-written, he praised them joyfully; if they were flawed, he couldn’t help but sigh.
After questioning everyone, he found that the essay by the third son of the second branch was the best in his opinion. Lord Jiang felt a pang of disappointment, thinking that indeed, everyone’s talents differed. This child was only sixteen, yet his comprehension far surpassed that of his own second son, who was nearly thirty.
Mentioning comprehension reminded him of Jiang Yi.
Only then did he notice that Jiang Yi was absent from the entire banquet.
Lord Jiang frowned deeply and scanned the room several times, Jiang Yi was truly not there. Lady Jiang, fully aware of the situation, asked, “What are you looking for, my lord?”
“Where is Shaojun?”
For a moment, no one realized who “Shaojun” was. Lady Jiang glanced hesitantly at Old Madam Jiang, and only then did everyone understand.
Aside from Lord Jiang, Lady Jiang, and Yan Yiming, no one present knew Jiang Yi’s true background. At the mention of his name, Old Madam Jiang’s smile vanished. “Since this is a family banquet, why invite him?”
Lord Jiang glanced at his mother. “Fifth Brother entrusted Shaojun to us, so he is a descendant of the Jiang family.”
Fifth Young Master Jiang, who had just been scolded by Lord Jiang, looked at the old lady and tried to persuade his father, saying that since it was a family banquet, there was no need to invite him, and besides, he probably wouldn't understand the topics being discussed. Upon hearing this, Lord Jiang suddenly flew into a rage.
He couldn't scold the second branch of the family, but his own son was fair game.
“You senseless fool!”
Lord Jiang's roar was so fierce that Fifth Young Master Jiang dropped his chopsticks in fright. The old lady, feeling sorry for her grandson, shot her son a glare, how could he scold his own son over an outsider?
This only angered Lord Jiang further. “You say he doesn’t understand? You’re the one who slacks off the most in your studies! How dare you speak of Shaojun? Do you know that Shaojun is seven years younger than you but has already passed the child-examination, while you haven’t even earned the title of child scholar? Shut your mouth!”
His words shocked everyone present. Even Second Master Jiang’s smile froze on his face. After a long pause, he stammered, “Elder Brother, are you saying that this... wild child passed the child-examination?”
Lord Jiang snorted coldly. “Absolutely true.”
The old lady still hadn’t processed the news, and Second Lady Jiang and Third Young Master Jiang, who had been cheerful until then, could no longer muster a smile.
To be a scholar at just thirteen, compared to Jiang Yi, what did he amount to?
When Jiang Yi appeared at the family banquet, the expressions of those present had completely changed. The old lady still felt uncomfortable, perhaps unwilling to admit Jiang Yi’s natural brilliance. In the end, she awkwardly attributed it to her fifth son’s excellent teaching.
Lady Jiang and Second Lady Jiang both shot the old lady a glance and, for the first time, shared a moment of silent mockery before turning away.
From then on, whenever people saw Jiang Yi again, he was finally recognized as the rightful young master.
As for Yan Yiming, ever since Lord Jiang learned of Jiang Yi’s remarkable achievements at such a young age, and after Lady Jiang whispered a few words in his ear at night, Lord Jiang no longer stood in the way. He even instructed Yan Yiming, as Jiang Yi’s elder sister, to take good care of him.
Yan Yiming naturally agreed.
Jiang Yi personally visited Yan Yiming and sincerely thanked her. Yan Yiming chuckled helplessly and said, “It’s your own achievement. I only spoke the truth. Why thank me?”
Jiang Yi replied seriously, “I still must thank you.”
Yan Yiming glanced at him, picked up a green jujube with her slender fingers, and slowly chewed it as she said, “Children should be more lively.”
Jiang Yi shot her a look, turned his face away, and muttered, “I’m not a child.”
“Only children deny that they’re young,” Yan Yiming said with a curved smile. She picked up another jujube and, while Jiang Yi wasn’t paying attention, slipped it into his mouth. “Anyone younger than me is a child. Don’t argue, have a jujube.”
He bit into it instinctively, and its sweet flavor spread in his mouth.
Jiang Yi watched as her delicate white fingers withdrew, then met her smiling eyes. Suddenly, he wanted another one.
But asking for it would seem too childish. He had just insisted he wasn’t a child, better not...
While he was torn, Yan Yiming seemed to read his mind and naturally fed him another one. Without thinking, Jiang Yi leaned forward slightly and bit into the jujube.
Yan Yiming watched his conflicted expression, clearly reluctant, yet his actions were swift and decisive. She wanted to laugh but held back.
So contradictory.
After finishing dinner together, Jiang Yi returned to his residence. According to the maids there, he studied late into the night every day. Yan Yiming had once flipped through the books Jiang Yi brought with him, the pages were worn, clearly read many times over, and filled with annotations, a testament to his diligence.
Lady Jiang mentioned that even Jiang Yi’s father had not been so hardworking in his youth.
Despite his natural talent, Jiang Yi worked harder than most.
Now, all the men in the Jiang family were burying themselves in books, but while the others were cramming for the upcoming preliminary exams, Jiang Yi was already preparing for the provincial exams three years away.
Jiang Yi had earned the title of zhuangyuan, the top scholar, at seventeen, meaning he had passed the provincial exams at sixteen.
Compared to the others in the Jiang household, who still had time to idle away, Jiang Yi had far too much to accomplish in three years.
Some time ago, Lady Jiang had suggested to Yan Yiming that she occasionally bring Jiang Yi along to chat. Yan Yiming later asked Jiang Yi for his opinion. Since Lady Jiang was Yan Yiming’s mother and had spoken up for him during his first meeting with the family matriarch, Jiang Yi immediately set aside his book, straightened his robes, and accompanied Yan Yiming to visit her.
Unexpectedly, when they entered, they found not only Lady Jiang but also several aunts and sisters from the main branch, along with two unfamiliar ladies.
Aside from Lady Jiang, the Jiang patriarch had taken three concubines, who had borne him five sons and four daughters. Two of the daughters were already married, leaving two unmarried daughters of concubine birth, now at the age when marriage arrangements were being discussed, if not slightly overdue.
After all, even Yan Yiming, the youngest, was about to turn sixteen. The third daughter was a year older than her, and the fourth daughter just four months older.
No one had expected Yan Yiming to show up. Even Lady Jiang, though pleased to see her daughter, was somewhat reluctant to have her overhear the conversation.
Ever since Second Lady Jiang had exaggeratedly spread rumors about Yan Yiming’s illness, no matchmakers had come to propose marriage for her. Now, even the third and fourth daughters were receiving visits from matchmakers. Yet Yan Yiming, who was far more talented and beautiful, had become the one no one sought to marry.
Yan Yiming’s marriage prospects had become a thorn in Lady Jiang’s heart, one she dared not touch.
Just as Lady Jiang was about to suggest that Yan Yiming and Jiang Yi wait inside until she finished her discussion, the matchmaker who had come to negotiate caught sight of Yan Yiming. Her eyes lit up, and guessing Yan Yiming’s identity, she couldn’t help but praise her, clicking her tongue in admiration. “I’ve never seen one so exceptional.”
Lady Jiang smiled faintly, while the third and fourth daughters forced awkward smiles. Auntie Zhao, seated further down, sighed and said, “Indeed, our fifth young lady is truly first-class in appearance.” Then, her expression turning troubled, she added, “But heaven is unjust, to think she… Ah, what a pity…”
Lady Jiang immediately withdrew her smile. Yan Yiming glanced at Concubine Zhao and said indifferently, “What a pity?”
Concubine Zhao was startled by the icy, emotionless tone and, recalling the master’s doting affection for Yan Yiming, lowered her head and said nothing more.
The matchmaker, being sharp-witted, had already grasped Concubine Zhao’s implication. She inwardly cursed Concubine Zhao for stirring trouble and quickly changed the subject. Glancing at Jiang Yi, who was young in stature but exceptionally handsome, she exclaimed, “Whose young master is this?”
Madam Jiang smiled faintly and explained that he was the son of the fifth master of the household.
Though the matchmaker was not fully aware of the details, she knew about the scandal of the fifth master eloping with a widow who was already married. She promptly closed her mouth and did not pursue the topic further.
After Yan Yiming and Jiang Yi went inside, the others resumed their discussion about the previous marriage proposal.
Jiang Yi and Yan Yiming sat in the inner room, where maids served tea. They sipped slowly, and Jiang Yi looked up, studying Yan Yiming’s slender hand as she held the teacup. Her skin was so pale that the veins were visible. Sitting there expressionless, she had reverted to her usual demeanor in front of others.
Jiang Yi recalled Concubine Zhao’s earlier words.
What a pity? What exactly was a pity?
A pity that she was fated to die young. No matter how beautiful or well-born she was, it was useless.
Why had Lady Jiang’s expression turned so grim? Why could a mere concubine cause Lady Jiang such displeasure? It was because Yan Yiming was in poor health.
Because no one dared to marry a woman born with a congenital weakness.
A sudden, indescribable anger surged within Jiang Yi.
Because he had seen the best of Yan Yiming. He could hardly find any flaws in her. Yet, such a remarkable person was being disparaged by one ignorant person after another.
What right did they have!