Chapter 50: Questioning

The wind howled as Qi Qige was dragged into the blanket by Qin Zhao.

The mood instantly exploded. “I can’t go on! I’m going to end it! You’re dead, I’ll be dead, we’re both done for!”

Qin Zhao looked indifferent, deep in thought.

“I’m afraid if I kill myself, you’ll regret it later,” Qi Qige muttered.

“Ahhh!” Qi Qige was furious. One of them had to die today.

Qi Qige tried to fight back, attempting to strangle Qin Zhao, but Qin Zhao simply said, “I’m married,” and Qi Qige froze in place.

With messy hair, Qi Qige’s eyes widened in excitement. “Did you use the method I wrote about in my book?”

Qin Zhao gave him a sideways glance. “That book was for your personal use only. Don’t spread it around.”

The book Qi Qige had given him was tucked away at the bottom of the chest, its explosive contents too much for him to look at.

“You’re such a tease,” Qi Qige said as he lay back on the bed.

Qin Zhao grabbed him. “Get up, we need to go buy some things.”

“It’s too early. The shop isn’t even open yet.”

Qi Qige lazily pulled the blanket over his head, but Qin Zhao forcefully yanked it off.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know. This is your bed!” Qin Zhao dragged him out of bed despite his protests.

With a friend like this, Qi Qige was really suffering.

He was forced to get dressed and wash up. The two of them followed the procedure to buy all the necessary items, making sure not to miss anything.

“Is this it?”

Qi Qige raised a headpiece, this being the fourth jewelry shop they visited.

If things didn’t go well, Qi Qige’s temper was on the verge of exploding.

Qin Zhao repeatedly examined the headpiece, while the table was covered with earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and other decorative items of the same material.

“Yeah, let’s go with this set. How much is it?”

The shopkeeper struggled to keep his eyes open, his eyelids swollen to the point where only a small slit remained. He sluggishly turned his head and looked at Qi Qige. He dared not offer any discounts with such a distinguished person accompanying him.

“What’s with the money talk? Just pack it up,” Qi Qige said as he placed the headpiece along with other jewelry on the counter, signaling the shopkeeper to pack them for him.

Qin Zhao pressed down on the jewelry box, stopping the shopkeeper from taking it. “The money must be paid.”

“This is a gift from my brother for his wedding,” Qi Qige explained.

Rather than sending wedding money, he would rather give a set of jewelry. Weddings were a big deal, and the guests were either rich or noble. This publicity stunt wasn’t a bad deal.

Qi Qige was about to protest but was immediately silenced by Qin Zhao’s sharp gaze. He glared at him.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it? If you want to send a gift, send wine instead.”

“Hey, my brother, the wedding wine is on me, enough for everyone,” Qi Qige said, grinning as he threw an arm over Qin Zhao’s shoulder. However, before he could fully embrace him, his hand was slapped away.

The two of them wandered around, buying more and more things, filling up the cart gradually.

Qi Qige had someone rush the cart back, and the two of them continued shopping, looking every bit the wealthy, extravagant duo.

By noon, they had a quick meal before continuing to buy more.

It wasn’t until sunset that they finally arrived at the courtyard, their cart piled high with goods.

Cao Xi, who was cooking in the kitchen, was drawn outside by the noise. She saw the cart full of things, with Qi Qige directing the helpers as they unloaded.

Upon seeing her, Qi Qige flashed a mischievous grin. “Sister-in-law, what a surprise to see you here.”

Cao Xi’s face immediately turned red at the term “sister-in-law,” and she shyly replied, “Move the soft items into the house, and the food ingredients into the kitchen.”

She had just stepped forward to help when Qin Zhao stopped her, saying, “You stay in the kitchen and prepare dinner. Qi Qige and I will handle things here.”

“Alright, you all are busy. I’ll go ahead and get dinner ready,” Cao Xi said before returning to the kitchen to continue her work.

Qi Qige whistled and nudged Qin Zhao. “Brother, you’re really something now, telling your wife what to do.”

When Qi Qige looked around, he noticed that it was rare to see Qin Zhao so focused on Cao Xi, usually taking the lead himself.

Qin Zhao’s ears turned red from the teasing, and he pretended to be annoyed, pressing down the corners of his mouth, which were clearly curling up in a smile.

“Stop talking. Let’s get to work.”

Qi Qige’s teasing made Qin Zhao feel a strange warmth, as if he had an endless amount of energy to work.

The three quickly finished sorting the items. Qi Qige instructed the helper to rush the cart back, and he planned to walk back later.

That evening, Cao Xi made a meal of sweet and sour pork, braised ribs with green beans, corn cakes, and a cold mixed vegetable salad. The dishes were a perfect balance of meat and vegetables, and everyone ate with great satisfaction.

Before leaving, Qi Qige shook his folding fan and said, “For the wedding feast, I’ll have the chefs from the restaurant come and help. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“Alright,” Qin Zhao nodded, gratefully accepting his offer.

As Qi Qige walked away, Cao Xi whispered to herself, “This wedding is bound to cause some trouble for him.”

Qin Zhao led Cao Xi into the courtyard and closed the door. “He made me work day and night going through the account books. He’s not being polite at all.”

Qin Zhao pulled Cao Xi into his bedroom, where he had already prepared her wedding gown and jewelry. With bright eyes, he asked, “Do you like it?”

The items he selected were all perfect. The bright red wedding dress was embroidered with auspicious clouds, the golden headpiece was stunning but not too flashy, and there was a pair of white shoes with red embroidery, all meticulously crafted.

Cao Xi reached out to touch the gown and the jewelry, a smile lingering on her face.

“I like it.” The joy of the wedding was nothing compared to the happiness she felt at this moment.

Qin Zhao gently took both of her hands in his and looked at her seriously. “Cao Xi, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

Cao Xi shyly responded, squeezing his hands in return. The two exchanged a tender smile.

They began organizing the things they had bought, planning to start decorating the room.

However, their plans changed quickly when Qin Zhao was called away by someone from the academy.

In Qizhou City, five people passed the imperial examination, three of whom were from Qing Song Academy. This brought great pride to Director Xu, who smiled ear to ear, knowing the academy’s reputation was growing.

When Qin Zhao arrived, Qi Qige and Li Chenqi were already there. Director Xu waved at him as he entered.

“These three are my proud students. The achievements of today are the result of their hard work.”

Director Xu continued, “I’ve invited you here today to discuss your future plans.” He glanced at the screen nearby.

Standing behind the screen was a tall man in purple robes with a jade belt—none other than the renowned scholar Xu Miao.

He had come to Qizhou for official business and had taken the opportunity to visit his old friend, Director Xu.

Upon hearing that three of the successful candidates today had been taught by Director Xu, he was eager to set up this meeting.

When Director Xu asked Qin Zhao about his plans, Qin Zhao stepped forward to answer, but the director waved his hand. “Sit down,” he gestured.

Qin Zhao said, “I plan to continue with the imperial examinations. At this stage, I need additional guidance from my teachers.”

Qi Qige added, “I plan to study alongside Qin Zhao.” He finished speaking with a silly grin at Qin Zhao.

The two were set on continuing their education, which made Li Chenqi somewhat envious.

“I don’t have much of a choice,” Li Chenqi said. “If it weren’t for this exam, I’d still be relying on the academy’s rewards to make a living. I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. As for my plans, I’m aiming for a minor official post in the county office, a position where I can work and study at the same time.”

Director Xu nodded at them. “You all have your own ways, whether you pursue your studies full-time or do so while working. The key is hard work; with that, you will definitely see results.”

Then he asked, “What do you think of the current state of the court?”

This question seemed to cross the line, touching on discussions about the imperial court, which could be dangerous in private. Director Xu likely feared it might jeopardize the candidates’ futures.

Qin Zhao answered carefully, “I don’t think I can comment on the state of the court. After all, I am not truly part of the inner workings of the court and don’t fully understand the pros and cons. However, I believe the foundation of the court lies in the well-being of the people. If the people are content and live in peace, only then can the court be stable.”

Qin Zhao’s response was cautious and subtly avoided the sensitive topic, yet it still conveyed his view clearly.

The man behind the screen, who had been listening intently, took note of Qin Zhao’s answer. It was far more insightful than expected and demonstrated a far deeper understanding than many higher-ranked officials.

Qi Qige laughed and said, “I don’t really know, but I know that money makes the world go round. If the people have wealth, the court has wealth. With wealth, the army has resources, and the country can defend itself against outsiders.”

Qi Qige’s words were simple but pointed to a key truth, demonstrating that his thinking, though not as nuanced, was still practical.

The man behind the screen exhaled a breath. This young man was clearly capable, showing intelligence that could rival even some high-ranking officials. He was a rare talent indeed.

He then turned his gaze to Li Chenqi, hoping for a better response from him.

Li Chenqi, however, gave a much more conventional reply, “I think the best course is to focus on one’s own duties and leave the matters of the emperor to him.”

The man behind the screen was slightly disappointed with Li Chenqi’s answer. It was the reaction one would expect from an average person, lacking deeper insight.

His gaze then turned back to Qin Zhao and Qi Qige, recognizing that these two were clearly exceptional talents. If they weren’t brought into the fold, they might become problematic in the future.

Director Xu, seeing that the conversation had come to a natural end, found an excuse to wrap up the meeting and let the three young men leave.

Qi Qige, as usual, was carefree and cheerful, but Qin Zhao’s expression was more thoughtful, as if he was deep in contemplation.