Fishing

When the Shizi Furen was taking He Ming back, Yu Shiyan happened to see them. The Duke of England’s Mansion was Yu Fulang’s maternal home, and they had always looked down on him. 

Yu Shiyan sat in the pavilion, not wanting to be a nuisance. Today, he heard someone came to propose to Yu Lanyi, so he couldn’t sit still and came to the pavilion to take a look.

From the servants, he learned that the one proposing was Zheng Shanci. Yu Shiyan’s eyes were full of smiles, feeling very pleased. 

Even though he was the legitimate Ge’er of the Marquis Mansion, he still had to marry someone from a humble background. This husband wasn’t even as good as those Ge’er from families of fifth or sixth rank officials.

Let’s see how he can still be so arrogant in the future. Yu Lanyi was naturally domineering, even more so than Yu Fulang. Yu Shiyan had suffered quite a bit at Yu Lanyi’s hands.

He always kept to himself, and both he and Ye Yunchu had mutual feelings, but his status was too low to match Ye Yunchu. However, Yu Lanyi wanted to use tricks to force Ye Yunchu to be with him, and Yu Shiyan naturally wouldn’t let Yu Lanyi’s scheme succeed.

“Third Young Master, Fulang has lifted the Second Young Master’s confinement.”

Yu Shiyan clenched his fists. Yu Lanyi was really lucky. Even after doing such a thing, the Marquis Mansion was still so tolerant of him. Yu Shiyan felt both angry and jealous, and he got up to leave the pavilion.

“By the way, what is the Shizi Furen from the Duke of England’s Mansion doing here?”

Yu Shiyan thought to ask.

“Third Young Master, I haven’t heard about this.”

Yu Shiyan pondered. Why would the Duke of England’s Mansion come at this time? Could it be to smooth things over for Yu Lanyi? Thinking about the Shizi Furen bringing He Ming, a Furen bringing an unmarried man at this time, what could they be doing?

He had a guess in his heart.

Yu Lanyi wouldn’t have such good luck anymore.

The next day, someone knocked on the door. Zheng Shanci had gone to sleep with a heavy heart last night, but felt much calmer this morning. After eating a piece of cake and drinking a bowl of clear water, Zheng Shanci regretted not staying at the Marquis Mansion for a meal yesterday.

After all, it was the Marquis Mansion, where he could eat some good food.

He was too poor.

Zheng Shanci opened the door to find a small official in official attire: “Young Master Zheng, in ten days, please attend the assessment at the Ministry of Personnel. Here is your token.”

“Thank you.”

After the small official finished speaking, he turned and left. This was the last jinshi he was delivering a token to, and recently, Zheng Shanci’s name had been quite prominent in Shengjing. News had spread yesterday that Young Master Zheng had already gone to the Marquis Mansion to propose, and the Marquis of Changyang had agreed. Soon, this gentleman would become the son-in-law of the Changyang Marquis Mansion, soaring to great heights.

What luck! Before delivering the token, the small official had been wondering what kind of person Zheng Shanci was, thinking he must be a despicable person, a sly one, otherwise how could he have such great abilities?

Upon seeing Zheng Shanci, the small official had nothing to say. Zheng Shanci’s demeanor was more refined than that of noble family sons, his gaze clear, not at all what they had imagined, and he was very polite.

“So, what does that Young Master Zheng look like?”

The small official, in his leisure time, also loved to gossip about Shengjing.

“Young Master Zheng is very different from what I imagined, not like a sly person.”

“What about his appearance?”

“Stunningly beautiful,” the small official sighed. “His appearance is just right. In Shengjing, there are gentlemen with more handsome features, but when Young Master Zheng stands in one place, your eyes will be drawn to him.”

“That’s too exaggerated. Did you take money from Young Master Zheng?” a small official said discontentedly, thinking this person was joking.

“Yeah, yeah, are you talking about a poor jinshi? Maybe you had too much breakfast, or the wine you drank yesterday hasn’t worn off.”

“You must have taken money.”

Zheng Shanci sent off the small official and was about to close the door. He planned to seclude himself for ten days to prepare for the Ministry of Personnel’s assessment. A hand reached out, and Chen Wu squeezed in through the door crack with agility.

“Brother Zheng, congratulations, your happy event is near.” Chen Wu joyfully cupped his hands to Zheng Shanci.

“Thank you, Brother Chen. What brings you to me today?”

No one visits the Three Treasures Hall without a reason. Zheng Shanci poured Chen Wu a cup of water. Chen Wu had also learned yesterday that the Changyang Marquis Mansion had indeed accepted Zheng Shanci as the son-in-law, and he hadn’t slept all night.

His own failure was certainly frightening, but a friend’s success was even more disheartening.

“Are you going to take the Ministry of Personnel’s assessment?”

Chen Wu had seen the small official delivering the token to Zheng Shanci when he arrived.

“Yes, though I’m not sure if I’ll succeed.” Zheng Shanci replied, not revealing much.

Chen Wu couldn’t get any information from Zheng Shanci, feeling a bit frustrated, his expression gradually becoming agitated: “Brother Zheng, now that you’re about to rise to prominence, don’t forget us when you’re rich and powerful.”

The original owner and Chen Wu only had a relationship of casual conversation and drinking, so why the talk of not forgetting each other when rich and powerful?

Zheng Shanci: “Next time, Brother Chen.”

Chen Wu knew Zheng Shanci was refusing him, and he felt unwilling.

But he also knew he couldn’t confront Zheng Shanci head-on, so he had to leave.

Zheng Shanci closed the door, letting out a sigh of relief. The original owner, besides having some interaction with Chen Wu, wasn’t very familiar with others in the capital. Chen Wu hadn’t deeply understood the original owner, so naturally, he wouldn’t know that someone else had taken over.

Compared to preparing for the exams, reading like this was already a good thing. Zheng Shanci read several books and wrote some essays himself. He knew that just reading wouldn’t help him memorize the classics. The assessment wouldn’t be like the imperial exams, just requiring him to write an essay for the Ministry of Personnel to evaluate his level.

He had some confidence in his writing.

When tired of reading, Zheng Shanci squatted down to pull weeds in the yard. He went out to find tools, planning to make a fishing rod himself. He remembered a place in the suburbs of the capital where he could fish, and going night fishing in the evening was the best.

As long as it wasn’t reading, Zheng Shanci was full of motivation for anything.

In the evening, Zheng Shanci took his homemade fishing rod and went out to fish. He brought a small bucket to hold the fish. In modern times, he often went fishing with old men, and his fishing skills were quite good.

In the suburbs of the capital, there were scattered figures. Zheng Shanci found a suitable spot on the grass, cast his line, and the hook glinted in the air before silently dropping into the river. The river rippled, and occasionally, ripples spread across the distant river surface.

Zheng Shanci sat still, the breeze from the river bringing a chill.

Catching a few more fish to make braised fish, Zheng Shanci thought, drooling. It was too hard; he hadn’t eaten fish since coming here.

The Marquis of Changyang didn’t want him to take concubines, which he could do. Although he didn’t like men, he was still loyal to marriage. As long as his relationship with Yu Lanyi existed, he wouldn’t do anything to betray Yu Lanyi. This had nothing to do with the person he married; it was his own standard.

Thinking of Yu Lanyi’s appearance gave Zheng Shanci a headache. Yu Lanyi was too troublesome and could fight. Ordinary people couldn’t handle him, and living under the same roof in the future, who knew what would happen.

…

After Yu Lanyi’s confinement was lifted by Yu Fulang, he arranged to go horseback riding in the suburbs with his friend Lü Jin. He wore riding attire, outlining his tall figure, his hair pinned up, and skillfully rode a lap around the track.

The horse track was for people to ride leisurely. On Yu Lanyi’s fifth birthday, his brother Yu Changxing gave him a horse, which had been kept at the suburban track. Yu Lanyi reached out to pat the horse’s neck.

The horse was black, with sleek fur and bright eyes, clearly a noble breed.

Lü Jin: “Are you really going to marry that poor jinshi?”

Yu Lanyi nodded nonchalantly: “Father has already arranged it, and I made a fuss, but it didn’t change anything.”

“It’s all my fault. If I had known, I wouldn’t have brought so many people.”

Yu Lanyi didn’t blame his friend: “It was all my idea. You only helped because I asked. You tried to persuade me, but I got caught in a scheme.”

Lü Jin rode alongside Yu Lanyi, saying, “Have you found out who was behind it?”

“Not yet. The maid has completely disappeared, like a stone sinking into the sea.”

Yu Lanyi chatted idly, still feeling indignant about marrying: “Anyway, I’m marrying down. Once my father finds a good position for Zheng Shanci, and he stays in the capital, I can visit often, just like not being married.”

Lü Jin’s father was an Assistant Minister of Personnel. Considering Zheng Shanci’s background, he pondered, “Young Master Zheng’s status makes it hard for him to stay in Shengjing.”

Yu Lanyi was startled: “What do you mean? Is he going to be sent away from Shengjing?”

Lü Jin speculated, “Not necessarily, but staying in the capital is difficult. Plus, after this incident, your father probably wants you both away from the capital. Once the situation calms down, you can return.”

Yu Lanyi whipped his horse, galloping fast, leaving Lü Jin’s voice behind. His anger burned fiercely, threatening to consume everything.

“Lanyi, don’t ride so fast! Be careful!”

He rode to a riverside, where the horse lowered its head to drink.

Yu Lanyi exhaled, dismounting swiftly, his boots landing on the grass. He patted the horse’s head and looked up to see someone fishing nearby.

Yu Lanyi initially planned to leave after the horse drank, but then he saw the man across the river lift his fishing rod. A big fish broke the surface, the river shimmering, water droplets falling from the fish scales like strings of pearls.

The man’s fingers were long and strong, with distinct joints.

He caught the fish and placed it in a small bucket, making a splash.

The river returned to tranquility, the man’s hand steady on the rod.

Yu Lanyi didn’t like fishing, but he wanted to know who this person was.

He walked over quietly, asking, “How many fish have you caught, sir? My father also likes fishing, so I wanted to ask. I hope you don’t mind my intrusion.”

Zheng Shanci wore a straw hat to keep off the night dew.

He: “?”