On the day of Zhi Yi’s full-month celebration, many guests came. The little fellow was passed from one set of arms to another. Tucked inside his swaddling clothes, he could not recognize any of the noble ladies or relatives. But when he failed to see a familiar face for a long time, his little brows scrunched up and he began to cry.
“Perhaps the child is hungry. I will take him to the wet nurse for feeding.”
Bai Lian carried Zhi Yi back. The moment the little one saw the familiar face, he immediately stopped crying. Tears still clung to his eyelashes, and the tip of his nose was red, his expression pitiful and aggrieved.
“You little crybaby.” Bai Lian rocked him gently for a while. “You really cannot bear to be away from your father for even a moment.”
“Zhi Yi is truly gentle—he barely makes a sound even when he cries.”
The noble ladies gathered around to look at the baby. Such a delicately carved little fellow was adored by everyone.
“And he is sturdy as well. He does not look like a frail child at all. He is simply quiet by nature.”
“A baby like this is the most lovable…”
The day passed in great bustle. Bai Lian and Ning Muyan were busy receiving guests, and the little one also “entertained” people obediently for a while. When sleepiness came over him, he dozed peacefully in Bai Lian’s arms. By the time he woke, the banquet had already ended.
“Everyone was too generous. There were so many gifts—just the gold necklaces alone came in several sets.”
“Well, there are only so many kinds of gifts one can give a child.”
Hearing his father’s familiar voice, Zhi Yi did not cry. He opened his bright, watery eyes and looked at the face before him—strange, yet somewhat familiar. For a moment he was confused.
In his awareness he did not understand what “brothers” meant. He only felt that today his father looked a little different than usual.
Still, he thought the face looked somewhat like his father’s. And after hearing his father’s voice, he became more certain that this was not a stranger. So he began waving his arms, asking to be picked up.
Ning Zheng Yu had rushed back in great haste. Although he had missed the full-month banquet, he could at least finally see with his own eyes the precious darling his elder brother had been bragging about in his letters.
Those overflowing praises in the letters were not exaggerated at all. The little fellow truly knew how to grow—he had inherited the beauty of both fathers. Even at such a young age he was unbelievably adorable.
His brows were delicate, his eyes round, his eyelashes thick and long. Most importantly, he was plump and soft. It was almost hard to imagine that Bai Lian, with such a slender body, could have given birth to such a chubby baby.
Seeing the little fellow tilt his head and stare at him for a moment before reaching out his arms, Ning Zheng Yu glanced back at the couple busy counting congratulatory gifts. Then he turned back to Zhi Yi.
“Your father is busy. Let your Second Uncle hold you for a while—but you are not allowed to cry.”
Zhi Yi blinked. Suddenly the person in front of him no longer seemed like his father. Before he could react, however, he was already lifted into the man’s arms. He smelled the scent of this person called “Second Uncle.” It was completely different from his father’s, though still pleasant, so he did not cry.
Ning Zheng Yu held Zhi Yi in his arms, his eyes widening in surprise. The little thing felt even softer than dough mixed with too much water. He instinctively softened his movements, afraid he might accidentally squeeze the child out of shape.
“Zhi Yi is awake.”
Ning Muyan looked up and saw his son in Ning Zheng Yu’s arms. Setting aside what he was doing, he walked over to take Zhi Yi.
“Your Second Uncle is clumsy. Come here, let Father hold you.”
But Ning Zheng Yu stepped back slightly, still holding the child.
“How am I clumsy? Elder Brother has only held him for one month longer than I have. See, he has not cried. If the child were uncomfortable, he would cry.”
Ning Muyan changed his approach. “You rushed back from the road. You must be covered in sweat and dust. Do not get it on Zhi Yi. The child is delicate—how can he endure such treatment?”
“I have not even gotten off the carriage. I am perfectly clean. Let me hold him a bit longer.”
Bai Lian sat nearby recording the gifts. Seeing the two brothers—who had been harmonious for the past two years—actually bickering because of Zhi Yi was practically unprecedented.
Amused, he said, “All right. Zhi Yi has never met his Second Uncle, so it is good for them to get close. But it is rather surprising—he did not show any fear of strangers.”
Since his husband had spoken, Ning Muyan could only withdraw his hand. Flicking his sleeve, he said, “That is because Zhi Yi is still small. He thinks Zheng Yu looks somewhat like me. Otherwise he would have cried long ago.”
Bai Lian smiled and shook his head. By that logic, it was Zheng Yu who was benefiting from resembling you.
“Zheng Yu, you have traveled a long way. Go eat something.”
Ning Zheng Yu shook his head. “I am not hungry.”
Who would be willing to put down such a little padded jacket to eat? No wonder Tan Yun, who usually disliked coming to Di Mu Garden, had begun visiting more often after the child was born.
“How did the provincial examination feel this time?” Ning Muyan asked.
Since he could not reclaim Zhi Yi, he sat down beside them and drank tea, keeping a watchful eye on Ning Zheng Yu in case he accidentally bumped the baby.
“I cannot say it went perfectly, but it did not feel bad either.” Ning Zheng Yu smiled. “Elder Brother truly deserves his former title as the top candidate of the metropolitan examination. Your predictions were incredibly accurate. Many of the provincial examination questions this time were similar to topics you discussed at the academy.”
Hearing this, Bai Lian chuckled softly. Of course the old fox predicted accurately. The examiners might not yet know what questions they would set, but Ning Muyan already knew—he truly knew how to take advantage.
“Since you recognized that I had taught similar topics at the academy,” Ning Muyan said, “it shows you listened carefully during lessons.”
He sounded satisfied.
“Then I will take Zhi Yi outside for a walk.”
Ning Muyan immediately set down his teacup and stood up. But after thinking for a moment, he swallowed the words of protest that had reached his lips.
“Be careful. The autumn wind has started. It is cold—do not let Zhi Yi catch a chill.”
“Got it!”
Little Zhi Yi lay sprawled in Ning Zheng Yu’s arms like a boneless fluffy rabbit, wriggling around as though getting used to this new embrace.
Bai Lian watched Ning Zheng Yu happily carry Zhi Yi outside and shook his head helplessly. Among all the relatives and friends who came to see the baby, not a single one failed to adore him.
Ning Zheng Yu usually carried himself outside with the proud neck of a noble peacock, yet inside he still had the heart of a child. Over the past two years he had grown considerably and had become one of the most outstanding young men in the prefectural city.
However, because his temperament—like Ning Muyan’s—was peculiar in its own way, even those who had designs on him rarely dared approach.
Bai Lian turned to Ning Muyan.
“You taught the students the court examination topics ahead of time. If they achieve good results because of it, are you not afraid they will be laughed at later if they encounter questions they do not know?”
Ning Muyan laughed.
“You have so little confidence in me? Do you think I simply leaked the exam questions to them? I may know what will appear on the exam beforehand, but all I did was break those topics down and teach them thoroughly. Besides that, I taught them far more.”
“The fact that they remember my lectures shows they studied diligently. And in the past, when I founded the academy without knowing the exam questions, I still produced many talented scholars who served the court.”
“Yes,” Bai Lian said with a smile. “How could I not trust the headmaster’s abilities? Then when Zhi Yi grows up and studies, we will have to trouble the headmaster.”
Ning Muyan took Bai Lian’s hand.
“Even if you did not say it, I would personally teach Zhi Yi to read and write.”
Some days later, the provincial examination results were released. Ning Zheng Yu indeed ranked on the list. With one joyful event after another, the entire household was delighted.
Tan Yun wanted to hold a banquet for Ning Zheng Yu to celebrate the occasion. Passing the provincial examination certainly deserved such festivity. But Ning Zheng Yu felt the family had only recently celebrated another happy event and did not need to make such a fuss.
Those who passed the exam usually held a banquet to thank their teachers. But ever since Qing Shan Academy opened, he had studied under his own elder brother. In that case, what teacher-thanksgiving banquet was there to hold? A simple family dinner would suffice.
Tan Yun was somewhat displeased at losing the chance for a lively celebration. However, Ning Zheng Yu had grown much more tactful in recent years. He discussed it with her and said that if he also succeeded in the metropolitan examination next time, they could celebrate then with even greater joy.
Only after hearing this did Tan Yun reluctantly agree.
When Ning Muyan returned to the academy—
“Congratulations, Headmaster!”
Along the way he heard teachers offering their congratulations. At first he assumed they were congratulating him on the birth of his son. Only when he reached the classroom did he learn the truth: nearly three-quarters of the scholars from the academy who took the provincial examination had passed. Out of thirty-two candidates, twenty-three had successfully made the list.
Such results were no small achievement. Once the announcement spread, Qing Shan Academy’s reputation would surely rise greatly, and many more scholars would come seeking instruction.
Ning Muyan had already expected something like this, so he did not show excessive excitement. But to encourage the students, he still held a full assembly at the academy. Using the provincial examination as the theme, he praised the successful candidates. For a time, the entire academy was filled with fervor.
Those who had passed wrote tirelessly, waiting for the following year’s spring metropolitan examination.
Normally after the provincial examination, many successful candidates left their academies. Some returned home to live quietly, using the status of a provincial graduate to secure modest positions and support their families rather than continuing to spend money on further exams. Others left to prepare privately or sought better teachers.
But after this examination, almost none of the successful students left Qing Shan Academy.
First, there were no better teachers in the prefectural city. Second, with the academy achieving such results, it would be easy to leave but difficult to return later. Moreover, encouraged by their teachers, the students had gained great confidence in the metropolitan examination. Many now aspired to serve the court and make their mark in officialdom.
Although the provincial examination had concluded, the more pressing metropolitan examination was approaching quickly. Ning Muyan once again became busy.
Life proceeded steadily.
In the blink of an eye, two or three years passed.
Qing Shan Academy grew ever more famous, and little Zhi Yi grew quickly as well.
Watching him every day, one suddenly realized—one day he could crawl, then he could stand by holding onto a stool, then he could walk. He learned to call out “Father” and “Great-Grandmother”…
One day, Bai Lian was sorting through the household account books. Ning Muyan sat nearby holding Zhi Yi and practicing writing with him. The family of three were all in the study when a letter was hurriedly delivered from outside.
“Is it Zheng Yu’s letter?” Bai Lian asked.
After Ning Zheng Yu passed the provincial examination years ago, he passed the metropolitan examination the following year as well, ranking in the second class. Though his placement was somewhat low, he was still a successful jinshi.
The Ning family could not possibly have everyone avoid official positions. After all, they were a family of officials. If Zheng Yu also refused office, it would affect both the family’s future and likely draw the emperor’s attention.
With the Ning family’s influence, Zheng Yu would likely have remained in the capital as an official. But Ning Muyan had arranged some connections so that Zheng Yu would instead be sent to a local post for experience, avoiding the turbulent capital.
Now he served as Assistant Prefect in Lianzhou under Pingyi Prefecture. He had arranged a residence there. Not long ago Tan Yun insisted on going to live with him, saying that Zheng Yu had reached marriageable age and it was time to begin looking for a suitable match.
Ning Muyan felt it would be good for Tan Yun to socialize with the local families there. Besides, Zheng Yu kept sending letters asking about Zhi Yi’s well-being—every few days another letter. Writing replies had become tiresome.
Just yesterday he wrote back telling him to hurry and get married and have a child of his own instead of constantly asking about someone else’s child. It was truly irritating.
By now, Tan Yun should have arrived.
However, when Ning Muyan opened the envelope, it was not a letter from Lianzhou reporting their safety.
“It is a letter from the capital.”
Bai Lian’s brows tightened slightly.
“What does it say?”