SMMW | Chapter 14

At the capital’s city gate, a long queue waited for inspection by the guards. Only after their identity papers had been checked could they enter.

The Wen family carriage was in the line as well. The servant driving the carriage had gone to the front to ask the officers whether juren could be allowed priority entry into the city. Wen Qing and Yuan Hao sat inside the carriage, waiting for news.

Wen Qing’s leg still was not fully healed. Since there was nothing to do for the moment, he wanted to change the medicine. The ointment Yun Ling had given him worked very well. When applied, it felt cool and soothing, and the swelling and pain eased quite a bit.

The space inside the carriage was cramped. The two of them sat side by side, and if they put a small low table between them, there would be no room left. Seeing this, Yuan Hao simply pushed the small table farther back and let Wen Qing rest his injured leg on his lap.

Wen Qing felt it was inappropriate and waved his hand in refusal, but Yuan Hao did not waste words. He directly scooped up that injured leg of his.

“You got hurt saving me. It’s just applying medicine. What is there to be embarrassed about?”

Once the leg was in place and the trouser leg had been rolled up above the knee, Yuan Hao took the medicine and directly used his hands to spread it on.

Caught completely off guard, Wen Qing could only lean sideways against the carriage window to keep his balance.

It really felt a little… too intimate…

Wen Qing looked at Yuan Hao’s side profile as he lowered his head and seriously applied the medicine, and for no reason at all, his heartbeat grew unsteady.

This probably was nothing. Good brothers were all like this, right? He had heard there were even people who slept foot-to-foot together and bathed together. It must be because he had never had any especially close friends since childhood, so he was making too much of it.

That was how Wen Qing explained it to himself, yet his eyes still drifted to the side, deliberately avoiding looking at Yuan Hao. After a while, he would glance over as if by accident, then immediately move his gaze away again like a thief.

Just as the ointment was almost done, the carriage curtain was lifted. They had originally thought it was the servant, but instead a stranger climbed in. He did not look very old, a delicate little scholar with a round face.

He hurried into the carriage as if there were wolves chasing and biting at his heels. When he saw the two men inside, he first froze for a moment, then turned his head with an exaggerated motion toward the leg on Yuan Hao’s lap, Wen Qing’s leg.

“Ah! Impropriety must not be looked at!” the little scholar cried, covering his eyes with both hands.

It seemed there had been a misunderstanding. Wen Qing was somewhat at a loss, wanting to lower his leg but having no strength to do so.

Yuan Hao, on the other hand, remained calm. He used his own sleeve to cover the exposed injured leg and asked coolly, “Brother, did you get into the wrong carriage?”

The little scholar peered through the gaps between his fingers to confirm the situation. Seeing that there was nothing left that should not be seen, he finally lowered his hands and saluted. “I came to ask for help. I have an impudent request. I hope to borrow your carriage to get into the city.”

“Why?”

“Judging by the two of you, you must be juren coming to the capital for the examinations, right? Actually, I am also one of this year’s juren, preparing to sit for next year’s exam. But my father will not allow me to take the exam. He locked me up in the countryside and wants me to get married. I only managed to escape while he was not paying attention. As long as I get into the city, he will not dare openly seize me.”

Wen Qing and Yuan Hao exchanged a look. Both of them had doubts in their eyes. Wen Qing asked, “The imperial examinations are what every scholar pursues in his whole life. Since you have already passed, why would your father forbid it?”

The little scholar let out a cold laugh. “He is the most stubbornly old-fashioned and conservative sort. He is afraid that if I go take the exam, I will bring trouble to the family, so he only wants me to obediently get married and have children.”

“This…”

“What I’m saying is all true. Ten years at the cold window, is it not all for the sake of this one day? I beg the two of you to help me. In the future, I will surely repay you.”

The little scholar looked completely sincere, but after all, they did not know him, and they did not know the real facts. They had only just arrived in the capital. If they got themselves entangled in trouble…

While Wen Qing was still hesitating, Yuan Hao spoke first. “This is also our first time in the capital. We are complete strangers, so we truly do not dare to act rashly.”

In his desperation, the little scholar was just about to argue a bit more when a commotion suddenly rose outside the carriage, as if someone had arrived. He looked at Wen Qing with hope, then finally clenched his teeth and fled the carriage.

But the moment he went out, the disturbance suddenly grew louder, and it moved toward the carriage.

Wen Qing and Yuan Hao lifted the window curtain and looked outside. Several men dressed like household servants had already caught the little scholar.

“Young master, young master, please stop making a scene!”

“Who’s making a scene with you!” The little scholar struggled with all his might, but he was small and weak and simply could not break free. “If someone has to get married, let my father do it himself! Let go of me!”

The commotion grew larger and larger. After murmuring an apology, the servants covered the little scholar’s mouth and dragged him away.

So it really was a case of fleeing marriage. Under heaven, there actually was such a muddleheaded father?

Wen Qing let out a sigh. Only scholars knew the bitterness of ten years at the cold window. If that little scholar truly could not take the metropolitan examination, it really would be a pity.

But if we do not help, we cannot judge whether it is true or false. And by the time we know, it is already too late.

Suddenly, Wen Qing’s body swayed. He hurriedly braced himself against the carriage window to keep his balance. When he looked again, the little scholar had returned to the carriage and was right in front of him.

!!!

“What I’m saying is all true. Ten years at the cold window, is it not all for the sake of this one day? I beg the two of you to help me. In the future, I will surely repay you.”

This was…?

Wen Qing was still stunned when Yuan Hao spoke first. “As fellow scholars, we should naturally help. Just stay inside the carriage and enter the city with us.”

The little scholar said joyfully, “Many thanks, elder brothers!”

“Hahahahaha…” Wen Qing could not help laughing out loud. The other two people in the carriage both turned to look at him, and he quickly explained, “I’m happy for you. There’s a small stool beside you. Sit down and wait slowly.”

“Okay~” the little scholar agreed obediently.

Wen Qing then looked at Yuan Hao. The other man wore an innocent expression, as if he had no idea what had happened.

But Wen Qing had already understood. Yuan Hao had used a spell again. The first time, he had seen that the little scholar was telling the truth. The second time, he had stepped in to help. So he really was a kind-hearted demon.

But…

Wen Qing looked at the little scholar’s completely relaxed expression, ignorant and unaware, clearly having no idea what had happened. Could it be that only he could detect when Yuan Hao used spells?

It seemed that way. All those times before, he had not seen anyone else notice either.

Could it be… that he had some natural talent for becoming a Daoist priest? Wen Qing let his thoughts wander wildly.

Very soon, the Wen family carriage entered the city smoothly. Their identity papers listed them as juren, and there were two of them at that, so naturally the city guards were willing to give them some face. They did not carry out a detailed search, and only had the two men show their faces at the carriage window before considering the inspection complete.

Once the carriage reached a quiet part inside the city, the little scholar prepared to leave.

“My name is Mu Ziyi. Elder brothers, I will repay this kindness another day.”

Wen Qing and Yuan Hao each introduced themselves by name, and after that, they parted from the little scholar without further mention.

Following the address Madam Wen had given them, the carriage arrived at the Wen residence in the capital.

The servant went to knock on the door. Wen Qing stood beside the carriage, feeling somewhat nervous. This was his first time coming to his maternal grandparents’ home.

He had always known that his maternal grandfather was in the capital, yet all these years he had never once met him, and they hardly ever exchanged letters either. He had asked his mother before, but his mother had looked troubled and could not explain the reason, so later he stopped asking.

It was not long before the main gate swung open. Two elderly people hurried out with quick steps, and even the maids supporting them had to half-run to keep up. The moment the two of them came out and looked around, they immediately locked onto Wen Qing. Master Wen’s hand trembled as he pointed at Wen Qing, unable to say a word. Madam Wen burst into tears on the spot.

Blood was thicker than water. The moment Wen Qing saw these two elders, he felt close to them. Seeing how emotional they were, he was infected by it too, and tears unconsciously flowed from his own eyes.

“Ah Qing, you are Qiu-niang’s son, Wen Qing…” Master Wen finally managed to speak after steadying his breath.

“Yes, Maternal Grandfather, Maternal Grandmother,” Wen Qing replied, his voice choked with tears.

“Ah Qing!” Madam Wen shook off the maid’s hand and staggered forward to embrace Wen Qing. “You’ve grown so big… Ah Qing…”

Master Wen also came over, one hand patting his wife’s shoulder, the other stroking Wen Qing’s head. In the midst of his emotion, he happened to meet Yuan Hao’s gaze by accident.

“And this is?”

“?” Wen Qing looked to the side. Only then did he remember that Yuan Hao was still there. He hurriedly wiped his tears and introduced him to the two elders. “This is my classmate Yuan Hao. He will also be taking the metropolitan examination next year, so I invited him to come and stay with me, so we can keep each other company.”

Yuan Hao cupped his hands and saluted the two elders. “Master Wen, Madam Wen, this junior is Yuan Hao. I fear I am imposing.”

Master Wen hurried to help him up. “It is nothing at all. There are plenty of empty rooms in the house, so just come and stay. It is only that we old couple have not seen our grandson in many years. We must have made a laughingstock of ourselves before Juren Yuan.”

“It is only human nature. Master Wen need not take it to heart. I have just arrived in the capital and would like first to stroll around the lively streets. I can come and trouble you again this evening instead.”

“Good, good. Juren Yuan, please do as you like.”

Yuan Hao took his leave. By then Madam Wen had also wiped away her tears, but she still held tightly to Wen Qing’s arm and refused to let go.

“He was afraid of disturbing our reunion, so he left first. He is a sensible, good child,” Master Wen said with feeling. “Enough, don’t stand outside any longer. Ah Qing’s leg still hasn’t fully healed.”

Only then did Madam Wen remember. Her daughter’s letter had said her grandson’s leg was injured and had not yet fully recovered. She hurriedly had the sedan chair that had been prepared in advance brought out. Wen Qing thought it was far too exaggerated, but he still could not resist the two elders, and in the end four people carried him into the residence.

Wen Qing was carried straight into the bedroom and tucked into the bedding. The two elders sat at the bedside talking with him. It was a bit overprotective, but his heart felt warm.

The two elders asked, Wen Qing answered, and the atmosphere was harmonious, as though he had grown up beside their knees since childhood and had never been separated from them for all these years.

After they had talked for a long while, Wen Qing could not help asking, “Why was Mother living with me so far away in Jinping Prefecture, and why did she never bring me back to the capital to visit you?”

The two elders froze for a moment. They exchanged a look, but neither of them spoke.

In the end, Madam Wen was the one who wiped at the corner of her eye and answered vaguely, “Your mother has not had an easy life. She lived so far away in order to protect you. Now you are promising. You passed the juren exam, and next year you are going to take the exam for gongshi. You can protect yourself now, so your mother can relax. Once you place highly, we will send people to bring your mother to the capital as well, and then our whole family will be reunited.”

“…Yes.” Wen Qing nodded and did not ask any further.

“Master, Steward Jiang has come to deliver something. He saw the carriage in the courtyard belonging to the young master and asked whose it was, whether there was some guest in the house,” a servant reported from the doorway.

“Hmph, he came quickly enough!” Master Wen let out a cold laugh. “Tell him my Wen family’s grandson has come to the capital. Accept the things, then send Steward Jiang back. This old man has no time right now to receive him.”

“Say it twice more, surname Wen, the Wen family’s grandson,” Madam Wen added angrily.

“Yes.” The servant answered and withdrew.

“We should have been like this long ago. All these years we’ve swallowed so much useless humiliation from him.” Master Wen angrily rapped his cane against the floor. “Ah Qing, from now on just call us Grandfather and Grandmother. You are our own family’s child. There is nothing ‘outer’ about you.”

“Yes.”

Master Wen’s anger subsided, and he looked at Wen Qing with relief. “You must be tired too. Rest first. We’ll talk more when it is time to eat.”

“And Juren Yuan has been settled in the room next to yours. Call him to come eat with us tonight. He is a guest after all, and we have been somewhat neglectful toward him,” Madam Wen added.

“Yes,” Wen Qing agreed obediently.

The two elders liked that very much. They reached out and lovingly stroked the top of Wen Qing’s head. They said they were leaving, but still lingered and delayed for quite a while before finally going.