Chu Yu lowered his eyes in contemplation. Ji Linxi took this opportunity to feast his eyes on the snowy skin, raven-black hair, soft pink lips, amber pupils, and slightly upturned corners of his beloved’s eyes. His gaze was burning with intensity.

Yan Huai gave a cold sneer and was about to make a sarcastic remark, but Chu Yu glanced at him; he shut his mouth and turned his head away.

Chu Yu seemed to be weighing his options. A moment later, he said in a soft, gentle voice, “In that case, Young Master Xi, do you possess official ‘good status’ (Liangji)?”

The Long Dynasty had strict statutes: those without “good status” could not participate in the imperial examinations. “Good status” referred to commoners who owned land or assets and whose professions were not among the “nine lowly classes.” Anyone with a dubious background—themselves and their descendants—was barred from the exams. Only those with “good status” were eligible.

Ji Linxi, of course, was not of “good status.” He was a vagrant, without parents or home, and naturally possessed no household registration or land. Compared to other drifters, his talent for deception and trickery allowed him to live slightly better, but he was still fundamentally one of the “lowly classes.”

“This lowly one does not; I am but a stateless pauper.”

Chu Yu lowered his eyes to contemplate again. Ji Linxi took the opportunity to gaze at his heart’s desire: the snowy skin, black hair, pink lips, and amber eyes. His mind was awash with a rising tide of lustful thoughts.

Just as his fantasies reached a crescendo, Chu Yu looked up. Ji Linxi immediately retracted his gaze, assuming a posture of utmost respect.

A voice like clashing jade pearls reached his ears: “Young Master Xi, I shall bestow upon you ‘good status.’ However, even after granting you this, you remain in the ‘cold status’ (a rank not yet eligible for exams). I will send you to the county school, and provide you with one thousand taels of silver. Everything after that will depend on you. How does that sound?”

Ji Linxi was ecstatic.

He knelt and began scrambling wildly toward Chu Yu. The moment Chu Yu saw his movement, he frowned and prepared to rise from his chair. But just as his hand touched the armrest, Ji Linxi had already wrapped his arms around the Beauty’s legs. Because Yan Huai had been looking away and reacted too slowly, he allowed Ji Linxi to seize the opening.

“This lowly one thanks you, Young Master! You have given me a new lease on life! I will never forget your grace as long as I live! I don’t know how I can ever repay your kindness.” Ji Linxi clung to his beloved’s legs, pressing his face against the fabric and rubbing against it. “If one day I achieve high rank, I will surely repay your grace with all my heart and soul, even if I have to sacrifice my life for you.”

The face buried in the robes wore an expression of intoxicated obsession.

“You…!”

Chu Yu glanced at Yan Huai, signaling him not to speak. He closed his eyes, took a slow, deep breath, and then bent down to pull Ji Linxi up through the fabric of his robes. “This was only right, Young Master Xi. Please, do not feel burdened by thoughts of my grace.”

“I must, I must! Your grace cannot be forgotten; I am not a man who would turn his back on such kindness,” Ji Linxi insisted.

He had always admired the beauty, and now that the beauty had granted him this heavenly opportunity, he was ready to offer his whole heart—and even his own body—if it could repay this immense debt of being recognized.

Yet, a doubt nagged at Ji Linxi’s heart. Can the son of a Grand Tutor, holding no official office, simply bestow “good status” on someone?

But his knowledge in such matters was incredibly limited. Had he been the man he would become in the future, he would have easily deduced the Beauty’s true identity from these minute details. But as a streetwise hoodlum who only knew the crooked paths, even with doubts, he could easily convince himself. The descendants of powerful men surely have power of their own. Besides, with the Beauty’s status, if he tells the local officials in Yong City to do something, can they really refuse?

Power is wonderful.

If one day I hold power in my hands, I can’t imagine how delightful life would be.

As for serving the imperial court and contributing to the nation? Those were lies for the gullible. If he truly became an official, he would be a corrupt and greedy minister who indulged in lavish luxury. Who cares about being an honest, loyal official? He wanted to be extravagant and profligate, scrape together massive amounts of wealth to marry the Beauty, and then the two of them could lounge on piles of gold. He would adorn the Beauty’s clothes with countless South Sea pearls, find him the legendary mermaid silk, and make the Beauty live more happily than he did now, hearing him affectionately call him “husband,” and living out their days in blissful, heavenly ecstasy.

As for the posthumous infamy? Once one is dead, who cares about that? One only becomes an official to enjoy life, not to suffer.

Thinking this, he was bubbles of joy inside.

Chu Yu, unaware of his inner thoughts, let go once Ji Linxi was upright, picked up his teacup, removed the lid, and took a small sip.

“Having arranged everything for you, I can set my mind at ease and depart Yong City with the troops escorting the Wang family.”

Having said this, Chu Yu set down the cup, stood up, and smoothed his sleeves. He bowed to the three of them. “We shall meet again if fate permits.”

Chang Xi and Zhao Yun knew they were not in the same social strata as this noble young master from the capital, and likely would never see him again. Zhao Yun took one last long look at the nobleman who had saved her from the fires of hell, suppressed the tumultuous emotions in her eyes, and said softly alongside Chang Xi: “Young Master, may we meet again if fate permits.”

He’s leaving already?

Ji Linxi’s bubble of happiness burst instantly, as if he had been knocked from the clouds into the depths of a valley. So fast?

“Young Master, you haven’t eaten breakfast yet, have you?” He hurriedly took the meat buns, still warm from his own body heat, out of his robes and held them before Chu Yu. “These are meat buns I bought on the street, they’re still hot. Please, have some to fill your stomach.”

Contrary to the Beauty in his dream, the real Beauty paused, glanced at him, and offered a light smile. He didn’t even make a gesture to decline with his hands, merely saying in a gentle, casual tone: “Thank you for your kind intentions, Young Master Xi, but I have already eaten.”

“Someone will see to the matter of changing your status and school enrollment. The reward money will also be delivered shortly. Young Master Xi need only wait a few days.”

“Until we meet again.”

With that, he walked toward the door.

Ji Linxi wanted to follow and see him off, but was blocked by Yan Huai.

Yan Huai smiled coldly. “Young Master Xi, please stay here. No need to see us off.”

Ji Linxi gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed heavily on him. A moment later, he took a step back and also put on a smile. “Safe travels, Young Master Yan.”

Yan Huai withdrew his hand, turned, and followed quickly.

Until we meet again, indeed.

In Yan Huai’s eyes, this man was hollow-headed, morally bankrupt, and delusional about soaring to greatness. He would likely fail the county exams, and in this lifetime, he would never lay eyes on the Crown Prince ever again.

…

Watching Yan Huai’s back disappear, Ji Linxi flicked his sleeve and kicked the chair beside him. He was still holding the meat buns; he unwrapped the oil paper and took a bitter, vengeful bite.

“Do you think you’re so great because you know a little martial arts?” To dare to block him from his final moment of tenderness with the Beauty.

Zhao Yun looked at him, astonished. “Young Master Chu?”

Chang Xi: “Ignore him. That is simply his true nature.”

Ji Linxi chewed and swallowed the bun. Thinking about it, he still felt resentful, so he spat toward the direction Yan Huai had left. After finishing the two buns, he clapped his hands, squeezed the oil paper, and swaggered toward the door. Just as he reached the entrance, the official’s secretary approached with some men, telling them to stop—they were here to deliver their money.

__

[Author’s Note]

Ji Linxi: I want to be a corrupt official.

Wife (pondering): What a coincidence, I specialize in killing corrupt officials.

Ji Linxi (changing face): Actually, I am the most loyal subject in the world.