Chapter 74 Part 5: Riding and Archery
If someone could enter Ji Heng’s room, they would surely be startled. Duke Su was fond of extravagance and beauty, but his study was unexpectedly plain, even could be said as somber. The entire study was spacious and empty, everything was in black and white pear wood without any superfluous decorations, making people feel empty.
But when the sight fell on his beautiful face, immediately the feeling of a desolate building disappeared and turned to contentment.
The fire burning in the lamp gave out a subtle light. Inside the room there’s still another person sitting.
Lu Ji was still wearing the same blue attire from head to toe. His goatee moved and he smiled and said: “How was the music when Master went to the exam venue today?”
“Very boring.” Ji Heng said lazily.
“But tomorrow have to continue troubling Master to watch equestrian archery.”
Ji Heng raised his eyelids, appearing somewhat impatient.
He was not just the examiner for music, he was also the examiner for equestrian riding. Therefore, tomorrow he still needed to go to the examination field.
“Why did the Majesty ask Master to be the examiner?” Lu Ji wondered.
Ji Heng said: “Liu Ji, I recruited you not for you to raise questions at me.”
Liu Ji’s heart trembled, then he heard the careless reply of the person in front of him: “Because Your Majesty wants me to stare at Cheng Wang.”
Cheng Wang? Liu Ji was stunned before understanding dawned quickly on him.
Although Hong Xiao emperor was the current emperor, his crown prince was still young. Unless Cheng Wang was eliminated, he would always be the thorn in Hong Xiao Emperor’s eyes. However, there’s Liu imperial concubine behind Cheng Wang. Hong Xiao Emperor operated on “benevolent policy” and couldn’t catch Cheng Wang’s handle. He could only let Cheng Wang stay alive for the time being. But after all, it’s hard for a monarch to feel at ease. Since Cheng Wang would be going to the exam venue, Hong Xiao Emperor simply asked Ji Heng to also go over.
However, Lu Ji couldn’t help glancing at the young man in front of him, Hong Xiao Emperor probably wasn’t aware that Ji Heng had a hand in Cheng Wang’s growing power.
Let Ji Heng stare at Cheng Wang? It’s good if Ji Heng didn’t take the opportunity to help Cheng Wang expand his influence
“The Right Prime Minister and Cheng Wang are very close.” Ji Heng said indifferently: “I think the Assistant Minister will soon be.”
“Shen Yurong?” Lu Ji said: “Princess Yongning and he are apparently…….” Lu Ji became speechless as long as he recalled the inside information. In the final analysis, she was the country’s princess, making such a scandal truly made people feel incredible.
“This is also a good show, but it’s a little tiring after seeing too much. Just go along with them.” Ji Heng unfolded the fan in his hand. There were hand drawn huge peonies on the fan, the petals curled up vividly as if alife, the golden threads glistened brightly.
“Then tomorrow…….”
“Cheng Wang won’t be so foolish as to make his move in the exam venue, the emperor is too suspicious.” Ji Heng said: “I’ve gone and there’s nothing. But,” he said: “You pay more attention to Ye Shijie’s movement.”
“What’s wrong with Ye Shijie?” Lu Ji said: “At present, he’s got first place in the Imperial College examination, very quickly will enter officialdom. Perhaps in the future he’d have a lot of use.”
“Regardless of the future, to suddenly drift apart from Li Lian,” Ji Heng pondered with a smile, “I really want to know who reminded him at the back.”
Lu Ji was stumped for words and unable to speak.
……
Jiang Li slept very comfortably tonight.
She even dreamt. In her dream, Xue Zhao and she rode a horse each and rushed towards the woods. Xue Zhao didn’t have enough arrows in his quiver and asked for a few from her. Her saddle bag was filled with preys.
As they were about to return, a fierce tiger suddenly rushed out from the woods. In order to protect her, Xue Zhao rode his horse to lure the tiger away. Jiang Li couldn’t catch up to him and could only look as Xue Zhao’s rear view gradually faded away from her line of sight.
When she woke up she felt her brows beaded with sweat. Even Tong’er suffered a fright and hurriedly went to stir up the ice cube in the copper ox while grumbling: “The ice cubes that the kitchen gave to our courtyard is too little…….”
The people in the kitchen belonged to Ji Shuran. It’s a common occurrence to hinder Jiang Li on these small matters, Jiang Li also didn’t care much. She was just thinking of the dream last night and faintly felt an omen. It was said that when a dead relative showed up in the dream, it’s sending a message to their family member. Could it be that Xue Zhao wanted to tell her something through the dream?
Will there be danger today?