Blissful Days After Widowhood - Chapter 468

The quarrel showed no signs of resolution. Witnessing the imminent clash, Mr. Li stepped in, though his intervention wasn’t entirely convincing to the two disputing individuals, and they ignored his advice.

Gu Ye stepped forward, bringing two pots of chrysanthemum tea. In the presence of a child who could be their grandson, the two senior civil servants ceased their argument and sat on either side, displaying their frustration.

Gu Ye, seemingly oblivious to the tension, remarked casually, “I brought this chrysanthemum tea from home. It’s a dry day today, and people are prone to getting agitated. Elders, have a drink to soothe your throats.”

In a dignified manner, the prince, the dynasty’s eldest son, and the highly regarded successor to the crown prince position personally poured tea for the two elders and presented the cups before their eyes. Who could object?

The two erstwhile quarrelers hastily stood up, insisting they didn’t dare, but eventually accepted the tea and drank it. Gu Ye had brewed the scented tea from the tea bags Gu Yin had given him. While primarily chrysanthemum, each bag had subtle variations, with one containing wolfberry and the other dried lotus leaves.

As the two elders sipped their tea, they soon noticed the differences between what they held and what the other had. Gu Ye clarified, “Elder, you’ve been rubbing your eyes frequently lately, and it seems you’re uncomfortable. I used the tea bag with wolfberry for you; it’s excellent for improving eyesight. Sir, you’ve had blisters on your lips recently, indicating internal heat, so I used the one with mint. Both mint and chrysanthemum have cooling properties, so it’s not advisable to drink too much, but it’s suitable when there’s internal heat.”

Gu Ye’s keen observation of their recent discomfort, coupled with his thoughtful tea selections, left the disputants too embarrassed to persist in their argument. Hastily, they backed down, admitting, “It’s because I have internal heat; no wonder I’ve been so aggressive today,” and “My eyes have been bothering me lately, making me irritable.” 

With that, the two reconciled and apologized to each other.

Such incidents became rare in the future, and even if conflicts arose, Gu Ye had a knack for mediating and diffusing tension.

In the past, officials claimed to support Gu Ye, but in reality, they aligned themselves with Old Master Wen. Their support, or lack of opposition, was more of a wait-and-see approach. However, after spending ten days and a half-month together, opinions about Gu Ye changed drastically. People refrained from openly discussing him and, in private, began acknowledging him as a capable individual, akin to a young Zhengyuan.

Master Li, recognizing the shift in perception, sent the prepared exam questions to Gu Ye, and surprisingly, there were no objections from the others. Gu Ye, however, modestly declined, citing his limited knowledge and confessing he had only recently encountered certain words. He suggested involving someone more knowledgeable or consulting with other examiners.

Mr. Li appreciated Gu Ye’s humility, understanding his self-awareness and not overestimating his capabilities. The literati’s fondness for Gu Ye became evident as, with time on their hands before the palace exam, they collectively took on the role of educators. From morning to night, a rotation of civil servants conducted lessons, making Gu Ye’s schedule more full than when it was in Wenhua Palace. Despite internal complaints, Gu Ye recognized the rare opportunity and the officials’ goodwill, enduring the rigorous lessons with determination.

Blessed with inherent intelligence and newfound patience for learning, Gu Ye’s progress outpaced that of ordinary children. Half a month before the palace exam, his educational level was visibly elevated, showcasing a remarkable proficiency in poetry and literature.

When Emperor Zhengyuan saw Gu Ye again after the test, he remarked on the noticeable improvement in his manners. Following the palace examination, Emperor Zhengyuan, along with a group of civil servants and ministers, conducted a comprehensive review of the papers and made their judgments.

Unexpectedly, the first position of that year’s palace exam went to Wen Lang from the literary family. The second position went to a middle-aged scholar named Lu You. While lacking an official position, Lu You was a renowned talent from the previous dynasty. Disenchanted with the court during that era, he had composed poems and articles satirizing the government, leading to the former Emperor stripping him of the right to take the examination. The achievements of these two were expected, given their backgrounds.

What truly surprised many was the emergence of Xu Qingchuan as a standout in the highly competitive first imperial examination of the new dynasty. While Xu Qingchuan had previously secured the first rank in the township examination, there were numerous top performers in the prefectures, many deemed more talented than him. His exceptional performance in the exam was considered impressive, though not necessarily anticipated to secure a position in the top three.

Xu Qingchuan’s success was also attributed to good fortune. Even though Emperor Zhengyuan didn’t personally craft the exam questions, he had instructed Mr. Li and others to focus on practical and pragmatic content when formulating the questions for the palace exam. This guidance inadvertently played to Xu Qingchuan’s strengths, contributing to his remarkable achievement.