Chapter 532: Ye Shangyi Is Nothing Special
Chapter 532: Chapter 532: Ye Shangyi Is Nothing Special
Xie Ming’an had returned from Shu State after finishing his business. Unable to escape the constant pressure of matchmaking at home, he decided to stay busy and avoid being home at all.
Today, he had specifically brought Xu Jingxi to the largest brothel in the city.
The moment they entered, a flock of courtesans swarmed them. Seeing the two handsome young masters of the Xie family, every girl’s eyes went wide.
The Madam recognized Xie Ming’an and stood to the side, bowing and scraping with a fawning smile.
"Mr. Xie, what brings you here today? It’s been quite a while since your last visit."
Xie Ming’an smiled. "I’ve been busy lately. In a moment, send your finest wine to the Chao Tianque private room. Let my third brother have a proper taste."
"No problem!"
Xu Jingxi stayed by his side, simultaneously fending off the brothel’s courtesans and listening to Xie Ming’an chat effortlessly with the Madam.
As the two went upstairs together, Xu Jingxi took in the sordid atmosphere.
"Second Brother, if Uncle knew you came to a place like this, he’d break your legs."
"That’s why I brought you along, isn’t it? You’re the good kid in his eyes. You can cover for me!"
Xu Jingxi immediately turned to leave.
Xie Ming’an grabbed him. "Third Brother! I came today to introduce you to some connections at court. It’s not that I absolutely had to come to a place like this."
With a cold expression on his handsome face, Xu Jingxi asked, "What kind of connections require meeting in a place like this?"
Xie Ming’an clicked his tongue. "You haven’t entered officialdom yet. You don’t understand."
He slung an arm around Xu Jingxi, pushing him up the stairs.
Xie Ming’an lowered his voice. "It’s common for officials to build private relationships, but one must be cautious. If you get into trouble one day, your political enemies could impeach you for forming a clique, and the Emperor hates that most of all."
"The official I’m taking you to meet today won’t disappoint you, I promise. He’s been keeping an eye on you for a long time and has been begging me for days to make an introduction. He insists you’re a rare talent. Just meet him once, at least."
Xu Jingxi frowned. "I can meet him, but we’re not requesting any courtesans."
Xie Ming’an was taken aback for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh. "What are you thinking? Request courtesans? I’ve been here a dozen times and have never once requested a girl’s company. If our sister found out, what would be left of my image?"
"Good, as long as you know," Xu Jingxi said coldly. "We must set a good example for Ningning in all things."
"I know, I know. How did you get to be more of a nag than her own brother?"
"I *am* her brother!"
The two nearly started arguing before entering the Chao Tianque private room together.
Only then did Xu Jingxi see that three officials, dressed in casual attire, were already waiting inside the room.
Seeing them arrive, the officials stood and clasped their hands in greeting. "Mr. Xie, Third Young Master Xie, come, please have a seat."
Xu Jingxi recognized them; he had seen them visit the Xie Mansion before.
The round-faced man in the middle, dressed in a purple robe, was a third-rank imperial censor. Of the two beside him, one was the Minister of Public Works, and the other was from the Imperial College.
None of their positions were low-ranking.
Xu Jingxi shot Xie Ming’an a look of veiled surprise.
Xie Ming’an chuckled and gently pressed him down onto a seat by his shoulder.
"My three dear Uncles, next time you treat us to a meal, could you perhaps pick a more refined and quiet venue? When we first arrived, my third brother here thought I was trying to lead him astray!"
The three officials were taken aback for a moment, then they all stroked their beards and chuckled.
"Third Young Master Xie is perhaps not yet accustomed to it. Here, one can speak freely. There are no prying ears, and no need to worry about our words getting out. Though we are in a bustling district, it is absolutely secure."
As he spoke, two lovely maids entered to pour them fresh tea.
Xu Jingxi glanced around. There were no scantily clad women fouling the air, and they were only drinking tea.
He finally began to relax.
The official from the Imperial College asked, "Third Young Master Xie, you will be taking part in this year’s autumn examinations, will you not?"
"Yes." Xu Jingxi nodded.
The three officials let out sounds of approval. "We have long heard that your scholarship is exceptional. In that case, allow us to congratulate you in advance on passing the examinations and taking the top honor."
After a few cups of tea, Xie Ming’an chimed in with a smile. "Uncles, don’t just keep drinking. If you don’t get to the real business, my third brother here won’t understand your intentions."
The officials exchanged a glance.
The Lord Purple Robe Imperial Censor spoke first.
"Since Mr. Xie has brought us to this point, I won’t stand on ceremony. I’ll be direct."
"Third Young Master Xie, regardless of the rank you achieve in the examinations, you are welcome to take up a position at the Imperial Censorate. If you are willing, I will personally write a letter of recommendation and petition the Emperor to have you transferred."
As soon as he finished, the official from the Imperial College chimed in, "I feel the same. Should Third Young Master Xie prefer the Imperial College, we are in dire need of someone with your talents."
The Minister of Public Works stroked his beard with an amiable chuckle.
"The Ministry of Industry is somewhat more demanding than the Imperial Censorate or the Imperial College, but, Third Young Master Xie, I can give you a bit of inside information. In another two years, my own superior will be retiring, and I am set to take his place."
"Therefore, I am in urgent need of grooming a talented individual to take over my position as Vice Minister. Consider it carefully. This is a golden opportunity for a meteoric rise."
It was an incredible stroke of good fortune.
If Xu Jingxi were to accept his offer, you wouldn’t be able to find anyone else in the entire Capital City so young who held such a high-ranking official post.
To be promoted to a Fourth-rank Vice Minister within three years was an achievement countless aristocrats could only envy.
Xie Ming’an sipped his tea with a smile, his dark, sharp eyes glancing at Xu Jingxi from time to time, waiting for him to make his own decision.
Xu Jingxi, however, clasped his hands, rose to his feet, and raised his teacup in a very respectful manner.
"I thank the three of you for your high regard. For now, I have yet to even take the autumn examinations. As for where I will serve, I currently have no thoughts on the matter. I only wish to focus on preparing for the examinations before considering anything else."
With that, he tilted his head back and drained his cup.
The three officials paused for a moment before laughing. "Well said. It seems we were getting ahead of ourselves. Come, come, try some of the fine dishes here."
Xie Ming’an chuckled softly. He had known all along that Xu Jingxi’s character would lead him to politely decline.
Yet these three officials hadn’t believed him and had insisted that he make the introduction for them to try their luck.
Xie Ming’an changed the subject, calling out, "Where’s the wine I ordered? No, Third Brother, you must have a drink with us. What’s the fun in only drinking tea?"
Xu Jingxi stood up. "I’ll go tell an attendant to bring it."
He turned and left the room, pausing in the corridor to compose himself.
Xu Jingxi was very clever. ’These officials don’t admire me solely for my scholarship,’ he thought. ’It’s because I’ve received high praise from the Emperor during my few visits to the palace. Plus, with a Princess for a sister, I’m practically a guardian deity wherever I go. Even if the Emperor wanted to make a move against a department I was in, he’d have to consider my connection to Shen Ningning.’
Xu Jingxi had his own principles; he didn’t want to rely on anyone else.
After taking a moment, he began walking down the long corridor to find one of the brothel’s attendants.
Just as he was passing a doorway, he heard an arrogant, mocking laugh from within—
"Stop hyping her up. That Ye Shangyi is nothing special."
Hearing the familiar name, Xu Jingxi stopped in his tracks and stood just outside the door.
It was Wu Ke’s voice.
"So what if she’s the legitimate granddaughter of the Grand Tutor’s family? So what if she’s domineering, arrogant, and difficult? In the end, didn’t she submit to me obediently? She can’t wait to marry me and become my wife!"
Wu Ke’s words drew jeering laughter from the other young masters in the room.
They all started to clamor, egging him on to tell them more.