The Foolish General's Mute Spouse - Chapter 99

99: Success

Unexpectedly, when the results came out, he actually passed the provincial examination. Although his ranking wasn’t particularly high, he had still succeeded. No one had expected him to pass—except himself.

However, Fu Yu’an thought it over and decided not to include this matter in the letter.

“Si Qi!” he called out to the courtyard. Si Qi quickly came over in response.

Fu Yu’an handed him the letter. “Help me send this letter at the courier station. Why are you back so early today? Is there nothing going on at the Hanlin Academy?”

Si Qi shook his head. “Tomorrow’s a day off, so everyone was just chatting together. There’s nothing urgent.”

“Alright, then focus on your work. You’re the youngest there. Passing the palace examination was already no small feat. If you don’t work hard now, others might look down on you.”

“Yes, I understand.” He nodded with a smile, tucking the letter into his robe and waving. “Then I’ll go send the letter for you first! Don’t wait for me for dinner!”

“You brat!” Fu Yu’an’s face flushed slightly as he playfully raised a fist in mock anger.

Si Qi walked out with the letter, wondering if this was another one for the general. Had the two of them already reconciled?

After the palace examination last time, the emperor had even kept him behind for a private conversation and specifically asked about their situation…

Two months ago, in the Xuanzheng Hall.

The young emperor sat solemnly at the head of the hall, flanked by the ministers of the six boards and several grand tutors.

Si Qi was so nervous his hands were sweating as he hid them in his sleeves and entered the hall.

He kept his head bowed, not daring to meet the emperor’s imposing gaze, and knelt to pay his respects.

When His Majesty saw him enter, his eyes brightened slightly, and the examiners also looked excited.

An eighteen-year-old prodigy who had made it to the palace examination—this young man was bound for great achievements in the future!

“Fu Si Qi… that’s a fine name. I’ve reviewed your exam answers. Though they may not compare to those of the top-ranked candidates, they still demonstrate considerable insight. Why not wait another two years? You might even return as the top scholar!”

“A man should establish his career while he’s young. This humble subject wishes to serve Your Majesty and bring peace to the people as soon as possible!”

The emperor clapped his hands in approval, thinking to himself that this was indeed a child taught by his seventh brother—filled with righteous spirit!

He asked a few more questions, and after overcoming his initial nervousness, Si Qi answered them all fluently. The ministers and grand tutors were also quite impressed, likely already scheming about how to bring him under their wings for mentorship.

He was the last candidate of the day for the palace examination, but after it ended, the eunuch didn’t escort him out of the palace. Instead, he was taken to a side hall.

Before long, the emperor arrived alone to meet with him.

Si Qi was startled, but seeing that the emperor had dismissed his attendants, he guessed it was for a private matter.

Sure enough, the first words out of the emperor’s mouth got straight to the point: “How is Yu’an doing?”

Then, as if worried Si Qi wouldn’t know who “Yu’an” was, he added, “The gentleman who took you in… but someone as clever as you must have long known his identity.”

Si Qi nodded and clasped his hands in apology. “This humble subject did not mean to conceal it, but His Highness instructed me not to reveal his identity. I only found out recently myself.”

“It’s no matter. I wasn’t planning to seek him out anyway. But I do owe him a title—has he reconciled with General Qi? In his last letter to me, my uncle didn’t mention a word about it!”

Si Qi shook his head, “It seems… I’m not sure either. The two did meet once before, but His Highness was running a high fever at the time, so he probably wasn’t aware.”

“Wasn’t aware?” The emperor was taken aback, then murmured thoughtfully, “No wonder Uncle looked so upset when he left. So those two still haven’t cleared the air!”

How utterly tedious, he thought.

By late summer, Qi Ren had finally had enough. He mobilized his troops to ambush the enemy, capturing many prisoners and sending them all to work in the fields harvesting rice.

The more they harassed the border villages, the more they would be forced to labor for the villagers.

They were given one meal a day, toiling from dawn till dusk—not even donkeys worked this hard.

Li Ke brought two letters: one from Fu Yanxiao and the other from Fu Yu’an.

Qi Ren naturally set Fu Yanxiao’s aside first.

After what he’d written in the last letter, he wasn’t sure if Fu Yu’an was angry with him.

Qi Ren imagined him blushing helplessly, and his heart itched as if a cat were scratching at it.

He eagerly skimmed through the letter but found it no different from the previous one.

Still distant, though a few lines longer than last time—progress, at least!

Delighted, Qi Ren tucked the letter away, his resentment toward the enemy—who neither fought nor retreated—growing even stronger.

If not for them, he could have found a way to return and see Fu Yu’an by Mid-Autumn this year!

No! He had to submit another memorial to impeach that old fool! He needed the emperor to send someone competent sooner!

After reading Fu Yanxiao’s letter, a wave of disappointment washed over him.

Fu Yanxiao wrote that Si Qi had passed the imperial examination with outstanding performance in the palace interview and was now working at the Hanlin Academy.

Such a significant event, yet Fu Yu’an hadn’t mentioned a word about it in his letter.

That young man was indeed exceptional, but why wouldn’t Fu Yu’an share such news with him?

Qi Ren spent a long time comparing the two letters side by side before concluding with a sigh:

He still sees me as an outsider!

He tells me nothing—probably even writing this letter was a reluctant chore!

With a sigh, he dismissed the thought of returning to see him.

Meeting would only make things more awkward.

For now, he’d keep coaxing him along. After all, it wasn’t like he could return anytime soon.

A subordinate came to report that more prisoners had been captured and asked if they should also be sent to the fields for harvest duty.

Qi Ren waved his hand, “Send them all! I’m sick of this! Make sure they’re guarded and separated—no accidents!”

The subordinate bowed and left. Restless, Qi Ren returned to drafting another memorial against the incompetent prefect.

He’d sent at least three or four such memorials, each time ignored by the emperor without reply. He had no idea what the emperor was thinking.

This time, however, a response came: the emperor would send someone to investigate the negligent prefect.

Qi Ren finally relaxed. After over a month of anxious waiting, the imperial envoy finally arrived.

The heat of July lingered, but as a martial man, Qi Ren’s temper burned hotter. He stood speechless as Fu Yanxiao, dressed in scholarly robes, stepped ashore.

The boat docked slowly, and local officials bowed to Prince Qing.

Qi Ren’s sharp eyes caught sight of a white-robed gentleman inside the boat, and his heart soured instantly.

Bring family along on official business—how disgustingly clingy!

With outsiders present, Fu Yanxiao didn’t bring Xia Xiu along directly. Instead, he strode straight toward Qi Ren.

Following protocol, Qi Ren saluted him, and the two tall, long-legged men walked ahead side by side.

The prefectural magistrate called after them, “Your Highness, would you like to rest at this official’s residence first? The journey must have been exhausting. This official has prepared wine and food, awaiting only Your Highness’s—”

“Unnecessary!” Fu Yanxiao cut him off. “This prince has his own arrangements. There’s no need for Magistrate Lan to trouble himself!”

Rebuffed so bluntly, the magistrate dared not show his anger openly. He could only lower his head and mutter under his breath, cursing the prince for his arrogance.

Xia Xiu, who had just disembarked behind them, overheard his grumbling. Though disdainful, he couldn’t be bothered to engage. Instead, he rolled his eyes and ignored the man.

Just wait—you’ll be investigated soon enough. You won’t be strutting around for much longer.