CHAPTER 332: CHAPTER 311: A PROMISE SEALED WITH WORDS

Yu Xiaolian thought of how Su Jingchen in the book succeeded in the imperial examination at the age of nineteen and thought if everything followed the narrative, it wouldn’t be impossible.

She and Su Jingchen were just a year apart. The winter Su Jingchen passed the examination at nineteen, she would be eighteen – by ancient customs, not marrying by eighteen would make her an old maid.

If they wed at eighteen, that would give them five years to adapt to each other.

Five years was quite a long time.

Enough to understand a person.

Yu Xiaolian nodded firmly and agreed to Su Jingchen, "Then I’ll wait for you to become an Advanced Scholar."

A trace of sly joy flickered in Su Jingchen’s eyes, "It’s a deal!"

"Yes, a deal!"

After Su Jingchen left, Yu Xiaolian belatedly slapped her forehead.

Yu Xiaolian, you’re so foolish!

The reason Su Jingchen in the book passed the examination at nineteen was because his father died when he was thirteen, so after mourning for Su Dafu for three years, he could only take the exam at sixteen.

Later, coincidentally, the Great Liang and Great Meng Country were at war in the south while the Hu Kingdom took advantage in the north, causing the old emperor to postpone the examination for a year.

So rather than saying Su Jingchen succeeded at nineteen, it would be more accurate to say twenty, because when the results were posted, it was already December, and when Su Jingchen began duties as a chronicler for the old emperor, he was already twenty.

However, now it seems the old emperor’s health is gradually recovering, and somehow the Crown Prince has managed to negotiate peace at the borders.

If the Autumn Examination goes on as usual next year, doesn’t it mean that Su Jingchen might become a Scholar at the age of fourteen?

Oh my god, Yu Xiaolian felt like she’s been played by Su Jingchen!

But... is it really possible for a fourteen-year-old to become a Scholar?

However, in the book, Su Jingchen did indeed succeed at once; Yu Xiaolian recalled the book specifically emphasizing that when Su Jingchen became a provincial graduate, it caused a huge sensation. The poem he composed in the exam was declared a masterpiece, praised and circulated among countless scholars.

If Su Jingchen does pass the Scholar exam next autumn, then in just three more years, he could take the Advanced Scholar exam. If everything goes smoothly, he could become a Zhuangyuan even earlier than in the book.

No wonder Su Jingchen was smiling so mischievously; the guy has full confidence in himself.

Sigh, fine. If that’s the case, she’s resigned to it.

Marrying early isn’t necessarily a bad thing; young couple, traversing the world together, step by step, sounds quite nice.

Thinking of this, Yu Xiaolian relaxed and leisurely began to hum a tune.

Recently, she organized a number of songs and planned to teach them to the girls sometime later. She wanted to become the manager of ancient performing arts stars.

It took about half a month for Yu Xiaolian’s foot to heal thoroughly, during which time Su Jingchen visited her almost daily.

While Yu Xiaolian recuperated at home for half a month, it snowed heavily in Luocheng several times, making the road from Taohua Village to Luocheng difficult to travel.

Thus, even after the snow was packed down by travelers and vehicles, Yu Changhe and Sun Shi were still unaware of Yu Xiaolian’s foot injury.

With one month left until the Lunar New Year, Yu Xiaolian decided to select from the forty-some girls before the year’s end.

Even though Zhao Zhiquan hasn’t returned yet, someone with a talent for opera can shine without needing an instrument.

In Xiangyang Lane, Yu Xiaolian called in groups of ten girls into the house.

"Does any of you know how to sing opera? Or play instrumental music, such as the pipa?"

Yu Xiaolian sat steadily in the middle of the living room, holding a freshly brewed cup of hot milk tea.

"Master, I can sing opera. My mother was an opera singer, so I’ve known how to sing since I was a child."

Yu Xiaolian looked up and saw a girl with elegant features speaking, and asked, "What’s your name? How old are you this year?"

"My humble name is Zhuang Meiyin, and I am seventeen."

Zhuang Meiyin’s mother used to sing in an opera troupe, and was later captivated by her flirtatious father, who ransomed her mother to bring her into the Zhuang Mansion as a concubine.

As the daughter of a concubine, Zhuang Meiyin was never valued by her father – after a few years, when her father’s novelty for her mother faded, they were sent to live on a rural estate by the orders of the first wife.

Upon arriving at the estate, Zhuang Meiyin realized that most women there were those her father had toyed with. There were countless legitimate and illegitimate children like her, living no different from servants, working the hardest farm labor from dawn to dusk.

Although Zhuang Meiyin’s mother had been an opera singer, she never farmed. During the early times at the estate, she washed her face with tears day after day, unwilling to do farm work.

She eventually had to give in after being severely beaten by the steward, wearing coarse clothes and laboring in the fields alongside others through spring and autumn.

Somehow, Zhuang Meiyin’s mother seemed to become close to the steward, so they didn’t have to do hard labor. Her mother just sang opera at home for the steward.

Zhuang Meiyin naturally learned opera following her mother closely each day.

Though the steward had relations with many women in the estate, Zhuang Meiyin’s mother was still his favorite.

Thus ten years passed, life neither good nor bad.

Having lived on the estate for over a decade, Zhuang Meiyin had never once seen her biological father, and when she thought she’d never see him again in her lifetime, he came to the estate.

The adult legitimate and illegitimate children on the estate thought their father came to arrange marriages for them, only to find that the head of the estate was packing them up for sale as slaves.

Zhuang Meiyin’s mother, having been close with that steward, was beaten to death by her father upon discovering the affair, while the steward remained unharmed due to being a distant relative of the estate owner.

Zhuang Meiyin’s father epitomized the saying ’brothers are brothers, women are clothes,’ showcasing it to the utmost.

Afterwards, Zhuang Meiyin saw her father’s true colors.

Yu Xiaolian was greatly moved by Zhuang Meiyin’s story. They say even a tiger wouldn’t eat its own cubs, yet the estate owner never seemed to value the lives of his illegitimate offspring.

Having arrived in this world, Yu Xiaolian had never heard opera, "What do you know how to sing? Sing a piece for me to hear!"

Zhuang Meiyin said, "I can sing many pieces, but I’m most skilled in ’Butterfly Cup,’ ’Yuanmen Executing His Son,’ and ’Flower Spear.’ Which one does Miss prefer?"

Yu Xiaolian, not knowing much about opera, casually chose, "Sing ’Butterfly Cup’ then!"

Zhuang Meiyin cleared her throat and began singing, "After hearing those words, one couldn’t help but smile, turning away secretly thanking the heavens..."

As Zhuang Meiyin began, Yu Xiaolian immediately fell in love with the rhythm.

No wonder ancient wealthy people loved listening to opera; it truly was delightful.

The a cappella performance was full of charm, and Zhuang Meiyin indeed had some opera talent.