The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 119: Viewing the Residence

Chapter 119: Viewing the Residence

The next morning, when Qiu Huanian awoke, the sun was already high in the sky. Whether it was because he had finally adapted or because Du Yunse had truly exercised restraint, he felt no obvious discomfort upon rising. On the contrary, after a full night’s rest, he was refreshed and clear-headed.

The courtyard was quiet. Wang Yinzhi and Deng Die had gone out to tour the capital.

Originally, the savings Wang Yinzhi had painstakingly gathered were barely enough for him to enter the capital for the imperial examinations. But after saving on rent and adding the twenty taels of silver Qiu Huanian had paid last winter for the smoked fish recipe, the funds became more than sufficient.

Feeling confident about his prospects of passing the exam and becoming a jinshi (presented scholar, a successful candidate of the highest imperial examination), Wang Yinzhi was in good spirits. That morning, he had taken Deng Die out to enjoy themselves, making up to his wife for past hardships.

Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian tidied themselves up and also left the house.

Time was ample today; they decided to find a reputable restaurant for a proper meal, then proceed to view the house.

Boquan knew of a famous seafood restaurant located in Nanxun Ward and recommended it to his masters to try.

The group rode the carriage from the eastern city toward the central city. As they passed Mingzhao Ward, located beside Nanxun Ward, Du Yunse suddenly ordered Boquan to halt the carriage.

“Yunse, what is it?”

Du Yunse lifted the curtain of the carriage and pointed toward a narrow alley not far away, where a modest courtyard residence could vaguely be seen. There were imperial guards stationed at its entrance.

“That is where my teacher lives.”

Qiu Huanian was stunned. “Mister Wen is inside?”

He knew Du Yunse’s teacher, Wen Huiyang, was still under house arrest in the capital but was unaware of the exact location. Since the emperor himself had decreed the confinement, no one dared openly pay visits.

Qiu Huanian clasped Du Yunse’s hand. “Wasn’t Mister Wen confined because he spoke in defense of the Crown Prince? Now that the Crown Prince’s house arrest has been lifted, Mister Wen will surely be released sooner or later.”

Du Yunse gave a soft hum of agreement. “At the chuanlü ceremony following the palace examination, I will plead for my teacher during the audience.”

Qiu Huanian did not ask how confident Du Yunse was but simply smiled and said, “Good.”

Du Yunse was someone who rarely displayed his emotions and remained taciturn in such matters, yet Qiu Huanian knew the weight Wen Huiyang held in his heart.

Du Yunse had left home young; his father died early. Nearly half of his life had been spent traveling and studying under his teacher. Wen Huiyang was both mentor and father to him, akin to family.

“Wasn’t Mister Wen a renowned Confucian scholar of the age? Why is his residence so small?”

“My teacher has always been like a cloud wandering the mountains and wild cranes—unconcerned with worldly ties. He dislikes social climbing and knows nothing about accumulating wealth. Moreover, he often acts chivalrously and gives away his possessions; he has never had enough money to buy a house in the capital.” Du Yunse’s tone carried a subtle undertone. “The small single-courtyard house he now lives in was bestowed upon him by the emperor twenty-two years ago, when he placed first in the examinations and became zhuangyuan.”

Ordinarily, the reward for becoming zhuangyuan did not include a house, but at that time, Wen Huiyang was so destitute that upon being appointed as an editor at the Hanlin Academy, he directly asked the newly enthroned Emperor Yuanhua if he could move into the academy with nothing but his travel bundle. The ministers—still trembling from the emperor’s notorious fratricidal ascension—were shocked to the core.

Rather than having this newly minted zhuangyuan executed on the spot, Emperor Yuanhua confirmed Wen Huiyang’s impoverishment and casually granted him a small courtyard, shoving his beloved subject into it.

Otherwise, with Wen Huiyang’s financial situation, he would likely never have been able to afford a residence in Mingzhao Ward of the central city.

Although Mingzhao Ward was not as close to the imperial palace and Six Ministries as Nanxun Ward, it was still located in the central city and adjacent to Nanxun. A single-entry courtyard house here was worth at least two to three hundred taels of silver.

Yet, after receiving the house from Emperor Yuanhua, Wen Huiyang had only lived there for ten years before resigning from office to wander and study afar, returning to the capital only every few years. It was not until three winters ago, when he fell from imperial favor and was punished, that he was permanently confined within this small house.

Du Yunse concisely recounted the history of the residence without omitting any critical detail, leaving Qiu Huanian marveling in admiration.

Not only Wen Huiyang but even Emperor Yuanhua’s image in his mind shifted—these towering figures were not just formidable but vividly human and intriguing.

Hmm… but when dealing with an emperor, one must still tread with utmost caution.

Qiu Huanian understood this clearly, though he could not resist joking: “Say, during the chuanlü ceremony, if you cry poverty, will His Majesty reward you with a house?”

Du Yunse coolly replied, “In that case, Brother Hua, you had best prepare yourself to exhaust your fortune to ransom me from prison.”

“…”

Alright, alright—no more reckless thoughts.

The restaurant Boquan recommended was called Haikelai (Sea Guests’ Arrival). It was located on the edge of Nanxun Ward—a long row of two-storied buildings lining the street, with a large garden behind that contained several pavilions, each serving as private dining rooms.

The pavilions in the garden required advance reservations. Many noble officials would book them months in advance; even if they had no plans to dine, the spots had to be reserved for them regardless.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse were not so particular. They went upstairs and chose a window-side seat at random, summoning a waiter to order.

The restaurant’s name, Haikelai, hinted at its specialty—various seafood dishes. The capital was not too far from the sea; as long as one was willing to spend, the freshest catches could be enjoyed.

After listening to the waiter’s recommendations, Qiu Huanian ordered their signature clay-pot baked fish belly, a green vegetable and fish shreds soup, hibiscus prawns, and braised sea cucumber with scallions.

Three dishes and one soup—perfect for four people without waste.

Here, each dish cost over a tael of silver; the meal, along with a small pot of sake, amounted to a full eight taels.

The waiter earnestly recommended their signature sashimi and marinated raw crab. But mindful of parasites, Qiu Huanian dared not try them.

Being a true son of Huaxia, he much preferred cooked food to raw fare.

He invited Boquan and Xingmi to join them at the table, but the two shook their heads repeatedly, finally agreeing only to stand and eat from small bowls.

Boquan explained, “We know the young lord treats his servants kindly, but ranks must remain distinct. Especially outside—if others were to see, they might criticize the master and lady for lacking proper household discipline.”

Qiu Huanian knew every era had its own rules. Unable to change anything for now, he let it go.

They had arrived outside of peak dining hours, so Haikelai was not overly crowded. Just as they were finishing, they heard the clatter of hooves from the street below. The restaurant’s waiters and manager all hurried out to greet the newcomer.

Turning his head toward the window, Qiu Huanian saw a man in his late twenties riding a tall steed. He wore a bright red yesa robe, a dark black cloak, golden boots, and a jade belt. His figure was strong and commanding.

The manager respectfully addressed him as “Marquis of Taiping” and ushered him in with utmost deference.

Those who could afford Haikelai were all of high status; vague murmurs of discussion drifted from somewhere.

“The Marquis of Taiping has returned to the capital…”

“…Such fortune—a fisherman elevated to marquis overnight…”

“Kang Guifei… Empress…”

As the Marquis of Taiping entered Haikelai, those murmurs instantly vanished.

Qiu Huanian blinked and looked toward Du Yunse.

Du Yunse concisely reminded him, “Younger brother of Noble Consort Kang.”

Qiu Huanian recalled the details: the most favored consort in the palace, Noble Consort Kang, hailed from humble origins, her hometown in a county neighboring Zhang County. Before entering the palace, she had a younger brother who was abducted by human traffickers and lost for years. Only two years ago, by sheer coincidence, when Du Yunse and Wu Shen apprehended a trafficking ring in Zhang County, was the boy finally found.

According to the old customs of the Yu Dynasty, only the empress’s father or brothers could be ennobled as marquises. For Noble Consort Kang’s brother to be granted the title by imperial exception showed just how favored she was. Many believed she was but a step away from the position of empress.

Qiu Huanian said nothing further, unwilling to draw the attention of this newly risen marquis whose temperament was unknown. Yet, as the Marquis of Taiping ascended to the second floor of Haikelai, his gaze swept across the room and landed squarely on them.

“Scholar Du, Lord Qidshu, I have long admired your names. Today, at last, we meet.”

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse had no choice but to rise and return the greeting. Were it not for Qiu Huanian’s title as xiangjun (a noble rank for women) and Du Yunse’s status as a juren (provincial examination graduate), they would have been obliged to bow formally to the marquis.

The Marquis of Taiping had darker skin than those accustomed to life in the capital. His posture was vigorous, his gaze sharp, and though a hearty smile graced his face, none would dare underestimate him.

As the earlier whispers suggested, before being found by Noble Consort Kang, the Marquis of Taiping had been a danmin—a seafaring fisherman who lived afloat, battling the elements and rarely permitted ashore.

Anyone who survived such conditions was sure to possess uncommon abilities.

The marquis laughed warmly, waving away formality. “I’ve just returned from an assignment outside the capital. Craving the taste of the sea, I rode straight here. To encounter you two is truly fate; in fact, we might even be considered fellow countrymen.”

“The fish here are caught in Haijin Town and rushed here by fast horses. I’ve sampled seafood all over the capital—only here is it freshest.”

Appearing intent only on food, the Marquis of Taiping engaged in brief pleasantries before Du Yunse excused himself.

Noble Consort Kang had entered the palace through the auspices of Prince Pingxian, who favored the Second Prince. Du Yunse, however, was aligned with the Crown Prince. In public perception, he and the marquis stood on opposing sides.

The Marquis of Taiping did not hinder them but, as they departed, suddenly said, “I’ve long lived at sea. These past two years, whenever I come ashore, I suffer from dizziness and nausea. Only after using Lord Qidshu’s cooling balm did I find some relief. Might the lord prepare a more suitable remedy for me? I will reward you handsomely.”

Uncertain of the marquis’s intentions, Qiu Huanian could only reply, “I’ve never made one before; I fear I cannot succeed.”

The marquis chuckled. “Do your best. Even if you fail, I shall not renege on payment.”

At such words, Qiu Huanian could only agree.

After leaving Haikelai, once safely in the carriage, Qiu Huanian finally dared ask Du Yunse about the Marquis of Taiping.

Du Yunse shook his head; having only just returned to the capital, he too was unfamiliar with this newly elevated marquis. Yet the marquis had recognized them at a glance.

Qiu Huanian sighed. “Ah, the capital may be splendid, but it is also full of wind and rain.”

As Du Yunse stepped deeper into the heart of Yu Dynasty’s political power, such entanglements were inevitable. They could only meet soldiers with soldiers, water with earth.

Shaking his head, Qiu Huanian brightened at the thought of the mansion they were about to view.

Boquan drove the carriage to the residence of the former Assistant Secretary of Personnel, located beside the Ministry of Rites. An official broker awaited at the gate; since Qiu Huanian was purchasing the house from the government, the broker naturally accompanied the handover.

The broker, well-informed, already knew that the house was merely passing through official hands—the Crown Prince had secured it for the two nobles before him. Not daring to slack, he introduced it with utmost reverence.

The estate spanned nearly five mu (approx. 3,300 square meters), oriented north to south, with the main gate at the southwest corner.

In ancient times, apart from imperial palaces, princely mansions, government offices, and temples, all residential gates were forbidden from aligning directly on the central axis—partly by regulation, partly to avert ill fortune.

This mansion’s gate likewise followed tradition: flanked by two small rooms, the beam paintings denoting rank had been erased, awaiting redrawing once Du Yunse’s official position was confirmed.

Upon opening the gate, one did not immediately see the courtyard but a massive stone screen wall carved with koi frolicking among lotuses. A small forecourt lay beyond; to the right stood a chuihua (drooping flower) gate leading into the main courtyard.

The first courtyard was in the style of a four-sided compound, with east and west side rooms and a row of inverted rooms facing the gate. The main hall at the rear spanned five bays, arranged three bright (lit) and two dark (unlit), separated internally by folding doors between the central three bays and the flanking bays.

This main hall served as a through-passage hall with doors opening both front and back. At the rear stood a towering screen reaching to the roof; passing around it revealed another doorway, leading to the second courtyard.

The second courtyard lacked inverted rooms but had east and west side rooms. Its main hall spanned only three bays; the remaining space on either side held small corner rooms, nearly invisible from the courtyard’s center.

The broker explained cheerfully, “These two small rooms—one is the kitchen, the other for night watch servants. When the masters call from the main hall, the servants hear at once.”

Qiu Huanian clutched Du Yunse’s hand, marveling left and right. These two courtyards alone were as large as their former residence in Xiangping Prefecture—and they had seen barely half the estate.

“Beyond the second courtyard lies the rear yard, with a back gate and another row of rooms for rough laborers. The stables, privies, and carriage shed are also there. It is dirty and cluttered, so nobles need not go.”

The broker opened corner doors on either side of the main hall. “The mansion has east and west passageways. To the east are two single-entry courtyards and a study tower; to the west, one single-entry courtyard and a garden. Both passageways connect throughout.”

“The western courtyard even has a separate side gate leading outside—convenient for guests lodging there.”

Past noon, under warm sunlight, Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse walked shoulder to shoulder, step by step measuring the grounds of the home where they would live for many years to come.

The former Assistant Secretary had just spent heavily to renovate. The Tenth Bureau had removed plaques, couplets, and unclean remnants; valuable furnishings remained. All Qiu Huanian needed was to rename the courtyards, create new plaques and couplets, and purchase additional furniture.

The eastern two courtyards were equal in size. Though single-entry, they were spacious—one planted with several half-man-high lilac bushes, the other with a beautiful trumpet vine tree. It was still early spring; the flowers and trees lay bare, yet Qiu Huanian could already imagine the fragrance of blossoms come spring and summer.

He named them Lilac Court and Trumpet Vine Court, leaving the task of composing couplets to Du Yunse.

The western courtyard was slightly smaller, its yard filled with bamboo and walls built of bamboo-patterned bricks—an elegant sight. Following the naming convention, it became Bamboo Jade Court.

Behind Bamboo Jade Court lay the newly built garden. At the west passage’s end, a small door opened directly into it: a modest lake, Taihu stones, an artificial hill crowned by a pavilion, and flowering trees lining the lake—everything one could wish for.

Finally came the smallest courtyard in the southeast corner, which housed the study tower. The tower faced west, with two tiny rooms cramped along the north and south walls—better than nothing.

The staircase was a typical ancient indoor type: steep, narrow, without railing, each step scarcely wide enough for half a foot. Hesitant, Qiu Huanian did not climb, fearing he might tumble. He resolved to commission an outdoor staircase later for safety before exploring the upper floor.

Naming courtyards along the way, Qiu Huanian faltered at the study tower.

In this palm-sized yard stood an apricot tree. Though the chill of early spring lingered, its branches already bulged with green buds—plants sensed seasonal shifts more keenly than people.

The civil examination results were also called the “Apricot List”; when apricot blossoms bloomed, the results of the twenty-third year of Yuanhua’s reign would be announced.

Unfond of names like “Fragrant Apricot Court,” inspiration suddenly struck Qiu Huanian. He exclaimed, “Since this courtyard houses a study tower, let us name it differently—call it Inch Gold Court!”

For “An inch of time is an inch of gold” (¹).

¹ Tang Dynasty poet Wang Zhenbai’s “Two Verses on White Deer Grotto (First)” — “Unaware that spring has deepened while reading, an inch of time is an inch of gold. Unless a monk comes laughing, one’s thoughts follow Zhou and Confucius.”

*(Note: The estate is described

in detail because many future plot events will unfold in its various locations.)*