The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 715 - 677: Yuanbao’s Opponent

Song Yuanbao slept for half the afternoon in Wen Wan’s room and only truly woke up when Song Wei came back from the Lower Court.

Hearing Song Wei’s voice, he immediately sat up straight and called out, "Dad."

Song Wei asked him, "How long has it been since you last slept?"

Song Yuanbao’s mouth twitched; he was too embarrassed to mention it was because that parrot was too noisy. Last night, Zhao Xi brought it into his room, and it kept perching on the bird stand, shouting "the Crown Prince is mighty, the Crown Prince is invincible," keeping him awake the entire night.

"I felt a bit seasick and didn’t rest well on the way here," Song Yuanbao lied.

As he stretched lazily and his mind cleared, he suddenly recalled something, "By the way, Dad, have we gotten a matchmaker yet? How did it turn out?"

Before Song Wei could respond, Wen Wan’s voice drifted in from outside, "How could it be? You weren’t here, so the young lady thinks you’re not sincere and outright refused. She’s not marrying."

"Really?" Song Yuanbao got anxious. "Did the Ye Family really not agree?"

"What else did you expect? Did you think it was that easy to arrange a marriage?"

Song Yuanbao didn’t believe Wen Wan and nervously glanced at Song Wei, "Dad, did Miss Ye really reject me?" He looked utterly wounded.

Song Wei intended to humor Wen Wan, but seeing the fatigue etched on Song Yuanbao’s face, recalling how tired he must’ve been from the journey to Jiangnan, didn’t have the heart to "add insult to injury," so he truthfully replied, "We’ve already received Miss Ye’s marriage proposal."

That meant she agreed.

Song Yuanbao was so happy he nearly jumped three feet high, "I said so, mom must be tricking me."

Wen Wan scoffed lightly, "How else would you feel nervous for once? If everything comes too easy, how will you learn to cherish anything in the future?"

Song Yuanbao knew that his reputation for being frivolous preceded him, even his parents doubted his reliability. In the past, he might have tried to explain himself, but after learning a lesson from the Crown Prince, he didn’t dare speak carelessly anymore. Anyway, some things, idle talk won’t do; only actions can convince others.

Changing the subject, Song Yuanbao asked, "Where’s Jinbao? Why don’t I see him?"

Wen Wan replied, "He’s in the teacher’s courtyard; it seems the teacher is teaching him to play chess, and he’s quite interested."

Mentioning this, Wen Wan suddenly remembered something, looked earnestly at Song Yuanbao, "I almost forgot to tell you, Mr. Xu’s lingering illness is cured. He now speaks quite fluently."

Song Yuanbao nodded, "Since the end of last year, we had Yun Shiliu and the others treating him for that long; it’s about time he got better."

Wen Wan, feeling a bit reluctance yet needing to inform him, said, "Actually, what I meant to tell you is that this cohort of examinees now includes a Xu Dengke."

Song Yuanbao nearly stumbled on flat ground, "Mom, what did you just say?"

Wen Wan slowly repeated, "Mr. Xu himself said it. He intends to take part in this cohort’s civil service exam, and presumably, he’ll be your biggest rival."

Song Yuanbao felt like crying, "How can it be like this?"

Clearly, it was agreed he would teach Jinbao; even if he wanted to take the exam, couldn’t he delay it to another time? Why must he take the same one as me?

Wen Wan sympathetically made him a cup of hot tea as consolation, "Don’t be afraid, muster your old vigor, you might just leave him far behind."

Song Yuanbao howled, "Mr. Xu is too unfair!"

Song Yuanbao had experienced Mr. Xu’s skill firsthand, and Song Wei once said, if not for his slow pace preventing him from finishing within the allotted time, not just the top scorer, even the top rank would not be beyond Xu Dengke.

Such a formidable opponent, terrifying as facing Zhao Xi.

Now, without even taking the exam, Song Yuanbao already envisioned the wannabe top exam title sprouting wings and flying further away from him.

He was so shaken he lost his appetite and headed straight to the guest courtyard after leaving Qingteng Residence. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Spring had just begun, with days growing longer and nights shorter. Now at dusk, Xu Dengke’s courtyard was already brightly lit, with occasional laughter heard within.

Song Yuanbao didn’t rush in but pressed his ear to the window to listen, without discerning anything clear, so he had no choice but to knock on the door.

The one who opened the door for him was Ah Gui, who greeted him with his usual booming voice, "Has Young Master Yuanbao returned?"

Song Yuanbao nodded and asked, "Is Jinbao inside?"

He didn’t have the face to admit he was looking for Xu Dengke.

"Yes, come in quickly then." Ah Gui’s attitude was relatively courteous.

Song Yuanbao followed him in and saw Jinbao, with boots off, sitting cross-legged on the warm kang, playing chess with Xu Dengke.

Hearing the commotion, Jinbao turned around and, upon recognizing Song Yuanbao, exclaimed in surprise, "Brother!"

Song Yuanbao smiled at him, "It’s so late, and you’re not going back; aren’t you hungry?"

He hadn’t noticed earlier, but when Song Yuanbao mentioned it, the little guy touched his stomach, saying he was hungry, then spread his arms wide for a hug.

Song Yuanbao couldn’t help but chuckle, "You’re already five, and you’re still asking to be held; aren’t you embarrassed?"

Though he protested, when Jinbao hummed and wouldn’t come down, Song Yuanbao had little choice but to reach out and lift the little guy off the warm kang.

Xu Dengke packed up the chess pieces and looked at Song Yuanbao with a faint smile, "Young master, having accompanied the Crown Prince to inspect Jiangnan, you must have benefited greatly?"

That voice made Song Yuanbao’s scalp tingle.

Due to preconceived notions, Song Yuanbao’s impression of Xu Dengke remained as that "Xu Slowly" who spoke slowly, ate meals early to avoid unfinished food. Now that he could speak so smoothly, Song Yuanbao found it surprisingly hard to adjust.

Seeing no response from him, Xu Dengke didn’t feel awkward and asked Ah Gui to serve tea.

Ah Gui swiftly poured hot tea.

Song Yuanbao didn’t drink; his eyes fixated unblinkingly at Xu Dengke. Only after some time did he finally ask, "Are you... truly well now, sir?"

Xu Dengke’s lips carried a slight smile, "I must thank those two young masters for their efforts."

Song Yuanbao was aware of Yun Shiliu’s exceptional medical skills. But to consider such a person, who struggled with speaking, eating, and doing things, becoming a normal person, it amazed him.

He pondered for a moment and then said, "I heard you’re also taking the civil service exam this time, Mr. Xu?"

Xu Dengke didn’t deny it, "Previously, my slow pace stopped me at the metropolitan exam. Now, having recovered and coinciding with the session, it’s an opportunity I must seize. My age can’t afford another three-year wait."

Song Yuanbao simply responded with an ’Oh’. He merely came personally to confirm it, since Xu Dengke was taking the exam, he couldn’t just stop him from taking it. Yet from now on, he feared he would have to study doubly hard. Otherwise, if he lost after boasting he’d win top exams to marry, wouldn’t it be a slap to the face?

Seeing his distant look, Xu Dengke softly asked, "Having forgone the metropolitan exam last time, do you intend to take this upcoming exam session, young master?"

Song Yuanbao snapped back to reality and nodded, "During my time traveling to Jiangnan, parents already had a matchmaker propose to the Ye Family. It’s agreed I’ll marry right after next year’s exams."

Perhaps due to unfamiliarity, Song Yuanbao could confidently claim before Zhao Xi that he’d achieve top scores, yet in Xu Dengke’s presence, he suddenly felt embarrassed.

Xu Dengke smiled gently, "It seems we’ll be rivals in the same cohort then."

——

After leaving the guest courtyard, Song Yuanbao returned to his study, where Duan Yan brought in his dinner; he quickly ate a few bites then began to study.

Duan Yan asked, "Master, having just returned, why not rest properly?"

"Rest more, and the top exam title might be snatched away," Song Yuanbao grunted.

Duan Yan caught on to what he meant, "Is the master fearing Mr. Xu? However, I would believe Mr. Xu can’t compare to the master?"

"How can he not compare?" Song Yuanbao looked up from his book, eyeing him.

"Given his former condition, hardly unknown to master, even if he’s recovered now, at most his performance could exceed the past slightly. But who is our master, the companion to the Crown Prince, studying from the Upper Study Room? Would you be outshone by a student from a small town?"

Song Yuanbao’s mouth twitched; how conceited had he been to elevate everyone around to show such arrogance?

Waving Duan Yan away, Song Yuanbao continued studying, initially planning an all-nighter, but the servant attending to him inquired whether Young Master Jinbao hadn’t found him as he refused to sleep.

Song Yuanbao had no choice but to set his book aside and retire to his room.

The next day, he shirked laziness, washed, ate breakfast, and went directly to the Imperial College. Considering the civil service exam crunch, Song Yuanbao penned a letter by carrier pigeon to Zhao Xi, stating he wouldn’t visit the Divine Soldier Bureau until next year’s exams concluded since it was a time of peace and the Bureau didn’t urgently require his presence; instead, focusing more time on studying seemed prudent.

Zhao Xi merely replied with two words: "Suit yourself."