Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot
Chapter 138 - 133: Weigh Down the Bed

Chapter 138: Chapter 133: Weigh Down the Bed

Governor Mansion.

Lu Yuan sat in the study, quietly flipping through the book in his hands.

Standing opposite him was Zheng Siye, all respectful and deferential.

Though he appeared reverent on the surface, he secretly held disdain in his heart.

After all, who didn’t know that this Grand Commander was neither adept in literature nor skilled in martial arts? Yet he always put on an air of being inseparable from books as if he were some great scholar.

If he truly loved reading so much, why hadn’t he enrolled in the Imperial College back then? Why hadn’t he taken the imperial examination and become a top scholar?

Zheng Siye himself was a graduate of the third year of the Chong’an Era, and he had always looked down upon Lu Yuan, who rose to prominence through unconventional means. And yet, Lu Yuan rocketed through the ranks and came to dominate the court within just a few years.

Afterward, Zheng had aligned himself with Lu Yuan, moving from a petty ninth-rank academic officer to his current fourth-rank Siye position—an extraordinary leap.

At the Imperial College, the only official ranked higher than him was the Sacrificial Officer.

"Grand Commander, this lowly official has discovered that Lin Ji has been maintaining close ties with several officials, likely engaging in bribery. It’s most probably related to the allocation of spots for Imperial College admissions. If we seize this chance to gather evidence against him, we can bring him down! By then, the Imperial College will be yours to command!"

Zheng Siye finished speaking passionately, only to see Lu Yuan remain unmoved. Hesitantly, he called out, "Grand Commander?"

Lu Yuan flipped another page of his book and said coolly, "Did I ask you to meddle so much?"

Zheng Siye was stunned. "Grand Commander, Lin Ji is obstinate and repeatedly rebuffs your overtures. As long as he remains, the Imperial College will never follow your orders!"

Lu Yuan replied indifferently, "Isn’t that why I have you, Siye Zheng?"

Zheng Siye froze, then forced an awkward smile. "Uh... of course. This official is fully devoted to the Grand Commander and is willing to die in your service! However, this official holds only the title of Siye and lacks the power of the Sacrificial Officer. I simply wish to clear any obstacles for you."

Lu Yuan, still looking at the book, remarked nonchalantly, "Do you wish to remove obstacles for me, or are you trying to secure the Sacrificial Officer post for yourself?"

Zheng Siye’s intentions were laid bare. His face turned pale as he hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed. "This official dares not!"

Lu Yuan said coolly, "Then go back and fulfill your duties as Siye properly."

"Understood!"

Zheng Siye broke out in a cold sweat.

After Zheng Siye left, Lu Yuan finished the book in his hands. Finding it dull, he tossed it onto the table. "Yu Zichuan."

Yu Zichuan was sitting on the roof, polishing his bow. Hearing this, he leapt down and slipped into the study, asking, "What?"

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and glanced at him. "Just wanted to call you."

With that, he turned and walked off without looking back.

Yu Zichuan, whose bow-polishing session had been interrupted, immediately scowled. Grumbling to himself, he climbed back onto the roof and begrudgingly started polishing from the beginning again.

Shortly after, Lu Yuan strolled back in and gazed at him. "You share the surname Yu. Do you have any ties to the Yu Family in You State?"

Yu Zichuan replied, "No."

Once again, his bow-polishing process was interrupted! He had to start over yet again!

Lu Yuan’s lips curved into a mischievous smile as he casually sauntered out of the courtyard.

This time, he genuinely left.

Tinglan Garden was Bao Shu’s courtyard. The wedding courtyard was next door, and after much effort throughout the day, the wedding bed was finally set up in the bridal chamber.

The maids thoroughly cleaned the entire room, meticulously wiping every corner of the bed multiple times until it was so immaculate that not a speck of dust could be found.

Yet what astonished everyone wasn’t how clean the bed was but its sheer craftsmanship—it was truly a work of art. Every carving was intricate and flawless, blending refinement, antiquity, grandeur, with a subtle elegance and mystery.

Everyone seemed to envision the bride, adorned in her wedding attire, sitting quietly on the stepping bed, wearing a fiery red veil, her heart brimming with joy and just a touch of shyness as she awaited her groom.

In the Governor Mansion, no one dared utter a word.

Even Steward Cen, a veteran connoisseur of priceless treasures, was left utterly speechless.

Nanny Li puffed up with pride—finally, she wasn’t the one deemed ignorant anymore.

"Bea... beautiful."

Bao Shu clambered onto the bed with arms and legs flailing.

"I want to too!"

Tan’er also tried to climb up, only to be scooped back by Shangguan Ling.

Shangguan Ling pointed at Treasure Piggy and said, "That’s called pressing the bed. What are you doing?"

In Great Zhou, there was a custom of having children press the bed before a wedding. The timing wasn’t fixed—some did it the day before, while others extended it over a few days.

Tan’er declared, "I want to press the bed too!"

Shangguan Ling found her amusing. "Bed-pressers are supposed to be toddlers, little ones, not grown-ups. How old are you?"

Tan’er exclaimed confidently, "Five years old!"

Shangguan Ling: "..."

Tan’er ultimately wasn’t allowed to sleep on Meng Qianqian’s wedding bed and could only watch with envy as Treasure Piggy rolled around on it, somersaulting repeatedly.

Tan’er, teeth clenched with jealousy, muttered, "Treasure Piggy!"

Treasure Piggy stretched out lazily on the bed. Somehow, and from who knows where, she had picked up the haughty habit of propping up one leg over the other cross-legged.

Everyone’s mouths twitched.

Kid, you really aren’t afraid of your dad spanking you, are you?

Steward Cen sincerely exclaimed, "This is truly a masterfully crafted bed. In all my life, I’ve never seen such exquisite workmanship. This level of excellence is priceless—no less than ten or twenty thousand taels. No, even money might not suffice. Meng girl, you’ve outdone yourself."

Lu Yuan cast a frosty glance at the little rascal lounging on his marital bed and snorted, "Next time, you’re definitely getting a beating."

The next day, Yu Li received an admission letter from the Imperial College.

Yu Li couldn’t believe he had actually been accepted; it felt like a dream.

Meng Qianqian first accompanied him to the Imperial College to collect his books and uniforms. Because Yu Li had been admitted to Justice Hall, one of the Six Halls, he would be boarding at the Imperial College in the future.

Unless he opted to join the external classes of the Imperial College, but the teaching quality of external classes differed significantly from that of the Six Halls.

Fortunately, the Imperial College granted a three-day break every month, allowing students to return home then.

Yu Li said shyly, "Cousin, I... I don’t know how to thank you."

Meng Qianqian smiled softly. "You passed based on your own abilities. Why would you thank me?"

Meng Qianqian recalled that when she sought Lady Lin’s assistance, the latter had warned her that her old-fashioned husband was stricter than the professors at the Imperial College. While the independent examination might seem like an opportunity, it was actually far more challenging.

Yu Li scratched his head. "Even so, I still have to thank you."

That afternoon, the Yu Family sent someone to summon Yu Li to a teahouse.

Once there, they once again brought up the matter of him moving into the Marquis Mansion. "The Marquis himself has agreed to have Xie Yan tutor you. He’ll also arrange for you to attend the most prestigious academy. During the day, you’ll learn from the instructor, and at night, Xie Yan will guide you. This is a rare opportunity—don’t be ungrateful."

Yu Li replied, "Aunt, I deeply appreciate both you and Uncle’s kindness. However, thanks to my cousin’s efforts, I already have a place to study."

Lady Yu frowned. "She found it for you? That girl doesn’t even know a single character; where could she possibly find a good place for you to study? The academies in the Capital City are a mixed bag. Don’t let others fool you with flowery praise—some places haven’t even produced a handful of decent students. Which no-name school is it? Are there even proper teachers?"

Yu Li answered, "It’s the Imperial College."

"She knows nothing! Don’t let her hold you ba—wait, what did you just say... Imperial College?"

Lady Yu suddenly registered his words.

Impossible—absolutely impossible!

Yu Li placed the admission letter, stamped with the Imperial College’s seal, on the table. Gazing firmly at her, he said earnestly, "Justice Hall. I start tomorrow."

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