Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examination Ch. 113

Chapter 113

That road had remained unchanged, a path of uneven earth. The carriage driver was still the wild and unrestrained Xie Shan. Yet, Cui Xie was no longer the naive schoolboy who had once visited here in the springtime. He had undergone a profound transformation, shedding his former straight identity to embrace his true self, a man that now openly pursues his love with another man.

In his embrace, Cui Xie carefully held a bouquet of roses, each bloom freshly clipped that morning from the gardens near the edge of his courtyard. Their long stems bore the marks of meticulous care, cut ends dabbed with alcohol and swathed in crisp white paper, meticulously concealed within his backpack, away from prying eyes. Throughout the journey, Cui Xie had stolen glances at them repeatedly, ensuring their freshness and vibrancy. The petals, half-unfurled, promised endurance for hours yet to come.

However, the roses from his courtyard were not fragrant, should some perfume be sprinkled on them?

He fingered the vial of jasmine perfume in his pocket, but he hesitated, doubting whether the subtle aroma would complement the roses or meet the discerning tastes of Xie Ying. In the end, he decided against it.

The carriage continued its journey, jostling over long stretches of the rugged path. Through it all, Cui Xie remained vigilant, his feet firmly planted against the carriage’s wall, cradling the bouquet close. Although the paper encasing the stems had succumbed to the journey’s rigors, torn and tattered, the rosebuds were unscathed.

The rhythmic clopping of hooves finally ceased as the horses let out a long whinny, bringing the carriage to a gentle halt. Cui Xie pushed open the door, grasping the edge of the carriage to peer out. There, he saw Xie Ying circling around the side of the carriage on horseback, his gaze falling on the tattered bouquet in Cui Xie’s hands. With a smile, Xie Ying inquired, “What is this? Why do you always bring such novel gifts each time you visit? It seems like too much trouble, you really did not have to.”

Upon seeing the other, Cui Xie felt a rush of refreshment, as if he had just drunk a cold glass of cola. He hopped out of the carriage, unwrapped the bouquet, straightened the bent petals and lifted it for Xie Ying to see, explaining, “It is not really a formal gift. They are just flowers from my courtyard. I thought they looked nice, so I cut a few to bring along. It is better than coming empty handed.”

Xie Shan approached to take Cui Xie’s bag, chuckling as he added, “Our estate has no shortage of flowers. It is quite something for Young Master Cui to bring a bouquet from afar for a vase. I will take care of this. This cluster of thousand-petal roses must be in the dozens, right? They will not fit in a small vase without looking cluttered and lose their elegance. I will divide them into several vases for display.”

However, Cui Xie was reluctant to hand them over, gripping the stems tightly, insisting, “I will hold onto these. You can just go find a vase.”

Xie Ying responded, “Let Xie Shan take care of it. I have sent someone to find some fine steeds. Today, I will take you hunting in the woods. We will ride swift steeds and will not have servants to carry things for us. It will actually be inconvenient to bring the flowers.”

The woods!

Just the two of them!

To Cui Xie’s surprise and delight, he found himself on a private date immediately after confessing his feelings! Colonel Xie was indeed a man of swift and decisive action!

Holding the cluster of roses, Cui Xie faced a dilemma. It was inconvenient to carry around, yet he could not bear the thought of giving them away—after all these roses were meant to symbolize his feelings. Would their significance be diminished if they were simply used as decorative flowers?

Unable to part with them, Cui Xie ingeniously improvised. He took the paper wrapping the bouquet and rolled it into a makeshift rope on his thigh, carefully binding it around the stems. He then hung the bouquet on a saddlebag, smiling dryly, “These flowers are quite beautiful. Carrying them along is like having a piece of the gardens with us. Whenever we feel tired, we can just look at them and enjoy the scenery.”

Xie Shan started to say something, but his master, Xie Ying, already had other instructions: “Prepare some dishes that can stay warm for a long time. We may not return for a long time…and inform the kitchen to be ready to process any game we may bring back.”

Xie Ying had equipped both horses with bows, arrows, lassos, waterskins and bags of dry food, as if they were truly preparing for a hunting excursion into the woods. The servants, accustomed to such preparations, quickly agreed and watched the pair gallop towards the forest adjacent to the estate.

Though the Xie Estate was not located near a mountain, it was bordered by a wild forest, home to common wildlife like roe deer, hares, foxes and badgers. While lacking more valuable game like wild boars or tigers, it offered ample opportunity for recreational hunting.

The new, smaller chestnut-colored horse found by Xie Ying for Cui Xie was adept at sprinting, just like Xie Ying’s own steed, but with a gentler spirit. Although Cui Xie was a competent rider, he was more a scholar than a horseman, lacking the extensive training of the Jinyiwei. The smaller steed suited him well for the venture.

After a long ride, the two finally entered the first, embarking on their adventure together.

Cui Xie, slightly hesitant, entered the forest a step behind. Nervous about the roots that might trip the horse, he did not dare to ride as freely as usual, gradually falling further behind Xie Ying. Sensing this, Xie Ying slowed his steed, allowing Cui Xie to catch up and said, “The game this time of the year may not be the fattest, but it is still good enough for a meal. I will hunt a few for you to take home tonight.”

Cui Xie felt a surge of happiness, feeling as if he was being guided by an expert player in a video game. Nodding, he reapplied, “Lead the way, Xie-xiong. I will follow behind you and help with…picking up the game!”

Xie Ying nearly laughed at his enthusiasm: “I did not bring you here just to pick up the game. Try shooting at a live target yourself. It will sharpen your reflexes and is much more effective for improving your aim than shooting at stationary targets.”

Scanning the surroundings, Xie Ying spotted a movement in the bushes under a tree root in the distance. Narrowing his eyes, he caught sight of a gray rabbit. Drawing his bow, aiming carefully, he released the arrow from his right hand. The arrow shot out like a meteor, tracing a swift arc through the air and landed heavily in the bushes, quivering slightly from the force as it stuck upright.

Such an effortless shot!

Cui Xie, both surprised and impressed, hurriedly rode over to see the results. He found a moderately-sized grey rabbit lying among the grass, an arrow through its neck, its hind legs still kicking. As he dismounted to grab the arrow, a horse galloped past, its rider leaning down to deftly grab the tail end of the arrow and lifted, taking the rabbit with it. 

Cui Xie straightened up and looked, seeing it was Xie Ying who had snatched the prey.

Dressed in a pristine white outfit, Xie Ying nonchalantly pulled the arrow from the rabbit’s neck, wiped it on a tree and reinserted the retrieved arrow into his quiver, unconcerned about staining his clothes. He tossed the rabbit into a bag behind his saddle, wiped his hands with a handkerchief and turned to Cui Xie with upcurved lips, “That is how you pick up small game. It saves both effort and time, and it is not worth dismounting for.”

Cui Xie, still unaccustomed to such advanced equestrian skills, shook his head with a wry smile, “No, no, that is beyond me. You have the skill and the courage, but I fear I might just tumble off the horse if I try that.”

“That is because you are not using your waist correctly, “ Xie Ying replied, slowly guiding his horse over and reaching out to take the reins of Cui Xie’s mount. “Get on and give it a try. I will teach you how to use your strength properly. Do not worry, I am here. I will not let you fall.”

Mounting the horse and gripping the reins, Cui Xie expressed his concern, “Are you sure I will not fall? You are on your horse over there, so far away. What if I do fall and you cannot catch me? And there is no game here, can I really learn anything just practicing like this?”

Xie Ying grinned, “Who says there is no game? There will be, very soon.”

Xie Ying had already spotted a grass snake. Mid-conversation, he drew his bow and aimed at the snake, nailing it right in the head, pinning it firmly to the ground.

Cui Xie, not daring to mimic Xie Ying’s swift horseback maneuver from earlier, cautiously approached the snake. As he bent down to retrieve the arrow, he felt a stiffness in his waist, making it difficult to reach all the way down.

Could this be the result of too much studying, possibly leading to a herniated disc? Or was it due to a lack of regular stretching, resulting in poor flexibility?

Struggling to reach the arrow, Cui Xie stretched his arm as far as he could. Observing his efforts, Xie Ying offered guidance, “That is not how you do it. Lower your waist, take your left foot out of the stirrup, lean your body to the side, and press your upper body down. Don’t stiffen up.”

Riding over, Xie YIng Cui Xie’s waist with one hand, showing him where to exert force and how to lean down properly. After several attempts, Cui Xie finally managed to grasp the arrow’s shaft. Pulling it upward with a bit too much force, he inadvertently caused the snake’s body to coil up, striking Xie YIng’s arm.

The impact was sharp and clear, and given the light clothing typically worn during July, it was likely to have struck bare skin.

Cui Xie, concerned, carelessly threw the snake into the bag and gently touched Xie Ying’s arm, saying worriedly, “Roll up your sleeve and let’s see if it was bruised.”

Xie Ying’s sleeves were secured with leather wrist guards, which needed to be untied before the robe’s sleeves could be rolled up. Cui Xie fumbled with the fastenings, growing frustrated, “Is this the clothing design I made? It is so absurd, why can I not undo it?”

Xie Ying grasped the hand that was anxiously moving around his wrist, guiding it to feel the spot where the snake had hit: “There is hardly any injury and there is no pain. Why worry? I often return from hunting with a few bruises.”

Brows furrowed in concern and expression solemn, Cui Xie looked at him as if trying to discern the extent of the injuries through the fabric. Xie Ying pulled at his collar, speaking softly, “It is nothing serious. I am not a frontier soldier, I have not sustained any real injuries, it is not as bad as you think.”

The more Xie Ying downplayed his injuries, the more Cui Xie worried, feeling a deeper sense of discomfort within himself. Even the cluster of red roses in the saddlebag seemed to lose their vibrancy in light of his growing concern.

Cui Xie had planned to give the flowers to Xie Ying today as a gesture of confession, hoping for a clear response. But to his dismay, he found himself hesitating upon meeting him, and now, after all this time, he had still yet to present the flowers.

Not only had he faltered, but he had also accidentally injured Xie Ying’s arm with a snake. Could there still be a chance for his confession under such poor circumstances?

Taking a deep breath, Cui Xie resolved to seize the moment while he still held Xie Ying’s arm, ready to confess his feelings forcefully. However, Xie Ying, ever more decisive, held his hand, and said, “I brought you here because I have something important to discuss with you. Hunting was merely a pretext; it does not matter whether we hunt or not. Do not worry about my arm.”

Alright. No more concern for the arm then, it was time for serious matters.

“I also have something important to say.” Cui Xie straightened up, retrieving the bouquet of roses from the saddlebag, presenting them to Xie Ying.

Momentarily taken aback by the beautiful offering at such an awkward moment, Xie Ying accepted the flowers and brushed away the middle to look through them, “Did you bring these specifically for me? Is there some secret hidden within?”

No secrets in the flowers, but in the person? Yes.

As Xie Ying examined the flowers, Cui Xie straightened his back, trying to meet the other’s gaze evenly. “Everything else I have given you is merchandise from my family’s business. Even if I selected the best for you, they would still be ordinary gifts. But, these roses, I thought of you as I cut each one to give to you.”

Cui Xie leaned forward slightly, his hand tenderly caressing the bouquet, fingers gently teasing the petals. He bestowed a soft kiss on the flower closets to him, then lifted his eyes to meet Xie Ying’s gaze, filled with a poignant earnestness, “This sentiment I offer, Xie-xiong, would you be willing to accept it?”

Half of his face was coyly obscured by the roses, casting a subtle blush on his cheeks, while Cui Xie’s eyes, more striking than ever, shone with a luminous clarity, almost piercing in their intensity.

Xie Ying seemed almost irresistibly drawn to him, his fingertips nearly grazing the petal Cui Xie had kissed. But then, with a sudden clench of his fist, he averted his gaze, looking at the flowers instead. “I invited you here today for this very reason. I have given a lot of thought to what you said at the Double Seventh Festival. I have come to my own conclusions, but there are some things I must clarify with you before I can be at peace.”

Cui Xie promptly vowed, “My heart is as clear as the sun and the moon—”

But Xie Ying gently pressed the bouquet against Cui Xie’s mouth, silencing him with a serious inquiry, “What I wanted to ask you is, why did you suddenly develop such feelings for me? Was it because I helped you by calling a physician, or later, when I assisted with your petition for recognition? You must understand that these actions were mere conveniences for me. Even if I had not done them, someone else would have me, Like County Magistrate Jiang from Daxing County—”

It was not about this at all.

Now, Cui Xie had family, friends, mentors and officials who appreciated him. But, when he had first arrived in this world, possessing nothing, it was Xie Ying who had helped him.

Without assisting the Jinyiwei,  Cui Xie would not have had the chance to stay at the inn at Tongzhou free of charge, nor receive attentive treatment from a renowned doctor in  the capital. If he had not played a minor role in that case, neither Senior Provincial Official Fu or Administrator Liu would have noticed him, a mere footnote, nor would they have gathered those practical classics for the Imperial examinations for him to read.

The same was true after his relocation to Qian’an. Although it had seemed he carved out his own career and earned the title of ‘Little Tertiary Winner’, through his own hard work and studies, however, Cui Xie was acutely aware that the Imperial Plaque and commendation requested by Xie Ying was the foundation of his stability and reputation in the countryside.

Without the presence of Gao gonggong and the Jinyiwei issuing Imperial commands and specifically making an appearance, would the lofty County Magistrate Qi have taken notice of the son of a fifth-rank official? Would the son of a third-rank Commander-in-Chief, Young Master Wang, have been willing to lower his status to befriend someone who was not even a certified scholar at the time?

 Without that Imperial commendation as his backing and with the wealth he had earned from the Zhirong Bookstore, how could Cui Que and his furen not find him for their share, which brought him back to the capital?

Cui Xie understood very well that if he had not met Xie Ying, and without his selfless assistance, his journey in academia would not have been so smooth. Perhaps to Xie Ying, these were mere trivialities, but for Cui Xie, they were immense acts of kindness.

Yet, his fondness for Xie Ying did not stem from gratitude alone; it was more primal, more instinctive…

Cui Xie recognized beauty and admired it greatly.

Because Xie Ying was handsome, had a pleasant temperament, and was both gentle and considerate, he fit almost all of Cui Xie’s criteria for his dream lover, except for gender. But since Cui Xie had come to terms with not being the straightest man in the universe, even gender was no longer an issue.

If someone else had helped him, Cui Xie would have tried his best to repay them within his capabilities. But, he would not have dreamt of them at night, nor would he have so readily accepted his own feelings and confessed to them.

Cui Xie was not a high school student, naive about love and affection…he was an adult who owned a 2 TB hard drive, and had once, in the dead of night, shared tales of myriad experiences with his dorm mates at university.

Gripping Xie Ying’s hands tightly, he spoke in a low voice, “Of course, I would thank anyone who helps me, even if it meant giving away all that I have. But the one who haunts my thoughts, day and night, is only you. If you truly dislike it, I will never speak of it again. But, asking me to extinguish these burning feelings is something I cannot accomplish.”

Cui Xie’s palms were slightly clammy, in contrast to Xie Ying’s dry hands, showing his nervousness. Even at this critical moment, where an unsuccessful confession could mean even forsaking their friendship, Cui Xie was acutely aware of this small detail. He was even slightly worried that Xie Ying might find his sweaty hand unpleasant.

Fortunately, Xie Ying did not seem to mind this minor issue.

Allowing Cui Xie to hold onto him, Xie Ying asked in a low voice, “Do you understand your own status? Do you know what reputation we Jinyiwei have among the literati? If you say you are grateful for my initial rescue and wish to maintain relations with my family, this is understandable—it is you being grateful. But, if you stir up rumors about a personal affair with a Jinyiwei officer, all the good reputation you have built up over the years will be washed away, and you will no longer have a place among the literati…”

“If you truly have a liking for the same-sex, could you not find someone willing to reciprocate your feelings elsewhere? Ordinary people can satisfy such desires with courtesans or servants. Wasn’t your servant…the one you used to be called Pengyan, isn’t he both good-looking and clever?”

Cui Xie shuddered at Xie Ying’s words.

With the servant called Pengyan? Wasn’t that like having a relationship with a college roommate? Theirs was a purely platonic friendship, nothing more!

Urging his horse a bit closer, Cui Xie forcefully pried open Xie Ying’s fingers and intertwined it with his own, palm to palm, looking directly into the other’s eyes. He spoke deliberately, “In my life, I have met many people, both men and women, and never have I felt this way. If Xie-xiong truly has no feelings for me, I will give up and never mention a word of it again. But on the day of the Double Seventh Festival, you clearly showed some sign of willingness…”

Xie Ying had even held hands with him before parting on the day of the Double Seventh Festival. How could things change so suddenly? Was it possible someone had spoken ill of Cui Xie behind his back, persuading Xie Ying to break ties?

Cui Xie’s fingers whitened as the strength of his grip increased, as if wishing their hands could grow together, so even if his confession failed, they could not be separated.

Xie Ying looked down at their intertwined hands, his expression calm, his breathing so muted it was almost inaudible. He asked quietly, “There is one more thing I need to ask…have you ever experienced romantic love? Do you truly understand what a same-sex relationship entails?”

“Although I have not experienced it personally…” Cui Xie thought that he had plenty of knowledge! When he was drawing the new clothing designs, he almost ended up watching several suggestive videos on accident on the flash drive!

Xie Ying suddenly lowered his body, his long arm hooking and supporting Cui Xie’s underarm and lifting him onto his own horse. He positioned Cui Xie to sit facing him, in front of the saddle, and then kissed Cui Xie’s slightly dry lips with intensity.

The bouquet of roses was tossed into the bag behind the small saddle, swaying for a moment before settling down resiliently. Xie Ying’s hand firmly pressed against the back of Cui Xie’s head, while his other hand slid beneath the hem of Cui Xie’s clothing, grasping the other’s slightly trembling waist and abdomen.

It was only when the horse beneath them started moving on its own that Xie Ying straightened up. He wiped the moisture from Cui Xie’s lips and spoke in a hoarse voice, ‘This is what the world refers to when having adult relationships, not just writing poems or giving sweets and tea. If we really become a couple, what I would do would be even more excessive than this. You still have the chance to leave now, but if you don’t…”

He did not dare to look at Cui Xie’s face, only feeling the intense trembling of the body under his hands, as if Cui Xie was scared.

Xie Ying stopped the horse and dismounted first, waiting to see if Cui Xie would get down on his own or ride away. Unexpectedly, Cui Xie’s horse just shifted in place, and then a pair of slender, sturdy hands, not as feeble as those of a typical scholar, reached out to Xie Ying’s shoulder, pressing firmly against him, forcing Xie Ying to look up.

As Xie Ying raised his head slightly, he saw Cui Xie’s face, seemingly with a hint of a smile, which was twisted with nervousness, descending towards him. Cui Xie’s pursed lips pressed heavily against Xie Ying’s.

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TN: Hope you are all doing well, have a great weekend and stay safe! Just had my last day of classes! Only a couple weeks left before I graduate university AHHH!! Also this chapter had me BLUSHING

Huge Announcement: We have set up a kofi and patreon account! If you would like to support us or get early access to advance chapters for Blood-Sucking Empress OR TMD, those options are available for you (in support us page)! I have just added a patreon tier for Transmigrating to the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Examinations in which patreons can have access to a google document with ALL of my advanced translated chapters for the novel. Since I am a college student, there should usually be at least 10 advance chapters in the document at a time, but depending on my schedules, there may be fewer or more. I’m currently extremely busy, but I have translated out some new chapters for you all! But, I will still post each week with the same schedule. Thanks!

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