"The Mu Tian Mansion has twenty-five officials, of whom twenty-four are graduates. Last night, I stayed in the Hanlin Academy for the whole night, and I read through the examination papers of each official during the imperial examination... Although I am tired, I have memorized the handwriting of each one of them. The matters of the Southern Internal Accounts are of great importance. It must be their own handwriting in the account books. As long as I get hold of the account books, I can identify which officials are involved."
The incredible feat of memorizing the handwriting of twenty-four individuals in one night is something beyond imagination, and only the young man before them, who had achieved the zhuangyuan in imperial examination at the age of fifteen, could have accomplished it.
Not only Han Ye, but even Ren Anle's fan, which had been shaking in her hand, came to a halt. After a moment of silence, she smiled at Han Ye with a complex expression and said, somewhat wistfully, "Your Highness, you have taught a good disciple."
Han Ye did not respond and turned back to his room, implying his agreement with the matter.
Late at night, the weather was gloomy. As soon as Han Ye stepped out of his room, he saw Ren Anle sitting on the windowsill with a small wine jug in her arms. Her face was hidden in the moonlight, showing a fleeting coldness.
He paused for a moment, but eventually stepped forward and addressed the official.
"Ren daren...," he said.
"Ren Anle." Ren Anle turned her head and shook the wine pot at Han Ye, and seriously corrected him, "Why, does Your Highness have some important matter?"
Han Ye walked up to her and asked, "Why did you leave Wen Shuo behind? Since you knew from the beginning that he was following you, you shouldn't have waited until now to tell me."
"Your Highness, Wen Shuo is worried about you, which is why he followed you all the way from the capital. Moreover, the court is full of twists and turns, and a wrong step could lead to an irreparable disaster. He is talented and intelligent, and if he gains experience earlier, he will grow faster."
Han Ye knew that Ren Anle's words were all reasonable, but he still frowned and said, "I will protect him."
"How long can you protect him? Eventually, one day he will have to learn to leave the protection of His highness's wings. In this world, apart from oneself, there is no one who can protect anyone else."
Ren Anle's conviction in his eyes was too certain, and Han Ye squinted his eyes: "Ren Anle, you seem to care too much about Wen Shuo...why?"
Ren Anle was taken aback and gazed into the boundless night for a moment before softly speaking, "I once had a younger brother... unfortunately, he was born weak and died in infancy. If he were still alive, he would be the same age as Wen Shuo."
Han Ye could clearly see the deep sorrow that flashed across the eyes of this woman who was always playful in the world. It was a bone-chilling sadness that only came when one's closest blood was lost. She quietly looked at him, her dark eyes familiar and cold, as if he had seen her somewhere before...
"Your Highness," whispered Ren Anle softly, causing Han Ye to snap out of his daze. He clenched his hands behind his back. He looked at Ren Anle and pursed his thin lips.
A woman on the windowsill jumped down, shaking an empty wine jug as she stumbled towards the room.
"Your Highness, to be alive is a blessing, you should cherish it."
A faint voice came, Han Ye turned around, only to see a lonely and desolate figure disappearing at the end of the corridor.