Yang Chuxia looked up at him, seeing the concern, reluctance, and heartache on his face, and couldn’t help but feel even more distressed.
Brother An had been away from home before, having traveled extensively and often being away from home, even going to the prefecture city for a month this time, but no departure had ever made her feel so melancholy.
As her gaze fell on Ye Zi’an’s delicate, jade-like face, full of nobility, she suddenly realized something. Such a man, like a pearl, would inevitably shine brightly one day, and at that time, no one would be able to cover up his brilliance, and countless people would flock to him.
The Capital City was also full of beauties, beautiful women with incredible talents, charm, gentleness, and good family backgrounds. She wasn’t afraid that Ye Zi’an would change his heart, but she was afraid that someone would actively approach him, and that person would be irresistible. For example, the princesses and commandery princesses in the plays often chose their husbands.
That was the sorrow of a society based on imperial power.
"Xiaxia, what’s wrong?" Seemingly sensing her sorrow, Ye Zi’an was somewhat alarmed.
"I was just thinking about whether I could dot some moles on your face to make you less striking. That way, even if you become an Advanced Scholar, not many people will notice you. The plays all say that country boys who become scholars will be noticed by those young ladies from big families." Yang Chuxia joked casually.
However, Ye Zi’an seriously considered the feasibility of this idea, saying, "You’re not wrong. Whenever someone ranks high in the Cultivated Talent or Recommended Man examinations, people start paying attention, and then someone will actively approach them to arrange a marriage. I heard that it is even more so for the Advanced Scholar exam. Noble families may not necessarily participate, but the families of high-ranking officials, especially those of the second or third rank, love to find husbands for their daughters in such places."
"Oh, why isn’t the first rank mentioned?" Yang Chuxia asked, puzzled.
Ye Zi’an explained, "The first rank officials are focused on the palace and the noble families, or else those old aristocratic families. As for those with even lower ranks, the Advanced Scholars might look down on them."
"How so? They are still officials, even if they have a lower rank," Yang Chuxia remarked.
Ye Zi’an continued, "In the Capital City, officials of the fifth or sixth rank or even the fourth or fifth rank can be found everywhere, making it very difficult for them to rise higher. But Advanced Scholars are different, as they have even more opportunities for advancement. At this point, who wouldn’t want a more powerful father-in-law for themselves?"
Then Ye Zi’an touched his face and added, "I think that if I participate in the exam , I might become one of those people’s targets. They don’t care if you have a wife already, and they might even try to demote my wife to a concubine, or persuade me to divorce her and remarry. Those families are very arrogant and conceited, thinking that they are important officials in the capital, and they don’t put people like us, from peasant families, in their eyes. They think they are doing you a favor by letting you follow their orders."
Yang Chuxia was stunned by his words.
"Then what should we do?"
Ye Zi’an grinned, "Didn’t my wife think of a solution?"
"What solution do I have?" She didn’t say anything.
Ye Zi’an laughed, "Dotting moles on my face, right?"
With that, Ye Zi’an went to the study and brought back several brushes and found an eyebrow pencil and some loose powder from Yang Chuxia’s vanity. He then started messing around with them in front of the mirror.