Chapter Seven
“Where is yourmind?”
Zhi Hao started at the sharp words from his tutor, but he was too slow to avoid the slap to the back of his head. It wasn’t painful, but it was powerful enough to make his head jerk.
“Master Gao,” he said, fighting to keep his tone respectful. “I am right here.”
“Your ass is here.” The man pointed to emphasize his crude words. “Your eyes are in the garden. I want to know where your mind is.”
“On the meaning of—”
“Do not lie to me.” The man’s tone indicated that he would tolerate no more evasion.
Zhi Hao grimaced and looked down. He’d been terribly distracted today, and there was no hiding it. So he relented with as much grace as he could master.
“Please tell me about the Song daughter next door.”
Master Hao’s face softened. “Ah. You have heard her singing, haven’t you?”
“Um—”
“She’s quite talented, but that is not the Song daughter. That is the cousin, come to stay for a while with them.”
Zhi Hao nodded, wondering just how much he should reveal of what had happened last night. Nothing, of course. But he wanted to know more about Ling Xin.
“What do you know of the Song daughter?” he pressed. “Not the cousin.”
“Why?”
“Her family is powerful, yes? Her father—”
“He’s an earl who advises the emperor on matters of finance. He has two sons, both smart, and yet neither passed the exam. And do you know why?”
Zhi Hao shook his head.
“Because they became distracted! Because they met women and thought of flower petals and creamy skin when they should…be….studying!” His last words were punctuated with stabs on the scrolls in front of Zhi Hao.
“Yes, master,” Zhi Hao intoned. But though his head was bowed, his mind was racing. If the two sons of an earl could not pass the exam, what chance did he have? “Didn’t their father pay the bribes?”
“Bribes? Don’t be ridiculous! Imagine an earl attempting to cheat the exam. Everyone involved would be beheaded.” He glared straight at Zhi Hao. “No man can pass the exam by bribery.”
“Yes, Master Gao.”
“Many have tried, to their shame. And punishment!”
“Yes, Master Gao.”
“Do not think of trying to bribe anyone!”
Zhi Hao stifled his snort. He had no coin to bribe anyone. His only hope was to impress with his intelligence and knowledge of imperial policy, Confucian doctrine, and…and…
Damnation, he was tired. After last night’s experience, he had been too filled with desire to sleep. The girl had been everything he wanted in a woman. Beautiful, refined, and with a sense of daring that made his cock twitch even now.
“Where is your mind?” Master Gao bellowed again, and Zhi Hao jolted, not at the sound but at the fact that his mind had wandered again. Why couldn’t he focus?
He gripped his ink brush and let the words out despite Master Gao’s irritation. “The Song daughter will have a large dowry, will she not?”
Master Gao grunted as he took a seat across from Zhi Hao. “So you are thinking of your future after you fail the exam. Already you have given up—”