One Hundred Ambition

“I’m done, I’m done, I’m done.”

The unruly children, frightened, dared not look up at Hu Xiaocui as they spoke.

“Will you bully others next time?”

Hu Xiaocui pressed forward step by step, questioning the children.

“No, no, no!”

They retreated, waving their hands anxiously.

Hu Xiaocui tapped the rattan ball once, sending it flying behind the children.

“Run, run!”

The children grabbed the ball and fled.

“Yuanfeng, let’s go home.”

Hu Xiaocui patted Wang Yuanfeng, who was still stunned.

“Oh, okay!”

Wang Yuanfeng finally snapped back to reality.

“My lady, you’re amazing. Can you teach me how to kick the ball?”

Wang Yuanfeng asked as they walked.

“Go study.”

Hu Xiaocui’s tone was sharp.

“Xiaocui, please teach me to play ball.”

Wang Yuanfeng pouted.

“You, sneaking out instead of studying, I’m already lenient not scolding you. Don’t even think about being my apprentice. Don’t push your luck.”

Hu Xiaocui swatted Wang Yuanfeng’s hand.

“Master Xiaocui, please teach Yuanfeng to play ball. I’ll listen to everything you say.”

Wang Yuanfeng took Hu Xiaocui’s hand, shaking it.

“Good boy. Your hand’s hurt. Go get it treated.”

Hu Xiaocui pulled on Wang Yuanfeng’s hand, dragging him inside.

“This injury doesn’t matter. Teach Yuanfeng to play ball, Xiaocui.”

Wang Yuanfeng broke free.

“Doesn’t matter? Fine, then go study!”

Hu Xiaocui gave up, thinking he was just a big baby.

“Young lady, I’ve removed the weeds over there. Anything else?”

A maid approached.

“I want some bamboo shoots.”

Hu Xiaocui gave instructions.

“I’ll check with the cook. We might have dried bamboo shoots.”

The maid nodded.

“Wait, I don’t want dried bamboo shoots.”

Hu Xiaocui called her back.

“Right, pickled ones taste better. I could eat a lot.”

Wang Yuanfeng chimed in, patting his belly, earning an eye roll from Hu Xiaocui.

“I’m not the one eating. Go study and stop talking.”

Hu Xiaocui now understood the suffering Wang Hongzhi endured all these years—he’d be driven mad sooner or later.

“Xiaocui, if you’re not for eating, then what for?”

Wang Yuanfeng lingered, reluctant to leave.

“I’m going to plant them. Now go to the study. I’ll check on you later.”

Hu Xiaocui tried to send him away, but Wang Yuanfeng wasn’t about to leave, and what came next nearly made her want to hit him.

“Plant? You want to eat bamboo leaves?”

Wang Yuanfeng laughed.

“Do you take me for an animal? I want to plant a grove of green bamboo in the garden!”

Hu Xiaocui rolled her eyes.

“Lady, fresh bamboo shoots are hard to come by this season.”

The maid looked troubled.

“Well...”

Hu Xiaocui stroked her chin, thinking that if she went to the Green Bamboo Hollow to pick shoots, she’d certainly encounter her mother, Hu Yuji, and end up beaten.

“I know where there are bamboo shoots!”

Wang Yuanfeng crossed his arms confidently.

“Really? Then tell me.”

Hu Xiaocui felt relieved she wouldn’t have to go to the hollow.

“I won’t tell you.”

Wang Yuanfeng shook his head.

“Hmph, you don’t know. You’re lying to me.”

Hu Xiaocui was trying to coax the truth out of him.

“Do you think I don’t know? Why would I lie? Of course I know.”

Wang Yuanfeng tapped his foot, proud.

“Then where?”

Hu Xiaocui was surprised by his cleverness.

“Only if you teach me to play ball.”

Wang Yuanfeng smirked.

“Alright, it’s a deal.”

Hu Xiaocui circled him.

At the gate of the Advisory Office.

“It’s you again, fool. What do you want? Speak up.”

Wang Jihong’s face darkened when he saw Wang Yuanfeng.

“Master Wang, I want to buy some bamboo shoots.”

Wang Yuanfeng smiled.

“Buy bamboo shoots? Do you think the Advisory Office is a market?”

Wang Jihong snapped.

“No, I mean your backyard has lots of green bamboo. There must be shoots.”

Wang Yuanfeng waved dismissively.

“Oh, ha ha... you’re joking!”

“No sale!”

Wang Jihong chuckled briefly, then turned and shut the gate.

“If you won’t sell, I’ll sneak in tonight.”

Wang Yuanfeng thought to himself and left.

That night.

Hu Xiaocui was asleep. Wang Yuanfeng was still in the study, a rope tied to his braid hanging from the ceiling. Whenever he dozed off, the rope would jerk him awake.

“Yuanfeng.”

Wang Hongzhi saw the lit study and came in.

“Father.”

Wang Yuanfeng looked up.

“Pulling the rope to stay awake, huh? I never expected you to study hard. Good, very determined.”

Wang Hongzhi patted his shoulder, pleased.

“Seems marrying a wife has made you grow up.”

Wang Hongzhi thought to himself.

“Father, you told me to memorize more Tang poems, but I can’t remember any.”

Wang Yuanfeng looked at the characters, but his mind was blank.

“That’s okay. Take it slow. Learn one poem a day. Eventually, you’ll remember them all.”

Wang Hongzhi encouraged him.

“Really?”

Wang Yuanfeng asked skeptically.

“Of course. After marrying, you’ve matured a bit. I won’t disturb you. Study hard.”

Wang Hongzhi said with feeling, then left.

“Goodbye, Father.”

Wang Yuanfeng watched him go and sighed in relief.

“The moon is high. Everyone should be asleep.”

Wang Yuanfeng gathered tools from under the desk, brought out a ladder, and tiptoed out of the Tai Chang Mansion.

“What’s he up to? Bringing a ladder out so late?”

As Wang Yuanfeng moved, Hu Xiaocui woke, noticing he wasn’t asleep. She dressed and followed him.

Wang Yuanfeng placed the ladder in the Advisory Office’s backyard and climbed up, then moved the ladder inside and climbed down.

He looked around and began digging for bamboo shoots according to memory.

“So he’s trying to dig bamboo shoots.”

Hu Xiaocui hid nearby, watching. Suddenly, she sensed a great demon’s presence.

Inside a room.

Yao Shuang lay sideways on the bed in black clothes. Her graceful figure ended in a snake’s tail. A middle-aged man, gagged and terrified, trembled with wide eyes.

“Miss Yao, this man’s robust body will surely aid your recovery.”

Wang Jinpin trembled despite having met her before.

“My vital energy and skills have recovered ninety percent. No need to bring anyone else.”

Yao Shuang transformed her tail into legs. If Li Xintian came, she surely couldn’t win.

“Miss Yao’s vitality is restored. That’s wonderful. Your efforts weren’t in vain.”

Wang Jinpin bowed.

“Rest assured, I, Yao Shuang, am not ungrateful.”

Yao Shuang touched her waist, a gesture that stirred desire.

“Kindness expects no reward. Besides, you saved my life. I’m just returning the favor.”

Wang Jinpin lowered his eyes, unable to meet hers.

“Ha! Returning the favor? I think you’re just baiting me.”

Yao Shuang giggled.

“Alright, straight to the point. Miss Yao, I want to take it further.”

Wang Jinpin spoke openly.

“You want to be emperor?”

Yao Shuang sneered.

“Ha! The higher you go, the colder it gets. I just want to be prime minister.”

Wang Jinpin laughed, then grew serious.

“If you want to be prime minister, I have to be empress first.”

His words gave Yao Shuang a clue. She sat up, raising an eyebrow.

“What? You want to be empress?”

Wang Jinpin was shocked.

“There’s someone outside!”

Yao Shuang raised her hand, sensing a small demon approaching. Hu Xiaocui followed the scent to the window, immediately detected by Yao Shuang.

Yao Shuang stood and walked toward the door. Hu Xiaocui, sensing danger, transformed into a green bamboo stalk beside the window.

Yao Shuang waved her hand, opened the door, and scanned the surroundings. She saw Wang Yuanfeng squatting, digging for bamboo shoots.

“That brat! Injured last time, now he’s coming to me again.”

Yao Shuang approached the bamboo stalk Hu Xiaocui had become, sniffed, then looked at Wang Yuanfeng. Without hesitation, her lower body shifted into a snake’s tail and slowly crept behind him.

Wang Yuanfeng happily dug, unaware of the danger.

Yao Shuang’s tail lightly tapped Wang Yuanfeng’s left shoulder.

He paused, checked, found nothing, smiled, and continued digging.

Her tail then wrapped tightly around his waist, choking him.

“Hahaha... This time I won’t let you go.”

Yao Shuang laughed wildly.

Hu Xiaocui appeared, throwing realgar powder at the snake tail. Yao Shuang immediately retracted her tail, changing back to legs.

“Let’s go.”

Hu Xiaocui pulled Wang Yuanfeng away from the Advisory Office.

“That fool’s wife must die for this!”

Wang Jinpin watched Hu Xiaocui and Wang Yuanfeng leave, furious.