Following the vine to the melon-the Censorial Authority's second-in-command splashed out eight thousand taels!

It was evening.

Jia Huan left the office and returned to the estate.

He had just reached the Ceremonial Gate when he saw Jia Zheng and Jia Baoyu, both beaming, seeing off a thin, refined young man.

Perhaps he had caught a chill; every few words, the young man broke into a coughing fit, his face flushing crimson as he struggled for breath.

"Baoyu, fetch a Fox-Fur Coat, quickly!" Jia Zheng ordered at once.

Jia Baoyu took off at a run.

The young man drew a yellowed, gourd-shaped medicine bottle from his sleeve and tipped two pills into his mouth. Only then did he slowly recover, saying with a hint of apology:

"Sorry to have alarmed you. I've suffered from blood congestion disease since childhood. Fortunately, I obtained an effective medicine two years ago. Though it cannot cure me completely, once I take it, I'm no different from anyone else."

From some distance away, Jia Huan studied the young man.

More precisely, he was staring at the yellowed gourd-shaped medicine bottle in his hand!

"It hasn't been easy for you, Yangshan!" Jia Zheng sighed inwardly. Despite his illness, the young man had placed second in the imperial examinations. If that ignorant little scourge possessed such unwavering resolve, why would he ever need to worry about failing to put his name on the golden list?

"Brother Yangshan, here."

Jia Baoyu returned and handed him a thick fox-fur coat.

"Thank you, Bao Di." Shen Fu put it on, then bowed with clasped hands and took his leave.

Jia Huan stepped forward and looked at Jia Zheng. "Who was that?"

Stroking his beard, Jia Zheng said proudly:

"Shen Fu. He's pursuing his studies at the Hanlin Academy. He placed second in the last imperial examinations!"

"Wang Ziteng introduced him to us so he