Jingzhi

Zhao Huiluan countered, "Do you like her, then?"

"She's so overbearing and unreasonable. Who would like her?"

Zhao Huiluan lifted a corner of her veiled hat and smiled at Zhang Yunchi.

"Brother Yanli, if I remember correctly, you once said the same thing about me."

Zhang Yunchi was briefly at a loss for words.

He dropped the corner of her veil in irritation. That's different. No matter how willful my own little sister is, she's still adorable.

Zhao Huiluan said no more. She watched the street below grow more crowded, her thoughts gradually drifting away.

In her previous life, she had been very fond of Wen Nihe, fond of how cheerful and straightforward she was. Wen Nihe had treated her very well too. Knowing she liked unusual trinkets, she was always seeking them out and giving them to her.

The two had met at the Qionglin Banquet.

Zhao Huiluan had heard that the top three candidates in the imperial examination were all exceptionally handsome and dashing. Burning with curiosity, she had slipped away to see them. As it happened, she had run into Wen Nihe, who had come with the same idea.

Bold as she was, Wen Nihe had pulled the hesitant Zhao Huiluan into a hiding place in a corner. It was not her first time seeing the top three, and she had whispered to Zhao Huiluan which one was the champion, which was the second-place candidate, and which was the third.

Zhao Huiluan had not understood why she had risked sneaking another look when she had already seen them. Then she had heard Wen Hong, the grand secretary, petition for an imperial decree granting his granddaughter's marriage to the champion.

Wen Nihe's face had flushed red with embarrassment, only to turn deathly pale in an instant when she heard the champion refuse the marriage.

That day, beside Taiye Lake, Zhao Huiluan had comforted the weeping Wen Nihe for a very, very long time.

But later...

The sound of gongs, drums, and suona horns reached her ears.

"Look, it's starting."

Zhao Huiluan came back to herself and looked in the direction Zhang Yunchi was pointing.

A large procession was slowly making its way down the street.

Lion dancers cleared the way, with musicians leading the procession. The top three examination candidates wore black gauze hats adorned with purple and gold and bright red robes. They rode tall horses, surrounded by attendants in front and behind.

All along the way, people kept tossing flowering branches to them. Few made it into their hands, and blossoms of every color fell scattered across the ground.

"Jianjian, do you see him? The very first one is this year's examination champion."

"He's remarkable! He placed first in all three levels of the imperial examinations! In the hundred years since Great Yin was founded, such men have been few and far between. He's only the second!"

Zhang Yunchi was even more excited than the young ladies lining the street.

But Zhao Huiluan already knew everything he was telling her.

She also knew that the man had not merely placed first in all three levels of the imperial examinations. He had come first at every step of the way, in the county, prefectural, and academy examinations as well.

She watched the man draw nearer and held out her hand. Nianxia passed her a flowering wisteria branch.

The red-maned horse carried the champion past the window. Zhao Huiluan let go, and the branch fell squarely into his hand.

The champion looked up in surprise.

His thin lips were pressed lightly together, his brows and eyes deep-set. Like a green pine beneath the moon, he was elegant and noble.

A breeze brushed past, gently lifting the edge of her veil.

Zhao Huiluan smiled as their eyes met.

Having returned from rebirth, everyone she saw was an old acquaintance.

Long time no see, Rong An.

"I wonder when I'll get to enjoy a scene like this?" Zhang Yunchi gazed after the departing procession and heaved a long sigh toward the heavens.

Amused, Zhao Huiluan asked him, "You want to become an examination champion too?"

"Mm."

The way Zhang Yunchi nodded did not look like a joke.

No wonder he had reserved a private room in advance to watch the procession!

"Do Grandfather and Uncle know you want to enter officialdom through the imperial examinations?"

Zhang Yunchi shook his head. "But they'll definitely support me."

"You come from a noble family, and your family's title will pass to you sooner or later. There's no need for you to suffer through the examinations."

"No!"

Zhang Yunchi declared, "I refuse to rely on my ancestors' protection! One day, I'll be the best fighter among civil officials and the most learned among military commanders—a scholar-general. Just you wait and see, Jianjian!"

Zhao Huiluan was astonished by his ambition.

She raised her teacup to her brother. "This year's champion made the dragon and tiger list at nineteen. You're only sixteen, Brother; your future in officialdom is bright!"

Zhang Yunchi laughed. "How many people in this world have placed first in all three examinations at nineteen? They're as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. But I'll work hard and try to make the list in the next examination. Speaking of which, that third-place candidate wasn't very old either. I heard he's only twenty."

He clinked cups with Zhao Huiluan and drank his tea before it dawned on him.

"How did you know Rong An was nineteen?"

"You said so," Zhao Huiluan replied. "How else would I know?"

"Did I?"

"You did. You forgot."

Chapter 11: Jingzhi

Zhang Yunchi waited until the crowd below had mostly dispersed before taking Zhao Huiluan downstairs.

"Ang'er should know by now that we left him behind and went out of the palace. I need to think of a way to coax him, or he'll make a fuss at me for ages."

Zhao Huiluan saw an old man carrying candied hawthorns around the street corner and patted Zhang Yunchi.

"He only has eyes for you, his elder sister. He'd make a fuss at you?"

Zhao Huiluan lifted her veil and tilted her head back, imitating her little brother's puff-cheeked, aggrieved expression. "Just like this, with tears brimming in his eyes. Wouldn't your heart ache to death?"

Zhang Yunchi could not help laughing, but his face immediately darkened again. Irritated, he settled her veil properly over her face.

"Don't lift it again, or I won't bring you out anymore."

He fetched two copper coins from his waist, exchanged them for two skewers of candied hawthorns, and handed one to Zhao Huiluan.

Zhao Huiluan said disdainfully, "You still eat these?"

"I bought them for you!" Zhang Yunchi was exasperated. "Eat that one first. I'll hold this one!"

"Oh, thank you, Brother Yanli."

Zhang Yunchi glanced at the two maids struggling to suppress their laughter and could no longer work up a temper.

He looked at the sky and urged Zhao Huiluan to get into the carriage, but she acted as though she had not heard him and wandered down the street, swinging her candied hawthorns.

He knew this sister of his was ordinarily cooped up in the palace and rarely got a chance to come out for some air, so he let her indulge herself a little longer.

He signaled Nianxia and Fudong to stay close and protect her, while he led the carriage behind them.

The streets of the imperial capital bustled with life, and the young lady was playful and lovely.

At the Son of Heaven's feet, surely there would be no...

Danger!

Five burly masked men stood across the middle of the street, each holding a short cudgel.