Hequ

Zhao Huiluan remembered how the question she had asked before her death had gone unanswered. She remembered her fingers climbing Yunsong's collar, only for her hand to fall before she could see that black mole again.

She squeezed her eyes shut, wrenching herself free of those painful memories.

Then she heard Shen Zhiyao say, "It's a pity women cannot take the imperial examinations in this world."

"In the storybooks I've read, there are women who

disguise themselves as men

and take the imperial examinations. Their official careers go smoothly, and they soar straight into the clouds."

Shen Zhiyao was stunned for a moment. She shook her head, a trace of regret in her voice. "Students must have their identities verified before entering the examination hall. It would not be advisable for a woman to disguise herself as a man and sit the examinations."

"Zhang Yanli, what sort of nonsense storybooks have you been finding for Her Highness?" Shen Zhiyun shot Zhang Yunchi a rather disdainful glance.

Zhang Yunchi, stabbed in the back for no reason, said helplessly, "I wasn't the one who found them for Her Highness. It was Xiao..."

"Ridiculous! Why can't women be content in the inner quarters instead of thinking about taking the imperial examinations?"

"His Majesty is a benevolent and virtuous ruler. Allowing women into the Imperial College is already an act of boundless imperial grace. The examinations and official careers are men's business. How can hens be allowed to crow at dawn?"

Shen Zhiyao lifted her eyes slightly and asked coolly, "In that case, may I ask whether every man in the world has his name on the list? Are you confident about next year's autumn examination? Will you be able to inscribe your names on the golden list in the spring examination the year after?"

Chapter 26: Hequ

Seeing that the students were both ashamed and angry, Shen Zhiyun, who had ranked first in both the classics and policy essays for months, also spoke up with a bright smile.

"Why don't you have a contest with this humble young woman first? I'm not afraid of losing, but if you lose, it would be a disgrace even if you made the list in the next two years. Do you dare?"

Zhang Yunchi secretly gave her a thumbs-up.

Then Shen Zhiyun's smile faded, and she said solemnly, "We are discussing official careers for women not because we want to compete with you men, but because we wonder whether there might also be a broad and open road for women in this world. Yet you fear that once one flower blooms, all others will be slain, that women will steal all the limelight and leave you utterly humiliated."

"What you do not understand is that you must earn your own dignity, not gain it by suppressing your opponents."

Shen Zhiyao listened and added, "Great Yin has ministers and generals who stabilize the state and bring peace to the realm, and it also has carefree recluses who till their own fields and delight in the Way. So why can women have no choices beyond remaining content in the inner quarters, serving their husbands and raising their children?"

"This, this, this goes against all reason!"

"Absurd! Absurd! It's utterly absurd!"

"No wonder the sage said that only women and petty men are difficult to deal with!"

"Vice Chancellor, they..."

As the quarrel among the students grew fiercer, and especially as the two Shen girls' words grew more outrageous, the Imperial College registrar broke out in an anxious sweat and could not help turning to Rong An for help.

Rong An looked over at them but said nothing.

Zhao Huiluan, who had remained silent all this time, curled her lips coldly. "Do you have some objection to me?"

"I was merely passing the time discussing stories from storybooks with my friends. Since when was it your place to criticize me?"

The students who had gone looking for trouble hastily lowered their heads, repeatedly saying, "We wouldn't dare."

Rong An said to the registrar, "Did you hear that?"

"Ah?"

Only after Rong An had walked away did the Imperial College registrar understand. Vice Chancellor Rong meant that since the princess had said they were discussing storybooks, there was no need to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Tao Xuanzhi thought to himself that Her Highness was as formidable as she had been as a child. Then he withdrew his gaze from Princess Zhenning and dismissed the class.

Afraid of angering Princess Zhenning again, the students scattered at once.

Wen Yan followed behind Shen Zhiyao, observing her discreetly. The more he looked, the more unusual he found her, and the more he liked her. Wen Nihe, following behind Wen Yan, saw her brother acting so cheaply and found it utterly disgraceful.

Shen Zhiyun glanced at the silent Zhang Yunchi, then at Zhao Huiluan, who still wore an impatient expression. Saying, "I'm going back to sleep," she left.

Tao Xuanzhi remembered what Zhao Huiluan had said back then—that they had "never met"-and showed no sign that he knew the princess. As he left, he cupped his hands to Zhao Huiluan.

When he was about to leave, Zhang Yunchi blocked his path.

Without a word, he gave Tao Xuanzhi a deep, respectful bow.

Tao Xuanzhi understood that he was thanking him for what had happened back then. He nodded slightly and accepted Zhang Yunchi's bow.

When he started to leave again, Zhao Huiluan called him back.

"Registrar Tao, how is Father Emperor's health?"

"His Majesty is in good health."

"What pills has he been taking lately?"

Tao Xuanzhi froze. By rights, he could not disclose that, even to someone as exalted as the princess.

Zhao Huiluan had not expected him to tell her. Having been reborn, how could she not know what pills her father took?

"Here at the Imperial College, I cannot attend to Father Emperor and fulfill my filial duties. I truly worry about him."

"I will convey Your Highness's filial devotion to His Majesty. I believe he will be very pleased."

"Registrar Tao."

Zhao Huiluan tapped the tabletop with a fingertip and watched the man before her bow a little lower.

"I wonder, Registrar Tao, do you miss your parents back home?"

"I am alone. I have no relatives left at home."

Zhao Huiluan nodded as though it had just occurred to her.

"If I remember correctly, Registrar Tao's hometown is in the north, in Hequ?"

"Yes."

"Did your relatives perish when the Oirats invaded south eight years ago?"

"Yes."

"That is truly a pity."

Back then, the Xiao Family had intended to retake Hequ to secure Great Yin's gateway, but unexpectedly became embroiled in Wen Hong's struggle for power and was sacrificed. The following year, the Oirats invaded from the north, and countless innocent commoners perished beneath their iron hooves.

Tao Xuanzhi fell silent for a moment, then replied, "Life and death are decreed by fate; wealth and honor are ordained by heaven. They cannot be forced by human effort. I have come to terms with it."

Zhao Huiluan nodded and let him leave.

Zhang Yunchi watched him walk away and sneered. "The past has scattered like smoke. He is now a registrar of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. His rank may not be high, but he has His Majesty's trust and is enjoying the height of imperial favor. This should be his time to enjoy glory while he lives. Why would he stake his future on relatives who have been dead for years?"

"I merely remembered what Teacher said about winning over the heart being the best strategy, and decided to try it."