When I heard someone cry out "Ouch" from outside, I initially thought it was a maid, but turning around, I saw it was my Little Mother. She was still frozen in the posture of having dropped a tray, her large eyes staring at me blankly as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. It wasn't until I pulled her into a hug that she finally snapped out of it. I had originally intended to play the delicate daughter and throw myself into her arms to act spoiled, but as I lunged forward, I realized I was now half a head taller than her. I had to settle for pulling her into my embrace instead, which seemed to have the same effect.
Once she regained her senses, her tears began to fall instantly. Her reaction startled me; in my panic, I picked her up off the ground. "What’s wrong? Don't cry. Haven't I come back? Don't cry, I won't leave again."
Startled by my sudden move, Little Mother immediately shifted from tears to laughter. She swatted at my shoulder and began to grumble, "How is it that the older you get, the less proper you become?"
I set her down, and she tilted her head up to examine me closely. She seemed slightly plumper than when I had left, yet she remained as radiant as ever. I cupped her face and grinned. "Little Mother, you’ve put on some weight. Do you need to go on a diet?"
She slapped my hands away, feigning anger. "No respect for your elders!" Then she laughed. "In a few days, we’ll go to the Great Compassion Temple on Mount Chan to burn incense. Now that you’ve returned safely, we must fulfill our vows before the Bodhisattva." She gave me a gentle push toward the door. "Go see the First Mother and your second sister. Everyone has been worried about you."
I gave a quick word of agreement and ran out. This was my home turf, after all; even running felt more comfortable here. In the pond beneath the rockery, the water lilies were in bloom, and the cluster of Pink Bell trees that Minzhi and I had planted were also flowering. Strings of pink blossoms hung from the branches like tiny rosy bells.
Almost nothing here had changed since I left.
From a distance, I saw several figures moving about in Madam Zhang’s courtyard. I let out a loud shout: "The bandits are here! Leave the pretty young lady behind!"
The figures scattered in confusion. Naturally, it was Wuxiu who spotted me first. Startled and delighted, she lifted her skirts and came jogging over. I scooped her up and spun her around twice, making her shriek with surprise before she broke into laughter.
I set her down and looked her over. She had grown even more beautiful—petite, with skin as fair as jade, arched brows, and long, phoenix-like eyes. Her delicate, heart-shaped face was as exquisite as a porcelain doll’s.
I glanced at the elderly women standing in the distance and sighed. "Are they tormenting you again?"
Wuxiu shook her head and lowered her voice. "They are from the Palace. They’ve come to teach imperial etiquette." At this, her cheeks flushed a faint crimson.
I was utterly confused. "What are people from the Palace doing at our house?"
As I asked, even the tips of Wuxiu’s ears turned a soft pink. "His Highness the Crown Prince is selecting a consort. The Empress Dowager has named me as a candidate..."
My heart sank with a heavy thud.
Seeing my silence, Wuxiu looked up at me with her watery eyes, appearing puzzled. I took a deep breath and said slowly, "Sister, the Imperial Palace is the biggest nest of trouble in the world. You..."
As Wuxiu looked at me, a flash of stubbornness suddenly crossed her fragile face—I almost thought I had imagined it. But it lasted only a moment before she lowered her head again, biting her red lip. "Then I accept my fate..." she said with absolute resolve.
I stared at her blankly, unsure of what to say. I felt a faint realization that in the two years I had been gone, she had changed too. I had never realized that her normally weak and obedient nature contained such a stubborn streak.
Wuxiu took my hand and whispered, "Third Sister, I know you mean well for me. But he... he..."
Suddenly, I understood. I couldn't help but sigh. "That Crown Prince—you like him, don't you?"
Wuxiu hesitated for a moment before nodding, her face turning red. I wanted to ask where she had met him, but then I thought better of it. What was the point? She was already set on this path.
Seeing Madam Zhang walking toward us, I quickly said something important: "Sister, I have enough strength to protect you now. I won't let anyone bully you."
Wuxiu looked at me, touched yet slightly amused. I threw a bold arm around her slender shoulders, thinking to myself: *If any of the Crown Prince’s harem of wives and concubines dares to bully her, I’ll personally slaughter them to go with my wine.* I gave Wuxiu a reassuring look, then let go to pay my respects to Madam Zhang. Madam Zhang looked at me with a complex expression and finally sighed. "It’s good that you’re back. If your father continues to indulge you like this..."
Wuxiu quickly interrupted her. "Mother, Nanny Wang is here."
Nanny Wang approached with two palace maids, her face full of smiles. "I thought a bandit king had descended upon us, but it turns out the Third Miss has returned. You’ve grown more beautiful by the day, though you’ve tanned a bit."
I hurriedly bowed to the old woman. Since Wuxiu’s future was at stake, I couldn't afford to be rude to these people. Nanny Wang exchanged a few polite words and then said, "Since there are family matters to attend to, we shall return tomorrow. Princess Qingrong will surely be happy to hear the Third Miss is back. I shall head back now to deliver the news."
Madam Zhang led us to escort the old woman to the middle gate.
From the look in Madam Zhang’s eyes, I knew she was about to lecture me. She had always disliked how wild I was and wanted to train me to be just like Wuxiu. As the First Madam of the Ji household, her thinking was perfectly normal, and I understood she meant well. However, because she always held that intention, she was the person I feared most in the entire family.
Just as I was nursing a headache, I heard a loud shout from behind me. "Tomboy! You finally remembered to come home?"
Overjoyed, I turned around to see Minzhi, with Minyan following behind him. Both were beaming. Minzhi had grown taller, and his features increasingly resembled our father’s. Especially when he smiled, that vibrant spirit was the spitting image of the old man. Minyan was nearly as tall as I was; he took after Little Mother, perhaps a bit too handsome for his own good. He was pursing his lips, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Minzhi tapped my forehead with his fan and said excitedly, "You’ve grown so tall? And you’re tanned like a piece of charcoal. You actually knew to come back?"
I rubbed my forehead and said, "I brought back the best horse in the world. If you hit me again, I won't let you see it."
Minzhi and Minyan’s eyes lit up instantly, and they dragged me toward the stables. Madam Zhang had no choice but to let us go. Wuxiu, who likely never got a break from her lessons, was also glowing with excitement.
"Love You for Ten Thousand Years" was peacefully munching on fodder in the stable. Seeing a crowd of spectators, it maintained an air of utter indifference. Minzhi was itching to ride it, but I stopped him. I was afraid he’d be kicked if he wasn't careful. Sure enough, as soon as he tried to get close, the horse bared its teeth at him.
Minzhi was both anxious and helpless. Minyan, however, was more composed. He advised, "Just pamper it a bit. Once it’s familiar with you, it might let you ride."
I pinched Minyan’s cheek and said, "You’re the cleverest one," as a new idea suddenly struck me.
"Father’s birthday is in two months," I said. "Let’s team up and give him a gift."
Minyan’s eyes brightened. "What gift?"
I gestured for them to lean in and began whispering my plan.
***
The day Master Rong Qin left happened to be the traditional Summer Festival of Yantian. The roads leading out of the city were filled with colorful paper windmills and festive decorations. Children were running about, and the atmosphere was lively everywhere.
Master Rong Qin appeared very calm. Once we passed the Eighteen-Mile Pavilion, she wouldn't let me escort her any further.
"Xi Xia," she said, gazing at me with a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Our time as master and apprentice is ending; we likely won't see each other much in the future. I have one more question for you: Do you truly believe that the law is supreme?"
I nodded firmly.
Master Rong Qin’s gaze slowly drifted toward the distance. "Then you must make yourself strong enough."
I only half-understood her words.
Her expression grew solemn. "In truth, you understand in your heart that many things stand above the law. Xi Xia, my advice to you is this: make yourself powerful. Only then can you achieve what you claim—that everyone is equal before the law. Otherwise, you and your ideals will be nothing more than small tools in the hands of the privileged. If you cannot achieve this, then you must learn to bow your head and become tactful enough to navigate the cracks between privilege and the law."
Her words struck my heart like a heavy hammer, making it difficult to breathe for a moment.
Master Rong Qin reached out to stroke my hair and smiled gently. "If you truly cannot persevere, do not force yourself. I will keep the position of Sect Leader of the Ming Sect open for you." With that, she leaped onto her horse, and the bay mare shot forward like an arrow from a bow.
I was left alone, standing on the great road with a heart full of melancholy.
I didn't know what the usual procedure was for the Ministry of Justice to recruit newcomers, but this time, it began with a written examination. The venue was set within the main courtyard of the Ministry of Justice.
Since it was the preliminary round, I didn't want to attract too much attention, so I dressed in men's clothing before leaving home. When I arrived, the great hall of the Ministry was packed with people. My seat was in a corner, relatively inconspicuous. The proctors included Luo Jin and two scholars from the Hanlin Academy sent by the Emperor.
Everyone had guessed the topic long ago—it was the usual clichés about stabilizing the country and securing the borders. I mentally rehearsed the flowery essay Minzhi had written for me, transcribed it carefully, and was the first to submit my paper.
Luo Jin looked at me with a smile. I bowed respectfully and withdrew. He had come to our house yesterday to explain the examination process; this was only the first stage. Thus, there was nothing to be nervous about—it wasn't like I was competing for the title of Martial Scholar yet. The important part was the martial exam in a few days. At that time, His Majesty the Emperor would grace the event with his presence. To be honest, aside from concerns about my gender, I wasn't worried about the combat at all.
Leaving the Ministry of Justice, I strolled onto the busiest street. Coming from such a stifling atmosphere, I only felt relaxed once I was squeezed into a crowd. Two veiled girls walked toward me, glancing my way intentionally or otherwise. I suddenly wondered if Minzhi’s white robes were too eye-catching. Or perhaps I looked so dashing as a boy that they had fallen for me?
Just as I was enjoying my own thoughts, my vision was blocked as a figure stepped in front of me.
"My master requests the young gentleman’s presence upstairs for a chat."
I looked up to see a tall man cupping his fists in greeting. He had dark skin and cold, sharp features—someone I didn't recognize. Seeing my startled expression, the man smiled. "My master is an old acquaintance the young gentleman met on the grasslands."
My heart skipped a beat. An old acquaintance from the grasslands? Could it be Shao Ming?
Fuyan Tower was arguably the largest restaurant in Zhongjing. Come to think of it, this was my first time inside. I followed the tall man to the second floor, where he respectfully lifted the bamboo curtain of a private room and gestured for me to enter.
Several young noblemen were gathered in the room, seemingly having a party. I immediately saw Shao Ming sitting by the window in a white robe. His eyes were shimmering like rippling water, and his half-smiling gaze landed right on me.
It really was him...
Perhaps out of sheer surprise, the moment our eyes met, I involuntarily held my breath.
Shao Ming stood up and walked over, offering a shallow smile as he naturally took my hand. "You came to Zhongjing and didn't look for me?"
Perhaps he was slightly tipsy, for his brows and the corners of his eyes radiated a hint of laziness. Compared to his appearance on the grasslands, he was noticeably less sharp and more unrestrainedly elegant. Even his faint smile held a softness I had never seen in him before.
A person I never expected to see again had appeared before me so unexpectedly, leaving me momentarily at a loss. My heart surged with both shock and joy. But more than that, there was a sense of... dizziness that I couldn't quite understand.
A few faint sparks flickered in Shao Ming’s dark pupils, but before I could see them clearly, he lowered his eyelids. When he looked up again, his gaze was one of refined composure. He released my hand and turned to introduce me to the group. "This is the little brother I met on the grasslands, Xi Xia."
The people at the table stood up one after another. The gentleman closest to me had just taken a sip of wine; when he turned around and came face-to-face with me, he froze. Then, with a "pfft," he sprayed a mouthful of wine all over me—it was Minzhi.
***
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