At the end of February, after days of thick clouds, what drifted down over the capital was no longer the snowflakes of winter, but raindrops. Though the rain carried a biting chill, the breath of spring was already unmistakable.
Tomorrow was the day the Ministry of Rites would announce the results of the provincial examination.
Cheng Si-lang had been sitting in his study for half the day. Though the exams had ended half a month ago, the palace examination still lay ahead, and he dared not indulge in idleness – he had to keep studying diligently. Yet, he wasn’t sure whether there was still any need to.
If he didn’t pass the provincial exam…
The spring rain fell soundlessly, but to Cheng Si-lang it seemed as if his ears were filled with noise.
He finally rose to pace back and forth, then suddenly stopped, pricking up his ears – faint, uneven footsteps could be heard outside. His heart tightened at once; he hurried back to his desk and sat upright. But once seated, the footsteps vanished.
Did he mishear?
Cheng Si-lang slumped his shoulders again and stared gloomily at the books on his desk. Sure enough, he couldn’t read a word, so he simply stood up once more.
Just then, the door was flung open.
“Fourth Young Master!” the maid’s laughing voice rang out.
Cheng Si-lang was so startled that he stumbled back into his chair.
Laughter rippled through the room.
“Ban Qin, don’t tease the young master!” Ban Qin said, pushing the other girl aside and stepping in first.
Cheng Si-lang’s face flushed crimson; forcing himself to appear calm, he picked up a book.
“What is it? I’m studying…” he said.
The maid stifled her laughter, her expression suddenly dimming as she stepped forward.
“Fourth Young Master…” she said plaintively.
“Ban Qin!” Ban Qin stamped her foot. “Don’t tease the young master.”
Then she stepped forward, curtsied gracefully, and her smile bloomed like a flower.
“Congratulations, Fourth Young Master,” she said.
Cheng Si-lang’s mind went blank with a loud boom – as if fireworks had exploded before his eyes.
Although the official announcement wouldn’t come until tomorrow, the list was already out, and those with influence or connections could find out the results in advance.
And his sister, Cheng Jiao-niang, certainly counted as someone with both influence and ability.
Had he passed?
“Ban Qin, it’s not that I wanted to tease Fourth Young Master – it’s that Fourth Young Master wants to imitate Grand Preceptor Xie.”
“Who’s Grand Preceptor Xie?”
The two maids’ chatter continued by his ears, but Cheng Si-lang no longer heard a word of it. His mind was filled only with the words I passed, I passed – until he couldn’t hold it in anymore and broke into a wide grin.
“…Three hundred and fifty-sixth place…”
Second Master Cheng snorted as he spoke.
“They admitted four hundred and eighteen in total.”
Cheng Si-lang’s face showed a trace of embarrassment – though of course, this was a very different kind of embarrassment from failing the exam. His mood was entirely different.
“It’s still a pass,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
“Even those at the very bottom sometimes rise to the top in the palace exam,” the maid added with a laugh. “I heard that when Master took the provincial exam, he ranked two hundred and ninetieth, but in the palace exam he jumped all the way to a hundred and thirty-fourth!”
Second Master Cheng’s face changed abruptly at those words, but before he could speak, Cheng Qi-niang piped up first.
“Father scored better than Fourth Brother!” she said happily.
“Yes, yes – and that year there were fewer candidates, so only three hundred were admitted,” the maid said with a grin.
Three hundred… two hundred and ninety?
“Ah, then Father was among the last ten,” Cheng Qi-niang blurted out after a quick bit of mental arithmetic.
Second Master Cheng glared furiously at her.
“It’s already rare enough for one family to produce two jinshi!” Second Madam Cheng hastily smoothed things over.
“Not that rare, surely?” the maid said sweetly, still smiling.
Whose maid was this? So unruly – was she even part of the Cheng household anymore?
Second Master Cheng was about to scold her – whose family isn’t rare, indeed! – but as the words reached his lips, he suddenly came to his senses when he looked closely at the girl.
This maid really wasn’t theirs at all!
She was from the Zhang family – Zhang Jiangzhou’s household. From their ancestors down to the present, the Zhangs had produced more than just two jinshi. Even without counting the older generations, in just the past two alone, they had produced no fewer than four…
This maid had been sent over as a gift from a teacher and elder – how could he just scold her?
Second Master Cheng swallowed his reprimand mid-breath.
“Focus on preparing for the palace examination,” he said curtly, flinging his sleeve as he left.
“Fourth Young Master, let’s go see the results!” the maid said with a cheerful smile, paying no mind to Second Master Cheng’s dark and brooding expression.
“But we already know the results – why go look in person?” Ban Qin asked.
The maid laughed.
“It’s lively there – just like a grand temple fair or a lantern festival. So many people, so much fun,” she said. “And you might even see someone catching a husband beneath the list!”
At that, the eyes of several young ladies in the room lit up.
Come to think of it, they had been in the capital for nearly two months now. The flowering trees in the courtyard, bare when they’d first arrived, were already budding with blossoms. From deep winter to early spring – an entire season had passed – and yet they hadn’t stepped beyond the gates, let alone gone to a fair or a festival.
Everyone said the capital was bustling and full of delights, but to them, it still felt duller than life back in Jiang-zhou.
Hearing the maid describe all the excitement, the girls could no longer sit still.
“Miss, shall we accompany Fourth Young Master?” the maid asked Cheng Jiao-niang.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“Fourth Young Master?” the maid then turned to look at Cheng Si-lang.
Since his sister had already agreed, how could Cheng Si-lang possibly refuse? He nodded at once.
“You girls…” The maid’s gaze shifted toward Cheng Si-niang, Cheng Wu-niang and Cheng Qi-niang, taking in their bright, expectant faces. “You can all come along too,” she said.
The three young ladies were instantly overjoyed and stood up without thinking.
But Cheng Qi-niang abruptly sat back down with a thump, her face stiff as she gave a little snort.
Seeing this, Cheng Si-niang and Cheng Wu-niang hesitated, exchanged glances, and half-rose from their seats, uncertain whether to go or stay.
“Then let’s change clothes and head out. Someone, prepare the carriage!” the maid called out brightly, gesturing for them to follow.
Since she’d already invited them, it would be rude to refuse. Cheng Si-niang and Cheng Wu-niang no longer hesitated and stepped forward.
As everyone began to move, Cheng Qi-niang suddenly jumped up again.
“Fourth Brother!” she called, hurrying over to grab Cheng Si-lang’s sleeve. “I want to ride in the same carriage as you.”
Cheng Si-lang smiled indulgently and nodded.
Seeing the maids and servants bustling about because so many people were going out, the long-overlooked madam of the household, Second Madam Cheng, had no choice but to rise as well.
“Ban Qin, Ban Qin!”
She hurried out and, spotting the maid giving instructions to several servants, spoke to her with a pleasant smile.
The maid answered dutifully and only came over after finishing what she was saying to the others.
“What are your orders, Madam?” she asked.
“Since Si-lang has passed the exam, we must celebrate properly,” Second Madam Cheng said with a smile.
“Of course – Madam can make whatever arrangements she wishes,” the maid replied cheerfully. “If you need to spend anything, you can draw it from my account. I’ll be accompanying Madam and the others to view the list.”
With that, she started off, but after taking a few steps, she turned back again.
“Oh, by the way – will you be joining us too?” she asked with a sweet smile.
Second Madam Cheng rolled her eyes inwardly.
“No, no, what would I go for? Let the children have their fun,” she said with a smile, watching the maid turn and leave with a cheerful face. But the moment the girl’s figure disappeared through the courtyard gate, the smile on her own face vanished instantly.
I make the arrangements? Draw the money from you? What does that make me?!
Second Madam Cheng exhaled sharply. Holding household papers in name only while being a powerless figurehead – she had no wish to endure such days for long.
The main street was packed to the brim with people, shoulder to shoulder, so crowded that at a glance, it seemed endless.
“Young Master, how are we supposed to get through this?”
A young servant gaped in astonishment.
“Ha, clearly it’s your first time coming to see the list,” a scholar nearby said with a laugh, pointing at the wide-eyed servant – and at the dazed young master beside him.
“That’s right! Back then, we came and waited from the third watch of the night.”
Hearing that voice, the scholar turned toward the speaker.
“Yuanchao, this time your long night’s wait has truly paid off,” he said with a smile, clasping his hands in salute. “Congratulations on passing the exam!”
The moment the words “passed the exam” were shouted out, Han Yuanchao didn’t even have time to reply before a crowd surged in around him. One after another, people pressed close, their eyes gleaming like hungry wolves. If not for his quick-witted servants holding them back, someone might have already grabbed hold of him.
“Sir, are you married?” voices of all pitches and tones asked at once.
“Yes, yes, I’m already married!” Han Yuanchao answered hastily.
At once, the crowd scattered like a receding tide.
Han Yuanchao exchanged a glance with his companion, and the two of them burst out laughing.
“Catching a husband beneath the results list – how bold!” the scholar said with a laugh. Then, as he kept laughing, a thought struck him. “Yuanchao, do you remember three years ago? You almost got caught yourself…”
“That’s not true,” Han Yuanchao said with a smile. “How many times have I explained that?”
“Yes, yes, it wasn’t Minister Chen’s household. Minister Chen’s daughter – the young lady famed for her beautiful calligraphy – her chosen husband this time is also a jinshi, but not one caught beneath the list.” The scholar chuckled. “So who was it that tried to catch you as a son-in-law back then?”
“I’ve told you so many times – it wasn’t like that,” Han Yuanchao replied helplessly. But mid-sentence, his voice trailed off as he suddenly turned to look in one direction.
“Look, look – someone caught one of the new scholars!”
The maid laughed as she pointed ahead.
Sitting outside the carriage, Cheng Si-niang, Cheng Wu-niang and Cheng Qi-niang all craned their necks to look, their faces alight with excitement.
“Oh my, they’re that old and still fighting over him?” Cheng Si-niang said in astonishment.
“Of course they’re fighting!” the maid said with a grin. “Bringing a jinshi home means lots of benefits – your whole family gets lighter taxes. Less tax means more profit, naturally.”
“Eh? Then he’s practically a lucky cat!” Cheng Wu-niang giggled.
They hadn’t even finished watching before another commotion broke out ahead – three or four groups of people had started brawling. Cheng Qi-niang burst into peals of laughter.
Cheng Si-lang looked at his younger sisters, half helpless and half amused.
“Are you here to see the list with me, or just to watch the spectacle?” he asked with a laugh.
“Do you really want to see the list?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
Cheng Si-lang gave an embarrassed smile and glanced ahead at the crowd so tightly packed that not even a needle could slip through.
Of course, seeing his own name on the list with his own eyes would be thrilling, but…
“I already know the result – what’s there to see?” he said with a smile.
Cheng Jiao-niang smiled faintly.
“Well then…” She turned her head to the side, and the moment she spoke, four or five attendants stepped forward.
“My lady,” they said in unison.
“Clear a path. I’ll go take a look with Fourth Young Master,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
“Yes, my lady,” the attendants answered, and immediately charged into the crowd like wolves and tigers, hacking open a path through the throng.
Seeing the path suddenly open before them, Cheng Si-lang hurried forward, glancing at Cheng Jiao-niang as he walked.
“Sister, don’t tell me you don’t even know the names of your own attendants?” he asked, a thought striking him.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“I haven’t paid attention,” she said. “I’ll make a note of them when we get back.”
Cheng Si-lang burst out laughing, then carefully shielded her as they made their way toward the place where the examination list was posted.
Who was that?
Han Yuanchao couldn’t help wondering as he watched. The crowd parted and closed again, and soon the young lady and the scholar beside her disappeared into the sea of people. Were they going to see the results too?
“Yuanchao! Yuanchao!”
His companion’s loud voice and a pat on the shoulder broke his train of thought.
“Look – look over there!” the companion said, still thumping his shoulder while pointing to one side.
On a nearby carriage, a maid was still showing the young ladies the commotion outside, laughing heartily from time to time.
“That maid looks a bit familiar,” the companion said, glancing at Han Yuanchao. “Isn’t she the one who came looking for you back then?”
Han Yuanchao chuckled softly.
“Come on, what’s there to see? Let’s go back and focus on preparing for the palace exam,” he said, neatly changing the subject as he turned away.
The words palace exam instantly brought his companion back to his senses, dampening his curiosity.
“Yes, yes – let’s go,” he said quickly.
The two of them made their way against the tide of the crowd.
Cheng Jiao-niang and Cheng Si-lang stopped beneath the imperial notice board. They already knew his ranking in advance, so they had a rough idea where to look – but even so, Cheng Si-lang’s eyes first went straight to the very top of the list.
Qin Hu.
“It’s that Young Master Qin,” Cheng Si-lang said, his tone a mix of surprise and admiration. “So young, and already so brilliant?”
Cheng Jiao-niang glanced at him and smiled faintly.
“Some people are simply gifted. There’s no need to compare yourself or dwell on it,” she said.
“I’m not comparing,” Cheng Si-lang said with a grin. His eyes moved down to the bottom of the page, and soon he found his own name. His heart thumped, and excitement filled his face. “Look, that’s me – there, that’s mine!”
Sure enough, seeing his own name with his own eyes felt entirely different.
People nearby noticed his excitement, craned their necks to see which name he was pointing at, then smirked.
“To get that worked up over being near the bottom – what would the top scorer do, faint and have to be carried out?” they whispered with a laugh.
…
“Master!”
Five miles outside the capital, two horses slowed to a stop. One of the servants pointed ahead and shouted,
“Look – it’s Young Master Zhou!”
The young man on the horse behind him removed his hood, revealing his face – it was none other than Qin Hu, the newly crowned top scholar.
A bright smile spread across Qin Shi’san’s face as he looked at the approaching riders galloping toward him.
“Ah, Guard Zhou! You’ve had a hard journey,” he called out with a laugh, urging his horse forward and saluting loudly.
Zhou Liu-lang was still wearing his rain cloak, though the drops upon it had long since been dried by the wind. He reached up to remove his hat and gave a small snort as he looked at Qin Shi’san-lang.
“Not at all, not at all – you do me too much honor, Provincial Champion Qin,” he said, returning the salute.
Qin Shi’san-lang laughed heartily, straightening his posture atop his horse.
“Come now, call out a few more times!” he said. “It’s only fair, since I rode all this way through the rain at dawn just to welcome you.”
Zhou Liu-lang spat lightly in mock disgust, then suddenly pulled a flower garland from behind him.
Qin Shi’san-lang started in alarm.
“What are you doing?!” he shouted, wheeling his horse around.
But he was a step too slow – Zhou Liu-lang urged his mount forward, reached out, and caught him.
“I’m not wearing that thing!” Qin Shi’san-lang shouted.
In the end, Qin Shi’san-lang couldn’t resist Zhou Liu-lang’s strong arms – he was held down, and the flower garland was forced onto his head.
“They’re already calling you Provincial Champion Qin! How could you not wear flowers?” Zhou Liu-lang roared with laughter.
“The palace exam hasn’t even been held yet! What’s the point of wearing this?” Qin Shi’san-lang protested, reaching up to pull it off.
Zhou Liu-lang pressed his hand down to stop him.
“Hey, you limping brat, what’s the matter? Afraid that if you wear it, you won’t make the top ten later?” he teased.
Qin Shi’san-lang spat.
“Don’t try to provoke me – it won’t work,” he said, spurring his horse forward. The crooked, ridiculous flower garland still perched askew on his head.
“That day, I’ll wear flowers again when I make the top ten – I just don’t like your ugly ones.”
“They are ugly.”
“Where did you even get them?”
“Couldn’t you pick something nicer?”
“You stole them from the roadside, didn’t you? No way you paid for them.”
Zhou Liu-lang burst into hearty laughter, spurred his horse, and the two of them galloped off – one after the other, racing ahead down the road.
