Although she had drawn the tea ceremony, the subject she knew best, Zhen Tingyun still couldn’t help feeling nervous when her turn finally arrived.
The hand holding her bamboo slip had grown damp with sweat. Fortunately, the nervousness lasted only a moment. She quickly steadied herself.
Imitating the composure Zhou Qingjun had displayed moments earlier, she stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the middle-aged instructor, and presented the bamboo slip with both hands.
Without either arrogance or timidity, she announced, “This student has drawn Question Eighteen: Tea Ceremony Etiquette.”
The instructor accepted the bamboo slip and glanced at it. Her brows rose slightly in surprise. “Few people ever draw this question.”
What she left unsaid was that, over the years, there had been repeated discussions within the academy about removing tea ceremony etiquette from the Rites examination altogether.
Not all applicants came from wealthy or aristocratic families.
Many talented girls of humble birth also sat for the entrance examination. Though exceptionally gifted, they naturally lacked the refinement and cultural upbringing of daughters from prominent households. Tea ceremony etiquette, in particular, required careful instruction from an experienced teacher. If the examination became more demanding, it could even include judging the fragrance and flavor of tea.
If Zhen Yiyun had been present, she might have compared it to modern wine tasting among the wealthy.
Just as many ordinary people today couldn’t distinguish an expensive vintage wine from an inexpensive bottle bought at a supermarket, many girls from poor families likewise couldn’t tell the difference between tea brewed with rainwater and tea brewed with melted snow.
In the end, however, the academy had decided not to remove the topic. The pool of examination questions was large, making the chance of drawing it quite small. Furthermore, applicants from humble backgrounds were themselves only a minority.
If one of them happened to draw this topic…
Well, that was simply bad luck.
And if bad luck kept someone from entering the academy…
There was little to be done about it.
As these thoughts flashed through her mind, the instructor quietly examined Zhen Tingyun from head to toe.
Very few hair ornaments. Plain clothing. No extravagant jewelry. Even the embroidered toe of her shoe still bore a faint smear of dried mud, suggesting she had recently walked along an unpaved road.
She almost certainly wasn’t from a powerful noble family.
If that was the case…
Her tea ceremony skills were probably lacking.
The instructor fell into thoughtful silence.
Zhen Tingyun, meanwhile, had no idea what conclusions the instructor was drawing.
She simply stood with her head slightly lowered, waiting respectfully for the examination to begin.
After a moment, the instructor finally spoke. “There is a complete tea set here. Demonstrate the tea ceremony for me.”
“Yes, Teacher.” Zhen Tingyun answered crisply.
She walked to one of the display shelves and carefully carried down an entire tea service, arranging it neatly upon the long table in the center of the room.
Then she knelt upon the cushion before it.
Rolling back her sleeves just enough to reveal a slender wrist as white as frost, she began preparing tea.
Of course…
There was no brazier.
No water.
No tea leaves.
Only an empty tea set lay before her.
Performing the tea ceremony under such circumstances required rather a great deal of imagination.
Fortunately, imagination was precisely what Zhen Tingyun had.
She remembered the journey back to the capital.
Many times along the road, she and Yuanhui had sat together inside the carriage, passing the hours by brewing tea. Sometimes, when the mood struck him, Yuanhui would prepare the tea himself. More often, however, she was the one performing each step while Yuanhui sat nearby, occasionally offering quiet corrections.
…
As those memories resurfaced, as she recalled performing these very movements countless times, her heart gradually settled into complete calm. All anxiety vanished. Her bearing became serene and elegant, carrying an indescribable grace. Even the intricate sequence of movements flowed as naturally as drifting clouds and running water.
There was no tea.
There was no water.
Yet everyone present seemed almost able to smell the fragrance of freshly brewed leaves.
Standing at the back, both Zhou Qingjun and Yang Qionghua unconsciously straightened their posture.
Zhou Qingjun in particular fixed her eyes upon Zhen Tingyun. Her dark gaze followed every movement without missing the slightest detail. Her expression was grave. Utterly focused.
Even the instructor seated at the front quietly drew in a breath.
This… was completely unexpected.
In the profound silence, each person absorbed in different thoughts, Zhen Tingyun completed the final step.
She poured the imagined tea into a cup and placed the cup upon a serving tray.
Lowering her graceful neck, she raised the tray with both hands. It was the proper posture for respectfully offering tea.
The instructor looked at the young woman before her.
Her profile, slightly bowed, was tranquil and beautiful, as though imbued with the very spirit of tea itself. The fingers supporting the tray were long, slender, and exquisitely fair. Even her neatly trimmed nails glowed with a delicate blush of pink. Finally, there was the teacup resting upon the tray.
Though completely empty…
The instructor suddenly found herself strangely thirsty.
She wanted nothing more than to drink from it.
After a long silence, she nodded. “Very good.”
She was just about to record Zhen Tingyun’s score when something seemed to occur to her.
Smiling faintly, she remarked, “Come to think of it, this is just the right season for Longjing tea. The spring harvest has already rested for several months without yet being touched by the heat of midsummer. It’s the ideal time for appreciating its flavor.”
Whether this was merely an idle observation or a question posed in disguise, no one could quite tell.
Zhen Tingyun set the tray down.
She hesitated over whether she should answer.
Then, all at once, she remembered something Yuanhui had casually remarked the very first time he taught her to brew tea. “This tea still isn’t good enough. Truly superior Longjing carries a fragrance like orchids with a hint of roasted chestnuts, clear, pure, and remarkably refined.”
Something stirred in Zhen Tingyun’s mind. Nodding in agreement, she replied, “Indeed. The finest Longjing has a fragrance like orchids with a hint of roasted chestnuts, wonderfully clear and refined. At this time of year, it is especially delightful to drink.”
“Well said.” The middle-aged instructor gave her a long, searching look before lowering her brush to record the score. With a quiet smile, she remarked, “If all the candidates were like you ladies, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have enough A grades to give out.”
The implication was obvious. She had awarded Zhen Tingyun an A as well.
Joy welled up in Zhen Tingyun’s heart. She solemnly bowed to the instructor before respectfully stepping aside.
Next came Yang Qionghua. Unfortunately, her luck was far worse. She had drawn one of the most difficult topics: the etiquette of formal bows and prostrations.
The Rites of Zhou describes nine different forms of ceremonial salutation:
- Qishou (full kowtow),
- Dunshou,
- Kongshou,
- Zhendong,
- Jibai (auspicious bow),
- Xiongbai (mourning bow),
- Qibai,
- Baobai,
- Subai.
In short, Yang Qionghua not only had to explain each type but also demonstrate the proper movements.
After repeating the various bows several times, her face had turned slightly pale from the effort.
Seeing this, Zhen Tingyun couldn’t help feeling a little guilty.
After all, Yang Qionghua had generously yielded her the chance to draw second.
And it was only because Zhen Tingyun had shaken the bamboo tube like a fortune-stick cylinder that Yang Qionghua had mischievously copied her, only to end up drawing such an unfortunate topic.
Fortunately, the middle-aged instructor had no intention of making things overly difficult.
After asking a few questions, she also awarded Yang Qionghua an A. Just as she’d said earlier, if every candidate after these three performed at the same level, she really might run out of A grades.
***
After finishing the examination in Rites, they proceeded to the Music examination.
There was already a line outside the examination hall, so the three of them joined the queue at the back. From inside drifted wave after wave of elegant music. Every young woman confident enough to sit for the academy entrance examination was naturally an accomplished student.
Most were capable musicians as well.
The melodies flowing from the hall were graceful and moving.
While waiting, Zhen Tingyun turned to Yang Qionghua. “I heard candidates are allowed to bring their own instruments for this examination. How come I don’t see either of you carrying anything?”
Yang Qionghua had already recovered from her earlier ordeal.
Blinking, she explained, “You can leave your instrument at the academy beforehand. It wouldn’t be convenient to carry it around all day during the examinations. I deposited my qin as soon as I arrived, so it’ll already be waiting inside.”
Just as Zhen Tingyun had guessed earlier, Yang Qionghua possessed a pair of extraordinarily beautiful hands.
Her greatest skill was playing the qin, the seven-stringed zither.
As for Zhou Qingjun, according to Yang Qionghua, she specialized in the se, an older and larger type of zither.
As she spoke, Yang Qionghua suddenly thought of something. Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she leaned close to whisper, “Actually, the music examination also allows ensemble performances. When I was learning the qin, I always imagined how wonderful it would be if someone played the se alongside me. A qin and se performing in harmony…”
“We’d probably astonish the entire examination hall.”
She sighed. “Unfortunately…”
Unfortunately… Although Yang Qionghua played the qin and Zhou Qingjun played the se, the two of them had never gotten along. How could they possibly perform in perfect harmony?
Zhen Tingyun glanced toward Zhou Qingjun. The latter still stood perfectly straight, seemingly oblivious to the whispered conversation behind her. Tentatively, Zhen Tingyun asked, “Then… what about a qin and xiao duet?”
As she spoke, she drew the jade xiao xiao from inside her robes.
Yang Qionghua fell silent.
Sometimes, disdain didn’t need to be spoken aloud.
Zhen Tingyun herself couldn’t help laughing. She had only been joking.
Although Yuanhui had originally taught her the xiao with the idea that she might someday find someone to perform together with, her own skill had improved considerably since then. She was perfectly willing to rely on herself.
Seeing Yang Qionghua’s face twist as though she’d bitten into a bitter melon, Zhen Tingyun smiled. “I’m only teasing. An ensemble isn’t just about skill. You need time to rehearse and develop real coordination.”
Only then did Yang Qionghua breathe a sigh of relief.
This was an examination, after all. Playful as she might be, she would never joke about something so important. Although she and Zhou Qingjun didn’t get along, Yang Qionghua trusted Zhou Qingjun’s mastery of the se completely.
She knew Zhou Qingjun’s ability was every bit the equal of her own.
If the two of them truly performed together, they might well surpass everyone else present.
As for Zhen Tingyun…
Though Yang Qionghua already felt an unexpected sense of kinship with her and genuinely enjoyed talking with her, they had only just met. She had no idea how accomplished Zhen was musically.
If they rashly attempted an ensemble and everything went smoothly, all would be well.
But if something went wrong… Wouldn’t they both suffer for it?
As they chatted, their turn arrived surprisingly quickly.
Since the order had already been established, Zhou Qingjun once again went first. Zhen Tingyun followed second. Yang Qionghua would perform last.
Zhou Qingjun lifted her hands to the se.
Her slender fingers glided across the strings. A rich, resonant melody flowed from the ancient instrument.
The music rose layer upon layer, like waves surging one after another toward the boundless blue horizon.
Just as the whitecaps seemed ready to merge with the sky itself, the tide suddenly turned. The waves rolled back into the depths. The sea became calm once more. Yet beneath the glittering surface, unseen currents gathered strength, preparing the next, even greater swell.
Within the music’s endless rising and falling lay the beauty of contrast, the beauty of transition, and the beauty of emotion.
Listening, Zhen Tingyun suddenly understood why people regarded Zhou Qingjun as one of the capital’s foremost talented ladies. Why she could walk with her chin held high and why she looked upon others with such cool pride.
Because she truly possessed exceptional talent.
And talented people were entitled to a little pride.
As expected, when the performance ended, Zhou Qingjun received yet another A.
With such brilliance preceding her, Zhen Tingyun felt even more nervous as she stepped forward.
Fortunately, the jade xiao felt cool beneath her fingertips. By chance, her fingers brushed the single character Xi engraved upon the xiao. At once, her heart settled. She lifted the xiao to her lips.
Compared with Zhou Qingjun’s emotionally dynamic “Song of the Fishermen at Dusk,” Zhen Tingyun’s “Three Variations on the Plum Blossom” possessed an entirely different character.
The opening notes flowed bright and clear.
The pure sound of the xiao painted the purity of the plum blossom itself. Its elegant tone evoked blossoms blooming spotless against frost. Soon, however, the melody quickened. Sharp and urgent. Like a bitter winter wind sweeping across the landscape.
Before the listener’s eyes appeared the plum blossom standing proudly amid frost and snow, beautiful both in stillness and in motion. The title Three Variations on the Plum Blossom refers to repeating the same principal melody three separate times, each with its own variation. Again and again the melody returned. Like alternating frost and warm spring breezes. Like stillness giving way to movement.
These vivid contrasts only served to highlight the crimson plum blossoms blooming defiantly in the snow, their unwavering resilience, their steadfast refusal to yield, and the indomitable spirit they embodied.
When the last note of the xiao faded away, the young instructor seated at the front looked up at Zhen Tingyun.
Instructors responsible for judging the music examination rarely spoke. There were simply too many candidates and too little time, and after listening to performances from morning until evening, even beautiful music lost its novelty. It was like living in a room filled with orchids, after a long time, one no longer noticed the fragrance.
Besides, lovely as the students’ performances were, few reached the level that could truly move someone as experienced as she was.
Yet today, the young instructor unexpectedly felt inclined to comment.
Looking at Zhen Tingyun, she said, “To tell the truth, Three Variations on the Plum Blossom would actually suit Zhou Qingjun even better.”
It was an honest observation.
Zhou Qingjun was strikingly beautiful, cool and aloof, possessing exactly the sort of proud elegance associated with the plum blossom. Had she performed this piece, it might have seemed almost an expression of her own nature.
So when the instructor said this, Zhen Tingyun wasn’t offended. She simply lowered her head slightly and waited for the rest of the evaluation.
Sure enough, the instructor continued, “That said, you played it very well. Your technique isn’t yet completely polished, but your grasp of the music’s emotion is excellent. In particular, you captured the plum blossom’s purity and unyielding spirit within the melody.”
She paused before adding, “In that regard… even Zhou Qingjun might not surpass you.”
At those words, the look Zhou Qingjun directed at Zhen Tingyun became even more complicated.
Zhen Tingyun, however, remained perfectly composed, quietly waiting for the instructor to finish.
Unexpectedly, the instructor merely smiled, as though she delighted in keeping people in suspense. “So…” she said ambiguously, “whether I should give you an A… or only a B… is quite a difficult decision.”
Zhen Tingyun was speechless.
Before she could ask any further, the instructor waved a hand, signaling for her to step down and for Yang Qionghua to come forward.
Yang Qionghua’s slender fingers settled upon the qin. Music flowed effortlessly from beneath her fingertips. The melody was lively and joyful, much like Yang Qionghua herself, bright, clear, and sparkling like a mountain stream whose crystal waters invited passersby to stop and listen.
When the piece ended, the instructor’s expression softened into a smile. “Your qin performance deserves an A.”
Thus, both Zhou Qingjun and Yang Qionghua received A grades.
As for Zhen Tingyun…
Even after leaving the examination hall, she still had no idea whether she’d been given an A or a B.
She grumbled inwardly: If I ever become rich, I’m hiring an instructor who actually finishes what she’s saying.
The examinations in Charioteering and Archery proved much more straightforward.
With Malantou, her horse, working perfectly with her, Zhen Tingyun performed beyond her usual level and unexpectedly earned an A in charioteering, or, more accurately, horsemanship.
Zhou Qingjun was no less impressive.
Mounted on a spirited red horse, she galloped like a flash of lightning, heroic and graceful, and likewise received an A.
Only Yang Qionghua struggled. She was small to begin with and seemed rather afraid of heights. Even climbing into the saddle in her riding boots, she wobbled uncertainly. By the time she had completed a single lap around the course, beads of sweat covered her pale face. Her legs, still gripping the horse’s sides, had gone weak.
Looking pitifully at Zhen Tingyun, she called in a small voice, “Tingyun…”
Zhen Tingyun had no choice but to help her dismount.
The two of them had agreed beforehand that she’d lend Yang Qionghua a hand afterward.
As a result, Yang Qionghua received only a C, just barely a passing grade.
Even while clinging to Zhen Tingyun’s arm after getting off the horse, she continued complaining. “I was terrified… I almost thought I was going to fall off…”
After listening for a while, Zhen Tingyun finally couldn’t help asking, “Your riding…” She chose her words carefully instead of criticizing Yang outright. “Why didn’t you substitute it with something like chess, painting, poetry, or lyric composition?”
Using a substitute subject capped the score at a B.
Even so, that still looked much better than the C Yang Qionghua had just earned.
After all, Zhen Yiyun had done exactly that the previous year, substituting painting for archery and finishing with five A’s and one B.
Yang Qionghua wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief. “My father always tells me that the more frightened you are, the less you should shrink away. You have to face difficulties head-on and keep striving. That’s the only way to achieve anything. Besides, my family comes from a line of military officers. I’m the only girl in the Yang family who’s bad at riding and archery. If I didn’t even attempt the examination and chose a substitute subject instead… My father would definitely beat me when I got home.”
Zhen Tingyun was silent for a moment before asking, “…And getting a C won’t earn you a beating?”
Yang Qionghua also fell silent. After quite a while, she answered rather guiltily, “M-Maybe not…” A moment later she puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction. “So unfair… I really thought I’d get at least a B.”
Watching Yang Qionghua pout and mutter to herself, Zhen Tingyun couldn’t help laughing. She really was adorable.
After the laughter faded, Zhen Tingyun lifted her eyes toward the sky above the training grounds.
It was a brilliant sunny day. Not a single cloud stretched across the endless heavens. The entire sky resembled the purest sapphire, deep and luminous, filled with an impossibly clear blue.
Looking upward, Zhen Tingyun felt happier than she had in a long time.
No wonder so many girls dreamed of entering the Women’s Academy.
It truly was a wonderful place.
Here one could gain knowledge, meet teachers worthy of respect and classmates worthy of affection. At the very least, she was no longer the frog trapped at the bottom of a well. She was no longer confined within the tiny world of the Zhen household. Nor was she still frightened by those vague, endless dreams that had haunted her.
At last, she could see the broad, boundless blue sky above her.
***
The final examination was Archery. Each student was given ten arrows. Hitting the center of the target with all ten earned an A.
As expected, Zhou Qingjun once again received an A without question.
Even Yang Qionghua sighed in admiration. “This time she’s sure to finish with six A’s. Whether it’s the Capital Women’s Academy or Yuhua Women’s Academy, she’ll undoubtedly rank first.”
Zhen Tingyun was equally impressed. She nodded in agreement. “Every generation produces its own outstanding talents.”
This was precisely why Yang Qionghua had felt an instant kinship with her. The moment she heard those words, she understood the implication. Raising an eyebrow teasingly, she asked, “So what you really mean is that in a few years, it’ll be your turn as the rising star?”
Zhen Tingyun wore the picture of innocent confusion, as if she’d never implied any such thing.
Without another word, she stepped forward, picked up a bow, and nocked an arrow. She remembered that day on Western Hill when she and Yuanhui had shared the same horse and how Fu Changxi had stood behind her, guiding her hands as he patiently taught her how to draw a bow.
At that time, the deer had stood directly before her, much like the target now set up on the archery range.
Somewhere in the depths of her memory, Zhen Tingyun seemed to hear Yuanhui’s voice from that day. “Don’t talk. First, pick up the bow. Draw the string and nock the arrow.”
Her expression calm, Zhen Tingyun lifted the bow, drew the string, set the arrow, and slowly adjusted her aim. “That’s enough. Loose the arrow.”
Almost instinctively, she released the fully drawn bowstring.
The arrow shot forth like a bolt of lightning, streaking straight toward the target.
In her memory, that arrow had pierced the deer’s right eye.
The arrow before her now flew unerringly into the small red center of the target.
For a brief moment, the entire training ground fell silent. It was just like that quiet forest on the day she had brought down the deer.
Taking a slow breath, Zhen Tingyun drew another arrow, raised her bow once more, and fired again. The second arrow also struck dead center. So it went for all ten arrows.
Only two landed slightly off-center, nearly missing the bull’s-eye. The other eight were perfect.
She, too, earned an A.
Only then did Zhen Tingyun realize that, although Yuanhui was no longer by her side, she thought of him with remarkable ease.
After all, much of what she had become today was thanks to his guidance.
And more than anything, she wished she could share this moment of happiness with him.
…
Yang Qionghua was completely dumbfounded. “You never said you were this amazing! First Zhou Qingjun, then you, has anyone considered the pressure I’m under?”
Even Zhen Tingyun felt today’s performance had been unusually good. After thinking it over, she could only say, “I honestly thought I’d get at most a B in this event. I don’t know why, but today everything just felt right. Every time I shot, I hit the mark.”
Yang Qionghua gave a dry laugh. She’d seen through this kind of “humble brag” long ago.
“I barely studied, I never expected to come first.”
“I only glanced at the music once, and somehow I played it perfectly.”
People who said things like that were all show-offs.
Still, because Yang Qionghua had sounded so timid earlier, Zhen Tingyun had assumed her archery would be as poor as her horsemanship.
Instead…
While complaining nonstop about the pressure she was under, Yang Qionghua casually picked up her bow.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
Ten arrows flew in rapid succession. Every single one struck the bull’s-eye.
Blinking innocently, Yang Qionghua said, “I guess I’m in pretty good form today too.”
Zhen Tingyun suddenly had the overwhelming urge to pinch her round little cheeks. Then she remembered that Yang Qionghua came from a family of military officers. Even if her riding wasn’t very good, decent archery was probably the bare minimum expected of her.
In the end, Yang Qionghua also received an A.
And with that, the afternoon examinations came to an end.
Zhen Tingyun couldn’t help marveling at how things had turned out.
Originally, among the four subjects, Rites, Music, Horsemanship, and Archery, Music had been the one she felt most confident about. Yet she still didn’t even know whether she’d received an A or a B in it.
Meanwhile, the other three subjects, which she’d been least certain about, had all unexpectedly earned her A’s.
She had practically placed one foot inside the gates of the Women’s Academy already. All that remained was to see how she’d done on the written examinations that morning.
Of course, she knew these results owed much to good fortune. It was certainly something to celebrate.
But no one could rely on luck forever.
After enjoying her success for a short while, she quickly reminded herself:
The A’s I earned through fortunate circumstances can never compare with Zhou Qingjun’s A’s, which came entirely from genuine ability. Even if I do get into the academy, my foundation will probably still lag behind most of the other students. These results are worth celebrating, but they aren’t a reason to become complacent or overestimate myself. I still have to work much harder.
She was still lost in those thoughts when she saw Madam Chu approaching in her plain-colored robes.
Seeing the serious expression on Zhen Tingyun’s face, Madam Chu teased her. “I heard you performed very well this afternoon. If it weren’t for Zhou Qingjun earning four straight A’s, you’d have been the star of the day yourself.”
Curious, Zhen Tingyun immediately asked, “Madam, do you happen to know whether I received an A or a B in Music?”
Madam Chu merely smiled. “The written papers will be graded today, and the results will be posted tomorrow evening. You’ll know soon enough. Why be in such a hurry? Some surprises are sweeter the longer they’re anticipated.”
Since Madam Chu clearly had no intention of revealing it, Zhen Tingyun let the matter drop.
Madam Chu continued, “By what I just said, your results are already quite impressive. So why do you still look so serious and uneasy?”
After a moment’s thought, Zhen Tingyun answered honestly, “I think I did well mostly because I was lucky. I can’t compare to Miss Zhou Qingjun. Truthfully, I don’t think I can even compare to Miss Yang Qionghua. Thinking about it now, even if I manage to enter the academy, I’m afraid I’ll still fall behind most of the other students.”
Madam Chu smiled gently. “You feel that way because you happened to take today’s examination alongside Zhou Qingjun and Yang Qionghua. Competing directly with exceptional people naturally makes one feel overshadowed. But students like those two are actually quite rare.”
She looked at Zhen Tingyun with unmistakable warmth in her eyes. “More importantly… The fact that you aren’t dazzled by temporary success is a good thing. Knowing one’s shortcomings and striving to overcome them, that is how people improve, only then can you one day catch up with them.”
Zhen Tingyun straightened her back and bowed respectfully. “I will remember your teachings, Teacher.”
Madam Chu smiled and waved a hand. “It’s getting late, I’ll take you home.”
So Zhen Tingyun gave her home address, and they rode back together in Madam Chu’s carriage.
Malantou, having already had plenty of exercise running the course, trotted happily alongside the carriage instead of being harnessed.
During the ride, Madam Chu brought up another matter. “Although we don’t yet know how you did in calligraphy and mathematics this morning, judging from your performance so far… It’s already time to start thinking about your arrangements after you’re admitted.”
“My arrangements?” Zhen Tingyun looked puzzled.
Madam Chu explained matter-of-factly, “Both the Capital Women’s Academy and Yuhua Women’s Academy provide dormitories for their students. Most are intended for girls from poor families or those who have come from other regions. I think… you should consider staying in one.”
Madam Chu was a woman of keen perception.
From the fact that Zhen Tingyun had come alone that morning, leading her own horse, she could easily tell that something had happened at home. Combined with the tears Zhen Tingyun had shed in the carriage earlier that day, Madam Chu could more or less guess that it was a family matter too painful or embarrassing to speak of.
In that case, as her teacher, she naturally had to point her student toward a better path. When someone steps into a mud pit, the first priority is not to scream or argue. That only splashes more mud onto oneself.
The first priority is to climb out of the pit.
The world is vast.
Why imprison yourself within a circle you’ve drawn yourself?
Zhen Tingyun had never considered such a possibility before.
She turned to look at Madam Chu, pressed her lips together, and for a long moment could find no words.
Just then, the carriage came to a stop.
Madam Chu said, “I only meant for you to think it over after you return home. There’s no need to decide immediately.”
With that, she ushered Zhen Tingyun out of the carriage.
Leading Malantou by the reins, girl and horse made their way back to the Zhen residence.
