Qun Qing picked up two pebbles and weighed them, then rose and walked toward the crowd.

A blade spun out from the crowd. Before it could touch the rope binding the corpses, it was struck away by a pebble, hitting the wall. The thin layer of ice on the wall shattered, and the flying ice shards made the onlookers raise their arms and dodge backward.

The person who threw the blade didn’t see Qun Qing, but Qun Qing had already spotted those several burly men—tall in stature with thick black eyebrows, alertly scanning their surroundings.

Another blade flew out and was again deflected by a pebble. This time the several men caught sight of this veiled lady acting in secret. Instantly, several sharp blades changed direction, riding the cold wind toward Qun Qing’s neck.

Lu Huating watched intently. He saw the veil flutter as Qun Qing grabbed a wooden brush from a nearby bucket, using it like a sword to deflect the blades. The terrified scattering commoners opened a path.

She reversed the wooden brush, pointing at those corpses, and raised her voice in a feminine tone: “The corpses on the wall are Shandong bandits eliminated by the Second Imperial Prince, Prince Zhao Li Pan. They harmed the common people—if we don’t display their corpses publicly, it won’t be enough to appease popular anger! Now accomplices still want to take down and abscond with the corpses. Can we allow this?”

When the commoners below the wall heard the dead were bandits, they were filled with righteous indignation. They all surged forward to curse at the corpses and praise Prince Zhao’s valor. The clamor alerted the guards atop the city wall. In the crush, those scouts could only depart amid the chaos.

Qun Qing sat back at the stall amid the disorder and picked up a chopstick full of noodles to eat: “You hung the corpses?”

Lu Huating had actually already finished his noodles.

He smiled: “They were bandits who voluntarily surrendered. Unfortunately, Li Pan was brutal and still had them killed.”

Suddenly seeing blood stains slowly seeping out on Qun Qing’s left arm, his smile gradually faded.

Qun Qing understood his intention: “Surrenderers won’t be killed—bandits bear the deepest grudges. When this matter spreads back, Li Pan will be in danger in the future.”

“Miss, you’re injured.” Lu Huating raised his dark eyes to look at her.

Qun Qing showed no reaction. As an agent, she had long grown accustomed to this. It was probably from being cut by the blade just now. The wound wasn’t serious—she was dressed too thickly, which had restricted her movements.

She merely glanced at it, then looked directly at him: “Isn’t this the birthday gift the Chief Administrator wanted? Prince Yan’s mansion clearly has hidden guards, yet you insisted I go. Having seen my blood, you’ve avenged yesterday’s killing of Registrar Xu.”

Lu Huating had originally been staring fixedly at the bloodstain on that white veil. The blood on her body stirred his reaction more than wounds on others, but hearing Qun Qing’s mocking words, he couldn’t help but pause slightly.

After a moment’s hesitation, he lifted Qun Qing’s sleeve and saw the scar lying across her wrist: “The lady thinks me too vindictive.”

As he spoke, his right hand withdrew a medicine bottle from his bosom and sprinkled powder on the wound.

Qun Qing regarded him coldly. If one didn’t know this person’s true nature, watching him with lowered lashes, there was actually a trace of tenderness.

“Let me remind the lady of something: the Crown Prince and Li Pan share the same mother and he indulges him beyond measure. If you deal with Li Pan, the Crown Prince will likely disappoint you.”

The scene of Xu Lin before death surfaced in Qun Qing’s mind. She said: “The Crown Prince need only be a good heir apparent. How he treats me, I don’t care. In any case, he’s better than those who wage aggressive wars.”

Lu Huating grasped her wrist. At that icy touch, Qun Qing forcibly withdrew her hand. The stinging pain from the compressed wound made her frown slightly, and she saw him smile: “So you do feel pain. I thought the lady didn’t feel pain.”

Qun Qing neatly bandaged the wound, rose and left. Lu Huating was half a step beside her—as if walking together, yet also as if each walking their own way. The two passed through the bustling market. Qun Qing said: “Is today truly the Chief Administrator’s birthday?”

Lu Huating said: “Truly.”

Qun Qing couldn’t help but glance at him. Even celebrating his birthday while working—it was indeed rather pitiful: “When eating noodles just now, what was the Chief Administrator thinking?”

Lu Huating’s expression was calm: “I was wondering whether next year on my birthday, I’ll still be able to eat a meal with the lady.”

The two walked past the bustling market. A flower-selling woman called out, bringing clusters of bright hairpin flowers and butterflies before their eyes.

Qun Qing paused slightly, realizing he spoke the truth. The two of them were in opposing camps in this life, victory and defeat undecided. In another year, who knew who would live and who would die.

Lu Huating saw her looking at those hairpin flowers and also lowered his eyes to look. The flower-selling woman busily called out to keep them.

Flowers in the market were expensive. Qun Qing could do needlework herself and never bought them. She had already walked several feet away when she looked back to see Lu Huating still at that stall, even taking out silver.

The woman was naturally all smiles. Looking at Qun Qing, she said: “Young master, buying flowers for the lady. She’s your new bride, yes?”

An enemy, Qun Qing thought. The distance between them was so great, yet somehow they were being forcibly linked together.

“Young master, white flowers aren’t worn in the hair—only widows wear them.” The woman hastily reminded Lu Huating, but he stroked the petals and smiled languidly: “I think white flowers look good. I don’t care about such things.”

As he reached to take the white flowers, a slender, plain hand moved faster than his, taking the crimson chrysanthemum beside it instead.

When Lu Huating turned his head again, Qun Qing had already paid the silver.

The woman smiled: “The lady has fair skin—red suits you.”

“Who said it’s for me to wear?” Qun Qing said.

The woman was startled: “But where would a man wear flowers?”

“They did in past dynasties. Upon passing the imperial examinations, on the Double Ninth Festival, there was a custom of men wearing flowers. Today is the young master’s birthday. Not giving him something would seem improper.” Qun Qing looked toward Lu Huating, her clear eyes smiling, coldly enunciating: “Lower your head.”

Lu Huating gazed at her with dark eyes. After a long while, he actually slowly bent down. Wind moved his garments as he brought his raven-black topknot near her, allowing her to pin the flower in place.

It was indeed somewhat strange, but the crimson flower worn in his hair didn’t appear ridiculous—rather, it had a kind of gorgeous elegance. Lu Huating paid it no mind, straightening to look at her with a smile playing at his lips: “Will this do?”

Qun Qing lowered her veil to cover her face—unfortunately, her expression couldn’t be seen.

Yet before taking two steps, she encountered a bright, flamboyant face in the crowd: “Yunming?”

It was Princess Danyang dressed as an ordinary lady.

Danyang looked with surprise at Lu Huating’s temple, covering her mouth with her hand: “Who did you come with? Why are you dressed like this?”

Lu Huating turned his head. The two hadn’t been walking close together anyway. Qun Qing, wearing her veil, had long since blended into the crowd and fled, leaving him alone to face Princess Danyang.

He tilted his head slightly, skillfully avoiding Danyang’s hand reaching to remove the flower, and smiled: “I came by myself. Hearing that this year’s spring examinations were moved up, I wore flowers in winter for good fortune.”

“What a coincidence.” Danyang’s smile was radiant as a flower. “We’re also here to see the new examination candidates.”

On this side, Qun Qing followed the crowd to the riverside. Many people stood by the river. She seemed to see Su Run, walked over and patted that person’s shoulder—it was indeed Su Run. He was extremely delighted by this chance meeting: “Miss Qing!”

Qun Qing looked toward the river surface: “What’s that boat for?”

On the river slowly drifted a boat. On its deck sat over ten youths in white—cloth robes and tall caps, all dressed as scholars.

Su Run said: “It’s a boat tour for new examination candidates. The Sage previously decreed that the spring examinations be moved up, signifying new prospects for the new year. On the boat are the candidates coming to Chang’an to participate in the palace examinations.”

Qun Qing looked at those faces on the boat. One or two she even had some impression of—they later became important ministers beside Prince Yan: “Can all these people become officials?”

Su Run said: “According to Great Chen law, each year through provincial recommendations and successive selections, eighteen scholars are chosen. Of those who can enter Chang’an for the palace selections, I’m afraid half can reach high positions. Two years ago, Su also entered the Hanlin Academy this way.”

“Scholar Su, you’re mistaken.” A faint voice behind them made both turn around.

Seeing Lu Huating and Princess Danyang approaching, Lu Huating glanced at Qun Qing and looked toward the river: “Great Chen law states that in special years, there’s no fixed number for selecting scholars. Look at that boat—aren’t there nineteen people?”

Su Run choked, counted toward the boat—there really was one extra person.

Just at this moment, as if fulfilling Lu Huating’s earlier words, chaos erupted on the boat first: a eunuch-looking person rushed onto the deck. The candidates all stood and looked at each other, then one candidate fell into the water, splashing up waves.

He stretched out both hands struggling, but the eunuch held a long pole, pressing him down in the water while cursing.

The commoners on shore clamored. This scene left several people stunned. Qun Qing looked toward Princess Danyang: “Your Highness.”

Princess Danyang signaled with her eyes, and her hidden guards leaped down. Before long, both the beating eunuch and the candidate who fell in the water were kneeling before Princess Danyang.

The head eunuch hadn’t expected a noble princess to pass by and loudly proclaimed his innocence: “Your Highness, this person is not on the candidate roster, yet he dressed as a candidate and hid on the boat in advance, mixing in among the candidates. Fortunately this slave discovered him in time. Otherwise, who knows what he intended by entering the palace?”

So that was the situation.

That candidate shivered all over. Raising his head, he was actually streaming with tears: “Noble Princess, Noble Princess! I’m not a villain. Zhang has a name—Zhang Qiru. I’m a provincial recommendation from Jiangxi, top scholar in three lists. By convention I should be selected for the Chang’an palace examination. I don’t know why this year it suddenly changed to ‘public recommendation.'”

“My name isn’t on the ‘public recommendation’ list, yet it includes candidates several classes junior to me who haven’t even participated in the provincial examination. Isn’t there a problem here? I came from afar precisely to seek justice, to see what’s going on.”

Before he finished speaking, Su Run was already agitated: “He’s a tribute student from my hometown…”

Qun Qing stopped him.

Lu Huating said to Princess Danyang: “This year’s spring examination seems to be the Crown Prince’s responsibility. Why not hand the person over to Prince Yan’s mansion to investigate this matter?”

“The matter hasn’t been clarified yet. Better to first communicate with the local authorities and verify this person’s identity.” Qun Qing feared Lu Huating would elevate Prince Yan, turning to Danyang: “Problems with palace examinations aren’t the first time. The Su family steward beside Your Highness experienced difficulties and was persecuted, nearly losing his life. Your Highness has both ability and prestige. Why rely on Prince Yan? If you could help these candidates, perhaps Your Highness’s mansion could also recruit scholars.”

Princess Danyang’s expression was somber. Originally hesitant about getting involved, hearing Qun Qing’s words, her heart stirred and her red lips curved slightly: “Su Yujie—if you weren’t unyielding, you wouldn’t have reached my side. But I don’t want those at my side to suffer injustice.”—

As soon as Qun Qing returned to the palace, she was urgently summoned by Li Xuan.

This urgent summons made her vaguely feel that what Lu Huating had her do outside might have been discovered.

Indeed, upon entering the hall, she faced Li Pan with a palm print on his face. Li Pan’s seductive eyes looked at Qun Qing with malice, making her hair stand on end: “It was you, wasn’t it?”

Qun Qing merely bowed to him, somewhat timidly avoiding him.

Li Xuan said: “Where were you this morning?”

“I left the palace on my rest day,” Qun Qing said. “I went to the riverside to see the new candidates. I don’t know why the Second Highness is so angry.”

Li Xuan closed his eyes and waved his hand for Li Pan to withdraw.

“Why would a veiled lady inexplicably incite the commoners?” Li Pan said. “Imperial Brother, there’s a worm beside you, and you still don’t know it!”

Li Xuan rebuked: “Even if the corpses were hung by Prince Yan, weren’t the people tortured to death by you? Why didn’t you do it more cleanly? Now the news has already spread. That group of bandits had already been pacified, but now you’ve stirred up their hatred again. Can you guarantee you won’t campaign westward in the future, won’t need to pass through their territory?”

Li Pan breathed heavily, his expression almost twisted. Being both lame and dependent on Li Xuan, his greatest use was going onto the battlefield. If he couldn’t fight, he would have nothing: “Then I’ll go kill them all.”

“Stop making trouble.” Li Xuan said coldly. “Someone draft an edict. In this palace’s name, invite the bandit chieftain to Chang’an as a guest. Treat him with courtesy and negotiate peace.”

Qun Qing’s lashes trembled. She felt something was wrong: “Your Highness, we cannot negotiate peace.”

“Dianyi Qun.” Li Xuan stopped coughing, his gaze at her complex. “Your duties are in the inner palace. Political affairs are complicated—who told you to speak out of turn?”

Li Pan left with a wretched expression. Before leaving, he looked deeply at Qun Qing.

After that night, he had tried hard to recall in his mind. The more he thought, the more he felt that the female Daoist that night was Qun Qing. But he suffered from lack of evidence, and Li Xuan protected her so.

In the hall, Li Xuan handed Qun Qing a roster, smiling faintly: “You saw the candidates entering Chang’an. Minister Meng submitted the spring examination roster. These people were all selected by Minister Meng, under the Eastern Palace’s command. Take a look at their essays.”

Qun Qing took the roster, a chill running down her spine.

On the roster were actually all those selected by Prince Yan and Lu Huating in the previous life—people who years later held high positions of power. For some unknown reason, Meng Guangshen had been able to recruit them all under the Eastern Palace’s command when they were still mere candidates.