Golden grass, jade pavilion bed, spring breeze carrying courtyard flames for ten li, illuminating the dragon palaces and phoenix towers of Longzhang Palace.

The deep hall was vast and high, with forty-eight dragons dancing and coiling on the hall ceiling, gazing down with wide eyes, together with the people in Longzhang Palace looking down at the long scroll dripping with ink in his palm.

“Dragon soars, phoenix dances with giant brush, among billions of proud sons I am the most arrogant, unfurling paper to compose scrolls of rivers and mountains, shaming Li Du and Su Huang!”

The calligraphy was bold and unrestrained, forceful enough to break through paper—indeed quite “dragon soaring, phoenix dancing.”

Black gold silk sleeves embroidered with qilin slowly brushed over the ink scroll. Slender fingers traced each character, carrying an imperceptible sense of cherishing and melancholy. Xiao Jue reclined on the couch, slowly raising his dark eyes to look at Hong Jiashi, the chief examiner of the fourth year Qianyuan metropolitan examination, kneeling below.

“Jiashi, the metropolitan examination is not the palace examination. This is a matter for your Ministry of Rites. What is your intention in singling out this one anonymized ink scroll to send into the palace to me?”

Though aged but well-maintained and still handsome as jade, Hong Jiashi unhurriedly kowtowed. “Your Majesty, how would this humble minister dare trouble Your Majesty with trivial affairs? The metropolitan examination scrolls have all been selected and reviewed. Only this one—this humble minister has moved it back and forth between the selected and rejected piles, unable to decide. I can only seek Your Majesty’s sage wisdom.”

“Oh?” Xiao Jue smiled. “Jiashi, you are an experienced chief examiner. How can you lack confidence about whether one scroll passes or fails? In the way of literature, I cannot match you.”

“This humble minister dares not,” Hong Jiashi said solemnly. “This scroll is not about literature. The candidate’s classical interpretations, policy essays, and poetry are all excellent. Only this one line stands out strangely, not conforming to meter, and the writing is so boldly arrogant it lacks the bearing of a minister. Such a scroll, this humble minister truly dares not select. Yet the remaining text is brilliant throughout, pertinent and practical—only one with great vision could write thus. The metropolitan examination is a national ceremony meant to select talent. This humble minister also dares not lose a pillar of the nation through personal speculation—hence I come seeking Your Majesty’s special judgment.”

Looking at the poem again, Xiao Jue set down the scroll and suddenly smiled, saying loudly, “You old fox, what are you pretending? This is clearly a passing scroll, but you fear taking responsibility, so you’ve come to notify me in advance—Go! I understand!”

Hong Jiashi smiled, collected the scroll, and withdrew with proper ceremony.

Longzhang Palace was bright with candlelight, illuminating Xiao Jue’s appearance, which looked quite spirited from his recent recuperation. He gazed at the candle flame and suddenly smiled.

“Are you also afraid of failing and losing face? Knowing Old Hong is fair and cautious, you deliberately used this method to remind me? Speaking of which, did you actually take the exam yourself? You crafty woman.”

His fingers unconsciously traced those four lines of poetry on the dragon desk, murmuring, “But I love this craftiness of yours… Those conventional women who only know how to flatter and curry favor, those who only know makeup, dress, and hair oil—how could they compare to your interesting craftiness?… How I miss those days of campaigning together, the exhilaration of countless killings…”

“Eh?” He suddenly raised an eyebrow. “Shaming Li Du and Su Huang? Who are Li Du? Which are Su Huang? You stinking woman, which of your male confidants are these now?”

First day of the fourth month, Qianyuan year four—the day results were announced.

Early morning saw scholars swarming toward the examination hall like bees, carrying hearts full of hope and excitement to search the great red board from top to bottom for their own names.

Those from wealthy families even sent servants to keep watch all night to get good news at the first opportunity.

Qin Chang Ge would never squeeze sweating with scholars to see the results—she was busy. She was solemnly holding a birthday banquet in the small courtyard for someone with the dual identity of Crown Prince of Xiliang and gatekeeper of the small Zhao family courtyard in the west of the city—Xiao Rong, Xiao Baozi.

The first birthday she was making for Baozi after rebirth naturally had to be rich, extravagant, and distinctive to satisfy Xiao Baozi’s independent lifestyle.

The birthday boy remembered his own birthday quite clearly. In previous years without a mother, when Phoenix Alliance celebrated for him, he felt no energy, so he absolutely had to drag a mother to celebrate. So his previous feat of recognizing mothers on the street, though seemingly random, was definitely done to find a mother by the first of the fourth month.

This year the mother was ready-made, saving Baozi trouble. A month in advance he began nagging in his mother’s ear, demanding that his late-arriving mother compensate for the spiritual damage and mental losses caused by his years of longing and waiting (was there really waiting? Qin Chang Ge wondered). Qin Chang Ge, in a particularly good mood, had agreed—what was there to fear? Many years? How many years? Counting generously, not even one hand’s worth—four years, four wishes, no problem!

As a result, when Baozi made his first wish, she smiled and nodded. The second wish—she frowned but still nodded. The third wish—she looked at Baozi darkly. When the fourth wish barely began, Qin Chang Ge’s dark smile transformed into one faintly tinged with killing intent.

You really dare ask!

Chu Feihuan, who was drinking tea nearby at the time, choked on his water.

Baozi, wearing a small brocade robe and sucking his finger, stood in place blinking his big eyes, looking left at his mother, right at his godfather, quite innocent about their expressions. After a while he spread his small chubby hands with a disdainful expression: “Breaking promises makes you fat. Be careful of gaining weight.”

“I’m not breaking my promise,” Qin Chang Ge finished her murderous smile and lovingly stroked Baozi’s glossy black hair. “Just you wait!”

So on his birthday, Qin Chang Ge personally cooked, sharpening knives eagerly, not even bothering with the anticipated announcement day.

Reportedly, for someone’s first wish, she prepared many things—all sorts of strange items, even employing high-level craftsmen from Phoenix Alliance to make some “molds.”

Cooking… probably cooking, right? Needed plates, bowls, dishes, pots—never heard of needing “molds” too.

Heaven knew what she’d produce? Given her character… really not worth looking forward to…

A table full of people all sat with serious expressions, waiting.

Chu Feihuan, Qi Fan, Rong Xiaotian, Qi Heng, Su Xuan, the birthday boy, and the birthday boy’s father who had wanted to host a grand feast in Guantong Palace inviting all officials to celebrate the Crown Prince’s birthday but was unreasonably sternly refused by someone, so had no choice but to squeeze into the small courtyard to experience a folk birthday celebration.

While a table full of people waited with uneasy speculation and strange expressions for the upcoming “birthday feast,” only Chu Feihuan asked Su Xuan quietly without changing expression, “Did you find him later?”

“No,” Su Xuan shook his head. “I pursued all the way, fought three battles clear to the peak of Piaoxiang Peak on Shang Mountain. Somehow he suddenly showed an opening. I couldn’t hold back and knocked him off the cliff. When I went down to look, I didn’t see a body. The gang has been searching recently but found no trace of this person. Thinking back, he seemed confident then, changing route to Shang Mountain peak—probably someone was there to meet him… Oh right, Ming Shuang was hit with gu? Is she alright?”

Both Chu Feihuan and Xiao Jue glanced at Su Xuan—currently besides them, Qi Fan, Su Xuan and others still only knew Qin Chang Ge’s “Ming Shuang” and “Zhao Moyan” identities. Qi Fan had once requested to go overseas to “bring back the Empress” after Xiao Chen was confined, but was refused by Qin Chang Ge on the pretext that the timing wasn’t right. Chu Feihuan was noncommittal about Qin Chang Ge continuing to conceal this. Xiao Jue felt that secrets were better known by fewer people—not only safer, but more comfortable inside too. Look, only I know her most secret matters… oh, and Chu Feihuan, sigh… if he didn’t know either, how nice that would be?

“She’s fine. She’s actually turned misfortune to fortune,” Chu Feihuan rarely smiled slightly. “Reportedly, internal arts that couldn’t be advanced due to innate physical limitations have broken through because of this thing, and her power has greatly increased. That’s why she’s in a good mood—didn’t you notice?”

“Mm,” Su Xuan nodded. “It’s best if she can protect herself. Oh right, I wonder how Rong’er’s martial arts training is going? In the Langhuan Secret Manual I gave him are some ancient formulas for strengthening the body. You must look… look… look…”

His last few words stuck in his throat, staring at what Qin Chang Ge was smilingly bringing out, completely forgetting what he wanted to say.

Ding ding ding—several crisp sounds.

Three spoons broke simultaneously, two pairs of chopsticks dropped.

Only Chu Feihuan continued drinking his health tea without changing expression—he had witnessed that mold in the kitchen yesterday and was mentally prepared.

…What what what what was that thing?

A white, round, thick cake-like thing as big as a pot, with various candied fruits and dried fruit pieces stuck on top spelling out crooked crab-like characters: “happy birthday.”

Naturally, they didn’t recognize these.

The ugly characters crawling like turtles aside, on the big cake actually stood a naked man—really a naked man! A miniaturized cute cream figure of Crown Prince Xiao Rong, wearing a sky-high crown, dressed in the “Emperor’s New Clothes,” one hand pointing to heaven, one foot on earth, “asking heaven to drink urine.”

…

Crown Prince Xiao stood proudly beside the Xiliang Crown Prince version giant cake, seriously appreciating his heroic image with the solemn attitude of comparing the real person to the model—when he made his second request, his mother had stared at him strangely for a long while, then drew five pictures that clearly looked like him but seemed somehow exaggerated and distorted for him to choose from:

First: Him embracing an ugly woman (prototype Furong Sister, whom Baozi naturally didn’t know) desperately rubbing against her.

Second: Him lying on the ground, pants torn by a fierce dog flapping in the wind.

Third: Him holding a handful of playing cards, face covered with swaying paper strips.

Fourth: Him and a toothless old monk fighting over roast chicken.

Fifth: Him straddling mountain rocks, one finger to the sky, urinating.

…

Baozi had looked at the pictures from left to right then right to left, unable to find a single satisfactory one. He greatly resented Qin Chang Ge—you stinking mother, how can you hold such grudges? Still remembering the wrong mother recognition? And how do you only remember my unlucky, embarrassing moments? What about my wise and mighty, jade-tree-in-wind, spring colors bursting from walls, pear blossoms overwhelming begonias heroic image? Why didn’t you draw even one of those?

He wanted to renege, but saw his stinking mother smile sweetly and ask, “Don’t like them? Don’t want any? Then forget it, you chose not to…”

Gritting teeth, stamping feet, steeling heart, Baozi mournfully pointed to that nude photo—no matter what, that pose was more stylish and the attitude more bold. As for clothes… forget it, they were all men anyway, no big deal.

…

“Pfft!”

Su Xuan was first to laugh. He was always unrestrained by nature, most loving to act freely and spontaneously. After the initial shock, he immediately laughed heartily, grabbed another spoon and leaned over, squinting at the cake and laughing, “What is this thing? What’s written on top?”

“This is called a birthday cake. On top is overseas script meaning ‘happy birthday,'” Qin Chang Ge placed the cake on the table, helplessly looking at the cake that looked terrible except for the naked man made from the mold. She spent one second lamenting her cooking skills, then slowly pulled out five small red candles, seriously inserting them around the naked man, calling to Xiao Rong, “Come, Crown Prince, blow out the candles and make a wish.”

Already familiar with modern birthday procedures from his mother, Baozi immediately tiptoed to blow out all other lights in the hall, leaving only five malnourished thin candles flickering in the darkness, casting the handsome faces of the beautiful men in wavering shadows.

The beautiful men’s gazes all fixed on Xiao Baozi, who was very devoutly clasping hands in prayer position in the swaying red light, so solemn it was outrageous.

What sutra was this kid reciting?

Baozi finished his prayer, puffed his cheeks, gathered his qi, and blew hard.

A small wind rose, a small rain fell.

Opposite him, unlucky Rong Xiaotian angrily said, “Xiao Rong, if you’re blowing out candles just blow out candles—why are you spitting?”

Qi Heng looked at the candles with a grin, “Tsk tsk, where were they blown out? They were doused with spit!”

Xiao Jue glared at his son. Every day talking about martial arts practice, saying foundation building in the young period was important, books could wait until later—how had he still not learned to control even one breath of true qi?

Qin Chang Ge, smiling and having prepared by stepping aside early, asked her son, “What did you wish for?”

“Won’t tell you,” Baozi smoothly recited soap opera lines he’d heard. “If I tell you it won’t come true. I want to treasure this beautiful wish in my heart and wait for shooting stars to make it happen.”

“Waiting for shooting stars to help you might as well expect meteorites to hit your head. Whatever…” Qin Chang Ge sighed. “Next time I definitely won’t tell you Qiong Yao TV dramas…”

Before she finished speaking, she saw Rong Xiaotian grab a prepared fork, weigh it and say, “This is for eating that doll, right? I think it looks good. Let me try first.”

One fork over.

Baozi’s hair all stood up.

This didn’t feel good…

Before he could scream, five or six forks went over and the naked man disappeared.

Rong Xiaotian frowned while tasting the cream ear, “Sweet and sour, there’s actually this kind of flavor in the world?”

Su Xuan ate while shaking his head, “The proportions are wrong. You’re much fatter than this.”

Xiao Jue stared at the cake on his fork in amazement, “How is it this body part?”

Chu Feihuan looked at the piece of cake Su Xuan handed him with a slight smile, then at Xiao Baozi who was about to cry, and shook his head. Baozi was overjoyed, about to say godfather you’re the best, when he said flatly, “Should save a piece for him to taste himself.”

…

Baozi turned his head away in grief, out of sight, out of mind!

He simply spread his hands asking his mother: What about my other two wishes?

Qin Chang Ge fiercely glared at Baozi, thinking you little brat just wait. You think it’s your birthday every day? Tomorrow when your birthday’s over, we’ll slowly settle accounts.

Clapping hands, the chef covered his nose while bringing out a jar.

Holding it far away with both hands, head turned aside, holding his breath as if one more whiff would cause immediate suffocation, the chef stiffly set down the jar and immediately ran away.

Qin Chang Ge maliciously didn’t wait for the people eating cake to react, immediately placing the jar beside the cake and quickly lifting the lid.

At the same time, she quickly handed Chu Feihuan a handkerchief.

A rich, unidentifiable but definitely unpleasant stench shot skyward.

“Ah!” The noble His Imperial Majesty, who dined only on delicacies, was first unable to withstand the stink bomb bombardment, instantly springing back a zhang.

Su Xuan immediately shot up to a tree in the courtyard, still holding a plate of cake—he liked sweets.

Qi Fan looked at Chu Feihuan sitting steadily and leisurely covering his nose with a handkerchief, thus appearing very calm with perfect composure, then at the two noble beautiful men who had completely lost their dignity crouching in trees and scrambling onto courtyard walls, finally at the grossly unfair Qin Chang Ge, and sighed, “When looks can’t compare, what can you do?”

He got a cake slapped on his face by Qin Chang Ge.

Only Baozi proudly lay at the jar’s mouth, having someone bring a bowl of chicken and silver rice porridge, using a small spoon to dig out a small square piece that looked like tofu but wasn’t from the jar, eating with great relish.

This was naturally Baozi’s third request—fermented tofu. He had always loved eating congee, knew all the famous congee places in Xiliang by heart. Qin Chang Ge had visited several times but wasn’t interested, because Xiliang’s pickle industry wasn’t developed—the side dishes for congee were actually pickled fish and meat, quite appetite-killing. Once when mentioning past life side dishes to Baozi, this guy immediately became interested, clamoring to eat them. Qin Chang Ge was busy with lawsuits, flirting with beautiful men, saving her life, and killing people—where was there time to make pickles? Besides, she wasn’t skilled at cooking in her past life and didn’t remember much.

Now when Baozi solemnly included “your past life side dishes” in his birthday wishes, Qin Chang Ge, being the type who “if I’m not happy, you better not think of being comfortable either,” immediately maliciously chose to make fermented tofu.

Indeed successfully fumigating down a pile of pampered, noble beautiful men, but unexpectedly the birthday boy was tougher than imagined, completely ignoring the sky-high stench and going directly for the food’s essence.

“Fresh! So fresh!” Baozi took a bite and praised highly. “Mother, you really worked hard this time. I’ve decided to forgive your heartless abandonment of me!”

“Thank you for Crown Prince’s magnanimity,” Qin Chang Ge smiled without warmth. “Crown Prince, the fourth wish—still want it?”

“Yes!” Big eyes turned over brightly shining. “After hearing so many stories, I’ve thought about it for a long time. You all say I’m too young to visit, but I’m easygoing—just call a few over to look and that’s enough. Remember, I want the four top courtesans from Luoyao Pavilion, Zuihua Residence, Elü Tower, and Yudie Spring…”

“Bang!” His Imperial Majesty, who had just sat back down and picked up his teacup for some tea, accidentally crushed the teacup.

This time he didn’t go after Baozi but directly sought the culprit: “How how how how could you indulge him in even this? What kind of behavior is this?”

Qin Chang Ge glanced at him and smiled, “Don’t worry. So-called placing in desperate straits before rebirth—I guarantee that after tonight’s ‘uniquely distinctive’ first courtesan meeting, Crown Prince will never have the desire to visit brothels again in this lifetime…”

Clapping hands again.

Fragrant wind wafted, ornaments chimed, lotus steps rose with the wind, gracefully like opening and thanking flowers.

Beauties arrived like wild geese, each carrying a red lantern, in the hazy charming red light—cloud-mist hair, distant mountain brows, swaying and approaching gracefully.

Smelling the fragrance, watching their posture, Baozi beamed and rushed forward.

Short and stubby-legged, he first saw trailing long skirts—light green and cherry red, beautiful!

Eyes moving up—gauze lanterns in palace style reflecting rosy shadows, exquisite and delicate, beautiful!

Moving further up—this waist… this waist? Hiss—

Moving up again—uh!!!

In the lamp shadows, the “flowers” had mouths like bloody basins, eyes like bronze bells, three-chi waists, skin black as ink, facing Client Xiao with “charming smiles.”

Baozi ran for his life, but too late—the “flowers” swarmed up, surrounding tonight’s gold master.

“Young master is so handsome!”

“Such tender skin! Even better than Sister Biyue!”

Biyue stroked her “beautiful face” covered in bumps and as large as a washbasin, laughing coquettishly, “Sister Xiuhua, you’re teasing me again. I won’t have it!”

Xiuhua let out “silver bell” gaga laughter, reaching to touch Baozi’s face: “Let sister feel…”

Chenyu and Luoyan waved “fragrant handkerchiefs” like foot-washing cloths as they crowded over.

“Oh my, Xiuhua you’re so bad, competing with us. Young master, look—am I beautiful?”

The “peerless beauty” covered in cheap powder pressed close to Baozi’s face. With one smile, gold flashed, vaguely revealing last night’s chive leaves.

“Ahhhh!”

Baozi let out a world-shaking scream.

The commotion lasted until almost dark before finally sending those “four top courtesans” away. Baozi collapsed in the middle of the courtyard, resentfully glaring at his malicious mother and those unsympathetic men watching the show.

“Where did you find these specimens?” Xiao Jue quietly bit Qin Chang Ge’s ear. “Ugly to such earth-shaking, ghost-weeping degree—you really worked hard.”

Qin Chang Ge said with a grin, “Couldn’t find them among women, so I looked among men…”

Xiao Jue choked, and before he could speak, Baozi had already jumped up, pulling out a wrinkled paper from his chest, vigorously waving it at Qin Chang Ge, “Stinking mother, you don’t keep your word! You signed a receipt saying four top courtesans would accompany drinking!”

“Oh? There’s even a receipt? Seems you’re quite guarded against your mother…” Qi Heng and Su Xuan were first to crowd over. Looking at it, they burst out laughing, shook their heads and walked away.

Rong Xiaotian and Qi Fan took it next. After reading, Rong Xiaotian glared at Baozi and muttered, “That’s what you get for not studying…” Qi Fan, clutching his stomach in wild laughter, handed the note to Chu Feihuan.

Chu Feihuan glanced at it and sighed, beckoning to Baozi.

Completely bewildered, Baozi immediately ran over, “What’s wrong? What’s not right?”

Looking at Baozi helplessly, Chu Feihuan said gently, “Your mother wrote ‘four top courtesans’ as ‘four top ghosts.'”

Howling to the sky, Baozi tearfully clenched his fists.

All because of illiteracy!

“Clang clang clang!!!”

Suddenly gongs and drums clamored, seemingly heading toward the small courtyard. Vague human voices could be heard. Baozi, like a startled bird afraid of encountering the four top ghosts again, quickly scurried back inside.

Qin Chang Ge and Xiao Jue exchanged glances, both knowing what good news this was.

“Congratulations master on placing second in the metropolitan examination!”

As the gate opened, people announcing good news flowed in like water. Someone held high a great red announcement, others busily hung celebration firecrackers that immediately crackled and exploded, drawing surrounding people to crowd over and watch.

The crowd immediately filled the small courtyard, faces full of envy, discussing how this family had someone leap through the dragon gate with bright prospects ahead.

Qin Chang Ge and Qi Fan went forward smiling to socialize, accepting the announcement and giving reward silver. Qi Fan even brought out his satchel, beaming as he distributed celebration money to all the onlooking common people.

Everyone accepted with smiles, saying auspicious words about congratulations on official success and bringing glory to the family.

Soon the crowd gradually dispersed.

Qin Chang Ge stood with hands behind her back among the red firecracker paper scattered on the ground, in that smell extremely similar to war gunpowder, in the crystal curtain-like moonlight and scattered lamp shadows, quietly turning back to ask:

“Did they all accept the celebration money?”

“Yes.”

“Did you see clearly?”

“Roughly counted, we can split up to find them.”

“Then…” Qin Chang Ge turned, smiled at Chu Feihuan who quietly emerged from under the corridor in the soft smoke and gentle moon with features like a painting, cold as this, then looked at Qi Fan.

“Go.”