All around became quiet as the students carrying sheepskin lanterns gathered toward Old Master Guan Yongchong’s direction, their expressions serious and devout, as if listening to Old Master Guan Yongchong lecture on Confucian principles.

Old Master Guan Yongchong, dressed in wide-sleeved long robes, looked at these students’ earnest young faces, his voice gentle and slow: “Annihilating Xiliang’s main forces, making Xiliang unable to invade Jin’s borders for at least five years, protecting Jin’s border people for at least five years of peace—this was something Duke Zhenguo’s southern campaign… had no opportunity to achieve, yet Bai Qingyan inherited her grandfather’s will… and accomplished it with fifty thousand Jin troops and ten thousand Bai family soldiers. Though it involved killing… who can say this was not a great achievement, bringing peace to Jin’s border people?”

The Imperial Academy students remained silent, looking at this literary giant with graying temples and a slightly hunched back, nodding almost imperceptibly.

“I still remember… when Bai Qingyan first returned from the battlefield, I asked her what she had seen and heard experiencing war and killing on the frontier. Bai Qingyan answered: ‘On the border battlefield, as far as the eye could see, were mountains of white bones exposed in the wilderness, graves everywhere with nowhere to bury them, thousands of acres of fertile fields with no one to cultivate them, ten thousand li of corpses with no trace of birds’—such misery that could never be seen in this prosperous capital. She was willing to spend her remaining life and sacrifice herself to return to the people a peaceful land of tranquil seas and clear rivers. She was thirteen years old when she said this. Her breadth of spirit and compassionate heart—I, as her teacher, admit I cannot match.”

Seeing the great scholar Old Master Cui wave his hand and shake his head, the Imperial Academy students standing with lanterns at the palace gate had reddened eyes filled with tears. They had never imagined… that a woman could have such noble sentiments.

Sacrificing herself to return to the people a peaceful land of tranquil seas and clear rivers.

A thirteen-year-old girl already harbored such great ambitions—how could these men, well-versed in poetry and literature, bear it? How could these men who attacked Bai Qingyan maintain their dignity?

Bai Qingyan stood in the distance holding her horse, watching her teacher, who was over fifty years old, standing in the wind before the palace gate before dawn to defend her against the students. Emotions surged in her heart, and her eyes stung and ached.

Bai Jinzhi was also moved, stepping forward two paces and saying quietly: “Elder Sister… Old Master Cui is truly wonderful.”

The surroundings were quiet except for the sound of the wind.

The great scholar Old Master Cui fell into some nostalgic emotion, choking up as he spoke: “That year, Duke Zhenguo brought his young granddaughter to ask me to teach her. I asked, ‘For women, being without talent is virtue itself—why burden oneself with learning?'”

“Duke Zhenguo replied: ‘Learning makes one understand propriety, virtue, righteousness, and shame! I don’t seek for this granddaughter to be renowned throughout the world. I only hope she will know propriety, virtue, righteousness, and shame, to be an upright person who can face heaven and earth without shame.’ Duke Zhenguo’s eldest granddaughter, Bai Qingyan, did not disappoint Duke Zhenguo. Though she has a woman’s body… she can govern the Kingdom through culture and secure the nation through martial prowess. She is a model you all… should emulate. Why are you here, attacking someone who has contributed to our Jin?”

Old Master Cui’s gaze swept over the students who lowered their eyes in shame or embarrassment: “In my life, I have had forty-three direct disciples. Only Bai Qingyan has a woman’s body. Yet I take this female disciple… as the pride of my life!”

The cool wind carrying cold air swept past Bai Qingyan’s burning eyelashes, and the emotions she had been restraining in her heart seemed about to become uncontainable.

If her teacher knew she was no longer the thirteen-year-old student with only a sincere heart and open character, would he still be proud of her?

She looked toward her teacher’s direction, knelt solemnly and bowed, then mounted her horse: “Let’s go!”

Bai Jinzhi also bowed deeply toward Old Master Cui Shiyan’s direction and followed Bai Qingyan in mounting her horse…

Steward Liu also led the guards accompanying Bai Qingyan back to Shouyang to mount their horses, and the group galloped toward the city outskirts.

On the seventh day of the fourth month, at the hour of the snake, the imperial examination fraud case was concluded.

The emperor personally issued an edict ordering the immediate execution of those who accepted bribes in this examination. Wen Zhenkang’s family property was confiscated, men were exiled, women entered the lowly class as slaves, students involved in bribery were permanently barred from employment, with the curse extending to their families for three generations, prohibiting participation in imperial examinations. It was decreed that the examination would be retaken in February of the following year.

When the news spread, examinees were jubilant and excited, all returning home to prepare for the retake, hoping to achieve good results the following year.

Dong Qingping sent a letter to Dengzhou informing his brother Dong Qingyue about the retake, planning to let Dong Qingping stay in the capital to study properly rather than suffer the hardship of traveling back and forth. He also told Dong Qingyue that Dong Changyuan had originally been in the top three this time, so he would certainly do even better next time.

Bai Qingyan’s group galloped without stopping, finally entering Shouyang city gates at the hour of the dog.

At this time, the sky had darkened like spilled ink, with scattered starlight and only a faint dark red remaining on the horizon.

She hadn’t returned for many years, and Shouyang hadn’t changed much from years before.

Shouyang’s night market had already begun, brightly lit like daylight.

Sheepskin lanterns hung above vendor stalls, with calls and shouts everywhere, filled with laughter and extremely bustling.

Bai Jinzhi had never seen Shouyang’s night market and was very curious, so Bai Qingyan dismounted to accompany Bai Jinzhi for a walk along the street.

Steward Liu sent someone to book rooms at Shouyang’s best inn. Since Bai Qingyan had traveled urgently, Steward Liu couldn’t arrange for preparations, and Bai Qingyan didn’t want to disturb the clan, so they could only stay at an inn.

The innkeeper politely apologized to the person sent by Steward Liu. The person, Steward Liu, sent a thought about it and went to find other inns, sending one person back to report to Steward Liu.

When Steward Liu heard this, he frowned tightly: “There’s only one inn with private courtyards in all of Shouyang city. We don’t mind, but we can’t inconvenience the eldest miss and fourth miss.”

Bai Qingyan, who was standing on the long street holding her horse and accompanying Bai Jinzhi in choosing masks, heard this and said: “Steward Liu, let’s change to another inn.”

Just as Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she heard someone call her: “County Princess?”

Bai Qingyan turned around and saw Yue Shi looking excited as he called back to Xiao Rongyan: “Master!”

Xiao Rongyan, who was standing at a stall selling ingenious little gadgets, turned his head. His deep, charming pupils showed surprise, and for a moment seemed to be reflected in a warm amber color by the lamplight. He put down the small mechanism in his hand, instructed Yue Shi to buy it, and walked toward Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan remembered Xiao Rongyan’s jade cicada. She quietly gripped the pouch hanging at her side, which contained Xiao Rongyan’s jade cicada that she hadn’t yet had the chance to return to him.

Bai Jinzhi, holding a tiger mask, saw Xiao Rongyan and her eyes lit up: “Master Xiao!”

Xiao Rongyan smiled and bowed to Bai Qingyan, asking leisurely: “How did Miss Bai also come to Shouyang?”

After returning his greeting, Bai Qingyan said: “My ancestral home is Shouyang…”

Xiao Rongyan nodded: “Since we’ve had the fortune to meet by chance, if Miss Bai and Miss Bai Fourth don’t mind, shall we walk together?”

Bai Jinzhi covered her mouth with the mask and smiled, helping to speak: “Elder Sister! Since we haven’t booked an inn yet anyway, why don’t we stroll around with Master Xiao?”