“Something strange?”
Xu Qi’an pulled out a chair and sat down, instructing Su Su to pour him some water.
I’m not even your concubine yet, and you’re already ordering me around… The alluring ghost Su Su glared at him but obediently went to pour water. After all, they were discussing the massacre of her family.
She needed to rely on this man for help. Otherwise, even if she and her master Li Miaozhen investigated for ten years, they wouldn’t uncover anything.
After Xu Qi’an took a sip of tea, Li Miaozhen said:
“Su Su’s father was called Su Hang, a jinshi of the 29th year of Zhende. In the 14th year of Yuanjing, for unknown reasons, he was demoted to serve as the prefect of Jiang Prefecture. The following year, he was beheaded on charges of accepting bribes and corruption.”
Xu Qi’an rubbed his teacup and asked, “What’s the problem?”
“There is one,” Li Miaozhen turned her head to look at Su Su. “She doesn’t remember ever staying in the capital. Su Su’s soul is complete. When my master found her, she was absorbing the yin energy from a mass grave to cultivate, with some success. As long as she didn’t leave the mass grave, she could continue to exist.
“A vengeful spirit with such cultivation wouldn’t lose memories unless they were erased when she was alive.”
Su Su said, “Maybe, maybe I never came to the capital.”
Xu Qi’an shook his head, “Any official entering the capital would bring their family to reside here. I’m more inclined to believe that there was an issue with Su Su’s memories when she was alive. Hmm, interesting.”
The two people and one ghost fell silent for a moment. Then Xu Qi’an said, “Since he was a capital official, the Ministry of Personnel should have his records… The Ministry of Personnel is Prime Minister Wang’s territory. He and Wei Yuan are political enemies. Without sufficient reason, I have no right to access the ministry’s archives.
“So don’t be in a hurry. Wait for an opportunity.”
Li Miaozhen and Su Su nodded.
Xu Qi’an sipped his warm tea and asked, “What’s your brother’s name? How old was he when the Su family had their mishap?”
Su Su tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said, “His name is Su Chengzhi. When our family had the incident, he was about eleven or twelve years old.”
So he’d be about thirty-one or thirty-two now. It would be impossible to find this brother-in-law, like looking for a needle in a haystack… If only Da Feng had a developed public security system… Xu Qi’an hinted:
“I’ll try to help you find him, but don’t get your hopes up too high.”
Su Su made a sound of agreement, knowing that finding her relative would be extremely difficult, and didn’t insist.
After resolving this matter, Xu Qi’an brought up the second issue. He looked at Li Miaozhen and asked, “When do you plan to start the Heaven-Human Contest?”
Li Miaozhen didn’t hesitate, “First, I’ll issue a challenge, then set a date, within seven days.”
Xu Qi’an nodded slowly and straightforwardly expressed his thoughts: “Before the Heaven-Human Contest ends, you’d better not leave the capital. No matter what kind of letters you receive or who you come into contact with, don’t leave.”
Li Miaozhen raised an eyebrow, “Are you saying someone might harm me?”
“It’s obvious,” Xu Qi’an sighed. “If something happens to you in the capital, will the Heavenly Sect’s leader let it go? A Tier 1 Terrestrial Immortal of the Taoist sect is probably no less formidable than the Supervisor, right?”
Su Su puffed out her paper chest, looking proud: “Now that you know our leader is Tier 1, who would dare to harm my master?”
Xu Qi’an felt sorry for the female ghost’s intelligence: “Your father was at least a jinshi, yet you didn’t inherit any of his intelligence… It’s precisely because Miaozhen is the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect that she attracts attention.
“His Majesty is obsessed with Taoist cultivation. To maintain the stability of power, he has fostered the current situation of multiple factions battling in the court. Some have long been dissatisfied with this. The Heaven-Human Contest is a good opportunity for them to exploit…
“Moreover, this matter is widely known, and martial artists are flocking to the capital. There must be spies from other countries mixed among them. These people would love to see Li Miaozhen die in the capital.”
Su Su suddenly understood.
“You’re a Tier 4 in the Taoist sect. Ordinary people are no match for you. It’s wishful thinking for foreign experts above Tier 4 to enter the capital to kill you. And the experts in the court are even less likely to make a move in the capital unless they have a death wish.”
“Thank you for the reminder. I understand,” Li Miaozhen said. “I’ll arrange ghost sentries around the Xu residence. If any suspicious individuals approach, they’ll immediately alert us. I’ll either take action in advance or leave the Xu residence to avoid involving your family. Though the possibility isn’t high.”
Then, she couldn’t help but mock, “Damn Emperor Yuanjing.”
Hey, hey, be careful with your words. Save that kind of talk for the internet… Xu Qi’an smiled and nodded, standing up and saying, “Well then, as an outsider, I won’t disturb the sweet dreams of you two ladies.”
He left the room under the slightly bewildered gazes of Li Miaozhen and Su Su.
…
March 27th, is auspicious for consecration, tailoring, travel, and weddings.
Today was the day of the palace examination, exactly one month after the departmental examination ended.
The sky was still dim when Aunt got up. She wore an exquisitely embroidered long dress, her beautiful hair slightly messy, held up only by a golden hairpin at the back.
Her pretty eyes were somewhat dazed, looking like she hadn’t fully woken up, with puffy eye bags.
Aunt was arranging for the cook to prepare breakfast for Second Young Master while bringing her maid, Lü’e, to knock on Second Young Master’s door.
Xu Xin’an, wearing a light white robe with the purple jade given by the Purple Yang Resident hanging at his waist, energetically came to open the door for his mother.
“Second son, you’re up so early?” Aunt yawned and said:
“Mother has asked the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Do you want to sleep for another quarter hour? I’ll come wake you.”
“No need.”
Xu Xin’an, being at least an Eighth-rank Confucian scholar, had far more energy than ordinary people. He comforted his mother: “Mother, don’t worry. The palace examination is a ranking test. With my status as the top scorer in the departmental exam, I won’t rank too low.”
Aunt was immediately reassured. As she led Lü’e out of the room and crossed the threshold, she suddenly screamed.
Xu Xin’an was greatly startled and rushed out of the room to check the situation. He saw a woman in white holding a red umbrella standing quietly in the courtyard.
It was just past the third watch, and the sky hadn’t brightened yet. The woman holding the crimson umbrella, dressed in white, had an eerie aura about her.
“Madam Xu.”
Su Su smiled charmingly and curtsied gracefully.
Aunt sighed in relief, thinking to herself, why isn’t she sleeping in her room at this hour, and what is she doing out here? I almost thought I’d seen a ghost.
Xu Xin’an stared at Su Su for a moment, then discreetly withdrew his gaze and said to his aunt: “Mother, you should go back to rest.”
After sending his aunt away, Xu Xin’an looked at Su Su in the courtyard and said, “Does my elder brother know your identity?”
She realized I’m a demon? As expected of a Cloud Deer Academy student… Su Su smiled softly, revealing two dimples, and said coquettishly:
“Of course, he knows. He said he wants to reconstruct my physical body and then have me as his concubine for three years.”
…This is indeed something my elder brother would do. Are the courtesans from the teaching courtyard no longer satisfying his tastes? He’s even eyeing ghosts now.
Xu Xin’an was dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long time.
Knowing today was the palace examination, the Xu residence had lit candles just after the third watch. Li Miaozhen, hearing about this, also came out to join the excitement. After everyone had breakfast, they sent Xu Xin’an off.
“Second son, today is not only the palace examination that concerns your future, but also an opportunity to prove your innocence and completely clear your name. You must do well,” Xu Pingzhi, wearing armor and holding his helmet, earnestly advised.
Xu Xin’an nodded as he walked out, “I know, Father. Don’t worry, I…”
The second half of his sentence suddenly got stuck in his throat. His expression stiffened as he looked at the street opposite, where two “old acquaintances” were standing. One was a tall, burly monk wearing a faded white robe.
The other was a swordsman in a green robe, with a strand of white hair hanging over his forehead. Though not very old, he gave off a sense of having experienced much.
It’s these two again, these two!!
Xu Xin’an was screaming internally.
“Those are my elder brother’s friends…” Xu Qi’an patted his shoulder, calming his little brother’s anger.
Previously, without contact with Number Four, Xu Xin’an had been used as a cover for him. Now that Xu Qi’an’s identity was gradually stabilizing, Chu Yuanzhen was gradually accepting the persona of Number Three’s cousin.
Once a fixed concept forms, Zhuang Yuan Chu would not deliberately scrutinize it, and would not question “Number Three’s persona is strange.” People are always more inclined to believe friends and familiar people, for this reason.
Hengyan and Chu Yuanzhen smiled and nodded in greeting, then their gazes immediately fell on Li Miaozhen.
This Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect had a fair, clean oval face, without makeup. Her eyes were like black pearls, clear and bright. Her sharp eyebrows accentuated that seemingly elusive fierce quality about her.
Rather than a Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Sect, she looked more like a battle-hardened female general… Right, she served in the military in Yun Prefecture for a year… Monk Hengyan put his palms together and smiled at Li Miaozhen.
Her aura is completely contained, not leaking the slightest bit, impossible to discern her level of cultivation… But since she’s come to the capital, it means she must have entered Tier 4. Heh, since that battle with Zhang Kaitai years ago where I was badly defeated, it’s been many years since I’ve crossed hands with a Tier 4.
Chu Yuanzhen smiled, a fighting spirit quietly igniting in his pupils.
The bald one is Number Six, and the one with the sword is Number Four. Hmm, as Number One said, Number Four indeed hasn’t taken the orthodox Human Sect path… Li Miaozhen nodded, considering it a greeting.
As for Number Five, Lina was still sound asleep in her room, just like her disciple Xu Lingyin.
“Clop clop clop…”
The three Xu men rode off on horseback. Li Miaozhen watched their receding figures, when Hengyan’s voice came to her ears: “Amitabha, I hope Number Three can achieve high rank in the first class.”
Chu Yuanzhen sneered: “It would be good enough to get into the second class. After all, he’s a student of Cloud Deer Academy. However, Number Three has a big secret.”
Hengyan asked in surprise: “A secret?”
Chu Yuanzhen nodded with a smile, saying mysteriously: “If I’m not mistaken, the phenomenon of pure qi soaring into the sky at the Sub-sage Hall of Cloud Deer Academy is related to Number Three.
“Of course, these are just my guesses, without any basis. Believe it or not, it’s up to you.”
Hengyan suddenly understood.
Li Miaozhen’s expression suddenly turned strange. Number Four and Number Six didn’t know that Xu Qi’an was actually Number Three, and had always thought Xu Xin’an was Number Three.
In the future, if they learn the truth, when they recall this conversation today, will they, like me, be so embarrassed that they want to beat up Xu Qi’an? Yet they’ll have to keep his secret.
That way, everyone can pretend nothing ever happened.
Thinking of this, she looked at Number Four and Number Six with pity.
…
The darkness before dawn was at its deepest. Four hundred tribute scholars gathered outside the Meridian Gate, waiting for the palace examination.
Around them were two rows of imperial guards holding torches, standing motionless like statues.
Civil and military officials had gathered, observing the tribute scholars participating in the palace examination from afar, occasionally whispering to each other. Only the officials from the Ministry of Rites were busy maintaining order at the scene.
It was the third time they verified identities and counted heads.
The Meridian Gate had five openings, three main gates, and two side gates. Usually, when attending court, civil and military officials entered from the side. Only the emperor and empress could walk through the main gate.
Of course, the top three scholars – Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua – could also enjoy the honor of walking through the main gate once.
As the top scorer in the departmental exam, Xu Xin’an stood at the head of the tribute scholars, standing tall with an expressionless face. His demeanor seemed to suggest that everyone present was trash.
However, scholars quite appreciated this attitude, especially when a brilliantly talented top scorer put on such airs. Even the officials in the distance couldn’t help but admire:
This young man is extraordinary.
The drum sounded, and after three rounds, the civil and military officials entered the Meridian Gate first. Then the tribute scholars, led by officials from the Ministry of Rites, also passed through the Meridian Gate, crossed the Golden Water Bridge, and stopped at the square outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Xu Xin’an squinted, looking towards the distant Hall of Supreme Harmony. He could only see the civil and military officials on the steps, but couldn’t witness the proceedings inside the hall.
After a long time, the civil and military officials left the court. Next came the palace examination.
Even Xu Xin’an couldn’t help but feel nervous at this moment.
“Gulp…”
Among the tribute scholars, the sound of someone swallowing could be heard.
In this tense atmosphere, people suddenly heard a commotion from behind. There were reprimands and angry shouts.
Unable to resist, they turned back to look. Through the gate of the Meridian Gate, they vaguely saw a white-robed sorcerer blocking the way of the civil and military officials.
That white-robed figure had his back to everyone, ignoring the reprimands around him.
Xu Xin’an, an Eighth-rank Confucian scholar, could even faintly hear the reprimands.
“Yang Qianhuan, are you trying to rebel? Get out of the way immediately.”
“Yang Qianhuan, what are you trying to do? This is the Meridian Gate, today is the palace examination. Are you trying to cause trouble?”
Amidst the angry shouts, a deep sigh was heard, and the white-robed figure slowly said: “Your bodies and names will perish together, but the rivers and mountains will flow on forever! Bah…”
There was a moment of silence, and in the next instant, the civil and military officials erupted in an uproar, the scene in chaos.
“What, what happened?” a tribute scholar asked in bewilderment.
“Isn’t, isn’t this the poem that Silver Gong Xu Qi’an used to mock the officials? That, that white-robed person seems to be from the Imperial Observatory?”
“He’s gone…”
The more than four hundred tribute scholars could no longer maintain their solemnity. They whispered to each other, constantly looking back towards the Meridian Gate.
“Silence!” An official from the Ministry of Rites shouted, “This is none of your business. Focus on your examination. Whoever continues to whisper will be expelled from the Meridian Gate and will have to wait another three years at home.”
The tribute scholars immediately dared not speak again.
The officials who had just dispersed returned, entering the Hall of Supreme Harmony with gloomy faces, excited expressions, or righteous indignation. Then arguing voices could be heard from inside.
A quarter of an hour later, the officials came out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and did not return.
Yang Qianhuan… this name sounds so familiar as if I’ve heard it somewhere before… Second Young Master Xu pondered.
“Xu Xin’an, tribute scholar from Cloud Deer Academy in the capital.”
At this moment, the voice of an official from the Ministry of Rites interrupted Xu Xin’an’s thoughts. He came back to his senses and received the sealed exam paper from an official of the Court of State Ceremonial, then strode into the Hall of Supreme Harmony with his head held high.
…
The palace examination only tested policy questions, lasting just one day, with papers submitted at dusk.
Xu Xin’an left the palace in the glow of the setting sun. At the gate of the Imperial City, he saw his elder brother sitting high on horseback, holding the reins of another horse, waiting with a smile.
“I told Second Uncle that I’d come to pick you up,” Xu Qi’an asked, “How did the exam go?”
“Not bad!”
Xu Xin’an said calmly, “If I were a student of the Imperial Academy, I’d be sure to get into the first class.”
…Stop showing off! Xu Qi’an nodded with satisfaction, “Not bad. This is worthy of your elder brother’s reputation. In the future, others won’t say you’re a dog brother to a tiger brother.”
Xu Xin’an sighed, “Although elder brother has a reputation outside, you’re ultimately not a scholar. For the Xu family to establish a firm foothold in the capital and gain respect, we still need a scholar who has succeeded in the imperial examinations.”
Xu Qi’an made a sound of agreement, “Second brother, keep working hard. I just came from Princess Lin’an’s residence.”
“…” Xu Xin’an cupped his hands.
He had lost. He still couldn’t outdo his elder brother in pretense.
Xu Qi’an threw the reins to Second Young Master Xu and said, “Second brother, you’ve completed your journey through the imperial examinations. Tonight, my elder brother will treat you. Let’s go celebrate at the teaching courtyard.”
“What about mother and little sister…” Xu Xin’an frowned.
“I told Aunt that I have night patrol today. As for you, isn’t it normal to drink and celebrate with your classmates after the palace examination?” Xu Qi’an said.
“Elder brother has a point,” Xu Xin’an smiled.