After autumn’s arrival, fallen leaves covered the pavilions and halls of the Hanlin Academy—slightly curled leaf blades and short, stiff stems in shades of green, red, brown, and yellow scattered everywhere.

Inside, the halls were bright and clean, with sleeves remaining untouched by dust when raised.

Meng Tinghui sat behind her desk, piles of volumes stacked several feet high before her, making her appear even more petite.

Most of these books were old records from the previous dynasty, some in terrible condition with spines and corners coming apart.

She kept her head down, reading carefully. She had rolled up and tied her wide official robe sleeves at her arms, her fingers quickly marking notes in the book before her with a purple brush.

The Emperor had issued an edict last year, instructing Grand Academic Fang Huai to lead various Academic Secretaries, Compilers, and Editors in compiling the historical records of the previous dynasties.

This assignment was envied by countless Compilers in the Hanlin Academy. Many young jinshi who had been at the Academy for three or four years hadn’t been selected by Fang Huai, yet she had easily entered the Editorial Office in the east wing of the second half of the Hanlin Academy with just a written order from the Crown Prince. Thus, she worked diligently and conscientiously, not daring to make even the slightest mistake, fearing she might lose this position she had obtained through such effort.

Although Fang Huai wasn’t as strict as Liu Ren, his temperament was cold. He was respected and admired by many Academic Secretaries for his exceptional talent and profound knowledge. While working under him, she had only been given the tedious task of recording local chronicles, but it was enough to let her breathe a little easier in the Hanlin Academy.

Outside, the autumn sun shone peacefully with a slightly cool breeze that blew through the latticed windows, gently lifting the papers spread before her.

She raised her hand to hold them down, looking out the window.

The breeze stirred the loose strands of hair on her forehead. Her eyes reflected the autumn scenery outside, the corners of her mouth curving slightly.

Regardless of whether it was good or bad, she had finally secured her place here.

And now that she was here, no one could drive her away unless… she chose to leave herself.

Just as she was about to turn back, she saw a female official approaching, her skirts fluttering as she entered.

Meng Tinghui had barely risen when she saw Shen Zhili’s head peek in from behind the door. She couldn’t help but smile, saying, “What wind has blown you here?”

Seeing that there was no one else in the Editorial Office at the moment, Shen Zhili boldly walked quickly to her desk, lowering her eyes to look at the pile of volumes before her. “How is it? Haven’t had time to eat anything today, have you?”

Meng Tinghui nodded, reaching out to gather the open, tattered historical texts, smiling with narrowed eyes: “Official Shen, you’re overstepping boundaries.”

Shen Zhili made a light “tsk” sound, glancing at her: “The unofficial history my father wrote years ago was truly excellent. I’ve heard stories of the previous dynasty since childhood as bedtime tales. Who would want to look at these old historical books in front of you?”

Meng Tinghui pressed her lips together without speaking, only arranging the books and papers neatly before asking, “What brings you here?”

Shen Zhili pulled out a small package of palace cakes from her sleeve and tossed it onto her desk. “Official Meng should eat something first, lest you starve yourself and become too weak to work on the histories…”

Meng Tinghui couldn’t help but laugh, knowing she was teasing her. Without saying much, she took the cake and began to nibble on it.

Shen Zhili remained silent for a while but finally couldn’t hold back, asking, “This morning in the palace, I saw people from the inner hall writing yellow cards for officials attending the northern garden horseback archery event. Why didn’t I see your name?”

Meng Tinghui leisurely ate half of the palace cake, wiping the corner of her lips with her finger before softly replying, “What would I do at the northern garden archery event?”

Shen Zhili raised an eyebrow, her face showing disdain: “How many female officials are there in the court, and which one doesn’t look forward to this annual northern garden archery ceremony? Yet you’re the only one unwilling to go?”

Meng Tinghui couldn’t help but smile bitterly, pointing at the foot-high stack of books on her desk: “You can see for yourself. Is the task Grand Academic Fang assigned me an easy one? Lately, I haven’t even had enough sleep, how could I have the energy to think about archery matters?” She rewrapped the unfinished cake and continued, “Firstly, I don’t know horseback archery; secondly, I have no interest in the palace guards or military officers from the capital region. Why should I waste time watching that archery event?”

Shen Zhili curved her lips, “The Crown Prince will also be there. He’s sure to ride and shoot arrows, competing with the military officers. Aren’t you interested in that?”

Meng Tinghui’s eyelashes trembled slightly, not expecting her to say this.

It had been nearly four months since she had seen him.

Since leaving the Crown Prince’s Palace that night and returning to the Hanlin Academy the next day, she hadn’t had the opportunity to see him again.

He must be annoyed with her.

Otherwise, during these four months when he had repeatedly summoned people to draft edicts, many Hanlin Compilers had the honor of observing the Academics discuss and draft edicts with the Crown Prince at night, yet he never summoned her.

She had long known he would be like this, but she wasn’t someone who sought momentary pleasure.

There were too many things she wanted in her heart, and who could truly understand what she was after with all her actions?

Shen Zhili stared at her from the side.

She smiled lightly, raising her hand to smooth the loose hair by her ear, and changed the subject: “If that’s the case, then I might as well go have a look.”

Shen Zhili smiled strangely, “I still haven’t asked you, why you only stayed at the Eastern Palace for one day before returning to the Hanlin Academy?”

Meng Tinghui looked up with a surprised expression, “Didn’t I just do as you said? I complained to the Crown Prince that the senior officials at the Hanlin Academy were unwilling to work with a woman. The Crown Prince, in anger, sent me back. When Academic Liu saw the Crown Prince’s order, he couldn’t express his resentment anymore.”

Shen Zhili looked at her for a moment, her expression subtle, but she didn’t pursue the topic further. She simply stepped back to appraise her and said, “I imagine you don’t have riding attire. Why don’t I send you one of my old sets tomorrow? It’ll save you the trouble of having to get one, especially for the archery ceremony.”

Meng Tinghui just smiled, not bothering with false politeness, and simply said, “Thank you.”

Riding attire…

In her mind flashed the image of him that day, wearing light armor, sitting high on his horse, his body covered in sweat.

She couldn’t help but bite her lip and smile.

On the eighth day of the tenth month in the twenty-fourth year of Qiande, beneath the Baojin Tower in the northern garden on the outskirts of the capital, a clamor of voices filled the air for dozens of zhang. Colorful flags waved in the wind, various military performances were presented below the tower, and a vast open space was filled with long-maned steeds, with willow targets set up around the field.

All civil and military officials of the court attended. The men were eager to participate, while the women were excited. Besides female officials from the court, many daughters from noble families in the capital were also seated in nearby corridors, watching this magnificent and valiant archery ceremony.

The northern garden was originally built by Prince Ping for the Emperor. Because the Emperor missed the old western garden of the former capital, after completing the new capital, Prince Ping specifically chose a piece of land in the northern suburbs and had people create a garden identical to the western garden of Suiyang.

Since the northern garden was completed in the fifth year of Qiande until now, Prince Ping has held an annual horseback archery ceremony here, competing with his officials in riding and archery skills. However, after the Crown Prince began participating in government affairs at the age of fourteen, the responsibility of hosting the northern garden archery ceremony was transferred to him, and Prince Ping no longer involved himself.

Most female officials served in places like the Court of Imperial Entertainments or the Court of State Ceremonial. Where would they normally see the young military officers of the capital region? Thus, they all looked forward to this archery ceremony, hoping to meet a suitable match on the day of the northern garden archery event, so they could resign from their official positions and marry.

Meng Tinghui stood among a large group of female officials, her gaze not fixed like others on the groups of young, valiant military officers, but directed far away toward the one seated high on the Baojin Tower.

From such a distance, she couldn’t see his face, but her memory was so vivid that just that heart-piercingly black riding robe was enough for her to trace his eyes, lips, nose, and mouth in her mind.

So handsome.

So straight and tall.

So… captivating to her heart.

Suddenly, three loud arrow whistles came from the distance. Several riders galloped forward, led by someone in dazzling silver armor that caught the eye under the bright autumn sun.

The women beside her became excited at once, all pushing forward. Someone whispered, “It’s Commander Di from the Divine Guard!”

“Which one, which one?” The clustered female officials eagerly tried to see.

The person who spoke earlier said, “The one in front! I heard from my cousin that the Crown Prince specially summoned him from the Divine Guard for this archery ceremony. This Commander Di must have extraordinary riding skills!”

Hearing this, Meng Tinghui couldn’t help but be curious. She raised her eyes and looked in the direction everyone was gazing.

The man on horseback smiled brilliantly, his face lean. Holding a long spear, he rode swiftly past the crowd at the edge of the field, bowing in gesture toward a woman standing at the other end.

Her curiosity grew. She leaned forward to look and saw that the woman was none other than Shen Zhili. The next moment, she heard Shen Zhili’s slightly embarrassed and angry voice: “You, Di Nian, how have you become even more impudent!”