The horses’ hooves struck the stone bricks with crisp sounds.
Tender green leaf buds that had only recently sprouted fell from above, carrying the unique fragrance of spring.
“Yan Zhi.”
The black-robed man suddenly called out softly.
“Hmm?” The blue-robed man hurriedly urged his horse forward and leaned in to ask quietly: “What are Your Highness’s instructions?”
“During this journey with me outside the capital, you must restrain yourself in all matters. Henceforth, don’t act like a wealthy noble, and stop flirting with unfamiliar women everywhere.” His voice was low and cold, yet tinged with resignation.
The blue-robed man lowered his head slightly, saying apologetically: “Your Highness is traveling incognito this time, with only Guard Bai accompanying you. North Chao’an Road was originally surrendered territory from Zhongwan, and the local customs are different from those in the capital…”
“So you flaunt your wealth and drive people away in a tavern? I’m not likely to be harmed just from having a meal,” the black-robed man interrupted him, his expression displeased. “Grand Tutor Shen’s meager salary is not meant to be squandered like this.”
The blue-robed man looked embarrassed and said softly: “Your Highness has forgotten, I’ve been receiving my salary since the beginning of the year.”
The black-robed man turned his head and said coldly: “Yes, indeed I forgot. Who is Shen Zhishu? Someone who entered government service through his parents’ patronage without taking the examinations, who assumed a prestigious position without serving in lower offices first. Even the new imperial scholars in court cannot match your good fortune… Forget about new imperial scholars, I think even Grand Tutor Shen from years past cannot match your current reputation, Shen Zhishu!”
“Your Highness…” Shen Zhishu wanted to explain urgently but swallowed his words and remained silent. After a while, he turned his head toward the tall man riding beside them, as if seeking help: “Guard Bai.”
Seeing his pitiful expression, Bai Danyong quickly rode over and diverted the conversation: “Your Highness, don’t you think Chongzhou City has changed greatly? I just noticed all the various taverns and shops along the streets, incomparably more prosperous than ten years ago. This confirms that the governance of North Chao’an Road in recent years matches what has been reported—Your Highness’s efforts have not been in vain.”
The black-robed man’s expression softened slightly. He looked around before saying: “Indeed, it’s very different from ten years ago. Guard Bai, do you remember when Mother Empress issued an edict to close the excess temples and nunneries in the four northern regions? Because the officials in Chao’an mishandled the implementation, so many young monks and nuns who hadn’t been registered in the household system were left homeless…”
Bai Danyong remained silent for a moment, then frowned and said: “I dare say, Your Highness had just begun participating in government affairs then, and was ordered to investigate officials in the surrendered territories of Zhongwan. Yet you left your retinue behind and surveyed several prefectures alone before returning. Although you uncovered many corrupt officials and saved many young monks and nuns, Your Highness’s actions caused so many people to worry anxiously, unable to sleep for several nights. This time, I only hope Your Highness will allow me to follow wherever you go. If anything untoward happens to you, even ten heads of mine wouldn’t be enough to atone for such dereliction of duty…”
“Guard Bai need not worry. His Highness is blessed by heaven—how could anything happen to him? It’s inexperienced people like me who need Guard Bai’s protection,” Shen Zhishu interjected with a grin. “Tomorrow morning I must visit the women’s academy by the west river of Chongzhou to pay my respects to the academy supervisor. Guard Bai, you can’t leave me alone.”
Bai Danyong was slightly taken aback. He looked at him, then at the black-robed man. “Your Highness, this…”
Shen Zhishu winked at the man, unable to hide his smile.
The man understood and his expression softened somewhat. He nodded and said: “This is an important matter. Grand Tutor Shen has been commissioned to oversee the provincial examinations in North Chao’an Road, so the women’s academy in Chongzhou Prefecture is naturally the most crucial. Yan Zhi has always acted without considering the consequences. If he goes alone, there might be mistakes. Tomorrow, please accompany him, Guard Bai. It’s only a matter of two or three hours, no need to worry anything will happen to me.”
Bai Danyong was stunned for a moment, then seemed to think of something and began to speak: “But Your Highness…”
Shen Zhishu quickly interrupted him: “In that case, I thank Guard Bai in advance.” Then he narrowed his eyes with a smile, kicked his horse’s belly, and galloped ahead.
The black-robed man’s lips curved into a smile as well. He raised his whip, spurred his horse, and said nothing more.
The early spring sun slanted down, illuminating the light dust on his shoulders. His brown left eye gleamed like amber, clear and bright.
The next morning, the entire women’s academy of Chongzhou was in an uproar.
The front hall of the academy compound, which usually only housed the ancestral tablets of sages and rarely received guests, was today being used by the academy supervisor to entertain a young man!
The classrooms in the back courtyard were empty. Everyone had rushed to the corridor outside the front hall, crowding together, whispering and discussing, craning their necks to look, inquiring about who the young man might be.
“Did you see him? When have we ever seen such a handsome person here…” a girl whispered with a flushed face.
“All you know is to look at men’s faces. Aren’t you ashamed to talk like that? Didn’t you notice what was hanging at his waist? A silverfish pouch!” another girl said urgently.
Someone asked softly: “He looks barely over twenty. How could he be so favored as to have a silverfish pouch?”
“Such ignorance,” someone snorted disdainfully. “I’ve heard that those who hold positions in the Hanlin Academy in the capital all entered government service through family privilege. How could such people not be favored? I think this man’s father must be a high official in court. Otherwise, how could someone so young receive such an honor?”
Another person impatiently said: “Stop arguing. Does anyone know why he came here today?”
“The court has been issuing one edict after another recently. Who can guess? But since he holds a position in the Hanlin Academy, he must be here for the upcoming provincial examinations for female candidates.”
Hearing this, everyone quieted for a moment, and then someone giggled and said: “Why worry about all that? This man is young, handsome, and highly favored by the Emperor. Don’t you want to take this opportunity to… ahem.” The girl smiled suggestively and made a gesture over her heart.
Before she could say more, someone pushed through abruptly: “What are you all looking at?”
Someone frowned, turned to see the newcomer, and quickly said softly: “Sister Yan, you’re here.”
Yan Fuzhi squeezed to the front, trying to peek in while asking: “What exactly are you looking at? I just slept a bit longer, and now I’ve missed the excitement?”
“You haven’t missed anything,” someone beside her quickly made way. “A young man arrived, incredibly handsome. He’s dressed simply but wears a silverfish pouch at his waist, and the academy supervisor specially opened the front hall to receive him!”
Yan Fuzhi became excited upon hearing this. “A silverfish pouch?” She leaned her body over the corridor railing. “Let me see!”
“I heard he holds a position in the Hanlin Academy…” someone answered softly.
But she wasn’t listening. She stretched her neck desperately to see inside the front hall, but could only glimpse a corner of a black official robe and a pair of official boots. She grumbled: “Why won’t he turn around so I can see just how handsome he is…”
Before she finished complaining, the person inside seemed to hear her. He stood up to pour tea, bowing respectfully to the academy supervisor sitting nearby.
Yan Fuzhi watched from afar as the man raised his head with a smile and turned back to his seat… and then she froze.
Those beautiful eyes…
It… it… it was him!
She hurriedly turned around and grabbed the woman who had spoken earlier. “You said he holds a position in the Hanlin Academy?”
The woman nodded timidly, not understanding what she wanted.
A position in the Hanlin Academy… and an imperially bestowed silver fish pouch…
She put her hand to her head, desperately trying to remember.
Yesterday in the tavern, what did the black-robed man call him?
…Yan Zhi… it seemed to be Yan Zhi.
After a moment of shock, she suddenly cried out in frustration, “How could I only realize this now!”
Who else in court could enter service directly into the prestigious Hanlin Academy and receive a silverfish pouch at such a young age?
Yan Zhi… Yan Zhi… wasn’t that the courtesy name of Shen Zhishu, the eldest son of Shen Wuchen, the Court Secretary, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and Grand Scholar of the Jixian Hall?
If so, then that young black-robed man yesterday who could command Shen Zhishu’s obedience…
Yan Fuzhi shuddered and turned to ask those around her: “Where is Meng Tinghui? Has anyone seen Meng Tinghui?”
Everyone shook their heads, indicating they didn’t know.
Yan Fuzhi stamped her foot and was about to leave when she suddenly heard someone say: “I remember now. I saw her going out at dawn. When I asked where she was going, she only said that the women’s academy wouldn’t be peaceful today, so she was going outside the city for a while before returning.”