Like a spring breeze caressing the shore and setting hundreds of leaves trembling, her entrance instantly attracted the gaze of everyone seated inside.
The hall manager personally came out to welcome her, his face full of smiles: “Official Shen, didn’t you say you would come in the evening? I haven’t prepared everything for you yet…” He turned his head to call someone: “Hurry to the kitchen and tell them to speed up!”
The young woman smiled gently, saying: “My mother is unwell today and didn’t go to the monastery, so I came early. Manager, there’s no need to rush. I don’t mind waiting here.” She then walked to a nearby table, lifted her skirt slightly to sit down, and waited for her things to be brought.
With straight eyebrows, large eyes, thin cherry lips, and skin not particularly fair, a hint of boldness shone through her brows. Nevertheless, she was extremely beautiful.
Meng Tinghui watched her somewhat entranced, feeling that the woman’s face had a hint of familiarity, as if she had seen her somewhere before, but she couldn’t remember where no matter how hard she tried.
She thought to herself that only such an outstanding beauty with a distinguished family background would be worthy of the Crown Prince who was the focus of everyone’s attention.
A female candidate nearby spoke in a delicate voice: “I heard she entered the Ministry of War’s Bureau of Operations just last month, and it was through the Emperor’s special grace. She quite resembles her mother in her day. Now both children of the Shen family serve as officials in court—truly an honor for the entire family.”
“Although they’re both called Official Shen, this Official Shen is much better at being an official than her brother,” someone else chimed in. From the accent, it seemed to be someone from the capital region who knew much about court affairs. “It’s said she’s adept at political maneuvering and getting along with everyone. Even the senior officials of the Two Offices and Six Ministries praise her endlessly.”
…
Meng Tinghui pursed her lips, her eyes suddenly darkening. She turned back to her seat, picked up her chopsticks again, and slowly stirred the few vegetables left on her plate.
The young woman sat quietly by the entrance for a while, then suddenly turned her head to glance in this direction.
With that glance, those who had been whispering earlier immediately fell silent. Before long, they all rose one after another and went upstairs.
Meng Tinghui lowered her eyes, then raised them again to look at the woman, smiled slightly, and walked over.
“Official Shen.”
She stood beside the table and spoke softly, with proper courtesy.
Shen Zhili’s eyelashes fluttered as her gaze met Meng Tinghui’s. “And you are?”
Meng Tinghui slightly bowed her head, her voice still soft: “I am Meng Tinghui, here for the women’s jinshi examination at the Ministry of Rites. I have long heard of Official Shen’s reputation for talent, and just now learned from idle talk that you were here. I couldn’t bear to miss this opportunity, so please forgive my presumption.”
Shen Zhili’s eyes suddenly brightened. “Are you the Meng Tinghui from Chao’an’s northern route?”
Meng Tinghui nodded gently. “I am.”
Shen Zhili gestured to her side and smiled. “Sit.”
She sat down as instructed, then took out a thin note from her sleeve and placed it gently on the corner of the table. “They say Official Shen is skilled in poetry and prose. Humble as I am, seeing the capital’s splendor today, I composed two small pieces in my room. I hope Official Shen might offer some guidance.”
Shen Zhili thought for a moment before reaching out to take the note. However, she didn’t open it to look, but merely held it between her fingers, toying with it. After a long while, she said: “When I first heard about your incident at Chao’an’s northern route provincial examination, I thought you must be a person of unyielding integrity who would disdain to do something like presenting a note to seek guidance. I see I was mistaken.” She looked at Meng Tinghui and pushed the note back, unopened. “Unfortunately, I have absolutely nothing to do with this Ministry examination. Miss Meng, you’ve approached the wrong person.”
Meng Tinghui’s expression remained unchanged; she only said softly: “I’m afraid if I truly were a person of unyielding integrity, Official Shen would look down on me instead. They’re just two small compositions—Official Shen is overly cautious.”
Shen Zhili stared at her fixedly for a long time, and then her red lips suddenly curved upward as she laughed several times before saying: “Well played, Meng Tinghui.” She took the note again, opening it to look while continuing: “If it were someone else, they would likely have been frightened off by my words just now. You’re right—the court has never lacked officials of unyielding integrity, but those who criticize corruption and promote virtue have never been popular in official circles. If one can’t even stand firmly, what use is all their talent for governance? It’s a pity not many understand this principle.”
Meng Tinghui still spoke softly: “Thank you, Official Shen.”
Having finished reading, Shen Zhili sighed: “Miss Meng truly has excellent literary talent.” She looked up with a smile. “Don’t call me Official Shen anymore. My given name is Zhili, and my courtesy name is Leyan. Miss Meng can call me Leyan from now on. With Miss Meng’s talent, achieving success in this jinshi examination should pose no difficulty. When that time comes, Miss Meng and I will serve as officials in the same court, and I hope we can support each other.”
Meng Tinghui quickly stood up. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Shen Zhili was about to say something more when someone came running with small quick steps from behind the building, carrying two oil-paper packages, saying to the manager: “Manager, everything is packed.”
She then also stood up, smiling at Meng Tinghui: “I have matters at home and cannot stay long. Let’s meet again outside the Ministry of Rites on the day the examination results are announced.”
Meng Tinghui nodded, raising her hand in a light salute, her long sleeves falling to her waist, the edges slightly curled.
Although not gaining Grand Tutor Shen’s favor was a great regret, being able to establish a slight connection with Shen Zhili now would surely be of some use.
She gazed at the slender willows in front of the building for a long time before finally narrowing her eyes and turning to go upstairs.
Outside the Shen residence, pomegranate flowers scattered their fragrance on the ground, light clouds drifted, and all were exceptionally quiet.
A servant at the door saw Shen Zhili alighting from the carriage and hurried to greet her: “Young Miss has returned.” He then took the items from Shen Zhili’s hands and followed her inside.
Shen Zhili smoothed the loose hair near her ears and instructed: “These are all things the Young Master likes to eat. When you see the master later, don’t say I bought them, just say someone heard the Young Master was returning to the capital today and sent them to the household.”
The servant remained silent, following behind without a word.
As she walked, she looked around and noticed the mansion was quite deserted. Feeling something was amiss, she turned to ask: “How is it that the Young Master hasn’t returned? Wasn’t it said that he arrived outside the city before dawn and then entered the palace with the Crown Prince to have an audience with the Emperor?”
The servant stepped forward and said softly: “He did return, but the Young Master is angry with the master and won’t even eat a bite of the welcoming meal specially prepared by the mistress.”
Shen Zhili was surprised. “For what reason?”
The servant stammered for a long time, appearing afraid to speak. Only when he saw her face turn angry did he hurriedly say: “I heard… I heard that the Young Master is being sent to an official post outside the capital—Chao’an’s northern route, Qingzhou!”
Shen Zhili was stunned. After a while, she finally reacted, frowned briefly, and then walked straight toward Shen Zhishu’s quarters in the back courtyard.
Weeping willows lined the corridor, birds chirped and fluttered their wings, and the door of the third room on the east side of the back courtyard was half-open, with surprisingly no servants waiting outside.
She kicked the door open and walked in.
The inner curtain immediately swayed, and Shen Zhishu emerged, his eyebrows furrowed. “Only you would dare kick my door.”
With that, he sat down on a chair in the room, the hem of his brocade robe sliding over his knees, his long legs half bent, looking impatient.
Shen Zhili closed the door behind her and fixed her gaze on him: “Is it Father’s idea to have you serve as the governor of Qingzhou?”
Shen Zhishu glanced at her, coldly snorted twice, with an expression that neither confirmed nor denied.
Shen Zhili’s face stiffened slightly. “You don’t want to go?”
With a loud clang, he swept a paperweight off the table with his sleeve.
She was startled and unconsciously took two steps back.
Shen Zhishu stood up, angrily saying: “It’s not that I don’t want to go! While still in Chongzhou Prefecture, I had already memorialized to the Crown Prince that if he was concerned about the officials in Chao’an’s commander’s office, he could just send me to Qingzhou!” He kicked the paperweight again. “Who would have thought that before I could return to the capital and present a memorial to the Emperor myself, Father had already actively requested an edict to have me assigned to an external post in Qingzhou!”
Shen Zhili raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.
He flung his robe as he turned around, still appearing extremely angry: “Grand Tutor Shen does everything for the country, the people, the court, and the Emperor, willingly letting his only son go to the northern border to gain experience! I knew it, in the end, everything just adds to Grand Tutor Shen’s reputation!”
Shen Zhili stepped forward, bent down to pick up the paperweight, and said: “You’re getting angry with Father over such a small matter.”
Seeing that he was still furious, she couldn’t help but sigh: “Hearing that you were returning to the capital today, I especially went to the Yitai Building to buy some of your favorite snacks. Go to the kitchen to check them out later.”
Shen Zhishu turned around and, seeing that she was heading for the door and from her tone didn’t seem to be planning to stay in the mansion, frowned: “Where are you going now?”
She paused, then said softly: “To Minister Gu’s residence.”
Hearing this, his face changed suddenly. After a moment’s hesitation, he stepped forward and whispered to the back of her head: “Minister Gu’s wife passed away not long ago. Your visit at this time is most inappropriate.”
Shen Zhili stood still for a while before turning around, the corners of her eyes slightly red. “What do you mean by inappropriate?”
Shen Zhishu grew anxious. “After all these years, how can you still harbor such thoughts? If Father finds out, you…”
She laughed coldly: “The Young Master might as well inform the Grand Tutor.” With that, she moved forward to push the door open, intending to leave.
He grabbed her arm, saying in a low voice: “Shen Zhili, I’m saying this for your own good.”
She shook him off forcefully. “Rest assured, Young Master. This time I’m merely delivering a note to Minister Gu for someone else. I certainly won’t do anything that would make people look down on me!”