Zhang Ting’an, the eldest brother of the Zhang family, had been born early — a full twelve years older than Zhang Zhixu — so when he found a small child, he naturally raised him as an adopted son.

And so Zhang Zhixu and Zhang Yinyue’s seniority rose accordingly.

Zhang Zhixu had no particular objection to this. Whether the boy was nephew or younger brother, he wasn’t close to him either way.

But Zhang Yinyue had been thoroughly displeased. The two of them had grown up together as childhood companions, yet he was made to call her Aunt.

For a time she had been willful about it, insisting and pressing Zhang Xilai to call her Yinyue — yet Zhang Xilai bit his own lip until it bled rather than give in.

Now that she was betrothed, the two of them grew even more distant, barely exchanging a few words.

Zhang Yinyue poked at the gold ingots. Suddenly she felt like crying.

Chen Baoxiang patted her on the back. “When I think about it, I can actually understand Young Master Zhang.”

“Understand what about him?” Yinyue said with indignation. “Understand that he doesn’t know what’s good for him?”

“Anyone living under another’s roof is acutely aware of what’s good for them.” She smiled gently. “It’s precisely because he’s too aware of it that he doesn’t dare put a single foot wrong.”

“But our Elder Brother has never treated him poorly, and everyone in the household treats him as a proper young master.”

“The people in your family are all very kind.” Chen Baoxiang crouched beside her. “But a child who was once abandoned — their heart floats like duckweed on water. Even if the pond is perfectly calm and undisturbed, a single gust of wind can send it swaying and drifting.”

Zhang Yinyue stared with wide eyes, as if she understood and yet didn’t quite.

Chen Baoxiang felt a pang of wistful envy — she’s never had to swallow a single drop of bitterness, so of course she can’t truly feel that kind of unease.

In the past, Zhang Zhixu would certainly have argued back, saying that all people are alike — what is there that one cannot come to understand?

But now, having lived firsthand through the gulf between Chen Baoxiang’s life and his own — having been so thoroughly shaken by the difference —

Zhang Zhixu chose to nod: Yes. She cannot fathom it through imagination alone.

“As it happens,” Zhang Zhixu suddenly spoke, “your second elder brother had suggested I sit the examination for a junior clerk position at the Bureau of Works — I didn’t expect Young Master Zhang to take up a post there before me.”

“The Bureau of Works?” Yinyue winced. “Only Second Elder Brother could say that so breezily — that place is notoriously difficult to get into.”

Chen Baoxiang also dug her nails sharply into her own thigh: Great Immortal, what are you saying out of nowhere? I can’t even read — how am I supposed to sit an examination?

If you wished to go, I could indeed get you through it.

The Bureau of Works — he had composed every examination paper they used for clerk recruitment. What difficulty was there in getting a minor clerk position?

Chen Baoxiang remained reluctant: Why would I want to go? I’m perfectly comfortable lounging at Xun Yuan—

The monthly salary alone is two taels of silver.

Chen Baoxiang: — It’s not really proper to keep lounging at someone else’s home. I should go. I absolutely must go!

Zhang Zhixu smiled faintly, then said to Zhang Yinyue: “I’m thinking of giving it a try — only I’m not sure which departments at the Bureau of Works currently have openings. If you have a moment to spare, could you perhaps inquire on my behalf?”

Yinyue’s eyes lit up in an instant. “I’ve long wanted an excuse to visit his study — never had a proper reason before. Elder Sister, you’re truly a wonderful person. Come on, let’s go ask right now.”

Without further ado, she had someone gather up the gold from the ground, then seized Chen Baoxiang by the arm and marched them both toward the study.

The fourth branch of the Zhang family had never pursued official careers, but had distinguished themselves remarkably in commerce, and so this stretch of buildings and courtyard was resplendent with golden lacquer and silver carvings — very much to Chen Baoxiang’s taste.

She walked along, inwardly exclaiming all the while: Great Immortal, this family is too incredible! If I could live in a place like this, I’d wake up laughing in my dreams!

Zhang Zhixu frowned sideways at the ostentatious and, to his mind, rather ugly eaves: If I were made to live in a place like this, I’d wake up from nightmares.

Your taste is terrible!

And she had the audacity to say so about him.

With an irritable huff, Zhang Zhixu thought to himself: someday, if the opportunity arises, he would most certainly open her eyes to what a truly magnificent abode looks like.

They passed through a grove of bamboo, and everything ahead suddenly became simple and unadorned.

Chen Baoxiang looked on. Before her stood a few bamboo-built pavilions rising among the trees, connected by a winding path that wound into the depth of the grove. A bird had perched on the half-open window sill, its song bright and clear.

Zhang Xilai sat beside the window, an unopened document in hand, eyes fixed blankly on the tabletop in a daze.

“Well, well — you claim you had official business to attend to, yet here you are idling?” Yinyue planted her hands on her hips and called up at him, chin raised. “Get down here at once and play a round of step-ball with me for an hour as penance.”

Zhang Xilai came back to himself, braced himself up to look down from the window, and seemed mildly surprised. “What brings you both here?”

Chen Baoxiang waved up at him. “There’s something we’d like to discuss with Young Master Zhang.”

The sight of her made him think of Little Uncle. Zhang Xilai came down swiftly, but as he drew near he hesitated — his feet shifted, and he moved only toward Chen Baoxiang.

“What matter does Miss wish to discuss with me?”

Chen Baoxiang raised an eyebrow, drew Yinyue forward beside her. “I can’t explain it clearly in a few words — let her say it.”

Yinyue glared at him, fuming. “Your most beloved Little Uncle — my Second Elder Brother — wishes to have this Miss Chen sit the examination for a junior clerk position at the Bureau of Works. I’ve come to ask you: which department there has the most vacancies?”

Zhang Xilai clasped his hands and answered formally. “The proposal for the construction of the Guangxia Housing District has already been submitted — approval is expected any day now. The Construction Division will be quite busy for some time.”

Yinyue slapped his hands away, exasperated. “What’s with all this formal bowing? You were never like this before.”

“Aunt is of age now.” Zhang Xilai lowered his eyes. “It’s only right to observe proper conduct.”

“You—!”

Seeing that Yinyue was about to start hitting him, Chen Baoxiang quickly stepped between them and asked with manufactured curiosity: “What is the Guangxia Housing District?”

“The Great Sheng dynasty prospers, and most people can live and work in contentment — yet there are still many who have no place to call home.” Zhang Xilai answered earnestly. “Three years ago, an official of humble origins proposed the construction of the Guangxia Housing District, that it might shelter destitute scholars and the poor across the land. But at the time the treasury was strained, no one could push the initiative forward, and it was shelved indefinitely.”

Chen Baoxiang felt a tremor in her chest at these words and murmured softly: “So even in the Great Sheng, it’s not that there are no good officials — only that there are too few of them. This proposal was shelved for three years — what has stirred it to life again now?”

“Little Uncle.” Zhang Xilai’s eyes lit up with bright admiration. “Little Uncle had barely regained his clarity of mind before he had the Bureau of Works take up this matter first. True to form for a Confucian official who keeps the world close to his heart — officials in the court who genuinely care about the people’s suffering are far too rare. If you ask me, Little Uncle deserves more bowing from a hundred households than the Dragon King in the temple up north—”

“Enough — once you start talking about Second Elder Brother, there’s no stopping you.” Yinyue stomped her foot and reached out again as if to pinch him.

Zhang Zhixu took such words in stride — he was hardly short of people flattering him. Besides, it was simply his duty; nothing worth boasting about.

But he could sense that Chen Baoxiang seemed genuinely moved. Her emotions came like a warm tide, surging and cresting against his chest before retreating.

That person sounds like a very, very good man.

She said: Great Immortal, if he recovers and returns — do you think he’ll be able to cleanse the corruption and wrongdoing that runs through the court today?

The Great Immortal froze. The Great Immortal fell silent. The Great Immortal did not dare make her any promise.

But in that silence, he could not help but ask himself honestly — if he were willing to lay everything on the line, could he carve a path through the blood?