In March, flowers were in full bloom. As spring’s chill gradually departed, Bianjing City welcomed the season of blossoming flowers. People in the alleys shed their heavy winter garments for lovely spring attire. Graceful young ladies resembled flowers blooming on branches, and vitality permeated everywhere.

This spring in Bianjing was even livelier than previous years, as the triennial spring imperial examination was approaching. In the taverns and teahouses, all conversations revolved around the examination. Local newspapers were selling rapidly, and even gambling houses had opened betting pools for the examination results.

Everything was in full swing.

The spring imperial examination was held at the Imperial Examination Hall, administered by the Ministry of Rites, consisting of three sessions over nine days and six nights. Once candidates entered, they could not leave until the examination concluded. During this period, all daily necessities including meals had to be managed within the examination grounds, and candidates needed to bring their own provisions.

Three days before the examination, Madam Zeng and Ming Shu began preparing Lu Chang’s examination necessities. Besides dried food, they packed writing materials like brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, as well as daily items such as candles and oilcloth. Ming Shu even included a small clay stove so he could have hot water… As items were added one by one, they unexpectedly filled the examination basket, requiring an additional wicker basket to accommodate everything.

When Lu Chang came out and saw this, he couldn’t help saying, “That’s enough, we’re not moving house.”

“Better to have more than needed,” Ming Shu said while opening the examination basket’s drawers layer by layer, showing Lu Chang the organized contents. Each drawer was neatly categorized – here were the four treasures of study, there were common medicines… She pointed out and explained each item to him.

Lu Chang carefully committed everything to memory, occasionally glancing at Ming Shu’s eyes, his heart filled with warmth.

Ming Shu spoke until her throat was parched, making sure she hadn’t missed any corner, before finally concluding: “Once Mother finishes preparing the dried food to put in, it will be complete. I’ll check everything again before you leave.”

“Take a rest,” Lu Chang poured her a cup of tea.

She drank it in one gulp but had no intention of resting. Instead, she pulled two items from her pouch – a divination slip and a red talisman.

“Look, Mother and I got these from the temple while you were studying. It’s the most auspicious sign!” She pushed the divination slip into Lu Chang’s hand, then held up the talisman, rising on her tiptoes. “Brother, lower your head.”

“What’s this?” Lu Chang asked, though he obediently lowered his head.

“A talisman to bless you with success in the examination. Wear it!” She hung it around his neck, pressing it firmly against his chest, and smiled with satisfaction.

“Talk of spirits and gods…” Lu Chang didn’t believe in such things and was about to object, but seeing Ming Shu’s stern face and raised chin staring at him disapprovingly, he swallowed his words and simply nodded, “Thank you and Mother.”

“Then we’ll be waiting for your success!” Ming Shu finally brightened.

————

On March 10th, under clear skies, the examination day arrived. The imperial examination was the most important event in a scholar’s life, and most families came out in full force to send off their candidates. The Lu family was no exception. Lu Chang didn’t want to trouble Madam Zeng and Ming Shu with the trip, but the mother and daughter were even more excited than the examination candidate himself. Unable to stop them, he had no choice but to let them have their way.

The area outside the Imperial Examination Hall was packed with people waiting for the gates to open. Everywhere, family members were earnestly instructing their scholars. Carriages couldn’t even enter the nearby streets; regardless of how wealthy the family was, everyone had to walk in at this point. Ming Shu and Madam Zeng accompanied Lu Chang to the examination grounds. Madam Zeng held Lu Chang’s hand, giving him endless reminders while Ming Shu stood beside them smiling, her eyes wandering around.

Suddenly, a group of people pushed through the crowd nearby, their bearing suggesting another wealthy family’s full attendance, with servants clearing a path through the surrounding commoners. Scattered greetings rose from the crowd: “Lady Song.”

It was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Duke’s mansion personally coming to send off her son.

Ming Shu gazed from afar, seeing only people in magnificent clothing, with elaborate hairstyles adorned with gold and jade ornaments – clearly not ordinary folk. Hearing the surname Song, she understood, and sure enough, when she looked again, she spotted Song Qing Zhao surrounded by the crowd.

Song Qing Zhao stood like a bamboo shoot among flowers and brocade, extremely eye-catching.

Many people around greeted him – classmates, family friends, and commoners alike. He politely returned their greetings, his expression calm. His mother, the Duke’s eldest daughter-in-law, wore a smile that barely contained a mother’s pride. Her pride was understandable – married to the Duke’s heir apparent and future Duchess, she already held an honorable position. She had borne two outstanding sons: the eldest would inherit the dukedom, while the second excelled in literature and would advance through the imperial examinations, assured of an official career… She had achieved nearly every aspiration a woman of that era could hope for.

Ming Shu watched for a moment, her heart slightly stirring.

Strangely, when she saw Song Qing Zhao from afar, her heart would involuntarily flutter for him, but when they met and talked, such as during their joint investigation at Song Ling Academy, even with him right beside her, she lost that flutter and viewed him as just an ordinary friend.

What kind of emotion was this?

Ming Shu couldn’t figure it out either.

While she was pondering this, Song Qing Zhao had already left his mother’s side and walked somewhat hurriedly to where Lu Chang’s group stood, his typically faint expression showing some change.

“Brother Lu, Madam Lu…” he cupped his hands in greeting, finally turning to Ming Shu, “Ming Shu.”

Lu Chang returned the courtesy, imperceptibly stepping forward half a step to shield Ming Shu behind him.

With her view suddenly blocked, Ming Shu could only peek out from Lu Chang’s side to wave at Song Qing Zhao.

Song Qing Zhao smiled and continued: “I received what you sent through Wen An. That was thoughtful of you, thank you.”

Hearing this, Lu Chang’s brows furrowed deeply as he turned to ask Ming Shu: “What thing?”

“Just that talisman. When Mother and I went to the temple, we got two. Since Young Master Song had given us medicine before, I had nothing else to repay him with, so I asked Wen An to deliver one of them to him.” After explaining to Lu Chang, she turned to Song Qing Zhao, “No need for thanks, the talisman didn’t cost much. It’s just for good fortune, hoping both Brother and you will achieve success in the examination!”

“This thoughtfulness is more than enough.” Though Song Qing Zhao’s smile remained gentle, there was a clear difference between his genuine smile and the polite one he gave others.

Ming Shu returned his smile, but Lu Chang couldn’t smile at all. He unconsciously touched his chest where her talisman lay beneath his clothes.

So, it wasn’t unique.

Meanwhile, the Duke’s eldest daughter-in-law observed this scene from afar and appeared thoughtful, asking the elderly maid beside her for information.

A mother knows her child best. Song Qing Zhao, with his typically aloof nature, rarely showed such expressions and had never shown any initiative toward any young lady. This was unusual.

The crowd suddenly stirred again as someone shouted: “The Third Prince, the Minister of State, and the Minister of Rites have arrived!”

The examination officials responsible for these nine days and six nights arrived in sequence. The crowd automatically parted to form a path, and the officials in crimson robes walked toward the examination hall amid bowing crowds.

Halfway there, one official suddenly stopped in front of the Lu family, singling out one name among all the candidates.

“Lu Chang.” Lu Wen Han smiled slightly, encouraging him, “Do your best. I look forward to your performance.”

Lu Chang bowed his head and responded: “Thank you for your concern, Your Excellency.”

Lu Wen Han continued toward the examination hall, his gaze briefly crossing with Madam Zeng’s. They met eyes in mid-air, then silently passed each other.

One remained in place, while the other continued forward, his figure disappearing through the examination hall gates.

————

After watching Lu Chang pass the inspection and successfully enter the examination grounds, Ming Shu and Madam Zeng headed home.

Throughout the journey, Madam Zeng seemed lost in thought, responding absentmindedly to Ming Shu’s words.

“Mother? Are you alright?” Ming Shu worried about Madam Zeng.

She had been fine when they left this morning, why did she become like this after sending off Lu Chang?

“I’m fine,” Madam Zeng came to her senses, patting Ming Shu’s hand reassuringly. Seeing her still concerned, she smiled again, “Really, I’m fine. Your friends have come to see you, why don’t you go greet them?”

She nodded toward a carriage at the alley entrance. Ming Shu looked over and indeed saw an eye-catching carriage stopped outside their alley. The curtain was lifted, revealing Wen An and Shu Jun’s pretty faces peering out the window.

Ming Shu immediately brightened.

“These past few days, with your brother at home, you’ve been as confined as a caged chick. You must be bored. Go have some fun, but come back early, and don’t get completely drunk like last time,” Madam Zeng said.

Ming Shu was indeed restless. To avoid distracting Lu Chang, she hadn’t gone anywhere for over twenty days. Hearing Madam Zeng’s words, her heart took flight: “Mother, can I go?”

“Go ahead!” Madam Zeng nodded with a smile.

Ming Shu flew to the carriage like a bird released from its cage, not waiting for servants to help her, she jumped into the carriage herself.

“Finally seeing you,” Yin Shu Jun exclaimed at first sight.

Ming Shu sat between them – the alluringly beautiful Yin Shu Jun on her left, the elegantly pretty Wen An on her right. Sitting between them gave her a sense of being embraced by both sides. Though the County Princess’s carriage was spacious, it was still cramped with three sitting side by side. Yin Shu Jun complained about the squeeze but didn’t ask anyone to move, and they remained snugly packed together.

Once you’ve shared hearts and gotten drunk together, you become intimate friends.

“County Princess, Miss Yin, long time no see. Got any money-making opportunities to share?”

Ming Shu’s first words upon meeting were all about money.

Wen An pushed away her hand, saying: “You’re too materialistic! We came to visit you in good faith, and this is how you treat us?”

“Well, I haven’t had any income for over twenty days, so I’m anxious. Unlike you both, born into noble families without worrying about food and clothing, I naturally have to plan for future days.” Ming Shu leaned against Wen An, smiling, “The County Princess cherishes me and won’t be angry.”

Wen An glanced at her irritably, saying: “What? Do you still want to take people’s money to solve their problems? Taking jobs here and there? Don’t you want to do something more proper?”

“I’ve always done proper things, benefiting you and Miss Yin. What’s improper about that?” Ming Shu replied, though after thinking she understood Wen An’s meaning, “I understand what you mean, but I don’t have much savings. If I opened a shop, I might not manage the turnover, so I need to save more first.”

“How much silver are you planning to use to open a shop?” Yin Shu Jun asked.

“To open a decent shop, at least five hundred taels, right?” Ming Shu responded.

“Five hundred taels? What kind of decent shop could that open?” Wen An scoffed.

“Five hundred isn’t enough?” Ming Shu thought her ambitions were already high, but Wen An’s were even higher.

“If we’re opening a shop, naturally it should be the biggest in all of Bianjing. Anyway, I have no marriage prospects now, and I’m tired of facing the overt and covert mockery from those concubines and half-sisters at home. How about this – I’ll partner with you to open a shop, what do you think?” Wen An glanced at her sideways, “I have the money, but you’ll handle the business operations.”

“What about me?” Yin Shu Jun’s head popped up, unwilling to be left out, “I have shop premises! And… and I have my cousin Tao Yi Qian! We won’t have to worry about supplies!”

“…” Ming Shu never expected that a few casual words would inspire such ideas from her intimate friends.

“Are you serious? One is an honorable County Princess, the other is the daughter of a Secretariat Drafter. Aren’t you afraid of criticism if word gets out?”

Although social customs were gradually becoming more relaxed in this era, it was still not easy for women to step out of their inner chambers.

“Nothing to fear. If anyone dares to gossip, I’ll give it right back to them,” Wen An said dismissively.

“I’m not afraid either. I’ve been gossiped about for over two years and almost ruined by it, what else is there to fear?” Yin Shu Jun was even less afraid. She was naturally carefree, and her experiences had bred a kind of solitary courage, making her more fearless than before.

Ming Shu looked at them steadily for a moment, then said: “Then… what kind of shop should we open?”

“Clothes, jewelry, cosmetics – we have plenty of inner chamber connections. Anything related to women will work,” Wen An’s mind worked quickly.

Ming Shu thought for a moment: “But that’s not special enough.”

Since they had money, premises, and supplies – everything ready – she wanted to open a unique shop.

“What do you think about opening a shop that not only sells goods but also helps people solve their troubles? First, we help those ladies resolve their thorny problems, and second, we make them loyal customers of our shop. Two birds with one stone, how about that?” Ming Shu suggested carefully.

Wen An and Yin Shu Jun were both startled.

If anyone else had said this, it would have seemed like a fantasy, but coming from Ming Shu, it somehow inspired confidence.

From the Yin family rumors to the Crown Prince’s affair, and the murder case in between, she had handled each matter beautifully.

“Good idea, shall we try it?” Wen An was the first to be interested.

As Yin Shu Jun nodded vigorously, she asked: “What should we call the shop? The Hall of Granted Wishes?”

Her words earned her a smack from Wen An: “This isn’t a Guanyin temple for seeking children, what ‘granted wishes’?”

Ming Shu burst out laughing.

Outside the carriage, the weather was clear and cloudless – a rare fine day.