Even though Lu Chang had publicly mentioned his engagement before, it did little to diminish the intense interest people had in him. He seemed to have crafted a golden image of the top scholar, dazzling everyone with his outstanding appearance. Like a freshly unsheathed sword, he exuded a sharpness that captivated the masses, drawing attention wherever he went.
Of course, he was also like a piece of tantalizing meat with the surrounding people eyeing him hungrily, eager to approach.
Inside Guan Yuan Lou, upon hearing that Lu Chang’s sister was present, waves of people came one after another to make acquaintance. These were all prominent families of the capital city, including potential colleagues and future relatives of Lu Chang. Ming Shu had to brace herself and be on high alert. After a series of social interactions, Ming Shu didn’t even have a chance to chat casually with Wen An and Yin Shujun. Fortunately, the sound of the procession from outside interrupted everything.
Wen An and Yin Shujun pulled Ming Shu to the railing on the second floor of Guan Yuan Lou, along with other young ladies, to gaze into the distance.
Downstairs, the long street had been cleared by bailiffs, and the common people had retreated to the sides, leaving the central street empty. The sides of the street were packed with people, mostly young maidens dressed beautifully, holding small wicker baskets filled with flowers, undoubtedly to throw at the most handsome of the top three scholars later.
The procession of the retinue appeared first. Besides the bustling drumbeats, cheers from the crowd ahead were already ringing out. The waves of cheers surged towards them, heightening everyone’s curiosity and excitement. People craned their necks and stood on tiptoe, wishing they could fly over and get a clear view of the scene ahead.
The ladies at Guan Yuan Lou didn’t have to jostle like the common folk on the street. They maintained their decorum, but their slight movements to peer outside still revealed their teenage excitement.
“I heard this top scholar of the Spring Examinations is extremely handsome.”
“Is he as handsome as Song Lang from the Duke’s residence? He’s the most famous beauty in Bianjing.”
“Don’t say that. According to the customs of past dynasties, the third-place scholar is often the most handsome…”
Several young ladies nearby were discussing the appearance of this year’s top three scholars. Even the usually reserved ladies couldn’t hide their girlish thoughts, revealing a playful demeanor. Ming Shu stood nearby, unable to suppress a smile at their excitement.
It seemed that this year’s Spring Examinations were indeed exceptional.
As everyone held their thoughts and expectations, the cheers rose into a high tide, and the drumbeats approached. Three horses with golden manes emerged, escorted by a throng of attendants, parading down the street. At the forefront rode the twenty-year-old top scholar, Lu Chang.
Lu Chang’s eyes were like stars, his brows were raised in a confident arc, and his slight smile was charming. He waved graciously to the surrounding people, displaying a demeanor that was calm and collected, exuding both elegance and confidence. He truly embodied the image of a young hero in resplendent attire.
Amidst the crowd, female screams erupted continuously, and countless flowers, handkerchiefs, and sachets were thrown towards Lu Chang.
But was this the most exciting part? Following Lu Chang was none other than Song Qingzhao.
As one of Bianjing’s famous handsome men, Song Qingzhao was not only comparable to Lu Chang in intellect but also in appearance. He was like a noble son from ancient scrolls, his presence commanding admiration.
After the first wave of gifts, the sight of Song Qingzhao following Lu Chang caused another round of excitement among the onlookers. This year’s scholars were indeed outstanding in both intellect and appearance.
Ming Shu leaned on the railing, waiting for the procession to pass by. She could hear the voices rising and falling, approaching closer. Beside her, the young maidens grew even more excited.
Finally, the golden-maned horses reached the front of Guan Yuan Lou. Ming Shu heard gasps from the nearby young ladies. Below, screams erupted simultaneously as Lu Chang smiled graciously amid the flurry of “gifts.”
Ming Shu leaned against the railing, about to wave to Lu Chang, when suddenly a sachet landed squarely on his forehead. Unable to hold back, she burst into laughter, covering her mouth with her hands—she could see her brother’s smiling face struggling not to laugh.
Sure enough, Lu Chang must have been cursing inwardly.
As if sensing each other’s thoughts, Lu Chang suddenly looked up and met Ming Shu’s gaze from amidst the crowd. Their eyes locked across the bustling crowd, and Lu Chang’s smile deepened.
One of the young ladies beside Ming Shu clasped her heart, “Is he looking at me? Is he smiling at me?”
“Where’s looking at you? He’s smiling at me!” Her companion retorted, not willing to be outdone.
Listening to their banter, Ming Shu smiled mischievously. She lifted a peony flower she had prepared earlier, aimed it at Lu Chang, and shot him a glance. With a swift motion, she threw the flower towards him.
The peony didn’t quite land near Lu Chang, but as it passed him, Lu Chang suddenly pulled on the reins, leaned to the side, and deftly caught the peony in his hand before returning to his horse’s back.
Lu Chang held the peony firmly in his hand and then turned to look at Ming Shu. He shook the peony flower slightly and mouthed a “thank you.”
The girl behind the railing smiled brightly, radiant like the midday sun.
As they watched Lu Chang’s figure recede into the distance, the cheers continued unabated. Ming Shu then saw Song Qingzhao. While ranked lower than Lu Chang, Song Qingzhao’s popularity was no less.
Dressed in crimson robes and a black gauze hat, with clear eyebrows and bright eyes, he exuded an air of elegance, resembling a noble son from ancient times.
Beside her, Wen An nudged Ming Shu’s elbow, “What do you think of my cousin?”
Ming Shu replied with a smile, “He’s naturally very good.”
Downstairs, Song Qingzhao also looked up and saw Ming Shu’s surprise. Ming Shu smiled and waved at him, giving him a thumbs-up.
Song Qingzhao loosened the reins, bowed towards her in acknowledgment, and thanked her with a smile.
As the procession moved further away, the cheers gradually faded. The common people on the sides of the street were unwilling to disperse and followed the procession into the distance. The rest of the spectators dispersed, and the street slowly emptied. Ming Shu watched for a moment from the railing, then followed Wen An and Yin Shujun back into the building of Guan Yuan Lou.
Wen An covered his lips with a silk fan and whispered to Ming Shu, “I advise you to leave now, don’t stay here any longer.”
“Why?” Ming Shu’s mouth felt dry as she poured herself some tea.
“If you don’t leave soon, I’m afraid you won’t be able to escape,” Wen An predicted.
Yin Shujun glanced at the figure outside the elegant screen and sighed, “It’s too late.”
Before she finished speaking, a fragrant breeze swept in from outside the screen, and a graceful figure entered the small room. The girls’ delicate voices rang out, “Lady Lu, we’ve come to find you for a game.”
Ming Shu hadn’t even recovered when several young ladies surrounded her.
Here they come again?!
Wen An and Yin Shujun tactfully retreated from the fray. One shrugged at Ming Shu, the other raised her hands in helplessness—there was nothing they could do.
Before her brother revealed his true identity, these young ladies could maintain their composure and etiquette. Now that her brother’s true identity was known—a talented youth with outstanding character, appearance, and future—every family in Bianjing would vie to marry him. Even Lu Chang, let alone Ming Shu, the top scholar’s younger sister, might not escape the covetous eyes of Bianjing’s elite circles.
—
In the end, with Wen An and Yin Shujun’s protection, Ming Shu slipped out quietly from the back door of Guan Yuan Lou.
“How was it? How does it feel to be surrounded by admirers, Miss Top Scholar?” Wen An teased Ming Shu.
Ming Shu, burdened with a large bundle of “gifts,” twitched her lips, unable to muster a smile.
“Don’t tease her,” Yin Shujun intervened for Ming Shu, then asked, “Where are we going now? We finally got a chance to see him!”
“Today is a good day for my brother. Mother is still waiting at home for me, so I must go back,” Ming Shu had only intended to watch the parade and return.
“Are you walking back?” Yin Shujun asked, eyeing her heavy burden.
Ming Shu had walked here, so naturally, she had to walk back.
“Alright, seeing you off properly, call me ‘big sister’ Wen An, and I’ll escort you home,” Wen An cooed.
Ming Shu leaned towards her, “Big sister, could you please take me home?”
“Let’s go, my family’s carriage is over there. We can talk more on the way,” Wen An accepted gracefully and pointed in a direction, leading the two towards it.
—
No carriages were allowed on Dongyong Street today; the prince’s carriages were parked a bit far, requiring a detour through two narrow alleys. After a short walk, Wen An led them from the back door of Guan Yuan Lou onto a quieter street to the west.
This street was narrow and lacked the bustling atmosphere of Dongyong Street. There were only a few scattered shops, simple tea houses, and taverns with few customers. Three carriages from the prince’s mansion occupied half the street across from a small tavern. Ming Shu, Wen An, and Shujun walked over, chatting and laughing. They were about to board the carriage when a deep voice suddenly came from the tavern.
“Wen An…”
Wen An was just about to step onto a stool to get in and turned around with Ming Shu and Shujun.
A man stood under the tavern’s grass curtain, staring at Wen An.
Ming Shu and Shujun exchanged glances, watching Wen An with concern. Wen An had turned around, her smile not fading but now cold and distant.
The man was none other than Xie Xi, the former Yongqing Marquis who had sacrificed everything for Tang Li.
Xie Xi seemed like a different person, his once elegant demeanor now worn and disheveled. Ming Shu scrutinized him before recognizing him. He wore plain clothes, his hair tied haphazardly, and a scruffy beard on his once smooth chin. His complexion was gray, holding a small jar of wine in his hand, slightly intoxicated as he looked at Wen An.
It was said that due to the incident at Songling Academy, the entire Xie family had nearly been implicated. Consequently, they distanced themselves from their deposed heir, who now lived alone in a small mansion outside. Today, during the Golden Hall ceremony and the scholar’s parade, he came here to drink, listening to the bustling noise from Dongyong Street across the street. Originally, he should have had a share of the glory, but now only bitter wine remained, hoping to get drunk and die.
Unexpectedly, halfway through the drink, he met an old acquaintance.
Wen An passed gracefully, radiant as ever, perhaps even more beautiful.
A dreamlike reunion.
But Wen An was no longer the same as before, gently approaching, smiling, and saying, “Brother Xie.”
Across the not-so-long street, she looked at him coldly, her smile tinged with unfamiliar mockery. Xie Xi felt she might mock and scold him in the next moment, waiting for her to speak.
If she could scold him a few times, he might feel more comfortable.
But Wen An didn’t. She turned away again, stepped onto the carriage, and even spared him a glance.
Xie Xi chased out the door, only to see the carriage disappearing into the distance.
“Deserved it!” Shujun leaned out the window and scolded Xie Xi.
“Wen An, why did Xie Xi become like this?” Ming Shu was puzzled and asked Wen An, who remained calm.
Normally, although Xie Xi had lost everything, he still had Tang Li by his side. Although he could no longer live as he did before, Lady Yongqing would surely provide some assistance, and life should not be difficult. The two of them should have settled down together.
Hearing this, Wen An chuckled mockingly, “You still don’t know? Su Tangli left Xie Xi long ago and climbed to the side of the King of Yu. As you say, she is extraordinary. Xie Xi is just a foolish man who is blind in heart and mind.”
Ming Shu was surprised.
How long had it been since the incident at Songling Academy? Su Tangli could climb to the King of Yu?
The King of Yu and the Marquis of Yongqing were completely different existences.
After the parade, there was a palace banquet in the evening. Lu Chang went home first to change clothes.
It was not yet dark when the door was half-opened, and Ming Shu’s voice could be heard from inside.
“Mother, you have no idea how powerful my brother is. As soon as he shows his face, the whole street turns upside down! The young ladies around me almost swooned at his charm. As the sister of the top scholar, I was nearly overwhelmed by the swarm of admirers.”
Ming Shu vividly recounted the morning’s events to Madame Zeng, who was so engrossed that she neglected her tea.
“Look at this table full of gifts—all these trinkets from those young ladies as a token for their first meeting with the sister of the top scholar.”
When Lu Chang pushed the door open and entered, he saw Ming Shu gesturing toward the colorful little ornaments covering the table. His expression soured, and he slowly walked over, grabbing a dustpan from the corner.
Unaware of Madame Zeng’s glance, Ming Shu continued exaggeratedly, “It’s not about the wine but about the intentions! They were all there for my brother. Mother, you didn’t see the scene. If my brother had been there, he might have torn them apart. Mother, I think my sister-in-law is settled, but unfortunately, I didn’t bring my list. Otherwise, I would have had them register their names one by one, so we could discuss and find a suitable match for my brother…”
“Daughter-in-law—” Before she could finish, there was a loud crash as Lu Chang started sweeping all the items off the table into the dustpan.
“What are you doing, brother?!” Ming Shu panicked and rushed to stop him. “These are gifts from others to me!”
“Gifts? What gifts? Didn’t you say it’s not about the wine?” Lu Chang found the jumble of things on the table unsightly—was this their idea of winning honor through their siblings?
“Wait, please!” Ming Shu squeezed herself between him and the table, blocking him with her body. When she saw his expression clearly, she burst into laughter. “Don’t be angry, brother. Look at yourself first.”
Madame Zeng couldn’t hold back either and burst into laughter.
Ming Shu reached out and took a sachet hanging from his hat, waving it in front of him. “Which lady gave you this token of affection, dear brother? Please tell us.”
Lu Chang snatched the sachet and tossed it into the dustpan.
Remembering his strained smile when the ladies of Bianjing threw flowers at him this morning almost choked her with laughter. “Don’t be angry, brother.”
Lu Chang’s face flushed red, mostly from being provoked by her. He slammed the dustpan onto the ground with a heavy thud and said coldly, “I’ll pack our belongings in the next few days and settle the rent for the house.”
“What?” Ming Shu and Madame Zeng looked at him in surprise and amusement.
“The Sage has bestowed upon me a residence fit for a three-time top scholar. We’re moving,” Lu Chang said, pointing at the items on the table again. “These things, we’re not taking.”