The Great Tang was like a giant striding across the earth. Nothing could impede its steps. No matter how terrifying the conspiracy, it was merely a conspiracy—it could only stare with glowing eyes in the darkness, waiting for an opportunity.

The disappearance of the Nine Surnames of Zhaowu made the entire world shut its mouth. All surrounding nations were trembling as they waited for the Great Tang’s monarch to become benevolent, waiting for those violent generals to sheathe their bloodstained long blades.

Music from Kucha emerged endlessly in Chang’an. Many magnificent and varied dances never seen before were performed in Chang’an. The theater in Xinghua Ward performed different programs around the clock every day. Xinghua Ward, with its blooming pear blossoms, was at its most beautiful moment. Travelers and ladies, holding oil-paper umbrellas that had somehow become fashionable, wandered through the drifting pear blossoms, feeling sorrow or joy, or perhaps a trace of anticipation.

Why won’t that young gentleman across the way look over? I’ve already displayed my graceful figure with the most elegant gait—why are you still pulling at pear blossoms in anger?

Xiao Wu, dressed in men’s riding attire, was naturally unhappy. The Academy’s grand examination—Di Renjie had already participated in the test, yet Master had sent her to Xinghua Ward to watch dance dramas, even saying that girls should be this way: smell the flowers, dance, prepare a good mood for themselves. Even learning to make a delicious dish in the kitchen would be good. There was no need to squeeze together with a bunch of stinking boys. The Academy still had no female students. That story previously told about Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai was a brainless story. If after three years you still didn’t know Zhu Yingtai was female, how horrifyingly ugly must that woman have been?

Xiao Wu was a little beauty. Even a blind person could tell she was female. Master couldn’t bear to send you into the wolf pack. Staying in the rear courtyard learning household management with Master’s wife, or doing embroidery—that was proper.

“Master is lying! I’ve stood here so long, and not one of those stupid women thinks I’m female. They flutter their eyelashes so hard their eyes are about to roll back. Such fools—do they deserve to be women?” Xiao Wu muttered as she plucked the last pear blossom from the branch, tossed it aside, found the prettiest woman, walked to her side, pushed away the maid, embraced the already stunned young lady, fiercely kissed her on the face, bit her earlobe and whispered, “From now on, you should be mine.” Having said this, she placed the young lady, whose whole body had gone soft, on the lawn, straightened her own clothes, pulled out a large folding fan, and strolled into the pear blossom grove with measured steps.

“Who are you?” The panicked little maid gathered her courage and shouted toward her departing direction.

“Remember, this young master’s name is Yun Wu.” Xiao Wu’s voice came distantly from the flower grove, causing other young ladies to scream in unison. That young lady collapsed on the lawn coyly covered her face with a handkerchief.

“Stupid women!” Xiao Wu walked out of the pear tree forest in indignation, almost wanting to shout to the heavens. These were women? Master said the pear blossom grove always held good marriage prospects, but those pig-heads who drooled at the sight of women—were they really her good marriage prospects? Most outrageous was that these bastards not only drooled at women, they actually drooled at this young master too! So disgusting, truly deserving of death. Forget it, better go home. If she couldn’t find a suitable man, she’d just make do with Little Jie—only he could still make her feel like a man.

Hou Jie saw Xiao Wu but didn’t dare approach. What had he just heard? If there were no good men, she’d make do with Little Jie? Heavens, what had he heard?

Hou Jie trembled and sat down against a pear tree, muttering over and over: “Make do with Little Jie? My name is Hou Jie. The teachers have always called me Little Jie. Aside from my mother calling me ‘precious,’ brother-in-law, sister, brothers all call me Little Jie. That Little Jie must be me? Hehe, it should be me.”

Completely unconcerned about the misunderstanding she’d inadvertently created, Xiao Wu rode on Wang Cai’s eldest offspring and whooshed toward the Yun family estate. The theater’s dance drama could only fool the brainless Shishi. Watching a dance drama and crying buckets of tears was truly boring. Most disgusting was Li An, sitting to the side passing handkerchiefs like a fool.

Master had said that stupidity was a disease—it was contagious. The farther from fools the better, lest one day she’d become like them, crying over stories.

Wang Cai’s eldest had just matured this year. His stature was even slightly taller than his father’s, especially his satin-like coat—no matter how you looked at it, he was noble. Completely unlike Wang Cai, who made his coat messy all day. Who knew why Master liked Wang Cai so much? During shedding season, just one ride would cover you in horse hair. Even so, he wouldn’t let anyone else ride him, as if anyone really treasured him that much.

Xiao Wu’s maid Pengtou also had excellent horsemanship. Master and servant released the reins, letting the warhorses gallop freely. Scholar candidates on the road heading to Yushan, seeing their excellent horsemanship, some cheered, some whistled. Great Tang people—even women should have excellent horsemanship.

The examination rigor of Yushan Academy in some aspects almost surpassed the court’s grand examination. As a national selection examination, they would more or less preserve some face for these scholar candidates. But Yushan Academy wouldn’t. Undressing for inspection was mandatory. Most terrifying was the medical examination. Students brought out by Sun Simiao would all become medical officials in the future. Every class of students would be snatched away by the army, not even going through the grand examination procedure. As long as they entered the military, at minimum they started as Rank 8 Xuanjie Commandants. You must know that doctors at the Imperial Medical Office were only Rank 7 officials.

According to Great Tang law, those with hidden ailments or serious diseases could not become officials, so Yushan Academy students also had to pass this threshold. Yun Ye pointed at the candidates entering and leaving the reed mat tents and said to Xiao Wu, who was pulling at his hem and acting coquettish: “Look, you couldn’t pass even this one checkpoint. Strip naked for examination—how could you face people afterward?”

“What’s the big deal? I’ll ask Grandpa Sun to examine me. Then no one will gossip about me. Anyone who dares talk nonsense will be beaten to death by other patients. Please let me enter the Academy. Grandpa Sun loves me most. If I ask, he’ll definitely agree.”

“No way. Back then, your Aunt Daya also wanted to enter the Academy. In the end, didn’t she fail to get in? She only got the job of serving tea and water to the old teachers. You can’t do this work—too lazy. Even your undergarments are washed by Pengtou for you. Don’t think I don’t know. Once in the Academy, who have you seen bringing maids and servants?”

Xiao Wu looked hesitantly at Pengtou following behind her, extremely reluctant to part. But thinking of her ideal, she bit her teeth and said, “It’s fine. Pengtou can stay home. I’ll return home every five days.”

“Bringing a big pile of dirty clothes for Pengtou to wash for you? Once in the Academy, you must be self-reliant. You know, you only get ten copper coins a month. You have to eat yourself, buy your own washing supplies. The family allowance will stop. You’re used to being extravagant—you can’t do it. Better stay home and torment Master.”

Yun Ye chatted idly with Xiao Wu, suddenly seeing a commotion ahead as if something had happened. That was where Ministry of Rites officials were. Who knew what madness they were having? Now, whenever the Academy began recruiting, this group would imitate the Academy’s style, setting up a row of tables, insisting on re-examining students the Academy had already inspected. Now there must be another problem.

“How dare a son of the lowborn covet our Great Tang’s sacred vessel! Someone fork him out, lest he pollute this treasured land of literary brilliance!” Hearing this, Yun Ye’s brow furrowed. He walked over to see what had actually happened.

Onlooking candidates, seeing the teacher approach, uniformly cleared a path. Those Ministry of Rites officials who were rebuking the candidate, seeing Yun Ye approach, immediately said, “Marquis Yun comes at just the right time. How could your teachers allow a son of lowborn slaves to enter the Academy? This shames the Great Tang! Please, Marquis Yun, immediately order someone to drive this person down from Yushan.”

Yun Ye didn’t look at those officials but picked up the resume on the table and began questioning the candidate in hemp clothing: “Don’t be afraid. Tell me your native place.”

The candidate who, despite the rebuke, still persisted with clenched teeth, hearing Yun Ye’s question, immediately cupped his hands and answered, “In reply to Teacher, this student is from Mengyang County, Jinzhou.”

Yun Ye nodded and asked again, “What office does your father hold? What occupation does your mother practice?”

Hearing this, the candidate’s face turned ashen. Clenching his fists, he said quietly, “This student has never known who his father is. My mother was a singing courtesan in earlier years. Now she makes a living weaving hemp and selling drinks.”

Hearing this, the Ministry of Rites officials all showed mocking expressions. Other candidates were also greatly shocked. Only Yun Ye, flipping through the resume, continued asking, “You know the Academy is an academy opened for Tang people. How can you prove you’re not from Wa, or Goguryeo, or somewhere else?”

Hearing Yun Ye’s question, the Ministry of Rites officials and other candidates immediately burst into laughter. How could a singing courtesan’s son guarantee the purity of his bloodline? This was truly a great puzzle. His mother, busy with this man and that all day—it would be strange if she could remember who planted the seed in her belly.

The young man in hemp clothing had an iron-gray complexion. Both hands pressed on the ground had already deeply penetrated the soil. Clearly, he was trying his utmost to endure, not letting himself leave. To distinguish himself, he must enter the Academy. But that shame penetrating to the bone marrow caused him immense pain.

Yun Ye, seeing him biting his lip until blood flowed out, repeated the question. The young man suddenly raised his head, staring with blood-red eyes, and said word by word, “My mother was then an official courtesan.”

Yun Ye nodded again. Since she was an official courtesan, then he could only be a Tang person. Official courtesans were not allowed to be touched by outsiders. Since there was no problem with his bloodline, there was no problem with his examination qualification either.

Putting down the paper in his hands, he said to the Ministry of Rites officials, “He has no problems whatsoever. He can take the examination. Stamp him and process the procedures.”