The stifling heat of summer gradually subsided, and the cicadas’ songs grew fewer.
Though still warm, the weather had become noticeably cooler than previous days. Yining sat on her bed, covered with a cool bamboo mat, wearing a Kesi silk jacket. She examined the white jade pixiu pendant Xuezhi had given her. The jade craftsman had added a deep blue tassel. The carving was indeed exquisite – when held up to the light, the auspicious cloud patterns seemed to shimmer. The pure jade color made it particularly beautiful.
Yining put the jade pendant in her jewelry box, not planning to take it out for now. She would give it to Third Brother after the exam results were announced.
Despite her confidence in her son, Madam Chen grew increasingly anxious. The first thing she did every morning was to ask if the results had been posted, even bringing it up when paying respects to Old Madam Luo.
Lin Hairu, tired of hearing about it, said impatiently, “Elder Sister-in-law, rushing won’t make it happen any faster. Don’t get yourself worked up. Look at me and the Old Madam – we’re not anxious.”
Madam Chen thought to herself that Lin Hairu wouldn’t understand this feeling, not having a son of her own. There was Luo Shenyuan, but surely he couldn’t pass the exam?
Old Madam Luo glanced at the two of them and said calmly, “I see that Huaiyuan is confident. Hairu is right, you needn’t worry.”
Since Old Madam Luo had spoken, Madam Chen could only rise and agree.
They began discussing a new concubine Luo Chengwen had taken – a maid who had been promoted. Madam Chen felt uncomfortable talking about this eighteen-year-old concubine. On this matter, she and Lin Hairu were aligned, both detesting the young concubine.
Lin Hairu privately told Yining, “Don’t be fooled by your Elder Aunt’s dignified appearance. Who knows how she curses that concubine in private, calling her a little hussy.”
Lin Hairu told Yining about the young concubine, saying that when Luo Chengwen returned from Beijing, he spent several nights in a row with her. Eventually, Madam Chen brought up their eldest son Luo Huaiyuan, citing considerations for the Luo family’s future and its pillars, to keep Luo Chengwen in her chambers.
The next day, Madam Chen punished the young concubine by making her kneel while serving her toilette. The concubine was tearful but didn’t dare complain.
Lin Hairu found this satisfying. She wished she could make Concubine Qiao kneel while serving her, but she didn’t have a Luo family pillar to support her.
Yining thought this was easy and offered advice with a smile: “You’re the main wife, and she’s a concubine. How can she disobey your orders? Next time, just have her stand while serving you meals. If she feels wronged, just say you forgot to tell her to sit. She won’t dare say anything in front of my father!”
Lin Hairu tried Yining’s suggestion and found that Concubine Qiao indeed dared not protest, standing through her entire breakfast service. Lin Hairu was in a good mood all day, while Concubine Qiao returned to her quarters with a grim expression and claimed illness the next day.
Lin Hairu sent a maid with nourishing soup for Concubine Qiao and personally brought a pair of golden hairpins for Yining.
As Yining played with the golden hairpins, she thought of the jade pendant in her drawer.
Tomorrow, the exam results will be announced.
She was certain her Third Brother would pass but wondered how well he would do.
Madam Chen woke early the next day. She had sent someone out to gather information, and now she paced back and forth in her room, making even Luo Yixiu nervous. Madam Chen clutched her handkerchief, staring towards the doorway. It was just a trip to the Governor’s office – why hadn’t they returned yet?
She finally sat down and took a sip of tea to calm herself.
Meanwhile, in the front courtyard, the messenger returned on horseback at full speed. He dismounted quickly, tossing the reins to a nearby servant, trembling with excitement. He rushed towards Madam Chen’s quarters.
The maids serving in Madam Chen’s room quickly let him pass.
They were excited too. If the eldest young master passed the exam, Madam Chen would be in a good mood for a year, possibly even giving generous rewards. But if he failed, everyone would have a difficult year ahead, especially with winter approaching.
Hearing the commotion, Madam Chen quickly put down her teacup. Supported by a maid, she hurried to the front hall. Luo Yiyu and Luo Yixiu followed closely behind.
The messenger was still out of breath, gasping for air, unable to speak.
Madam Chen quickly ordered servants to bring him tea and watched him drink. She urged anxiously, “Whether he passed or not is just one word – hurry up and tell me!”
The messenger finally managed to say between sips, “He passed.”
Madam Chen’s heart settled. The maids and elderly servants in the room were all joyful, and even Luo Yiyu showed a hint of a smile. The head maid immediately bowed to congratulate Madam Chen.
Even with her usual restraint, Madam Chen couldn’t hide her smile. She sighed in relief and instructed the matron behind her to quickly inform Old Madam Luo and the Master.
But the messenger waved his hand, saying, “Grand Madam, wait! I haven’t finished speaking.”
Madam Chen was so anxious she wanted to strangle him. Her heart leaped again: “What haven’t you finished saying? Don’t tell me he didn’t pass after all?”
“Our eldest young master did pass,” the messenger said. “He ranked thirty-eighth.”
Madam Chen frowned. What did the ranking matter, as long as he passed? Given Luo Huaiyuan’s age, it was already remarkable.
“But our Third Young Master, Luo Shenyuan, also passed,” the messenger continued. “As you instructed, I checked from the bottom of the list…”
He swallowed nervously.
“He also passed. First place, the Provincial Graduate.”
Madam Chen was stunned, unable to react for a long while.
In the study, Luo Shenyuan was writing, his brush dancing across the paper as he composed “The Preface to the Prince of Teng’s Pavilion.”
Today was the day the autumn examination results would be announced. He had begun writing early in the morning. The room was silent, with only wisps of blue smoke rising from an incense burner, gradually filling the air.
He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at his writing.
Then, an unprecedented commotion broke the silence outside his door.
He set down his brush and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his demeanor had changed.
“Without determination, one is like a rudderless boat or an unbridled horse, drifting and galloping aimlessly. What can be achieved in the end? What is meant to come will come.”
Yining sat beside Old Madam Luo, learning to make a purse as instructed. She glanced at Old Madam Luo, then at Xuezhi, and finally at the still-dazed Lin Hairu across from her. Why did all three of them seem out of sorts?
She finally put down the half-finished purse and said, “Mother, shouldn’t you be happy that Third Brother passed the exam?”
Lin Hairu, who had been in a state of disbelief since hearing the news, finally stood up. She paced back and forth before stopping in front of Yining. “I… I’ve become the mother of a Provincial Graduate?”
She then asked, “Yining, is it true? And he’s the top scholar!”
When Yining first heard the news, she was also surprised. She had wished for her Third Brother to do as well as possible but hadn’t expected him to return as the top scholar. However, considering Luo Shenyuan’s future status, she calmed down. Being the top scholar was impressive, but not too surprising.
But except for her, everyone else in the room was shocked.
Even Old Madam Luo was in a daze, asking the messenger again, “Is it the top scholar? You didn’t make a mistake?”
“Old Madam, how could I make a mistake about such an important matter? I double-checked several times,” the messenger replied with a smile. “Congratulations to the Old Madam – both grandsons have passed, and the Third Young Master is the top scholar! I heard our Prefect plans to visit personally to congratulate you.”
The results were first posted at the Governor’s office, so the Prefect was among the first to know and immediately sent someone to inform Old Madam Luo.
Old Madam Luo, still somewhat distracted, had a maid reward the messenger with a bag of silver.
However, she quickly regained her composure and immediately sent for Luo Chengzhang, Luo Shenyuan, and others to come.
Lin Hairu was still a bit flustered: “Should I give him something? Or say something?”
Yining shook her head and said, “Don’t worry. You should say less for now. Let Grandmother do the talking.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Luo glanced at Lin Hairu: “Yining is right. You should say less for now. After today, many ladies from prominent families will want to socialize with you. You must maintain your dignity. You’re now the mother of the top scholar – things are different now, understand?”
Lin Hairu nodded, indicating she would indeed say less.
Surprisingly, Madam Chen arrived first. As she entered, her face was all smiles. She took Old Madam Luo’s hand and spoke, treating Lin Hairu with unprecedented warmth and cordiality, offering congratulations. As she sat down, Yining noticed that her palms were so sweaty they had soaked through her handkerchief, and her gaze was fixed on the door.
Soon after, a maid announced, “Third Young Master has arrived,” and Luo Shenyuan entered.
For the first time, Madam Chen truly looked at Luo Shenyuan. He bowed respectfully to Old Madam Luo, then to Lin Hairu, and finally to her.
Old Madam Luo looked at him with a smile and asked him to stand, saying, “Do you know?”
Luo Shenyuan replied politely, “Your grandson is aware.”
Whether it was because Luo Shenyuan had passed the exam or not, Madam Chen felt he seemed taller than before. Standing backlit before Old Madam Luo, his stern face carried an indescribable air of dignity. It was impossible to ignore.
Madam Chen felt as if she had been pecked in the eye by an eagle.
How had she never noticed before that Luo Shenyuan was a wolf in sheep’s clothing? Top scholar… was that something one could achieve with just a stroke of luck? This concubine-born son, who never showed off, had he been waiting for this moment all along?
Seeing his calm and cool gaze, Madam Chen felt a chill in her heart. Looking around at the seemingly composed Old Madam Luo, Xuezhi, and even the seven-year-old Luo Yining, none of them seemed particularly shocked.
Had they known all along?
Luo Huaiyuan arrived with Luo Yiyu and Luo Yixiu, having also heard the news.
Passing the exam should have been a joyous occasion for him. But upon hearing that this third brother, whom he had always looked down upon, had become the top scholar, Luo Huaiyuan was first incredulous, then not so happy anymore. Only after repeatedly confirming did he come to his grandmother’s quarters.
Upon entering, he scrutinized Luo Shenyuan.
He had always thought Luo Shenyuan was slightly shorter than him, but today he realized Luo Shenyuan was a bit taller. Luo Shenyuan smiled at him gently and said, “Elder Brother, you’ve come too.”
On any other day, he would have seen this as Luo Shenyuan’s humble and respectful smile.
But today, no matter how he looked at it, he felt there was something indescribable in that smile. What was it exactly?
As the eldest legitimate son, he had always been praised by teachers, valued by the entire Luo family, and given the best in food, clothing, and daily necessities. Luo Shenyuan had none of these. Even for this autumn exam, everyone had assumed Luo Shenyuan was just accompanying him for practice.
But now, Luo Shenyuan was the top scholar. Although he had made the list, his ranking was worlds apart from Luo Shenyuan’s.
Suppressing the various thoughts in his mind, Luo Huaiyuan smiled and said meaningfully, “I never realized Third Brother’s capabilities before. Congratulations are for Third Brother.”
Luo Shenyuan, however, didn’t remain humble this time. He just smiled faintly and said, “I also congratulate Elder Brother on passing the exam.”
At this moment, a maid came in with news, her face beaming: “The first messenger with congratulations has arrived, and the second and third are on their way. The Gao and Yang families from our alley, as well as the Prefect, Deputy Prefect Liu, the Chief Administrative Officer, and Minister Xu from the Imperial Textile Manufacturing Office, have all come to offer congratulations. They all say they want to meet the Third Young Master. The Master asks that the Third Young Master go quickly to receive the guests!”
Old Madam Luo frowned slightly. The Gao family had once produced a Grand Secretariat member and usually considered the Luo family beneath them, rarely associating with them. Now they had come to call. Luo Shenyuan’s status was different now, and as a young top scholar, he would inevitably bring changes to the Luo family’s position.
Old Madam Luo glanced at Luo Huaiyuan, who was still standing in place.
The Prefect and Chief Administrative Officer hadn’t asked to see him.
Hearing this, Luo Shenyuan bowed to Old Madam Luo and respectfully said, “Then your grandson will go ahead.”
Old Madam Luo took a deep breath, smoothed her temples, and said, “I’ll go with you.” With such distinguished guests, how could she not appear? Old Madam Luo turned back to instruct the distracted Madam Chen, “Watch the girls carefully, don’t let them go to the front hall. If anything comes up in the household, you decide first. Also, tell the kitchen to prepare a feast with wine and dishes. It must be sumptuous.”
A young lady like Yining couldn’t attend such a grand occasion, and even Luo Huaiyuan, who had just passed the exam, didn’t qualify.
Yining glanced sideways at Luo Huaiyuan. His smile was very stiff, and his usual gentle and refined demeanor had vanished. He was the one who had passed the exam; he should have been the one surrounded by people, receiving congratulations today.
But the presence of Luo Shenyuan, the young top scholar, had completely overshadowed him.
Yining turned back to see Luo Shenyuan disappearing, surrounded by a crowd. A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“A great bird soars with the wind, rising ninety thousand li in a day. Even if the wind stops and it comes down, it can still stir the vast ocean waters.” Someone like her Third Brother wouldn’t be confined to the small Luo family. While she was happy for him, there was also a hint of melancholy in her heart.
Once people gain status and power, they change. No one is an exception. It was true for Lu Jiaxue, and it would be true for Luo Shenyuan.
As this thought occurred to Yining, she paused momentarily.