Upon returning from viewing the Golden List outside Chang’an Gate, Pei Jue’s carriage came to a stop before the gate of the Minister of Personnel’s residence.

Shredded red paper from firecrackers lay scattered across the ground, and the faint smell of gunpowder could still be caught in the air — clearly, the officials who brought the news of good fortune had already come and gone.

From the eaves of the main gate hung red silk lanterns in abundance, giving not even a hint of defeat. And yet there were no guests crowding at the door, no scene of bustling comings and goings.

He thought back to the year when his second son Pei Binming had achieved only third-rank equivalent graduate status — visitors had streamed in one after another, and the household had received guests from midday all the way into deep night without a moment’s respite. Now, his youngest grandson Pei Shaowen had achieved tenth place in the second rank — a very respectable ranking — yet the Minister of Personnel’s residence had come to this degree of quiet.

Inside the carriage, Pei Jue’s expression was cold and still — not from displeasure, but from guilt.

In truth, it was not that no one had come to offer congratulations; it was simply that the visitors no longer compared to the stream of those former days, making it feel sparse and desolate to Pei Jue. The mountains in the distance kept their familiar shape, but the scene at the gate had changed — this threshold today was no longer what it had once been.

Pei Jue composed his expression, stepped down from the carriage, and entered the residence.

“Grandfather.”

Pei Shaowen, dressed in graduate’s attire, was the first to run to Pei Jue, holding out his certificate of honor with trembling hands.

Pei Jue had already seen the Golden List just now and knew his grandson’s ranking. Yet he now feigned curiosity, cheerfully unfolding the yellow decorated paper and saying as he did: “Let Grandfather see what rank Shaowen has achieved.”

After reading it, Pei Jue allowed even more pleasure to show on his face and offered his praise: “Excellent, excellent — the same ranking as Grandfather himself achieved in his own examination year.” He praised only the ranking itself. The words of encouragement he could not bring himself to say.

Whether by some trick of fate or whatever it may have been, it was not merely the ranking that was the same — even the circumstances bore a measure of resemblance.

When Pei Jue sat for the examinations in his own day, because of the scar on his jaw, and because the Earl’s Manor had neither power nor influence, even with his considerable talent and a high ranking in the Palace Examination, he had been unable to remain in the capital as an official. Now Pei Shaowen was at precisely the right age to begin his official career, yet was implicated by his father’s affairs, and the prospect of remaining in the capital was equally out of reach.

After hesitating for a good while, Pei Shaowen finally opened his mouth and asked: “Grandfather, can I take part in the selection for the Hanlin Academy?”

Selection for the Hanlin Academy meant appointment as a probationary scholar.

That he hesitated showed he already knew the answer, yet was unwilling to accept it and clung to a sliver of hope. He had thought that having one’s name on the Golden List would be enough — but once the heart has a wish, it never reaches an end.

Pei Jue consoled him: “Shaowen, we will start as a regional official. Grandfather will accompany you out of the capital to take up your post, and will teach you how to serve as an official — the road ahead is still long.”

After a long silence, Pei Shaowen lowered his head.

He asked again: “Grandfather, my rankings in the Metropolitan and Palace Examinations — was there truly no interference from my father’s situation?”

Pei Jue shook his head with certainty. If the Emperor had any intention of suppressing his ranking, why would he have permitted him to sit for the Spring Examination and the Palace Examination in the first place, and why would he have allowed him to remain within the second rank? Pei Jue replied: “The Emperor has already been more than gracious and lenient. These are your true results.”

Pei Shaowen’s expression became even more desolate than it had been a moment before.

As stubborn as ever.

On the other side of things, the Earl’s Manor was a scene of utter festivity.

And it was not merely joy over Pei Shaojin’s achievement of first place — it was joy over a household producing two first-place graduates, and the Pei family patriarch was already in the ancestral hall making plans for where to hang the honor plaques.

By the time Pei Shaohuai returned from the office, the noise and celebration had already begun to settle.

Pei Shaohuai first returned to his own courtyard to change out of his official robes, and while he was at it, went back to the room to hold Xiao Nan and Xiao Feng for a little while.

The two little bundles were now over half a year old and could sit up stably on their own. The brother and sister were happily playing on the bed when they heard the creak of the door opening, and turned their heads in unison to look — seeing it was their father, they immediately raised both little hands to show him their new treasures: silk flowers plucked from a hairpin.

Very pleased with themselves.

Pei Shaohuai saw that both little ones were holding delicate silk flowers and felt slightly surprised. He went over to tease them and asked Yang Shiyue: “Where did Xiao Nan and Xiao Feng get so many silk flowers?”

Yang Shiyue listed them one by one: “Two golden ones were sent by Xiao Nan and Xiao Feng’s second uncle. He said one of them was the flower their father gave him three years ago, and the other was one he himself was giving to Xiao Nan.”

Three years ago, Pei Shaohuai had given a silk flower to Shaojin to encourage him to claim the top place in the Palace Examination.

Now that Shaojin had achieved what he wished for, he passed this first-place scholarly energy back along.

Yang Shiyue continued: “As for the other two silk flowers — one was sent by the children’s eldest maternal uncle, and one was sent by the Xu family cousin. Both carried the same wishes and meaning.”

The second-place flower sent by Yang Xiangquan, and the third-place flower sent by Xu Yancheng.

And so Xiao Nan and Xiao Feng had in one fell swoop received four silk flowers.

Hearing this, Pei Shaohuai could not help but say with a laugh: “Only these two would dare treat the Palace Examination top-three graduates’ ceremonial flowers as little playthings.” And four of them all at once, at that.

If the scholars of the realm ever got wind of this, they would surely be consumed with envy.

He went on in jest: “Well, perhaps it’s for the best — let them grow accustomed to such things from early childhood, so that when they grow up, they’ll find the top-three graduates’ flowers perfectly ordinary.”

Yang Shiyue laughed at her husband: “You usually appear so steady and dignified — but in my view, you are the most audacious one of all. The way you speak about it, it’s as though claiming a top-three position is as easy as lifting one’s hand.”

Xiao Nan held up his golden silk flower, happily playing away — in his childlike innocence, he could not yet understand what the pile of silk flowers left for him by his father, his second uncle, his eldest maternal uncle, and his cousin would one day mean for him.

Xiao Feng was even more “uninhibited” — seizing a moment when her parents were not paying attention, she was already preparing to tear the silk flower apart with her hands. Fortunately, Yang Shiyue noticed in time and stopped her.

After playing and romping with Xiao Nan and Xiao Feng for a while longer, Pei Shaohuai finally went to Shaojin’s courtyard to offer his congratulations on Shaojin’s achievement as the new top-ranked graduate.

In the days that followed, Pei Shaojin remained busy. As the new top-ranked graduate, he was foremost at every occasion — whether paying respects at the Confucian temple in the Imperial Academy, at the banquet of imperial grace, or when entering court once more to offer his formal thanks.

The Earl’s Manor, too, remained busy. The lanterns celebrating Shaojin’s Golden List achievement had barely been taken down before they were already busy preparing to hang the wedding lanterns. It was truly a case of “the Golden List in the morning, the bridal chamber at night — a small triumph meeting a grand triumph.”

Everything was being prepared with joy and in good order, awaiting only the auspicious day and hour.

On this particular day, the mistress of the Anyuan Earl’s Manor Ning household sent over several loads of congratulatory gifts, and at once proclaimed that Shaojin could be considered an honorary grandson of the Ning family — now that both the great and small triumphs had come together, the Anyuan Earl, as his maternal uncle, was naturally obliged to offer generous gifts in celebration.

She then shed affected tears, making mention of Lian Jie’er and Lan Jie’er’s deceased mother, saying that Ning Shi, while she lived, had been mistress and servant with Concubine Shen yet had been as close as sisters — that she had only narrowly fallen short of changing Concubine Shen’s surname and entering her into the Ning household register.

Finally she said: “The Earl has of late been dreaming repeatedly of his long-departed elder sister, and feels that he ought, after all, to fulfill the wish she held in her heart during her lifetime. Though it is somewhat late now, it is not yet too late.”

In sum, the Ning Family wished to give Concubine Shen a change of surname and claim Shaojin as their own maternal nephew.

Lin Shi listened with perfect composure throughout, while in her heart she silently mocked — the Anyuan Earl’s Manor, in the face of fame and fortune, had truly abandoned every last shred of dignity befitting a family of titled nobility. If they had any genuine care in their hearts, why had they sent a ceremonial robe with gold brocade replaced by yellow thread when Lian Jie’er came of age? And why had they shown not the slightest concern for the marriages of their two so-called nieces?

But then again — Shaojin had achieved first place as the new top-ranked graduate, and the Ning Family’s behavior became perfectly easy to understand.

The one who had come today was the mistress of the Ning household, not the Anyuan Earl himself. This was nothing more than an attempt to first probe the Pei Family’s reaction.

After Lin Shi had sent the Ning Family’s people on their way, she sought out Concubine Shen and told her the matter in full, asking Concubine Shen what she thought. She knew Concubine Shen was no fool — that was precisely why she would speak to her in this manner.

Just as Lin Shi had anticipated, Concubine Shen replied: “In a matter such as this, Madam and the master should discuss it and decide as you see fit.” Madam had thought to ask her specifically — she ought to respond with proper respect in return.

Then she continued: “Shaojin has only one mother, and that is Madam — as for his maternal family, it would rightly be the Lin household. Beyond that, mothers since ancient times have only ever hoped for their children to flourish more and more. How could this humble woman dare to use the title that Shaojin worked so hard to earn, to buy herself a moment of reflected glory, and add a burden to his official career?” There was no trace of desire in her words for that “Ning” surname. She had seen through the Ning Family’s intentions clearly.

“Good that you understand what matters,” Lin Shi said with a slight nod, then added, “With Lian Jie’er, I will also speak with her clearly.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Madam.”

While the household was lively and full of joy, Pei Shaohuai had not rested at the offices of the Six Supervising Secretariats — after the Palace Examination, affairs across the Six Ministries and Nine Courts of Justice were multiplying.

He had just finished reading a document sent from the Office of Transmission and was sorting through a stack of memorials when he saw the palace attendant Xiao come in.

His steps were quick and light, his face brimming with joy.

The Emperor had summoned Pei Shaohuai to an audience at the Imperial Study.

Palace Attendant Xiao was by nature extremely cautious and tight-lipped. Yet this time, as he led the way ahead, he let slip one remark: “Before Your Majesty sent this old servant to summon Pei Daren for an audience, he had just had the Ministry of Personnel present a report on all current vacant posts at court.”

The implication was that the Emperor’s summons on this occasion was very likely to be for the purpose of promoting Pei Shaohuai’s official rank.

Pei Shaohuai had just reached the three-year mark in his current position.

After thanking Palace Attendant Xiao, Pei Shaohuai walked on while turning the matter over in his mind, his expression carrying a certain gravity — he felt no great elation about the prospect of a promotion.

Upon arriving at the Qianqing Palace and the Imperial Study, the Emperor was still in discussion with Grand Secretary Hu. Pei Shaohuai accordingly made his way to the outer corridor of the hall to wait quietly — and unexpectedly, it was there that he encountered Minister of Personnel Pei, who was likewise waiting to be summoned.

Pei Jue’s black gauze cap had been polished to a spotless gleam, which only made the white strands of hair beneath the cap stand out all the more.

Pei Shaohuai took a brief look and noticed that Pei Jue’s official robes today were worn with unusual formality. The four-colored embroidered silk sash, the blue silk net, and the jade sash ring — items he seldom wore ordinarily — were all suspended below the leather belt. At his waist was the gold-wrapped jade belt, a personal gift from the Emperor.

Together with the various other imperially bestowed ornaments, it was as though every past achievement had been hung upon his person one by one.

Pei Shaohuai understood inwardly — Pei Jue had not come today for an ordinary audience. He had come to resign from office and retire. To submit his resignation before his youngest grandson was sent away to take up his post.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Pei Jue turned as well, and upon seeing it was Pei Shaohuai, his expression became somewhat complex. He too was aware that this audience of Pei Shaohuai’s was for the purpose of a promotion in official rank — the Emperor had even, for his sake, reviewed all the currently vacant posts at court.

The joys and sorrows of the world do not run in the same direction, and can even seem to mock one — that precisely at this moment he should encounter the eldest grandson of the First Branch left Pei Jue unable to slip away quietly.

Pei Jue gave a self-mocking laugh and said: “The waves behind push the waves before — in the floating world, new men replace the old. The ancient verses do not deceive. This official shall offer his congratulations in advance: may Pei Daren’s official career flourish, may imperial favor remain unbroken, and may he rise smoothly to higher heights — so that when he looks back someday, not a single regret shall remain.”

“Where in this world is there anyone who leaves no regrets? This subordinate would not dare accept that.” Pei Shaohuai replied.

“The rest may be declined — but ‘may imperial favor remain unbroken’ is one thing that cannot be declined.” Pei Jue’s official path had come to its end, and his words had grown somewhat sharper — or perhaps truer. He said: “Pei Daren, so young and yet carrying a body full of achievements — is it not precisely because imperial favor has remained unbroken? Without that imperial favor, which remonstrance, which new policy, could have been laid out and pushed through with such ease? Pei Daren tasted this advantage from the very beginning, and naturally will continue to operate in exactly this manner going forward.”

Blade after blade, yet Pei Shaohuai did not find it grating or disagreeable to hear.

He did not refute it.

Pei Jue continued: “And no wonder — Pei Daren had eminent teachers to guide and critique him, his learning and scholarship are profound, and a single written composition brought him to the Emperor’s side as a trusted confidant. How would he understand the difficulties that beset an official serving beyond the capital?” He laughed again and again — a laugh that carried something unhinged about it. Then he went on: “Whether you wish it or not, you still must call me great-uncle. So let me offer you one parting word — be it the Lou faction or the Shen faction, or whatever cliques that band together, if you have imperial favor behind you, bringing them down will not be so difficult. What will ultimately stand against you, the hardest thing to bring down, may well be the very thing you have spent so much effort guarding and holding onto.”