Hua Zhi had official robes. She simply had not worn them — until today.

The previous day, before leaving the palace, the Crown Prince had instructed her to attend at his side during the Palace Examination. The Grand Preceptor had been present and raised an objection on the grounds that the Grand Tutor was prohibited from participating in government affairs — but the Crown Prince had immediately dismissed it. In the past, Hua Zhi would have made a graceful and dignified exit from such a situation. This time she did not. She needed to gradually make her presence known, so that when the moment came for her to speak, people would take her seriously.

She put on her official cap, gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror for a moment, then walked out of the room.

Ying Chun and the other attendants waiting outside all bowed deeply. This was their Miss — the mistress they would gladly serve for a lifetime. In that moment, the pride in their hearts was beyond words. No woman had ever gone this far, and their Miss was the first. Official robes, a first-rank official — by rank alone, she had already surpassed the old master’s senior first rank.

The mistresses of the inner courtyard, large and small, had heard the news and come to look. The excitement they had felt moments before gave way to quiet reverence at the sight of her. The official robes that looked so imposing and commanding on a man did not quite convey the same air on her — her waist was too slender, and even through several layers the faint outline of the delicate bones along her back was visible. Yet her bearing was so composed and authoritative that no one felt the robes looked out of place on her.

The first woman official in all of the Qing dynasty’s history. They watched that figure until it disappeared from sight, feeling as though the honour were partly theirs — yet each of them also felt a stinging behind their eyes. Who could have imagined it? That it would be this girl, once so entirely overlooked, who had smiled quietly even when people mocked her.

Many others had not imagined it either. The Crown Prince had certainly not expected the Grand Tutor to appear in official robes. The robes had been made to her measurements, yet now they hung slightly loose on her.

“Bailin need not follow today. One member of the Hua Family at the Crown Prince’s side is sufficient — two would be too audacious.”

The Crown Prince laughed. That was precisely the sort of thing only the Grand Tutor would say. And seeing Bailin as deferential as ever in his elder sister’s presence, the familiar scene brought him back to the days of studying at the Hua household. That things could still be like this — it was a good feeling.

Inside the great hall, the examination tables had already been arranged. Several senior officials stood in attendance at the sides. When they saw Hua Zhi in full official robes enter behind the Crown Prince, nearly all of them were caught off guard. One recovered quickly and spoke up at once. “Crown Prince, the late Emperor left an edict that the Grand Tutor need not attend regular morning court…”

“Is Advisor Zhang confused? What kind of court session does he take this to be?”

“And yet…” Someone at his side quietly tugged the sleeve of his robe. The late Emperor’s edict did exist — but the late Emperor was now in the past.

“Does Advisor Zhang have something further to say?”

Advisor Zhang’s mind had already caught up. He bowed low. “This old official was being foolish.”

Duke Dingguo gave a light cough and closed off the subject. “Your Highness, it is nearly time.”

The Crown Prince’s gaze swept the room, and he gave a satisfied nod. “Bring the candidates in.”

The candidates who had been waiting filed in one by one. They bowed without lifting their heads, then proceeded in sequence to their seats. Though they dared not raise their faces, nothing prevented them from straining to peer upward from beneath their brows — and naturally, they saw Hua Zhi, standing behind the Crown Prince.

Shen Qi felt a complicated tangle of emotions. Jiang Huanran felt as though someone had lit a fire in his chest — he was determined that he could not embarrass himself in front of the eldest daughter. Zhu Ziwen as her cousin, Yu Xiasheng and the Yuan family’s son with their particular relationships to her — when he thought it through, several of those present had reason not to falter in this examination.

The Palace Examination lasted three full hours. The Crown Prince was not going to stand over them the entire time — after announcing the questions and observing the candidates for a while, he took Hua Zhi with him and left. His lesson for the day had not yet begun.

“Who does the Grand Tutor favour?”

“Shen Qi has studied under his father for many years and applies himself diligently — he will not disappoint. Yu Xiasheng has a generous and open-hearted nature; though he is still somewhat naive from lack of hardship, he can be shaped into someone of great use with the right tempering.”

A forthright endorsement, even of those connected to her. The Crown Prince raised a hand to shade his eyes and gazed at the sunlight filtering through the canopy of leaves. “When the Shen Family behaved so coldly and heartlessly toward the Hua Family during their troubles, did the Grand Tutor not resent it?”

“Shen Qi made the journey to Yinshan Pass. If the Shen Family had truly set their minds on distancing themselves from the Hua Family, he would never have been allowed to go. His intentions were there. When all is said and done, the Shen Family was simply protecting themselves — calculated on behalf of the family, it was not wrong.” Hua Zhi then added: “The Crown Prince, more often than not, must hold the balance evenly and not employ people according to personal preference. Some people may not please you, yet they could be capable officials. Others you might wish to keep by your side at all times — and yet they could turn out to be petty men.”

“I will learn well. Grand Tutor, please teach me more.”

“As long as the Crown Prince is willing to learn, this official will hold nothing back.”

The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes in a smile. What he wanted to learn was not only the Grand Tutor’s knowledge — but also her breadth of heart, and her fierce protectiveness of those she cared for. That last part, though, did not require teaching. She was already living it, every single moment. No instruction needed.

“Hao Yue died last night.”

Hua Zhi raised an eyebrow. She had assumed Hao Yue was long dead already.

As if reading her thoughts, the Crown Prince added: “The Fourth Prince bit through his throat. The Fourth Prince himself has barely a breath left. Apparently they have been fighting every day these past weeks — quite the spectacle.”

Hua Zhi did not know what to say. After a pause, she squeezed out a sentence from the teacher in her: “The Crown Prince need only take this as a warning.”

The Crown Prince smiled and obliged: “So I shall. I will take it as a warning and remind myself always not to chase after things that cannot be had. A life lived with contentment — even fifty years would be enough.”

“This official actually believes there is no such mystical occurrence in this world. Once all of this is over, you may have Shao Yao look into the dietary records and journals of emperors of past dynasties — there may well be patterns to be found.”

The Crown Prince turned to look at her, and his voice softened. “…Very well. As the Grand Tutor says.”

Behind the two of them, Lai Fu’s aged face could not conceal the smile spreading across it. This deep palace had no shortage of fine things — but it had always lacked this one small thing: a little warmth. At last, at least a little had been found.

Two days later, the Palace Examination results were announced. The Crown Prince personally named Yu Xiasheng as top scholar, Shen Qi as second scholar, and a candidate from humble origins, Wu Guangwen, as third scholar. All three in the first tier were awarded the distinction of Presented Scholar with Honours — the top scholar was assigned as Compiler at the Hanlin Academy, while the second and third scholars were assigned as Editors at the Hanlin Academy. The Yuan family’s son placed second in the second tier; Zhu Ziwen placed fifth in the second tier — both were awarded the title of Presented Scholar and assigned as Probationary Officials. The remainder were all placed in the third tier, awarded the title of Presented Scholar by Courtesy, and assigned as Section Chiefs, Secretaries, or Messengers according to their results.

As the court was still in the period of mourning, the Crown Prince changed the celebratory banquet to an informal tea gathering. Hua Zhi attended as before. Looking at the young Crown Prince and these youthful new officials, she let out a quiet breath. There was always hope. A pity the Qing dynasty had no military examination — there was nowhere to replenish the ranks of military commanders.

Yanxi had not departed with the main force; calculating the time, he should have arrived by now. Some dried meat provisions had already been prepared — she could send those along. As for grain, there was far from enough — purchasing would have to continue. An army was a bottomless pit; she would have liked nothing better than to seize all of the Yan Kingdom’s grain for herself.

“Your Highness, an urgent report from the Seven Lodges Bureau.”

Hua Zhi, who had been quite openly letting her mind wander, looked over at once. The Crown Prince took the letter, read it, and leapt to his feet. Almost instinctively he turned to find the Grand Tutor. “The Yan Kingdom has invaded the border.”