Lin Yan’an sat on his bed, recalling the long and vivid dream he had last night. In the dream, he had passed the imperial examination, received an official appointment, and then Master Cui encountered trouble… Lin Yan’an frowned.
Continuing to recall, he had later sought a provincial post, and after the current Emperor passed away, he was promoted and returned to the capital as Deputy Magistrate of the Capital Prefecture, where he met a young lady whose smile was as bright as spring sunshine…
In the dream, court affairs weren’t entirely smooth, facing both internal and external troubles. He experienced both promotions and demotions, served as Prime Minister twice, led military campaigns against Nanzhao, and quelled the Zhaoyi Rebellion. He retired from his position as Prime Minister at seventy, ending his career honorably.
Family matters were much more pleasant – he and his wife had shared decades in harmony, and their two sons and daughter were all filial and sensible.
Thinking of the woman who appeared repeatedly in his dream, Lin Yan’an shook his head. It was indeed just a dream, and quite far-fetched – his “wife” in the dream was Shen Qian’s daughter – and Minister Shen was this year’s chief examiner!
Lin Yan’an felt quite ashamed for fantasizing about the chief examiner’s daughter and even fabricating a story about her family’s demise. He had never known himself to be so unseemly.
Yet Lin Yan’an couldn’t help but recall scenes from the dream.
“Young Lady is in the bloom of youth, why were you released from the palace?”
“I was released due to poor health.” That smile was both clever and slightly defiant.
“We’re not carriages on the same road; we should each go our way and find our peace. Forcing ourselves together might only lead to disaster. Lately, I’ve been thinking we should take what we can get… It was my mistake. Rather than staying together in hardship, perhaps we should part ways like fish in the river.” She cried with deep sorrow.
“Lin Yan’an, I miss you too.” She said tenderly, nestled in his embrace.
…The entire dream was filled with her, that young woman called Aji.
At the dream’s end, they were both elderly, supporting each other while walking in their garden.
“Aji, the autumn wind is getting cool. Shall we move to Mount Zhongnan for a while?”
She teased him: “You must be thinking about that osmanthus tree again. I’ve never seen someone so particular – how is it that only the cakes made from that tree’s flowers taste good to you? Could it be that the tree has absorbed the essence of the sun and moon and become magical?”
He had laughed and said: “It’s not that the tree is magical, but rather when we’re there, seeing the tree full of flowers always inspires you to make them yourself. No one else can make them taste like yours.”
Lin Yan’an smiled awkwardly, hardly able to imagine himself with white hair and beard, speaking such romantic words.
“An’ran – are you awake?” His fellow candidate Zhao Che knocked on the door.
“I’m awake.”
Lin Yan’an put on his clothes, put on his shoes, and went to open the door.
“Today we’re going to Yi Garden outside the city to enjoy the snow and plum blossoms. The road isn’t easy, so we should leave early,” Zhao Che said with a smile.
Lin Yan’an nodded.
It was already the twelfth lunar month, and scholars had gathered in the capital, waiting for the Ministry of Rites examination after the New Year. During this time, scholars needed to present their writings to officials, nobles, and famous scholars, and find ways to make a name for themselves at poetry gatherings and banquets, hoping word would reach the examiners’ ears and give them an advantage in the examination. This was how society worked in this dynasty – no one could afford to be above it all – and Lin Yan’an considered himself ordinary, not above such things either.
The imperial examination required effort – with his family’s declining status and his parents’ early death, the household needed someone to support it.
“Yi Garden used to be Prince Wu’s garden. The Prince was truly refined, saying ‘these plums and this snow – it would be a sin for me alone to enjoy them,’ and so opened it to the public…” Zhao Che was still talking about viewing the plum blossoms.
Hearing him mention Prince Wu, Lin Yan’an thought of his dream again. In the dream, Prince Wu had already turned to dust by this time.
“…I heard yesterday that Prince Wu was at odds with that former Daoist Master. Given that Master’s power, if he hadn’t died in an alchemy accident, the Prince might have faced difficulties,” Zhao Che, though also from outside the capital and not long in the city, unlike Lin Yan’an’s reserved nature, had broad social connections and thus knew much about the capital’s nobles.
Lin Yan’an frowned: “I hadn’t heard about this.”
“I only heard it from others, not sure if it’s true. They say Prince Wu once…”
After breakfast, discussing the old grudge between Prince Wu and the Great Virtuous Pure Wonderful Assistant Original True Person, Lin Yan’an joined other scholars in taking carriages to Yi Garden outside the city. Since they came under the banner of viewing plum blossoms and snow, they naturally had to walk around and appreciate the scenery.
Unexpectedly, they encountered several young ladies, all in fine silk clothes and fur cloaks, followed by many servants – noble ladies from the capital.
The scholars all showed proper manners, stepping aside to let the ladies pass.
The ladies gave slight curtsies before walking past.
“Be careful, A-Shen.”
Hearing the name “Shen,” Lin Yan’an instinctively turned his head. A small young lady who hadn’t reached her full height stumbled slightly, supported by the ladies and maids beside her.
The young lady’s faint voice: “It seems my dream from last night came half true.”
“How can a dream come half true?”
“I dreamed I fell and found gold. Now I almost fell, but didn’t see any gold.”
Another lady: “Such jokes! A-Chen, give her a tap…”
The ladies gradually moved away.
Zhao Che looked ahead and whispered, “The ladies seem to have come from Prince Wu’s private residence.” Though anyone could visit the garden, not everyone could enter the private residence – those noble ladies must truly be of high status.
Lin Yan’an nodded calmly, but his heart was greatly stirred – that was the Aji from his dream! Though she was still young, after being “married for decades” in the dream, he couldn’t mistake her clever and lively manner.
Lin Yan’an next saw Shen Shaoguang when he became the Third Scholar in the Qujiang examinations.
He finally saw that pretty face again – she stood on a moored boat by the river, beside a handsome young man – this one Lin Yan’an knew: Shen Zhiwen, Minister Shen’s eldest son. When Lin Yan’an visited the Shen residence to thank his examiner, he spoke with young Master Shen.
Visiting the Shen residence, and looking at the familiar plants and objects, Lin Yan’an couldn’t help but feel emotional. More and more people and things resembled those in his dream, and Lin Yan’an knew that “dream” wasn’t just a “dream.”
Shen Shaoguang looked at the two Third Scholars with a grin – my, they were handsome! Especially the one by the river – his somewhat stern face, when he smiled just now, was like… Shen Shaoguang tried hard to find the right description – like a gentle breeze passing over, like fresh green on spring mountains.
Shen Shaoguang regretted: “If I’d known they’d be so handsome, I would have gone down to throw a handkerchief or something.”
Shen Zhiwen laughed and scolded: “Young lady, you have no restraint at all.”
Shen Shaoguang pouted: “I’m not the only one. Last year when all those ladies threw their handkerchiefs and sachets at you, why didn’t you say they had no restraint?”
Shen Zhiwen had been the Third Scholar the previous year.
Shen Zhiwen could never win arguments with his sister, so he just ruffled her hair, saying “You can’t.”
Shen Shaoguang rolled her eyes – she’d never seen someone so dictatorial.
Madam Shen and Madam Li Yue came to the upper deck of the boat, also discussing the Third Scholar: “This year’s Third Scholar is truly handsome, with an elegant bearing. I heard the one near this side is from the He Dong Lin family. When he came to pay respects to his examiner, did you see him, A-Gu?”
“How could I have seen him? A-Zhang helped his father receive him.”
The Shen siblings greeted Aunt Li.
Madam Li smiled: “A-Zhang was last year’s Third Scholar, now helping receive this year’s scholars – that’s quite a nice story.”
Madam Shen looked at her son, shook her head, and smiled: “A-Zhang has finally been outdone by someone.”
Shen Shaoguang heartlessly nodded.
Madam Li laughed, saying to Shen Zhiwen: “Don’t listen to your mother, she’s just saying the grass is greener on the other side.”
Shen Zhiwen was used to being teased by his mother and sister and just smiled. That Lin An’ran’s scholarship was indeed good – their examination poems and essays had already been copied out, and he and his peers had all read them. Later he had also heard his father’s comments – judging character through writings, he seemed to be someone reliable, though perhaps a bit stern.
But before long, Shen Zhiwen’s opinion of Lin Yan’an changed.
Lin Yan’an passed the Ministry of Personnel selection and, like Shen Zhiwen, was appointed as a Proofreader in the Imperial Library. Though low in rank, it was a prestigious position that only those of outstanding scholarship and talent could hold – many high officials who had come up through the examination system had once held this position.
The two went to and from work together daily, were of similar age – Shen Zhiwen was only two years older than Lin Yan’an – and with Minister Shen’s connection (at this time, examiners and their successful candidates maintained close relationships), they became quite close.
After spending time together, Shen Zhiwen felt that Lin Yan’an was just someone who spoke little; he had a warm heart beneath his cool exterior and was indeed reliable, not at all superficial.
The two left the imperial city, leading their horses as they said goodbye. Shen Zhiwen smiled and said, “Where are you going, An’ran? I’m going to browse the East Market. My sister has been feeling unwell lately due to the season, and Mother won’t let her go out, so I’m going to find some trinkets for her.”
Lin Yan’an smiled and said, “I was also thinking of visiting the East Market, I’ll go with you, Zibin.”
“That would be perfect,” Shen Zhiwen smiled.
The imperial city was close to the East Market, so the two led their horses together, each followed by a servant.
Lin Yan’an hesitated for a moment, then asked politely with a smile: “Many people are catching seasonal illnesses now, is your sister alright?”
“It’s nothing serious, just a cough.”
Lin Yan’an smiled and nodded.
Shen Shaoguang was bored at home and was very happy to see her brother return.
“You’re wearing this again.” Shen Zhiwen smiled and frowned, looking at Shen Shaoguang’s face mask.
Shen Shaoguang just smiled, taking the foreign doll from her brother’s hands, examining it, putting her hand inside the doll’s cloth cover, holding it up to her brother’s face, and saying in a gruff voice: “Young sir, how’s your swordsmanship? Let’s have a match.”
Shen Zhiwen smiled and pushed away the doll, “Wait a moment, I bought some autumn pears, I’ll have someone make you some autumn pear and rice porridge with osmanthus sauce – it should taste good.”
Shen Shaoguang asked with a smile: “Brother, you even know how to make porridge now?” Her brother was good at everything except cooking, just like their mother.
“It’s a medicinal food recipe from a colleague.”
“It wouldn’t happen to be that surname, Lin, would it?”
“It is him. When he heard you were ill, he suggested this recipe, saying that taken with medicine, it helps clear the lungs and resolve phlegm, and works quite well – most importantly, it tastes good,” Shen Zhiwen smiled. A-Ji was quite particular, frowning at anything bitter, and Lin An’ran’s recipe was indeed suitable for her.
Shen Shaoguang hadn’t expected such a stern young man to be interested in medicinal food recipes… endearingly contradictory?
That evening, Shen Shaoguang ate the osmanthus pear porridge that her brother had specially ordered and tasted something familiar from her previous life – though, well, pear porridge probably tastes similar anywhere.
When Lin Yan’an came to visit Examiner Shen again, Shen Shaoguang was in the outer study looking for books to read. Seeing servants leading a guest in and saying the young master would arrive shortly, Shen Shaoguang hosted him on behalf of her father and brother.
Servants brought tea and snacks like fresh water chestnuts, lotus seeds, and water caltrop cakes.
Shen Shaoguang and Lin Yan’an sat drinking tea together.
Lin Yan’an looked at the travel journals and “Autumn Border Collection” on the small table, feeling the scene was somehow familiar.
“I haven’t yet thanked Elder Brother Lin for the osmanthus autumn pear porridge recipe, I found it very good,” Shen Shaoguang said with a smile. She hadn’t yet come of age, so didn’t consider herself a young lady, and following custom, called her father’s friends Uncle, and her brother’s friends Elder Brother, rather than “Lord So-and-so” or “Young Master So-and-so.”
Lin Yan’an pressed his lips together, “Young Lady is too kind.” Then he raised his teacup for a drink.
Shen Shaoguang looked at Lin Yan’an – why were this young brother’s ears turning red?
Looking up and meeting the young girl’s innocent gaze, Lin Yan’an felt himself quite beastly for thinking of things from his dream – where dream Aji would occasionally call him “good Elder Brother” when crying, being willful, or acting coquettish.
“An’ran is here—” Shen Qian walked in.
Lin Yan’an and Shen Shaoguang both stood up to bow.
Shen Qian sat on the couch, telling his student and daughter to sit as well.
Taking up a piece of cake, Shen Qian said to Lin Yan’an with some pride: “Try my daughter’s Fisherman-Woodcutter Cakes, made with fresh chestnuts and water caltrops – they’re quite fragrant and sweet.”
Lin Yan’an smiled and said: “The key is the excellent name.”
Shen Qian laughed heartily.
Shen Shaoguang looked helplessly at her father – showing off again…
Author’s Note: This chapter is a side story requested by some dear readers, set in a parallel world where Aji’s parents and brother are alive and the family is happy. In this chapter, Aji has transmigrated before birth, and Lin Yan’an gains memories of the previous world through dreams.
This concludes the story. Thank you to all the dear readers who have stayed with us until now. *bows*