Blossom

Han Shi realized she had spoken out of turn and flushed crimson with embarrassment.

Ji Qi, not wanting his wife to feel awkward, changed the subject: "Any news from Grandfather’s side?"

Han Shi relaxed slightly and muttered, "The letter was only sent a few days ago—how could there be a reply so soon?"

"Then you should pay more attention to Jianming’s affairs," Ji Qi instructed before leaving for his official duties.

After some thought, Han Shi went to visit Ji Lingze.

Coincidentally, the fourth young mistress of the Han family, Liu Shi, and the Han family’s tenth young lady, Han Su, were guests at Ji Lingze’s residence.

The room was filled with members of the Han family, making the atmosphere particularly warm and intimate.

Liu Shi, who was from the Liu family of Yixing and had married into the Han family of Huzhou, had been close to Han Shi since childhood. Upon seeing her, she loudly exclaimed, "Congratulations!" and personally served tea handed over by the maids. She sat close to Han Shi, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then brought up Ji Yong’s marriage: "...Auntie, you can’t just indulge Cousin’s whims. There are times when you must be firm."

Ji Lingze pursed her lips and exchanged a meaningful glance with Han Su.

The Liu family had many daughters, and Liu Shi had two younger sisters still unmarried. One of them had even composed a couplet in response to Ji Yong’s, earning praise from the Ji family’s elderly master.

Han Shi was already troubled by the matter of Ji Yong and Dou Zhao. Hearing this, she frowned in displeasure and said, "Jianming grew up in the old master’s household. Naturally, his marriage must be decided by the old master. As a woman confined to the inner quarters, my insight and judgment cannot compare to his. I’ve decided to step back and simply wait to become a mother-in-law."

Yet inwardly, she thought: If the old master decides to swiftly arrange a marriage for my son to sever his attachment, I hope it isn’t a Liu family girl. If nothing else, given how talkative Liu family girls are, my son would surely dislike her.

A pang of regret followed.

She had originally come to inquire about Fourth Miss Dou’s situation, but with Liu Shi here, it seemed she wouldn’t get the chance.

Han Shi patiently made small talk with Liu Shi.

Meanwhile, Ji Yong was speaking with Dou Qijun.

Dou Qijun had failed the Metropolitan Examination this time.

"Why rush back so soon?" Ji Yong urged Dou Qijun to stay. "Why not wait for the results of the Palace Examination? You can study the essays of the top candidates and see where you fell short." He added, "I also have business in Zhen Ding. We can travel there together."

Since the Ji family had already settled in the Capital, what business could he have in Zhen Ding?

Dou Qijun was surprised.

Ji Yong smiled. "Fourth Sister’s coming-of-age ceremony coincided with my examination. I didn’t even send a congratulatory gift. After the Palace Examination, I’ll be taking the Imperial Academy entrance exam, and once I begin my duties there, it’ll be hard to leave the Capital. This is a good opportunity to travel."

He spoke so candidly, and since everyone knew Dou Zhao was already betrothed, Dou Qijun suspected nothing. He laughed and said, "You want to sneak off for fun and drag me along as cover. Fine, since you’re my elder, I’ll humor you." He agreed to accompany Ji Yong to Zhen Ding.

Ji Yong was delighted and ordered Zi Shang to prepare a feast. The two ate and discussed the Metropolitan Examination until the moon was high in the sky.

A few days later, the first day of the third month arrived.

Ji Yong changed into a brand-new sapphire-blue silk robe and headed to the West Garden.

After a full day of the Palace Examination, Ji Yong, as expected, was ranked third—earning the title of Tanhua (Placed Third).The relatives from the Ji family all came to offer their congratulations.

Yet Ji Yong felt a stifling gloom in his heart, his face dark and brooding.

He took out the wooden hairpin he had carved for Dou Zhao and gazed at it for a long time before abruptly tossing the box into the corner of his bed. Then he reclined on the Drunken Old Man Chair in his study, feigning sleep. No matter how many guests bustled outside, not a flicker of emotion crossed his face.

Zi Xi and the others were frantic, but none dared to urge him to greet the guests.

Han Shi, dressed in a bright red Gold Brocade vest, entered. Seeing Zi Xi and the others standing silently by the study door, she lowered her voice and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Zi Xi quietly told her about Ji Yong throwing the box containing the wooden hairpin into the corner of the bed.

Han Shi was both startled and pleased. Startled because her son clearly cared deeply for Fourth Miss Dou, and pleased because his embarrassment might keep him from appearing before her—in the long run, this might not be a bad thing.

Just as she was about to instruct Zi Xi to take good care of Ji Yong, the study door creaked open, and Ji Yong stepped out.

He wasn’t surprised to see his mother.

With so many people coming to congratulate him on his success in the imperial examinations, it was only natural that his mother would worry and come to check on him when he didn’t appear.

He nodded to her and said, "I’ll go to the front courtyard to receive the guests now." Then he handed the camphorwood box to Zi Xi and added, "This is my coming-of-age gift for Fourth Miss Dou. Ride swiftly and deliver it to Zhen Ding personally."

His composed demeanor, however, made Han Shi and Zi Xi feel slightly uneasy. Fortunately, Zi Xi was quick-witted and swiftly masked his awkwardness, stepping forward respectfully to take the box before hurrying off.

Preoccupied, Ji Yong didn’t pay much attention to his mother and Zi Xi’s reactions. Once Zi Xi had left, he asked his mother, "Would you like to sit in my room for a while? I’ll change my clothes and then go to the front courtyard."

"Of course!" Unsure what her son was up to, Han Shi followed him into the hall.

Dou Zhao received Ji Yong’s gift five days later. After reading the letter inside the camphorwood box, she burst into laughter.

Just then, Su Xin entered with freshly baked walnut cookies from the kitchen. Seeing Dou Zhao’s mirth, she smiled and asked, "What did Young Master Ji write in his letter?"

Dou Zhao tucked the letter away, still chuckling. "He said that when the palace examination began, the Emperor walked around the hall and, noticing he was the youngest, scrutinized him carefully. He suspects the Emperor didn’t even read his essay—he was simply named Third Scholar because of his youth. He also read the top scholar Cai Guyuan’s essay and insists it wasn’t as good as his..."

Su Xin couldn’t help but laugh as well.

Dou Zhao took a bite of the walnut cookie and remarked, "Cousin Ji is still so childish. He knew about my birthday but deliberately waited until he became the Third Scholar before sending a gift. If he had failed the exams, he probably wouldn’t have spoken to me for years. At heart, he’s still holding a grudge over what I said about his mischief with Dou Ming."

Su Xin nodded, pouring Dou Zhao a cup of tea. "Young Master Ji may be proud, but he’s straightforward and honest—that makes him easier to get along with."

"Exactly." Dou Zhao smiled and headed to the study. "I’ll write him a reply. I imagine everyone assumes he must be basking in triumph right now, but he probably sees this Third Scholar title as an insult—something he doesn’t even want to mention!"Su Xin thought about it and realized Ji Yong was indeed the type of person who would do such a thing.

She couldn’t help but smile faintly as she helped Dou Zhao grind ink.

When Ji Yong received Dou Zhao’s reply, he was still hesitating over whether to take up the post at the Imperial Academy.

Ji Yong’s uncle Ji Song and father Ji Qi were beside themselves with anxiety. Ji Qi even complained, “Why hasn’t Grandfather sent any word yet? Without his decision on Jianming’s matter, how can we proceed?”

Ji Song gave a bitter smile.

Zi Xi requested an audience.

Both men eagerly summoned him in to report.

“The young master instructed me to inform the sedan chair bearers,” Zi Xi said, panting slightly from his hurried arrival, “that he will need a sedan chair first thing tomorrow morning to go to the Ministry of Personnel for registration.”

Ji Song let out a relieved sigh.

But Ji Qi abruptly stood up with an exclamation. “Why has Jianming suddenly changed his mind?”

Zi Xi steadied his breathing before replying, “The young master just received a letter from Fourth Miss Dou. Whatever she wrote made him burst out laughing, and then he told me to arrange for the sedan chair.”

Ji Song and Ji Qi exchanged bewildered glances.

After a moment’s hesitation, Ji Qi lowered his voice and asked Zi Xi, “What exactly did Fourth Miss Dou write in her letter?”

Zi Xi shook his head.

Ji Song stroked his beard and murmured, “Then find a way to see what was in that letter.”

Zi Xi was stunned and instinctively glanced at Ji Qi.

But Ji Qi merely coughed lightly, took a sip of tea, and pretended not to have heard the suggestion.

Suppressing a silent sigh, Zi Xi had no choice but to agree. The next day, while Ji Yong was out, he quickly retrieved Dou Zhao’s letter, skimmed its contents, and reported back to Ji Song and Ji Qi:

“…It wasn’t anything unusual. Miss Dou the Fourth simply wrote about some gardening tips.”

“Gardening tips?” Ji Song was taken aback.

“Yes,” Zi Xi replied respectfully, hands clasped. “Miss Dou mentioned that to design a courtyard, one should plant evergreen shrubs like boxwood and holly, interspersed with flowering trees and plants that bloom year-round, so the scenery remains pleasing. For spring, she listed narcissus, cymbidium orchids, camellias, azaleas, and winter jasmine… Narcissus is elegant, orchids carry a subtle fragrance, camellias are graceful, azaleas blaze like the morning sun, but winter jasmine, though the most common, bursts into golden splendor at the first hint of warmth, adorning trees and pavilions. It’s unforgettable—whenever people speak of spring, they mention this harbinger of the season. The value of a flower lies not in its rarity, but in when it blooms… Even the humblest roadside blossom, if it heralds the first touch of spring, is the finest flower in the world. Why must we fixate on its pedigree?”

Ji Song frowned in silence.

Ji Qi rubbed his temples and mused, “If only we knew what Jianming wrote in his letter to Miss Dou the Fourth…”

Zi Xi broke into a cold sweat.

Surely the masters wouldn’t ask him to pry into the young master’s thoughts?

If Ji Yong caught wind of it, there’d be trouble!

Just as he began to panic, Ji Song waved him off. “You may go. And don’t speak of this to anyone.”

Zi Xi hastily bowed in acknowledgment and withdrew.Ji Song couldn't help but express his concern to Ji Qi, "You shouldn't speculate wildly. What Miss Dou the Fourth mentioned in her letter was clearly a metaphor, encouraging Jianming to strive for progress. Logically speaking, after enduring ten years of diligent study, someone like Jianming should already consider his achievements complete. What could he possibly be dissatisfied with? Why would he rather confide in Miss Dou the Fourth than his own family? And how did Miss Dou the Fourth know such advice would be effective?"

They often advised Ji Yong to study hard and make progress, but the more they urged him, the more unorthodox he became, to the point where they didn't dare to advise him anymore.

"Exactly!" Ji Qi said. "If we could understand why Fourth Miss Dou is able to persuade Jianming, we wouldn't be at our wits' end with him!"

Ji Song sighed and, upon returning to his room, immediately wrote a letter to his grandfather, Old Master Ji.