In the southern city near Sanmen Alley, the residences were mostly those of court officials and noble relatives. Grand mansions with high walls and vermilion gates stood side by side, yet the Gu residence stood out for its simplicity. Were it not for the crimson plaque bestowed by imperial decree hanging high above the gate, no one would have guessed this was the home of the current Left Chancellor.
A gentle breeze swept the path, casting a serene and secluded atmosphere. The clouds in the sky were as soft and delicate as silk, seemingly about to descend.
Shen Zhili followed behind the servant of the Gu residence, walking slowly. Her heart felt like the soft clouds above, tightly bunched together, drifting lightly up and down within her chest.
"The Chancellor has not been receiving outside guests these past few days," the servant said as they walked, his voice tinged with a smile. "But upon seeing Lord Shen's name card, he made an exception."
Shen Zhili lowered her gaze, watching the scattered grass under her feet. "These days, there must be many female scholars coming to the Chancellor's residence to submit their invitation cards, right?"
"Absolutely!" The servant raised his eyebrows. "Ever since the decree appointing the Chancellor as the chief examiner for the Female Scholar Examination was announced, the threshold of this residence has nearly been worn down by visitors."
She smiled faintly. "Given your Chancellor's temperament, closing his doors to visitors is only natural."
The servant chuckled as they rounded a corridor corner and pointed to a small hall ahead. "The Chancellor was painting in the flower hall earlier. Lord Shen may enter on your own. I will prepare some tea for you."
Shen Zhili looked up. The emerald-green tiles of the hall roof reflected the sunlight, slightly dazzling. She lowered her head again, took two steps forward, then turned back to stop the servant. "I only need to speak with the Chancellor for a few moments. There's no need for tea."
The servant paused, about to say something, but she had already turned and walked briskly away.
·
Shen Zhili hesitated for a moment upon reaching the hall entrance. After a brief thought, she lifted her hand to part the beaded curtain and stepped inside quietly.
The hall was dimly lit, with a long black lacquered table standing against the wall. A man stood before it, slightly bent over, holding a brush and dotting ink.
She stopped at the doorway, neither advancing further nor speaking, simply watching him.
Hearing the sound behind him, the man did not turn around but spoke softly, "Is that Leyan?"
Only then did Shen Zhili step forward, bending to pick up the scattered sheets of Xuan paper on the floor. "Mm," she replied as she walked over to place the papers gently on the table, then stood silently without another word.
The man paused his brush, tilting his head to look at her. His face was lean and refined, his eyes sharp as he studied her for a long while before turning away with a slight smile. "It's been a long time since you last visited. I didn't see you when your parents came to offer condolences after my wife's passing. What brings you here today?"
Unable to tear her gaze away, she stared blankly at the smile lines at the corners of his mouth. After a long pause, she relaxed her brows, drew a thin invitation card from her sleeve, and handed it to him. "I've come to recommend someone to the Chancellor."
Gu Qin set down his brush, reached out to take the card, and unfolded it without a word. But his expression changed upon seeing the name on it, and he immediately tossed the card to the corner of the table. "Nonsense." Leaning on the table, he thought for a moment before looking at her again, frowning. "What is your relationship with this person that you would come here to submit her card?"
As if she had anticipated his reaction, Shen Zhili remained calm and unruffled. She picked up the card again and spread it out before him. "I happened to meet her at Yitai Tower today. I quite liked these two short essays of hers, and I admired her understated demeanor, which sets her apart from the other female scholars."Gu Qin's expression grew increasingly dark. "I've heard about what this person did during the circuit examination in Chaoan North Circuit. If her top candidate status hadn't been specially granted by the Crown Prince, I would definitely remove her name from the Ministry of Rites examination!" He turned and walked to the window, pushing it open with his hands clasped behind his back. "If everyone knew such opportunistic methods were acceptable, what would become of the Female Scholar Examination in the future?"
"Your Excellency, please calm yourself," Shen Zhili spoke softly, a faint smile lingering at the corners of her lips. "I knew you would react this way, which is why I came specifically to recommend her. Otherwise, with Your Excellency presiding over this Ministry of Rites examination, if Meng Tinghui ranked first, you would surely diminish her achievement; if she merely passed as a tribute scholar, you would likely reclassify her among the failed candidates..."
Gu Qin's lips moved as if to speak, but he ultimately remained silent, standing with his back to her while gazing into the distant courtyard outside the window.
Shen Zhili watched him calmly and continued, "Your Excellency, consider how this year's Female Scholar Examination differs from previous years. Do you not understand the Crown Prince's intentions? The top female scholar is permitted entry into the Imperial Academy. Your Excellency also rose to the Secretariat through the Imperial Academy—need I elaborate further on the implications? And what kind of place is the Imperial Academy? A gathering of pure scholars, dominated by veteran officials. What good outcome could a woman with only scholarly talent but no understanding of social navigation achieve there?"
Seeing he still remained silent, she couldn't help but smile. "This Meng Tinghui possesses outstanding scholarship without being pedantic. Though she employs opportunistic methods, she maintains perfect discretion. If you ask me, among all the female scholars who came to the capital, I haven't met anyone more likable than her. If this woman isn't qualified for the Imperial Academy, then who is? Who could possibly qualify?"
Gu Qin turned back, his gaze quite complex. "You come here to plead for her, without considering whether she would even appreciate your favor."
Meeting his gaze, she felt a sudden tightness in her throat and took a moment before responding, "Meng Tinghui is an intelligent person."
He snorted coldly, "Your words alone are insufficient! We must see how she performs in the Ministry of Rites examination! Moreover, we must wait until after the palace examination to see whom His Majesty will appoint!"
Shen Zhili lowered her head. "Your Excellency knows why the Crown Prince requested His Majesty to issue a decree opening an Imperial Academy position for women. For years, female officials in court have been mere decorations—how far this diverges from His Majesty's original intention of promoting women's education and special examinations! And why is this? Your Excellency, as a veteran official who followed Prince Ping from the Eastern Capital, surely understands better than I? The Eastern Faction elders in court grow more powerful daily—what thoughts do they harbor about women entering court as officials? Your Excellency must understand this best. His Majesty tolerates these elders only out of longstanding friendship with Prince Ping!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Qin's face immediately darkened completely: "Leyan, do not be impertinent!"
After a moment of silence, she added, "The veteran officials in both central government offices know about His Majesty's intention to abdicate and transfer governance to the Crown Prince. Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, will he continue showing the same deference and respect to these elders? Allowing female scholars into the Imperial Academy is merely the Crown Prince's first strategic move—this I understand, Your Excellency understands, and the court elders understand even better. What use would an ordinary learned woman be in the Imperial Academy? With all the factional strife and political suppression in court, haven't enough people been sacrificed over the years?"
He raised his hand to stop her: "Say no more." Smoothing his expression and calming his breath, he walked back to the desk and said to her, "Come look at the painting I've made."Shen Zhili obediently fell silent and walked over.
The scroll lay unfurled across the table, depicting a scene rich with spring—slender willows and pavilions, swallows soaring and orioles singing, a gentle river flowing into the distance...
He lowered his gaze, picked up a brush, mixed a pale vermilion hue, and handed it to her. With his other hand, he pointed to the bare branches of the peach blossom tree in the painting and smiled faintly. "It still needs a few peach blossoms. Does Le Yan still remember how to paint them?"
Her heart jolted violently, yet her expression remained calm. "Your Excellency personally taught me back then—how could Le Yan forget?"
Her hand trembled slightly as she held the brush. Hearing his soft laughter beside her, her heart grew even more unsettled.
She lightly sketched the peach blossoms but did not release the brush. Instead, she paused, then shifted her wrist, letting the brush tip fall upon a blank corner of the paper. Swiftly, she wrote a few lines:
"Resenting spring’s delay, by night comes word of its approach.
A heart stirred in secret, feelings sent in vain—spring’s affairs known only to spring itself."
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