First, she took an ox-cart from Chongzhou to Wutian Prefecture, then traveled by water from Wutian Prefecture to Shouzhou, and finally shared a horse-drawn carriage with others straight to the capital.
She arrived in the capital on the eighth day of the fourth month, coinciding with the Buddha’s birthday. The nine major Chan monasteries in the capital each held ceremonial bathing rites for the Buddha, offering guests who visited scented water infused with medicinal herbs and sugar. The streets were packed with people, pomegranate blossoms and slender willow branches swayed gently in the clear, mild weather. A soft breeze carried colorful flags fluttering in the air, painting a vivid scene of a prosperous and peaceful era.
Meng Tinghui stepped down from the carriage and looked up, spotting the grand, three-story Yitai Tower at the end of the street. She stood still for a moment, slightly dazed, before gathering her bundle and walking forward.
She had always heard about the capital’s prosperity, but without witnessing it firsthand, she could never have imagined such sights.
A waiter at the entrance of Yitai Tower spotted her from afar and hurried over, greeting her warmly, “Miss, are you here for the Female Scholar Examination at the Ministry of Rites?” Seeing Meng Tinghui nod, he gestured invitingly, “Please, come inside.”
As Meng Tinghui entered, she noticed the ground-floor hall of the tavern was unusually quiet and smiled faintly. “Is it because all the female candidates for the Ministry of Rites examination are staying at Yitai Tower that the tavern has suspended regular business until the exams are over?”
The waiter took her bundle and led her to the front counter, shaking his head with a laugh. “You’ve come from outside the capital, so you might not be familiar with the customs here. Today is the Buddha’s birthday—many people in the city went to the monasteries early to receive the ceremonial bathing water, which is why the tavern has fewer guests.”
Only then did Meng Tinghui understand. She walked up to the counter with a smile and said to the manager, “Meng Tinghui, from Chongzhou Prefecture, Chaoan North Circuit.”
The manager glanced at her, turned around to retrieve a letter from the back counter, and handed it to her. “It arrived just yesterday. I was wondering—Yitai Tower hadn’t yet welcomed such a person.”
Surprised, Meng Tinghui took the letter and opened it immediately.
A single thin sheet of paper was filled with bold, sprawling handwriting. The lengthy message chastised her for leaving without saying goodbye, with only the final line offering a brief, “Take care.”
A smile touched her lips as her eyes scanned down to the signature.
Even without looking, she knew—who else but Yan Fuzhi would write her such a letter?
Leaving without a word was indeed her fault, but bidding farewell was something she had never been good at.
What was the point of saying goodbye?
If they were destined to part ways, they would meet again if fate willed it.
Just like…
The shadow of a person flickered in her mind, but her thoughts were abruptly cut off—
“So you’re Meng Tinghui? The one personally selected by the Crown Prince as the top candidate of Chaoan North Circuit?”
Several plainly dressed young women had entered the hall unnoticed. One of them squeezed in beside her and, upon seeing the name the manager had just recorded, wore an expression of utter astonishment.
Meng Tinghui thought for a moment and gave a slight nod. “Miss…”
Before she could finish, the young woman exclaimed again, “So it really is you, Meng Tinghui!”
Frowning slightly, Meng Tinghui was puzzled by the reaction.
After whispering among themselves for a moment, the group turned back to her with smiles. “Female candidates from all over have been arriving for days. Your name has already been circulating throughout Yitai Tower.”
Meng Tinghui stiffened, forcing a smile. “I only reached the outskirts of the capital this morning. The journey has been exhausting—please allow me to rest first before chatting further.”
After asking the waiter a few questions, she gathered her bundle and headed upstairs.
The women below continued whispering among themselves—
“She just got lucky, that’s all. What’s there to be so proud of?”"Exactly. Chaoan North Circuit has never produced a female top candidate in the imperial examinations. Even if she was the top candidate from the provincial exams in Chaoan North Circuit, so what? Her essays might not even compare to any random scholar from the capital region!"
"Everyone who comes to the capital for the Ministry of Rites examination has genuine talent and learning. Just wait and see if she can pass when the ministry exam results are posted."
...
She pretended not to hear as she went upstairs, her fingertips trembling slightly when she pushed the door open.
Although she knew the capital would be more complicated than Chongzhou Prefecture, she never imagined even this small Yitai Inn would be filled with undercurrents.
Before the examination even began, she had become the target of criticism. Just the rumor that the Crown Prince had personally selected her as the top provincial candidate had pushed her into the spotlight.
Was this meant to tell her that while her talent was appreciated, her previous clever methods were disliked?
Was it a warning not to act independently against regulations during the Ministry of Rites examination?
Or was it meant to burden her mind when she entered the Ministry of Rites Examination Hall, to test whether she truly had the makings of a pillar of the state?
The room was small but tidy.
She casually set down her bundle and threw herself heavily onto the bed.
The floral-patterned bed curtain swayed precariously above, the gilt hooks glinting faintly. The window was half-open, allowing the faint sweet aroma of mulled wine being sold on the street outside to drift in.
She closed her eyes, her fingers lightly tracing the redwood bed frame.
This Crown Prince,
was truly unpredictable.
·
By lunchtime, the first and second floors of Yitai Inn had clearly become livelier.
Many of those who had gone to the temple to worship Buddha in the morning had returned to the city, gathering downstairs to laugh and chat about the day's interesting happenings in the city. Several female scholars staying at Yitai Inn to await the examination also came down in small groups to eat, their cheerful laughter continuous.
When Meng Tinghui went downstairs, the place was filled with noisy chatter from people of all ages and both genders. She found a seat in the corner, ordered a bowl of porridge and a plate of vegetarian dishes, and ate slowly by herself, quietly listening to the conversations around her.
Someone said, "This morning at the Imperial Ancestral Temple in the western city, I saw many people who had specially come from nearby prefectures and counties just to get a share of the Buddha bathing water!"
"They say the Buddha bathing water distributed by the Imperial Ancestral Temple is also supplied to the palace. Since it's what the Emperor drinks, naturally everyone wants to partake of this imperial blessing."
"These years have brought prosperity to the land, and the Emperor shows great compassion for the people - no military campaigns, no additional taxes. Recently, I heard the northern border will open free trade with the Northern Frontier. I truly hope these peaceful days continue..."
"Hey, have you heard? After the Crown Prince officially establishes his principal consort, the Emperor plans to abdicate and relinquish governance!"
"Where did that rumor come from?"
"Whether it's a rumor or not, just regarding the position of Crown Princess, which noble family's daughter in the capital do you think would have such fortune?"
"Isn't it obvious? It must be the eldest daughter of the Shen family!"
"Which Shen family?"
"How many Shen families could there be? Naturally, it's Grand Tutor Shen's daughter..."Everyone at the table clicked their tongues in agreement. "That makes sense. Madam Zeng accompanied His Majesty on his imperial campaigns and earned merits through bloodshed. Grand Tutor Shen has enjoyed a harmonious sovereign-subject relationship with the emperor for decades. In terms of closeness to the Imperial Family, who in the court dares compare? Moreover, the Shen family's young lady grew up playing in the palace with her elder brother since childhood, sharing an extraordinary bond with the Crown Prince. Not to mention she has the Madame of Ying as her godmother—by all accounts, she qualifies as noble kin. Furthermore, the Shen young lady is already twenty and still unbetrothed. Why do you think that is? Naturally, she's waiting for the position of Crown Princess..."
As they spoke, several women who appeared to be scholar candidates returned from outside and sat down with frustrated expressions, looking thoroughly dejected.
The group of women dining nearby noticed them and gathered around to ask, "Well? Did Official Gu accept the invitation cards?"
One woman cast a cold glance at the crowd. "Accept? What nonsense! Who do you think Official Gu is? Aside from Prince Ping, he doesn't care for anyone's connections!" She paused, then curled her lip disdainfully. "His Majesty has appointed Official Gu as the chief examiner for this Ministry of Rites examination. I suggest you all save your efforts—spend more time studying instead of hoping to submit cards and seek favors in advance!"
The women all sighed in disappointment and returned to their seats.
Meng Tinghui listened expressionlessly, slowly set down her chopsticks, pulled out a handkerchief to dab her mouth, and prepared to rise and go upstairs.
Suddenly, someone at the neighboring table, which had been discussing the Crown Prince's consort, whispered, "Look! Speak of the devil, and she appears!"
"Who's here? Could it be the Shen family's young..."
"Tsk! Didn't you see the carriage that just stopped outside Yitai Tower? The one with four wheels granted by imperial decree! The young woman who stepped out of it is her!"
Hearing this, Meng Tinghui turned to look toward the entrance of Yitai Tower.
A woman in a consort-red ruqun drifted into view, her arms draped with sheer gauze fastened by three jade ring pendants. A gold-embroidered purple ling jacket ended just above her knees, and her hair was loosely styled in the flowing cloud bun currently fashionable among female officials at court. She stepped gracefully across the threshold.
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