The lingering daylight stretched long, like a spring breeze caressing the shore, setting countless leaves aquiver. Her entrance instantly drew the gazes of everyone seated within.
The innkeeper personally came out to greet her, his face wreathed in smiles. "Lord Shen, weren't you supposed to arrive in the evening? I haven't prepared everything for you yet..." He turned and called to his staff, "Hurry to the back kitchen and urge them!"
The young woman smiled lightly. "My mother wasn't feeling well today and didn't go to the temple, so I came early. There's no need to rush, innkeeper. I don't mind waiting here." She then moved to a nearby table, lifted her skirts to sit, and waited for her things to be brought.
With straight eyebrows and large eyes, cherry-thin lips, and a complexion not particularly fair, she carried a subtle air of heroism between her brows—yet she remained exquisitely beautiful.
Meng Tinghui watched somewhat spellbound, feeling a faint familiarity in the woman's face, as if she had seen her somewhere before, but she couldn't recall no matter how hard she tried.
In her heart, she mused that only such an outstanding beauty from a prominent family could be worthy of the crown prince who commanded the admiration of the masses.
Among the female scholars nearby, someone whispered in a delicate voice, "I heard she only joined the Bureau of Military Appointments in the Ministry of War last month, and it was by the Emperor's special grace. She really takes after her mother. Now both children of the Shen family serve as officials at court—truly, the entire family is honored."
"Though both are called Lord Shen, this Lord Shen is much more adept at officialdom than her brother," another chimed in, her accent suggesting she was from the capital circuits and likely well-informed about court affairs. "They say she's highly sociable and effortlessly charming, even earning praise from veteran ministers in the two administrative bureaus and six ministries."
...
Meng Tinghui pursed her lips, her eyes darkening slightly. She turned back to her seat, picked up her chopsticks again, and slowly nudged the few remaining vegetables on her plate.
The woman sat quietly by the entrance for a long moment before suddenly tilting her head to glance in their direction.
At her glance, those who had been whispering immediately fell silent and, after a short while, rose one by one to go upstairs.
Meng Tinghui lowered her gaze, then looked up again, offering a slight smile to the woman before standing and walking over.
"Lord Shen."
She stood beside the table, speaking softly and courteously.
Shen Zhili's eyelashes fluttered as her eyes met Meng Tinghui's. "And you are?"
Meng Tinghui inclined her head slightly, her voice still gentle. "I am Meng Tinghui, here in the capital to take the Ministry of Rites examination for the Female Scholar Examination. I have long admired your talent, Lord Shen, and overhearing others' chatter, I learned you were here. I couldn't bear to miss this chance to meet you—I hope you'll forgive my presumption."
A sudden light sparked in Shen Zhili's eyes. "The Meng Tinghui from Chaoan North Circuit?"
Meng Tinghui nodded gently. "Indeed, it is I."
Shen Zhili gestured to the seat beside her with a smile. "Sit."
Meng Tinghui complied, then drew a thin invitation card from her sleeve and placed it lightly on the corner of the table. "It's said that you excel at poetry and prose, Lord Shen. Though I lack talent, inspired by the capital's grandeur today, I composed two short pieces in my room. I would be grateful for your guidance."
Shen Zhili thought for a moment before reaching out to take the card. Instead of opening it, she toyed with it between her fingers for a long while before speaking. "When I heard about your performance in the Chaoan North Circuit preliminary exams, I thought you must be a person of unyielding integrity, one who would disdain such tactics as presenting compositions to seek favor. It seems I was mistaken." She looked at Meng Tinghui and slid the card back, untouched. "Unfortunately, I have no connection whatsoever with this Ministry of Rites examination. You've approached the wrong person, Miss Meng."Meng Tinghui's expression remained unchanged as she said softly, "I fear if I were truly an uncompromising person, Lord Shen would instead look down upon me. They are merely two short compositions, yet Lord Shen maintains such heavy suspicion."
Shen Zhili stared fixedly at her for a long while before suddenly curling her crimson lips into a smile. She laughed several times before saying, "What an impressive Meng Tinghui." Taking the invitation cards back, she continued while flipping through them, "Had it been anyone else, they would have been frightened off by my earlier words. You're right - the court has never lacked uncompromising scholars, but those who criticize both purity and corruption have never been popular in official circles. What use is having great talent for statecraft if one cannot even maintain their footing? It's pitiful how few understand this principle."
Meng Tinghui still spoke softly, "Thank you, Lord Shen."
After reading through, Shen Zhili sighed, "Miss Meng truly possesses remarkable literary talent." Looking up with a smile, she added, "And please don't call me Lord Shen anymore. My given name is Zhili, and my courtesy name is Leyan. From now on, Miss Meng may call me Leyan. With your talent, achieving success in the imperial examinations should pose no difficulty. When we serve together in court, I hope we can support each other."
Meng Tinghui quickly rose, "I wouldn't dare presume."
Just as Shen Zhili was about to say more, someone came hurrying from behind the building carrying two oil-paper packages, announcing to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, everything is wrapped."
She then stood up as well, smiling at Meng Tinghui, "I have matters at home and cannot stay long. When the examination results are announced, let us meet again outside the Ministry of Rites courtyard."
Meng Tinghui nodded, raising her hand in a light salute, her wide sleeves falling to her waist with slightly curled edges.
Though failing to gain Grand Tutor Shen's favor had been a great regret, being able to form some connection with Shen Zhili now would likely prove useful.
She stood alone watching the slender willows before the building for a long time before finally narrowing her eyes and turning to go upstairs.
·
Outside the Shen residence, pomegranate blossoms carpeted the ground with fragrance while scattered clouds drifted peacefully in the quiet air.
The servant at the gate, seeing Shen Zhili descend from the carriage, hurried to greet her: "The young mistress has returned." He took the items from her hands and followed her inside.
Shen Zhili smoothed the stray hairs by her ears and instructed, "These are all things the young master enjoys eating. When you see the master later, don't say I bought them - just say someone sent them upon hearing the young master was returning to the capital today."
The servant remained silent, following behind without a word.
As she walked, she looked around and found the residence unusually quiet. Sensing something amiss, she turned and asked, "What? Has the young master not returned yet? Wasn't he said to have arrived outside the city before dawn and entered the palace with the Crown Prince for an audience with His Majesty?"
The servant stepped forward and whispered, "He has returned, but the young master is angry with the master and won't even touch the welcome meal Madam specially prepared for him."
Shen Zhili looked surprised, "Over what matter?"
The servant hesitated for a long while, appearing too afraid to speak. Only when he saw her expression turning angry did he hastily say, "I heard... I heard the young master is being assigned to a provincial post - Chaoan North Circuit, Qing Province!"
Shen Zhili froze momentarily before finally comprehending. Frowning briefly, she immediately headed toward Shen Zhishu's room in the rear courtyard.
Willows brushed against the corridor as birds chirped and fluttered their wings. The door to the third room on the east side of the rear courtyard stood half-open, with no servants waiting outside.
She kicked the door open and walked in.
The inner curtain immediately swayed as Shen Zhishu emerged, his eyebrows slanting in a frown, "Only you would dare kick my door."With that, he sat down on a chair in the room, the hem of his brocade robe slipping down to his knees, one long leg half-bent, exuding an air of impatience.
Shen Zhili closed the door behind her and fixed her gaze on him. "Was it Father's idea to have you appointed as an official in Qing Province?"
Shen Zhishu shot her a sidelong glance, snorted coldly twice, and wore an expression of noncommittal indifference.
Shen Zhili’s face stiffened slightly. "You don’t want to go?"
With a loud clatter, the paperweight on the table was swept to the floor by the sleeve of his robe.
Startled, she instinctively took two steps back.
Shen Zhishu stood up angrily. "How could I not want to go? Back when I was still in Chongzhou Prefecture, I already petitioned the Crown Prince, saying that if he didn’t trust the officials in the Chaoan North Circuit military command, he could send me to Qing Province!" He kicked the paperweight again. "Who would have thought that before I could return to the capital and petition the Emperor myself, Father would proactively request an imperial decree to appoint me to an external post in Qing Province!"
Shen Zhili raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.
He flicked his sleeve and turned around, still fuming. "Grand Tutor Shen, for the sake of the country, the people, the court, and the Emperor, is willing to let his only son gain experience in the northern borderlands! I knew it—no matter what happens in the end, it always ends up boosting Grand Tutor Shen’s reputation!"
Shen Zhili stepped forward, bent down, and picked up the paperweight. "For such a trivial matter, is it really worth getting so angry with Father?"
Seeing that his rage had not subsided, she sighed. "I heard you were returning to the capital today, so I specially went to Yitai Tower to buy some of your favorite snacks. Go take a look in the kitchen later."
Shen Zhishu turned back, noticing she was about to leave and sensing from her tone that she had no intention of staying. He frowned. "Where are you planning to go now?"
She paused for a moment and replied softly, "To Chancellor Gu’s residence."
At this, his expression suddenly shifted. After hesitating briefly, he stepped closer and whispered near the back of her head, "Chancellor Gu’s wife has just passed away not long ago. It’s highly inappropriate for you to visit at a time like this."
Shen Zhili stood silently for a long while before turning around, the corners of her eyes slightly red. "What do you mean by 'inappropriate'?"
Shen Zhishu grew anxious. "After all these years, why are you still holding onto these feelings? If Father finds out, you—"
She sneered. "Feel free to report it to the Grand Tutor, Eldest Young Master." With that, she stepped forward to push the door open and leave.
He grabbed her arm and said in a low voice, "Shen Zhili, I’m only doing this for your own good."
She shook him off fiercely. "Don’t worry, Eldest Young Master. This time, I’m only delivering an Invitation Card to Chancellor Gu on someone else’s behalf. I would never do anything to make people look down on me!"
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