Chapter 76

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The yellowing leaves shed from the branches, drifting down to the river’s surface and creating ripples.

Both within and outside He Valley Prefecture, the somber chill of autumn was palpable. The streets outside the city’s governmental office and the neighboring lanes were teeming with people.

Standing along the street were servant boys, housewives with their daughters, and servants, all craning their necks expectantly toward the distant and tightly closed academy gates. Guards and soldiers, armed with weapons, kept a tight watch on the surroundings.

Occasionally, the academy gates would creak open, and a scholar-like figure would be forcibly ejected, landing outside amid a wave of laughter.

“Cheating in the examination…”

“To escape imprisonment is already fortunate. Who knows if they’ll have another chance?”

The disgraced scholar scrambled up from the ground, not even bothering to brush off the dust on his body. Amid the pointing fingers and murmurs of the crowd, he lowered his head and quickly shoved his way through the throng, fleeing the scene in humiliation.

The provincial exam, the second threshold in the nation’s pursuit of talent, was a grand event for all prefectures and counties. Examinees with the status of “Shengyuan(student)” had gathered in the city as early as the summer to ensure no delays. Even Lu Liangsheng had arrived early to avoid missing the crucial moment.

By now, the exam had reached its third session. Each session lasted a day, and the nearby inns and taverns were constantly packed. Scholars and literati gathered to either discuss the difficulty of this year’s questions or place wagers on who would claim the title of “Jieyuan,” the top scorer.

“To my mind, it must be the Four Talents of Nanxiang. Though they come from poor families, their learning is truly remarkable.”

“…Not necessarily. I’ve seen those four from a distance—dull and rigid, slaves to rote memorization. I even heard that on their way here, they were nearly eaten by a fox demon.”

“That’s nonsense. The authorities have already said there are no fox demons, just a gang of bandits pretending to be monsters.”

“…Oh, by the way, have you heard? A candidate is staying at Erudite Scholar Zhou’s residence. They say he’s from Fushui County.”

“Staying at Erudite Scholar Zhou’s residence? Well, then, there’s no doubt he’ll take the top spot this year.”

“I heard his surname is Lu… and that he was once a student of the renowned Sir Shuhua ten years ago, whose fame reached the capital.”

“Sir Shuhua? Who’s that?”

Amidst the clamor of lively discussions, a waiter carrying a tray carefully squeezed past a man dressed as a Daoist priest. The Daoist, catching the fragrant aroma of the food around him, smacked his lips and focused his gaze on a table near the riverside.

Seated at that table were two middle-aged scholars, facing each other as they admired the riverside scenery. They chatted amiably, savoring their food with leisurely sips and bites. Out of the corner of their eyes, they suddenly noticed a dusty, gaunt figure approaching. Turning their heads slightly, they saw a Daoist priest with a sharp nose and monkey-like features, carrying a yellow silk pouch slung over his shoulder.

It wasn’t unusual for wandering monks or Daoists to seek alms. To drive him away would make them seem petty and lacking refinement, so they pretended not to notice and continued their cheerful conversation over their meal.

However, after downing another cup of wine, they realized the Daoist was still standing there. Unable to hold back, one of them finally spoke.

“Esteemed Daoist, are you here to seek alms?”

The Daoist stroked the sparse strands of his scraggly beard and let his gaze drift over the dishes on the table. With a broad, cheerful grin, he replied:

“I am not here to beg for alms. Instead, I noticed the noble demeanor and refined bearing of you two gentlemen. Thus, I thought to perform a little trick for your entertainment.”

The two scholars exchanged glances before bursting into laughter.

“Haha! Wonderful, wonderful! To think we’d get a performance with our meal. But what sort of trick does the Daoist intend to show?”

The Daoist’s shifty eyes darted over the dishes on the table before flickering between the two men.

“This trick is called ‘Shifting Shadows’. Gentlemen, watch closely.”

With that, he pressed one hand firmly onto the empty wine cup of the man on the left and placed the other hand on the half-filled wine cup of the man on the right.

The Daoist’s sharp, crooked grin deepened. “Now, watch closely, gentlemen!”

The Daoist’s words piqued the curiosity of several nearby tables, drawing their gazes over. They watched as he simultaneously withdrew his hands, revealing an astonishing change: the once-empty wine cup in front of the scholar on the left was now half-full, while the previously half-full cup on the right was completely empty.

“Wow, this Daoist is incredible!”

“What happened? What happened just now?”

The two middle-aged scholars stared blankly at their cups, unable to comprehend how the wine that was clearly on the right just moments ago had suddenly transferred to the left.

“Could this Daoist possess some sort of mystical arts…”

One of them murmured to himself. Meanwhile, his companion glanced around in sudden realization. “Wait, where did that Daoist go?”

It was only then that the patrons on the second floor snapped out of their amazement. The Daoist, who had just been there, had vanished in the blink of an eye. As the diners exchanged astonished looks and searched for him, a shout erupted from the table where the Daoist had performed his trick.

“Where’s my Pear Blossom Wine…? And the honey-glazed steamed chicken?! Why are they gone?!”

The exclamation drifted out past the railings toward the riverside, where willows swayed gently in the autumn breeze. At the very top of the inn, the missing Daoist lay sprawled across the ridge of the roof, his legs dangling over the ornamental tile at the edge.

Basking in the autumn sunlight, he tilted a suspended wine jug, letting the shimmering liquid pour into his mouth in a radiant arc. He grabbed a piece of honey-glazed chicken and bit into it with gusto, chewing noisily before swallowing and letting out a satisfied sigh of “Ah!”

Beside him sat a toad clad in a long robe adorned with coin-shaped insignias. It glanced at the sky before stuffing a chunk of succulent meat into its wide mouth.

“This exam is dragging on. It should be over by now.”

“It should be soon.” Replied the Daoist, none other than Sun Yingxian. He had attended all three sessions of the provincial exam, accompanied by the Toad Daoist, waiting patiently for the results. Lunch, however, was a matter of improvisation. As Sun Yingxian shamelessly put it, ‘Those folks always order too much food. Since they can’t finish it, why not let me help lighten their burden…’

“Old Toad, if there’s a next time, you’re going. These past two days, it’s been me going to cheat… uh… acquire the food.”

The Toad Daoist squinted at him with one eye, observing the lazy figure sprawled on the rooftop.

“Think carefully about that. Are you sure you want me to go?”

The Daoist tilted his face up to the sky, casually spitting out a chicken bone. After staring at the sky for a moment, he turned his head toward the academy.

“Never mind. Knowing you, by the time I see you again, you’ll probably be in a steamer basket…”

“Damn it… What I mean is, this old man isn’t afraid of everyone in the entire tavern dying…”

But today, the Toad Daoist seemed disinclined to engage in a verbal spat. With webbed hands tucked into his sleeves, he crossed his short legs and turned away. A few moments later, a voice rang out from the crowd below. “They’re coming out!”

The doors of the academy, where the provincial exams had taken place, swung open. A procession of scholars filed out, their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion. Among them, Lu Liangsheng strolled leisurely, carrying a small satchel filled with writing tools. He took a deep breath of the fresh air outside, and his mood visibly lifted.

His pace quickened, his figure blending into the crowd so seamlessly it seemed almost ethereal. Moving like a wisp, he threaded his way through the bustling throng and soon felt the familiar presence of the Daoist and his master nearby.

With a leap, he landed lightly on the eaves of a nearby shop, his figure blurring as he vaulted onto the rooftop of the inn. Tossing his satchel aside, he plopped down beside the two and let out a long sigh.

“Finally, it’s over.”

Leaning against the roof ridge, Lu Liangsheng allowed himself to fully relax. He reached out to accept a chicken drumstick the Daoist handed him.

“Now that the exams are done, once the results are out, let’s go back to the Lu Family Village.”

“Aren’t we supposed to head to the northwest to take a look first?” Sun Yingxian turned his head in surprise.

Nearby, the scholar smiled faintly as he gazed at the bustling crowd below, gradually dispersing. He sighed, lifting the jug of Pear Blossom Wine in his hand and taking a swig directly from the spout.

“Of course, we’ll go. But first, I want to visit my parents. I’ve never been away from home before, and now it’s been almost three months. I can’t stop worrying about them.”

Sun Yingxian grimaced inwardly, feeling like slapping himself. What am I doing bringing up parents when I don’t even have any?

“Alright, I’ll go with you.”

Having eaten his fill of the wine and meat, Lu Liangsheng rubbed his fingers together, causing the grease to vanish on its own. Dusting off his hands, he stood up.

“Let’s head back to the Zhou Residence. Once the results are announced in two days, we’ll bid farewell to Elder Zhou.”

The Toad Daoist furrowed his brows. “Liangsheng.”

The scholar, ready to leave, stopped in his tracks, noticing his master’s expression. He hesitated slightly.

“Master, do you think something’s wrong?”

The Toad Daoist pointed at the half-eaten chicken.

“You haven’t finished that. Take it with us.”

Lu Liangsheng couldn’t help but laugh helplessly. Picking up the half-eaten chicken, he wrapped it up neatly. Over the past few months, he’d realized his master was growing fonder of chicken with each passing day. If not for his appearance still being that of a toad, one might have mistaken him for a fox in disguise.

In a quiet corner of the bustling street, Lu Liangsheng descended to ground level, navigating through the busy market to return to the Zhou Residence. In the front courtyard, beneath the eaves, the elderly Zhou Zhen had placed a large chair and was seated in it. Upon seeing Lu Liangsheng return, his face finally showed some expression.

“How did today’s [Policy Essay] exam go?”

Although Zhou Zhen hadn’t been teaching the scholar in front of him for long, as a mentor in his academic journey, this question wasn’t out of place.

Lu Liangsheng bowed respectfully.

“It was manageable.”

The old man recognized the modesty in his words and chuckled heartily. To have a scholar achieve such progress under his guidance was a source of pride anywhere. Moreover, this young man’s demeanor, appearance, and character were all to his liking.

His wife often blew wind into his ears.

“Since Rong’er’s engagement was annulled, she’s only been upset for a few days. I’ve noticed her sneaking glances at Young Master Lu now and then. Could it be that she’s taken a liking to him? After all, Young Master Lu’s character and appearance are exemplary. Although his family is poor, he’s cultured, polite, and talented. Why not consider matching him with Rong’er…”

With this suggestion in mind, Zhou Zhen found himself growing increasingly fond of Lu Liangsheng, offering him every bit of guidance he could in his studies. However, the young man’s mystical techniques were a point of unease for the old scholar. The thoughts of cultivators like him were difficult to discern.

What if he doesn’t even care for love between men and women? Asking about it would be utterly humiliating.

Naturally, Lu Liangsheng had noticed this, which is why he told Sun Yingxian that once the results were posted, he would quickly bid farewell and leave. As for the young lady of the Zhou household, he couldn’t say he disliked her, but her daily visits, so frequent and persistent, made him feel as if a thorn were constantly pricking his back.

Sure enough, no sooner had he bid farewell to Zhou Zhen and returned to the side courtyard than he encountered Zhou Rong. Dressed in a green gown, she stood gracefully by the crescent-shaped gate. Upon seeing him approach, she quickly took a bowl of ginseng soup from her maid and stepped forward.

“Young Master Lu, was the last exam today smooth?”

Lu Liangsheng accepted the soup with a polite smile. “It went well enough.”

Feeling awkward, Lu Liangsheng forced a casual remark but then noticed her pallor. Concerned, he quickly asked: “Have you been sleeping poorly lately?”

Hearing this, Zhou Rong touched her cheek and lowered her face slightly.

“Young Master Lu noticed… Lately, I’ve been having recurring nightmares. I keep dreaming of a woman in a long red robe, singing strange songs. It’s eerie. Young Master Lu, have I been cursed or come into contact with something unclean?”

A red-robed woman, singing songs?

If you stay any longer… I’m afraid trouble might arise sooner rather than later.

Lu Liangsheng’s gaze flickered to the courtyard as he smiled faintly. “It’s nothing unclean, I assure you. It’s just that this side courtyard is damp and cold, and with your frail constitution, spending time here might be affecting you.”

He improvised an explanation and, not giving her time to press further, quickly excused himself and strode through the crescent gate. Behind him, Zhou Rong stomped her foot in frustration.

“He left just like that, not even sparing a moment to chat.”

Trailing behind, Sun Yingxian turned back and glanced at Miss Zhou, who was lost in thought.

“Hey… Girl, have you considered giving me a chance instead?”

Zhou Rong shot him a glance and huffed: “Even among monks, there are scoundrels.”

“Heh, since I’m out of the running, let me give Miss Zhou some advice: it’s best not to fixate on Lu Liangsheng too much. Otherwise, your nightmares might just come true.”

“What do you mean by nightmares coming true? Hey, explain yourself!”

Zhou Rong called out to the Daoist who had already walked off, but he ignored her completely and headed straight back into the room. Once inside, he shrugged at the scholar, who was placing the toad on his desk.

“I helped you fend her off.”

“What did you say?” Lu Liangsheng asked, lighting an incense stick and placing it before a portrait.

Sun Yingxian hopped onto the desk and sat next to the toad, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

“I told her that you have a fondness for the Longyang love…”

Lu Liangsheng froze. “You…!”

With a thud, the incense stick in the burner shot out, flying straight toward the Daoist. Fortunately, his reflexes were quick. He leaped off the desk and sidestepped nimbly to avoid it.

From the side, Honglian poked her head out, glaring daggers at the Daoist.

“Disgusting! Don’t you dare make such jokes about my Young Master.”

“Your Young Master? Since when?”

“Begging for a beating!”

The room erupted into a mix of laughter and scolding, filling the air with lively chaos.

Two days later, a group of yamen runners arrived at the Zhou Residence with gongs and drums, announcing joyous news. Upon seeing the commotion, Zhou Zhen immediately understood what it was about. He handed out celebratory money to the runners, while Zhou Rong, her face glowing with happiness, followed her father to the side courtyard.

However, upon entering, they found no one there. Even the old donkey in the back courtyard was gone. On the desk lay a single letter.

To my esteemed teacher, Master Zhou Zhen:

By the time you read this letter, this student will already be on his way home. After over two months of study, I find myself deeply missing my parents and have no choice but to leave without saying goodbye. I hope to return to your residence next spring, after traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations, to offer my apologies… and so on.

Sigh…

Zhou Zhen folded the letter, glancing at his daughter with a regretful sigh.

Nearby, Zhou Rong, who had also seen the letter’s contents, silently twisted her silk handkerchief. As a proper lady of a prominent family, it was out of the question for her to chase after him. But after finally finding a gentleman who met her expectations, it was clear he held no feelings for her.

Stepping through the crescent moon gate, she paused and gazed at the spot where peach blossoms had once appeared, as if it had all been a fleeting dream.

“What a pity—I’ll never see the courtyard in full bloom again.”

As the sky dimmed toward the south, an old donkey galloped madly down the road.

The Daoist clung tightly to the scholar’s back, the wind howling past his ears, turning his words into fragmented shouts.

“Leaving just like this… isn’t it a bit ungra… ungra…cious… cious… ah… ahhh!”

Lu Liangsheng turned his face slightly, also shouting to be heard over the wind.

“Elder Zhou looked like he wanted a double celebration. If we stayed, should we wait for Miss Zhou to die of heartbreak in her bedchamber?”

Hearing this, Sun Yinxian, along with the Toad Daoist lying leisurely in the cloth pouch with its legs crossed, burst into laughter.

Even the old donkey snorted and brayed, as if joining in on the mirth.

Down the official road, the old donkey carried two men, a pair of book racks swaying from its sides, as it dashed into the distance like a lone rider vanishing into the horizon.