Chapter 41: The Examination (1)

At dinnertime, Zijun brought the dishes from the small kitchen to the table, but she didn’t see a trace of the young mistress. After asking Fengchang, she learned that the young mistress was still in the inner room, reportedly engrossed in studying for tomorrow’s exam.

Zijun walked into the inner room and indeed saw Shen Xiling reading a book. A lamp was lit on the desk, surrounded by thick books, with Shuipei sitting beside her keeping company.

Upon entering, Zijun smiled and said, “Young Mistress, why not have dinner first? There’s no rush to study later.”

Shen Xiling seemed too absorbed and didn’t hear Zijun’s footsteps. Startled by her sudden voice, she finally responded softly, “You all go ahead and eat first. I’ll eat later... There are still some books I need to read.”

Shuipei covered her mouth and chuckled, thinking to herself that the young mistress had been ‘reading’ most of the day but hadn’t turned more than a few pages. Instead, her mind seemed occupied with something else—though what exactly, Shuipei couldn’t tell.

Exchanging a glance with Zijun, Shuipei persuaded further, “Young Mistress, you should eat dinner first. These books are vast like the ocean; you can’t finish them all at once. Besides, tomorrow will be your first class with Master Wang, and you haven’t learned anything from him yet. How could he expect you to answer everything perfectly?”

Shen Xiling truly wanted to focus and study hard, but ever since returning from the main hall earlier, her thoughts had wandered. Every time she tried to concentrate, the elegant face of Miss Fu kept appearing in her mind, along with the final word Second Young Master Qi had said—”Good.” Her thoughts became increasingly jumbled, and despite sitting at the desk all afternoon, she hadn’t absorbed much.

Her late father always told her to concentrate while studying, so she knew her current distraction wasn’t right. She intended to force herself to continue reading, but Zijun and Shuipei kept persuading her. Shen Xiling thought that if she didn’t eat, it would waste the efforts of the sisters in the small kitchen who had prepared the meal—it would be too indulgent and selfish of her. So, she relented and went out to eat.

However, she had little appetite and ate sparingly, soon unable to eat any more. The maids cleared the dishes away, and Shuipei served her a cup of tea, suggesting, “Young Mistress has been sitting indoors all day. Perhaps take a walk? It’ll help digest the food after dinner.”

Shen Xiling shook her head. Zijun added, “Come on, we’ve been here at the main house for several days now and haven’t gone out much.”

The maids’ coaxing stemmed from noticing Shen Xiling’s lack of enthusiasm today. Between Zijun, Shuipei, and Fengchang, the three chattered incessantly, even livelier than Shen Xiling, who was not yet twelve years old. Overwhelmed, Shen Xiling compromised, “Alright, let’s take a walk—but don’t draw too much attention…”

Though Shuipei and the others hadn’t spent much time with Shen Xiling, they already knew her reserved and shy nature. Living under someone else’s roof, it was natural for her to avoid drawing attention. They all nodded in agreement. Fengchang suggested, “If all four of us go out together, it might still be too conspicuous. Why doesn’t just Shuipei accompany Young Mistress, while Zijun and I stay behind to keep watch?”

Hearing this, Zijun pouted, wanting to go out as well. Shuipei stifled a laugh and teased, “What would you do outside? You’ve only been here a few days, and you’ve already gotten lost countless times. If you went out with Young Mistress, we’d never find our way back tonight.”

Zijun blushed, embarrassed, realizing that Shuipei was right. Unable to argue, she could only watch as Shuipei accompanied the young mistress out the door.

The Lantern Festival had yet to pass, and the night air remained chilly.

The courtyard where Shen Xiling resided was somewhat secluded, far from both the garden and the main hall. During the day, it wasn’t too noticeable, but at night, there were rarely any people around, making it feel particularly desolate.

While Zijun and the others disliked such quietness, Shen Xiling found it comforting. She preferred to stay inconspicuous, especially now that she was living under an assumed identity, feeling uneasy about drawing attention. The solitude made her feel safer.

Yet, tonight’s stillness felt strangely unbearable. For some reason, she suddenly felt how enormous the Qi family estate was, and the quietness left her feeling lonely. She realized her recent behavior had been unusual—her emotions fluctuating wildly, which annoyed her deeply. Her father had taught her to remain unaffected by external circumstances or personal feelings. She thought she had done well, but now…

As Shen Xiling walked along, lost in thought, she heard Shuipei exclaim softly behind her, “Young Mistress, isn’t that Second Young Master over there?”

Startled, Shen Xiling looked up in the direction Shuipei pointed and saw a lantern swaying gently. The person holding it was Qingzhu, and behind him walked none other than Qi Ying.

Shen Xiling froze, and Shuipei giggled, whispering into Shen Xiling’s ear, “This place is so secluded. Second Young Master must have come here specifically to see you—shall we go say hello?”

Shuipei’s words made Shen Xiling’s heart race again. She glanced up and saw that Second Young Master Qi was already approaching. Quickly composing herself, she greeted him with a respectful bow.

Qi Ying had indeed come to see her.

There had been too many people in the main hall earlier, and then his grandmother had sent him off to escort Miss Fu out of the estate, leaving no opportunity to speak with her. He had been concerned about how her meeting with Master Wang had gone and decided to check on her tonight, unexpectedly encountering her halfway.

Under the glow of Qingzhu’s lantern, Qi Ying noticed the redness creeping up the young girl’s hands peeking out from her sleeves. Frowning slightly, he reprimanded Shuipei, “When your young mistress goes out, you should bring her a hand warmer. How could you be so careless?”

His tone wasn’t overly severe, but his serious expression made one tremble. Shuipei paled, fearing the second young master might think she had mistreated Miss Fang. She hurriedly apologized. Seeing this, Shen Xiling felt uneasy—she didn’t want Shuipei to suffer blame when the older sisters had treated her kindly. She quickly interjected, “Master misunderstands… I said not to bring a hand warmer because it would be troublesome to carry on the way.”

Qi Ying’s expression remained neutral, neither confirming nor denying whether he believed her. He simply instructed Shuipei, “Go fetch one for her.”

Shuipei immediately complied and rushed back. Fortunately, Shen Xiling’s quarters weren’t far, and she returned quickly, handing the hand warmer to Shen Xiling. Instant warmth spread through her hands, making her feel much better.

Unsure whether she should thank Qi Ying, she heard him ask first, “Out for a stroll?”

Shen Xiling replied softly, “...Yes.”

Qi Ying nodded and said, “Then let’s walk together.”

Shen Xiling and Qi Ying strolled side by side along the pebbled path in the estate, with Qingzhu and Shuipei following behind. That night, the moonlight bathed the tranquil garden in silver.

Qi Ying asked, “Have you met Master Wang today?”

Shen Xiling nodded and listened as he continued, “How did it go?”

She thought for a moment, pursed her lips, and answered, “Everything else was fine, except Master mentioned... there will be an exam tomorrow.”

Qi Ying chuckled and asked, “Nervous?”

Shen Xiling looked up at him and saw the gentle smile in his phoenix eyes. The earlier sense of loneliness faded. She spoke to him like confiding in an elder, “Yes, I’m afraid I’ll perform poorly... Wouldn’t it be embarrassing to rank last?”

Seeing the worried expression on the young girl’s face, Qi Ying suppressed a smile and coughed lightly to mask it. He asked, “What books have you read?”

Shen Xiling blushed slightly at the question. She didn’t care much for serious texts; instead, she preferred travelogues, local folklore, and occasionally supernatural tales, though she didn’t enjoy those very much either. These were trivial matters, and she felt awkward admitting them.

Glancing up at Qi Ying hesitantly, she murmured, “I’ve only read scattered poems.”

Qi Ying nodded and continued, “Whose poems?”

Shen Xiling named a few contemporary poets. Qi Ying raised an eyebrow, “Metaphysical poetry?”

Metaphysical poetry was currently popular in Jiangzuo, focusing on philosophical discussions and sometimes Buddhist teachings. Generally, children found such poetry tedious.

Shen Xiling didn’t particularly enjoy it, but her father loved these poems. He often said they were obscure and mostly superficial, but reading them helped distance oneself from worldly affairs and cultivate tranquility.

Lowering her head slightly, she affirmed his statement. Qi Ying fell silent for a moment and then said, “There are indeed excellent works within metaphysical poetry, but good ones are rare nowadays. Master Wang believes such poetry lacks depth and tends to be shallow. To prepare for his exam, it’s best to avoid discussing metaphysics.”

Shen Xiling had long known that Qi Ying had become a Jinshi at thirteen and was celebrated as the youngest Bangyan in Jiangzuo. However, this was the first time she heard him talk about scholarly matters. His demeanor changed slightly when discussing these topics. Shen Xiling observed carefully and found his features warm and refined, unlike his usual furrowed brow while reviewing official documents.

In that moment, he resembled her father, critiquing poetry with ease.

Inspired, she felt a sense of clarity and obediently nodded. She then heard him ask, “Have you read The Book of Songs?”

Shen Xiling blinked and nodded again. Among the Four Books and Five Classics, The Book of Songs was her favorite. The others she endured with gritted teeth.

Qi Ying smiled and said, “Since you haven’t studied under Master Wang, tomorrow’s exam likely won’t delve into minute details. He’ll probably ask what books you’ve read and your reflections. If you enjoy poetry, discussing The Book of Songs would be safer than metaphysics.”

He paused and added, “Of course, if you dislike it, then...”

“No, I don’t dislike it,” Shen Xiling hastily replied, “I quite like it...”

Qi Ying glanced down at her, noting her overly eager tone. Her face flushed red as she tried to explain, but Qi Ying appeared unconcerned and asked, “Which poem in The Book of Songs do you like best?”

After some thought, Shen Xiling answered, “Ge Sheng.”

Qi Ying’s expression shifted subtly.

“Ge Sheng covers the thorny vines, wild creepers sprawling. My beloved is gone; who will accompany me? Alone I dwell.

“Ge Sheng entwines the thorns, creepers stretch across the fields. My beloved is gone; who will accompany me? Alone I rest.

“Bright pillows, splendid quilts. My beloved is gone; who will accompany me? Alone till dawn?

“The summer days, the winter nights. A hundred years hence, return to their dwelling.

“The winter nights, the summer days. A hundred years hence, return to their home.”

It was an elegy.

Qi Ying turned to look at Shen Xiling. In the moonlit glow, the young girl lowered her gaze, sorrow hidden in her eyes, clearly reminded of her deceased parents. After a moment of silence, he spoke gently, “The summer days, the winter nights—your esteemed father and mother need not wait a hundred years. They have already returned to their resting place. Wenwen, this is the greatest fortune amidst misfortune.”

Perhaps because the warmth of the hand warmer lingered strongly, Shen Xiling found Qi Ying’s words especially tender. This wasn’t the first time he called her “Wenwen,” but she still felt her cheeks heat up. He was like an elder, yet Shen Xiling sometimes felt that he wasn’t quite like one. However, she couldn’t pinpoint exactly how he was different—it all felt hazy and indistinct.

In her daze, she nodded slightly.

Unbeknownst to them, the two had walked a full circle around the garden and returned to where they had first met. Qi Ying glanced at the sky and said, “It’s late. Let’s head back.”

Shen Xiling responded softly, then hesitated for a moment before saying, “Thank you for your guidance, Master. I’ll review The Book of Songs again tonight when I return.”

“Don’t stay up too late,” Qi Ying instructed gently, pausing briefly before adding, “And don’t worry if you don’t do well on the exam.”

Hearing this, Shen Xiling couldn’t help but inwardly grumble: Does Second Young Master already think of me as a hopeless case? Feeling a bit disheartened, she replied faintly, “...Oh.”

Qi Ying noticed the lack of enthusiasm in her response and a trace of amusement flickered in his eyes. He waved his hand dismissively, signaling her to go back. He watched until she entered the courtyard before turning to leave with Qingzhu.

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Author’s Note:

Shen Xiling: I must work hard and aim for first place!

Qi Jingchen: No need to push yourself. It’s fine even if you fail.

Shen Xiling: ...?