After exchanging barbs, the two parted on bad terms, each silently scheming in their own mind.
Chu Xiangtian finished painting the various parts and let them dry. Then, after some thought, he picked up his brush again and painted a little rabbit on the fan blades.
His drawing skills were average, but painting a rabbit wasn’t difficult. The little rabbit was half-standing, its body upright and ears perked, looking adorably clumsy.
After finishing the painting, he applied another layer of clear varnish and set it to dry under the sun.
Once dry, he fixed the rotating shaft onto the wooden box and gave it a spin. The fan blades whirred loudly, stirring a gentle breeze.
Satisfied, he smoothed the edges to make them more rounded before cradling the ice fan and going to find Fu Tian.
The ice fan was small, about a foot in size, making it more portable than the half-person-height ice fans. At night, using a smaller one prevented the wind from blowing too hard and causing headaches.
In the study, Fu Tian was diligently reading the books Zhou Chuanqing had arranged for him.
He was deeply focused, paying no attention to either Zhou Chuanqing sitting beside him or Chu Xiangtian who had just entered.
Zhou Chuanqing glanced at the ice fan nestled in Fu Tian’s arms, twitching the corner of his mouth and letting out a light snort. Chu Xiangtian gave him a sidelong glance and quietly waited nearby.
When Fu Tian finished reading, he saw the two seated on either side of him, their expressions… somewhat subtle.
“Did you two argue?” Fu Tian asked cautiously, watching their faces.
“No.” They answered in unison.
Fu Tian let out a dry “Oh,” which meant, of course, that they had argued.
His gaze then fell on the small ice fan on the tea table, curiosity sparking in his eyes. “Where did this come from?”
Chu Xiangtian smirked and beckoned to him. “I made it.”
The ice fan was natural wood color, with pale yellow fan blades painted with a half-standing rabbit, ears perked. It made the entire fan look cute and charming.
“Why did you make this?” Fu Tian twisted the handle, causing the blades to whirl. He squinted slightly, clearly liking it very much.
Chu Xiangtian’s expression was one of indulgent fondness. “Like it? Then it’s yours.”
Fu Tian clutched the big toy like a treasure, stunned by Chu Xiangtian’s words. After a moment, he turned to appraise him and pursed his lips. “You made it especially for me?”
Chu Xiangtian clicked his tongue lightly, eyes full of gentle laughter. “So smart.”
Fu Tian smiled too, hugging the ice fan as if sinking into soft cotton, feeling both tender and overwhelmingly happy.
Zhou Chuanqing, excluded from their shared atmosphere, cleared his throat loudly to remind everyone he was there.
Chu Xiangtian shot him a glance, a look that was equal parts smug and disdainful.
Zhou Chuanqing:
***
From June to July, the days passed under blazing sunshine.
Except for the occasional approval of paperwork brought by the steward, Fu Tian immersed himself in books, thoroughly grasping the key points Zhou Chuanqing had highlighted.
While Fu Tian was busy, Chu Xiangtian was not idle. The dock at Sifang Town was nearly completed. In early July, the county capital sent an Imperial Edict—excavation of a canal.
The canal would connect the Feng River and the Sihu River. Once the waterways on both sides were linked, the gold mined in Sifang Town could be transported swiftly and conveniently to the county capital.
Besides the Sihu River, which ran right next to the Feng River, several other rivers radiating north and south were to be connected by digging, with the Feng River serving as the main artery, linking east, west, south, and north.
This was a massive nationwide project, involving considerable manpower and resources.
The emperor personally assigned the task to Chu Xiangtian, who happened to be in the south and unwilling to return to the county capital.
Chu Xiangtian disliked dealing with such troublesome affairs, but since only he and Zhou Chuanqing remained on this side—and Zhou Chuanqing needed to accompany Fu Tian to prepare for the exams—Chu Xiangtian had no choice but to hold his nose and take charge himself.
Coordinating the various manpower and resources was a complicated matter, but Chu Xiangtian’s notorious reputation kept the officials under his command obedient as quails, working diligently.
This eased the tension simmering inside him.
As August drew nearer, Fu Tian grew increasingly anxious. Fu Youqin had temporarily taken over the family affairs.
Fu Tian concentrated solely on his studies, so much so that he didn’t even notice Chu Xiangtian hadn’t shown up for days in a row.
Before long, it was August 7th. Fu Youqin prepared the carriage, accompanied by Fu Ji and Zhou Chuanqing. The three set off together for Nanmíng Commandery to prepare for the exam.
The imperial exam would take place on August 9th, so they had to arrive early to familiarize themselves with the exam site.
Halfway through the journey, the tense Fu Tian suddenly realized someone was missing. “Where’s Chu Xiangtian?” Then he realized it wasn’t just today—he hadn’t seen Chu Xiangtian for many days.
Zhou Chuanqing cleared his throat and covered for Chu Xiangtian, “He got to the county capital ahead of time to book lodgings.”
In truth, Chu Xiangtian had been traveling between several places recently. Only when Fu Tian was about to leave for the exam did he squeeze out time to arrive early and reserve a guesthouse.
Knowing Chu Xiangtian had indeed come, the faint disappointment that had just risen in Fu Tian’s heart quickly dissipated.
After nearly two hours, the carriage finally stopped in front of the largest guesthouse. Fu Ji urged the horses to a halt, and a servant promptly came forward.
Seeing the “Fu” emblem on the carriage, he tentatively asked, “Is this the carriage of the Fu family young master? A certain Young Master Chu has already booked a room and is waiting in the main hall.”
“Yes.” Fu Ji handed the reins over to the servant to take the horses to the back. The group then entered the main hall.
Chu Xiangtian, dressed in black riding attire, stood out among the crowd of scholars in scholar’s robes. Fu Tian spotted him immediately.
Waving to him, Fu Tian’s face lit up with a genuine smile, his eyes arching with joy.
Chu Xiangtian strode over and naturally ruffled his hair. “Tired from the trip? Want to rest first or eat lunch?”
“Not tired.” Fu Tian’s eyes sparkled as he shook his head. The snacks eaten on the road were just to take the edge off hunger, not a proper meal.
Chu Xiangtian then took them to a nearby Liquor House, where a private room had been reserved in advance. After lunch, he accompanied Fu Tian to walk off the meal and coaxed him into taking a nap.
Fu Tian was initially a bit nervous, but seeing everyone else more tense than him, he couldn’t help but relax. Pursing his lips, he protested, “I don’t want to sleep; I can’t fall asleep.”
Chu Xiangtian was at a loss, so he continued strolling with him through the streets. Only after covering the whole street and finishing dinner did Fu Tian obediently wash up and rest.
The August heat was still unrelenting, and naturally, the guesthouse wouldn’t have extravagant items like an ice basin.
Fearing Fu Tian might be too hot to sleep well, Chu Xiangtian sat by the bedside, gently fanning him with a bamboo fan.
The cool breeze calmed the heart and mind. Neither spoke. The candlelight flickered on the table as Fu Tian gazed at Chu Xiangtian for a while before unknowingly falling asleep.
Fu Tian was especially well-behaved when sleeping, hands neatly folded on his abdomen. Thick, long eyelashes cast heavy shadows over his eyelids.
Perhaps because Chu Xiangtian kept fanning him, his expression was peaceful, his moist lips slightly parted, revealing a hint of white teeth.
Chu Xiangtian lightly brushed a finger over those soft lips, murmuring quietly, “So good.” Only after Fu Tian was sound asleep did he quietly rise and leave.
***
After resting a day, on the morning of the ninth, before dawn, Fu Tian rose early and headed to the exam hall.
Many candidates were taking the exam; two long queues stretched before the entrance, all waiting to be searched before entering.
The examiners stood on a raised platform, calling names one by one.
When a candidate was called, they would receive a wooden token engraved with characters, undergo a body search, and then enter the exam hall.
After nearly twenty minutes, it was finally Fu Tian’s turn. He smiled at Chu Xiangtian and the others, took a deep breath, and slowly stepped forward.
After the body search, he entered the hall. Holding his wooden token, he found his assigned seat and sat down.
The exam hall was tightly sealed, each candidate’s spot curtained off with cloth, creating a small cubicle. The space was small, containing only a desk, paper, and ink.
Fu Tian sat quietly, waiting for the examiners to distribute the questions.
Around midday, a loud copper gong sounded inside the hall, followed by the footsteps of examiners moving about.
The exam had begun.
Fu Tian prepared his inkstone and sat upright, awaiting the examiner.
The imperial exam consisted of two parts: the main test and the retest. The main test included two essays and one poem.
Fu Tian wasn’t skilled in poetry, but his essay writing was decent. Upon receiving the exam questions, he was relieved to find both topics were familiar and suited to his strengths.
The first question came from the Zhouyi: “To gather the people of the world, gather the goods of the world, exchange and retreat, each receiving their due.”
The topic discussed how bartering had already appeared during the era of Shennong, marking the earliest commercial exchanges.
Using this as a prompt, it clearly required a detailed account of the commercial development of Great Chu.
This was almost Fu Tian’s specialty. After pondering for a moment, he swiftly began writing.