The forty-first year of Kangxi, summer.
Just as dawn broke, the restaurants lining both sides of Chang’an Avenue had already opened their doors, with waiters bustling in and out, busier than ever.
Today, the results of the Palace Examination would be announced, and soon it would be time for the parade of the First Place Scholar.
Many customers had come early in the morning, waiting in eager anticipation.
At the Tianya Inn, located north of Chang’an Avenue, everyone was already up and busy before the sky was even light.
Firstly, their young master Fan Lianghan had entered the Palace Examination, and it was possible he might become the First Place Scholar parading through the streets today.
Secondly, it was rumored that today the Imperial Noble Consort and the Seventh Princess, along with the Nine Princess, would all leave the palace to… ahem, join the excitement and watch the grand scene of the First Place Scholar’s parade.
In truth, from the autumn of the fortieth year to the spring of the forty-first, the most talked-about event among the people of the capital was the triennial metropolitan exam and this very Palace Examination.
The revised selection for court ladies was now completed every June, ensuring that it did not interfere with the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, the Imperial Noble Consort, or others on their northern or southern tours.
The summer of the fortieth year had just marked the end of the third round of the selection.
From the first appointment of female officials, to the second round’s Mudanyuan-appointed female officials, and now to the third round’s revised selection, the chosen candidates truly had no difference from a female top scholar.
All those who entered the final selection, before receiving the Imperial Household Department’s instruction at Chuxiu Palace, had to parade down Chang’an Avenue with drums and gongs, riding in an eight-carrier open litter, circling the moat once, and finally entering the palace through the Shenwu Gate—just like the parade of the First Place Scholar.
During that period, rumors once again spread through the streets about a bet between the Imperial Noble Consort and the Emperor at Qianqing Palace.
Though the contests between the chosen ladies and the scholars had never ceased, a public competition between a female top scholar and the male First Place Scholar had never been held in front of the masses.
In the autumn of the fortieth year, after the metropolitan exam, Imperial Noble Consort Yuan Zhen suddenly issued an Edict of Grace, declaring that, in the name of the Women’s Academy and Guozijian, after the parade of the First Place Scholar and before the Dragon Boat Race at the Changchun Garden, there would be a formal competition between the two in the Changchun Garden.
Kangxi immediately followed with an Imperial Edict to the Hanlin Academy and Ministry of Rites, instructing the Imperial Household Department to cooperate in organizing the event.
The winner would receive a title and reward in the name of the Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort.
These two edicts once again stirred up heated discussion throughout the city.
Why did rumors of the bet between the Imperial Noble Consort and the Emperor resurface?
Of course, it was because the Emperor and Imperial Noble Consort went incognito among the people and happened upon some unruly young rakes bullying others.
The couple, that pair of heroes—cough, righteous doers—taught them a lesson so thorough that even the culprits’ grandfathers had to enter the palace to confess their crimes.
All this happened in broad daylight, impossible to conceal, and the imperial family had no intention of hiding it.
Popular stories of deep affection between the imperial couple, and secret gossip among the nobles, were never lacking—if anything, there was almost too much of it.
So these playful stories between the Emperor and Imperial Consort became subjects the common people could openly and passionately discuss, since making jokes about this would never offend anyone of rank.
After the metropolitan exam, with the Emperor and Imperial Noble Consort issuing their decrees, what would otherwise have been a routine event became a festivity that captured the attention of the entire capital.
On the day the results were posted, scholars couldn’t even squeeze in to see their own rankings, let alone approach the avenue outside the Shuntian Prefecture where the list was displayed.
Tianya Inn, on the side of Chang’an Avenue, was even more packed—people filled every corner, even the corridors, and the servers had to tiptoe and squeeze sideways just to get through.
Fan Lianghan and several senior brothers from Jiangnan, along with Liang Madam and her husband, as well as Naren and Yun Sheng holding their child, were all in a private box reserved by the inn’s owner, anxiously awaiting the results.
Everyone was nervous—except for Fan Lianghan.
His face remained composed and unhurried, gentle yet aloof as always, idly toying with a small piece of jade in his palm.
That was a gift from the Nine Princess when they first met.
Anyone could see the look in the Nine Princess’s eyes when she gazed at him.
Not only his dry mother, the Imperial Noble Consort, and his own mother, but anyone with eyes could see that the Nine Princess fancied him.
Because of that, Fan Lianghan had hesitated about accepting the jade piece from the Nine Princess.
To carry such a thing was, for a man or a woman, a bit too suggestive.
The Nine Princess was only thirteen at the time, while he was already eighteen.
To judge their relationship as a matter of romance would be disrespectful to the princess.
Fan Lianghan was a born genius.
Whatever he did came effortlessly to him.
His studies were exemplary, his martial skills had long since surpassed his master Gu Xian and Lin Chen.
Someone so clever, to whom fame and fortune came so easily, could hardly be obsessed with them, nor could he possibly harbor feelings for a child of thirteen.
The only reason he hesitated was that the Nine Princess was the daughter of their family’s benefactor, the Imperial Noble Consort.
If he refused, it might wound the sensitive heart of a girl so young and innocent.
Yet the Nine Princess only laughed heartily at the time, and, in front of the Imperial Noble Consort and Liang Madam, nimbly tossed the jade piece into the pool outside the private box.
She teased, “I’ve always heard Aunt Liang speak of Brother Fan, and my Mother owes Aunt Liang for saving and sheltering her, so I wanted to surprise Brother Fan with this jade. But if Brother Fan doesn’t want it, don’t force yourself. I don’t want a surprise to become a scare—my Mother would surely scold me for that.”
With that, the Nine Princess left the Tianya Inn supporting the Imperial Noble Consort, never once looking back at him.
By rights, Fan Lianghan should have breathed a sigh of relief.
Even in Jiangnan, he’d occasionally hear gossip from his gossipy Second Master Lin Chen, tales of the Nine Princess’s wild antics.
He preferred peace and quiet—such boisterous excitement was not his style.
Yet, oddly enough, after the girl left, Fan Lianghan thought for a moment, then, enduring the teasing gaze of his own mother, retrieved the jade from the pool and set it on his desk at home.
It was simply his way—not to do anything to the extreme.
Yet, throughout the entire examination, he had barely thought of that piece of jade but just a few days before the results were announced, passing by the private box, he overheard his dry mother, the Imperial Noble Consort, and his own mother, gossiping about the Nine Princess and her little followers in the study hall, and he couldn’t help pausing for a few breaths.
He heard that all the northern steppe boys in the study hall had been utterly smitten by the Nine Princess, even the Fifteenth Prince, and many sons of loyal ministers’ families were captivated by her as well.
But Jiujiao was like iron, flitting through the green leaves untouched, often ordering those young men to plant flowers for her.
Liang Madam and Fang He laughed heartily, while Fan Lianghan remained silent for a long time.
He wondered if, at that meeting, he had misread the princess’s sisterly affection for romantic love.
No, he wasn’t as obtuse as his father, who only realized Madam Liang’s affection after being forcefully cornered.
Perhaps, in the eyes of the Nine Princess, he hadn’t even had a chance to be the green leaf.
Was it because he was Han?
Outside, the drums and gongs began celebrating the top scholar.
Fan Shaohui, Liang Madam, and Naren’s family, all wearing delighted expressions, went out to join the excitement, while Fan Lianghan, playing with the thumb-sized jade, rose unhurriedly, a faint amusement swirling in his eyes.
For him, everything always came too easily.
Except for that which was limited by blood—something unchangeable—he had never experienced anything truly unattainable.
Yet, he was unwilling to accept this barrier of blood.
He had no rebellious intentions, but he still wanted to challenge these entrenched social barriers.
Coincidentally, he had both perseverance and patience to cherish a wife.
As his mother and Naren Auntie had secretly joked, some things—there was no need to be timid; one could give it a try.
But the freshly appointed First Place Scholar Fan took no rash action.
He knew well that, as a commoner and a Han at that, he had no qualifications to win a princess’s favor.
Moreover… the princess was still so young; if he tried anything, the Imperial Noble Consort and the Emperor would likely break his legs.
So, he patiently endured the Palace Examination, and, through outstanding talent and sharp insight into current affairs, broke the convention of only older Juren being named Bangyan or Tanhua, and was appointed by Kangxi himself as the youngest First Place Scholar.
Confident in his abilities, a few days before the Palace Examination, he formally asked his mother to invite the Imperial Noble Consort and her daughter to witness the ceremony.
Liang Madam asked him, “Are you serious? You want to marry Jiujiao? Never mind your rank is too low—you’d have to guard your chastity until you’re at least twenty-three, and you might still not succeed.”
“Secondly, you must be prepared to treat Jiujiao well for a lifetime. Otherwise, none of the palace nobles will let you or our family off.”
“This matter has its rules,” Fan Lianghan replied simply, giving his assurance, “If I am fortunate enough, I will outdo any of those father and son pairs for a lifetime.”
He gestured an eight, and Liang Madam understood.
Nowadays, among the womenfolk, what they discussed and envied most in private were the Eight Prince Yinsi and his wife, and the Emperor and Imperial Noble Consort.
But in the Eighth Prince’s manor, even concubines from good families sent proper ladies to the manor, who were simply well provided for on a country estate or married off elsewhere.
The Emperor was another matter entirely—even after dispersing the harem, there were still consorts in the palace with children.
If he could win the heart of the Nine Princess—Jiujiao—there would never be anyone else between them.
Liang Madam snorted lightly.
She knew her son never promised lightly, but when he did, he kept his word.
She said nothing about how, if Jiujiao was willing, Fang He said status was no obstacle, only adding—
“I won’t say much else, but whether Jiujiao likes you is another matter; your mother won’t help you.”
Fan Lianghan smiled wordlessly and walked away.
If he needed anyone’s help to pursue his wife, he might as well live alone his whole life.
So it was that Fang He and Jiujiao were sincerely invited to Tianya Inn by Liang Madam, and the Seventh Princess Uxihan, having nothing else to do, came along with them.
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