On the day the results were posted, the crowd surged like a tide.
Although the Policy Examination wasn’t as grand as the Spring or Autumn Imperial Examinations, it served as a shortcut for countless scholars seeking an official career.
Those who performed well would achieve instant success—riding tall horses and gaining fame throughout the land. Those who failed would return home to continue their tedious study of the Four Books and Five Classics, trapped in an endless sea of hardship.
Beneath the announcement board, the crowd jostled and pushed, with every eye fixed on the results. Even the upstairs corridors were packed with onlookers.
The chief examiner for this exam was Xie Tanwei, revered as the Sage Teacher of Confucian scholars worldwide. Those who passed would become his disciples, gaining a powerful patron for their future careers. A mere mention of this connection would draw awe from others, ensuring a bright and promising official future.
Yu Yuan attached great importance to this exam. Accompanied by He Shi and other family members, he arrived early. Taciturn and drenched in sweat, he was even more nervous than the candidate, Yu Ye.
The outcome, however, was disappointing. After scanning the list three times until his eyes grew blurry, Yu Yuan found no trace of Yu Ye’s name.
Defeated, Yu Yuan’s face turned as dark as a pot’s bottom. Although Yu Ye had failed, Xu Junzheng’s name stood out prominently on the list—ranked first, a prestigious position equivalent to the Number One Scholar in the Spring Imperial Examination.
The crowd erupted in astonishment.
In the dense throng, Xu Mu cried out excitedly, “My son passed! My son passed!” Immediately, five or six influential officials, seeking to secure a son-in-law from among the successful candidates, surrounded Xu Junzheng. Their enthusiasm was overwhelming as each praised his own daughter and proposed marriage alliances. Some even attempted to physically drag him away.
Xu Junzheng was pulled back and forth, his robes nearly torn in the commotion. The crowd surged around him like waves, the sudden frenzy leaving him unsteady and dizzy.
Witnessing this, Yu Yuan felt both sorrow and joy. He grieved his son’s failure but rejoiced at his foresight in recognizing Xu Junzheng’s talent and securing the marriage alliance in advance. The Yu family had gained a valuable asset.
Tian Qin stood beneath the announcement board as well.
With a serene smile, she calmly gazed at the three small characters spelling “Xu Junzheng” on the list, feeling content and joyful.
Amid the jostling crowd, Xu Junzheng glanced toward her, his gaze burning with intensity.
Their eyes met, and their hearts understood each other.
Tian Qin, I did it.
With the answers memorized, how could I not pass?
Her marriage was now settled as well.
Everything had happened so swiftly and perfectly that it felt surreal, as if floating on clouds. Xu Junzheng could hardly believe that fate, which had always treated him harshly, had bestowed such a generous gift upon him.
Xu Junzheng broke into a cold sweat. This ranking was earned through Tian Qin’s provided answers, not his genuine talent. An emptiness and unease gnawed at him. But the wave of success carried him forward, leaving no room for second thoughts.
At the humble Xu residence, firecrackers roared, transforming the place into an ocean of jubilance. The noise was so deafening that one could hardly hear another speak at close range.
Relatives who had not been in contact for years flocked to their door, some bringing chickens, ducks, fish, meat, jewels, and treasures. They circled the Xu family like stars surrounding the moon, their flamboyance beyond description.
Xu Mu felt as if she had ascended to heaven in a single step. Dazed, she only now fully grasped the immense significance of her son’s success for their family—a classic case of “when one man attains the Dao, his pets ascend to heaven.”
The Number One Scholar—how many had there been throughout history?
Xu Junzheng had already been summoned to the Hanlin Academy. Riding a tall horse, he was at the peak of his glory, welcomed and congratulated by colleagues, promoted in rank, and showered with flattery and admiration. His moment of triumph had arrived.
Yu Yuan hosted a lavish banquet at his residence, an affair of utmost grandeur. The two families had long since arranged the marriage, and now was the time to fulfill the agreement.
Tian Qin’s eyes sparkled like stars, her shyness almost overwhelming. Just yesterday, she had been a neglected and cast-off illegitimate daughter, but now she had transformed into the wife of a newly appointed official. It was as if a fish had found its way to water—a meteoric rise to fortune so enviable it stirred jealousy.
Xu Mu returned to the Yu residence, but this time, all traces of her former timidity and insecurity had vanished. She walked with her head held high, exuding an air of grace and elegance, with a subtle hint of superiority.
In the past, the Yu family had bestowed favors, while the Xu family felt unworthy of such connections. Now, the two families were finally well-matched in social status, allowing them to hold their heads high with pride.
Yu Yuan’s attitude was unprecedentedly warm as he treated Xu Mu as an honored guest, discussing the marriage arrangements between the two families.
With his official rank secured, it was time to start a family.
There was little left to negotiate regarding the marriage itself, as most details had been settled earlier. The current discussions focused solely on the timing of the betrothal rituals and the formal presentation of gifts.
Xu Mu regarded Tian Qin as a young lady from a prominent family, the daughter of relatives of the imperial household—someone her own modest family could only look up to in the past. Now, she could relax her expression and appraise her future daughter-in-law from a position of authority.
Her expectations for a daughter-in-law were simple: as long as her son genuinely loved her, the bride should be virtuous, skilled in managing a household, chaste and kind, capable of handling domestic affairs, bearing children, and showing filial respect to her in-laws.
If the bride could bring some wealth from her family to support the Xu household, that would naturally be the icing on the cake.
Yu Yuan boasted proudly, “My third daughter has the gentlest disposition. She is filial to elders and excels in managing household affairs. You will see for yourself in time, Madam.”
Xu Mu replied, “Miss Tian is a good child. When Junzheng was ill, she once came to visit him. Her manners and conduct were impeccable, reflecting the grace of a well-bred family.”
He Shi also smiled politely at the banquet, though a flicker of discontent crossed her heart. Tian Qin’s luck was simply too good—marrying a destitute scholar who, against all odds, had swiftly attained an official rank and reversed his fate.
Ku Ju could not help but feel envious. Her third sister had initially been set to marry the renowned Master Xie, and now she was blessed with such fortune to wed the newly appointed official, as though she could never fail.
Despite their hidden emotions, no one showed the slightest hint of displeasure on their faces. The atmosphere was joyous, filled with polite conversation and blessings for what seemed like a match made in heaven.
After all, every daughter of the Yu family had found the best possible home.
Upon hearing the joyful news, Xianqiu hurried over to congratulate Tian Qin and even dug into her own pockets to add a substantial dowry for her.
The previous friction between the sisters dissipated in the absence of conflicting interests, and they reverted to being loving and supportive siblings.
The gloom that had lingered for days finally lifted, and Tian Qin bloomed with the radiance of spring flowers.
It was not until late into the night that Xu Junzheng returned home. Having achieved success in the examinations, he now faced a myriad of responsibilities. The once impoverished scholar now seemed gilded with prestige.
After paying respects to both sets of parents, Xu Junzheng arranged to meet Tian Qin alone in the small private study at the rear garden of the Yu residence.
It was here that their bond had formed. Previously, they had met secretly under the guise of Yan Ge’er’s studies, but now, with their engagement formally established, there was no longer any need for secrecy.
Under the faint fragrance and sparse shadows, bamboo leaves rustled intermittently. The rich scent of early summer flowers drifted through the night air, filling their senses. The moon shone like water, casting hazy silhouettes and evoking a dreamlike trance.
Xu Junzheng shed his faded, washed-out long gown and donned an imposing crimson court robe. With an official hat perched high and tassels draping from his temples, he stood upright and bright-eyed, a far cry from his former impoverished and timid demeanor.
“Third Young Miss,” he stammered, his flushed face even redder than his robe, his voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum as if facing an examiner. “You wanted an official rank—I’ve finally obtained it.”
Tian Qin responded with a soft murmur, half-turning so her shadow lay thick and dark under the moonlight, a subtle shyness lingering unspoken.
“You still call me Third Young Miss?”
“Tian Qin, my dear Tian Qin.”
Xu Junzheng’s heart raced like a frantic rabbit, and he hastily corrected himself. “Earlier, you said if I achieved rank, you would marry me. Does that still hold?”
Tian Qin, gentle yet resilient like silk vine blossoms, whispered softly, “I shall abide by my father and mother’s wishes.”
Xu Junzheng felt intoxicated, as if he had drunk wine, though not a drop had touched his lips. Though barely more than a foot apart, and their marriage all but settled, he dared not disrespect her in the slightest. She was like the moon in the sky—admirable yet unattainable.
“I, too, heed my mother’s words. Today, she mentioned our marriage. May I ask you privately, Tian Qin, would you be willing to marry me?”
Hearing this, Tian Qin slowly lifted her glistening eyes, tears shimmering like moonlight, her cherry lips gentle. With solemn restraint, she nodded.
In that moment of her nod, the world stood still, the moonlight froze. Xu Junzheng heard no sound, only witnessed her assent. The slight dip of her chin carried the weight of a thousand jun, sealing his lifelong happiness.
He grew dizzy…
His hands and feet fumbled, his words stumbled.
Happiness surged over him like honey, overwhelmingly sweet. Under the desolate moonlit shadows, even the pale night clouds took on vivid hues.
“Tian Qin—”
Tears welled up in Xu Junzheng’s eyes despite himself. Tian Qin, moved with compassion, took out a handkerchief to wipe them away. The tears dampened his cheeks and her fingertips alike.
“Xu Junzheng, such a happy occasion—why are you crying?”
Though she spoke these words, Tian Qin’s own face glistened with tears, her voice hoarse. For this marriage, both had sacrificed so much, and now, at last, they saw the rainbow.
Intensely hopeful, fervently passionate.
Xu Junzheng struggled to compose himself. “Yes, I’ll listen to you, Tian Qin. No more tears—only smiles.”
After all, hardship had passed; sweet days lay ahead.
They exchanged a smile, boundless joy and gratitude between them.
…
Two days later, Xie Tanwei, the examination official, returned from the examination compound.
With the Yu family’s private tutor having taken top honors, the household buzzed with excitement. Xianqiu was visiting her maternal family, so Xie Tanwei also went to the Yu residence.
Xianqiu, full of longing, exchanged warm greetings with Xie Tanwei before helping him change and freshen up. Once the couple had closed their door, Xianqiu brought up the Number One Scholar of this Policy Examination.
Xie Tanwei smiled faintly. He knew Xu Junzheng had won—he had personally reviewed the papers. “Is the Xu family gloating?”
Xianqiu handed him a warm towel, teasing, “More than gloating—they’re practically floating on air.”
“A student from a humble background advancing so rapidly, even outshining our Ye. When you reviewed the papers, husband, did you show any leniency?”
“If I were to show leniency, it would be for our Ye. Why would I favor an outsider?”
Xie Tanwei wiped his hands, the pine-branch-like blue veins standing out on his cold pale arms, reflected in the rippling water basin. “That Private Tutor is talented. His exam answers were nearly flawless—it would be difficult for him not to pass.”
Xianqiu marveled, “So that’s how it is. To think he’s such an extraordinary person—one truly can’t judge by appearances.”
“Enough, let’s not trouble Madam with idle matters.”
He glanced at her, his gaze cool yet gentle with concern. “Have you been sleeping well these past few days, my lady? Has your appetite been good?”
Xianqiu immediately brightened, reaching to smooth down his rolled-up sleeves as she said softly, “I’ve been perfectly fine. It’s you, my husband, who has been working hard staying at the examination hall all these days. Let me have the kitchen prepare some proper dishes for you.”
Xie Tanwei’s smile froze. Since returning home, he hadn’t seen Tian Qin’s figure and wondered where she had gone.
Author’s Note: