Before entering the Retest, He Yunzhao spotted several familiar faces.
With her excellent memory and particular sensitivity to facial recognition, a quick scan was enough to identify them as the same individuals who had previously incited Qu Zhan to provoke her.
After Qu Zhan came to his senses, these people naturally faced consequences. While it might be difficult to distinguish right from wrong among fellow disciples, Great Confucian Fang was not only their teacher but also Qu Zhan’s maternal uncle.
Between his own nephew and an external disciple who had come to attend lectures, Great Confucian Fang needed no further deliberation—he directly dismissed them.
These individuals were typical bullies who preyed on the weak but feared the strong. They dared not say anything to Great Confucian Fang, nor could they afford to offend Qu Zhan. Instead, they directed their resentment toward He Yunzhao, making numerous sarcastic remarks and even composing poems mocking her for allegedly currying favor with the Qu family.
“What’s wrong? Are you cold?” Mu Yan asked with a frown.
He Yunzhao shook her head and gently tugged at Mu Yan’s sleeve.
Having grown up together, the two knew each other best. The Academy was far from a pure sanctuary, and not all senior disciples were kind-hearted. With just a glance from He Yunzhao, Mu Yan could tell she was about to play a trick on someone.
He Yunzhao glanced subtly toward the right rear and deliberately put on a worried expression. With a troubled tone, she said, “I’m really concerned. Last time, I wrote too slowly and only handed in my paper when time was up. This time, I need to work faster.”
Catching on immediately, Mu Yan sighed in feigned sympathy. Patting his friend’s shoulder, he offered encouragement, “Don’t rush. It’s better to take it step by step, so as not to affect your results.”
He Yunzhao shook her head bitterly, as if hesitating to speak further, and ultimately fell silent.
The three individuals standing slightly behind them to the right underwent a series of shifting expressions. One of them, a man with a long, thin face, couldn’t resist turning around and asked urgently, “Senior brother, is it…?”
The one addressed as senior brother shook his head sternly and pressed a hand on the thin-faced man’s shoulder. “Junior brother, keep your voice down.”
When it came to schemes, it was unwise to be too specific. Excessive detail meant too many variables to manage, increasing the risk of failure.
He Yunzhao’s idea had been a spur-of-the-moment inspiration—a simple trap for these petty individuals. Whether they took the bait or not was inconsequential. If they fell for it, all the better, since the chief examiner despised frivolous scholars.
If they didn’t, it hardly mattered. They would likely spend the entire exam agonizing over whether to submit their papers early.
If the plan succeeded, it would serve as a lesson to these shameless individuals. If it failed, it was merely a bit of pre-exam amusement.
Boom! Boom! Boom! The Retest had begun.
The thin-faced man was named Gong Feng. He and the others were all students under Great Confucian Fang, paying substantial tuition fees each year, which indicated their families were far from impoverished.
Jealousy was the hardest emotion to control. Despite Qu Zhan being several years younger, he had already passed the Cultivated Talent examination early, earning the silent resentment of his peers.
In their view, this junior brother was arrogant and condescending, leveraging his status as the Great Confucian’s nephew to bully them at will.
Their grievances ranged from Qu Zhan never participating in daily cleaning duties to the time they went out for drinks and he refused to pay, forcing them to cover the bill.
This simmering resentment erupted when Great Confucian Fang invited Old Qi to host a Literary Gathering. Why should Qu Zhan enjoy such privileges? Why, after already attaining the title of Cultivated Talent under the Great Confucian’s guidance, did he greedily monopolize every opportunity?
Why organize such a gathering solely to boost Qu Zhan’s reputation? The teacher’s suggestion that they, too, compose a few poems for Old Qi to review was nothing but a pretext—they were clearly meant to serve as foils.
All their discontent awaited the right moment to surface.
He Yunzhao appeared, prompting Gong Feng to speak uncontrollably, "Junior Brother, I've heard of this person. Her family is nothing but a fallen household, and I heard she's a disciple of Hanzhang Academy. All the poetry we prepared was utterly useless—it couldn't even compare to a few of her couplets.The other two senior brothers chimed in tacitly.
"Exactly! Those couplets were clearly prepared in advance. How ridiculous! We came here to watch them put on a show—what a waste of time."
"If we'd known the exam would test this, we would've prepared too."
Under the provocation of these remarks, Qu Zhan fell for the trap.
Jealousy can make people lose their reason. When the three of them came to their senses, they broke out in a cold sweat. If Great Confucian Fang found out about this, they were finished—they would definitely be expelled from the school.
Gong Feng prayed countless times in his heart that He Yunzhao and Qu Zhan would become enemies. Only then could they continue to side with Qu Zhan.
Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Qu Zhan actually seized the opportunity to write an article clearing his name, turning his friendship with He Yunzhao into a celebrated tale.
Gong Feng knew he was done for. Facing Great Confucian Fang's stern gaze, he desperately tried to defend himself, attempting to shift the blame onto the other two.
He failed. All three were dismissed together.
Gong Feng knew his last chance was this Prefectural Examination—he had to pass and become a Cultivated Talent.
Sweat dripped from his forehead onto the desk, the dust enveloping each bead of perspiration. He swallowed nervously, his throat tight.
Outside earlier, He Yunzhao had mentioned she'd taken Old Ding as her teacher. She must know inside information. Was submitting the exam early the key to getting a good score?
Gong Feng hesitated internally. He had finished writing, but wasn't satisfied. The exam content was somewhat unfamiliar to him, and he truly lacked confidence.
Liu Cang, a fellow senior brother who had also been expelled, was seated close to his exam cell. Gong Feng secretly glanced toward Liu Cang's position.
Much of the time had passed. Some candidates had already submitted their papers early, while others had broken down sobbing and were eventually dragged out in cangs.
After dealing with two emotionally collapsed examinees, the exam hall finally quieted down. Gong Feng breathed rapidly—his skills were insufficient. Should he take the gamble?
Historically, those who submitted early gained a reputation for quick wit. Was now the right time for him to submit?
"I'll submit my paper." Gong Feng's chest heaved rapidly, his pupils unfocused. Making this decision was an immense challenge for him.
Liu Cang remained expressionless, calmly continuing to review his paper.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"Time's up!" the clerk shouted loudly, as rows of exam papers were collected.
He Yunzhao paid no mind to those she had left behind, focusing intently on completing her exam. The moment she stepped out of the examination hall, she felt a sense of relief.
Mu Yan wore a troubled expression, looking utterly dejected. He spoke gloomily, "It's over. I didn't do well in the retest—the second essay was a complete mess."
"There, there," He Yunzhao comforted him, patting his shoulder. "Don't think about it now that it's over. Look on the bright side—you did great in the first session."
"Those who performed poorly in the first session would inevitably be unsettled in the second. They certainly couldn't have done better than you. Relax."
…
The most important event before the results were posted was the whole family engaging in some feudal superstitious activities.
He Yunzhao rode ahead on horseback, followed by a carriage carrying her grandmother, mother, and second sister. The entire family set out for Zhencheng Taoist Temple outside the city to pray for blessings.
The people of Da Jin revered Taoism, and many scholars would practice Taoist cultivation while studying, pursuing a state of natural ease and following their hearts.
However, seeking fame while also pursuing freedom—it's just deceiving oneself.
Zhencheng Taoist Temple is located twenty li southwest of the city, not too far away. The back mountain has vast stretches of vegetation, with low trees and beautiful scenery, making it appear very safe. It is an excellent destination for outings outside the city.
Even if one doesn't visit the temple, gathering with a few friends for a picnic on the back mountain is a delightful affair.
He Yunzhao's horsemanship is average—just enough to get by, with no exceptional skills.
Her horse is a gelded stallion, gentle in temperament, making it safe for daily riding.
The temple entrance was already crowded with carriages, all having come from the city for prayers.
Every family maintained a humble and approachable demeanor, allowing the young Taoist priests to direct the parking of their carriages, fearing that the slightest disrespect might offend the temple's founder and hinder their children's prospects in the Imperial Examination.
He Yunzhao found it amusing inwardly, but her expression remained serene and devout.
After dismounting, she clasped her hands in front of her chest and silently performed a Taoist salute.
The young Taoist priest was quite young, appearing only seven or eight years old, but his steps were already nimble. He stretched out his short little arm, directing the carriages to park to the west. "Here, here, park here."
"Patron, please enter." The young Taoist's round, bright eyes sparkled with vitality as he extended his arm like a little adult to invite people inside.
He Yunzhao walked over to him, smiling as she pulled a piece of sesame candy from her sleeve and offered it to him. "You've worked hard, little Taoist priest."
The young Taoist's eyes lit up, and he immediately reached for it, but then quickly withdrew his hand. "Thank you, patron, but this is my duty."
Though he refused with his words, his eyes remained fixed longingly on the candy.
This made He Yunzhao laugh. She bent down and gently patted his little cheek, saying kindly, "Go ahead, little Taoist priest, it's fine."
In the end, unable to resist the temptation, he accepted the piece of sesame candy, his face beaming with satisfaction as he nearly skipped while leading them inside.
At the entrance, the young Taoist was glared at by a square-faced senior Taoist priest, who scolded, "Weren't you told to go refill the oil? Why are you here?"
The young Taoist explained with a pained expression, "Brother Runfu asked me to come out and help."
He Yunzhao blinked in surprise for a moment. Refilling oil in the temple was a good task—neither tiring nor meritorious—and only disciples favored by the temple master received such a privilege.
She hadn't expected this young Taoist to have such connections.
Supporting her grandmother, while her second sister He Jinmo supported Mother He, the four of them ascended the long steps into the temple.
They offered incense, prayed devoutly, listened to the scriptures, and donated some oil money, with He Yunzhao following each step.
The He residence had not undergone any layout changes for a long time, but as He Yunzhao gradually took charge, some modifications were needed. Old Madam He had previously sent an invitation asking Daoist Wuchen of the temple to help determine whether the changes were appropriate.
When the He family arrived at the guest area in the rear courtyard, He Yunzhao sat down with a relaxed demeanor. She leisurely sipped the temple's tea, which tasted clear and bitter without any astringency, carrying a unique coconut-like aroma.
She lifted the lid of her cup and saw that it was indeed mixed with slices of poria cocos. The flavor tasted very healthy.
Daoist Wuchen soon arrived. The elderly Taoist smiled gently, and the young Taoist following him was unmistakably the child they had seen earlier at the entrance.
He Yunzhao had been listening idly, but her ears perked up abruptly when she heard her name. "Hmm?"
Daoist Wuchen leisurely stroked his long beard with one hand while holding a slip of paper in the other. On it was clearly written He Yunzhao's birth date.
He frowned and glanced down, making a few calculations with his fingers. "Young Master He has a City Wall Earth Fate—a noble destiny. He is sure to achieve great things in the future."
He Yunzhao listened, thinking it was nothing more than flattery. So this Daoist is just going through the motions, he mused.
Daoist Wuchen’s brows knitted tightly together. He looked down at the birth characters in his hand, then studied the young master’s face before him, his heart growing more and more puzzled.
How could it be this City Wall Earth Fate? The aura of a ruler is so strong—could he have misread it? In such peaceful times, could someone still harbor ambitions of rebellion?
A shiver ran down Daoist Wuchen’s spine. Cautiously, he asked, "Might I ask if Young Master He is betrothed?"
Old Madam He was puzzled but replied, "Not yet. Zhaoge is focused on his studies now—it’s not the time for an early marriage."
Daoist Wuchen’s heart sank. No betrothal—so this regal aura wasn’t brought by another. Steeling himself, he pressed on, "Does Young Master He have a courtesy name?"
He Yunzhao looked up at the white-bearded Daoist, sensing something amiss. Rising to his feet, his tone carried a hint of coolness as he said, "I have one—Hengwu, given by my late father."
Daoist Wuchen, who had received many patrons, felt a moment of awkwardness. He knew the young master had taken offense—this He Yunzhao was far too perceptive.
Daoist Wuchen bowed. "Infinite Heavenly Lord. This humble Daoist observes that Young Master He is born with a noble fate, yet it lacks a touch of water. It would be beneficial to build a pond in your residence to enhance the young master’s fortune."
Old Madam He gasped in surprise, suddenly recalling something. "When Xiaozhao was born, another Daoist also said water would benefit him."
Mother He nodded in agreement. The words of the two Daoists corroborated each other—how remarkable.
After the He family had left, a young disciple looked up curiously and asked, "Master, is that young master truly lacking water in his fate?"
Daoist Wuchen shook his head, doubting his own calculations. "Not exactly. It’s just that I see a hint of water in his fate, yet it has been slow to arrive."
Based on the birth characters alone, he seemed to lack that touch of water, but judging by He Yunzhao’s countenance, it appeared this water would eventually complement his kingly aura.
Daoist Wuchen pondered for a moment. Could it be that Young Master He would one day marry a princess?
Speaking of which, He Yunzhao bore some resemblance to a certain Young Master Xiao he had read before. Both shared the same year, month, and day of birth—only one was born in the morning, the other in the afternoon.
He Yunzhao, born in the morning as the sun rose, embodied vigor and ambition—a sign of proactive striving.
Young Master Xiao, however, was different. Though both had City Wall Fates, his was more perilous and reserved. Fortunately, his name contained a hint of water, allowing him to be self-sufficient.
Considering their appearances as well, He Yunzhao possessed features that blended masculine and feminine traits—a sign of great fortune. Combined with his City Wall Earth Fate, he was destined for extraordinary achievements.
Daoist Wuchen stroked his chin in thought. Thankfully, the two were not brothers. If they were, one would be strong, the other weak—the weak supplementing the strong.
…
He Yunzhao swung onto his horse, grasped the reins, and prepared to set off.
"Shishu." A low, hoarse voice called out.
She turned her head. "Xiao Changfeng?"