He Yunzhao had already calculated her approach upon hearing her second sister's words inside the room. The moment she entered the main hall, she hurried forward with quick steps, wearing an affectionate smile. "Your nephew is late, making Uncle wait. I beg Uncle not to blame me."
He Mingchang set down his teacup and promptly rose to his feet, a flicker of surprise crossing his face as he hadn't expected this particular nephew to receive guests. "What nonsense are you speaking? I've only waited a short while. Brother Zhao, did you not attend the Academy today?"
He Yunzhao took He Mingchang's arm and guided him to sit. "We had an examination this morning and were given a half-day holiday."
"Fortunately, there was this half-day break, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see Uncle."
"It seems Uncle's good fortune has brought us together. It has indeed been a long time since I last saw Brother Zhao."
The two exchanged a glance, smiling with such warmth they appeared like genuine family.
After this tacit understanding of uncle and nephew catching up concluded, the uncle finally slowly revealed his purpose for visiting.
Seeming deeply troubled, even his beard couldn't conceal how He Mingchang's face flushed crimson. He spoke with difficulty: "I truly have no other options left, which is why I've come begging to the family."
"Your cousin has been appointed as the Yuncheng Vice Prefect in the southwest and has gained the favor of the Provincial Administration Commissioner, who wishes to form a marriage alliance. But…" He Mingchang's face now showed utter embarrassment and awkwardness, "Our family's foundation is thin. Managing to secure an official position for your cousin was already tremendously difficult. This betrothal gift… we simply cannot gather the funds. That's why… that's why…"
Hearing this, He Yunzhao inwardly sneered, yet her face displayed profound empathy. She raised her hand to pat her uncle's in comfort. "Uncle, don't worry. Cousin's outstanding appearance and talent gaining the Provincial Administration Commissioner's favor is a good thing. If not for our own family's current difficulties, we would certainly help."
She sighed with concern. "Since Father passed, our household has had little income. We're merely living off dwindling resources. These past two years at the Academy haven't been easy for me either – forty taels of silver every month, plus writing materials and social expenses with classmates. More than half the family's expenditures come from me."
"Last month, I saw Second Sister alter one of my old dresses into a jacket. Though she added some embroidery making it look brand new, it pained me deeply. I can only hope to pass the imperial examinations in the future and support the entire He family."
As He Yunzhao began portraying hardship and poverty, He Mingchang's expression stiffened, his lips quivering. "Worthy nephew, you…"
He Yunzhao then lightly shifted the conversation, her eyes sparkling cheerfully as she smiled. "Uncle needn't worry about me either. Our family will simply practice more frugality. I understand your purpose in coming – Cousin's marriage is a major event that cannot be skimped on."
"But we needn't swell our face to pretend to be plump. The Provincial Administration Commissioner must value Cousin's character and abilities rather than lavish betrothal gifts. Allow me to write a letter to be delivered through Father's old friends. Surely the Commissioner who recognized Cousin's worth must be reasonable and won't make difficulties over modest betrothal gifts."
He Mingchang's aged face completely darkened. A letter? Only a madman would do such a thing.
The Provincial Administration Commissioner was the highest local authority. His interest in a junior official as son-in-law inherently carried intentions of promotion. Would the daughter of such a high official lack marriage prospects? If he received a letter persuading him to reduce the betrothal gifts, even the most even-tempered person would rage.
Young man, I'm marrying my daughter to you because I value your talent and plan to promote my son-in-law. Yet you actually say the betrothal gifts are too expensive and send someone to advise me to ask for less?
If this matter were to truly occur, Cousin He wouldn't need to worry about the betrothal gifts anymore. If he could walk out of the southwestern region with his body intact, it would only be because the Provincial Administration Commissioner had attained Buddhahood.
He Mingchang trembled all over, sweat pouring from his forehead. His hands were so slippery he could barely hold the teacup. In his daze, he saw He Yunzhao's clear, distinct eyes containing a gentle smile, and he shuddered!
Old Master He's mocking gaze and Father He's gentle yet shrewd eyes flashed through his mind, as if the oppressive pressure from those years had returned to weigh on him once more.
How could a mere young lad be so difficult to deal with? He Mingchang wanted to elaborate, but under He Yunzhao's seemingly amused expression, he closed his mouth. Silently, he finished his tea and took his leave.
That boy He Yunzhao was truly capable of such deeds. He Mingchang didn't dare gamble with his son's life against him.
Dejected, He Mingchang returned to the He residence in the back alley and flew into a rage at his wife and daughter who gathered around him, frightening his six-year-old daughter into wailing loudly.
"Get out! Take that little mourner away from me!"
Aunt He didn't dare say anything to her furious husband and quickly picked up her daughter to return to their room.
…
Uncle He had been dealt with by He Yunzhao in just a few words, leaving Old Madam He somewhat bewildered that he had been dismissed so quickly.
Previously, when the women from He Mingchang's household visited, they would always stay for half a day, lingering until Old Madam He relented and gave them something before leaving. Now that He Mingchang himself had come, he had left promptly instead.
Old Madam He speculated, "Perhaps he's too thin-skinned to stay long. After all, as a man, coming to someone's door to ask for money is always embarrassing."
Cuiling, who served by He Yunzhao's side, stood nearby and nodded slowly as she spoke, "Uncle Master did indeed appear quite embarrassed and awkward."
He Jinmo, being young and impulsive, held little fondness for her cousins who always came eyeing her possessions, but she remembered that Uncle He was an elder whom she shouldn't casually gossip about behind his back.
She felt that Uncle He wasn't the thin-skinned type at all, yet she couldn't quite articulate why, making her so anxious that she tugged at her younger sister sitting beside her peeling an orange.
Feeling a pull on her arm, He Yunzhao turned to look at her anxious second sister, then glanced at their grandmother who had already softened considerably. She handed the peeled orange to her second sister.
Looking at her grandmother with a smile, she said, "Uncle does appear thin-skinned, too ashamed to even mention borrowing money. But how could a man who would borrow money from his widowed aunt and cousin's household truly be thin-skinned?"
A genuinely thin-skinned person wouldn't come to his widowed aunt's door to borrow money.
That trace of softness in Old Madam He's heart vanished completely. She realized that if Zhao Zhao hadn't stepped forward, she and her daughter-in-law would have been at a complete disadvantage facing Uncle He.
It was only because He Yunzhao had been tempered by her previous life experiences that she could thick-face perform alongside Uncle He. Anyone else would likely have been moved by Uncle He's display of embarrassed courage and paternal devotion.
Mother He wasn't as soft-hearted. Old Madam He came from a good background – her father, though a powerless imperial clansman, was enfeoffed as a commandery prince as a relatively close descendant of the Li family. Later, she married the eccentric Old Master He, who had built his fortune from scratch. Though deep and calculating, he was very protective of his naive young wife.
Mother He wasn't so fortunate. She was the third child in her family, with an elder brother and sister above her and a younger brother below – visibly unimportant in the household.
When she first married, the dowry prepared by her natal family was so meager it was embarrassing. Mother He was furious and made a scene at her parents' home, demanding to know why her dowry couldn't match her elder sister's.
She swore she would never leave the house unless given the same dowry as her elder sister, even threatening to hang herself in the wedding sedan chair.
The Yao Family, unable to withstand her tantrums, eventually supplemented the full dowry before sending their daughter off.
At that time, the He family was at the peak of its influence within aristocratic circles. When Father He learned of this incident, he was astonished and lavished praise on his wife.
Later events proved that Mother He's unyielding character sustained the He family through most affairs during the decade following Father He's passing.
He Yunzhao observed her formidable mother, her gentle yet sensible grandmother, and her somewhat hot-tempered second sister.
Perfect. An ideal family.
The He family wasn't lacking in wealth, but having no one serving in court for years meant displaying riches would bring no benefit.
Even with the Xiang Jun Prince as her great-grandfather, the old lord hadn't set foot in court since being enfeoffed and couldn't even locate the western gate used for court assemblies.
Moreover, besides Grandmother, the Xiang Jun Prince had other descendants. Impoverished imperial clansmen were numerous, and powerless royal households didn't lead comfortable lives.
Closer blood ties often made it easier to seize such silver.
He Yunzhao had no intention of testing her uncles' generosity, so she maintained a lifestyle of having enough to eat and drink but never abundant silver—a approach Grandmother and Mother fully endorsed.
The He family maintained low profiles. With no presence in court, they had become semi-transparent in the capital. While never omitted from banquets, they were seldom remembered for other matters.
…
The academy He Yunzhao attended was named Han Zhang Academy. Though called an academy, it essentially functioned as an advanced private school.
Founded by former Minister of Rites Ding Hanzhang at his residence, it satisfied the old master's teaching aspirations while avoiding potential repercussions from taking on disciples.
He Yunzhao gained admission at eight after passing entrance tests. Although Ding Hanzhang's original intention was purely educational, operating in the capital inevitably drew aristocratic influences. Fortunately, noble families sending children here genuinely valued learning, maintaining decent academic atmosphere.
"Thirty years old for Mingjing, fifty for Presented Scholar"—this saying fully illustrated the Imperial Examination's difficulty.
Initially struggling to adapt academically, He Yunzhao eventually settled into dedicated study, making remarkable progress within a year to become one of Ding Hanzhang's favorite students.
What uninformed people imagined Imperial Examination questions to be: "Write the next line of 'Human nature is inherently good' and explain its meaning."
Actual Imperial Examination questions: "'Having mobilization without warfare embodies opportunities of strategic control; abhorring killing while cherishing life manifests principles of nurturing transformation…' Explain what subtle principles such cunning contains, how these principles should be grasped, and their practical military applications. Elaborate your perspectives within six hundred characters."
She wasn't foolish, but neither was she top-tier genius. Even geniuses require diligence—genius lies not only in comprehension but in possessing greater drive than ordinary people.
Although He Yunzhao had some theoretically profitable methods in mind, there was a gap between theory and practice. A completely different business environment could render all her efforts futile. Since the He family wasn't short on silver anyway, she might as well focus her energy on studying—recalling more poems and texts from her memory would prove more useful.
She had set herself the goal of obtaining the Cultivated Talent title by taking the Prefectural Examination in six months as a Student of the Imperial Academy.
Da Jin treated scholars with respect. While the Child Student examination involved strict body searches, the Prefectural Examination showed leniency toward candidates. Given her young age and taller stature compared to boys her age, a body search wouldn't reveal anything suspicious, nor would she raise doubts.
Once she successfully obtained the Cultivated Talent title, life would become much easier. Subsequent examinations wouldn't involve rigorous physical inspections, and since she never cheated, she could rest assured.
Her father still held the nominal title of Marquis. If she demonstrated diligence and asked her great-grandfather and uncles to put in a word, securing an official position would be straightforward.
He Yunzhao was confident about passing the Cultivated Talent examination. Her teacher had said girls excelled in literary subjects—she was sure to succeed.
Standing before the desk, He Yunzhao took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of ink. She silently chanted: "I am a genius, a cold-blooded genius with a photographic memory. I am a learning machine, a genius who sees through worldly affairs. My concentration is unparalleled."
After this psychological preparation, she spread out the xuan paper, mentally drafted her composition, and began writing: "The sacred Son of Heaven governs the realm, taking human culture and moral order as his responsibility…"
Ink slowly bloomed across the paper. On the shelf beside the desk stood small boxes containing all the writings He Yunzhao had produced over years of study—her calligraphy evolving from childish strokes to developing a distinctive style, her essays progressing from hollow, fabricated word-padding to substantial content, and her poetry advancing from "Willows sway in the wind" to "Graceful willows dance across the clear sky."
The next day, He Yunzhao submitted her newly written essays and poems to Teacher Liu, who assisted Mr. Ding with teaching.
Teacher Liu looked down at the thick stack of freshly inked papers in his hand, then lifted his gaze to the bamboo-straight young scholar before him. He couldn't help but marvel—He Yunzhao's diligence was unmatched within the Academy.
Han Zhang Academy didn't enroll students from impoverished backgrounds. Though the academic atmosphere was good, few studied as desperately as those from humble origins would.
The near absence of poor students stemmed from two reasons: first, the Academy's tuition and annual gifts for teachers posed significant financial burdens for impoverished families.
Second, Ding Hanzhang had served three generations of emperors. In his youth, he witnessed the late emperor's struggle for crown prince status amid fierce competition among royal princes—a time when exceptional talents emerged frequently.
He had a junior fellow student from humble origins who possessed outstanding abilities. Their mentor valued him so highly that he married his daughter to him. Later, to seek merit in supporting the imperial contender, this scoundrel caused the deaths of his wife and child, then remarried the widowed sister of a senior official. The villain enjoyed decades of prosperity under the late emperor's reign before finally facing reckoning in the emperor's final years.
Simply put, the old man Ding Hanzhang detested people from poor backgrounds!
Teacher Liu gathered the papers in his hand, looking at He Yunzhao with genuine appreciation. As a teacher, he naturally favored intelligent and motivated students like her.
After a moment's contemplation, he said, "The Prefectural Examination approaches. Among Class B students, only you and Xiao Changfeng meet the requirements. The Dean intends to gather all examination candidates together—you and Xiao Changfeng should report to the Dean's office for special instruction."
He Yunzhao looked at Teacher Liu in surprise, then smiled and said, "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching that we dare not slack off in our studies for even a moment. If we make any progress under the Dean's guidance, aside from the Dean's instruction, you deserve the greatest credit."
With that, the tall young man raised his hands and bowed deeply before him.
Teacher Liu smiled until his eyes disappeared, yet he accepted the bow with composure.
Only after watching the teacher leave did He Yunzhao instruct his servant, "Prepare some tonics and send them to Teacher Liu's home for Old Madam Liu."
"Yes, young master."
Xiao Changfeng.
He Yunzhao pondered this name. In their class, she was closer to Mu Liu, and most classmates gathered around her and Mu Liu. Only this Xiao Changfeng had enrolled just three days ago and had attended only half a day of classes.
How could he suddenly join her in receiving small-class tutoring before the exam?
A glimmer of curiosity flashed in her bright eyes, tinged with a hint of vigilance.
The students who came here to study were not only attracted by the teaching standards but, more importantly, because the academy's lecturers all held the title of Recommended Man or higher. These instructors could quickly obtain information about changes in the capital region's exam questions.
Strange.
He Yunzhao stood still for a moment, lost in thought, then decided to first inquire about this Xiao Changfeng's background.