Chapter 16: My Fortune—Having You Is My FortuneMorning passed into afternoon, and just as the midday meal was being served, a commotion sounded from outside the blue-tiled, stone-brick house.Shen Bingwen opened the lacquered catalpa door to find Su Zheyun in a cyan robe waiting outside, holding something up before him."I bought carp from the east market this morning—just not sure if it's any good."He took it with a smile, though faint dark circles hung beneath his eyes. "It looks fresh and tender just at a glance. There's nothing not good about it."A few small dishes quickly made it to the table. Su Zheyun quietly studied his expression, the corners of her lips curving into a smile. "Bingwen, didn't you sleep well last night?""I stayed up a bit late reviewing my studies," he said with a faint smile, his demeanor still warm and gentle. "I think Cui Lingyi can help you.""How can she help me?" Su Zheyun picked up a piece of fish and put it in her mouth; the sauce clinging to it was especially thick."Is her condition for helping you that you marry her?" He looked up, watching Su Zheyun eat with relish. "She and Zhao Jing are in love with each other, so she wants to find herself a fake husband. Once Prince Duan inherits the throne, the two of you can divorce, and she can marry Zhao Jing. If you marry her—first, she'll help you hide your identity; second, even if the Cui family finds out, they'll cover for you to protect their reputation.""The imperial examination requires a physical examination, doesn't it?" She took a sip of the light tea beside her, her posture relaxed. "And I really can't pass it."Shen Bingwen neither agreed nor disagreed. "Won't His Highness help you?""He…" Su Zheyun thought of that day's transgression and muttered under her breath, "I don't want to go find him."Time passed quietly, the dust motes in the light slowly dispersing before their eyes."By the way, His Highness sent someone to deliver an invitation to me yesterday. What was that about?""The fifth day of the seventh month—Cui Lingyi's coming-of-age ceremony. She's always been highly regarded in the capital, so the Cui household has invited all the young gentlemen of the capital's prestigious families. His Highness is taking you, probably to introduce you to the chief examiners of the imperial examination."Troubles were piling up more and more. She pressed a hand to her forehead, beginning to regret her earlier probing."He really wants me to enter the court as an official?""Do you want to spend your whole life as a strategist in the manor?" Shen Bingwen raised an eyebrow in retort. "But with the Crown Prince watching covetously right now, you'd better keep a low profile.""Then should I go tomorrow?" She blinked. "Are you going?""If you go, I'll go." Shen Bingwen rose and closed the door, the light inside the room dimming instantly."That person I mentioned to you last time—Cui Lingyi's fiancé, Zhang Yangyu. Try not to clash with him. He's someone who quibbles over every trifle." Before he could finish, he suddenly stared at her face, then let out a clear, bright laugh.Su Zheyun was baffled by his sudden outburst. She touched her face and laughed along with him."What's going on?"He tried to suppress his laughter, but the corners of his mouth simply wouldn't come down. "He hates good-looking men."Su Zheyun's lips twitched. So he disliked pretty boys.A cup of strong Longjing tea was brewed, and the white jade porcelain cup was pushed before her.She inhaled the fragrance of the tea, and the person beside her slowly spoke. "Then you can come with me when the time comes. No need to return to the prince's manor either.""Great!" Su Zheyun agreed readily. Jiang Weixu had been busy with the refugees these past few days and wasn't at the manor, so she was happy to enjoy the leisure and had no desire to go back.—The rosy clouds at the horizon blazed brilliantly. Su Zheyun stepped down from the carriage and looked up. On the vermilion-painted door studded with copper nails hung a namu plaque, its brushstrokes vigorous and solemn, with cloud patterns carved into the four corners.The stone steps before the door were crowded with guests coming and going. She followed Shen Bingwen inside to find a spacious courtyard where the crabapple blossoms were in full bloom, layers upon layers of pink overlapping. A maidservant ahead walked with light steps, leading them through the corridors.The courtyard was filled with rosewood tables, their brocade tablecloths laid with an array of fruits, melons, and pastries. Nobles and young ladies in embroidered robes and jade belts gathered in twos and threes, chatting idly.Before the two of them could even sit down, a young nobleman with a green jade pendant at his waist came up to greet them, calling out familiarly: "Bingwen, come sit at my table."Shen Bingwen smiled faintly. He Xinli's gaze fell on Su Zheyun beside him, and a curious smile formed on his face."Zheyun, this is Censor He—He Xinli. He was the top scholar in the last spring examination."Su Zheyun clasped her hands in a fist-and-palm salute and gave a slight bow, but was stopped by him."So this is Young Master Su," he said with great interest. "From afar, I could see Bingwen standing together with Young Master Su—truly a striking pair of talents!"He lamented that his youth was already behind him while leading the two to the front."He Xinli, you're only twenty-five or twenty-six—do you really need to carry on like that? It's not like you're some doddering old man."Fu Qinglan couldn't stand his chatter and didn't hold back in the slightest."Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, Lord Fu Qinglan."Shen Bingwen introduced her. She nodded and respectfully addressed him: "Lord Fu."Fu Qinglan wore a faint smile, his sharp eyes appraising her. "Speaking of which, I was also present when Young Master Su had that accident at the horse grounds that day. I just never had the chance to meet you.""Is that so? What a pity. I was injured at the time, so we never crossed paths."She smiled lightly to express her regret, and the others at the table shifted the topic, falling into casual conversation.A crescent moon hung lightly at the edge of the sky, and the soft strains of silk and bamboo music began to rise within the courtyard.The clamor abruptly ceased. Su Zheyun looked over and saw Cui Lingyi draped in a pale purple moonlight-gauze robe, a pair of linked rings at her waist, and a crabapple hairpin with swaying ornaments tucked into her flying-immortal bun, its gems refracting dazzling fire-like glints in the light.She moved with delicate lotus steps to the center of the hall, where Zhao Jing handed her a goblet. With the composure of a hostess, she raised it and said, "Thank you all for coming. Lingyi will offer a small tune. The crabapples in the manor are in full bloom—afterward, please make yourselves at ease."Her jade-like fingers plucked idly at the strings as she sat with the pipa in her arms, eyes lowered. Her skin was white as snow, and her clear, melodious voice unfurled, the lilting tune stirring the heart like a willow branch veiled in moonlight.Su Zheyun listened, entranced, until a gentle nudge at her elbow brought her back. She turned to see Shen Bingwen giving her a meaningful glance.Following his gaze, she saw a man on the right also staring intently at Cui Lingyi—his cheekbones slightly high, a faint stubble of dark beard on his lips. Su Zheyun withdrew her gaze and met Shen Bingwen's eyes, understanding dawning.That man must be Cui Lingyi's fiancé—Zhang Yangyu.As the tune ended, thunderous applause filled the hall. Zhao Jing took the pipa with a smile, and Zhang Yangyu also pressed forward, praising fervently, "Miss Cui's song was like jade shattering in an empty mountain—listening to it dispels all worry, unforgettable for a lifetime.""I dare not accept such high praise from Master Zhang," Cui Lingyi said, her smile dimming somewhat, clearly unwilling to say more.Zhang Yangyu was undeterred and turned instead to needle Zhao Jing. "Commander Zhao, a military man, actually listens to music? No wonder they say you're a frequenter of taverns and teahouses."Zhao Jing cast him a faint, mocking glance. "Matters of refinement naturally can't compare to Master Zhang's. But with the spring examinations approaching, you'd best work hard—what if someone else snatches the second-place title from you?"Muffled laughter rippled through the crowd. He Xinli tapped Shen Bingwen's table."You'll be going to next spring's examinations, right?"Shen Bingwen shook his head slightly, and He Xinli's face showed a hint of regret.Su Zheyun leaned in and quietly asked him why.He was about to speak when a commotion erupted from the center of the hall."Someone like Master Zhao, who got his post through hereditary privilege, needn't meddle in the affairs of us scholars. After all, you've never even sat for the proper imperial exams, so there's no need to worry about what rank I'll take next year."Zhao Jing turned away, ignoring him, and the atmosphere grew awkward.Cui Lingyi put on a smile, her voice clear and pleasant. "Refreshments from Xiuzhen Studio and fine West Lake Longjing tea are prepared over there—why don't Master Zhao and Master Zhang go sit quietly for a while?"Zhao Jing naturally followed Cui Lingyi, but after a few steps, Zhang Yangyu reached out and blocked his path."But I still want to ask Commander Zhao—what exactly did you mean by that just now?""Nothing at all. Who in the capital doesn't know Master Zhang's talent is vast as eight bushels?" Zhao Jing raised a provocative smile. "It's just a pity you fell short by one move—at both the Qiongtai Poetry Gathering and the provincial exam, you only took second place.""A momentary win or loss. Do you really think I'll lose forever?" His face flushed with anger as he swept his gaze around the room, finally stopping.Su Zheyun lowered her eyes, thinking, This is bad. Sure enough, Zhang Yangyu strode toward them."Shen Bingwen, following the old tradition of the spring examinations tonight, how about you and I spar over current affairs policy?"Shen Bingwen didn't rise. "No need. I'm not your match, Master Zhang—I won't make a fool of myself.""Shen Bingwen, are you really scared?" Someone in the crowd egged him on, eager for more drama."Go on, Master Shen! You missed the Qiongtai Poetry Gathering back then—won't you give us a show today?"Laughter rose in waves, like the undulating surface of the sea.Shen Bingwen seemed not to hear, his tea reflecting eyes as still as an ancient well. "I am but unworthy, Master Zhang. Please find someone more capable."The moment he finished, the jeering in the hall reached its peak. Su Zheyun looked at Shen Bingwen with concern—so he was the pale-faced pretty boy Zhang Yangyu despised!Zhang Yangyu, unable to get a rise out of him, curled his lips into a venomous smile."True enough. Master Shen has always been timid as a mouse. If he actually lost, he'd have no last shred of face left to hide behind."Su Zheyun frowned at the words, lifted her eyes to meet his, and spoke in a raised voice."Master Shen was simply sparing your feelings, Master Zhang—why can't you tell good from bad?"At the provocative words, all eyes in the room snapped to Su Zheyun."Master Zhang just wants someone to compete with, doesn't he? I'll take you on in policy discourse." Su Zheyun rose with a smile, her dark robes making her fair skin all the more striking, a sharpness in her brow like a sword drawn from its sheath.Zhang Yangyu raised an eyebrow, a contemptuous smirk curling at his lips. "Who are you? Worthy of competing with me?""Just a commoner with no rank—is Master Zhang afraid?""Afraid?" Zhang Yangyu let out a scoff. "Fine. Let's see what you've got."He Xinli, last year's top scholar, was pushed forward to set the topic. He chose "The Strategy of Pacifying the People," with the limit of one incense stick's burn.Zhang Yangyu spoke first, citing classics and precedents—from the Rites of Zhou to this dynasty's disaster-relief practices—an unbroken stream of eloquence. Those around him nodded frequently, and Fu Qinglan even murmured in admiration, "Truly worthy of his reputation."The incense stick burned more than halfway before Zhang Yangyu reluctantly concluded, cupping his hands. "A humble offering."All eyes turned to Su Zheyun."Every word you just said, Young Master Zhang, was perfectly reasonable. Unfortunately, it was all correct nonsense." She set down her teacup and spoke unhurriedly.Zhang Yangyu's expression shifted drastically. "What did you say?"She rose to her feet, her voice soft yet each word crystal clear: "You say we should audit the household registries to prevent fraudulent claims—I ask you, who will conduct the audit? How? These refugees can't even afford a meal—where would they get documentation to prove their identity?""You say we should severely punish corruption. Corrupt officials deserve death, but what happens after they're executed? Who fills the vacant positions? And who's to say the newcomers won't be corrupt themselves?""You say we should set up porridge stations—where will they be located? Where does the grain come from? What if it's robbed en route? What if there's a stampede during distribution?"She fired off seven or eight questions in rapid succession, yet Zhang Yangyu could only open and close his mouth, unable to answer a single one."You quote the classics and speak eloquently, Young Master Zhang, but everything you've said is about what should be done. Unfortunately, in governing a state, the difficulty lies not in knowing what should be done, but in knowing how to do it."She looked up at Zhang Yangyu, a slight smile curling at the corners of her mouth. "Young Master Zhang, do you know how Zhao Kuo—the one who fought only on paper—died?"The hall fell silent for a moment. Someone let out a laugh first, and it quickly spread.Zhang Yangyu's face flushed crimson. His lips trembled several times before he finally pointed at Su Zheyun, his voice shaking. "You… you…""What about me?" Su Zheyun tilted her head at him, her smile innocent. "Did I say something wrong, Young Master Zhang? You've filled your belly with the wisdom of the sages, but have you ever personally settled a single refugee? Have you ever set up a porridge station with your own hands? Have you ever dealt with disaster victims during a famine year?""You haven't," she answered for him, pressing on relentlessly. "You pride yourself on being a son of a humble family risen to prominence, yet in your eyes there are no common folk—only power and prestige."Zhang Yangyu stood rooted to the spot, his face cycling through shades of pale and red. His friend beside him, however, seized on a loophole and demanded, "Su Zheyun, are you insinuating something about the Left Prime Minister?"The accusation was weighty, and the hall fell abruptly silent. Shen Bingwen frowned, about to come to her defense, when applause echoed from the corridor.Su Zheyun's gaze snapped upward. In the dim lamplight, the Crown Prince and the Left Prime Minister still stood beneath the eaves, while Jiang Weixu beside them had already stepped forward, clapping as he approached the hall with steady strides. The assembled guests rose to greet him.The familiar scent of ambergris was thick and rich. The four-clawed python pattern embroidered in crimson-gold thread on Jiang Weixu's robes was exquisitely detailed. He paid no heed to the guests filling the hall, walking straight up to Su Zheyun and helping her rise, his hand steadying her through her sleeve. On that face perpetually cold as frost, a rare trace of a smile surfaced."To have you by my side—such is my fortune."The bright moon broke through the heavy clouds, and the candles flickered with sparks. The words rode the long wind past, and He Xinli and Fu Qinglan exchanged a complicated glance. The entire hall sat in astonishment.

Plotting with My Wife