The academy’s quiet study.
Wind chimes hung from the eaves beyond the ornamental gate, their soft chimes mingling with the breeze as their shadows swayed across the damp ground below.
Scholar Zhao held a freshly graded exam paper, still warm in his hands. As he stroked his beard, he nearly pulled out a few strands. “How is this possible?”
The paper in his hand belonged to Murong Yun, the top scorer of this assessment.
The name on the sheet looked like chaotic scribbles. Without careful inspection, it was impossible to make out. In the end, Master Xu had painstakingly eliminated other possibilities and, with the help of his reading glasses, barely managed to identify it.
Thinking of Murong Yun’s usual behavior, Master Xu’s temper flared again. “The most idle and unlearned student in class, whom I scold daily, telling him to learn from Zheng Yuan and Shangguan Xuan, and yet he pulls something like this. Where am I supposed to put my dignity?”
At that, Master Xu gulped down tea, his face flushed red with anger.
Beside him, Scholar Zhao said nothing, completely absorbed in the paper.
“….”
He sighed in admiration. “This essay is rich in knowledge, broad in thought, unrestrained in style. Are we certain he wrote this himself? Every character is upright, elegant, and refined.”
“I watched him write it with my own eyes!” Master Xu nearly choked on his breath.
Scholar Zhao paused, then read through it several more times before letting out a long sigh. “The logic flows flawlessly, every word is exquisite, there is not a single flaw to be found.”
“Except that the name is written poorly.”
Master Xu continued his complaints. “That boy shakes his leg in class, bangs on the desk, grins foolishly.”
“But the moment he picks up a brush, he becomes a heaven-sent genius!”
“This exam tested the Four Books and Five Classics, yet he still managed to express such balanced reasoning, connecting everything seamlessly.”
After venting his anger, Master Xu slowly set down his teacup and glanced around cautiously, as though fearing being overheard.
“If I tell you what’s happened these past few days, even you would be shocked. Murong Yun actually dared to openly challenge Zheng Yuan.”
Scholar Zhao raised his brows. “Is that so?”
The instructors at Qingshan Academy never interfered directly in the students’ internal rivalries.
If they could not even handle disputes among classmates, how would they survive in the treacherous world of officialdom?
“He even made a wager with Zheng Yuan, and now Zheng Yuan has lost. It’s quite a blow to his pride,” Master Xu said, shaking his head. “It’s too early to draw conclusions. We’ll have to see what becomes of Murong Yun in the future. He can’t drift through life forever.”
The evening glow deepened, crimson clouds spreading across half the sky.
By the window, Murong Yun lounged in her chair, swaying lightly as she nibbled on candied fruit she had bought that morning.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Murong, Shangguan and I are heading to the mountain lake nearby for a bath. Bring a change of clothes and come with us!”
Song Qi stood outside, clothes tucked under his arm. He had rushed over in such a hurry that his belt had fallen off along the way, forcing him to double back to retrieve it.
“I’m not going!”
Murong Yun casually adjusted her hair crown and continued eating her dried fruit.
The knocking grew louder. “Open the door and talk! You’re too dull, staying cooped up all day. You’ll grow mold at this rate!”
When Song Qi got impatient, he was capable of barging in.
Murong Yun sighed and quickly stood up, hastily gathering the scattered gold and silver trinkets on her desk and stuffing them into a box.
Only after confirming that her clothing was in order did she slowly shuffle to the door, opening it just a crack. “It’s almost dark. Why are you dragging Shangguan around like this…”
Shangguan Xuan noticed the sweat on her forehead. “Why are you sweating so much? Did you open the window?”
“No, no, it’s just the heat,” Murong Yun replied stiffly, stepping forward to block his view of the room.
She naturally had a cool body constitution, so even slight warmth made her sweat.
She shot Song Qi a glare. “You go with Shangguan. Don’t drag me along.”
“Three people make a better company. Bathing together is more convenient,” Song Qi scratched his head. He had originally gone to find Murong Yun, but Shangguan Xuan had stopped him along the way and hesitantly asked to join, looking worried about being rejected. Song Qi could not bring himself to refuse.
“Come on, come on,” he urged.
Shangguan Xuan wore a loose white hemp robe. The poor quality of the fabric revealed the faint outline of his muscles beneath. When he raised his arm slightly, the contours of his shoulder blades were clearly visible, and the cloth clung to his lower back, hinting at a lean, powerful waist. His long hair fell loosely over his shoulders, and a small mole at his neck added a subtle charm.
Murong Yun thought to herself that the novel’s description of him had been far too simple. With such looks, he appeared gentle and refined, yet his physique told another story. Truly a master of hiding strength beneath weakness, the kind of man who would thrive in any era.
She turned her gaze away. “I’m not going. I’m not used to bathing with others.”
Song Qi did not want to dampen Shangguan Xuan’s mood. “It’s fine. Shangguan, let’s go. My scrubbing skills are decent. I’ll show you later.”
Shangguan Xuan smiled faintly, rubbing his fingers together. “I’m a bit thirsty. I’ll have some tea at Murong’s before we leave.”
With that, he pushed the door open.
Murong Yun had not expected that at all. Even bracing herself against the door did nothing.
“Your room is as messy as if thieves had broken in!” Song Qi walked in familiarly, pulling over a small stone stool. “Sit, sit, don’t be shy, Shangguan.”
“You said last time that my room looked very manly,” Murong Yun said as she poured them tea. She had recently bought dried rose petals from the market and brewed them into tea, filling the air with fragrance.
She had meant to keep it for herself, but since there was no other tea, she poured hot water over the petals again.
“Rose tea?” Shangguan Xuan asked calmly.
“It really is!” Song Qi gulped it down. “Your nose is incredible!”
After just a few sips, his cup was already empty.
Murong Yun refilled it. “Slow down, you’ll burn yourself.”
“Delicious! How much per jin? When I have money, I’ll buy some too.”
“Don’t ask,” Murong Yun said, then added, “If you want it in the future, I’ll bring it for you.”
“I’m not someone who freeloads off friends. Tell me.”
“Twenty taels per jin.”
“….”
Song Qi visibly slowed his drinking, savoring each sip. “Now that I think about it, this tea is sweet and fragrant, the taste lingering on the tongue.”
Murong Yun burst out laughing. “Fine, it’s all yours.”
“If I’ve spent the money, I might as well drink my fill,” Song Qi said solemnly. “Next time, tell me the price first so I can adjust my eating speed accordingly.”
“Deal.”
Meanwhile, Shangguan Xuan surveyed the scattered books across the room.
They were all manuals of martial arts and mechanical techniques, none of them classical texts.
“They’re all books on martial arts and mechanisms. Do you read all of them?”
“Yes, I browse them after class.”
Song Qi exclaimed, “You really are strange. Why learn martial arts?”
Murong Yun sat up straight. “I’ve always been small, so my parents wanted me to practice martial arts growing up. Over time, I accumulated these books.”
Song Qi nodded in understanding.
“We should go before it gets dark,” he said, pulling Shangguan Xuan away. Before leaving, he winked at Murong Yun. “There’s a patch of reeds by the lake that can cover you. Perfect for beginners like you. If you change your mind, come find us!”
Murong Yun watched Shangguan Xuan leave.
Bathing?
She suddenly wondered what his body looked like without the thin robe concealing it.
She coughed lightly and shut the door.
[Host eats sunflower seeds during class, reward: Da Ying Land Tax Records]
The system issued its task.
Murong Yun touched her nose.
[Limited-time task. Expires tomorrow.]
“When have I ever refused you?”
After a moment of thought, she prepared herself and slipped out of the academy.
Half a quarter-hour later, a shadow quietly climbed over the academy wall.
Murong Yun passed by the small temple dedicated to Confucius. The portrait within was solemn and dignified, offerings placed before it, candles burning brightly. She did not dare linger and quickly left.
Following a familiar path down the mountain, she eventually heard the sound of a woman crying.
“Who’s there?”
Her skin prickled. Were there ghosts in this imperial exam novel?
As the sound grew closer, she saw an elderly woman, her hair streaked with white, her face lined with tears.
“Granny!”
The woman was about to leap when Murong Yun rushed forward and pulled her back.
They tumbled several meters, Murong Yun’s back striking stones painfully.
“Miss, don’t save me. I have nothing left to live for.”
Murong Yun struggled to her feet. “I am a student of Qingshan Academy, not a young lady.”
The old woman hesitated.
“I am called Granny Wei,” she said tearfully. “My son died in the army years ago, leaving me a small plot of land. But the officials seized half of it, and now they want the rest. How do I survive?”
Murong Yun fell silent, her mind buzzing.
The novel’s single line about corruption concealed immense suffering.
She handed over twenty taels of silver. “Take this for now.”
Granny Wei tried to refuse, but Murong Yun insisted.
“If your son were still alive, he would not want to hear you speak like this.”
Murong Yun accompanied her down the mountain.
After parting, she stood at the village entrance, gazing at fields that had been flattened.
She clenched her jaw. Then she headed straight to the market.
The market bustled with life. Lights illuminated the night, opera performances filled the air, and scholars drank and recited poetry.
Murong Yun bought three packets of sunflower seeds and hurried back.
At the lakeside, Shangguan Xuan could not shake the memory of Murong Yun’s room.
No classical texts, only manuals.
How had she taken first place?
A thought surfaced. Corruption!
Later that night, he slipped back into the academy and entered her room through the window.
Inside, he examined her books. Every page was filled with neat, careful annotations.
He frowned. Just as he turned to a cabinet, something shot out.
Silver needles.
He dodged, but more followed. One struck his neck, freezing him in place.
Murong Yun pushed the door open calmly, holding another needle to his throat as she leaned close, her breath brushing his ear.
“Brother Shangguan… sneaking into a classmate’s room at night… could it be that you prefer men?”