Outside the window, a white porcelain wind chime hanging from the eaves gave off a soft, tinkling sound. The academy paths twisted and branched in elegant disorder, with crabapple trees planted along both sides, their petals damp with moisture.
Bluestone bricks paved the walkways, and green moss filled the cracks between them. Along the walls of the dormitories, moss crept upward, dotted with delicate pink blossoms. At a glance, the scenery of Qingshan Academy was pleasing in every way.
Everything about the academy was wonderful, except for one thing—it sat atop a mountain, quite far from the marketplace.
Today was a rest day. The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight, a perfect day for accomplishing something big.
Before the morning mist had even cleared, Murong Yun had already vanished, darting from street to alley.
As sunlight slipped through the doorframe, someone knocked repeatedly outside. Shangguan Xuan, dark circles under his eyes, opened them reluctantly and rubbed his temples.
Song Qi was brimming with excitement. “Shangguan, let’s call Murong and go down the mountain together!”
“Wake up, wake up, Shangguan!”
A trace of impatience flickered in Shangguan Xuan’s eyes, but he still dressed himself neatly and opened the door, his face already wearing a gentle, refined smile.
Song Qi cleared his throat and walked straight in, pouring himself tea as if he owned the place. “Let’s wake Murong together. That guy’s probably still asleep!”
“You should ask him first,” Shangguan Xuan said. His waist ached faintly; last night’s rooftop leaps while carrying someone had strained him a bit. Since entering the academy, he had not trained day and night as before, and his skills had grown slightly rusty.
“I don’t dare knock,” Song Qi admitted quietly, scratching his head. “Last night someone got beaten up by Murong, walked past with a crooked neck…”
Shangguan Xuan coughed violently for a moment, gripping his cup tightly. “Who told you that?”
“Yu Ziyang. He said it in the dining hall, vivid as if he saw it himself.”
Shangguan Xuan took a sip of tea to steady himself. “If no one else saw it, there’s no proof.”
Song Qi nodded solemnly. “Exactly! If someone really got beaten by Murong, they must’ve deserved it!”
“…” Shangguan Xuan glanced at the slender silver needles on the desk and smiled faintly. “You’re right.”
Dormitories were divided into upper and lower quarters based on exam results. Shangguan Xuan and Murong Yun were in the upper quarters, while Song Qi stayed below.
When Murong Yun first entered the academy, his essay performance had been mediocre, yet by sheer luck there had been an empty room in the upper quarters, and he moved in without hesitation.
The two of them walked to Murong Yun’s door and knocked for a long time, but there was no response.
“Where did he go so early?” Song Qi muttered, scratching his head, his long tied hair swaying at his waist.
A gatekeeper passing by left behind a flowing white silhouette. Song Qi’s eyes lit up, and he grabbed the person’s sleeve.
“Ah Zao, Ah Zao, have you seen Murong?”
The man pulled his sleeve back with a hint of disdain. “I’m Ah Wu.”
“Oh, Murong? He went down the mountain early this morning.”
Ah Zao and Ah Wu were twin brothers.
“You two look way too alike! Next time during your break, I’ll secretly mark your faces,” Song Qi laughed, completely unaware that Master Xu was passing by on his way to the dining hall.
“Ah Zao, just finished your shift? Perfect, come eat breakfast with me.”
Song Qi froze, then exploded, “You tricked me!”
“Stop right there! Don’t let me catch you again!”
Ah Zao had already slipped away, sticking out his tongue. “Who told you to be so gullible?”
Song Qi stood there, wronged like a bullied child, blinking as he looked to the others for comfort.
Master Xu hesitated, shook his head, and walked off, muttering, “That child… no wonder his essays turn out like that.”
Song Qi felt as though he’d been struck by lightning, standing there stiffly, his back radiating loneliness.
Shangguan Xuan patted his shoulder. “It’s fine. One day you’ll guess their names right.”
“Even you’re mocking me!” Song Qi shouted toward the sky, indignant. “On a rest day, Murong abandons us, fine, but I’m not playing with you anymore!”
His face twisted with grief, on the verge of tears.
“If you cry, I won’t take you to find him,” Shangguan Xuan said calmly.
Wearing patched coarse clothes, Shangguan Xuan’s outfit showed darker sweat stains in the heat, yet his lean, strong frame and composed bearing gave him the air of a noble young master.
“Really? Take me quickly! When I see him, I’ll beat him up so he won’t ditch us again!” Song Qi huffed. “Good brothers should stick together at all times!”
“You’ve only known him a few days,” Shangguan Xuan replied.
Song Qi puffed out his chest and leaned closer, thinking Shangguan Xuan was jealous. “I stick to you too… After all, our friendship is bound by food!”
“By the way, the melon seeds you gave me yesterday were amazing.”
“In that case, you should treat me to a meal as compensation,” Shangguan Xuan said lightly.
“Deal, deal! Next meal’s on me!” Song Qi beamed.
The streets bustled with people, vendors calling out from every corner.
“There he is.”
Murong Yun was weaving through the crowd, arms full of firecrackers and gongs. Red powder from the firecrackers smeared onto the hem of her indigo clothes. The gong was nearly as big as her head, making her look comical as she squeezed through the crowd, yet her smile was bright and eager.
Before Song Qi could speak, she stuffed a bundle of firecrackers into his arms.
“Hold these for me.”
She pulled out a crumpled map, tilting her head as she tried to make sense of it, utterly confused.
“This gong is interesting,” Shangguan Xuan said, tapping it lightly, producing a deep, resonant sound.
“Stop messing around,” Murong Yun snapped, turning away irritably.
Shangguan Xuan lowered his gaze, casually lifting the gong by its ring.
“What’s all this for?” he asked, stepping closer, oddly amused by her frustration.
Murong Yun paused, then raised a brow. “Help me, and I’ll tell you.”
“I’ll consider it.”
Song Qi stepped in front. “Murong, where are you going? Let me see the map.”
“I can read it too,” Shangguan Xuan added.
“The county office is impossible to find. It looks completely different at night and in the day, what’s going on?” Murong Yun slumped at a tea stall in despair.
Shangguan Xuan shook his head. “Stop looking. Follow me.”
The county office stood at the very center of Wanping County. The two of them had stared at the map for ages and nearly gotten lost.
Along the way, Song Qi hugged the firecrackers proudly as people kept glancing back at him. “Over a hundred people turned to look at me today.”
“Yes, yes,” Murong Yun nodded enthusiastically. “Not everyone can hold firecrackers so steadily. You’re special.”
“Of course! Use me however you want from now on.”
After a while, his curiosity returned. “Murong, what are we doing with these firecrackers in broad daylight? Will we get beaten?”
Murong Yun glanced between him and Shangguan Xuan with a mischievous look. “You two…”
“We’re just good brothers!” Song Qi hurriedly clarified.
“I understand,” she said knowingly.
Shangguan Xuan shot Song Qi a look and walked ahead in silence.
Murong Yun suppressed a laugh. “These firecrackers and gongs have a big purpose. You’ll see soon. I’m here to stir up trouble.”
At the county office entrance, guards with fierce expressions stood watch, making passersby avoid lingering.
The midday sun blazed overhead, and the guards struggled to stay awake.
“It’s all because of that brat last night! If I catch him again, I’ll skin him alive!”
“Shh! Do you want to die? If the magistrate finds out, we’re finished!”
In a quiet corner, Murong Yun busied herself applying makeup.
Song Qi stared in astonishment. “How did you do that?”
“You watched every step,” she said, leaning closer. “Can you still recognize me?”
“I watched everything, but somehow I still don’t understand…”
“Next time I’ll teach you.”
“Really?”
“It costs money. Knowledge isn’t free.”
“You’re obsessed with money.” Song Qi pouted, then eagerly leaned forward. “Do mine too, make me more handsome.”
Murong Yun raised a brow. “Alright, but you have to help me.”
“As long as it’s not immoral, I’m in.”
“Relax, it’s for justice.”
Soon, she finished.
“How do I look?” Song Qi asked.
Shangguan Xuan replied calmly, “Very… eye-catching.”
Song Qi beamed. “Now I’ll definitely find a wife!”
Murong Yun nodded seriously. “Indeed, a rare kind of beauty. Just shout louder later.”
Song Qi puffed his chest. “My voice is loud, you’ll see.”
Murong Yun climbed onto the rooftop with difficulty, only to find Shangguan Xuan already sitting there gracefully.
“…Why didn’t you say you could just leap up?”
“You didn’t ask.”
“Hero, scatter these.”
He glanced at the papers briefly. “Not bad.”
With a flick, the sheets scattered into the wind, each bearing four crooked characters—Return the Land to the People!
“Murong, your handwriting is as ugly as ever!” Song Qi laughed.
“He wrote it that way on purpose,” Shangguan Xuan said softly.
Murong Yun’s true handwriting was neat and elegant. The uglier it looked, the harder it would be traced back to her.
Murong Yun instructed Song Qi, “When I light the firecrackers, people will gather. Then you beat the gong and shout—The magistrate seized the people’s land and drove them to ruin! The louder and more tragic, the better.”
She even prepared onions and garlic to help him cry.
“You’re staging a play?” Shangguan Xuan asked with a faint smile.
“No,” Murong Yun shook her finger. “I’ll make the magistrate perform. We just build the stage.”
She lit the fuse.
Boom! Crackle!
Inside, Magistrate Huang Ping was drunk and napping when the explosion shook him off his bed.
“What’s happening?” he stammered.
“My lord! Someone attacked the office! They set off firecrackers!”
The deafening noise drowned everything out.
Smoke filled the streets, and the guards scrambled in panic.
When it finally cleared, townsfolk gathered, picking up the scattered leaflets condemning corrupt officials.
Song Qi struck the gong with trembling arms. “Return the land! The magistrate seized the people’s fields!”
At first, people laughed at him, but soon more joined in, chanting louder and louder.
Magistrate Huang’s face darkened as he stepped out, furious.
Murong Yun rushed forward, grabbed his robe, and burst into tears. “You took our land! My family has nothing to eat!”
He raised a foot to kick her, but she rolled aside, still crying pitifully.
“Where’s your evidence?” he shouted.
Murong Yun suddenly sat up and pulled out the ledger. “Here it is. The records clearly show land seized for private construction.”
The crowd erupted.
Anger spread quickly. People who had long suffered in silence began shouting curses.
Huang Ping panicked.
“According to the law, illegal seizure of land and falsified records means imprisonment…” Murong Yun said, deliberately trailing off.
His adviser confirmed it.
Huang Ping raised his hands. “Alright, alright, I’ll return it!”
By sunset, Huang Ping was sweating heavily, plowing the fields behind an ox.
“How is it? Is the soil loose enough?” he asked nervously, forcing a grin.