The enemy bandits showed off their special skills to help the officials steal the secret documents

"Sir, be careful." Xiaoyue reminded while pulling Wu Liren hard, barely avoiding the fatal arrow.

"Huh?" The archer, seeing his shot had failed, drew his bow again. Soon, another arrow struck him, and several men wielding broadswords approached. Wu Liren, however, remained trembling, frozen in time.

Seeing that there was nowhere to go, no way to retreat, no escape, no way to avoid it, Xiaoyue exclaimed in surprise: "You forced me to do this!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it was incredibly pleasant, and yet time seemed to freeze. Then a white figure appeared, graceful as a startled swan, elegant as a wandering dragon. Like a light cloud obscuring the moon, like snow drifting in the wind. Wherever it moved, a puff of blood rose, as bright as the sun rising in the morning glow, as dazzling as lotus flowers emerging from the emerald waters. It was as if everyone present were watching a sword dance by Gongsun Da Niang: "Like Yi shooting down the nine suns, swift as emperors riding dragons. It came like thunder extinguishing its wrath, and ended like the clear light of the sea and the river."

The dance ended, the clear light condensed, and only the two of them remained able to recall this dance form banished from the heavens. Wu Liren remained frozen. The man in the bamboo hat stared at Xiaoyue in horror, his mouth trembling, "You, you,..." But his fear was so great that he couldn't utter a complete sentence.

"Send us across the river and I'll spare your life." The voice was as cold as the first snow, but also as bright as the morning light.

The man in the bamboo hat hurriedly agreed, "I'll lead the way and we'll be there soon. Thank you, lady, for sparing my life."

After crossing the river, Wu Liren still felt as if he was in a dream.

"Sir." Xiaoyue called softly.

Wu Liren forced himself to cheer up, "Xiaoyue, you, what's wrong with you...?"

"You are well-read, do you know anything about Gongsun Da Niang?"

"Gongsun Da Niang, who became famous throughout the world for her sword dance during the early years of Emperor Xuanzong's reign?"

"In the past, my master incorporated sword dance into his dance, which was known for its majesty. Zhang Xu, the master of cursive script, mastered the art by watching him dance with a sword. However, the world only knows the dance, not the martial arts. My master taught the world the sword dance to recruit women with exceptional talent and to teach them a lifetime of martial arts, so that weak women would not suffer humiliation in peaceful times and could protect themselves in turbulent times. Since I was a child, my master took me into the mountains and taught me the Gongsun sword technique. Until I became a sword in my hands, my body, and my heart, I was able to leave the mountains. My family was afraid that the court would suspect me of violating the law by using martial arts, so they lied to the outside world that I was abducted by human traffickers and then escaped. I beg for forgiveness, sir."

Wu Liren recalled their past, "No wonder Master Taishan was so hesitant about your childhood. What about the snow lotus and ginseng that cured Xiaoyu?"

"It was given to me by my mentor when I came down the mountain. I was afraid that the official would blame me, so I had to say it was a family tradition."

Wu Liren suddenly remembered, "When you and I met...?"

"That day, when you returned from your study trip, you were attacked from behind by a group of thugs. I happened to see injustice and that's how we met. Fearing you might be suspicious, I said you fainted from weakness. I beg you to forgive me."

"I was wondering why the back of my head hurt so much when I woke up. I thought it was from a fall. You and I are husband and wife. You had this wonderful encounter and saved me from danger twice. How can I talk about forgiveness?" Wu Liren had fully recovered at this time, but his expression was still a little bleak when he spoke.

"Sir, are you unhappy?"

"I just lament that I, a man of seven feet tall, have to rely on a weak woman like you for protection. It's really..."

"Sir, Han Qi, the Minister of State, once said, 'The man who sings the first prize outside the Donghua Gate is a true man!' My humble skills are no match for your wealth of knowledge. I only hope that you can win the first prize, and in the future, display your talents and bring peace and prosperity to the people, so that these ordinary skills will no longer be needed."

"I will definitely live up to Xiaoyue's wish!" Wu Liren's face was still gloomy, but his words were loud and clear.

The prosperity of Bianliang has always been talked about by people all over the world, but today it not only appears in word of mouth, but also appears in front of Wu Liren and his wife.

The Bian River was packed with boats, shuttling back and forth, end to end. Some, laden with cargo, sailed upstream, their boats pulled by trackers with melodious calls, while boatmen rowed with melodious clamors. Some, moored at the shore, loaded and unloaded cargo, some directing it with gestures and feet, others stooping and carrying things.

A large wooden arch bridge over the river, called Rainbow Bridge, is bustling with people. From the railing, you can overlook the river and admire the market scene along the way.

Walking along the bridge and entering Xincao Gate, one enters the streets within the city walls. Rows of buildings line both sides, dazzling with gold and jade, wafting the fragrance of silk and satin. There are teahouses, wine shops, theaters, brothels, carriage shops, shoe shops, temples, bookshops, dye houses, government offices, pharmacies, clinics, fortune-tellers, barbers, and plastic surgeons—every kind of business is available. Larger shops boast colorful gates and hang banners to attract customers. Entering the shops, one finds a dazzling array of silks and satins, dazzling jewelry and spices, and a wide variety of incense, paper, and paper horses...

In the streets, carved carriages competed for space, and fine horses raced along the imperial roads. Pedestrians rubbed shoulders, sweat dripping from their faces, and the stream flowed endlessly. There were merchants traveling north and south for business, gentry glancing at the streetscape; officials on horseback, hawkers hawking their wares; ladies of the harem riding in sedan chairs, wandering monks carrying backpacks; children in the alleys listening to stories, and scholars from other places seeking advice; wealthy and wealthy men and women drinking heavily in restaurants, and widows and the elderly resting quietly on the city's edge. Men and women, young and old, scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans, from all walks of life, were present.

Wu Liren chose an inn near the Imperial Examination Hall and named it "Thoughts Without Bounds." The three characters "Thoughts Without Bounds" were taken from Meng Jiao's famous poem "After Passing the Imperial Examination," the last two lines of which, "The spring breeze is full of joy, the horse gallops, and in one day I see all the flowers in Chang'an," are still widely circulated. The inn's name, imbued with the auspiciousness of passing the imperial examination and the homesickness of a traveler, offers a playful and interesting alternative to more straightforward names like "Zhuangyuan Building" or "Zhuangyuan Ancient Residence."

With the imperial examination still some time away, Wu Liren not only studied for the exam at the inn but also socialized with other scholars, drinking and reciting poetry. He often returned drunk, or packed up some food, saying, "The food at Xianlou Zhengdian is extremely expensive right now," or beaming with joy, "Today, I have received the favor of such and such a great scholar." Occasionally, when he felt bored, he would take Xiaoyue to the night market in Bianliang. She was fascinated by Grandma Cao's meat pies, the Shi family's gourd soup, the Wan family's steamed buns, and Wang Daoren's honey-fried pancakes... all of which made Xiaoyue linger.

As the competition was approaching, Wu Liren came back from outside one day, feeling depressed.

"Sir, have you encountered anything worrying?"

"Rumors are rife that the stubborn prime minister has returned, and this policy discussion is related to the new law. But there are also rumors that, despite the prime minister's return, the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager, and a number of important ministers are vehemently opposed. Furthermore, a few days ago, a comet passed through the moon, and the Imperial Astronomical Bureau reported: 'The people's resentment is condensed on the earth, and the accumulated anger of the ancestors is reflected in the sky. Therefore, the sighting of the comet is a sign of great disaster.' I also heard that the government is considering dismissing the prime minister. So, I haven't decided how to respond to the policy discussion yet."

"Even if you didn't mention it, I wanted to tell you. I was going to buy some writing materials for you at noon, and when I passed by a bookstore, I saw two people looking embarrassed."

Wu Liren also became interested, "Why is it so embarrassing?"

"A young man dressed as a scholar was having a close conversation with a middle-aged man dressed as a servant with a hawk nose and hawk eyes. As soon as the scholar asked about the subject, the servant quickly silenced him. Then he looked around and took the scholar away."

"How can a scholar who studies the books of sages and saints have such close relations with such a person? Moreover, at this time, there must be some secrets that cannot be revealed."

"I had the same suspicion, so I followed them all the way. Later, they arrived at Fanlou. I remember the official saying that Fanlou was the most prestigious of Bianliang's seventy-two official inns, a place a servant wouldn't be able to visit. So, I felt something was amiss. I pretended to be a guest and went in. I found the two scholars had requested the most secluded private room. I ordered a few dishes in the adjacent room as a cover, and overheard their conversation, which was indeed related to the imperial examination."

"Madam, please speak quickly."

"I heard a gruff voice say, 'This essay must emphasize the urgency of the new law. It may be a rallying cry for reform; it may draw on ancient texts and classics to point out that reform is a worthy example of the ancient kings, with a well-founded basis; or it may draw on history to point out that the implementation of the new law requires perseverance and perseverance, like sailing against the current. But there is one key point: the writing must be subtle and not too explicit, so that it cannot be immediately obvious that it is written in support of the reform. This is the conviction conveyed by the eunuchs close to the emperor in the palace.'"

Wu Liren listened, his head bowed in thought, muttering to himself, "Support, but don't be frank. This suggests the government is in favor of the new law, but under internal and external pressure, they dare not be too explicit! I understand. This statement is quite close to the truth. Furthermore, these words are clearly not uttered by a servant; they must be paraphrasing the words of a certain eunuch."

Thinking of this, Wu Liren looked up at Xiaoyue and said, "My lady, you have made great contributions!" But then he began to ponder, "Even if I know the emperor's intentions, it's difficult to write this policy paper. And I don't know the details..."

"Sir, I'm still listening to them discuss the topic..."

"Shh!" Wu Liren quickly stopped Xiaoyue, opened the door and looked around. Seeing that there was no one around, he closed the door and asked Xiaoyue to whisper something in his ear.

Seeing that Wu Liren was still puzzled after hearing the details, Xiaoyue hesitated for a moment and then said, "I also saw a collection of books in the bookstore. I wonder if it can be of help to you, sir."

"Oh, just leave it there for now and let me think about it."

"Sir, I dare not enjoy the food at Fanlou at noon alone, so I will ask the store to heat it up for me."

"Oh, okay." Wu Liren was still thinking.

Even though there was a table full of delicious food, Wu Liren still felt bland. He kept his head down in thought until Xiaoyue finished clearing the table.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew out the candle. When Xiaoyue lit the lamp again, she saw that the booklet she had left on the table had been blown open by the wind, revealing the elegant small characters inside: "When Pan Geng moved, all the officials complained about the people's slander. He moved south, crossed the Yellow River, and established his capital in Bo. The people were revived by Ning Yin Dao."

Wu Liren suddenly perked up. This was an allusion to the story of King Pan Geng of the Shang Dynasty, who relocated his capital. Flooding plagued his old capital, Yan, and prompted widespread complaints from the people, who were reluctant to relocate. Pan Geng offered persuasive warnings, ultimately leading the people south across the Yellow River to Bozhou. Gradually, the people settled, and the Shang Dynasty prospered once again. Using this allusion to echo Prime Minister Jiefu's admonition, "Natural disasters are not to be feared, ancestors are not to be followed, and the opinions of others are not to be taken seriously," is truly fitting and well-placed.

Reading further, the article not only refutes the "popular grievances" but also addresses the old party's accusations of "encroaching on officials, stirring up trouble, seeking personal gain, and rejecting criticism." Even more remarkable is the extensive citations and allusions to the past, which only point to "true" without stating "false," demonstrating a refined and subtle style. While not every word is a gem, the text is rich in rhetoric and flourishes, and the consistently elegant small regular script is truly pleasing to the eye, suggesting a handwritten copy. However, the cover of this pamphlet bears no title, leaving its author unknown.

"Where did you get this booklet, ma'am?"

"I was listening to those two people talking in the bookstore when I took the opportunity to flip through this book. Although I didn't understand the meaning, I thought the handwriting was lovely, so I bought it."

"God is helping me, God is helping me!" Wu Liren was overjoyed, and Xiaoyue was also delighted.