Situ Lanzhang and Lin Xian rode their horses slowly.

Lin Xian stroked his newly bought red horse and said:

"Miss, what do you think we should name it?"

"Zhuifeng," said Situ Lanzhang. "In the storybooks, the fast-running horses all have this name. On the other hand, when you call it Zhuifeng, others will know that this horse is fast."

Lin Xian nodded, but seemed to feel something was wrong.

"Miss, if I get married and have a child, what name should I give the child?"

"Xiao Qi."

"You're just giving me a hard time!"

"I don't."

"You want me to have seven?"

Situ Lanzhang said to her, "'Seven' is the sum of yin and yang and the five elements. It is the number of reincarnation and also means endless life. I like this name."

"But it's easy to remember..." Lin Xian said, "It would be even better if the child could have my last name. Lin Xiaoqi sounds nice, too."

"Are you in such a hurry to get married?"

"That's not the case. I haven't seen enough of the outside world yet. I'm just thinking about it casually. Miss, wait for me!"

…

In March of the following year, news came from the north that Duke Liang had revolted.

The people in various parts of the Liao Dynasty had long been unable to endure such a cruel and foolish court. Once the news of the uprising spread, county magistrates and people from all over the country raised their flags in response.

A spark can start a prairie fire in an instant.

The rebel army marched southward with unstoppable force, and it took less than two years to defeat the Liao court.

During this period, Duke Liang died of illness, and his son Yan Xun took over the banner of the rebel army.

On the day when the rebel army broke through the palace gate, the King of Liao disguised himself as a eunuch and fled with several concubines and children. He was killed outside the palace gate by the enraged people.

Yan Xun was strict in military discipline and was deeply loved by the people, so he was supported and made the new king.

Since then, the Liao Dynasty was destroyed, and Yan Xun ascended the throne and changed his name to Daliang.

In the following four years, Yan Xun worked hard to govern the country and recuperate with the people. The originally devastated country finally regained its vitality.

He restored the imperial examination system to select officials, chose virtuous and capable people, and encouraged the establishment of academies among the people.

Rumor has it that Emperor Liang once sent people to secretly search for the whereabouts of a woman among the people, but they never found her.

Yan Xun was busy with state affairs every day, but in his spare time, he would occasionally think of the young man he met by chance.

She once said that she wanted to visit famous teachers of the time, seek knowledge and become the world's number one scholar.

She said she wanted to prove to the world that men and women can both govern a country and rule the world.

She also said, you save the people, I save people's hearts, we both have different paths but the same goal.

If she could pacify the world and the people live in peace, she doesn't know whether her wish would be fulfilled.

Yan Xun never forgot the agreement between them. He once mentioned the issue of women participating in the imperial examinations in the court, but was opposed by a group of old ministers, making it difficult for him to take any action.

After all, the new dynasty has just been established, and all things must be done with the priority of stabilizing people's livelihood, so this matter can only be postponed.

But Yan Xun didn't expect that he would actually meet Situ Lanzhang again.

On the day of the imperial examination, she entered the palace in a student's blue gown. Although she was dressed as a man, Yan Xun recognized her at the first sight.

After seeing each other for several years, Situ Lanzhang's sharp expression has faded a lot, and he looks more calm and wise.

She spoke eloquently in the Golden Palace, criticizing current social ills, and all the military officials in the court were impressed by her words. They all knew that she was the best of the time.

Emperor Liang also intended to appoint one.

But at this moment, someone stood up and said loudly that she was a woman.

The ministers were in an uproar and all demanded that his identity be verified.

Yan Xun thought quickly and wanted to cover up for her, but Situ Lanzhang confessed his guilt on the spot without a word of explanation.

Yan Xun saw that he had no choice but to temporarily put her in jail according to the law.

Before Situ Lanzhang was taken away, he raised his eyes and looked at him from a distance. His eyes were deep and calm, and he seemed to want to tell him something.

At that moment, Yan Xun suddenly understood her intention.

…

Sky prison.

When Yan Xun, wearing a cloak, appeared in front of Situ Lanzhang, a young girl in prison uniform was sitting quietly in a corner of the cell, with her long hair neatly tied behind her ears.

She asked the jailer for paper and pen and was writing something by the light of an oil lamp.

Yan Xun stood outside the prison, looked at her for a long time, and then coughed lightly.

Only then did Situ Lanzhang notice that someone was coming and he stood up and saluted him.

Yan Xun ordered his men to open the prison door and send everyone away.

The 24-year-old emperor walked into the cell and sat face to face with Situ Lanzhang, looking a little gloomy.

He brought a box of cakes. Just as Situ Lanzhang was about to speak, Yan Xun spoke first:

"It's not filled with red bean paste. I asked someone to replace it with osmanthus flowers."