Life’s circumstances are indeed a mysterious affair; one never knows what awaits in the future.
Su Rong laughed again, "But whether it is a small idea or a grand pursuit, as long as it’s not just living numbly through the days, it’s all good. The fact that you can stand here proves that, although ordinary, you have never abandoned certain things. For instance, even though you may never have the opportunity to participate in the Imperial Examination like men, you still cherish things like reading and studying water management, don’t you? You didn’t deem these unimportant or stop learning them just because they might never be used."
Nangong Ya nodded vigorously, "Yes, I feel the same way. Ever since I was a child, I liked to study in the Private School with my peers, but because I am a girl and feared being criticized, I disguised myself as a boy and dressed in boys’ robes. My father raised me as a boy, and I also acted like one. For many years, I almost forgot I was a girl."
She recalled, "Since I had no mother, it was my father who brought me up alone. He never believed that a woman’s lack of talent is a virtue. I also don’t believe I must learn things like embroidery and women’s etiquette. So, influenced by my father, I too loved reading and thinking like a man. However, I never imagined that one day there would be an Imperial Examination for women because, although there were historical precedents in Southern Chu of a queen ruling, there had never been a fair and just examination for both men and women together."
Su Rong nodded, "So, precisely because of that, you are standing here today."
She smiled and asked, "I noticed your answers on water management had quite some ingenious ideas and thoughts. Are you planning to go to the Ministry of Works?"
"Hmm," Nangong Ya replied without a doubt, as that was also her intended choice.
Su Rong nodded, "Alright then."
The two paused their conversation, and then Nangong Ya continued to walk down, asking each individual in turn.
Each person had varying amounts to say; some spoke ten or eight sentences, others just three or two words. It seemed she intended to personally ask each new scholar.
She sat back down, still very excited.
Lu An stayed close to her. Once Lord Ye had been called away, he leaned in to speak with Nangong Ya, "So you’re going to the Ministry of Works?"
"Yes."
Lu An whispered, "The Princess spoke quite a while with you. She seemed to take a liking to you."
Nangong Ya looked at him, "I haven’t seen the Princess dislike anyone. Does talking a bit more mean she found me favorable?"
Lu An grunted softly and whispered, "Lord Ye said the same thing to me, that the Princess took a liking to me. I figure, since she spoke a lot to both me and you, maybe we are both people the Princess finds favorable?"
Nangong Ya: "..."
If that were the case, then perhaps so?
Lu An asked, "May I ask what all the Princess discussed with you?"
Nangong Ya looked at his curious expression and thought there shouldn’t be any harm in sharing, since the Princess had spoken openly about these matters without fearing others knowing. So, she briefly shared.
Lu An looked shocked, "The Princess had so much idle talk with you?"
To him, it truly seemed like idle chatter.
Nangong Ya nodded, "Yes." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Lu An scratched his head, "It’s clear that the Princess prefers you; I’m a bit lacking."
Nangong Ya asked in confusion, "Why do you say that?"
Lu An said softly, "The Princess didn’t chat about these trivial matters with me; it was me babbling on by myself for a long time."
Nangong Ya understood and replied, "I still quite envy you, the Princess brought Lord Ye to your aid, and you entered the Ministry of Personnel. I’m not very clear about the situation in the Ministry of Works. I’ve entered the Ministry of Works, but I don’t know who will support me."
She sighed, "I’m not like you, daring to ask the Princess to find me a facilitator."
Lu An chuckled, "That’s because I truly considered taking up an external post as a low-ranking official. It’s different for you, at least you share the surname Nangong, and there are many people from our clan working at court who can support each other."
Nangong Ya looked at him, "What are you joking about? This broken surname, what is there for you to envy? I would rather switch with you if I could." She sighed, "Fortunately, the Princess is generous."
Lu An thought it over and raised his glass to her, "Come, colleague, let’s drink."
Nangong Ya clinked her glass with hers, "With Lord Ye supporting you as a colleague, if I can’t get by in the Ministry of Works, you’ll have to take care of me too."
"In the Ministry of Works there is a Young Master Cui Yanjin, from the Qinghe Cui family, only twelve years old. I suggest you curry favor with him. As long as Young Master Cui protects you, you’ll definitely be able to get by in the Ministry of Works," Lu An advised.
Nangong Ya scanned the room, "I have heard about him; which one is Young Master Cui?"
Upon hearing this, Lu An also looked around, and after a moment, he found the person and whispered, "There, next to the Master of the Imperial, the one pulling on their sleeves and speaking, asking for something from the Master of the Imperial—that’s Young Master Cui." He finished, then added with confusion, "Huh? Strange, isn’t it widely rumored in the court and country that Young Master Cui and Master of the Imperial are not on good terms with each other? They don’t seem like it now."
At least from what they could see, there was no sign of the Master of the Imperial scowling or turning away, especially since Young Master Cui continued to tug at his sleeve, the two of them pulling and tugging at each other.
Nangong Ya followed Lu An’s gaze, "Oh, that one is Young Master Cui, indeed a handsome young lad."
Lu An thought to himself, actually, the most handsome was probably the Master of the Imperial, right? Young Master Cui was nothing special, he hadn’t matured yet. Of course, he might not compare to the Master of the Imperial even when he grew up, but would she dare to look? Dare to compliment? Of course not, right? After all, that’s the Master of the Imperial, the Princess’s person.
No sooner had he thought this than Nangong Ya whispered to him, "The Master of the Imperial and the Princess are truly well-matched, they seem divinely paired in every way."
In terms of talent, appearance, as well as demeanor, there was no one more fitting than them.
Lu An coughed, "Alright, let’s drink."
These two people were not ones they could casually comment on, especially at the Jeweled Grove Banquet, surrounded by watchers on all sides.
Nangong Ya got the hint, closed her mouth, but thought to herself, I wonder if it’s easy to ingratiate oneself with Young Master Cui. Looking at it now, it seemed like he was pleading or nagging for something from the Master of the Imperial, like a child asking for candy. If he had a childlike nature, he should be easy to ingratiate oneself with, right?
Indeed, Cui Yanjin was pestering Zhou Gu, begging him to make a painting for him because he had heard that the cousin had made a Map of Southern Chu as a birthday gift for his wife and hung it in the Council Hall; though he had never seen it, nor did he much care. After all, he believed his own gifts were more to the wife’s liking, ones she could wear on her wrist or carry in her hand every day. Whereas the painting, although the wife could see it daily, couldn’t be carried around.
However...
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