Chapter Two: The Sound of Reading Startles a Dream
"Huairou, Huairou, Guo Huairou!"
A few soft calls, seemingly carried across a babbling brook, with the clear, youthful tone, vaguely yet persistently reached Ji Moli's ears. She tried to open her eyes but couldn't, yet the voice, like a wind chime under the eaves in spring, carried a hint of barely perceptible anxiety: "Get up quickly!"
Guo Huairou? This unfamiliar name was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, failing to stir any ripples in her heart.
"I took the morning test!"
The words "morning exam" acted like an invisible command, instantly triggering a conditioned reflex deeply ingrained in her bones. Years of diligent study had instilled a habit that caused her fingertips to tremble slightly even in her drowsy state. She instinctively sat up and reached for her pen, only to knock over the inkstone beside her. With a soft "snap," a jade-handled brush rolled off the table, its rich ink quickly spreading across the slightly yellowed Xuan paper.
At this moment, Moli woke up.
Sound replaced the deathly silence. It was no longer an indifferent stillness, but a chorus of clear recitations, mingled with the chirping of birds outside the window and the rustling of leaves in the wind, full of vibrant life.
A crisp, smoky scent of ink wafted from the Xuan paper, subtly permeating the air, mingled with the faint fragrance of freshly cut grass. A faint, distant wisp of sandalwood breath added to the tranquil and rustic atmosphere characteristic of classical Chinese culture. The clothes she wore were soft and supple against her skin, made of cotton, linen, or silk—a type she had never experienced before, smooth and slightly cool. She sat on a neatly woven straw mat.
She finally slowly raised her eyes, a sudden shock washing over her! She wasn't lying on her familiar bed, but sitting upright before an antique wooden table. Looking around, she found herself in a simple, rustic pavilion. The curtains were slightly rolled up, and the pillars supported the elegantly patterned eaves. Outside the window, layered buildings and pavilions were hidden among the lush greenery, obscuring the view. Sunlight filtered through the windowpanes, casting dappled patterns. The shadows of the trees swayed, and the grass grew lush and green—a scene of tranquility and serenity.
Where is this...?
She distinctly remembered holding her son's small blanket, wanting to say goodbye to this world forever. How could she open her eyes to this scene? Was it a dream? Yet the slightly sticky ink stains on her fingertips, the lingering, calming fragrance, the clear, firm touch beneath her—all felt undeniably real. The stark white light, the pale little face, the numb expression… these fragments of memory clashed with the ancient scene before her, causing a slight dizziness. Before she could think further, she heard that gentle urging, tinged with familiar concern: "Huairou, morning test… don't be tired."
The voice was right next to her. Moli subconsciously turned her head to look, and a face came into view, making her breath catch in her throat slightly.
It looks just like my husband when he was young!
No, no, to be more precise, he resembled her husband when he was in college, around seventeen or eighteen years old, with bright eyes and clear features, red lips and white teeth. He wore a light blue long gown, which accentuated his tall and upright figure, making him look handsome and scholarly.
"You..." Mo Li's lips parted slightly, but only a muffled syllable escaped. A mixture of astonishment and bewilderment left her speechless for a moment.
At this moment, an elder, dressed in a flowing robe with wide sleeves and a jade crown, slowly approached. His gaze was calm, exuding an air of authority without anger. Moli felt an invisible pressure as his gaze swept over her, suppressing all her questions and leaving her speechless. Only the elder's clear voice echoed in the pavilion: "This morning's examination concerns the saying, 'The superior man understands righteousness; the inferior man understands profit…'"
An exam! Moli was startled. Almost instinctively, she reflexively grabbed another calligraphy brush that the servant had already prepared. Although her mind was elsewhere, her long-established coping mechanisms kicked in. She usually enjoyed writing in the small regular script, and in her spare time, she had developed beautiful handwriting. This skill, in this moment, became her lifeline to mask her inner panic. She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, dipped her brush in ink, laid out the paper, and decided to deal with this bizarre situation first, and then slowly figure out what was going on.
As she quietly calmed her emotions, she glanced around. The pavilion was spacious and open on all sides, offering views of the distant, layered verdant mountains and the exquisite garden scenery nearby. The cloud patterns on the dark red pillars were simple and unadorned, and several clumps of emerald bamboo grew gracefully outside the pavilion, swaying gently in the wind, while in the distance, banana trees stretched out their massive leaves. Occasionally, the distant chimes of bells drifted from the depths of the forest, adding to the sense of tranquility and solemnity.
Twenty or thirty students in blue robes sat orderly around her, some with their hair tied up, others with it loose, all with focused expressions. Some were deep in thought, their brows slightly furrowed; some were glancing out the window, their eyes bright and alert; many more were writing furiously, the pages rustling as they turned. The entire space was filled with a rich scholarly atmosphere and a solemn ambiance of seeking knowledge. It made her heart flutter slightly.
She composed herself and focused on the exam questions. "A gentleman understands righteousness, a petty person understands profit"—this wasn't a difficult question for her. After a moment's thought, she incorporated a touch of modern philosophical reflection, and her delicate handwriting gradually filled the paper. The subtle sound of the pen tip scratching against the paper strangely soothed some of the turmoil in her mind.
After an unknown period of time, the elder announced the end of the morning examination, and the students rose to hand in their papers. Mo Li also followed suit and presented her answer sheet.
After handing in her exam paper, Mo Li turned around and finally had a chance to carefully examine the young man who had called her "Huai Rou" and whose face resembled her husband's when he was young. He was calmly tidying up the writing implements on his desk. His desk was very neat, and on it sat an elegant folding fan with two characters engraved in neat characters on the handle: Bing Hui.
"Huairou, what's wrong with you today? Where has your usual energy gone?" That melodious voice rang out again, filled with genuine laughter. The young man looked up, his eyes crinkling as he gazed at her, and even reached out a finger to tap lightly on the corner of her desk, revealing a familiar intimacy.
Mo Li—or rather, Guo Huairou at this moment—quickly responded, still filled with uncertainty: "You...you are Binghui?"
Upon hearing this, the young man was visibly taken aback for a moment, then broke into an even brighter smile, as if he had heard something extremely amusing, and replied cheerfully, "It is indeed I, Bingcheng Huixin. Huairou, have you perhaps become confused from reading too much? You don't even recognize me?"
"My name is... Huairou?" she asked tentatively, trying to find clues in his expression.
The man smiled and said with a hint of mockery, "Otherwise what? Miss Guo Huairou! You're acting really strange today. The usually radiant daughter of General Guo, do you ever feel so absent-minded that you even need to confirm your own name?" He shook his head as he spoke, finding it quite amusing.
General Guo's daughter? Mo Li's mind raced. Looking at her soft blue robe and the beautiful, ancient scenery around her, she still couldn't figure it out. Given the current unclear situation, she could only go with the flow and temporarily accept the name Huairou.
Seeing that the people around had dispersed and Binghui had finished tidying up, Huairou said softly, "Binghui-jun, would you like to take me for a walk?"
Upon hearing this, Binghui readily agreed, nodding readily: "Very good. The morning exam has just ended, and it's time to stretch your muscles and bones. I see that your complexion is indeed different from usual today."
The two stepped out of the scholarly pavilion, bathed in warm sunlight. Huairou took a deep breath of the fresh, sweet air, trying to dispel the fog in her mind. Looking at Binghui beside her, so radiant and witty, she was overwhelmed with emotion. This was clearly her husband in his youth, yet so different—more confident and bright, his eyes sparkling, his heart brimming with wisdom. Thinking of the increasingly silent face in the real world, the face worn smooth by life, a bittersweet feeling welled up inside her, and a sense of loneliness spread like water.
"Binghui, how did we meet?" she asked softly, wanting to know more about the origins of this "self".
"Of course, we've been classmates for three years, seeing each other day and night," Binghui answered matter-of-factly, his tone light and cheerful. "Huairou, if you were a grown man, with your talent and intelligence, you would surely serve as my minister in the future, assisting a wise ruler! Besides, we have our parents' wishes..." He slowed his pace slightly, a faint hint of joy flashing across his face. Moli listened to the straightforward Binghui talking to himself, while looking up at the soaring eaves in the distance.
In the distance, the palaces stood majestically, their eaves soaring gracefully. Under the clear sunlight, the red walls, green tiles, and yellow glazed tiles shone brightly, a stark contrast to the simple and unadorned blue bricks and gray tiles of the academy. They appeared solemn, magnificent, and extraordinary.
"Lord Binghui, where is that?" Huairou asked subconsciously, gazing into the distance. For some reason, the moment she saw the palace, her heart felt as if it had been gently brushed by a feather, a strange pull stirring within her, a call from the depths of her being, drawing her there. This inexplicable stirring temporarily suppressed her current confusion.
“That’s the Brocade Palace,” Binghui explained, a hint of longing in his voice. “It’s where princes and nobles study. If we excel in our studies, we might be chosen as companions to the princes and study there. The instructors are all important ministers of the country, who teach the great principles of governing the country, ensuring peace and prosperity for the people. We should first immerse ourselves in the classics of sages and understand the fundamentals of being a minister. Then, one day we will have the opportunity to assist the monarch and realize our ambitions.”
Moli thought to herself, "My husband, I never knew you harbored such lofty ambitions here." He was completely different from the complacent and somewhat dejected husband she knew. As soon as this thought arose, her emotions became increasingly complicated.
As they were talking, the sound of horses' hooves grew closer until a sleek and simple carriage appeared before them. Binghui hurriedly took his leave: "Huairou, my parents have sent a servant to fetch you. I'll go ahead first. You... wait here for the carriage. Don't forget, you must return to the academy on time in three days." His words were filled with natural concern.
Huairou softly agreed, and, relying on her hazy memory, awkwardly offered a farewell gesture. Watching Binghui nimbly board the carriage, the curtains falling, and the carriage slowly driving away, a faint, bitter smile crept onto her lips. In her memory, her husband had lost both parents at a young age, living alone and experiencing the harsh realities of life. But the "Binghui" before her, riding in such an elegant carriage, mentioning "parents' wishes" in his conversation, must come from a wealthy and harmonious official family. If so, it would be a good thing; at least she wouldn't have to repeat the hardships she knew of. Moli was overwhelmed with emotion, lamenting the capriciousness of fate.
Yet, amidst her relief, a profound emptiness immediately washed over her. Binghui was gone, and all around was desolate. Who was she now? Guo Huairou? She had no idea, and could only stand there blankly, lost and bewildered, feeling like a lone goose adrift in a completely unfamiliar world.
Her mind wandered, and her steps drifted aimlessly along the path, her gaze always drawn to the magnificent Brocade Palace. The invisible pull grew stronger and stronger. She circled around to a secluded spot, and seeing no one around, she mustered her courage and, driven by a strange impulse, found a slightly lower window frame and clumsily climbed over it.
The moment her feet touched the ground, the scenery abruptly changed. Unlike the elegant gardens of the academy outside, this place was filled with ancient trees, mostly pines and cypresses, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere. The magnificent palaces exuded the unique majesty of royalty. Huairou felt a sudden sense of fear, as if she had stumbled into a forbidden place. She quickened her pace, wanting to cross this secluded forest as soon as possible and find a way out.
Unexpectedly, just as she stepped out of the shade of the trees, she heard a commotion. Instinctively, she hid behind an ancient tree and quietly looked over.
Several richly dressed youths were surrounding a slender, simply dressed boy, laughing and mocking him. Their words were sharp and malicious. The boy in the middle of the group kept his head down, his lips tightly pressed together, and remained silent. Beside him was only a young eunuch with an anxious expression.
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