On April 28th, the city of Jinling was shrouded in misty evening clouds and the sunset was picturesque.
Ten miles outside Jinling City, Tengxi Mountain is covered with a profusion of colorful flowers.
In the Jingchun Pavilion atop Tengxi Mountain, Sima Che, the daughter of the Sima family in Yingqiu, tossed the kite in her hand to her maid, Xiao Xing'er. She took the handkerchief Xiao Xing'er handed over and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead. Raising her arm, she fanned herself with the handkerchief, gazing at the dozens of kites soaring high in the sky and smiling, "Spring in Jinling is no different from our Yingqiu, but for some reason, I just feel that Jinling's spring is more beautiful..."
"The spring waters of the Qinhuai River are more majestic than those of our Yingqiu Lotus Lake. The spring scenery of Weiyang Lake is much more profound than that of Yingqiu Ruoshuidang. The Lanting Collection, with its thousands of steles and stone tablets containing poems and essays that have been passed down through the ages, even eclipses the Yingqiu Confucian Temple. Even the Songzhu Academy, Yingqiu's pride, is far inferior to the profound academic atmosphere and debate of the Jixia Academy."
Sima Che's autumn-water eyes looked towards the sunset in the sky. His crystal-clear jade face was dyed a light red by the sunset, like a crescent moon with a halo. When he looked around, he looked like a fairy in the clouds.
Xiao Xing'er bit her lip and smiled sweetly: "It seems that the young lady really likes Jinling, but she doesn't know that she loves the whole family..."
Sima Che blushed, and the handkerchief in her hand fluttered, landing lightly on Xiao Xing'er's head. She raised her eyebrows and said, "Little girl, I'm here to take the Enke exam!"
"I know, I know. Miss is here to take the special examination. Miss will definitely pass the exam. And then... then what?"
Sima Che bit his lip lightly, sat in the pavilion, and looked at the setting sun. "Then, of course, I'll become an official."
"But there's no reason for a woman to be an official."
"Can I dress up as a man?"
"Hehe, Miss is so beautiful. Xing'er really wants to see what she looks like in man's clothing. I'm afraid many women will throw embroidered balls to her, making those tall men envious."
Sima Che smiled, and two shallow dimples appeared on his cheeks, filled with the spring breeze and sunset.
Her smile gradually faded, and she sighed, "It's almost the third day of May, and he hasn't come back yet. Will the Enke exam be postponed?"
Xiao Xinger glanced at her young lady and thought, it’s obvious that she loves her young lady so much, but she is still so stubborn. What should she do?
That lord already has three wives. With the young lady's talent and beauty, would she be willing to be a concubine?
Besides, Lord Fu’s three wives are not simple people. Although the young lady comes from the Sima family of Yingqiu, which is one of the five major business families, she is a businessman after all. The third wife is a princess and the daughters of two ministers, all of whom are royal nobles!
In a mansion like this, the ladies are all scheming against each other. How can a young lady defeat them?
Just as Xiao Xing'er was anxiously thinking about the tragic fate her young lady might face, Sima Che spoke up: "Do you really think I'm here for Lord Fu?"
"Could it be?"
"I tell you, it's not true."
"We've only been in Jinling for half a month. Why did the young lady go to Lantingji to see the Thousand Stele Stone fifteen times?"
"I read his poems and essays, judging his ideas by his writings and his character by his opinions."
"... Did the young lady see what kind of person he is?"
"It's a bit complicated, but I'm certainly talented and not someone who seeks fame. So, I really do intend to take part in the Imperial Examination. His Majesty's decree doesn't forbid women from taking the exam, and I can actually disguise myself as a man, and I've already registered."
Xiao Xing'er was very confused. Throughout history, she had only heard of an empress in the Wu Dynasty, but didn't that empress abdicate after giving birth to a child?
"I thought the young lady was just joking... What if I get hit?"
Sima Che chuckled, his laughter making the sunset lose its color. "Of course I'll pass. If I do, I'll go to Wofengdao to be an official. This position is quite interesting. I've never heard of a hiring system before. I don't know what kind of official position I can get, but even if it's just a county magistrate, I will definitely make that county prosperous!"
Xiao Xing'er swallowed her saliva and looked at Sima Che resentfully, "Miss, you are a woman!"
"What's wrong with being a woman? Don't forget that I'm one of the top three talented women in Songzhu Academy. Furthermore, I've been nurtured by my grandfather and father since I was young, and I have quite a bit of experience in business. Can't I govern a county? You little girl, don't underestimate yourself!"
Xiao Xing curled her lips and didn't dare to say anything else. This was just the temper of a young lady. She always felt that she was no less superior than a man.
But you are a woman, and being among a group of men, not only will you be exposed, but you will also face many inconveniences. If the head of the family knew about this, he would probably be so angry that he would vomit blood.
The setting sun is fading, but the night wind is not cold.
There were fewer kites in the sky. Sima Che had rested enough, so he slowly stood up and stretched his waist. "Let's go, we have to go back to the city. Tomorrow we have to go to the Sitong Bank."
The master and servant packed up their things and headed down the mountain. Xiao Xing'er asked, "What are you going to do at Sitong Bank?"
"Go check out that stock thing."
"oh……"
…
…
After descending Tengxi Mountain, you will reach the official road leading to Jinling City.
The carriage rented by Sima Che was parked beside the official road.
She was about to get on the carriage when two carriages on the official road came galloping around Tengxi Mountain. At the bend, the carriages were running very fast. Coincidentally, the wind blew up her hairband. The carriage passed by and the carriage just happened to catch her hairband. With a hard pull, Sima Che screamed "Ouch" and the hairband was gone with the carriage. Her long hair fell down like a waterfall.
"Stop right there!" She stamped her feet, stared fiercely at the carriage, stepped onto her own carriage, and said one word to the driver: "Chase!"
The driver replied, "Okay!"
With a flick of the whip in the air, the carriage also galloped away.
Xiao Xing'er burst into tears immediately...she hadn't even gotten on the bus yet!
"Miss, Miss..."
Sima Che hadn't noticed that his maid wasn't around. She lifted the front curtain, stuck her head out and stared at the carriage in front, urging it repeatedly, "Hurry up! Don't let him get away!"
"Don't worry, I, Huang Laosi, am known as the best coachman in Jinling. He can't get away!"
The chase lasted ten miles and they entered the city of Jinling.
The carriage in front slowed down, and Sima Che's carriage followed it closely on the streets of Jinling.
After walking around in circles for more than half an hour, Huang Lao Si suddenly said, "Miss...it seems that the carriage has stopped at the gate of the Fu Mansion."
"Which Fu Mansion?"
"It is the residence of Lord Fu, the young official."
"ah……"
"Should we stop now or go forward?"
"...Where's Xiao Xing'er? It's over, let's go back, quickly, we're missing someone!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
