Unrivaled in the Clouds
After the provincial examination results were released, outstanding candidates like Li Yi, who ranked high on the list, were not immediately granted official positions. They would then undergo an imperial examination personally presided over by the emperor. Only after this examination would their final rankings be determined.
For the next ten days, Li Yi remained secluded, refusing all visitors and even asking Wen Tingyun for leave from his daily morning lessons, throwing himself wholeheartedly into the final sprint. A silent tension and anticipation permeated the entire Wen household. Even Wen Xiang'er, being sensible, stopped making a fuss and tiptoed when passing by the west wing where Li Yi resided.
On the eve of the imperial examination, Wen Tingyun summoned Li Yi to his study. He didn't delve into classical texts or policy questions, but instead gave him instructions on etiquette for the audience and the proper manners for presenting memorials. "His Majesty is wise and has inquired about current affairs. You should simply respond calmly, drawing upon your usual learning. Remember, be neither arrogant nor servile, and ensure your words are insightful." Wen Tingyun looked at his eldest disciple, who was about to face the most important moment of his life, his gaze filled with both expectation and solemnity.
Li Yi bowed deeply: "Disciple will follow Master's teachings and will never dare to fail the sect's high expectations." His voice was still steady, but his clenched fists were slightly sweaty, showing that his heart was far from calm.
The next morning, before dawn, Li Yi bathed and changed his clothes, donned a neat blue robe, put on a black turban, and solemnly boarded the carriage bound for the Daming Palace.
The Wen residence remained quiet all day, with everyone preoccupied and distracted. Xuanji, though trying not to dwell on it, still made several mistakes while practicing calligraphy. Madam Wen, meanwhile, remained in the small Buddhist shrine chanting scriptures.
It wasn't until dusk, at the sound of the evening drum, that a palace eunuch arrived at the Wen residence on horseback with a message!
The eunuch, his face beaming, spoke in a high-pitched but joyful voice: "Congratulations, Mr. Wen! Congratulations, Mr. Wen! Your son, Li Yi, has been personally selected by His Majesty as the top scholar in this imperial examination, the Zhuangyuan! He will be announced in the Golden Hall, an unparalleled honor!"
Upon hearing the news, the entire Wen residence fell silent for a moment, then erupted in a tremendous cheer. The top scholar! This was the highest honor a scholar could attain!
Upon hearing this, Wen Tingyun's tense shoulders finally relaxed, and he repeatedly said, "Good! Good! Heaven will not fail us! Heaven will not fail us!" Madam Wen wept with joy and kept chanting Buddhist prayers.
Wen Xiang'er ran around the yard excitedly: "Top scholar! Senior Brother Li is the top scholar!"
Lu Jingxiu, Wen Jue, and the others also showed their sincere admiration and joy.
Xuanji stood under the corridor, listening to the commotion outside, his heart filled with awe. The top scholar... that was the pinnacle that countless scholars dreamed of but could never reach.
Not long after, Li Yi returned. He was still wearing that blue robe, but his expression and demeanor were completely different. Although he tried his best to restrain himself, his once cold and stern brows could not hide the triumphant and confident air of someone who had finally reached the summit after overcoming countless hardships. He seemed to be shrouded in an invisible halo, the light of imperial approval and the attention of the world.
He first bowed deeply to Wen Tingyun and his wife to express his gratitude to his teacher. Wen Tingyun personally helped him up and encouraged him with the words, "Never forget your original aspiration and serve the court."
Shi Liu was carrying a tea tray as she passed under the corridor when she saw Li Yi's tall figure bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. For a moment, she forgot about the steps and almost tripped. She hurriedly bent down to steady the tea tray, her cheeks slightly flushed, and quickly turned into the kitchen, her heart still pounding.
The mansion was filled with celebration once again, even more grand than when the provincial examination results were announced. This time, Li Yi became the absolute center of attention. He moved among the guests and fellow students who came to offer their congratulations, behaving with propriety and speaking with composure, already showing the demeanor of a rising star in officialdom.
But in the gaps between the crowd, his gaze repeatedly swept over the hidden secrets in the corner.
Xuanji was talking to Lu Jingxiu, her face turned to the side, her fingertips lightly tapping the scrolls spread out on the stone table. She smiled slightly, her expression focused and bright.
It was a sense of peace rooted in this place, bathed in sunshine and rain, completely different from the gloom and loss he had imagined.
Li Yi's fingertips unconsciously clenched.
After the euphoria and clamor of becoming the top scholar, a sharper and more complex emotion gnawed at his heart. He thought that his cold anger in leaving that day was enough to make her feel uneasy and even... perhaps a little disappointed.
But Xuanji treated him as she had when they first met. Even worse, because of his coldness, all that remained was a pure, polite—aloofness.
As night fell, Li Yi clutched the letter from home in Longxi, the edges of the paper frayed from his unconscious rubbing. The clan chief's words grew increasingly urgent, filled with incomprehension and urging for his new top scholar to "stay away."
A grand ceremony to glorify his family awaited him, and the path to success paved for him by his clan was about to begin. Yet, in this quiet mansion south of Chang'an, he was like a fool waiting for the moon's reflection in a dry well.
Wen Tingyun seemed to have noticed something amiss, and one day after class, he casually reminded him: "I recently received a letter from Longxi, saying that the prefectural government has prepared a grand procession to welcome the top scholar. You are the hope of your clan, not only for your academic achievements, but also for the future you will be entrusted with. Zian, it is time for you to go back."
The following day, he formally bid farewell to Wen Tingyun.
"I will forever remember my teacher's teachings. There are many matters to attend to at home, and the clan chief has urged me repeatedly, so I dare not delay any longer. I will set off to return to Longxi today." His voice was steady, revealing little emotion, but it was a little lower than usual.
Wen Tingyun looked at him with deep eyes, then patted him on the shoulder: "Go on. Be careful on the road."
As Li Yi packed his belongings, his gaze swept over the carefully stored knee pads. Finally, he put them into the trunk.
"Sister Xuanji!" The door was suddenly pushed open, and Wen Xiang'er rushed in, her clothes damp with sweat. She placed the oil paper package she was carrying on the table, its scent carrying the sweet fragrance of rain: "Mother's freshly steamed osmanthus cake is so delicious!"
The night wind outside the window swept in the remaining rain, causing the candlelight to flicker. Xuanji raised her hand to protect the candle wick and saw that Xiang'er was already sitting on the embroidered stool, picking up a piece of pastry and taking small bites, her cheeks puffing out like a rabbit stealing food.
"My father wanted me to recite the 'Songs of Chu' tonight, so I sneaked out," Xiang'er said, blinking.
As the candlelight flickered, Xuanji gazed at the raindrops on the tip of her nose and suddenly recalled last year's Double Ninth Festival—Wen Tingyun was lecturing on the Chu Ci in the courtyard, his sparse eyebrows reflecting the autumn sun. When she served tea, her hand trembled, and the Biluochun tea spilled onto the poems on his desk. He was not angry, but simply took out a plain handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to her. Embroidered on the corner of the handkerchief were the four characters "Xie Shi Wanqing," which was his teacher's wife's maiden name.
Xuanji was lost in her memories, a bitter smile playing on her lips. Seeing her remain silent with her eyes downcast, Wen Xiang'er thought she had said something wrong and awkwardly stood up. Unexpectedly, her skirt got caught on the embroidered carvings of a stool, and she stumbled towards the dressing table—"Crash!"
The makeup box lay overturned on the floor, its pearls and silks spilling out. A blue object rolled slid to the side of the candlestick. Silver-embroidered bamboo leaves glittered in the light.
"I'm so sorry! I'll clean it up right away..." Wen Xiang'er hurriedly reached out to pick up the mess on the floor, her hand just touching the sachet. But a slender hand suddenly reached out and snatched the sachet away like a gust of wind.
She looked up and saw Xuanji with her back turned, her shoulder blades taut beneath her thin shirt like bamboo about to break. She clutched the sachet tightly in her palm.
"Sister Xuanji, I'm sorry," Wen Xiang'er said awkwardly as she stood up.
Xuanji's shoulders trembled slightly. When she turned around again, a forced smile appeared on her face: "This is a sachet I ruined while practicing embroidery. I didn't want you to laugh at me. I... I'll go call Shiliu to fix it..." and then hurriedly fled.
Wen Xiang'er thought she had upset Xuanji. She could only awkwardly get up and take her leave.
A faint, bitter scent of ink brushed past her nose. She subconsciously raised her hand and smelled it again. "This fragrance is so unique... it smells like the bitter ginseng ink in my father's study."
The beaded curtain rustled as Wen Xiang'er left, and the room returned to silence. Xuanji slowly opened her palm; the silver bamboo leaves on the sachet were darkened by sweat, except for the character "筠" (jun), hidden among the veins, which stubbornly shone with the silver light of the stitches. Like certain secrets destined to remain hidden from the light of day.
She stroked the small fish inside the sachet; it was a birthday gift she had prepared for her husband after staying up several nights. But in the end, she never gave it to him.
Xuanji walked to the copper basin—and lit a small flame with a tinderbox. He then brought the sachet close to the flame.
The indigo silk curled up immediately upon contact with the fire, emitting a faint sizzling sound. The silver bamboo leaves twisted and deformed in the fire, and the hidden character "筠" (jun) and the small fish were quickly engulfed by charred remains, turning into a wisp of smoke carrying a burnt smell.
She picked up the copper basin and poured the ashes into the cold rainwater outside the window. The rainwater instantly swallowed and washed them away, leaving no trace.
It was as if those inappropriate thoughts had never existed.
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