Early in the morning, Song Jinzhao was awakened by the crowing of roosters. Looking through the window at the distant, mist-shrouded mountain peaks, she couldn't help but think back to the first time she went up the mountain to hunt.
Over four years had passed, and everything had changed.
After breakfast, everyone took incense, paper money, food, and wine, and walked toward the foot of the back mountain.
Upon arriving, all that could be seen were burial mounds. Big and small, they were all surrounded by withered yellow shrubs and tall grass.
Only the graves of Third Song and his wife, along with a few mounds around them, were free of dead grass. Furthermore, the characters on their tombstones were crystal clear, suggesting someone frequently came to trace over them.
Standing before the tombstone, Song Jinzhao held a copied imperial decree conferring her the title of County Princess, read it aloud to the grave, and then tossed it into the fire to burn.
Song Qiming followed suit, reading aloud a copied edict granting him the status of a Jinshi scholar.
The white paper, now turned to ash, spiraled upward in the gentle breeze, as if Third Song and his wife had come to take them away.
The cool, chilly wind blew the rabbit fur on Song Anhao's hat, making it sway from side to side.
He knelt properly before the tombstone, his milky, soft voice like freshly steamed rice cakes—soft and sweet.
"Father, Mother, I now study and practice martial arts every day. Grandpa Dongfang, who teaches me at the academy, says I am very smart. My brother and sisters treat me incredibly well, and I live happily every single day."
After speaking, he bit his lip and silently muttered in his heart: It's just that sometimes older brother bullies me, please remember to visit him in a dream and teach him a lesson.
The three older siblings looked at Song Anhao with eyes full of doting affection, unable to stop themselves from recalling how he had wailed in his swaddling clothes right after he was born.
It felt as if it had all just happened not long ago.
Watching the fire on the ground gradually die out, Song Qiming turned to Old Man Song and said, "Grandpa, aside from paying our respects to our parents and visiting you all, my sister and I also want to renovate the ancestral tombs this time we're back."
Old Man Song looked around at the clustered burial mounds. "It is time to repair them. Now that you and Jinzhao have different statuses, the ancestral tombs should be made more presentable."
"I will go find some craftsmen later. Before breaking ground, we must also find someone to read the feng shui. We cannot be careless about this."
Song Jinzhao smiled faintly. "Rest assured, Grandpa. I will definitely find the best feng shui master in Xining City to come take a look. The craftsmen will also be properly arranged, ensuring the ancestral tombs are rebuilt to be both grand and prosperous for our descendants."
Old Man Song nodded in satisfaction. "I am at ease with you handling things."
"After finding out you were conferred the title of County Princess, the village chief led people to erect a stele for you at the entrance of the village shrine. Let me take you to see it."
Seeing them settle the matter of renovating the ancestral tombs in just a few words, Oldest Song, who was following behind, felt a complex mix of emotions in his heart.
There was a sense of loss from being ignored and unable to intervene.
Walking beside him, Second Song nudged Oldest Song's arm with his hand.
"Big brother, a major event like repairing the ancestral tombs should be left to us two sons. You are the eldest, why don't you go talk to Dad about it?"
Oldest Song thought about it and felt it made sense. Just as he was about to nod and go speak to Old Man Song, Second Song added another sentence.
"Tell Jinzhao to hand over the silver for the tomb renovations to the two of us, and we'll handle it."
Oldest Song's feet instantly skidded to a halt. He blinked and blew his nose.
"I think we should let Jinzhao and Qiming handle it. They are successful and have broad horizons; the ancestors will definitely be more satisfied."
Saying this, he quickened his pace and quickly distanced himself.
Since he wasn't the one paying, it was better to speak less. When the time came to repair the tombs, helping out would count as participation.
Watching Oldest Song walk away briskly, Second Song stomped his foot in displeasure.
Old Man Song pulled Song Jinzhao to the entrance of the village shrine.
A rectangular stone stele, six or seven feet tall, stood surrounded by stones in the middle. Engraved prominently upon it were Song Jinzhao's name, birth, the reason for her ennoblement, the date, and a series of praises for her character and merits.
Old Man Song spoke with a face full of pride, "The village chief said that once you returned, they would open the inner shrine. Once the ancestral tombs are repaired, I'll go talk to him."
Looking at the stone stele before her, Song Jinzhao felt a bit conflicted.
Besides feeling honored, it also felt as if a heavy weight had been pressed onto her shoulders.
Song Shixue walked a circle around the stele. Having only her sister's monument standing here felt a bit bare.
"Brother, when your official rank grows higher and higher in the future, you should also erect a stele next to our sister's. That would look much better."
Song Qiming curled his lips into a helpless smile. "You certainly think highly of me."
"County Princess, Magistrate Zhang of Xining City has arrived," Hu Sanluo reported as he ran over.
Barely stepping through the courtyard gate upon returning home, Zhang Yuanzong rushed over from the main hall and bowed deeply with a long salute.
"This humble official, Magistrate Zhang Yuanzong of Xining City, pays his respects to the Linghui County Princess."
Song Jinzhao said, "We are old acquaintances, Lord Zhang. There is no need for such formalities."
Zhang Yuanzong straightened his posture and cupped his hands in greeting upon seeing Song Qiming.
"Lord Song."
Song Qiming nodded in response, "Lord Zhang."
As they sat down to exchange pleasantries, Zhang Yuanzong asked, "How long will the County Princess be able to stay at home for this visit?"
Song Jinzhao replied, "About ten days to half a month. I plan to renovate our family's ancestral tombs this time, and since Qiming placed third in the imperial examination, we also need to host a banquet to celebrate with the villagers. You must definitely come when the time arrives, my lord."
The smile faded from Zhang Yuanzong's face as he regretfully said, "To be honest with you, Princess, this humble official will be departing in three days to take up a new post in Anyang Prefecture, so I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the banquet."
"Oh? Has Lord Zhang been promoted?" Moving from Xining City to Anyang Prefecture was undoubtedly a promotion.
Zhang Yuanzong smiled calmly and cupped his hands toward Song Jinzhao once more.
"Thanks to the County Princess's blessings, the transfer order came down before the new year. I have been promoted to Co-Prefect of Anyang Prefecture. If it weren't for the delay in the new magistrate's arrival, I would have already left to take up my post."
Song Qiming interjected, "May I ask who the new magistrate is? Has he arrived yet?"
Zhang Yuanzong replied, "It is Xiang Guangnian, a newly minted Jinshi. Speaking of which, he is from the same batch of graduates as Lord Song. He will arrive the day after tomorrow."
Song Qiming frowned in confusion and began to recall. "I feel like I've seen that name somewhere before."
But he didn't know the person.
Song Jinzhao arched her brow and reminded him, "He was the top scorer in the final metropolitan examination. His name was right next to Gao Li's."
Song Qiming suddenly understood. "Right, that's him."
"I was wondering why it looked so familiar. It was on the metropolitan examination roll."
If one did not perform well in the metropolitan exam and ranked low in the court exam, without any official vacancies, some new Jinshi often had to wait three to five months, and waiting a year or half a year was also a common occurrence.
The next day, when Song Jinzhao took people into the city to find a feng shui master, Song Qiming took the opportunity to visit Scholar Zheng's home.
Upon entering, the familiar sound of reciting texts reached his ears. As Song Qiming looked at the students studying in the private school, for a brief, dazed moment, he saw his past self.
