The Crown Prince was caught off guard by the question. Then, with a hint of guilt and stubbornness, he said, “I told Imperial Father I was going to the Imperial Academy to ask a teacher about something. He gave me permission, so I came out.”
What he did not say was that, before leaving the Eastern Palace, he had changed clothes three times before settling on this dark blue robe. He had even stood before the bronze mirror for the better part of a tea hour before finally deciding that he was satisfied.
Shi Huai nodded without pressing him.
“Shi Huai, once the provincial examination results are posted, no matter how you do, I’ll arrange a banquet to celebrate you.”
The seriousness in the Crown Prince’s voice made it impossible to refuse.
Shi Huai thought for a moment. “Then I’ll thank Your Highness in advance. But it’s still uncertain whether I’ll pass, so perhaps we should wait until the results are out.”
The Crown Prince was both restless and anxious at his indifferent attitude.
He picked up the osmanthus wine and downed a large mouthful.
The sweet, fiery liquor burned all the way from his throat to his stomach, making his eyes redden slightly.
A burst of footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by Qinghe’s voice. “His Highness the Third Prince, what brings you here?”
The Crown Prince’s hand paused.
He turned toward the doorway, and the Third Prince had already lifted the curtain and walked in.
“Imperial Brother is here too? I thought I was the only one who came.”
The Third Prince naturally took the seat closest to Shi Huai. Without waiting for the Crown Prince to answer, he turned to Shi Huai.
“Shi Huai, what was the topic of the policy essay in the provincial examination?”
“Water management—how to control the flooding of the Yellow River.”
The Third Prince’s eyes lit up, and he leaned forward.
“Then what did you write?”
“I heard that this year’s water-management topic stumped many people. Quite a few came out looking ashen, saying they had no idea where to begin.”
Leaning back in his chair, Shi Huai gave them an outline of his essay.
He began with the root causes of the Yellow River floods: silt building up in the riverbed, weak and poorly maintained dikes, corrupt officials, and negligent laborers. He then proposed concrete solutions for each problem.
The river channels that needed dredging would be dredged, the dikes that needed strengthening would be reinforced, and the corruption that needed rooting out would be dealt with.
The Crown Prince and the Third Prince listened intently.
Although both of them had read extensively, water management was not something one could understand merely by studying books. It involved far too many practical details.
Shi Huai explained everything in clear, accessible terms, breaking down complicated water-management issues into simple principles that anyone could understand.
When he finished, Shi Huai picked up his teacup and took a sip to soothe his slightly parched throat.
The Third Prince was the first to come back to himself. He slapped the table.
“Well written!”
“I’ve seen the problems you mentioned in the memorials as well. The Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works have argued over them for years without reaching a conclusion, yet you’ve explained everything clearly in a single policy essay.”
The Crown Prince’s gaze rested on Shi Huai’s face, filled with admiration and pride.
He could not explain what he was proud of.
Shi Huai was not his student, after all, yet he still felt proud.
So proud that he wanted to take Shi Huai’s essay to Imperial Father and show it to him.
He wanted the Emperor to know what kind of young man had emerged in Great Yan.
The three of them remained in the study for some time. Neither the Crown Prince nor the Third Prince showed any intention of leaving.
It was as though whoever left first would lose, and neither of them was willing to be the first to speak.
Shi Huai yawned, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. His movements carried the distinctive weariness of someone who had just finished an examination.
When the Crown Prince saw him yawn, he finally rose and straightened his collar.
“Get some good rest, Shi Huai. I’ll return for now. I’ll come see you another day.”
The Third Prince rose with him.
The two of them stopped at the entrance to Shou’an Hall. The Crown Prince looked at his younger brother’s face, which was practically written over with unwillingness.
“You’re not leaving yet? The palace gates will be locked soon.”
The Third Prince’s lips moved. “Imperial Brother should go first. There are still a few things I’d like to say to Shi Huai.”
The Crown Prince glanced at him, warning and displeasure clear in his eyes. In the end, however, he said nothing and turned to leave.
The Third Prince walked back into the study and sat down opposite Shi Huai. After a moment of silence, he said, “Shi Huai, your policy essay really was excellent.”
Shi Huai lifted his eyes, a trace of confusion in them. “Didn’t Your Highness already say that?”
The Third Prince’s face reddened slightly. The flush at the tips of his ears refused to fade.
“I mean, you’re sure to pass. You’ll definitely do better than those three from Wenan Academy.”
“Good. I’ll take your good wishes.”
The results were scheduled to be posted on the eighth day of the tenth month, exactly one month after the provincial examination ended.
Shi Huai spent that month in leisure.
Every morning, he practiced swordsmanship for half an hour. After breakfast, he sat in the study and read.
In the afternoon, he would bask in the sun in the courtyard, occasionally allowing Qinghe to drag him out for a walk through the streets.
His days were comfortable, if somewhat boring.
The people around him, however, were far from relaxed.
Every day, Qinghe counted on her fingers how many days remained until the results were posted. Once she finished counting, she would sigh—then start counting all over again.
Nanny Zhou grew so tired of her muttering that she eventually hid herself in the kitchen and refused to come out.
Shi Youlan came running to Shou’an Hall every few days, bringing a different excuse each time.
Sometimes she brought a plate of pastries. Sometimes she brought a flower. Sometimes she brought nothing at all and simply sat in the study watching Shi Huai write.
She claimed she never asked about the examination results.
Yet every time she sat down, less than a tea hour would pass before she found some roundabout way to ask, “Little Brother, are you nervous?” or “Little Brother, what place do you think you’ll get?”
Madam Liu was no better.
Although she did not come to Shou’an Hall herself, she sent Shi Youlan over every day to gather information.
Shi Youlan grew so irritated by her mother’s constant prodding that one day she snapped, “Mother, if you want to know so badly, ask him yourself.”
Madam Liu was so furious that she smashed a teacup. The next day, however, she still sent Shi Youlan over.
Shi Yuanzhi, meanwhile, had been much quieter lately.
He spent his days in the study and occasionally sent someone to Shou’an Hall to ask whether Shi Huai had been eating well and sleeping soundly. Once the questions had been asked, there was never anything more.
Sometimes Shi Huai would have them reply, “Everything is fine.” Other times, he could not even be bothered to answer. Whenever Qinghe responded on his behalf, she always wore an awkward smile.
In the tenth month, the scent of osmanthus drifted through the marquis’s residence.
Qinghe rose early that morning and immediately began bustling about.
She ironed Shi Huai’s clothes again and again, wiped down every corner of the study three times, and chased Tangerine off the bed before changing the bedding.
Tangerine woke up in a foul mood.
It crouched on the windowsill, casting Qinghe a reproachful look as she hurried back and forth. Its tail whipped through the air with a furious whoosh.
