Early the next morning, just as Shi Huai arrived at the Imperial College, he ran into Shen Jinghong at the entrance.
Shen Jinghong did not look well. There were faint dark circles beneath his eyes, making it obvious he had slept poorly the night before. Even the light in his peach-shaped eyes seemed dimmer than usual.
“Brother Shen, you didn’t sleep well last night?” Shi Huai asked, a trace of concern in his voice.
Shen Jinghong shook his head and tugged the corners of his lips into a smile, though the expression looked painfully forced. “It’s nothing. I had a nightmare and couldn’t sleep soundly.”
Shi Huai did not press him. He merely nodded and walked through the gates of the Imperial College.
Shen Jinghong followed behind him, watching his retreating figure as the light in his peach-shaped eyes flickered uncertainly.
When he had returned home yesterday evening, he had only then learned that his elder sister had left the palace.
Imperial Consort Shen had secretly slipped out under the pretense of going to a temple outside the city to offer incense for the Empress Dowager. Her real purpose had been to visit Shi Huai at the Marquis of Yongning’s residence.
When Shen Jinghong had asked why she had gone to see Shi Huai, Imperial Consort Shen had smiled and said that she simply wanted to see what the person who had left her younger brother distracted every day actually looked like.
Shen Jinghong had exploded on the spot. He smashed an entire tea set and destroyed everything in the study that could be broken.
He had gotten into a furious argument with his sister, only to realize afterward that he had no right to be angry at all.
What identity did he have to stop his sister from seeing Shi Huai? He did not even dare confess his own feelings.
He had tossed and turned in bed all night, kicking the blankets onto the floor and crushing his pillow out of shape. In the end, he had failed to close his eyes even once before dawn.
When Shi Huai entered the classroom, he found it much quieter than usual.
The students who normally chattered nonstop were all sitting quietly in their seats today. Their gazes kept drifting toward him, either deliberately or otherwise, yet none of them took the initiative to come over and speak with him.
Shi Huai found it strange but did not dwell on it. He sat down, took out his book, and began his morning reading.
After a while, Lu Yanli entered the classroom. He was not carrying any books, but a sheet of paper instead, and his expression was far more solemn than usual.
His gaze swept across the room before finally settling on Shi Huai. It lingered there for quite some time.
“There is something to announce today.” Lu Yanli’s voice was lower than usual, carrying a gravity rarely heard from him. “On the ninth day of next month, His Majesty will host a poetry gathering in the palace. Every prominent clan and the Imperial College will be required to send representatives. The Imperial College has five places, and Class A has two of them.”
The classroom fell silent for a moment before erupting into an uproar.
Wang Ren was the first to leap to his feet. The dimples in his round face deepened like two little whirlpools, and his voice trembled with excitement. “A poetry gathering hosted by His Majesty? Good heavens, it’s His Majesty’s poetry gathering!”
Shen Jinghong leaned back in his chair, his peach-shaped eyes half-lidded and the corners of his mouth curved in a confident smile.
“Of the two places, one belongs to Shi Huai. As for the other…” He glanced around the room. “That will depend on who has the ability to claim it.”
Gu Changning raised his head from his book and gave Shen Jinghong a cool look. He said nothing, though his lips tightened slightly.
The others began discussing the matter animatedly as well. Some said that Shi Huai would certainly take one of the places, while everyone else could compete fairly for the remaining spot.
Others said that Shen Jinghong was indeed skilled at writing poetry, but Gu Changning’s essays were not inferior.
There were even those who pointed out that Wang Ren might look simple and honest most of the time, but he had a real talent for composing verse.
Lu Yanli rapped his knuckles against the desk, signaling for everyone to quiet down. His voice grew more serious.
“There is no need to rush over the places. You will take the examination first, and the selections will be made afterward. The theme of the poetry gathering has not yet been decided. The palace will inform us three days in advance, so make proper preparations over the next few days.”
Over the days that followed, the atmosphere in Class A became increasingly subtle.
Everyone was secretly determined to win that one remaining place, yet no one wanted to make their intentions too obvious.
Wang Ren brought two portions of pastries every day—one for Shi Huai and one for Shen Jinghong. With a grin, he claimed that he was “bribing” them so they would go easy on him later.
Shen Jinghong would study Wang Ren’s round, smiling face, a difficult-to-decipher look in his peach-shaped eyes.
Gu Changning remained the same as ever. Every day, he held a book while leaning against the bookshelf, but he kept turning to the same page over and over.
His gaze would rise above the edge of the book and shift back and forth between Shi Huai and Shen Jinghong. Every so often, a complicated glimmer would flash through his sharp phoenix eyes.
Lin Mo began coming around more frequently as well.
Using the excuse of asking about his studies, he would visit Class A, bringing a plate of pastries or a pot of fine tea each time and claiming he had brought them along because he happened to be passing by.
Every time, Shen Jinghong would block Shi Huai and accept the gifts on his behalf, only to turn around and give them to the students in the neighboring class. He would do so with a smile that was both gentle and infuriating.
“Lin Mo, you come running to Class A every day. Won’t your teacher say anything?”
Shen Jinghong leaned against the doorframe, his peach-shaped eyes half narrowed and the corners of his mouth curved in a faintly mocking smile. He looked utterly mild and harmless.
Lin Mo felt a chill run through him beneath that gaze, but he gritted his teeth and refused to back down.
“Our teacher is taking the day off. We don’t have class.”
“Taking the day off? Didn’t your teacher just take leave last month? How is he taking another day off already?”
Shen Jinghong’s smile deepened, but the amusement in his peach-shaped eyes never reached their depths.
Lin Mo’s face flushed bright red. His lips trembled, and it took him a long moment to force out a reply.
“Our teacher is old and in poor health. It’s normal for him to take leave.”
Shen Jinghong drew out an amused “Oh—” The sound stretched deliberately, while the light in his peach-shaped eyes flickered unpredictably.
“Then you should take good care of your teacher’s health. Don’t spend all your time running around outside.”
Shi Huai listened to their exchange from inside the classroom and sighed helplessly.
He set down his brush and walked to the doorway, looking at Shen Jinghong and Lin Mo.
“Brother Lin, did you come looking for me?” Shi Huai’s voice was clear and smooth, like water washed clean by a mountain spring. There was a soothing strength to it that put people at ease.
Lin Mo’s face grew even redder, flushing all the way from the base of his neck to the tips of his ears. He lowered his head, not daring to look at Shi Huai, and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum.
“I…I wanted to ask Brother Shi Huai about something. In the essay you wrote last time, you used an allusion that I didn’t understand. I…I was hoping you could explain it to me.”
Shi Huai nodded and stepped aside, clearing the doorway for him.
“Come in and sit down. I have self-study right now, so I’m free.”
Shen Jinghong reached out to stop him. The smile vanished completely from his peach-shaped eyes, replaced by a cold warning.
“Lin Mo, instead of studying in your own quarters, you ran all the way to Class A to ask questions. Won’t your teacher say anything when he finds out?”
Lin Mo’s entire body stiffened under that gaze. His lips trembled several times before he managed to answer, his voice carrying a faint quiver.
“I…I can study anywhere during self-study. Our teacher won’t mind.”
Shi Huai glanced at Shen Jinghong, then at Lin Mo, a slight frown forming between his brows.
“Brother Shen, it’s not a big deal for Brother Lin to come ask me a question. Don’t stop him.”
Shen Jinghong’s fingers clenched, then slowly loosened. His expression shifted several times before he finally pulled his lips into a smile.
“All right. I won’t stop him.”
