The examination at Guangwen Hall was held every year in October.
The examination was a crucial test for every student at the academy. Exceptionally talented students would be able to participate in the prestigious talent showcase, and most importantly, many renowned scholars and court officials would be watching on that day, with princes observing from the side. If there were outstanding students, they might gain invaluable opportunities to enter official careers.
In any case, displaying one's talents to others was always a chance to shine. Therefore, for the annual examination, everyone strived to earn recognition and glory.
In Level Two, Shen Yue's scholarship was the most distinguished, consistently standing out in the examinations each year. Although Shen Qing's achievement in poetry and literature didn't match Shen Yue's, she excelled in mathematics and accounting, always ranking among the top in this subject.
If one were to speak of failure and being at the bottom, it would be Shen Miao. She was not skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, and was completely ignorant of mathematics and policy analysis. Each year, she would embarrass herself on examination day. Forget about the talent showcase; even passing the test was difficult. In her previous life, what Shen Miao feared most was the annual examination, though she couldn't help but envy Shen Yue and Shen Qing as they stood proudly on stage basking in praise.
Looking back now, she saw it all as childish jealousy. Having witnessed so many grand scenes, having survived political upheavals that shook the empire, she truly didn't take the examination seriously anymore.
She glanced at Feng An Ning and said, "The examination? I've never thought about competing for any rank. Being at the bottom, what is there to compete for?"
Feng An Ning was slightly taken aback; she hadn't expected Shen Miao to so candidly admit to being at the bottom. She carefully examined Shen Miao and asked, "Could it be that you were truly hurt deeply, causing such a dramatic change in your temperament?"
Shen Miao seemed to have transformed overnight—calm, open, and straightforward—showing a composure that didn't belong to her age. Sitting at the same table, this shift in temperament was even more apparent.
"Yes," Shen Miao smiled, saying nothing more.
Perhaps because at this age, young boys and girls instinctively respect or admire those more mature than themselves, Shen Miao's demeanor unconsciously improved Feng An Ning's attitude toward her.
After the mathematics class ended, the students went to the garden outside Guangwen Hall to rest and play. While the girls were playing chess or discussing newly written poems in the classroom, they heard what sounded like a startled horse passing by outside.
"What's that sound?" Yi Pei Lan turned her head.
"Let's go outside and see," Jiang Cai Xuan suggested, pulling Shen Yue. "Come, let's find out what's happening."
Shen Miao had no intention of joining the commotion, but Feng An Ning, after taking a few steps, turned back, thought for a moment, then grabbed Shen Miao's hand: "Come see with us!"
Shen Miao was somewhat surprised. Feng An Ning had always looked down on her, let alone make such an intimate gesture. Before she could understand what was happening, she was already being pulled out of the classroom by Feng An Ning.
Outside, many students had already gathered at the entrance upon hearing the noise. Seeing Feng An Ning pulling Shen Miao along, they all cast surprised glances. Shen Yue's eyes flickered slightly, but she remained silent. Shen Qing, on the other hand, snorted coldly at the sight. Ever since learning that Shen Miao also admired Prince Jin, she didn't even bother to maintain a facade of cordiality.
But this wasn't what surprised people. Cai Lin, who had just squeezed through the crowd, caught sight of someone outside and exclaimed excitedly, "Young Master Xie!"
Young Master Xie? Shen Miao looked outside.
Beyond the vermilion gate of Guangwen Hall stood a magnificent chestnut-colored stallion. The horse's coat was sleek and smooth, clearly a valuable steed that would be hard to acquire even with a thousand gold. The horse proudly pawed the ground with its front hooves, its elegant form attracting everyone's gaze.
But the horse couldn't outshine its rider.
The young man sat straight on horseback, wearing a dark, cloud-patterned fitted brocade robe, covered by a deep purple sable cape. His right hand lazily played with a riding crop. He had sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes, with extremely handsome features. The corner of his mouth was slightly curved, neither smiling nor not smiling, but his eyes were very cold.
Immediately, some girls in the crowd blushed, and disregarding propriety, boldly folded their handkerchiefs into silk flowers and tossed them toward the young man. Ming Qi had always been liberal in its customs, especially regarding rules for young people.
A silk flower landed in the young man's arms. He reached out to catch it, twirling it in his fingers, and curved his lips into a smile. The girl who had thrown the flower immediately clutched her chest, her face flushed red, clearly infatuated.
The next moment, the young man's playful smile vanished. The silk flower fluttered down to the ground, falling beneath the hooves of the chestnut horse, crushed into a heap.
He sat up lazily, naturally possessing a strong aura of aggression, but due to his handsome face, that attraction was magnified to the fullest. He was born to be someone from whom people couldn't look away.
What a cold and malicious person.
Yi Pei Lan murmured, "It's the Young Marquis of the Xie family."
Shen Miao raised an eyebrow. The Young Marquis of the Xie family—Xie Jingxing.
The prestigious families in Ming Qi today had mostly earned their nobility by accompanying the previous emperor in establishing the dynasty. Over generations, some families retained only their titles, hollow within. Others flourished increasingly, becoming resplendent.
There were literary official families like the Feng family, and military families like the Shen family. If the Shen family, as a military household for generations, honestly led troops to battle and was recognized as sincere, then the Xie family, though also commanding significant military forces, was thoroughly unruly inside and out, leaving even the current Emperor helpless against them.
Perhaps it was because the Xie family inherently possessed a rebellious nature. They committed outrageous acts, such as disregarding orders from the distant capital to retreat, insisting instead on taking unconventional approaches and pursuing victorious enemies. Afterward, they would glorify it as "a general in the field may sometimes accept or reject orders." Yet the imperial family always found themselves helpless against the Xie family because the Xie family never lost a battle.
The Shen and Xie families had always been in opposition. This stemmed partly from the previous emperor's deliberate attempts to create division and incite rivalry, achieving a balance of power to stabilize the court. Shen Xin and Marquis Xie's political views had never aligned. Shen Xin couldn't stand Xie Ding's aggressive and unorthodox tactics on the battlefield. Xie Ding couldn't stand Shen Xin's reliance on military manuals in battle, considering him old-fashioned and inflexible. The two families had no interaction beyond arguing in court, a situation the previous emperor welcomed.
After Xie Ding's wife passed away, he did not take another primary wife. He had only one concubine who bore him two sons, meaning Xie Jingxing had two half-brothers. Perhaps because Xie Ding felt sorry for his legitimate son's early loss of his mother and wanted to compensate, he had indulged Xie Jingxing since childhood, ultimately cultivating a lawless temperament in him.
But even so, Xie Jingxing remained a brilliantly dazzling individual. Despite his naturally mischievous and cold nature, his talents, intelligence, appearance, and family background were all among the finest in Ming Qi. Otherwise, so many young ladies wouldn't secretly admire him.
It's just a pity, Shen Miao sighed inwardly, that such an exceptional young man would ultimately meet such a tragic end—pierced by countless arrows and flayed alive.
Perhaps the pity in her gaze was too obvious, as the young man suddenly looked over. His eyes, deep as stars, flashed slightly as he gave her a meaningful glance.
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