The Legend of Zhen Huan: Year after year, we share the spring breeze

A few days later, the results of the new Jinshi exams were announced. Yongzheng sent someone to tell him that a new Jinshi named Song Jiashu wanted to see Concubine Hui. Yongzheng let her decide whether to meet him or not.

Incense smoke curled up in the main hall of Yonghe Palace.

Shen Meizhuang sat upright on a carved rosewood chair, with An Lingrong supporting her head beside her, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table from time to time.

"Your Highnesses, Lord Song has arrived." Xiao Shi tiptoed in to report.

"pass!"

An Lingrong quickly straightened her posture and put away her nonchalant look.

The light at the palace gate dimmed, and a tall figure stepped in. The hem of his newly made cyan official robe swayed slightly with his movements, casting a long shadow on the ground.

"Your humble servant, Song Jiashu, pays homage to the Imperial Concubine Hui and the Imperial Concubine Wen."

Song Jiashu knelt down and bowed, his voice as clear as the sound of jade colliding.

Shen Meizhuang raised her hand slightly: "Master Song, please stand up."

Song Jiashu stood up, but still maintained a respectful attitude.

An Lingrong noticed that his hands had distinct joints and were slightly curled up at his sides, revealing a subtle tension.

Sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows on him. His brand-new official robes made him look radiant. Beneath his black gauze hat, his face was fair and handsome, his sword-like eyebrows slanting into his temples. Though his starry eyes were downcast, they couldn't conceal the radiant light within.

Shen Meizhuang smiled and said, "Congratulations, Master Song, on passing the imperial examination."

Song Jiashu bowed again and said, "I am humbled and humble, and I owe it all to the grace of Your Majesty."

He did not reveal his relationship with the Shen family, otherwise it would seem flattering.

An Lingrong and Shen Meizhuang exchanged glances. This guy is really a smart guy.

Shen Meizhuang picked up the teacup and took a sip before saying, "I heard that Lord Song wants to marry my maid?"

Song Jiashu straightened his clothes and knelt down solemnly again: "I, your humble servant, dare to ask for your blessing."

"The other day, the Emperor praised Master Song for his outstanding talent and ability, saying he would become a pillar of the court in the future." Shen Meizhuang gently put down her teacup. "How many aristocratic families in the court want to marry Master? Caiyue is just a little palace maid. How can she be worthy of Master's current status and position?"

Song Jiashu raised his head, his eyes blazing. "Your Majesty, I am a humble servant, born in a humble family. I have studied diligently for ten years, all for the purpose of standing before you with dignity one day." He paused, his Adam's apple moving slightly. "If I could marry Caiyue, I would cherish her and love her forever."

An Lingrong frowned, "I heard from Caiyue that you and she have known each other for a long time. It's really a coincidence that the eldest young lady of the Shen family chose you!"

Song Jiashu understood what he meant and said quickly, "It is my blessing that the eldest young lady values me. This is also the fate of me and Caiyue."

"Fate?" An Lingrong said with a smile, "If it's fate, then it's fate. If it's deliberate, then it's exploitation. What do you think?"

Song Jiashu, who was kneeling on the ground, was sweating profusely. It seemed that what he had done had been discovered.

In this case, if I continue to hide it, I'm afraid it will only make them dislike me.

He simply told the truth directly: "Your Majesties are very perceptive, and I admire you. Since that is the case, I dare not hide anything anymore."

Shen Meizhuang and An Lingrong remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

“When the eldest young lady was choosing a husband for Miss Caiyue, she did not consider me because my family background was poor and I was only a juren.

At that time, every first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, the eldest and second young wives would go to the Fahua Temple outside the city to burn incense. I knocked down a tree on their path and then appeared at the right time to help them. Only then did the eldest young wife notice me!"

An Lingrong continued, "How did you find out that Caiyue was choosing a husband?"

"After some inquiries, I made friends with Miss Caixing's cousin and got a little information from him. Moreover, the Shen family has no young ladies of the right age. The only person who can trouble the eldest young lady to personally choose a husband for her can be someone close to the Imperial Concubine."

An Lingrong's fingers brushed the edge of the teacup, a sharp glint in her eyes: "You are very smart."

Song Jiashu touched his forehead to the ground and said, "I am ashamed. All I have done was to fulfill my heart's desire. After I leave the palace, I will kowtow and confess my guilt to the eldest young lady."

"You misunderstood." An Lingrong suddenly chuckled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. "When I praised you for your intelligence, I was not referring to your calculations, nor was it because of your frankness today."

Song Jiashu's body froze: "Then what the Queen means is..."

"Song Jiashu, from Yanzhou, Shandong." An Lingrong counted slowly. "His father, Song Lin, was a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of War. His mother died young. His family declined, and he had no one in the court."

She tapped the table lightly with her fingertips, "If you marry Caiyue, it means you're marrying into the Shen family, marrying into... us."

"Your Majesty, I truly love Miss Caiyue with all my heart."

"Sincerity?" An Lingrong sneered suddenly, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes. "Or is it ambition? I'm afraid even you can't tell the difference."

Song Jiashu took a deep breath, and when he raised his head again, his eyes had regained clarity. His voice was steady and powerful: "Your Majesty, please understand. I am indeed from a humble background, and I do not hide my ambitions. But—"

He straightened his back, a sharp gleam in his eyes, "I have studied hard for fifteen years, burning the midnight oil, and what I have learned can support this ambition."

The early spring sunshine shone on his face, making the pride between his brows particularly clear.

He paused, his tone becoming graver: "If Your Majesty only judges heroes by family background, then the court would have been completely occupied by the children of aristocratic families long ago."

An Lingrong chuckled at this, "When have I ever said I looked down on those from humble backgrounds? On the contrary, those I respect most are those who have carved out a niche for themselves through genuine ability. But a true man should have his ways and his ways. You shouldn't have set your sights on women."

Song Jiashu straightened his back and said, "Your Majesty has spoken clearly, so I might as well speak frankly. It is true that I want to find a backer, and it is also true that I want to marry Miss Caiyue."

"We are now enjoying great prosperity in the palace, so of course you will feel that your love for Caiyue is more genuine than gold. But the situation in the palace is ever-changing. If one day we lose power, you are a smart person and you will weigh the pros and cons. At that time, Caiyue will bear the brunt. I dare not hand Caiyue over to such a person."

"My lady, these are just your conjectures."

"Then you have to ask yourself whether my conjecture is correct!"

After saying that, An Lingrong picked up the jade pendant on the table and said, "I'll give this back to you."

Song Jiashu took it and said, "Your Majesty, could you allow me to meet Miss Caiyue?"

"She won't see you!"

When Song Jiashu heard this, a trace of loss flashed across his face, but he quickly regained his composure.

He stood up and straightened his court robes. Without a trace of anger or resentment on his face, he bowed deeply to the two men and said in a steady and powerful voice, "Since that is the case, I, your humble servant, shall take my leave."

Very neat and clear, without any entanglement.

Shen Meizhuang looked at the man's receding figure, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes: "He actually left like this?"

An Lingrong lifted her head and teased, "Sister, what do you think he should do? Kneel down and beg, or swear an oath to heaven?"

"I thought he would make some further arguments or express his sincerity."

"He's made his intentions clear, and we've made our stance clear. If we continue to argue, it would only make us seem tactless."

She paused, her voice firm, "Besides, this Lord Song has the noble and aloof nature of a scholar, and would not do something as persistent as that."

"I think he's a promising talent, but it's a pity that he's too obsessed!"

"Sister, he's studied hard for so many years, and now that he's passed the imperial examination, it's natural for him to want to find a backer. It's normal for him to have such thoughts. If he said he didn't have such thoughts, I would think he was hypocritical and pretentious. That kind of person is even more terrifying."

"Hearing what you said, I think you look at him differently?"

"I think he's quite interesting now. At least... he's quite frank." An Lingrong chuckled. "Besides, he might not give up just like that."

"Oh?" Shen Meizhuang raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"If he's a wise man, he'll think carefully about what I said when he gets back. When he has the wherewithal, he'll come back to ask for my hand in marriage. If he backs off now, it proves he's nothing special. He should be thankful for missing out."

Shen Meizhuang was startled at first, then shook her head and laughed. She reached out and tapped An Lingrong's forehead: "You, your mind is always so meticulous!"

After the two of them finished talking, Caiyue entered the hall carrying two cups of tea.

An Lingrong smiled and said, "Caiyue, are you satisfied now?"

"Thank you, ma'am!"

Caiyue finally breathed a sigh of relief as if she had thrown away a hot potato.

An Lingrong took a sip of tea and said thoughtfully, "Fate is something mysterious and unpredictable. It can't be forced, but it can't be rejected either."