In the Northern Song Dynasty, he started by marrying the eighth daughter of the Su family.

Han Zhi also said, "I won't."

"That would be best. I know about your situation. I will make arrangements for you. Once I give you my notification, you can take your tuition fees and register at the Imperial Academy," Liu Chang said, waving his hand.

"Thank you, Minister Liu," Han Zhi said, bowing for the last time.

"It's nothing. I'm only doing this out of respect for Bao Zheng. It's no big deal to submit a memorial together with him and lend a hand," Liu Chang waved his hand and said.

Bao Zheng patted Han Zhi on the shoulder and said, "In that case, Young Master Han, there's no need to stay any longer, lest people gossip."

Han Zhi nodded and followed Bao Zheng as they turned and left.

Walking through the imperial city, snow began to fall again. Having rushed out without putting on extra layers, he couldn't help but shiver slightly. Seeing this, Bao Zheng quickened his pace and led him to the carriage.

"Well? Does Young Master Han want to go home?"

Han Zhi shook his head and asked, "Master Bao, do you know where the best pastry shop in Bianjing is? Take me there."

"Why go to the pastry shop? If you want some, just have it delivered to your door." Bao Zheng laughed. "Besides, Young Master Han is dressed so lightly. If he catches a cold, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain it to Madam Su."

Han Zhi waved his hand and said, "It's alright. Eighth Sister is reasonable. At most, she'll scold me. She won't involve Master Bao."

"Alright, let's go then." Bao Zheng then drew back the curtain of the carriage and had the driver change direction.

......

The carriage stopped, and Han Zhi peeked out, looking at the shops outside. Snowflakes fell directly onto his head, and a cold wind blew against him, making him shiver.

The shop sign read "Kyoto Incense," but in this heavy snow, he couldn't smell any fragrance emanating from inside. With no other option, he gathered his clothes, got off the carriage, and went inside the shop.

The inside of the store was quite different from the outside; it was very warm. However, there weren't many people in the store, mostly women.

Han Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief, but then a very familiar sensation came over him. He quickly raised his arm to cover his mouth and nose and sneezed.

He sniffed—this was different from the novel. Forget about any cheat codes, how come he didn't even have a physical buff? He could even sneeze.

Han Zhi ignored all of that, gently tidied his nose with his hand, and then began to examine the pastries around him.

"This gentleman?"

Just then, a woman's voice rang out. Han Zhi looked in the direction of the voice and saw two beautiful young women standing there, each holding a box. One was dressed in light pink, and the other in blue; both were stunningly beautiful.

Her lips were naturally red, her eyes sparkled like water, her teeth were white, and her skin was fair.

"Snow is falling outside. This gentleman is dressed so lightly. Has he caught a cold?" the woman in the blue robe asked. It was the same voice that had spoken earlier.

Han Zhi sniffed again and said, "Thank you both for your concern. I caught a chill because I was going from outside to inside and the temperature fluctuated."

The woman in pink also spoke up, saying, "Did you come out earlier, sir? And then it suddenly started snowing, so you didn't put on any more clothes?"

Han Zhi nodded and said, "That's true."

The two women laughed and said, "This gentleman is truly foolish. Since you know it's snowing, why don't you hurry home? Instead, you come here to suffer in the cold for the sake of some food?"

Han Zhi smiled and said, "I promised before, so I'll buy it even in the wind and snow. I can't go back on my word."

With that, Han Zhi began to select pastries.

Both women expressed their understanding. The woman in the blue robe said, "It was our mistake to strike up a conversation today. I am Zhao Xiangxiang, and I greet this gentleman."

"This humble servant, Chen Shishi, greets this gentleman."

Upon seeing the two ladies curtsy, Han Zhi quickly returned the greeting, saying, "I am Han Zhi, greetings to the two ladies."

"May Lord Han enjoy boundless blessings."

Then, as if he had just thought of something, Han Zhi suddenly clapped his hands and said, "You know Liu Yong, right!"

"Liu Yong?" Chen Shishi and Zhao Xiangxiang were both puzzled. They exchanged a glance, and then Zhao Xiangxiang asked, "Who is he?"

Han Zhi was taken aback, while Chen Shishi pondered for a moment: "My sister and I are just courtesans in the city. We have been in the capital for many years and have never seen this gentleman before. Has Master Han heard of us?"

"I am just a candidate for the imperial examination. I only arrived in the capital a couple of days ago. I just happened to read a poem called 'Xi Jiang Yue' and that's why I made this connection."

Zhao Xiangxiang frowned slightly and asked, "What poem is 'Xi Jiang Yue'? May my lord recite it for me?"

"It's a bit rash, not easy to read, is it?" Han Zhi frowned and said.

Chen Shishi smiled slightly and said, "I am a musician, and this poem was not written by Master Han, so what is there to fear?"

"Then I apologize for my offense," Han Zhi said apologetically, and began to recite: "Shishi is beautiful and charming, Xiangxiang is fond of me. An'an is even more affectionate. The four of them are united as one. Fortunately, the emperor has not yet made a decision, and the new poem has been written with much difficulty. I have torn it up and rewritten it several times. The word 'treacherous' is in my heart."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiangxiang immediately spat out, "Pah! What kind of obscene language is this, written by someone like this?"

Chen Shishi patted her and said with a smile, "What's there to be upset about? It's just that we have the same name. Or perhaps, it's just that many people know our names. Don't take offense, Mr. Han, I wasn't talking about you."

Han Zhi quickly shook his head and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing. I was just saying it casually. You two ladies don't need to take it to heart. It was my fault for letting you hear such a poem."

"If there's nothing else, I still need to buy some snacks, otherwise the others will be getting impatient."

“I didn’t mean to blame you, my lord,” Chen Shishi nodded slightly, then took off her cloak and draped it over Han Zhi’s back, saying, “It’s cold now, and you have to take the imperial examination. It’s important to take care of your health.”

"This cloak can be lent to Lord Han for now to keep warm. If you have time in the future, you can go to the Pingluan Tower across the street to find me, and return it then."

Han Zhi dared not accept it, and quickly untied it, saying, "My ladies, you absolutely mustn't..."

"Sir, there's no need to refuse. It's just a piece of clothing, nothing more than a small amount of money."

Presumably taking Han Zhi's words as a polite remark, the two nodded to him again before leaving together. To accommodate Chen Shishi, who had lost her cloak, they both ran across the road and into the building opposite.

Han Zhi dared not wear the cloak, so he quickly took it off, draped it over his arm, and then began to select the pastries he wanted to buy.

However, the shop wasn't without customers. At that moment, one or two male customers came up, seemingly wanting to sniff Chen Shishi's cloak and see what it smelled like.

He didn't dare linger, picked out some of the nicer-looking dishes, quickly paid the bill, and ran out.

As Bao Zheng climbed into the carriage, he noticed that Han Zhi was carrying an extra cloak. He frowned slightly and asked, "Young Master Han, didn't you go to buy some snacks? Why do you have an extra garment in your hand?"

"Old Bao, this is..." Han Zhi didn't say much at this point, he just lifted the curtain of the carriage window and gave a look.

Bao Zheng bent down slightly and looked up, just in time to see a plaque hanging on the red pavilion, its name—

"Pingluan Tower".

After a moment's thought, Bao Zheng smiled knowingly and said, "I didn't expect Young Master Han to have such good fortune with women. I just wonder which lady is among them?"

"Chen Shishi, Chen Niangzi," Han Zhi said.

"Hehehe..." Bao Zheng asked, "Do you know who this Chen Shishi is?"

Han Zhi shook his head. He had thought it was someone he knew, but now it felt like they weren't quite the same person he knew.

"She is one of the three most beautiful courtesans in Bianjing!"