The news of Shen Wei giving birth to a daughter reached the Empress's ears and naturally spread to the Confucian temple in the outskirts of Yanjing.
The imperial examinations would begin the next day.
Nanny Rong arrived at the temple with an air of arrogance, tossing two strings of coins at Shen's Mother with practiced haughtiness. "Your daughter gave birth to a girl last night. Though a daughter isn't of much use, at least she's contributed to expanding the Prince's lineage. These two strings of coins were entrusted to by Shen Wei to give to you. Take them."
Tears welled up in Shen's Mother's eyes.
She didn't pick up the coins from the ground. Trembling, she asked, "How is my daughter? Is she unwell? Nanny, may I enter the Prince's Mansion to see her?"
Unable to be by her daughter's side during childbirth, Shen's Mother was frantic with worry, her tears flowing freely.
Nanny Rong turned away, her back radiating arrogance. "Soone of your status dares to enter the Prince's Mansion? Shen Wei is still breathing—likely not dead yet. As for the child, she will be handed over to the Princess Consort to raise after the full moon."
Shen's Mother shuddered. "Given to the Princess Consort to raise? Will the Princess Consort treat the child well?"
Nanny Rong shrugged and didn't answer, striding away from the temple with an insolent swagger.
Shen's Mother collapsed to the ground, overwheld by grief. Inside the house, Shen Xiuming, who had been packing his belongings, rushed out to help her inside.
After offering water and soothing her back, it took a long while for Shen's Mother to recover.
In anguish, she struck Shen Xiuming's shoulders, weeping. "If you hadn't gambled back then, your sister wouldn't have had to sell herself into the Prince's Mansion as a concubine. Now, the child she bore will be given to the Princess Consort to raise... How can a child not her own be raised with care? How bitter your sister's life must be..."
Shen Xiuming dropped to his knees and kowtowed deeply to his mother, his voice resolute. "Mother, don't worry. Your son will surely pass the imperial examinations this year! I will rescue my sister from her suffering!"
Every word of Nanny Rong's arrogant speech had seared into Shen Xiuming's ears.
Channeling his grief into determination, Shen Xiuming swore to pass the exams and shed his peasant status. With an official position, his sister would have soone to rely on in the Prince's Mansion.
After kowtowing to his mother, Shen Xiuming shouldered his bag and stepped outside, where the carriage of Elder Yang Xuanji awaited him.
Yang Xuanji himself escorted him to the examination hall. As the carriage rolled forward, Shen Xiuming seized every last mont to ask Yang Xuanji questions. They arrived outside the Ministry of Rites, where the carriage halted at a street corner.
"You are exceptionally talented and gifted. This being your first attempt at the imperial exams, there is great hope for your success. Stay calm and composed during the test—do not let pride or impatience sway you," Yang Xuanji said, gazing at the determined young man before him, as if seeing a reflection of his younger self.
Shen Xiuming knelt and kowtowed three tis. "Teacher, I am forever grateful for your guidance! If I succeed, I will honor you as my father for the rest of my life!"
His eyes brimd with sincerity.
Having lost his father early, Shen Xiuming had grown up without paternal love and once strayed into gambling.
But after turning his life around, he t Elder Yang Xuanji—a man of profound learning and noble character who not only taught him scholarship but also how to be a better person. Months of close ntorship had led Shen Xiuming to revere him like a father.
"Go now. I await your good news," Yang Xuanji said, his voice thick with emotion as he helped Shen Xiuming up.
Carrying his books and supplies, Shen Xiuming walked step by step toward the Ministry of Rites. Scholars from across Qing State gradually gathered, preparing for the grand examination.
...
The imperial examinations lasted three days, with different subjects tested each day. The scholars were confined to small, semi-enclosed spaces to compose their essays.
On the first day, Shen Xiuming entered his assigned cubicle. Taking a deep breath, he neatly arranged his writing tools and waited for the exam papers to be distributed.
Before the test began, nervousness gnawed at him. He feared failure—his sister would lose her only hope of support.
"Prince Yan has arrived."
An official's announcent echoed outside.
As one of the examination supervisors, Prince Yan's presence prompted all scholars to rise and bow toward the elevated platform. This was Shen Xiuming's first glimpse of the Prince—his sister's nominal husband.
Dressed in a silver robe embroidered with gold, his hair tied high in a crown, Prince Yan stood tall and imposing, exuding an aura of natural authority. Behind him, two black-clad guards, broad-shouldered and ard with sabers, watched with sharp eyes.
Shen Xiuming gritted his teeth in silence.
This was the man who had repeatedly hurt his sister. He rembered the bruises on Shen Wei's arms, the redness in her weary eyes.
A fire burned in his heart. Clenching his fists, he swore to excel in the exams—to rise to the top and enter the palace examination.
Only then could his sister have soone to lean on. Only then might Prince Yan no longer neglect her.
"All scholars, return to your seats."
"The imperial examinations shall now comnce."
The scholars retreated to their cubicles as officials from the Ministry of Rites distributed the exam papers in orderly fashion.
From his elevated platform, Prince Yan sipped tea, his sharp gaze settling on one particular cubicle. He had clearly sensed sothing unusual in that scholar's stare—neither friendly nor rely curious.
Half a cup of tea later, one of his guards presented a dossier. "Your Highness, we've retrieved the information on the scholar in cubicle Bing-36."
Prince Yan skimd the file.
It detailed Shen Xiuming's background: a prodigy who had passed the provincial exams young, later fallen into disrepute, then devoted himself to study at the Confucian temple outside Yanjing. The past year, he had received guidance from Yang Xuanji and was now attempting the imperial exams.
"Shen Xiuming..." The na felt familiar.
Then Prince Yan rembered—Shen Wei had once ntioned a scholarly younger brother.
He hadn't expected Shen Wei's brother to be among the examination candidates.
A faint smile touched Prince Yan's lips. "Good. He could be useful."
The rivalry between Prince Yan and Prince Heng was intensifying, and both sides were recruiting talent to strengthen their factions.
Shen Xiuming, as Shen Wei's brother, was both educated and ntored by Yang Xuanji—a promising candidate indeed.
...
Prince Yan oversaw the examinations for all three days.
Once they concluded, he had no ti to rest. He stationed spies to monitor the examiners, ensuring no corruption in grading, and busied himself for over a fortnight, often staying at the Ministry of Rites or the Eastern Palace.
Occasionally, when longing for Shen Wei and the child grew unbearable, he would steal a brief visit before hurrying back to his duties.
Finally, with the examinations fully concluded, Prince Yan returned to the Prince's Mansion under the dim evening light, exhausted. As he entered the Glazed Pavilion, the loud cries of a baby greeted him.
Shen Wei and two maids hovered over a pearwood cradle, frowning at the newborn inside.
"Your Highness, you're back! The child won't stop crying—I don't know what to do," Shen Wei said, her face brightening at the sight of him.
Prince Yan stepped forward to inspect the child.
In the rosewood cradle, the little baby wailed loudly. Unlike the wrinkled appearance at birth, the infant's skin had now grown fair and tender, adorably chubby like a precious little dumpling.
Shen Wei lifted the child from the cradle, but the baby continued to cry without pause.
"She won’t stop crying. I’ve tried soothing her for so long, but Duo Duo just keeps wailing," Shen Wei sighed in frustration before handing the child to Prince Yan. "My Prince, perhaps you could hold her for a while?"
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