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Chambers of the Imperial Examination: A Love Story
墨書 Inktalez
I, Liang Liuliu, a member of the esteemed Liang Residence, now find myself selling goods on this bustling street, all for the sake of that thin book, "Lessons for Women."
My stepmother desires me to be obedient, to never step outside the front door or the second gate, yet I am determined to struggle for even a sliver of freedom, even if it is just through a book she wants me to study.
The embroidery in my hands is my secret, the result of three years of withheld allowances, a testament to my clandestine efforts in running an embroidery workshop. Each stitch carries my resentment and hope.
Beneath my willow-shaped brows, my almond-shaped eyes droop slightly as I try to appear like an ordinary girl in need of a livelihood. The vermilion mole on my forehead resembles a tear, silently narrating the coldness of my lineage.
Suddenly, a shrill cry erupted from the end of the street, accompanied by screams and panic from the crowd.
A frenzied steed appeared, its eyes bloodshot, charging like a wild beast while dragging behind it a carriage emblazoned with the bold red characters "Ministry of Rites," clearly transporting examination papers for the Imperial Examination!
Chaos erupted instantly; the sounds of vendors shouting, gasps of astonishment, and the thunderous hooves intertwined into a deadly symphony.
I had no time to evade; I felt an immense force rushing toward me, accompanied by the sharp sound of tearing fabric.
Just as the horse was about to crash into my stall—and possibly harm me—a dark figure leaped forth like lightning.
A crisp metallic hum rang out as a flash of gold appeared—it was a blade!
This was no ordinary weapon; its hilt was inlaid with gold thread, and its long, narrow blade exuded an ancient aura of lethality. It was indeed the legendary Golden Mist Blade.
Under the gleam of the blade, the reins of the horse snapped cleanly. The uncontrollable steed veered away from me, narrowly missing my position. However, the carriage tipped over due to inertia, and heavy bags of examination papers spilled out like a tidal wave, scattering across the ground.
I looked up in a daze and saw a man standing tall, exuding a calm yet oppressive presence.
He wore a dark robe embroidered with bamboo patterns, and his phoenix-like eyes were accentuated by a faint beauty mark. His thin lips were pressed together, and an elusive scent of agarwood lingered around him.
It was the Third Young Master of the Xie Family, Xie Yao.
He had saved me, yet it seemed like merely a trivial act to him. The motion of sheathing his sword was swift and decisive, devoid of any unnecessary emotion.
His gaze swept over the chaos on the ground before lingering on my face for a moment. His eyes were as calm as an ancient well, yet they seemed capable of piercing through one's soul.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites soon arrived, flustered as they hurried to gather the scattered examination papers. The crowd around us began to recover from their shock and started to murmur among themselves.
I crouched down to help pick up a few examination bags closest to me. They were wrapped in thick oilcloth, bound with hemp rope, and sealed with government wax.
As my fingertips brushed against the wax seal, I felt something was off.
A proper seal should be hard and intact, but the one I touched had slightly crumbled edges, as if it had been forcibly peeled open and hastily resealed.
My heart raced at the realization, and memories flashed through my mind: my birth mother’s dying gaze filled with unspoken words, and the strange oppression that had pervaded Liang Residence over the years.
The examination papers with their unusual seals... could they be related to my father Liang Wende's corruption case involving salt?
I discreetly hid the fragments of wax stuck to my fingertips and handed the bag to the officials. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Xie Yao standing not far away, his left hand hidden in his sleeve, seemingly absentmindedly rubbing something.
His gaze happened to fall on me as well. In his eyes, besides the usual detachment and indifference, there seemed to be a hint of curiosity, as if he wondered why someone as humble as I, a mere Chambers, would linger my gaze on the exam paper bag.
When I returned to the Liang Residence, the lingering stench of blood and fear from the streets seemed to cling to my nostrils, accompanied by Xie Yao's icy gaze that made the surrounding air feel chilling.
My stepmother waited inside the drooping flower gate, her expression as cold as frost. It was clear that the chaos on the streets had reached her ears, and for me, a Chambers, to appear in such a situation was, in her eyes, a sin in itself.
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