"Young Master?" Are you also going to participate in the imperial examinations?
Xuesong cried, as if he had misheard. Why would his young master want to participate in the imperial examinations if he was fine?
"Why can't I?" Yan Jin Chao asked.
Xuesong forced a smile. "It's not that you can't. It's just that if you go, perhaps they won't have any chance, will they?"
Yan Jin Chao hadn't decided to participate in the imperial examinations on a whim. It was Lin Shi Shu who had given him some inspiration.
If he became one of the top three, would that prove he had a chance to meet the Empress in person?
After Xue Zi Ning left, he dreamt of the Empress every day. He couldn't deny it; he truly regretted it, regretting that he had let the Empress go.
Now, his memories were slowly returning, and his memories of the Empress were also coming back.
He knew he had to take action, or he might regret it later.
"Pack your bags. Prepare to depart tomorrow and set off," Yan Jin Chao said.
Xuesong was happy. If he went to the capital, he could legitimately be with Xue Yan.
Indeed, he had also remembered some things about Xue Yan recently.
Thinking that Xue Yan had once said they had two more children, he was eager to see the children he and Xue Yan had.
Yan Jin Chao arrived in the capital in autumn. He disguised himself as an ordinary young noble from the south of the Yangtze River and, with his servants Xuesong and Xue Feng, arrived at Qiushan Academy in the capital.
As soon as he arrived at Qiushan Academy, he heard the good news brought back by Xuesong: the Empress would visit the academy today.
He was somewhat excited. It had been almost two years since their last meeting. He wondered what she looked like now.
In his memory, her Empress appearance was both valiant and beautiful.
All the scholars at the academy were excited. The Empress was coming to the academy; this was a momentous event.
Hadn't they toiled for decades, enduring hardships, just for the chance to enter the capital and meet the Empress?
If they couldn't become a minister to the Empress, becoming her man was also an opportunity.
It was rumored that the Empress would select a few among those participating in the imperial examinations to be included in her harem.
Therefore, this matter caused a great stir. The proud scholars and students felt that the Empress was demeaning them.
Some were even preparing to denounce the Empress, but for some unknown reason, the scholars who voiced these opinions were all punished, either by being beaten or thrown into the water.
The capital's prefect received a tip that the culprit was at Qiushan Academy.
This was also the intention of Xue Zi Ning's visit to Qiushan Academy: to apprehend this culprit, otherwise, the scholars and students would be unable to eat or sleep, and the atmosphere would be filled with unease.
In the carriage, Xue Zi Ning was accompanied only by Xue Yan. Xue Yan couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, this servant feels this person is quite interesting. It seems like someone they know is responsible."
For some reason, she thought of someone, but she couldn't mention that person's name now, as it might make the Empress recall someone.
Outside Qiushan Academy, the teachers and the principal, along with a group of students, were waiting.
When the carriage stopped, everyone bowed and saluted, "Long live Your Majesty, long live, long live!"
"Rise!" Xue Zi Ning said.
The crowd rose and saw a woman descend from the carriage. She had a delicate appearance and wore rich clothing. However, the woman did not step forward but waited in place. After a moment, a pale hand reached out.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a slender figure appeared in everyone's sight.
A long dress the color of the sky and water enveloped the woman's delicate and slender figure, giving her an air of pure elegance.
As the woman alighted from the carriage and walked step by step, the crowd finally saw a face of extreme beauty. Her eyes were as clear as water, pure and translucent, without a trace of impurity.
Despite such a pure and ethereal beauty, with her every step, they felt an oppressive aura.
A powerful presence pressed down on everyone present. At this moment, the woman seemed like a celestial being, looking down upon them as if they were ants.
She surveyed the world with disdain, exuding an unparalleled presence.
This was the majesty of a ruler.
"Your Majesty, we did not go out to greet you. We beg Your Majesty's forgiveness," the principal, Qiu Shan Jun, stepped forward and bowed.
"Principal, please rise quickly. I came without prior notice; it is not the principal's fault."
The Empress and the principal entered Qiushan Academy first.
The students followed behind. Some had already begun to discuss, "So the Empress is so young? I thought she would be much older."
"Not only young, but also so beautiful," another person said.
The impression they had was that the Empress should be stern and cold. They hadn't expected such an Empress.
Thinking about the previous rumors that the Empress might select a few from the participating scholars for her harem, it didn't seem so difficult to accept anymore.
"Young Master..." Xuesong looked at his young master's displeased expression upon hearing other students mention the Empress and felt nervous.
He was afraid his young master would do something rash again.
"Your Majesty, all the students are here," the principal said.
Xue Zi Ning looked up at the students before her and said, "You are all future pillars of our Changjiu Kingdom. I hope to see you all at the final imperial examination."
The students were overjoyed and bowed their heads.
"Your Majesty, this servant will go out for a moment," Xue Yan said.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. Xue Yan withdrew and stopped in a secluded spot, saying coldly, "Following me so sneakily, aren't you coming out?"
"Xue Yan."
Hearing this voice, Xue Yan trembled all over. She turned around and saw Xuesong, her entire body stiffening.
Seeing Xue Yan's surprised expression, Xuesong walked forward, hugged her, and whispered, "I'm sorry, I'm late."
Xue Yan, who had intended to push away Xuesong's hand, stopped. Tears streamed down her face.
Xuesong felt the dampness at his neck and held her tighter. "I'm sorry."
Xue Yan calmed herself and said, "Aren't you going to let go? Do you want everyone to see?"
Xuesong then released Xue Yan. "Did you miss me?"
Xue Yan turned her face away. "No."
"I missed you, very much," Xuesong said.
Xue Yan's face flushed. "Why are you here? Did he also come?"
Xuesong nodded. "Yes, the Young Master has also come."
"What exactly do you want to do? Didn't you refuse His Majesty? Now you've run off to provoke His Majesty again?" Xue Yan questioned angrily.
She had seen how heartbroken His Majesty was, so she only felt anger towards Yan Jin Chao.
"Don't get agitated. The Young Master has regained his memory, and now he's come to find His Majesty. The Young Master had no choice..."
"A fine excuse of 'no choice.' Tell your Young Master to go back quickly. His Majesty has already forgotten him," Xue Yan said indignantly.
"Xue Yan, don't you miss me? If the Young Master leaves, I will have to leave too. Can you bear to see us separated?"
"This cannot be compared."
"Xue Yan, can you give the Young Master a chance?" Xuesong pleaded.
"I don't care. I haven't seen anything today, and I don't know anything."