"Jump down, I'll catch you."
A young woman dressed in white men's robes, round spectacles perched on her nose, called out to another who was seated awkwardly atop the courtyard wall, clearly terrified and unsure how to get down. Her face twisted in fear, on the verge of tears like a child—it was a scene begging to be teased.
Standing nearby, A Qiao watched the situation unfold with amused eyes, barely holding back a laugh to spare the young lady's dignity—lest she take offense and turn angry.
"Catch me properly," came the trembling voice from above.
A Qiao finally gave in to a quiet giggle, but when she caught a sharp glare from Li Wan'er, she quickly pretended to cough and looked away.
This was the beloved daughter of the Grand Chancellor of the Yan Kingdom, now enticed into doing something entirely unbefitting a noble lady—climbing over the wall.
The manor's front gate? Useless. After all, she was sneaking out.
And then there was that men's attire—easy enough to guess whose idea that was.
"I'm jumping!" she shouted, and without waiting for any reply, flung herself off the wall, eyes squeezed shut and heart racing.
A Qiao extended both arms and caught her effortlessly, taking only a small step back. She held Wan'er briefly before gently setting her on solid ground.
"See? That wasn't hard at all."
The soft whisper beside her ear made Li Wan'er slowly open her eyes. Realizing her feet were safely on the earth, she let out a relieved sigh and laughed lightly, looking up to meet A Qiao's gaze.
"I nearly died of fright," she murmured. The two locked eyes, caught in a moment as though spellbound.
Then, with a mischievous smirk, Wan'er blew a strong puff of air right into A Qiao's face—the scent of stinky tofu from this morning still lingering.
"What in the world was that!?" A Qiao recoiled, letting go of Wan'er and quickly wiping her face with her sleeve, for she felt moisture had been involved.
"Just getting back at you."
Wan'er answered smugly while straightening her wrinkled clothes, adjusting her hair and the plain jade hairpin atop her head. She threw a jab at A Qiao in passing.
"Your head must be filled with strange ideas. Are you planning to turn this into a new chapter in your book?"
A Qiao gave an awkward laugh, neither denying nor confirming, and quickly changed the subject.
"We finally escaped from Luo Luo the nag—let's hurry and enjoy ourselves." She linked arms with Wan'er and led her toward a carriage waiting just beyond the Li manor wall. The driver leapt down and respectfully opened the door for them.
Wan'er eyed the coachman and then A Qiao with narrowed eyes.
"Does my father truly not know?"
Last evening, A Qiao had proposed a daring escapade. Wan'er initially refused, fearing the trouble it might bring. And yet here she was, hiding in plain sight and going unnoticed by the manor staff. She had to admit—it was exhilarating.
"How else could I get you out of the manor if he didn't know?" A Qiao replied brightly, then seized Wan'er's pointing hand and pulled her into the carriage.
...
The carriage rolled through the capital's main road amidst lively crowds and bustling noise.
Drawing back the curtain, Wan'er gazed curiously outside. The everyday lives of commoners passed before her eyes. The farther they went from the city center, the less ostentatious things became. Her eyes remained fixed on the changing scenery.
In her sixteen years of life, she had rarely witnessed such scenes. Her memories dated back only to over a decade ago—before her world became enclosed behind high walls that separated rigid rules from freedom.
Sitting close to the window, lost in thought, Wan'er remained silent while A Qiao sat beside her quietly, as if understanding the moment.
Before becoming Li Wan'er, there had been many things she had never done—never dared. But now, she was doing them one by one: climbing walls, dressing as a man, sneaking off...
How absurd. How ruleless. Once, she wouldn't have dared even to imagine it.
A gentle smile slowly appeared on her pale face—a relaxed expression rarely seen in the past month.
"Where are we headed?" she asked.
"You'll see... We're almost there," A Qiao replied mysteriously.
Seeing the other wouldn't answer, Wan'er stopped probing and returned her attention to the road. The street ahead teemed with people, many of whom appeared to be young scholars or noble sons. Several carriages also trailed in the same direction—some bearing ornate insignias, others plain and discreet—all headed westward, toward the Chunxiao Ge (Spring Pavilion).
"The Flower Gathering Festival…" Wan'er murmured thoughtfully. "Do you even have an invitation?"
"Don't forget who your father is—of course we have one." A Qiao grinned and held up a small wooden plaque inscribed with the character 'Li.' Upon closer inspection, it was made of smooth, fragrant wood—elegant and refined.
Soon, the carriage came to a stop. Wan'er and A Qiao disembarked amidst a sea of people and slowly blended into the crowd.
Most guests wore pure white robes, particularly the young scholars, which helped the two slip in unnoticed.
A Qiao opened her fan to cover her mouth and whispered with pride, "See? We blend in perfectly."
Wan'er gave her a wry smile, glancing around at the sea of white. It looked like a funeral gathering. Glancing back at themselves, they too wore similar hues.
They would have blended in perfectly...
If not for the conspicuous silver spectacles perched on A Qiao's nose. Passersby threw curious glances their way, some even whispering and pointing. Fortunately, the attention soon faded.
As they neared the Chunxiao Ge (Spring Pavilion), people were already claiming good seats with clear views of the elevated white stone platform built for showcasing the talents of noble young ladies.
A Qiao led Wan'er to a quieter side of the pavilion that still provided a good view.
"Today's the final round. Lots of important people are here. Sit down quickly—the show's about to begin." A Qiao took her seat on a wooden bench, eyes gleaming as they swept across the crowd.
Her visible excitement puzzled Wan'er. What was so interesting?
She followed A Qiao's lead and sat, surveying the event. "Where's the play?"
"Right there," A Qiao replied, gesturing toward the crowd. "They're all vying for attention. Something fun is bound to happen. This is perfect material for my next book!"
She rubbed her hands eagerly, eyes darting around without once looking at her companion.
"And if they speak, will you even hear what they say?" Wan'er asked with an amused smile.
"That's not a problem... Getting too close—that's the real issue."
"How so?" Wan'er grew more curious.
A Qiao turned to her with the solemn expression of a master imparting wisdom to a student.
"Rule number one of being a spectator: always observe from a distance. Get too close, and you might be dragged into the play—suddenly becoming a background character helping the protagonist shine."
The student nodded gravely. "Makes perfect sense."
Staying away meant less trouble—just the way she liked it.
"And rule number two: have snacks ready to enhance the experience—and stay quiet, don't draw attention."
A bundle of snacks appeared before her. Wan'er took it and tucked it into her sleeve—she didn't quite have the appetite yet.
...
This year's Flower Gathering Festival drew special interest, as the final contestants were all exceptional young ladies—noble in birth, beautiful in appearance, and gifted in talents. Rumor had it the crown prince's future consort would be chosen soon, making the event all the more lively.
Some had reserved seats; others stood outside the perimeter.
The competition revolved around the Four Refined Arts. The first round was a game of strategy (Go), followed by Guqin (zither) performance, brush calligraphy, and painting. Audience members who had received invitations would cast their votes—each given four carved wooden flower tokens to place in one of two compartments labeled with the contestants' names.
The winner would earn the honor of an audience with Emperor Wuzong at a grand banquet welcoming victorious generals back from the border a month later.
For the ladies, this was more than a competition—it was a golden opportunity for marriage prospects and family honor.
"How lively today's gathering is! We're late, and all the seats are taken. I must find a spot to cheer for my brilliant cousin."
A handsome young man in elegant white robes waved a fan as he spoke to two companions. They scanned the area, confirming that indeed—there were no seats left.
They had arrived late and the event had already begun, so it was no surprise.
"I'll go ask Master Zhang to arrange a seat for us."
"No need for that," came a calm, gentle voice from the third man.
Clad in pale blue, his refined presence set him apart. Even standing still, his mere glance drew gasps and lingering stares from those nearby.
He scanned the area for a quieter corner—and found it. A simple man in white with spectacles sat there, accompanied by a handful of others. Though a bit distant, it was ideal.
He wasn't particularly eager to attend this gathering.
Having made up his mind, he began walking in that direction. A young man in black, equally handsome but exuding a cold air, silently followed.
"Where are you two going?"
...
No answer. They didn't even glance back.
The white-robed man was left standing alone.
"Sigh… such a harmonious pair of uncle and nephew, truly..."
Muttering to himself, he had no choice but to follow.