In the county town, Wang Qingchen, like everyone else, was preparing for the provincial examination. This examination was held every three years in the capital city of each province (including the Imperial City) and was often held in the eighth lunar month of autumn, hence the name Qiūwéi (Autumn Examination).

Although it was still early before the eighth month, this did not dampen the atmosphere of diligent effort among the scholars. Considering that Wang Qingchen and the others would have to travel from the county town to the provincial capital—a journey that required time—the scholars in their county naturally had less time remaining than those in or near the provincial capital. This fact gave the county scholars even more reason to redouble their efforts.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial City, Fu Lan was also preparing for this session of the provincial examination. The Fu family intended for their son to participate in the examination, secure the rank of Jǔrén (Provincial Graduate), and then proceed to the Metropolitan Examination, ideally passing to become a Jìnshì (Presented Scholar). Only then would he marry Xia Wanling, ensuring that outsiders could no longer accuse the Fu family of trying to climb the social ladder by attaching themselves to the Xia family. Consequently, the Fu family placed immense importance on Fu Lan’s upcoming examination. Especially Master Fu, who saw this not just as a matter concerning his son’s future prospects, but as an issue tied to the very honor of the Fu family. Thus, during this period, Master Fu kept Fu Lan under tight rein, watching him study day in and day out, demanding that his son must pass the examination on the first try.

Fu Lan had initially felt a strange sense of agitation due to the emergence of Xia Wan'yu, and this matter had constantly bothered him. However, now, all those feelings were gone. Where would he find the time to dwell on such matters now? All his time had been commandeered by his father and dedicated solely to his studies, until he successfully obtained the rank of Jǔrén.

Fu Lan had always been obedient to his parents. Now that Master Fu had issued the directive, something so crucial to the Fu family’s reputation, Fu Lan took the matter seriously, diligently applying himself to his academic pursuits.

Over on the other side, Xia Wan'yu believed her first scheme had been quite effective and was contemplating how to next draw Fu Lan's attention to herself. She had already planned the subsequent strategies, but when she sent her maidservant to inquire, she could not get any news that Fu Lan was planning a visit to the Xia residence. This made Xia Wan'yu anxious. If Fu Lan didn't come, how could she execute her plan? She was not like her second sister, Xia Wanling, who received everything good without having to lift a finger. If she wanted something she desired, she had to fight for it herself, or no one would ever remember that she even existed.

A moment later, Xia Wan'yu calmed herself down and instructed her maidservant to find out why Fu Lan had stopped visiting. If that proved impossible, she told the maid to ask a page boy who was allowed outside the residence to gather information, saying she would generously offer extra rewards if needed. Xia Wan'yu was quite liberal with tips; she knew that as a daughter born to a concubine, she lacked the innate support her legitimate sister enjoyed, which made the household staff hesitant to defy the latter. Therefore, if she wanted to learn what she needed to know, or if she wanted the household pages to assist her, she had to rely on offering substantial rewards. Xia Wan'yu’s efforts to curry favor with Master Xia also stemmed partly from this. Only by pleasing Master Xia could she receive more allowances, giving her the funds to reward others and meticulously plot for what she wanted.

Soon, the maidservant managed to learn from a page boy often tasked with errands outside the estate that the reason Fu Lan had ceased visiting the Xia residence was that he was fully occupied preparing for this year’s provincial examination and had not stepped outside his home.

Upon hearing this news, Xia Wan'yu was initially crestfallen. Her carefully laid plan, which she had just finalized, was being thwarted before she could even put it into action. Could it be that heaven itself judged her actions wrong?

As she pondered, a sense of unwillingness settled upon Xia Wan'yu. What was wrong with planning for her own future? If only her principal mother had treated her better and arranged a respectable marriage for her, she would not have resorted to such desperate measures by scheming against her legitimate sister’s betrothal. Yes, it was all her principal mother's fault; this wasn't what she wanted; she had been forced into this situation.

Thinking this way, Xia Wan'yu found a convenient justification for herself, and her heart settled. Thus, Xia Wan'yu embarked on a new round of machinations.

Xia Wan'yu thought for a long time but couldn't devise a solution. After all, Fu Lan was currently within the Fu manor, an external territory where many actions were difficult to execute. She couldn't very well try to bribe the servants of another household! Even if she were willing, the Fu household servants would never dare agree. If such an incident were discovered, the consequences would be far beyond their ability to bear. Having one's own servants bribed by outsiders was a major transgression; who knew what ulterior motives the briber held? Such compromised servants would be lucky to merely be sold off. Therefore, the difficulty of bribing servants in another household was significantly higher than bribing those within her own.

Xia Wan'yu struggled to find a method until one day, feeling restless, she wandered through the garden and accidentally overheard household servants discussing the contents of the popular storybooks sold in the market—tales of wealthy young ladies passionately loving poor scholars, or the entanglements between cousins. Although such material was not typically fit for sheltered young women like Xia Wan'yu, she was nonetheless delighted, for within those stories, she found an excellent idea.

Once she conceived a viable plan, the next steps became much simpler; she just needed to follow the method outlined in the stories step by step.

Xia Wan'yu’s method wasn't particularly novel; indeed, anyone who had read those popular novels could likely replicate it. However, its strength lay in its audacity. Others might have read about such actions, but in reality, they seldom encountered them. Xia Wan'yu, however, decided to implement the plot directly from the storybooks.

First, Xia Wan'yu painstakingly embroidered a pouch. On this pouch, she stitched a sprig of orchid (lánhuā). After inspecting it to ensure everything was satisfactory, she instructed her maidservant to bribe a page boy to find a way to deliver the pouch into Fu Lan’s hands.

Xia Wan'yu naturally understood that getting the item directly to Fu Lan would not be easy, so she gave the page boy a sum of silver to grease the necessary channels within the Fu residence. Since this request did not involve any sensitive matters within the Fu household, but merely the delivery of an item, there were those willing to undertake the task.

Soon after, Fu Lan received an object delivered by his personal attendant: a pouch.

Looking at the pouch, Fu Lan immediately thought of the person who had made him similar pouches for many years: Xia Wan'yu. However, Fu Lan still asked for confirmation, "Where did this pouch come from?"

"The underlings say it came from the Xia residence," the attendant replied.

The Xia residence—that meant Xia Wan'yu. Who else would embroider such a pouch for him? Knowing the sender, Fu Lan pretended indifference: "Oh, I see. You may go now."

After the attendant left, Fu Lan gazed at the pouch in his hands. For some inexplicable reason, holding it made his mood instantly lift. He had felt somewhat vexed from the recent intense study, but now that irritation seemed to dissipate considerably.

Feeling the comfort this pouch afforded him, Fu Lan got up, intending to find the previous pouch Xia Wan'yu had given him. Upon locating it, Fu Lan placed the two pouches side by side, and a strange sense of pleasure washed over him. Perhaps it was because someone was thinking of him at this moment, or perhaps it was the feeling of being acknowledged by a woman that provided a sense of fulfillment. Regardless of the reason, Fu Lan had to admit that seeing these two pouches significantly improved his mood.

With his spirits high, Fu Lan returned to his reading. Surprisingly, his study efficiency increased markedly afterward, and he felt no boredom throughout the entire day. This pleased him greatly, and he looked upon the two pouches with even greater satisfaction.

Not long after, Fu Lan received another such pouch. This one, however, was not empty; it contained a small note with encouraging words. Many of these sentiments had already been shared with him by his family, so they held little novelty for Fu Lan. Yet, looking at them, Fu Lan felt genuinely happy, though he couldn't articulate why. Simultaneously, Fu Lan began to look forward to Xia Wan'yu’s pouches even more eagerly, as if each one brought him an unexpected feeling.

After sending two pouches, Xia Wan'yu received no response whatsoever. If it had been anyone else, they would surely have panicked. But Xia Wan'yu was different; she possessed great patience, and in her estimation, this delay was nothing. After all, since childhood, she had endured countless waiting periods, both long and short.

After Xia Wan'yu sent the third pouch, Fu Lan opened it to find a short poem inside. Though somewhat juvenile, it possessed a distinct innocence. Fu Lan found this quite interesting and novel. In his view, anything involving poetry was an elegant affair, so this time, he resolved to compose a poem in reply.

Upon receiving Fu Lan’s poem in return, Xia Wan'yu was inwardly overjoyed. After reading it, she decided to write another one to send back.

Similarly, Xia Wan'yu used a pouch to enclose the poem this time. When Fu Lan received it and opened it, besides the poem, there was a note expressing her own meager literary talent and the perceived excellence of his learning, hoping he might offer some guidance. Fu Lan was naturally delighted upon reading this. The underlying meaning of Xia Wan'yu’s words was clearly an appeal for his scholarly instruction! Although Fu Lan suspected these words were largely flattering, he couldn't help but feel pleased—after all, who ever tires of hearing compliments? (To be continued)