Chapter Nineteenth: Fallen Leaves Return to Their Roots

  The small courtyard of the Wenxuangong was not very large, but it could still accommodate many people. As time was really late, Yuanzhen and others returned, and the city gate had also been closed early, so Yuanzhen did not leave, but stayed in the small courtyard with everyone else.

  She used to be just a maid by Yan Dai's side, but among the crowd, let alone Xiao Shi's siblings and Ling Yuanqing, even Ling Yuanshu was not dared to be slightly slow with her, not to mention treating her as a maid. After everyone finished their meal and returned to their rooms, Yuan Zhen naturally followed Yan Dai back to the house. The two sat down in the room, and Wen Ping had already brought tea over from the other side.

  Yan Dai smiled and glanced at Yuan Zhen, asking: "But I didn't expect to bring so many people over with me?"

  Yu Zhen shook her head, pursed her lips and smiled: "Miss has done so, naturally there is Miss's own reason! Only I don't know what Miss plans to do now?" These few words have fully shown her trust in Yuan Dai Chun.

  When she asked this, Yuandai was slightly distracted and after a while calmly said: "I will be marrying into the Ruiqin Prince's Manor!"

  Yu Zhen was shocked and asked in a loud voice: "Miss, how could you suddenly change your mind? This..."

  With a slightly tired smile, Yuan Dai finally told everything that had happened in the past few days. If there was anyone in this world she could still trust wholeheartedly, it would naturally be Yan Zhen.

  Yu Zhen listened quietly for a while before saying, "Since Miss has already made up her mind, then so be it!" However, she suddenly paused and said, "Actually... if possible... it would still be better for Miss to marry Rui Qin Wang than those mediocre people!"

  She didn't clearly state what that so-called "possibility" was, but Faraday naturally understood her meaning.

  No immediate words, for a long time. Yan Dai lightly shook her head and said faintly: "So-called ordinary people, they gain small benefits without great evil, and instead have much joy and no worries." As she spoke these words, a hint of bitter smile floated onto her face: "It's just a pity... Yuan Zhen, I now wish to be an ordinary person but cannot!" First, there was Mrs. Lu bullying her, and then Princess Lin Chang turned against her. These two people, if she were willing to put in some thought, would not be difficult to resolve. But firstly, these methods she did not want to use; secondly, in the world, there are no walls that do not leak wind, and some things, once a step is wrong, will inevitably become further and further away, until they cannot be extricated.

  Yu Zhen listened to these words and could only sigh after a long time.

  Yan Dai obviously didn't want to say more, so she called out to Wen Ping to come over and invite Xiao Chengyan to talk. Wen Ping responded and quickly went out. Before long, Xiao Chengyan came over herself. As soon as she entered the door, Xiao Chengyan smiled and said: "I originally thought that when sisters meet again, there should be a lot of private things to discuss, so I didn't come over to disturb you, why did you take the initiative to send someone to call me?"

  Yan Dai smiled and said: "I invited sister over, of course there's good news!" As she spoke, she winked at Yuan Zhen.

  Yuan Zhen Hui Yi, after a smile. Then got up and walked to one side, took out a thin book with both hands, and handed it to Xiao Cheng Xian. Xiao Cheng Xian was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly raised her hand to receive it, and asked in surprise: "What... is this?"

  She smiled and said: "Sister, take a closer look, but I think you should be very fond of this gift!"

  Xiao Chengxian lowered her head without hesitation, opened the small booklet and took a glance. With just one look, she couldn't help but widen her eyes. The booklet was filled with neat and tidy small characters, detailing the names, places of origin, times of entering school, times of passing the imperial examination, and even notes on their family situations for all the scholars who came to Beijing for the exam this time.

  "He... " suddenly lifted his head and looked at Yuan Dai with a shocked expression.

  With a faint smile, Yuan Dai said: "These were investigated by Zhēn for me! However, I no longer need them now!"

  Xiao Cheng gazed at Yuan Zhen with a peculiar expression and said sincerely: "Sister Yuan Zhen is indeed capable!"

  Yuan Zhen smiled upon hearing this, but said: "This book was originally prepared for the young lady. Now that she can no longer use it, if Miss Xiao has a use for it, then that's for the best! However, I still must say one thing - the people in this book may not necessarily meet Miss Xiao's standards!"

  Xiao Chengxian didn't rush to look at the book, but instead smiled at Yuan Zhen and said: "What does this say?"

  Yu Zhen said calmly, "Miss Xiao will find that after carefully reviewing this list, most of the people on it, except for the first twenty or so, are from middle-class families and have only average talent!" Although she knew Yu Dai's intentions, she was still unwilling to give in, and apart from selecting a batch of people according to Yu Dai's requirements, she had also included the top twenty or so candidates from this year's imperial examination on the list.

  Suddenly hearing this sentence, Xiao Chengyan suddenly had an epiphany, and after thinking deeply, she looked at Yuan Daiyi with a profound gaze. She didn't say much either, thanked the two of them, and then took her leave.

  After Xiao Chengxian left, Yuan Zhen smiled and said: "I originally found it strange and couldn't understand why Miss would become friends with her. Now that I've seen her, I know that this Miss Xiao is indeed knowledgeable and interesting!"

  Yan Dai smiled and said, "Alright, it's getting late, let's get some rest! You don't have to accompany me all the time these few days either. After all, I'm only here this time to entertain guests!"

  The two of them washed and slept together for a while, then Yuandai sent off Wenshuang to rest.

  Wen Jing knew that the two of them must have something to say, but they didn't say much and just listened to the order. Inside the house, Yuan Dai and Yuan Zhen lay side by side, after a while, Yuan Zhen asked in a low voice: "Miss, when do you plan to treat Prince Rui's legs?"

  "The sooner the better!" Yu Dai's voice was faint, obviously having made up her mind long ago.

  After a moment of hesitation, Yuan Zhen finally said with some unease: "Miss, have you thought that if... it can't be cured..."

  She smiled lightly and shook her head, "I'm not worried about this! After all, the prince's legs were not injured, so I think that if he can't walk well, it must be because of poisoning or damage to his meridians. If it's poisoning, we can use medicine to treat it, and if it's damage to his meridians, we should use acupuncture combined with medicine to slowly open up the blockage, and recovery shouldn't be a problem!"

  Yu Zhen seemed to trust Yuandai's medical skills very much, and upon hearing this, she didn't mention those things again. Instead, she said in a low voice: "If Miss marries into the Ruiqin Wangfu, I'm afraid even Wenshu won't be able to go out as easily as before, and it will be even harder for us to meet!"

  Suddenly, the elegant and refined face of Baili Zhou appeared in her mind. She lost her train of thought for a moment before Faraday slowly said: "Once his legs are healed, he will inevitably have some plans. At that time, I believe he won't put too much energy into the backyard!"

  Upon hearing these words, Yuan Zhen didn't utter a word for half a day. Just when Yuandai was about to think that Yuan Zhen had fallen asleep, she suddenly let out a soft sigh: "So after going around in circles, we've ended up back at the starting point?"

  This time, however, Yuande remained silent for a long while before finally speaking up and asking: "Yuanzhen, do you still remember what I told you that day?"

  Yu Zhen seemed to be stunned for a moment before nodding: "Of course I remember!"

  "Remember that's all! The reason I wanted to leave back then wasn't as complicated as you think!" As she said this, she couldn't help but smile slightly and glance at Yuan Zhen. "I left only because Father hoped I would return to my roots like fallen leaves."

  After saying this, she obviously lost interest in the topic and ordered indifferently: "Go to sleep!"

  After a slight response, Yuan Zhen indeed did not speak again, and only slightly tilted her head to take a glance outside.

  The pure white moonlight shines through the window lattice and falls in front of the bed, faint and hazy.

  …………

  The next day, everyone got up and washed their faces, then gathered in the flower hall of the small courtyard. Yuandai's three people all had maids by their side, and since they were girls, they naturally wouldn't have the young servants from the Wenxuan Hall serving them. However, Xiao Chengye and Xiao Xingyi both used the young servants from the Wenxuan Hall.

  As soon as they met, Xiao Chengye said: "Just now Wen An asked me whether to go to the main hall for dinner or have the dishes sent here. After thinking about it, I think it's better to go to the main hall for dinner!" As soon as this was said, everyone naturally understood in their hearts. They had come this time precisely to take advantage of the opportunity to observe these candidates who were rushing to take the exam, and going to the main hall for dinner was undoubtedly a good way to do so.

  Everyone present responded and stood up, then left the small courtyard under the leadership of Wen An, a young servant, heading towards the main hall.

  Yesterday when they arrived at the Wenshu Pavilion, it was already dark, and the scenery along the way couldn't be seen clearly. At this moment, going out, all the way, but involuntarily praising in their hearts. Ling Yuexian couldn't help but praise: "This Wenshu Pavilion is really elegant!"

  She was dressed as a young man, and her natural appearance was delicate and tender. With the deliberate intention of Faraday, she suddenly looked younger by several years, looking like a 13 or 14-year-old boy. Therefore, although her voice was clear and childish, it did not arouse too much suspicion.

  Wen An heard this and laughed, saying: "Good! Let the young master know that our Wen Xuan Hall is not a place to be compared with others!" The tone of his words clearly showed that he was very proud of being able to enter Wen Xuan Hall.

  Although Ling Yuexuan felt that he hadn't said anything wrong, looking at him like that made her inexplicably want to strike back at him. She sneered and said: "Apart from being a bit more elegant and refined, I don't see what's so extraordinary about it?"

  Wen An snorted in response, clearly displeased with Ling Yu Xuan's words: "Young master, your words are quite off the mark! Outsiders may think that our Wen Xuan Pavilion is just a somewhat famous inn, but few people know that many of us within the pavilion have also achieved great honors!" As he spoke, he raised his head proudly and said: "During the previous grand examination, several of my brothers from the pavilion participated, and although none of them made it into the top three of the first class, one of them did pass with high honors in the second class!"

  Ling Yuexuan heard these words and couldn't help but feel surprised. She curiously asked, "The several brothers in your pavilion? What do you mean?"

  Wen An proudly raised his head: "They used to do things similar to me, Wen An. Because of their natural talent and ambition, our master valued them greatly! After they turned 15, he allowed them to take on a leisurely role in the pavilion and even sponsored their further education!" As he spoke, a hint of longing appeared in his eyes: "Since my brothers in the pavilion can achieve great things, who knows if I, Wen An, won't have my own day ten years from now?"