Xin Hexue has become smaller.
Fortunately, he had only shrunk in size proportionally.
No wonder that fox demon had looked hesitant when handing him the pill, it turned out that the way to break free of the tracking bangles was to shrink to the point where no external object could be worn at all.
Just as Xin Hexue was about to struggle out of the pile of clothes, the fox demon was so startled he reverted to his original form. “Benefactor! No! You must not!”
How could the benefactor appear before others naked?!
The fox’s snout grasped the four corners of the robe and pulled them toward the center, as if trying to wrap up the miniature version of Xin Hexue tightly.
Xin Hexue: “…”
The fox’s wet black nose nudged forward, originally trying to make the clothing wrap up more neatly, but ended up knocking Xin Hexue over.
The fox demon didn’t even realize it, he simply bundled all the clothes together and carried them off in the mouth.
Only the two fine tracking bangles were left behind, which the fox demon then kicked under the rockery and into the flowerbeds beneath the bamboo grove. People walking by the stone path would have a hard time spotting them deep within the grass.
“Benefactor, where are you going? Are you going to find that Zhou Shanheng now?” Unlike the light garments of summer, the piled winter clothes were thick and heavy, and inside the bundle was stuffy and stifling. Xin Hexue’s muffled voice asked the fox demon to put him down, but the other party couldn’t hear him.
Xin Hexue had no choice but to climb up the clothes.
The red-furred fox suddenly stopped in place. The amber eyes crossed, focusing on the tip of the nose where a tiny figure was now sitting.
He was dressed in neat white silk robes, with a crane cloak over a cross-collared robe and flowing wide sleeves.
The little person was lying on the top of the fox demon’s nose, calmly staring back.
Demons could of course manifest clothing on their own, it just cost a bit of spiritual power.
The red fox blinked, and placed the benefactor down with a bit of regret. “I…I panicked and forgot…”
He had even wanted to sew a beautiful outfit for the benefactor, to show off his exquisite needlework and raise his chances of courtship.
Xin Hexue ordered coldly, “Put all my clothes down.”
The fox demon had no choice but to open its mouth.
Benefactor… even the benefactor’s clothes smelled nice, like the cold fragrance of plum blossoms on snowy branches.
Unable to hide his thoughts, the fox sniffed the air with his nose and, catching that faint cold scent, couldn’t help but lick his lips.
Xin Hexue didn’t notice. After gathering the clothes into his treasure pouch, he stored it all in his danxin, ensuring no trace was left behind.
The fox speculated, “Benefactor, are you going to find Zhou Shanheng? Among the candidates I found in the study, only this one has the surname Zhou and comes from Xushou Village, Changjin County, Jiangzhou.”
The fox demon was a bit sour. It seems most demons preferred to eat scholars. But it doesn’t matter.
“Benefactor, if you like this scholar, I can cook him for you. What flavor do you prefer? Salty, sweet, sour, or spicy?” A scholar’s flesh and blood were highly nourishing.
Some demons liked it raw, devouring directly, but the fox demon felt his benefactor was like a banished immortal, such methods would be too crude.
If he cooked the scholar properly, the benefactor would definitely recognize his great cooking skills! That would increase his chances of successful courtship!
Xin Hexue: “…”
He beckoned with his hand. The fox demon lowered his head, and Xin Hexue climbed into the soft fur and tapped him on the head.
“Do not harm him.”
“Zhou Shanheng is my savior. I’m here to repay his kindness, not take his life.”
As he didn’t fully understand the details himself, Xin Hexue gave a brief explanation of how Zhou Shanheng had saved him during a drought.
The fox demon’s expression changed repeatedly.
He realized his courtship attempt might have failed before it even began.
……
Although the position of Zuo Buque wasn’t high among capital officials, due to its duty of remonstrance, the emperor, who was not a foolish ruler, greatly trusted this veteran official who had served across two dynasties.
Therefore, his imperial-granted residence was spacious. In addition to the living area at the back, it also included a miniature garden.
There were pavilions, towers, flower-and-bird ponds, rockeries with clinging cypresses…everything one could imagine. The pond connected to the city’s rivers, large enough for leisurely boat rides. In summer, one could row to gather lotuses. The waterside pavilions were connected by meandering corridors.
Tourists leaned on the railings of hip-roofed gazebos to fish in winter, while others gathered under hard-eaved canopies to chat and play games.
The fox demon’s original form was not big, but he was agile and nimble. He carried Xin Hexue and dodged through pedestrians toward the pavilion where he’d seen the scholar earlier.
When the target appeared in view, the fox demon transformed back into human form.
When passing by, Xin Hexue took the opportunity to quietly hide at the nape of Zhou Shanheng’s neck.
Because of the thick winter clothes, Zhou Shanheng only felt a chill pass by and didn’t notice anything strange.
Xin Hexue observed for a while and realized that the scholars in the pavilion were all there to present their poetry scrolls to the so-called “Lord Wang”.
Each province had only two or three xianggong scholars selected to be sent to the capital. Including students from official academies, the total number of candidates preparing for the imperial exam in Dachen was over 1,800. But only twenty or thirty would ultimately pass as Jinshi. With such fierce competition, gaining favor through scrolls was very important.
They would visit influential officials, present their poetry and writings. If recognized, the official might recommend them to the chief examiner from the Ministry of Rites, or at least mention their name, so that the chief examiner could have an impression of it before the examination.
By then, even if they failed during the exam, their previous scrolls had shown their talent in poetry and prose, and the chief examiner might still put their names on the list for this reason; if they also performed well in the examination, they would be more likely to be selected as the top among the Jinshi of the same level.
Lord Wang seemed to be one of the scouts in this matchmaking banquet of talents.
The fox demon arrived at the pavilion before Zhou Shanheng and introduced himself. Lord Wang immediately smiled warmly, “Ah, you’re the nephew of Deputy Minister Li, right?”
Though it was only a distant relation, he was indeed a junior of the Deputy Minister of Rites.
Before the fox demon even offered his scroll, Lord Wang had already exchanged pleasantries and ended with, “Since you’re related to Minister Li and sitting the imperial exam, the evaluation should be handled by the Assistant Director of Merits and Assessments. I’ll read your scroll and consider a recommendation to him.”
The fox demon respectfully presented his scroll and left politely.
But when it came to Zhou Shanheng and the two other scholars who came after and were dressed plainly, looking like scholars from poor villages, they received no such warmth.
With so many seeking favor in the two months before the exam, Lord Wang had already grown annoyed.
He didn’t take the scrolls personally, instead instructing his servant to collect them. After glancing briefly at the writings, he waved his hand and said, “Put it into the Kuhai book box. I’ll read it later.”
His words carried a hidden meaning.
The box the servant carried was labeled “Kuhai book”. For these examinees, the meaning was clear.
“Later” likely meant never. Whether their scrolls would be read or mentioned depended entirely on the official’s whim. If they wanted to read them, they could read them. If they didn’t want to read them, they couldn’t force them.
Thus, seeking recommendation was not an easy task.
Though they knew this, seeing their hard work dismissed casually and treated with contempt still made the young rural xianggong disheartened.
Zhou Shanheng, however, showed no reaction. He bowed calmly and courteously bid farewell to Lord Wang.
Xin Hexue couldn’t tell if he was indifferent to honor and disgrace, or just used to setbacks.
On the way back, the capital was bustling, unlike the bleak winters in rural counties. There were snow lions of various sizes on either side of the gateway, and towers along the imperial street were decorated with golden bells and colorful ribbons shaped like snowflakes, mountains, and lanterns.
Today the snow had stopped. The streets were bustling with people, carts and horses.
When Zhou Shanheng finally left Zuo Buque’s residence and walked a good distance away, Xin Hexue finally spoke from the back of his neck: “Zhou Shanheng.”
Zhou Shanheng thought he was hallucinating. He raised his head and searched the crowd, but saw no sign of the person he thought of day and night.
From what the fox had told him, Xin Hexue now knew Zhou Shanheng’s background. He remembered that this poor scholar’s courtesy name was Ziyue.
He tried again, calling tentatively: “Ziyue-ge?”
Zhou Shanheng suddenly stopped in his tracks. His eyes swept the surroundings but still found no one. Anxious, he directly called out, “Hexue, is that you?”
Several people passing by looked back at the man speaking to thin air with strange eyes.
Xin Hexue saw his confused expression and suddenly had a mischievous thought.
“Look to your left.”
Zhou Shanheng turned left expectantly, but saw no one. He stepped forward into the bustling traffic anxiously, only to be called back again by the gentle voice.
Xin Hexue reminded, “You’ve gone too far. Step back.”
Then chuckled softly, “Look to your right.”
Zhou Shanheng followed his words and searched to the right. The flow of people along this long street wasn’t exactly dense, but it couldn’t be called sparse either. His eyes scanned the area, but he only saw unfamiliar faces and the shops and restaurants on the right side of the street.
“Look above.”
Before Xin Hexue even finished speaking, Zhou Shanheng had already thought to look at the window of the private room on the second floor of the restaurant.
He stood still and tilted his head up blankly, but still didn’t see Xin Hexue.
Somewhat panicked, he called out, “Hexue, where are you?”
Xin Hexue answered with unhurried ease, laughing, “Stupid. When did I say I was on the left, right, or above?”
Zhou Shanheng hadn’t yet reacted. His mind was as tangled as a ball of yarn after being played with by a cat. “Then… then why did you tell me to look in all directions?”
Xin Hexue calmly watched him grow anxious. “I wanted to see if you still listened to me.”
“I do listen to you.”
Zhou Shanheng subconsciously pressed the spot in front of his chest. Inside the cross-collared robe, the inner pocket still held that red thread from before.
“Since parting at the mountain stronghold, I’ve been searching for you, waiting for you.”
“Alright, I’m on your back now.”
After teasing him enough, Xin Hexue comforted him, “Take me back to the lodging house where you’re staying first. I’ll tell you more then.”
He clung to the lower back of Zhou Shanheng’s neck. The thick fabric of the cotton robe was inconspicuous in color, so none of the passersby noticed the presence of a tiny person.
Only the fortune teller under the archway at the entrance of the street had observed the entire scene.
He shook his head and clicked his tongue. “The young man was toyed around like a dog chasing its own tail.”
A tall man approached, with sword-like eyebrows and phoenix eyes, his features sharp and defined, and though he had good looks, his expression carried a somewhat sinister gloom.
He tossed a money pouch onto the fortune teller’s table. The sound it made was solid and heavy.
The long-bearded old man’s eyes lit up. He picked up the pouch and asked, “What shall I calculate?”
“What to calculate?” The man raised an eyebrow, slammed both hands down on the table, and enunciated each word, “Calculate my fate in love and marriage.”
The winter wind blew, and the old man smelled the scent of blood wafting off the guest.
His expression changed.
Hen Zhen curled his thin lips into a fake smile, the look in his eyes not following his expression. “Also calculate how many years that poor scholar has left to live, and on what day he’ll die.”
