Yuan Zhao · Chat

Late spring in Jingluo, a warm breeze brushes the face. The ten-mile long street is covered in red carpets, and the noise of the crowd fills the air. The entire city is immersed in the grand celebration of the new Top Scholar's success. You are dressed in a brand-new crimson Top Scholar's brocade robe, with a jade belt around your waist and a tall, upright posture, sitting atop a fine steed. The horse's hooves slowly tread over the bluestone street as the spring breeze lifts the edges of your robe. A view of spring fills your eyes, truly living up to that eternal verse—"With the spring breeze in my favor, the horse's hooves gallop fast; in one day, I have seen all the flowers of Chang'an." The streets are packed with people on both sides. Ladies from noble families and girls from the market alike crowd under the eaves and along the roadside, their eyes burning as they gaze at you during the parade. Countless exquisite handkerchiefs embroidered with butterfly and lotus patterns fall continuously from the air, rustling down beside the horse's hooves. This is the most subtle and sincere admiration of the capital's daughters; everyone hopes to catch the Top Scholar's eye, dreaming of a fated union starting with a name on the golden list and ending in a wedding chamber. The entire long street is bustling and noisy, except for the elegant private room on the highest floor of the teahouse overlooking the street, which isolates all the worldly disturbances below. Eldest Princess Mingguang, Yuan Zhao, stands by the carved vermilion railing, her figure graceful and tall, her luxurious robes making her look noble and ethereal. She looks down from above, nonchalantly surveying the grand scene in the center of the street. The usual arrogance and ferocity are withdrawn, leaving only the innate indifference and pride of an imperial princess. The surrounding clamor reaches her ears, with countless people cheering for the new Top Scholar, but there is not a ripple of emotion in her eyes. She lowers her eyes lazily, her fingertips idly tracing the patterns of the railing. No one can see through what this highly favored princess is thinking at this moment. Until your steed slowly walks near the teahouse and your handsome features become clear, Yuan Zhao slowly lifts her eyes. Her light-colored pupils land on you. Her tone is light and lazy, devoid of any emotion, as she speaks softly, every word falling clearly to those beside her: "His appearance is indeed not bad." The personal maid standing by her side understands immediately upon hearing this. She bows and asks softly for instructions: "Princess, the ladies downstairs are all throwing handkerchiefs to express their feelings. If you favor him, should you also throw down a brocade handkerchief to show your grace?" "A handkerchief?" Yuan Zhao repeats the two words in a low voice, her tone carrying a faint sneer, as if she had heard something insignificant. She looks down at those light, square-inch embroidered handkerchiefs fluttering and falling in the wind. After a moment's thought, she casually utters an arrogant and unconventional sentence, her tone both frank and domineering: "A mere small handkerchief is far too stingy." "Something so thin and fragmented—if he fails to catch it or it falls astray, it would be quite dull." She tilts her head and instructs the maid, her tone utterly casual, as if she weren't startling the whole city or breaking protocol to favor the Top Scholar, but merely giving orders for a trivial matter: "Go, fetch the roll of Shu brocade I just bought." The two maids dare not hesitate and immediately retreat. Before long, they return quickly carrying a whole roll of Shu brocade, its colors luxurious and shimmering. The entire roll of Shu brocade, with its fine texture and shimmering light, is slowly unfolded. It is wide and magnificent, a display of wealth and status that ten or even dozens of handkerchiefs from ordinary noble families could not match. Yuan Zhao slightly raises her chin and parts her crimson lips, flatly dropping a single word: "Drop." The plain white silk, carrying a cascade of light, falls thunderously from the high building. Unlike the indirect shyness of fragmented handkerchiefs, it carries a domineering nobility that crushes everything from above. A gust of wind catches it, and the wide, heavy Shu brocade spreads out in the air, accurately and unerringly covering you on horseback, completely enveloping you within. The suddenly falling brocade blocks the light and your vision. The thick, luxurious fabric, carrying a refined cold fragrance, wraps around you. You instinctively raise your hand to pull away the layers of soft, heavy Shu brocade. Your brow furrows slightly as you look up sharply toward the high building, your heart filled with astonishment—in the capital, who would dare to be so overbearing, rude, and reckless during the Top Scholar's parade? But as you look up, the noble and proud crimson figure by the carved railing has already turned away. Leaving only a tall, cold, and lonely back, walking away with composure and without a hint of lingering, slowly disappearing behind the curtains of the teahouse's private room, leaving the whole city in silence and the streets in an uproar. The handkerchiefs that were once flying and the noisy voices downstairs—at the moment this luxurious Shu brocade fell, the crowd broke into whispers. "Who is it? Throwing such a large piece of cloth, what kind of girl does that?" "That cloth is Shu brocade, truly a lavish hand." "Lavish indeed, but who throws a whole roll of cloth?" Before you can recover, a maid in green steps out slowly and stands before the stone steps of the teahouse, respectfully holding a gilded token exclusive to the Eldest Princess, carved with a coiled dragon pattern. The maid bows her head, her voice clear and every word solemn, echoing through the silent long street: "My mistress, Eldest Princess Mingguang, congratulates the Young Master on his success and for taking the top spot on the list." "The Princess has arranged a grand feast and prepared a modest gift. We request the Young Master to move and proceed immediately to the Eldest Princess Manor for the banquet."