"If I recall correctly, following the palace examination, all appointments of the new jinshi fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel."
Emperor Xuanwu's expression remained unreadable as he fixed his gaze on Ji Yongxing.
"I have heard that Assistant Minister Song of the Ministry of Personnel is maternal uncle to the Third Prince. Does this mean he too must follow the Crown Prince's command?"
"That is not something you need concern yourself with." Seeing how the Emperor's questions were straying further and further from the point, Ji Yongxing began to lose patience.
"You need only know this: if you align yourself with us, everything you desire can be within your grasp. But if you insist on choosing Princess Sheng An, then the consequences that await..." He let the sentence trail off ominously. "Well, I cannot guarantee your safety then."
"What are you two talking about?" A cheerful, curious voice rang out. Though light and pleasant in tone, it pierced the moment like a sudden gust of wind.
Ji Yongxing stiffened. A chill ran down his back.
He turned around in alarm and saw Yun Shu standing barely two steps away, smiling innocently.
"Have you found the answer to that riddle yet?" she asked sweetly.
"O-of course..."
Seeing that Yun Shu's expression was calm and unreadable, as if she had only just arrived and hadn't overheard the earlier conversation, Ji Yongxing let out a breath of relief. He was about to say, "Of course not yet," when Emperor Xuanwu's voice cut in, swift and decisive.
"I have found it."
Ji Yongxing froze.
He turned his head slowly to stare at the Emperor, disbelief written all over his face. But with Yun Shu standing right there, he dared not speak too bluntly. He could only grit his teeth and seethe under his breath.
"When exactly did you find it?" he asked, voice low.
"Just now."
Emperor Xuanwu paid him no mind. He didn't so much as glance in his direction. Calm and composed, he spoke clearly:
"The lantern patterns in the front courtyard, when paired with the carvings on the seals in the inner courtyard, form a complete set of the twelve zodiac animals.
"Combined with the first lantern—the one bearing the Bagua pattern, symbolizing the cycle of reincarnation—and the matching character riddle, the final line of the poem contains precisely thirteen characters.
'Suddenly I turn, and there they are, standing at the dim edge of the lantern light'"
He paused for a moment before continuing, reciting the entire poem in a clear, steady voice:
The east wind sets ten thousand trees abloom at night,and scatters stars like falling rain
Jade-decorated horses and scented carriages fill the streets.Phoenix flutes play, lanterns spin like crystal bowls,and the night is filled with dragon and fish lantern dances.
Moth-like decorations, snowy willows, and golden threads.Laughter drifts away on soft fragrance.
I searched through the crowd a thousand times.
Suddenly I turn, and there they are, standing at the dim edge of the lantern light.
Someone nearby unconsciously repeated the lines from start to finish. As they spoke, their eyes grew brighter, as if lit from within.
"What a stunning final verse! We thought the earlier lines were already impressive, but this ending... it is the true masterpiece!
May we ask, Your Highness, who composed this poem? Such talent—yet none of us have ever heard the name!"
"He is a reclusive literary genius," Yun Shu said without missing a beat. "His name is Xin Qiji. He lives in seclusion with several other friends of similar brilliance.
There's Li Bai, Su Shi… and a few more. All of them extraordinarily gifted. This Princess was merely fortunate enough to encounter them once."
Not a single one belonged to this world. Not that it mattered—she had no way to conjure them here anyhow.
Yun Shu wove her tale effortlessly, and while she was at it, she threw in a bit of promotion for Xianting.
"Thankfully, they found This Princess to be agreeable company and gifted me several of their works.
Starting this month, and continuing each month thereafter, Xianting will unveil a new poem. Each poem will inspire the design of a themed riddle courtyard, just like today's.
If any of you are interested, do visit often."
"One new poem every month?"
Everyone had thought this level of artistry would be a once-in-a-lifetime event. But Yun Shu, without a trace of hesitation, promised one each month!
Even the esteemed Tang Muzhi raised his brows in surprise.
"Will they all be of this caliber?"
"This Princess swears on her title as Princess," Yun Shu said with pride, "not a single one will disappoint."
She wasn't joking. With five thousand years of Huaxia literary heritage at her fingertips, surely she could outshine anything the little court of Tiansheng had to offer.
"If ever there is a month where the poem falls short, then that month's Xianting puzzle is on the house. Free of charge."
One poem not up to par meant forfeiting all profits for a month.
Only someone with absolute confidence could make such a bold claim.
As her words spread through the courtyard, the atmosphere erupted. Everyone buzzed with excitement.
Everyone, that is, except for Ji Yongxing and his two companions, who were quietly inching toward the edge of the courtyard, hoping to slip away unnoticed.
A few more steps and they would be beyond Xianting's gates—
But in the next instant, two gleaming blades appeared out of nowhere, crossing in front of them with a resounding clash.
Clang.
The hiss of cold steel against the summer air silenced the courtyard like a divine decree.
Everyone fell into uneasy silence, except for Yun Shu, whose innocent smile hadn't shifted in the slightest. She looked at the three men, her voice as light and breezy as before.
"This Princess made it clear earlier. Regardless of today's outcome, fairness would be upheld above all.
Now that the three of you have lost, and the terms of the wager have not yet been fulfilled… may This Princess ask, where exactly do you think you're going?"
"They were obviously trying to flee!"
There was no longer any need to hide his identity. Yun Chuhuan tossed aside his cloak and mask, bounding over gleefully.
"And they clearly didn't know," he added smugly, "that Fifth Sister had already asked Father Emperor to assign guards to Xianting.
Even if their own fathers came to cause trouble today, once they stirred up mischief, escape would still be impossible."
Guards assigned directly by the Emperor himself!
Ji Yongxing's face contorted in fury. He could sense things spiraling out of control. Yet with so many eyes upon him, his knees remained stubbornly unbending.
"Your Highness, must you go this far?"
He tried to keep his voice steady, tried to muster some dignity. But Yun Shu didn't give him the chance to speak further.
She raised her hand.
Crack!
Thud.
The scabbard struck the back of Ji Yongxing's knees, and with a sickening sound, they hit the stone pavement. Just the noise made onlookers wince.
Yun Shu tilted her head ever so slightly, pleased.
"What were the terms of your wager again?" she asked mildly. "You kneel. And then?"
"…Then we kowtow and apologize."
Behind his mask, Emperor Xuanwu's lips curled ever so slightly.
Who would have thought he'd one day find himself protected by this little scoundrel?
It was slightly unfamiliar… but oddly enjoyable.
No wonder the little rascal always ran to him first with her complaints.
For the first time in his life, Emperor Xuanwu found himself savoring this peculiar feeling.
Standing beside Yun Shu, who barely reached his shoulder, he watched as she raised a brow and barked out with flair,
"What are you waiting for? Kowtow!"
===
"青玉案·元夕" (Qing Yu An · Yuan Xi)
English title: Green Jade Table · Lantern Festival Night
"东风夜放花千树.更吹落,星如雨."
Dōng fēng yè fàng huā qiān shù, Gèng chuī luò, xīng rú yǔ
"The east wind sets ten thousand trees abloom at night, and scatters stars like falling rain"
This line uses rich metaphor to describe the Lantern Festival night. The "east wind" evokes springtime and renewal, while the image of "ten thousand trees blossoming" refers to the explosion of fireworks and lanterns lighting up the sky. The stars falling "like rain" evokes a sense of surreal beauty and overwhelming spectacle.
"宝马雕车香满路.凤箫声动,玉壶光转,一夜鱼龙舞."
Bǎo mǎ diāo chē xiāng mǎn lù. Fèng xiāo shēng dòng, yù hú guāng zhuǎn, Yí yè yú lóng wǔ
"Jade-decorated horses and scented carriages fill the streets. Phoenix flutes play, lanterns spin like crystal bowls, and the night is filled with dragon and fish lantern dances."
These lines continue the festival imagery—an opulent, lively, sensual world. The perfume in the streets, the music, the rotating lanterns, and the traditional dragon and fish dances all evoke both elegance and chaos, celebrating the peak of the Lantern Festival.
"蛾儿雪柳黄金缕.笑语盈盈暗香去."
Ér xuě liǔ huáng jīn lǚ. Xiào yǔ yíng yíng àn xiāng qù
"Moth-like decorations, snowy willows, and golden threads. Laughter drifts away on soft fragrance."
This shifts focus from the outer world to an individual—an elegant, charming woman, elaborately dressed and perfumed, vanishing gracefully into the crowd. The tone is intimate and fleeting.
"众里寻他千百度..."
Zhòng lǐ xún tā qiān bǎi dù
"I searched through the crowd a thousand times…"
This is the emotional climax. It conveys obsessive, passionate searching—through noise, distraction, and chaos—for something or someone deeply longed for.
"蓦然回首,那人却在,灯火阑珊处."
Mò rán huí shǒu, nà rén què zài, Dēng huǒ lán shān chù
"Suddenly I turn, and there they are, standing at the dim edge of the lantern light."
This is the poem's emotional climax. After all the searching, the person (or truth, or ideal) is not in the dazzling center, but waiting quietly in the shadows.
Additional notes:
The character "他" (tā) in Chinese traditionally means "he" or "him." However in classical Chinese poetry, especially during the Song dynasty, the character "他" was often used generically to refer to a person, regardless of gender. This was because:
The strictly gendered pronouns we use today (他 for "he", 她 for "she") did not exist in formal separation until much later—around the 20th century.
In classical usage, "他" could refer to a woman, a man, or even be intentionally ambiguous to serve the emotional and poetic tone.
So in Xin Qiji's original context, it's likely that:
The person being sought could just as easily be a beautiful woman glimpsed at a festival (which is a common interpretation),
Or a symbolic figure representing truth, ideal, love, or enlightenment—not strictly gendered.