Chapter 1 – The Entrance Exam
The dawn cracked like a whip across the sprawling city of Xi'an, the capital of the ancient empire, stirring life into the maze of stone streets and timbered homes. The early morning breeze carried the scent of freshly baked steamed buns and blooming peach blossoms, promising the start of something new—and perilous.
Liang Wen, standing beneath the grand archway of the examination hall, adjusted the strap of his satchel and took a deep breath. Around him, a sea of hopeful faces filled the courtyard, their eyes bright with ambition and anxiety. His gaze swept over the crowd, landing briefly on three figures who stood apart yet somehow tethered to his fate.
Mei Lian, with fiery eyes and a fierce posture, was already scolding a nervous scribe who had dropped his ink pot. Nearby, Yin Xue, serene and composed, folded a silken handkerchief with quiet grace, her calm a stark contrast to Mei Lian's tempestuous energy. Shen Rui, tall and easygoing, joked lightly with a group of younger students, his smile warm and inviting.
Though strangers in this vast sea of examinees, fate had already begun weaving their threads tightly together.
The hall bell tolled, and a hush fell over the crowd. The proctors emerged, robes flowing like shadows, their faces unreadable. Wen tightened his grip on his brush and stepped forward, heart pounding in rhythm with the rising sun.