The Third Scholar of the Song Dynasty

Chapter One: The Third-Rank Scholar

Late at night, the moon shines as brightly as water.

The city of Bianliang remained brightly lit. Tomorrow was the day of the imperial examination for the autumn imperial examinations, and it seemed that no one in the city could sleep; the entire city was tense and busy.

In an inn across the street from the imperial city, a woman was lazily leaning against the bed watching another woman chatter on and on.

Yinzi couldn't help but nag. Tomorrow was the palace examination; if the emperor discovered her young lady's true identity, she would be beheaded immediately. "But... young lady, are you really going tomorrow?"

Li Yuxuan, who was addressed as "Miss," replied with his eyes closed, "Please, Yinzi, just prepare my clothes for tomorrow. Your girl has been a man for so many years, when has anyone ever noticed? Besides, I have to go tomorrow whether I want to or not!" After saying that, he lay down on the bed, "I'm going to sleep. Wake me up early tomorrow. Also, don't nag me anymore."

Li Yuxuan barely slept that night. Tomorrow was her final battle, the one that would determine her life or death; it was impossible for her not to be nervous. She mentally rehearsed many possible scenarios for tomorrow and how to deal with them.

Yinzi woke up very early, carefully cleaned her clothes, and then went downstairs to buy some snacks. When she came in, Li Yuxuan was also up and waiting for her to do his hair.

After tying up her hair, wrapping her chest with white cotton cloth, and putting on a dark blue men's robe, Li Yuxuan twirled in front of the bronze mirror and realized that apart from being a little short, she was quite a handsome man. However… she looked down at her chest, which was wrapped up so uncomfortablely, and thought, "Poor old friend of mine, it seems to have rarely seen the light of day in all my years."

Before her eyes flashed the image of the room filled with blood and the corpses lying haphazardly on the floor when she woke up five years ago, and Yinzi wailing beside her. She silently prayed, "Heavens, since you sent me here, you must protect me and avenge the Li family, who were massacred."

Five years ago, at the age of twenty-five, she was unexpectedly transported into the body of a fifteen-year-old girl whose entire family had been massacred. In the past five years, she sold all her family's possessions and, disguised as a man, went into hiding in Guo Family Village, fifty miles outside Bianliang City. Her real name was Li Youying; Li Yuxuan was the name of her brother who died tragically in that massacre. She knew that revenge was a pipe dream for her; she could only study diligently, following the most melodramatic plots of novels, to pass the imperial examinations and achieve official rank. The day she rose to the highest position in the court would be the day she could finally avenge her family.

She knew this wasn't a dream for her; her previous major was Chinese Language and Literature, specializing in Classical Chinese. Over the past five years, she had consistently ranked at the top, passing the imperial examinations, provincial examinations, and finally, the palace examination.

The palace examination went unexpectedly smoothly, and no one doubted her. All eyes were drawn to the second-place scholar, Su Shi, whose brilliance drove the entire court into a frenzy. To be precise, it was the combined charm of the top scholar Xu Qingzhi, the second-place scholar Su Shi, and the third-place scholar herself that drove the entire city of Bianliang into a frenzy.

From the imperial examination to the Qionglin Banquet, and now... staring at the dark outhouse, Li Yuxuan silently questioned the heavens.

For the first time, she truly felt that being handsome was a sin. Her face was given to her by her parents, and had nothing to do with her. But how could these infatuated girls and their parents not know this? A lady from a respectable family? A high-ranking official? Bah! They've all made me hide in this stinking outhouse to torture me.

But Su Shi was truly dashing and debonair, a man of exceptional beauty and charm. Standing over six feet tall, with an incomparably handsome face, naturally expressive eyes, a high-bridged nose, and a resolute mouth, he exuded an aloofness like a pine tree in a canyon, yet also a delicate purity like a secluded orchid in a deep valley. When she first saw him, she couldn't help but glance at him a few more times, her heart skipping a beat. Su Shi, a shining star in the long river of human history—her idol!

But they had the foresight to get married before taking the exam.

Li Yuxuan idly tugged at a few strands of hair by his ear, wondering why he hadn't thought of this before. He should have told Yinzi to be his wife instead of his page. If he had let that tigress out now, she could have easily killed a few infatuated girls on the street; she wouldn't be in this state now.

One wrong step can lead to eternal regret!

The top scholar, Xu Qingzhi, is quite good too—refined, intelligent, elegant, and of impeccable character. Why are these matchmakers so fixated on him, the third-place winner? Ever since returning from the imperial examination and the Qionglin Banquet yesterday, she hasn't dared to go back to her old inn. From afar, she sees the matchmakers lined up in layers, waiting for him to come back and tear her to pieces, stew her, steam her, boil her, and then eat every last bone.

But in Lin'an City, it's too difficult to find someone who doesn't know her now, and finding a place where no one knows her is even more of a pipe dream. The cats and dogs in the city are probably tired of hearing their three names these past few days; they're probably rebelling. Look, that black dog outside is barking again.

Footsteps sounded from ahead, followed by the voice of the gatekeeper, Yinzi: "You can't go in, our young master is inside."

A gentle, deep voice came from behind: "Young man, I don't need to use the restroom. I'll just go in and wait for the people behind me to leave. I'll come out right away." You could tell from the voice that it belonged to a scholar.

Is this yet another one hiding from debt collectors? This whole city of job-hunting groups is really suffering. Li Yuxuan quietly approached the door and looked out the window. Who else could that pale, frail scholar be but the top scholar Xu Qingzhi? He was currently wearing a pained expression, extremely anxious.

Haha. Li Yuxuan laughed and walked in through the door: "Brother Xu, please come in! It's just that this humble abode is too smelly, and I'm afraid it would be an insult to the reputation of a top scholar."

Upon seeing that the person inside was Li Yuxuan, Xu Qingzhi immediately smiled and stepped in: "Brother Li, with such a distinguished air, you're not even afraid of the stench, so what am I?"

"I've gotten used to the stench!" they said, then burst into laughter. The two top scholars, one a first-place winner and the other a third-place winner, had become fellow patrons of the latrine.

Faint sounds of footsteps and voices drifted in from outside. The two exchanged a glance and simultaneously stopped laughing. Only when it was completely silent outside did Li Yuxuan cautiously ask Yinzi outside, "Have they all left?"

"They've all left for now, young master."

Sighing, Li Yuxuan rubbed his nose in frustration. He really needed to come up with a solution; the toilet wasn't a place to stay for long. Putting everything else aside, if he really stayed there for a whole day, wouldn't he turn into a maggot and crawl out? Suddenly, he remembered something: "Brother Xu, aren't you unmarried? Why are you hiding here for refuge?"

"Brother Li, I was just about to ask you that. Aren't you also unmarried? Why are you hiding here for refuge?"

"Hehe." Li Yuxuan chuckled dryly, "I'm engaged, just haven't gone through the wedding ceremony yet. What about you?"

"Me? I have no suitor yet, only a daughter of a noble family, whom I dare not aspire to. I would rather find a girl from a humble family, half clumsy and half wise, to study and practice calligraphy together, and to roam freely among the mountains and rivers." Xu Qingzhi replied casually, looking outside.

"Brother Xu, being adept at human relationships is the essence of literature. Have you never thought of finding a high-ranking official or a wealthy family to help you rise through the ranks?" Li Yuxuan was surprised that Xu Qingzhi, who came from a poor background, had this idea, and couldn't help but look at him with new respect.

"Haha, Brother Li, you jest. I, Xu, never intended to ruin my scholarly pride by currying favor with the powerful. Let's figure out how to get out of here first." Xu Qingzhi frowned as he looked at the dark floor of the toilet. "I really admire Brother Li for being able to stay here."

"Me? This stinking body is a perfect match for this stinking toilet!" Li Yuxuan realized that his question was abrupt, and said as he walked out, "Let's go, Brother Xu, let's find a nicer place to stay."

Chapter Two: Seeking Refuge in a Brothel

The two left the restroom and stealthily made their way to the outer city moat, like thieves. Finding a secluded spot by the river, Xu Qingzhi gazed at the bustling crowds on the main road and sighed heavily: "Past sordidness is nothing to boast of, today's unbridled thoughts are boundless. Riding a swift horse in the spring breeze, one day I'll explore the flowers of Chang'an. Mr. Dongye's words are indeed insightful!"

Li Yuxuan gazed at Xu Qingzhi's handsome yet slightly pale face sitting opposite her. A faint sadness lingered on his face, which should have been beaming with joy. She turned her gaze away, ignoring the sadness, and picked up a small stone, throwing it into the river. "Brother Xu," she said, "that's just you, the top scholar, grumbling. Who doesn't envy you for visiting Bianliang flowers in a single day? Heh, if you don't go yourself, you can't blame anyone else..."

Hearing her words, Xu Qingzhi laughed as well: "Aren't you the third-ranked scholar? No wonder half of the young ladies in Bianliang City came here because of you. Tell me, aren't you wasting this beautiful scenery and this wonderful time?"

Li Yuxuan leaned against the large tree next to him, resting his head on his hand, and looked at Xu Qingzhi with a smile: "I didn't expect you to be so wicked these past few days, Brother Xu. You've been so refined and quiet these past few days, I never thought you'd have such an evil thought..."

"Me? Cough cough..." Xu Qingzhi looked at the mischievous and teasing smile on Li Yuxuan's face, and at her slightly upturned phoenix eyes that were full of smiles. His handsome face involuntarily turned red to the roots of his ears: "I'm just learning this from you, Brother Li."

"Me? I'm a gentleman, I never speak such flowery words... Hahahaha!" Li Yuxuan laughed heartily at Xu Qingzhi's embarrassed state: "Brother Xu, please don't slander me!"

Time passed quickly amidst their laughter and conversation. Looking at the already dim sky and Xu Qingzhi, thinly dressed in the autumn chill, Li Yuxuan rubbed his stomach. "I can't take it anymore. There's a rebellion here! I don't know if the roast chicken Yinzi bought at noon was from a mother or father, it still stings my cheek. Let's find a way back to the city first; I need a proper meal." He then called to his page, "Yinzi, go see if there are any more members of the 'Capturing the Young Masters' gang."

After listening to what Li Yuxuan said, Xu Qingzhi stood there for a moment, then shook his head at him: "Brother Li, you really are both vulgar and refined!"

“That’s right! That’s what you call a true gentleman, a true gentleman.” Li Yuxuan knew that Xu Qingzhi was referring to her earlier words as being too vulgar, so he walked over and patted him on the shoulder: “Come on, Scholar Xu, let me treat you to a good drink.”

Once inside the city, no matter how bold Li Yuxuan was, she wouldn't dare to openly stroll into any hotel for a drink. No, this was a matter of life and death, a matter of her entire reputation. If those unscrupulous matchmakers saw her—no, if anyone saw her—her head, which had been with her for twenty years, would soon be gone.

Xu Qingzhi, of course, hadn't considered her thoughts; he was simply worried that they would be recognized. The two stood under a dark roof, gazing at the dimly lit city of Bianliang without uttering a word.

Li Yuxuan's gaze fell on the large red lanterns on the street ahead. She knew that street was the famous red-light district in Bianliang City. Before taking the exam, he had strolled around there and deliberately listened to others talk about the romantic escapades there. She knew that no man could escape socializing in such places, and knowing some things in advance would be better than nothi

……