Hey! Sorry for the delay. I was off traveling and couldn’t get any chapters up. I’ll try to make it up to you with three this week! 😊📖
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The provincial examinations consisted of three consecutive sessions, each lasting three days, with candidates entering the examination hall on the 8th, 11th, and 14th of the month. By the time Huo Jue returned to Tong'an City after completing the exams on the 15th of the eighth lunar month, it was already the 16th.
While Huo Jue was away taking the exams, Jiang Li hadn't been idle either. She had been diligently working on her wedding dress at home. However, her embroidery skills left much to be desired. From the sixth month to the eighth month, she had wasted countless lengths of fabric without producing anything remotely presentable.
During a surprise inspection, Yang Hui Niang nearly choked when she saw the crooked, unrecognizable twin lotus flowers Jiang Li had attempted to embroider.
Jiang Li stammered, "Mother, Huo Jue mentioned that Nanny Tong is skilled at embroidery. If I can't manage, I could ask her for guidance at Ruyi Garden."
Yang Hui Niang sighed in exasperation. "What kind of bride can't even embroider her own wedding dress?"
Despite her complaints, she still allowed Jiang Li to visit Ruyi Garden.
There, Jiang Li discovered that Huo Jue had already prepared a complete wedding dress for her—from the bridal veil and embroidered cape to the wide-sleeved red robe, skirt, and even the shoes. The fabric was clearly the finest Hangzhou silk, meticulously tailored with flawless stitching. The floral patterns, double happiness characters, and mandarin ducks were so exquisitely embroidered they looked like paintings.
Though Jiang Li was tempted by the ready-made dress, she hesitated. "Mother says the wedding dress must be made by the bride herself, or it's bad luck."
Wei Huan pulled out the cape from the dress, revealing the unfinished embroidery beneath. "The patterns here are only outlined. You'll need to complete the stitching yourself. That way, it still counts as your own work."
Jiang Li was taken aback. "That... that works?"
After a moment's deliberation, she shook her head. "I'd rather embroider it myself. The more effort I put into the dress, the stronger our marital bond will be."
This was a unique tradition in Tong'an—every stitch in the wedding dress symbolized the connection between the bride and groom. The more intricate the embroidery, the deeper their love would be.
Wei Huan exchanged an understanding smile with Nanny Tong and didn't press further. She understood her brother's reluctance to let Jiang Li strain her eyes and fingers, but she also respected Jiang Li's determination. Every stitch represented a young girl's dreams of marriage.
In Wei Huan's eyes, Jiang Li's wishes mattered more than Huo Jue's protectiveness.
That day, under Nanny Tong's guidance, Jiang Li finally managed to embroider a passable twin lotus and mandarin ducks.
By the time Huo Jue returned from the examination hall, Jiang Li had completed the cape and wide-sleeved robe.
When Huo Jue entered, Nanny Tong took his luggage and said cheerfully, "While you were busy with exams, A Li has been working on her wedding dress every day. Now, only the skirt and inner garments remain."
Huo Jue frowned slightly. "Did she not like the dress I prepared for her?"
Nanny Tong shook her head with a smile. "How could A Li not appreciate your thoughtfulness? But she insisted on embroidering every stitch herself, believing it would bring lasting harmony and devotion to your marriage."
Huo Jue fell silent, his eyes softening. Just from these few words, he could picture Jiang Li's earnest, determined expression as she declared she would make the dress herself.
A faint smile touched his lips. "Then let her have her way."
Noticing the fading daylight, Nanny Tong quietly instructed the maids to prepare a bath for Huo Jue and ordered food from the kitchen. Then she added, "A Li plans to release a sky lantern at the moat tonight. If you're not too tired, you might join her. She spent two whole days making a carp lantern for you. Seeing you there would make her very happy."
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On the 15th of the eighth month, the Mid-Autumn Festival, lanterns adorned every street in Tong'an. By the next day, the decorations remained, and the townspeople organized an event to release sky lanterns over the moat, praying for the candidates who had just returned from the exams.
Naturally, Jiang Li participated.
She had spent two days crafting a large carp lantern from bamboo strips, cotton gauze, and sturdy paper, then asked Wei Huan to paint the design. Wei Huan's artistry was unexpectedly exquisite—the lantern was not only sizable but also remarkably beautiful.
After dinner, Jiang Li carried the lantern out through the side door. Zhang Yingying and Liu Yan burst into laughter at the sight.
Zhang Yingying teased, "A Li, your lantern is enormous! Most carp lanterns are at most an arm's length, but yours is half your height!"
Jiang Li adjusted the lantern to reveal her small face and declared, "Huo Jue is extraordinary, so his lantern should be too. It'd be best if it outshines all the others on the moat tonight."
Liu Yan nodded in agreement. "Father mentioned that Huo Jue might rank first in the provincial exams. A grand lantern like this suits him perfectly."
As the three chatted and laughed their way to the moat, Zhang Yingying and Liu Yan carried smaller lotus lanterns for making wishes.
By the time they arrived, crowds had already gathered along the moat.
The wind was strong that night, and Jiang Li struggled to light her lantern. The carp's gaping mouth made it impossible—every time she lit the candle, the wind blew it out.
Watching Zhang Yingying and Liu Yan's lotus lanterns glow steadily, Jiang Li grew frantic. Just then, a pair of black boots with bamboo-green embroidery appeared before her.
"A Li."
She looked up into Huo Jue's face, silhouetted against the light, and froze.
Earlier, Jiang Ling had returned, describing how exhausted the candidates looked after the exams—all except Huo Jue, who seemed slightly better. Jiang Li had assumed he would be resting at Ruyi Garden.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, staring at him.
Dressed in a dark green robe with a jade belt, Huo Jue wore the double-loop knot ornament she had made for him. His damp hair suggested he had just bathed, and the faint scent of musk and bamboo lingered around him.
Huo Jue crouched beside her, smiling. "How could I miss you releasing a lantern for me?"
At the mention of the lantern, Jiang Li snapped out of her daze, her voice crestfallen. "Huo Jue, the lantern won't light. If it can't fly, does that mean it won't leap over the Dragon Gate?"
Her eyes glistened, the corners tinged pink, her expression soft and pleading.
Huo Jue gazed at her for a long moment before lowering his eyes, his voice gentle. "Don't worry. Let me try."
Jiang Li watched as his slender fingers adjusted the lantern's mouth and lit the candle inside with a flint.
The flame flickered, then steadied.
Red light seeped through the thin paper, illuminating Jiang Li's dark pupils.
She jumped to her feet. "Quick, release it! The wind might blow it out again!"
Huo Jue murmured an acknowledgment and stood, wrapping his arms around her from behind. "Let's release it together."
He guided her hands to the bamboo frame at the lantern's tail, his larger hands enveloping hers.
In this position, Jiang Li was practically cradled against his chest, her back brushing his warmth. Her face flushed crimson, and just then, he leaned down, his breath hot against her ear. "Ready, A Li?"
Her heart pounded as she nodded stiffly.
The plump carp lantern floated upward, soon outpacing the others, its wide mouth seeming to swallow the full moon.
Jiang Li gasped in delight and turned to Huo Jue. "Huo Jue, you're going to pass the exams!"
His dark eyes reflected the sea of lanterns, like a shimmering river of stars.
Emotion flickered in his gaze as he bent to whisper in her ear, "A Li, I will take you as my wife with the title of Provincial Champion as my betrothal gift."
---
The exam results were announced on the fifth day of the ninth month. Early that morning, Jiang Li prepared to check the list at the county office but was stopped by Jiang Ling.
"No need. Huo Jue is guaranteed to rank in the top three. The officials will come to congratulate him."
Jiang Li saw the logic in this and stayed home.
Yang Hui Niang, knowing the results were due, had little interest in opening the tavern. She lowered the curtains halfway and took the morning off. Mother and daughter waited anxiously—one leaning on the table, blinking expectantly; the other peering out the window.
Jiang Ling shook his head. "Huo Jue placing in the top three is a foregone conclusion. There's no need for such nerves."
"How can I not be nervous? I barely slept last night..." Jiang Li rested her chin on the table, dark circles under her eyes.
Huo Jue had promised to win the Provincial Champion title for her. What if he didn't? Would he feel embarrassed?
As her thoughts spiraled, the sound of gongs and drums echoed outside.
"They're here!"
Yang Hui Niang flung open the curtains and rushed out. Jiang Li perked up and followed, lifting her skirts.
A group of yamen runners, clad in black uniforms, marched down the street amid a cheering crowd. A familiar neighbor called out excitedly to Yang Hui Niang from afar, "Madam Yang, your future son-in-law is incredible—he's the Provincial Champion!"
Yang Hui Niang and Jiang Li exchanged glances and burst into laughter.
After composing herself, Yang Hui Niang straightened her expression. "Huo Jue will be out soon. Go back inside—we mustn't break tradition."
According to Tong'an customs, engaged couples weren't to see each other in the month before the wedding. With Jiang Li and Huo Jue's wedding scheduled for the first day of the tenth month—just over twenty days away—they couldn't meet now.
As the gongs and cheers drew nearer, Jiang Li retreated reluctantly into the tavern, calling over her shoulder, "Mother, praise Huo Jue for me later!"
Yang Hui Niang rolled her eyes. "As if I need you to tell me! I'll praise him as his future mother-in-law! Now go inside. You're about to become a scholar's wife—no more childish antics!"
With that, she hurried to the pharmacy ahead of the crowd.
Back in the tavern, Jiang Li noticed Jiang Ling had also disappeared—likely next door.
She slumped into her chair, chin propped on the table again, ears straining to catch the commotion next door. Her mind wandered to Huo Jue's expression at this moment.
He must be thrilled! Provincial Champion—how impressive!
And as his future wife, she was just as impressive!
Jiang Li giggled to herself until Jiang Ling returned, shaking his head at his silly sister's antics. "A Li, Huo Jue asked me to give you a message."
Jiang Li sat up eagerly. "What is it?"
"He said the betrothal gifts he prepared for you have arrived and asked if you like them."
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