Chapter 19: The Journey to the Metropolitan Examination, Unwavering Resolve

Chapter 19: The Road to the Imperial Examinations—Unwavering Resolve

The knocking at the door was urgent and sharp, piercing the quiet of night like a drawn sword. Lin Shiya put down her teacup, her gaze sharp as a torch.

“Who is it?” Her voice, cool and clear, carried a subtle note of vigilance.

A deep voice responded from outside, “Young Master Lin, my lord requests your presence.”

Lin Shiya’s eyes narrowed slightly. She glanced about—the humble inn room seemed even more cramped beneath the flickering candlelight. Rising, she strode to the door and opened it to find a man in black standing on the threshold. His features were stern, his eyes keen, like a panther poised to strike.

“And your master is?” Lin Shiya’s tone was placid, yet brimmed with undeniable authority.

“Lord Li,” the man replied succinctly, the finality in his tone leaving no room for refusal.

Lin Shiya understood at once. Lord Li—a high official of the court. Now that she had distinguished herself at the examinations, it was no wonder her talents had drawn such attention. She had long foreseen that this journey would not be peaceful.

Suppressing her displeasure with a deep breath, she nodded slightly. “Lead the way.”

She followed the man in black through several dim alleys, arriving at last at a heavily guarded mansion. Inside, the brilliance of lanterns starkly contrasted with the gloom outside, a testament to the owner’s power and status.

Lin Shiya was ushered into a spacious study, where Lord Li sat upright, a string of prayer beads in his hand and a solemn expression on his face. His gaze was as piercing as a hawk’s, scrutinizing Lin Shiya as though to see through her completely.

“Young Master Lin, truly a prodigy of your generation. I have not misjudged you,” Lord Li spoke slowly, his tone deep and commanding.

“You flatter me, my lord,” Lin Shiya replied, bowing with neither deference nor arrogance.

Lord Li smiled faintly, rising to approach her. “With your talent, I could clear the path for your ascent. Success, wealth, and glory would all be within your grasp.”

“My lord overestimates me,” Lin Shiya said, outwardly calm though a flicker of revulsion rose within her.

“So long as you become one of my protégés, I shall do all in my power to support you,” Lord Li pressed, his words leaving little room for dissent, his gaze fixed unyieldingly upon her.

Lin Shiya’s eyes sharpened. As expected!

She lifted her head, meeting Lord Li’s eyes with a touch of frost. “And if I refuse?”

Lord Li’s face darkened at these words. The prayer beads in his hand stilled, and the temperature in the room seemed to plummet.

“Young Master Lin, consider carefully. Your family, your future—both rest in the palm of my hand,” he said, his voice now heavy with threat and oppression.

Fury blazed in Lin Shiya’s heart. She had not expected that a so-called pillar of the court would stoop so low as to threaten her with her family’s safety.

She clenched her fists, struggling to master her emotions. The room was thick with tension, the hush before a storm.

“Is that so?” Lin Shiya’s gaze was cold as she regarded Lord Li, a frosty smile curving her lips.

Lord Li wanted to say more, but at the sight of Lin Shiya, he sensed for the first time that matters might be slipping beyond his control.

Lin Shiya’s eyes were icy, devoid of any emotional ripple. She spoke slowly, “My lord, I have walked the road of the imperial examinations relying solely on my own diligence and ability. I would never sell my soul, nor betray my family in pursuit of glory. My family is my greatest treasure, and I will protect them with all my strength—but never by selling myself. Unless there is other business, I must take my leave.”

With that, she turned to go. Lord Li’s fingers tensed on the prayer beads, but in the end, he did not call out to stop her.

Exiting the study, Lin Shiya found the black-clad man following in silence—clearly bound by Lord Li’s orders, he dared not say a word.

Back at the inn, the night was deep, but sleep eluded Lin Shiya. She sat by the window, moonlight spilling across her face, casting a resolute shadow.

It was then that a commotion broke out outside her door. Her heart tightened; opening it swiftly, she found a group of examinees gathered at the inn’s entrance, abuzz with rumor.

“Have you heard? Lin Shiya only achieved such results through cheating. How else could just another scholar be so outstanding?” crowed a handsome young man—Young Master Wang.

Rage burned within Lin Shiya, but she did not rush to defend herself. She fixed Young Master Wang with a cold stare as doubtful glances and muttered suspicions rippled among the other examinees.

“Is it true? Did Lin Shiya really cheat?”

“To think he’d stoop so low—how disappointing.”

Lin Shiya’s expression grew all the more resolute. In a clear, steady voice, she declared, “Gentlemen, the imperial examinations are a matter of state. How can you bandy about such reckless slander? Since childhood I have studied assiduously, harboring only the desire to serve my country. Would I betray my aspirations for personal gain?”

Without waiting for response, she strode back into her room and closed the door, returning to her studies.

Outside, the hubbub gradually faded into silence.

In the shadows near the inn, a figure quietly slipped away—it was Guard Qin, filled with concern for Lin Shiya but unable to reveal himself.

As the night deepened, only the moonlight illuminated Lin Shiya’s unwavering silhouette. Her mind was made up: no matter how arduous the road ahead, she would cleave to her principles and remain steadfast.

Night cloaked the capital in ink-black darkness. In her room, the flicker of candlelight danced across Lin Shiya’s focused profile. Unmoved by the uproar outside, she immersed herself in the classics.

The faint scratch of her brush against paper rang out like a silent melody in the still night. Her expression was intent, her eyes alight with a thirst for knowledge, as though nothing around her could intrude.

Those who had hoped to see her falter now found themselves daunted by her composure, a vague unease rising in their hearts as if some invisible hand guided the unseen currents.

The dawn sun dispelled the chill of night, but could not lift the pall of anxiety from the examinees’ hearts.

At the inn’s entrance, Dr. Zhao was energetically spreading rumors about Lin Shiya’s alleged cheating, his words like poisoned barbs.

But he did not know that, from the shadows, a pair of sharp eyes watched his every move.

Guard Qin, hidden in the gloom, took note of every detail. When Dr. Zhao conspired once more to further tarnish Lin Shiya’s name, Qin decisively recorded their conversation.

He then delivered the evidence to the authorities.

Officials promptly arrested Dr. Zhao, and under questioning, the truth emerged. Dr. Zhao confessed to being instigated by others to falsely accuse Lin Shiya, paying dearly for his actions.

In a moment, the rumors collapsed, and Lin Shiya’s innocence was restored.

Within the inn, the examinees regarded Lin Shiya with newfound respect; former doubts and mockery gave way to embarrassment and admiration. Even those who had only wanted to see her downfall were awed by her composure and ability.

Lin Shiya, however, did not rejoice at their change in attitude. She remained humble and composed, continuing her studies with unflagging diligence.

She understood that the true contest had only just begun.

Night fell once more, and the inn was quiet save for the occasional flicker of candlelight. Lin Shiya set aside her brush, rubbing her tired eyes.

Just as she prepared to rest, she inadvertently opened a scripture on her desk and discovered a slip of paper within.

Her brow furrowed as she unfolded it, revealing line upon line of words calculated to unsettle the mind, and carrying a faint, strange fragrance.

A cold smile touched her lips—such a clumsy trick! Who was behind this?

Her gaze swept the room, coming to rest on Scholar Sun, who had always harbored resentment toward her. He feigned composure, but his eyes darted toward her like a thieving cat.

Lin Shiya understood at once, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

She closed her book and stood, her cool gaze sweeping the room. In a voice that rang with conviction, she declared, “Gentlemen, the imperial examinations are a matter of utmost importance to the nation. How can we allow petty villains to stir up trouble here?” She held up the slip of paper. “This was meant to disturb my mind and disrupt the fairness of the examinations.”

The room erupted in an uproar as examinees craned to see the paper, whispering among themselves.

Scholar Sun’s face went deathly pale, sweat beading on his brow, legs trembling.

“Scholar Sun, is this your handiwork?” Lin Shiya’s gaze was piercing, her tone calm yet brooking no denial.

Scholar Sun stammered, white as a sheet, unable to utter a word under her steely gaze.

The proctor arrived, and upon seeing the paper in Lin Shiya’s hand, flew into a rage. “This is a sacred place—how dare you cause such mischief? Scholar Sun, your conduct is a disgrace to your learning!”

Terrified, Scholar Sun dropped to his knees, kowtowing for mercy, but it was too late.

The proctor immediately revoked his examination privileges and expelled him from the hall.

The other examinees looked upon Lin Shiya with admiration, their earlier doubts now tinged with shame.

Yet Lin Shiya felt no pride in this victory—only a deeper resolve to uphold her principles.

Leaving the examination hall, she felt a sense of relief tinged with unease. She sensed she was being followed, an elusive gaze prickling at her back.

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw only the dim lanterns lining the long street, her shadow stretched thin, but no sign of the watcher.

Undeterred, she pressed on, now more vigilant than ever.

Passing through two alleys, the creak of lanterns mingled with the chill wind. Lin Shiya could feel the stalker’s eyes upon her, unrelenting.

Clearly, those in the shadows were plotting anew.

She considered briefly, then hastened her pace toward the bustle of the marketplace.