I opened my eyes. Liu Ya, the maid who had been by my side since childhood, tugged at me and said, “Miss, get up! Today’s the day the exam results are posted. The master, madam, and several young masters have been waiting in the front hall for ages.”
The results? What results? My third brother passed the imperial exam at fourteen and became the top scholar. Nearly ten years have passed since then...
Wait! What year is it now?
I asked Liu Ya.
“It’s almost the hour of the Dragon, miss. Are you still half asleep?”
“I mean, what year of Long'an is it?”
“Are you still half asleep, miss? It’s the first year of Long'an! The new emperor has granted a general amnesty and opened special imperial examinations. If our third young master passes, he’ll be a student of the emperor himself!”
The first year of Long'an! The first year of Long'an!
I threw caution to the wind and burst out laughing. Heaven had answered my prayers: I had been reborn at the age of eleven.
Liao Shiyang, Zhao Pianpian, my old enemies, just you wait! You’d better keep your necks clean!
