The Wild Goose Mound

Maximum 500 characters. The early spring rain still carried a chill. A black carriage sped along a road in the western outskirts of Jinling. A young man crouching by the roadside slowly stood up, stretched out an arm, and stepped into the middle of the road. The young man driving the carriage was startled. He tightened his grip on the reins, and the carriage barely stopped in front of the boy.

"What's going on?" asked the woman in the carriage, sounding a little annoyed, though her voice was as lovely as an oriole's song.

Before the driver could answer, the boy in front of the carriage called out, "Miss, my horse wandered off, leaving me stranded on the road. Could I trouble you to give me a ride out of here?"

A very pale hand lifted the curtain. The woman inside looked at the boy, soaked by the rain and looking utterly miserable, then frowned. "Get in."

The boy had heard that there was a young lady inside and had already given up hope, figuring she would refuse. Hearing her say this, he was overjoyed and hurriedly thanked her before climbing aboard. The driver flicked the reins lightly. The rain kept falling, and the black carriage sped down the road once more.

Meanwhile, Jinling, at the other end of the road, ought to have been the liveliest place in the entire Yin Kingdom. Now, however, it seemed rather quiet. If you casually asked a Jinling resident why, they would tell you it was simple: the Liji Academy entrance exams had begun.