[Days at the Royal Academy]
Morning light filtered through the carved lattice windows of the Royal Academy, spilling softly across bamboo scrolls and polished desks.
Si Chengxun sat in the last row, upright and composed—
yet his gaze drifted, again and again, toward the figure at the front.
Mu Yunzhao was bent over her desk, copying scriptures with quiet focus.
Her dark hair was neatly tied, her posture poised, her presence calm yet unmistakable.
Her handwriting was elegant—each stroke measured, unhurried.
There was a natural serenity in her bearing, as though she belonged to a stillness others could not reach.
When the lecturer spoke of benevolence and righteousness, she raised her hand.
"If a ruler loses benevolence," she asked softly,
"can righteousness alone still sustain a nation?"
The hall fell into silence.
None of the students answered.
Only Si Chengxun spoke, his voice low but steady.
"Righteousness is rooted in the hearts of men," he said.
"But without benevolence, it cannot endure."
Mu Yunzhao turned.
Her gaze landed on him—calm, clear… and faintly surprised.
There was approval in her eyes.
In that single moment, something stirred in Si Chengxun's chest—warm, unfamiliar.
Yet he lowered his gaze at once, saying nothing more.
Youthful Feelings
Days passed, one after another, within the academy walls.
They often studied at the same table.
Sometimes Mu Yunzhao would sit upon the stone steps in the courtyard, reciting texts aloud—
her voice clear and gentle, like fine rain falling into the wind.
Occasionally, Si Chengxun would join her, reciting a few lines.
More often, he simply listened.
Every syllable—
he carried them quietly into memory.
He knew, deep down, that something within him had begun to change.
Yet he never spoke of it.
Each time he gathered the courage to say something—
the moment he met her bright, steady gaze—
the words would falter…
and sink back into silence.
[The Divergence of Fate]
Before summer had fully arrived, news spread through the academy—
The list of candidates for the next Holy Maiden had been decided.
When Mu Yunzhao's name appeared among them,
the academy erupted.
Classmates rushed forward to congratulate her.
She remained composed.
"This is a responsibility," she said simply.
There was no joy in her expression.
After class, she returned alone to her desk, quietly gathering her scrolls.
Si Chengxun watched her.
His thoughts were a storm, his heart pounding like a drum—
yet in the end, he managed only a single sentence.
"…Congratulations."
Mu Yunzhao smiled faintly.
Her gaze was soft—like water.
"I will remember these days," she said.
She seemed as though she wanted to say more.
But in the end, she only closed the bamboo scroll in her hands…
…and turned away.
Walking farther, and farther,
until she disappeared beyond the corridor.