She landed on the deck of the boat lightly with the tips of her toes. She did not make any sound as she landed.
Even so...
In the moment the lady's toes landed on the deck, seven girls dressed in green surrounded her.
The lady was right in the middle.
"Haha... I heard that Yun Qingwu was unique. I didn't expect that this is how she greets her guests?" The lady chuckled.
"Since you are a guest, please announce yourself!" A girl in green asked for the identity of the black robed lady.
"That's true, I am Wu Yuer." Wu Yuer nodded.
"Wu Yuer?!" The expression of the girl in green changed. When she looked at Wu Yuer, she seemed to tremble slightly.
"It looks like... you know me?" Wu Yuer smiled. Her skin was radiant, almost as if a gentle breeze had just caressed it.
"I don't know." The girl in green shook her head.
"Oh, is that right?" Wu Yuer ignored the green girl. She closed her eyes and listened to the music from the boat. "It looks like Ms Yun has other guests today."
"How do you know?" The girl in green was shocked.
"It's not too difficult. One just has to infer from her choice of music." Wu Yuer began to admire the way the boat was decorated.
All seven girls in green were anxious.
However, none of them moved, allowing Wu Yuer to walk on the deck.
"Can I go in?" Wu Yuer asked after pacing around.
"Since Ms Wu knows that she has an appointment, why don't you go in?" At that moment, another lady dressed in green walked out.
She was slightly different from the other seven. She had a gold hairpin in her hair. It was quite difficult to notice if one wasn't paying attention.
"What's the link?" Wu Yuer asked.
"I see that Ms Wu is prepared today?" The lady in green pressed.
"It's not really any preparation at all. However, if I don't see her, I am not going to leave." Wu Yuer retrieved a cheque. "I heard that Ms Yun doesn't meet people receiving a gift first? I can't possibly break that rule today."
She flicked her fingers and the cheque flew towards the lady in green.
The expression of the lady in green changed as she grabbed the cheque with both hands. She retreated a few steps, stunned by the impact. However, she suppressed her shock quickly.
"Thank you. However, my lady does not want the cheque." The girl in green tore up the cheque in her hands.
The torn up pieces of paper floated on the lake, combining with the fallen maple leaves. They looked like snow on the water.
"I have already given you the cheque. Whether she wants it or not is none of my business." Wu Yuer walked towards the girl in green.
The expressions of the other seven girls changed immediately.
"Woosh!"
Almost simultaneously, all seven of them drew their blades. The blades glimmered icily in the autumn sun.
Wu Yuer stopped.
However, she did not look at the seven girls. Instead, she turned to look at the center of the lake.
There was a light mist on the surface of the water. A faint figure was floating on the surface of the river. Before long, a boat cam into view.
There was no paddle.
A lone youth stood aboard the boat. He wore a white shirt. However, it was impossible to make out his appearance. He was surrounded by fallen maple leaves.
"It's him?!" Wu Yuer's expression changed when she saw that boat. She stood rooted to the spot.
At that moment, the music from inside the boat stopped.
The door opened.
Yun Qingwu walked out. She was dressed in white, a veil blocking her face. Her smooth, luscious black hair danced in the wind.
"I see that someone was even earlier than me." Wu Yuer murmured to herself. This was rather strange. Ordinarily, people would think that she was earlier than the figure on the lake.
"Yes, he is earlier than you." Yun Qingwu nodded lightly when she heard Wu Yuer. She was clearly in agreement with Wu Yuer's judgement...
The wind in the capital was cold to the touch. It was clear that they were well into autumn.
The date of the court examination had been set. It would be held five days later at the dawn of winter.
This court examinations were one of the grandest in history. Virtually all of the powers on the Rising Dragon Roll were here.
The fourth ranked Wu Feng was the one who caught the most attention.
The reason was simple...
He was a core disciple of one of the four sages.
There was one other reason. Wu Feng had done something recently. After the announcement of the imperial examination results, news of it reached the capital.
Qin Yan, ranked third on the Rising Dragon Roll, had been defeated.
The person who defeated him was Wu Feng.
People were not shocked that Wu Feng defeated Qin Yan. After all, they were only one rank apart.
It was common for the talents to switch places like this, especially near the top.
However, they were all stunned by Wu Feng's choice of time to do so.
It was only five days from the court examinations.
"Is he not afraid of getting injured?"
This was the first reaction from everyone. However, the fact was, Wu Feng was not injured. Furthermore, he had defeated Qin Yan in three rounds.
Three rounds to defeat Qin Yan.
Wu Feng was now ranked third on the Rising Dragon Roll.
He took over the only contestable spot on the Rising Dragon Roll. He was now second only to Chi Guyan and Nangong Hao.
Of course, this court examinations was the queerest one to date.
After his defeat, Qin Yan withdrew from the examinations.
Seventh ranked Xiang Tianying and eighth ranked Tang Zhongming also announced their withdrawal after the release of the imperial examination results.
The withdrawal of these two candidates were linked to the racing and hunting competition.
However...
People were curious why Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming would withdraw instead of trying to get revenge at the court examinations.
After all, their enemy was Fang Zhengzhi.
The wind continued to blow in the city.
It was clearing out some of the dust before the court examinations. However, there was always more dust to take its place.
Everyone in the city was on their toes.
However, there was one exception. That exception was Fang Zhengzhi.
Over the past few days, Fang Zhengzhi found himself a new hobby. He would bring Ping Yang around to catch people. Yan Xiu would always tag along.
He quickly became one of the most powerful in the city.
Yan Xiu played a huge role in this game.
When some people would hide in their residences, Ping Yang's voice was more than enough to scare them out.
These people included...
Wen Dabao.
"Young Master Wen, where are we going to eat today?" Fang Zhengzhi looked at the depressed Wen Dabao mockingly.
"Official Fang... will what I say go?" Wen Dabao asked bitterly.
"You have to suggest something to us first. Only after you suggest can we know if it's acceptable." Fang Zhengzhi encouraged.
"..." Wen Dabao was on the verge of crying, "Why don't you decide, Official Fang?"
"Okay then, I shall decide. Where do you want to go?" Fang Zhengzhi turned to look at Ping Yang.
"Why don't we go to the Fragrance Restaurant for food then go to the Jade Pavilion for some shopping?" Ping Yang blinked her eyes.
"Not a bad idea. I think that's fine. What about you?" Fang Zhengzhi nodded solemnly. Then, he turned to look at Yan Xiu.
"Mm." Yan Xiu nodded lightly.
"Your highness, Young Master Yan, Official Fang, this really will not do. I... I..." Wen Dabao was on the verge of crying.
All of his winnings from the hunting and racing competition were spent over the past two days. Then, his own savings were also emptied.
"No worries, it's on me this time." Fang Zhengzhi replied magnanimously.
"..." Wen Dabao was on the verge of crying. He had fallen for this trick before.
Two days ago, Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu had came to look for him.
Wen Dabao was ecstatic. He immediately offered to treat Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu to a good meal.
However, Fang Zhengzhi shook his head.
"It's on me!"
This caused Wen Dabao to fall this his knees. Fang Zhengzhi was such a good man. He thought that he had made the perfect choice to follow Official Fang.
However, he finally understood what Fang Zhengzhi meant by treating.
In short...
It was bullying.
Fang Zhengzhi and Yan Xiu would order whilst Wen Dabao would pay.
Afterwards, Wen Dabao learnt his lesson. He hid within his residence and did not greet any guests. However, he could not escape Ping Yang.
Wen Dabao realized that after he went into hiding, there were even more people who came over for meals.
"Dabao!" A male walked out from the residence.
"Father? Why are you out here?" Wen Dabao was slightly stunned.
"Nothing much. My memory is failing me recently. I dropped some silvers a few days ago but I can't seem to find them now. Aish... so I decided to come out here and take a look.
"Dropped silvers in the yard?!" Wen Dabao's eyes brightened. However, why would his father come to his residence to look for silvers he dropped in his own yard.
However, he did not say this out loud.
Because...
That would only result in a beating.
"Mm, I will go look for it along the streets. I will be off for now." The middle aged man left.
Wen Dabao's eyes glimmered when the middle aged man left. There are silvers in the yard? Hahaha... there are silvers!
Three days passed very quickly.
It was only two days from the court examinations. All of the talents began to stay home as they made their final preparations for the court examinations.
At this moment...
A piece of news reached the capital.
This news was simple. It consisted of only one sentence - "Nangong Hao announces his participation in the court examinations!"
"Nangong Hao is going to participate?!"
"Is this real?"
"Of course it is. This news came from the imperial academy."
"If Nangong Hao participates, will Fang Zhengzhi have the chance to top the exam?"
"What rubbish. Even if Nangong Hao doesn't participate, Fang Zhengzhi would not have a chance! There is still Wu Feng! Don't forget that he defeated Qin Yan in three rounds! Fang Zhengzhi's battle against Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming is not even a feat worth mentioning."
"That's true. I am really looking forward to the court examinations!"
Discussions continued throughout all corners of the city.
At the same time, a few cavalry sped past the gates to the city. They headed straight for the palace at neckbreaking speeds.
"It's the Dragon Protection Squad!"
"I wonder what news it is now?"
"Anything that would cause the Dragon Protection Squad to rush to the capital in this manner is extraordinary."
Everyone on the streets began guessing upon seeing the Dragon Protection Squad.
Fang Zhengzhi, who was with Yan Xiu and Ping Yang, happened to see the Dragon Protection Squad. However, he was not curious at all.
Because...
He did not recognize them at all.
However, Ping Yang's eyes brightened almost immediately.
"Hey, look, it's the Dragon Protection Squad. I wonder why they are rushing?" Ping Yang screamed in anticipation.
"Dragon Protection Squad?" Yan Xiu also turned to look at the speeding cavalry. His expression changed slightly.
However, he recovered quickly.
Then...
Yan Xiu raised his head and looked into the blue sky and the clouds, seemingly deep in thought.
"Hey, where are we going now?" Wen Dabao rushed over from the restaurant after settling the bill.
However, this time, Wen Dabao was not depressed. On the other hand, he looked quite happy to settle this bill.
"Fang Zhengzhi, do you want to go and play at the palace?" Ping Yang looked at Wen Dabao scornfully. Then, she smirked at Fang Zhengzhi.