I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

After leaving Cecilia's room, Gu Yan stood in the corridor for a while.

A night breeze blew in from the other end of the courtyard, dissipating some of the heat from his face.

He took a deep breath and walked towards his room.

Aunt Tian was still standing at the corner of the corridor, and he waved to her from afar.

He indicated that he was going back to rest first.

He paused for a moment when he pushed open the door.

Fu Wanqing was in his room.

He wasn't standing at the door waiting for him, nor was he sitting in a chair drinking tea.

She stood in the center of the room, wearing a dress he had never seen before.

The dress was light pink, which perfectly matched the color of her hair.

The fabric was very light and thin, and the skirt cascaded down to the calves in layers.

It looks like an upside-down hibiscus flower.

The neckline is V-shaped, not too low, but just enough to reveal a small section of delicate collarbone.

Her long pink hair was not tied up and was loose on her shoulders.

The ends of her hair were slightly curled, shimmering softly under the light.

She didn't speak, but simply stood in the center of the room with her head slightly lowered.

With hands folded in front of the body, the toes of the right foot lightly touch the floor.

It's like they're waiting for something.

Before Gu Yan could even ask her what she wanted to do, she made her move.

There was no music, no accompaniment.

She hummed to herself, lightly tiptoeing on the floor.

She spun around like a pink petal.

The hem of her skirt billowed open the moment she turned around, layers of tulle drawing a perfect arc in the air.

She slowly raised her arm from her side, her fingertips slightly curled.

It's like trying to touch something unseen.

Her movements were a bit clumsy, and she was noticeably half a beat slow on a few beats.

My body swayed slightly as I spun around.

But every time she turned to the side, every time she bent over.

Those awkward details were perfectly compensated for by her figure.

She had a slender waist, long arms, and a neck with the curve of a swan.

He suddenly felt that the dance looked familiar.

The angle of that rotation, the trajectory of that arm as it swept past the side.

The slight curve of the chin when tilting the head back.

He seemed familiar.

Fu Wanqing finished with a final spin, her skirt slowly falling back to her calves.

Her breathing was a little rapid, and her chest was rising and falling slightly.

A few strands of hair clung to her cheeks from the earlier spinning.

She raised her hand and tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear.

Then she looked up at Gu Yan, her amber eyes sparkling under the light.

"Is it pretty?"

Gu Yan nodded and said it looked good.

He happened to see water on the table, walked over, picked up the cup, and took a sip.

I tried to suppress the jumbled thoughts in my mind by drinking water.

Fu Wanqing stood in the center of the room with her hands behind her back.

She tilted her head and looked at him with a sweet and bright smile.

It's like you've just finished a really amazing work.

She was eager to tell others where she learned it.

"I learned to dance by watching videos of Sister Lin Jinyu online."

Gu Yan spat out the mouthful of water she had just drunk.

Water splashed on the table, almost knocking over the teacup.

Fu Wanqing took a tissue from the table and took a step forward.

She tiptoed and gently pressed a tissue to Gu Yan's lips.

Wipe the water droplets still dripping from his chin.

The tissue carried the faint scent of peaches from her fingers.

The movements were very light and slow, as if afraid of hurting him.

"Why are you so startled? You can even choke on water."

"Did you have fun playing with your little sister Youyao today?"

Gu Yan took the tissue from her and wiped her mouth herself.

The tension in my mind was still there, I hadn't let my guard down.

He tried his best to make his tone sound normal.

"I just wandered around and ate something."

"You know about the recent martial arts college entrance exam."

"She came all the way from Jinghai to take the exam, so I have to do my part as a host."

Fu Wanqing nodded and took the tissue back from his hand.

Crumple it into a ball and throw it into the trash can on the corner of the table.

She turned around and leaned against the table, placing her hands on the edge of the table behind her.

She tilted her head to look at him, a faint smile playing in her amber eyes.

"Since she's someone close to Gu Yan, she must be very capable."

"If she were to become the top martial arts scholar, what requests would she make to the Emperor and the Grand Secretary?"

Gu Yan was stunned for a moment when she heard this.

Then I remembered that this tradition does exist.

That was a rule established at the very beginning of the Great Xia Martial Arts Examination, and it has continued for nearly a hundred years.

The top scorer in the martial arts college entrance examination each year will receive special training from the National Superpower Association.

In addition to priority allocation of top-tier resources, there is another very special right.

After the results of the palace examination are announced, the emperor and the chief minister will meet with the top scholar at the same time.

At the banquet, the top scholar can make a request to the emperor and the chief minister in person.

Unless it involves the serious crime of treason or is morally reprehensible, the Emperor and the Chief Minister must respond on the spot.

For things that can be done, issue an imperial decree to do them directly; for things that cannot be done, give a clear time limit and solution.

Over the past century, the requirements put forward by the top martial arts examination champions have been varied and diverse.

Some wanted fiefdoms, while others wanted entry slots into ancient secret realms.

Some people are asking their hometowns for policies and resources.

The most famous one is the top scholar from forty years ago.

He asked for neither power nor money, and directly requested the Emperor to issue an edict pardoning his father who had been unjustly exiled.

This tradition existed initially to give children from poor families who passed the martial arts exam a chance to change their fate.

But later it became both an honor and a test.

Whatever you ask for, everyone will remember it; the whole world is watching.

Gu Yan leaned back in her chair, her fingers slowly circling the rim of her teacup.

He thought for a moment, trying to keep his tone casual.

"How would I know what she would ask for? Maybe she'd want to become the Grand Secretary's disciple."

"It might require a lot of money, or it could be to lay the foundation for one's future."

"Anyway, no matter what you mention, the whole country is watching."

After listening, Fu Wanqing tilted her head, her amber eyes holding a hint of a smile.

"What if this person has ulterior motives?"

Gu Yan was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously retorted.

"How could that be? Not just anyone can become the top martial arts exam scholar."

"Those who can pass through the three palaces are personally vetted by the Emperor and the Chief Minister."

"Those with impure intentions cannot even pass the first court, let alone the third court."

"Moreover, the whole nation is watching; who would dare to act recklessly in the Hall of Supreme Harmony?"

Fu Wanqing shook her head and didn't continue arguing with him about the topic.

Her gaze shifted from his face to the shadow of the old locust tree outside the window.

"Let's not talk about that. Didn't you say you wanted me to go to South Africa with you? When are we leaving?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yan paused slightly in her teacup.

"It will take some time; the issues in the South China Sea haven't been resolved yet."

He lowered his head and took a sip of water, the surface of the water swaying gently in the glass.

Fu Wanqing nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

She leaned against the table, her fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of long pink hair that fell to her shoulder.