In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

Zhou Xuan'an and Xie Yige exchanged a knowing look and calmly ate their meal. Their father loved traveling and making friends, and every time he returned, he would adopt the standard "submissive and begging for mercy" posture, as if afraid that his mother would make him sleep in the study.

"By the way," Xie Yige suddenly spoke, looking at Zhou Xuan'an, "Brother, aren't you going to participate in the Spring Imperial Examination this year? When do you plan to set off?"

When the topic turned to business, everyone looked over.

Zhou Xuan'an put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "The original plan was to set off at the end of January. But since we just got married, I wanted to spend more time with Wanrou, so I decided to postpone it to mid-February. Anyway, the imperial examinations have been moved to mid-March this year, so there's still plenty of time."

"Even if the journey is smooth, it will take five to eight days to travel from our eastern border to the capital." Xie Yige shook her head disapprovingly, her tone serious. "Isn't it too hasty for you to set off in mid-February? Any delay or mishap on the way could cause you to miss the exam."

She looked at her parents at the head of the table: "Father, Mother, what do you think?"

Zhou Kaizhi's expression also turned serious: "Yige's concerns are very valid. The imperial examinations last for nine days, which is exhausting and mentally taxing. It is best to arrive early to calm down, recuperate, and adapt to the environment of the capital."

"We have a ready-made house in the capital," Xie Wanqing replied. "Everything is complete. You can go there and move in as soon as possible. Your parents will take care of everything at home, so there's no need to worry."

Upon hearing this, Xie Wanrou's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she glanced at her husband beside her and then lowered her head.

Xie Yige took in her sister-in-law's subtle expression and said softly, "Mother, my brother is going to the capital to prepare for the exam for several months. He will need someone to take good care of his food and daily life. After all, just having servants and pageboys is not enough to be attentive and thorough."

She paused for a moment, then said, "How about... letting my brother come to the capital with my sister-in-law? It would be good for her to take care of him, and it would also allow him to focus on his studies without any worries."

Zhou Xuan'an and Xie Wanrou simultaneously looked up at Xie Wanqing, their eyes filled with the same anticipation and nervousness.

Xie Wanqing looked at the newlywed couple in front of her, then at her adorable, innocent yet mischievous daughter beside her, and suddenly smiled.

"You're becoming more and more considerate these days," she said in a relaxed tone. "You're right. I'll feel more at ease if Wanrou goes with her. Let's settle it then."

Zhou Xuan'an was overjoyed and immediately stood up to bow, saying, "Thank you, Mother!"

Xie Wanrou quickly stood up, her eyes slightly red: "Thank you, Mother."

"Mother, can I come along too?"

"I've grown up so much and I've never even left Donglin City, let alone seen what the capital city looks like." Xie Yige's tone was very soft, with the natural coquettishness and longing of a young girl. "My brother and sister-in-law are all going, it would be so boring for me to stay at home alone. I also want to go and see what the Vermilion Bird Street and the East and West Markets described in the books are really like."

"But the capital is far away. You are an unmarried young lady. What if something happens to you on the way..." Xie Wanqing was very conflicted. Although she was very willing to let her daughter broaden her horizons, the terrible public security in ancient times was no joke.

"Wanqing," Zhou Kaizhi said gently, holding his wife's hand, "Let Yige go. The children are all grown up now; it's time for them to see the world. You don't need to worry about their safety on the journey. I will ask a trustworthy merchant caravan traveling to and from the capital to take good care of them along the way. Xuan'an is not a weak scholar; he is capable of protecting them. In addition, we will send more guards with us."

"Alright, alright, go ahead." Xie Wanqing then looked at Xie Yige. "Daughter, there are some shops in the capital that are part of your dowry. You can go and inspect them as practice."

"Xuan An, you must take good care of Wan Rou and your sister. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you responsible."

"Don't worry, Mother!" Zhou Xuan'an replied loudly, his joy evident in his voice.

"Thank you, Mother!" Xie Yige smiled broadly.

On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon looked up.

Outside Dingding Gate, carriages and horses rumbled. Xie Yige lifted the carriage curtain, and the Tianjin Bridge was teeming with people, including foreign merchants, scholars, and monks, their bustling activity revealing the vibrant energy unique to the gateway to the Eastern Capital.

Just as the convoy was about to cross the bridge, a clear voice called out, "Brother Xuan'an?"

Zhou Xuan'an reined in his horse and turned around. He saw a young man in yellow robes waving at him from the bridge, followed by several carriages and guards.

"Brother Zhiyi?" Zhou Xuan'an's face lit up with surprise as he dismounted. "You're also going to the capital?"

"Indeed!" Zhang Zhiyi greeted him with a smile, his folding fan swirling open with a flourish. Though the spring chill lingered, he waved it with an air of refined elegance. "My father instructed me to go to the capital as soon as possible to study diligently for the examinations. I never expected to meet Brother Xuan'an here; what a coincidence!"

The two were both students at Donglin Academy and were already acquainted. Meeting an old friend in a foreign land made them even happier.

"Brother Zhiyi," Zhou Xuan'an glanced at the other party's carriage and horses, then looked at the winding official road ahead, and said solemnly, "The journey to the capital is still long, and the perilous Xiaohan Pass is famous throughout the world. Since we are traveling together, why don't our two families travel together? That way, we can look out for each other."

"Perfect!" Zhang Zhiyi's eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands, closing his fan. "I was just worried about how boring the journey would be. With Brother Xuan'an by my side, discussing poetry and philosophy, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

The two caravans immediately joined together. The Yunxiao Merchant Caravan, commissioned by the Zhou family, led the way, followed by the carriages and servants of the Zhou and Zhang families, a group of dozens of people, heading west in a grand procession.

Along both sides of the official road, willows were just turning green, and peach blossoms were beginning to bloom, their pink and white petals adorning the branches. A gentle spring breeze carried a hint of warmth. Xie Yige leaned back in the carriage, listening to her brother and classmates outside, sometimes engaging in lively discussions, sometimes laughing heartily. The anxiety she had felt over the past few days seemed to be somewhat eased by the spring sunshine.

By the time we reached Ganshui Post Station, the sun was already high in the sky.

The caravan stopped to rest and have a meal. Xie Yige, supporting Yu Chun as she stepped off the carriage, heard a series of hurried footsteps.

"Brother Xuan'an, there's one point in the annotation of 'On the Faults of Qin' that you just mentioned that I don't understand—"

The sound stopped abruptly.

Xie Yige looked up and met a pair of eyes that suddenly widened.

Zhang Zhiyi froze a few steps away, forgetting to wave his folding fan, staring blankly at her. Today she wore a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), standing beside the new willows by the post station, looking even more delicate and fresh than the newly sprouted willow buds.

His ears turned bright red, and he hurriedly took a half step back, bowing deeply: "I...I am Zhang Zhiyi, and I apologize for my rudeness. May I ask how I should address you, young lady?"

"Zhang Zhiyi!" Zhou Xuan'an stepped between the two, his face unfriendly. "What are you doing? This is my sister!"

"Oh, so you're your younger sister..." Zhang Zhiyi straightened up, her face still flushed, but her eyes were surprisingly bright. She couldn't help but steal another glance. "I apologize for my rudeness. May I ask... what your younger sister's name?"

"Why ask your name!" Zhou Xuan'an grabbed his arm and half-dragged, half-pulled him towards the riverbank. "The scenery over there is nice. Come on, I'll explain that annotation to you in detail!"

"Oh, Brother Xuan'an, I haven't..."