Failing the Imperial Board, Renowned Throughout the World

Very soon, the day to post the examination results arrived. Even though he knew perfectly well that he hadn’t passed, Lin Lan went to check anyway.

As expected, his name was nowhere to be found.

His half-brothers also failed to make the cut, their names completely absent from the board without any suspense. Looking at their deeply troubled expressions, they were likely agonizing over how to explain this failure to their father.

Ordinarily, Lin Lan should have felt a sense of immense gratification, but for some reason, he actually found himself pitying them slightly at this moment.

Lin Lan officially settled down in the capital.

As time went on, practically everyone in the city became aware that a new scholar had taken up residence among them. A mere scholar was nothing extraordinary; in the bustling provincial capital, scholars were as numerous as the hairs on an ox. However, this particular young man was rather unique.

Because he was a scholar taken under the care of Fairy Zi.

“If you require anything at all, do not hesitate to speak to me,” Zi Qingyan repeated the same reassurance.

Yet, even if their interactions consisted of only a few brief sentences, it was enough to make Lin Lan wild with joy. Of course, up until now, Lin Lan was still unable to gaze upon the fairy’s true countenance.

Seeing that Zi Qingyan was preparing to depart, Lin Lan opened his mouth, hesitating.

“Hmm? Is there something else?” Zi Qingyan noticed his conflicted expression and asked with a hint of bewilderment.

“In the future… may I call you Sister Zi…?” Lin Lan murmured softly. Before Zi Qingyan could even respond, he flustered himself, waving his hands frantically as his face flushed from white to red. “I don’t mean anything else by it! I just feel that constantly addressing you as ‘Fairy Zi’ sounds rather awkward.”

“You may,” Zi Qingyan replied, harboring no objections. “Should you have any needs in the future, you can simply instruct the courtyard guards to inform me.”

Zi Qingyan departed after leaving those words, leaving Lin Lan behind to stare blankly at her retreating silhouette.

The moment Zi Qingyan stepped outside the courtyard gates, a young girl clad in white immediately approached her, casting a lingering glance back toward the still-dazed Lin Lan.

“Sister, it appears this brat has fallen in love with you.”

“Hmm?” Zi Qingyan knitted her brows. “Bailu, do not speak nonsense. We have only met a handful of times, and he has never even seen my face. How could he speak of love?”

“Ah, this…” Bailu carefully scrutinized Zi Qingyan’s expression.

Although Zi Qingyan tried her absolute best to conceal it, Bailu still caught the faint, rosy blush tinting her sister’s cheeks.

“Sister, I must remind you that you are currently at your most critical juncture. You must absolutely never foster romantic affection for a mortal.”

“I know,” Zi Qingyan nodded. Yet, looking at her expression, Bailu knew she hadn’t truly taken the warning to heart.

Bailu wanted to say more, but Zi Qingyan cut her off with a wave of her hand. “I know my boundaries.”

With the conversation brought to a close, Bailu could only obediently shut her mouth. However, she stole one final glance back at Lin Lan, who was still standing there lost in thought. If matters ultimately unfolded exactly as she feared, she would take action to eliminate the obstacle—even if it meant defying her dear sister.

From that day on, Lin Lan truly began to immerse himself in his studies, maintaining this rigorous routine day after day.

During the early spring, when the lingering winter chill still hung heavy in the air, Lin Lan would sit quietly in his room, meticulously parsing through his texts. In the scorching heat of summer, even when drenched in sweat, his gaze remained steadfastly glued to his books.

Even he didn’t quite comprehend why he was exerting himself so fiercely. Perhaps he merely wished to repay Zi Qingyan, yet lacked any other means to do so. This was the only way he knew how.

Every day at noon, someone would arrive to deliver his meals; on occasion, Sister Zi would deliver them herself. In the beginning, Lin Lan would look forward to midday with immense anticipation. But later on, as he became entirely consumed by his studies, he would frequently forget to eat altogether.

During those times, Zi Qingyan would merely peer through the crack of the door, quietly leave the food at the courtyard entrance, and depart. When Lin Lan grew hungry, he would fetch it himself.

In the blink of an eye, two years passed.

Once again, it was the season for scholars from all across the land to gather, and the presiding examiner remained the same official from before. The system was identical, the season unchanged. Yet, the person returning was no longer the boy of the past.

This time, Lin Lan stepped onto the examination grounds once more. He caught sight of his half-brothers, but no words were exchanged; they merely brushed past one another like strangers.

“Do your absolute best. As a proper man, you should still strive to secure an official title,” Zi Qingyan said to Lin Lan, having fully concealed her appearance beneath a heavy veil as she paid his customary fee.

“Sister Zi…” Lin Lan spoke up suddenly.

Zi Qingyan cast a bewildered look at him.

“If… if I manage to secure the first rank this time, will you allow me to gaze upon your true face?”

Zi Qingyan froze, seemingly caught off guard by his sudden request. Lin Lan’s heart sank slightly. As expected, it was still asking for too much.

Just as a deeply disappointed Lin Lan was about to turn and enter the venue, Zi Qingyan suddenly smiled. “Very well. But you shall only receive a single opportunity.”

Hope instantly reignited within Lin Lan’s eyes. He smiled with pure, radiant joy, looking exactly like an innocent child who had finally been promised his favorite toy. “Mmh! A single glance is more than enough!”

Zi Qingyan watched with a smile as Lin Lan entered the exam courtyard.

In truth, within her perception, Lin Lan was still nothing more than an immature child. Her bond with him was far closer to that of siblings, and it should have been entirely impossible for her to harbor any romantic notions toward him.

Yet, just a moment ago, she felt her heart violently skip a beat.

Could it be… that I have truly fallen in love with Lin Lan?

Zi Qingyan’s brows knitted tightly. To be entirely truthful, she didn’t despise this sensation; on the contrary, she found it rather novel and somewhat enjoyable.

But following the novelty and enjoyment came a wave of profound dread.

If she truly fell in love with Lin Lan, she would either sever her own path to immortality—retaining her current cultivation base for the rest of her days if she were fortunate, or falling into eternal damnation if she were not—or she would have to claim Lin Lan’s life.

By comparison, Lin Lan was merely a fleeting mortal. Which choice carried more weight was clear at a single glance.

Zi Qingyan shook her head, telling herself she was overthinking things. She didn’t necessarily love Lin Lan. Perhaps it was nothing more than a mere coincidence.

Returning to her chambers, Zi Qingyan retrieved a blood-red treasure pearl from beneath her bed, gripping it tightly within her palm.

One month later.

“The results are posted! The results are posted…!”

A young child shouted playfully as he dashed past, accidentally bumping into Lin Lan. Lin Lan merely smiled, patting the boy’s head before lifting his gaze toward the examination rankings.

Perched firmly at the absolute top of the board, the name Lin Lan was boldly inscribed.

He had truly secured the first rank.

“Th-That… isn’t that Third Brother?!” a shocked voice erupted from within the crowd.

Lin Lan looked over, spotting a plump figure pointing frantically at the top of the board. It was his fifth younger brother—the most pampered and favored son back home.

“How could that be?!” another voice bellowed in disbelief. “It absolutely cannot be him! It must be someone sharing the same name!”

Lin Lan let out a silent smile. At this stage, arguing over such trivial matters was entirely pointless. Without uttering a single word, he turned on his heel and departed.