Chapter Forty-Seven: Spring Outing

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The great river flows east, waves sweeping away all, leaving only the legendary figures of ages past...

The Jian River, vast and mighty, traverses north and south like a soaring dragon, finally pouring into the ocean with an astonishing roar.

The Jian River Beach is merely a riverside sandbank formed naturally at a bend in the river. On the beach stands a massive banyan tree, towering into the sky, its roots and branches sprawling and drooping, resembling a small forest.

Within this grove, birds nest in abundance; every spring and summer, their songs fill the air, lively and vibrant—a veritable paradise for birds.

Under the shade of the banyan tree, lush grass carpets the ground, yet the area is not damp or gloomy, which is quite remarkable, making it a truly enchanting place for recreation.

It is said that this banyan tree is over nine hundred years old and has acquired a spiritual essence. Thus, some devout individuals have begun to worship it as the "Divine Tree"—

This divine tree governs matters of love, able to tie the red thread of fate.

There is sound reasoning behind this: the roots of the banyan tree spread out in countless threads, much like the red string held by the Matchmaker in legends.

A tree capable of binding destinies is enough to attract many pious men and women to kneel and offer prayers. Over time, someone took the lead in raising funds to build a shrine beneath the tree, appointing a caretaker who presided over rituals and made a living selling incense and wish pouches. Business flourished.

Visitors who come to the Jian River Beach now customarily kneel before the Divine Tree Shrine to pray and make wishes.

Presently, many students from Minghua Academy and Qingxue Academy have purchased incense and candles, offering devout prayers before the rather crudely carved statue of the tree god, with even a few instructors joining in.

This outing is a joint excursion between Minghua Academy and Qingxue Academy, though they did not arrive together. Instead, they agreed on a meeting place and time, gathering at Jian River Beach before engaging in poetic contests, riddles, and other social activities.

The students from Qingxue Academy arrived first—over fifty in all, each a maiden of eighteen or so years—after all, girls of marriageable age would no longer remain at the academy.

These young women, often confined within the academy, were thrilled at the rare opportunity to go out, chattering noisily, even more boisterous than the birds in the banyan tree.

Seeing so many unmarried maidens at once, Wang Fu’s eyes widened, his gaze furtively darting about. Unfortunately, strict etiquette and precautions meant all their faces were veiled, making it impossible to see their true appearances or even identify which one was Nie Xiaoqian.

The two groups met, exchanging bows and greetings with decorum and refinement.

Most of the scholars from Minghua Academy were older and already married, which was apparent at a glance. Thus, the girls’ attention quickly focused on two individuals.

The elegant and handsome Wu Wencai naturally drew the most eyes; the other was Chen Jianchen.

Chen Jianchen, upright and spirited, with sharp brows and bright eyes, matched Wu Wencai’s charm with his own heroic appeal, exuding a rare masculine charisma that easily made him the center of interest among the maidens.

Soon, word of Chen Jianchen’s achievements spread among the girls.

A young prodigy who ranked first in the three rounds of the Child Scholar Examination, highly likely to soon pass the imperial exam and become an official. Though his family background was humble, once he succeeded, he would soar like a carp leaping through the dragon gate.

Compared to the lofty Wu Wencai, Chen Jianchen was undeniably more approachable.

In the Tian Tong Dynasty, the marriage prospects of girls were largely determined by “the matchmaker’s word and parental command,” leaving them little say in their own fate. Many women wed without ever seeing their future husband’s face—a typical blind and silent marriage.

Under such circumstances, the girls’ longing for their future spouses was intense; which maiden does not yearn for romance? Thus, in many popular folk tales, the theme of a poor scholar sneaking into the chamber of a wealthy lady to pledge their lives together became prevalent.

This theme resonated with the desires of both sides.

The poor scholar wished to join in harmony with the rich lady; the rich lady, too, sought a learned and courteous companion, to stroll among flowers and under the moon, whispering sweet nothings—a most romantic vision.

Of course, these were but stories.

In reality, the high walls of wealthy households were not so easily breached.

Scaling them barehanded was a joke; even with a ladder, where would one find the convenience? Even if one did, often the guard dogs would attack before the suitor could lift his head.

Compared to ordinary girls, those who studied at the academy naturally had broader horizons and more options.

This outing, for instance, carried the flavor of a collective matchmaking event.

Chen Jianchen suddenly became the object of much attention, an unexpected development. The bright gazes landing on him seemed to scrutinize even the hairs in his nostrils, making him feel uneasy.

Quickly, Chen Jianchen excused himself, wandering alone around the giant banyan tree, pretending to admire the scenery.

He observed the tree’s interwoven branches, sprawling and dense, shading the sky. From above, the melodious song of birds drifted down, but the thick foliage concealed their whereabouts.

A magnificent tree indeed.

Recalling the rumor of its thousand-year age, Chen Jianchen wondered if the tree had truly awakened its spirit and become sentient.

Yet, on second thought, he felt he was being superstitious. If the banyan were truly a spirit, surely odd events would occur among scholars, but local gossip never mentioned such things.

After circling the tree, Chen Jianchen strolled out, intending to explore further.

Outside lay the vast Jian River, its rushing waters audible from afar.

Last winter, after a heavy snowfall, Chen Jianchen and Wang Fu had planned to climb Penrack Mountain for the snow and river views, but an encounter with peach blossoms interrupted their trip.

Now, he finally had the chance to see the famed Jian River up close. Penrack Mountain stood several miles away to his right, solitary and slender, exuding an aura of aloofness.

The mountain seemed to possess a spirit.

Chen Jianchen’s gaze lingered, unable to look away.

Mountains have their gods; could Penrack Mountain truly be home to a deity?

He laughed at the thought.

So-called mountain gods were merely official posts assigned by the Underworld. Whether there were celestial immortals above, the two were hardly connected.

Chen Jianchen continued forward, soon reaching the riverbank, where the roar of the waves grew louder, thunderous in their majesty.

Rounding a bend, he suddenly saw atop a tall stone by the river, a figure standing.

A tall young woman.

Her white robes gleamed brighter than snow, black hair cascading like a waterfall. She stood facing the river, ethereal and graceful, exuding an indescribable elegance and freedom. With her back turned, her face was not visible.

She stood motionless, letting the waves below crash and surge, threatening to leap upward, yet she showed no fear or retreat, becoming a striking part of the landscape.

Let me recommend a friend’s new book, “Heaven’s Eye,” book number: 2247633. On that day, fate played a joke on Liu Tao, granting him the Heaven’s Eye, making him an overnight sensation.

It’s a story of making money, chasing women, and navigating society—full of passion, excitement, and a touch of intrigue.