1. Is it him or her?

Two years later, in the Hall of Heavenly Harmony of the Imperial Palace, today marked the final day of the triennial imperial examinations personally set and supervised by the Emperor. From the top three candidates, he would select the zhuangyuan, much like the modern civil service exams where passing offered stable employment, making success an extraordinary feat. Every scholar aspired to the pinnacle, and though only high-ranking ministers could witness it firsthand, the nation’s gaze remained fixed on the outcome. Seated upon the dragon throne, Xuan Yuan Ren signaled Rong Gonggong to proceed. The eunuch’s shrill voice rang out: “Present the top three candidates of the imperial examinations!” Outside, the little eunuchs echoed the proclamation loudly, their excitement palpable as everyone anticipated the emergence of this year’s brightest stars.
A moment later, three men in flowing red robes and crimson hats topped with pheasant feathers strode briskly into the Hall of Heavenly Harmony. The one on the left kept glancing sideways, as if in search of something. At the center of the main hall, they bowed in unison to Xuan Yuan Ren, declaring, “We pay our respects to His Majesty! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years!”
The middle candidate appeared around thirty or forty, having endured countless failures to secure a place in the top three; his perseverance was admirable. The man on the right was powerfully built, broad-shouldered and sturdy, more resembling a martial arts examinee than a scholar, his physique straining against the seams of his garments. The leftmost figure seemed the most delicate, his slender frame evoking the gentle bearing of a refined literary man.
Xuan Yuan Ren welcomed them with a warm smile. “Rise, please.” After their grateful bows, the candidates stood, lifting their gazes toward the Emperor. Xuan Yuan Ren’s eyes widened in surprise at the familiar face before him. He sipped his tea to steady himself, then spoke casually, “Those who have reached the top three must be prodigiously learned. You will surely bring blessings to the common people in the future. Now, begin the examination.”
As his words concluded, several little eunuchs wheeled in the desks, chairs, and the four treasures of the study—ink, paper, brush, and inkstone. The three candidates settled in, absorbed in the task, their quills moving steadily under the watchful eyes of all present. Xuan Yuan Ren signaled subtly for Rong Gonggong to investigate the leftmost candidate, whose resemblance was too uncanny to ignore.
Zhao Chengxian, positioned nearby, had matured considerably, shedding some of his former brightness and grace for a deeper air of weariness and melancholy. When he raised his eyes and beheld the candidate before him, he froze. The features were strikingly similar to those of Yue’er; one might easily mistake the man for her. Zhao Chengxian remained stunned for a long time. Only then did Xuan Yuan Ren gesture urgently for him to hold back. Zhao Chengxian stared, his mind spinning: Is it her? Could such an exact likeness exist in the world? Over the past two years, he had not forgotten Hui Yue’er for a single moment. Now encountering a man bearing her face filled him with a strange unease, prompting suspicion that she had disguised herself as a man. He turned to Xuan Yuan Ren, silently urging him to uncover the truth swiftly.
Xuan Yuan Ren retreated to the side hall and listened to Rong Gonggong’s preliminary findings. Zhao Chengxian followed him inside. The eunuch reported reverently, “Your Majesty, here are all the records concerning Yang Wentaí. We also learned he was recommended by his uncle, Yang Jinshun. For now, this is all your servant has been able to discover.” He sensed the mingled hope and tension in the two men before him. Upon seeing Yang Wentaí, he had been startled himself, an emotion that only deepened their own astonishment.
Xuan Yuan Ren promptly summoned Yang Lao. Moments later, the old man entered the side hall of the Hall of Heavenly Harmony with calm composure. Observing the wary expressions of Xuan Yuan Ren and Zhao Chengxian, he offered a gentle smile. “Your Majesty, today is a momentous occasion for the imperial examinations. Why seek out your old uncle? If your mother learns of this, she will surely scold you for letting your uncle lead you astray.” He appeared prepared for the visit, his demeanor free of surprise.
Xuan Yuan Ren asked directly, “Uncle, was Yang Wentaí recommended by you?” Yang Lao nodded, his face alight with amusement. Xuan Yuan Ren pressed on. “Do you still recall Hui Yue’er from two years ago?” If the rescuer of Hui Yue’er back then had been confined to the palace, Yang Lao’s involvement seemed the most plausible. Familiar with its inner workings and skilled in martial arts, he could have extricated her from the flames with relative ease; thus, the suspicion was justified.
Zhao Chengxian gazed at Yang Lao with mounting emotion. “Imperial Uncle, is Yang Wentaí Hui Yue’er in disguise as a man? Please tell me—he is Little Yue’er, isn’t he?” His face brimmed with hope, yearning for confirmation that would resurrect his own heart. How desperately he hoped the truth would affirm that Yue’er lived on.
Yang Lao shook his head. “No, Wentaí cannot be Hui’er. More than a decade ago, when I returned to my hometown, I met him. He was the son of an old friend of mine from my native village. About a year later, his father passed away unexpectedly. On his deathbed, he urged him to come to the capital and rely on me. When I saw him again, I was startled by his likeness to Hui’er—except for the gender. I also asked if he knew Hui’er, but he had never heard of her. You need not suspect anymore; Yang Wentaí is a genuine, upright man.” He spoke with conviction.
Zhao Chengxian still harbored doubt. “Imperial Uncle, why did you leave the palace after the fire at Xiu Xin Yuan? Were you planning something?” He suspected Yang Lao had saved Hui Yue’er and orchestrated her entry into the examinations.
Yang Lao sighed and replied, “Do you believe I plot rebellion? I left the palace because Hui’er’s death taught me the fleeting nature of life; I wished to wander and behold more famous mountains and rivers. If you two children still refuse to believe me, let that little Yang Wentaí remove his clothes here and now. That would prove my words true.” Removing garments in the main hall, he knew Xuan Yuan Ren would not permit it, so he sipped his tea with effortless grace.
Xuan Yuan Ren reassured him gently, “Uncle, you misunderstand. I and the Prince of Jun harbor no suspicion that you plot rebellion. It is merely that seeing a man who so closely resembles Yue’er stirred my curiosity. Since you recommended him, I wished to inquire. Now that you have clarified everything, I can rest easy.” Selecting a female zhuangyuan would have been humiliating for an emperor, so he had to be certain. With Yang Lao’s assurance that it was not Hui Yue’er, Xuan Yuan Ren felt relieved.
Zhao Chengxian remained unconvinced, yet lacking evidence, he yielded. In his heart, however, he swore: I must see for myself whether you truly are Little Yue’er!
They emerged from the side hall together. The assembled ministers assumed Xuan Yuan Ren was handling some weighty matter and saw nothing amiss.