Darkholm Translation

CHAPTER 005 Sheng Qingzi's cheeks were burning, and he dared not meet her gaze. Instinctively, he lowered his eyes, his mind in turmoil. The thought of his recent rude behavior made him wish he could find a hole to crawl into. He was a handsome man, but spending all day with the three dull women in this academic hall had long become tiresome. One was as cold as ice, another talked too much and was irritating, and the last one, who was slightly better, was unfortunately already married. This academic hall had finally gained a breath of fresh air with a new arrival, and not just any arrival, but a woman of elegant demeanor and extraordinary beauty. If it weren't for that wretched Zhu Miaomiao speaking ill of her, which she overheard, he wouldn't have acted so impulsively. It was all Zhu Miaomiao's fault. Now, his image as a "fierce tiger" was cemented. Lu Yun'er quietly observed, a trace of thoughtfulness flashing in her eyes. After all, in a matriarchal wor...

CHAPTER 005 Since Han Ranzhi had taken Lu Yun'er and the others to Jingyi Pavilion earlier using a quicker route, they saved some time but missed out on much of the academy's beautiful scenery. After leaving Jingyi Pavilion, Han Ranzhi planned to take Lu Yun'er to the Doctor’s Hall [1] later, but first, she decided to show her around and introduce the general layout of the Imperial Academy. The Imperial Academy covered a vast area, with ancient trees towering above, providing shade and serenity. The atmosphere was elegant and tranquil, and not far away, the sound of students reading aloud occasionally drifted from a pavilion. As the two engaged in a pleasant conversation, they occasionally encountered male and female students returning to their dormitories[2]. They were all dressed in white student robes and respectfully greeted Han Ranzhi, sneaking curious glances at Lu Yun'er. Just as Lu Yun'er and Han Ranzhi had taken a few steps, a young girl’s voice called out ...

CHAPTER 003 A horse passed by the window; three days later, it would be the fifteenth. The Guozijian, the Imperial Academy, sat facing south in a rectangular north-south orientation. It was composed of a three-courtyard layout, with the Biyong Hall at its center, arranged symmetrically on either side. The main gate of the Guozijian was called the Jixian Gate, and opposite this gate was Jixian Street, a road lined with various shops. On this particular day, the students of the Guozijian were on holiday and allowed to go out and stroll the street. Lu Yun'er had originally arrived by carriage, but seeing the many students on Jixian Street, she decided to alight midway, instructing Qiu Yi to wait for her there. She then walked the rest of the way. At this moment, Lu Yun'er was standing under a thousand-year-old locust tree outside the Jixian Gate, waiting for the Master of the Academy, unaware that she had attracted the whispered discussions of many male and female students. Today,...

CHAPTER 002 Han Ranzhi's expression became serious as she mentioned the matter at hand, looking up at Lu Yun'er. "Yun'er, do you resent me?" Lu Yun'er knew exactly what she meant. From being a first-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue, she had been demoted to an eighth-rank Scholar. Outsiders might think she had committed some crime to be demoted like this. "No, I don’t resent you. I guess that your recommendation also carried the Empress’s intentions." Lu Yun'er smiled as if she had seen through everything. She continued, "First, to promote the worthy and capable; second, to combat corruption." Lu Yun'er knew that the current Empress, Mu Yue, was once the ninth princess of the previous dynasty. Born in the cold palace, she was unloved and endured all sorts of abuse. She lived in hiding for years, and after the Chaos at Chaoyang Gate, she ascended to the throne by stepping over the bodies of her kin. The struggle for the throne...

CHAPTER 001 It was the vibrant month of March, and in a quaint and elegant residence in the capital, a peach tree stood gracefully in the center of the courtyard. The tree was adorned with red calyx and light petals, its buds blooming in a race to outshine one another, creating clusters of blossoms as splendid as the rosy clouds in the sky, dazzling and radiant. "I’m afraid I'm going to be late again!" Qiu Yi muttered anxiously as she glanced at the darkening sky, her footsteps quickening with every stride. She hurried past the peach tree, causing a gust of wind that lifted several petals into the air, some of which quietly nestled into her disheveled hair, adding a playful touch to her appearance. Inside a simple and elegant room, the soft glow of a porcelain incense burner sent wisps of smoke curling upward, while the delicate bed curtains swayed gently with the breeze. Lu Yun'er lay on a soft chaise, her eyes closed in rest. However, her delicate brows were tightly...