Seeing his indifferent demeanor, Ye Zhi advised, "I just saw a young gentleman in blue. Although he also speaks little, he says what needs to be said. You seem like a quiet monk to me; you should be a little more lively."
At this moment, she forgot her role as a minor character destined for a tragic end and spoke without any reservations.
The response she got was still a faint "Mm..."
"Hello, I just heard you say you are going to have Yangchun noodles, right?"
Turning around.
It was a young girl in a Golden Butterfly Cloud Brocade Skirt and a young gentleman in blue.
Ye Zhi nodded and replied, "Yes."
"Can we join you? My name is Tan Huanhuan, and this is Ji Changzhou. We are from Yangzhou and want to try the Yangchun noodles here in the Capital City to see if they are authentic."
The young girl intended to strike up a conversation, and Ye Zhi welcomed it for the joy of making more friends.
She had a hunch that this young girl named Tan Huanhuan and the young gentleman in blue, Ji Changzhou, would stay at the Imperial College.
"Of course, I know of a place in the Capital City called Huai Building, not far from here. We can go together later. My name is Ye Zhi — Ye as in leaf, the grass radical and the stop radical combined."
Seeing that the other seemed not to understand her name, Ye Zhi was a bit anxious, as the pronunciation was similar to "Zhi" in other contexts, so she wanted to explain to her new friends.
However, Tan Huanhuan and Ji Changzhou looked bewildered, unable to understand the vernacular of the 21st century??
Suddenly, she thought of Shen Chen and looked over expectantly.
He immediately understood and recited smoothly, "From Li Mountain, the journey traverses the plains of Zhi."
Ye Zhi: "..."
Tan Huanhuan giggled, finding her new friend quite interesting: "Mmhm, Ye Zhi, right? Don’t worry, I remember you." After thinking for a moment, she asked, "And what’s the name of this handsome young gentleman here?"
Handsome young gentleman...
Ye Zhi burst into laughter, as the usually stern-faced male lead was being called a handsome young gentleman.
Predictably, Shen Chen didn’t respond to Tan Huanhuan, so Ye Zhi stepped in to relieve the situation, "His name is Shen Chen; he’s my friend. He speaks little, so you don’t need to mind him."
Osmanthus trees were planted in the garden, and it was the blooming season, with a faint aroma of osmanthus flowers wafting through the air, delightfully fragrant.
Standing under a banyan tree, with the autumn breeze gently blowing, it didn’t feel warm at all.
The two girls, who hit it off right away, chatted enthusiastically.
"Is Yangzhou really that great?"
Tan Huanhuan seized the opportunity to boast about her hometown.
"Of course, the willows extend without end, joining patches of remnant grass, while the wild geese glide under the Rainbow Bridge, mirroring an artistic scene. It’s also home to the Thin West Lake, famed for its money-spending parties. Listen to this poem; how poetic it is, dedicated to explaining the beautiful scenery of Yangzhou. When there’s a chance, I’ll show you around the entire Yangzhou City; I’m most familiar with it."
Ye Zhi was greatly intrigued, "Sure."
With her father being the Lord Minister and her mother the daughter of a wealthy merchant, her background overshadowed many others. Visiting Yangzhou City wouldn’t be a problem.
The other two men stood by patiently, not interjecting into their conversation.
Before long.
Teacher came to announce the arrangements, informing the students they could now go for lunch and take a midday rest. They were to regroup in the late afternoon.
The second round of examinations would take place, and the list of successful candidates would be posted the following day. Those who made it would enter the Imperial College for further exams, while those who didn’t pass could return home!
After the dismissal, the four of them walked on the road when Ye Zhi felt like she had forgotten something.
She shook her head, deciding not to worry about it.
Li Du searched for Ye Zhi for a long time but only saw Liu Qingxi alone, so he approached and started a conversation. The two exited through the gate, one after the other.