Chapter 51: A Citywide Search for Qingli

Ziluo looked at Su Qingyue in surprise. “Miss, are you really going to take the imperial examination? Have any women participated before?”

Su Qingyue nodded. “Yes, there was a woman who took the exam last year and passed all the way to become a jinshi. She is currently working at the Ministry of Revenue as a minor official, handling only trivial matters. At twenty-five, she is still unmarried, and when people talk about her, it’s rarely in a good light. I only saw her once at a palace banquet, dressed in official robes, and she stood out among all the other women present.”

Though that woman faced a tough situation in the officialdom, Su Qingyue couldn’t help but feel envious.

At least she had control over her own fate.

Ziluo was astonished, finding it hard to believe. “There really is a woman in office?”

Su Qingyue confirmed with a somber expression, “Yes, but I heard from my father that that Master Xiao doesn’t have an easy time at the Ministry. Most of the officials there are men, and it seems she faces quite a bit of exclusion.”

This path was not an easy one. Society held many biases against women, preferring to keep them confined at home, managing domestic affairs, and neglecting their talents.

Yet despite the difficulties, it was still a path where she could make her own decisions. If she pursued it, even if it was tough, the challenges would come from outsiders, and she would only need to handle her own affairs without having to worry too much.

In the past, Su Qingyue had dreamed of participating in the imperial examination, but her parents never allowed it. They permitted her to study but forbade her from seeking official rank, believing that no title could compare to that of an empress.

In her previous life, the emperor had never issued such an edict, but upon her return this time, it had already existed. She wondered why it was in place, but for her, it was a good thing.

However, with only three months until the examinations, and with her mother saying they needed to respond to the Prince of Xian’s and the Prince of An’s families this month, Su Qingyue felt anxious again.

The next morning, after finishing breakfast, Su Qingyue told her mother that she wanted to go out to look at jewelry, as she would be attending the birthday celebration for the dowager empress of the Prince of Xian’s Manor in a few days and wanted to shop.

Hearing this excuse, Madam Su readily agreed. At that moment, she was too preoccupied to worry about Su Qingyue. She and Su Qingyue’s father were busy discussing how to find Qingli. After Madam Su had spoken with her husband the previous night, the two had spent the night without sleep, continuously brainstorming ways to handle the situation.

After leaving the residence, Su Qingyue still had time before her appointment with Qingli. She wanted to invite Qingli to go shopping together and buy her some gifts, but considering their identical appearance and the uncertainty surrounding Qingli’s identity, she suppressed that desire, deciding instead to buy things for Qingli on her own and bring them back later.

Meanwhile, throughout Nanyang City, members of the Su family were scouring the area. Su Qingyue’s parents had dispatched many people to search for Qingli’s whereabouts.

After completing her shopping, Su Qingyue went to the pastry shop where she had arranged to meet Qingli.

As Qingli stepped out of the inn, she was spotted by one of the searchers sent by the Su family. Someone quickly returned to report to the Su residence, while the others began to follow Qingli, waiting for Su Qingyue’s father to arrive.

Once Qingli left the inn, she sensed that someone was following her. Keeping her composure, she walked towards a deserted alley.

When those tracking her followed her into the alley, she suddenly appeared before them like a gust of wind, startling the group into wide-eyed shock. They looked at her in disbelief.

“Who are you? Why are you following me?” Qingli assessed the group before her, her tone firm.

The men quickly denied it. “We’re not following you; we’re just passing by. You must be mistaken.”

Qingli chuckled. Did they really think she was that easy to deceive?

“Oh, if that’s the case, you can leave now. I’m changing direction. If I see you again next time, I won’t be so courteous.”

The men could only nod, surprised that she had detected their following so easily.

Qingli changed her direction, and the men stood in place, looking to their leader. “Should we continue following her?”

The leader replied immediately, “Of course we’ll follow! If we don’t, what will we say to our master?”

With that, they resumed tailing her.

Once again, Qingli sensed their presence and swiftly entered another alley. As the men followed her in, they felt something was off. In the next moment, Qingli suddenly appeared before them.

“Now, can you still claim you weren’t following me?”

The men were left speechless.

Qingli said calmly, “I warned you earlier that if we met again, I wouldn’t hold back.”

With that, she took action, swiftly landing a punch on each of them. After just a few moves, they were bruised and battered. But that wasn’t enough; she disabled their legs as well, ensuring they could no longer pursue her.

After her quick work, Qingli dusted off her hands and addressed the men on the ground, “I warned you earlier. You didn’t take it seriously, and look where that got you now!”

The men lay on the ground, groaning in pain, shocked by her strength. They had no words to express their grievances.

When asked about their purpose, they remained tight-lipped. Qingli had no time for interrogations, so she decided to leave it be. After all, they had learned their lesson.

With her pursuers out of the picture, Qingli headed straight to the place where she had arranged to meet Su Qingyue.

Meanwhile, Su Qingyue’s father had arrived in the alley and found the injured subordinates.

Upon learning that they had lost track of Qingli, he was furious. He then asked, “Did you see clearly? Does she look like the young lady?”

The subordinates nodded vigorously. “Yes, we saw her. She looks exactly like the young lady—there’s no mistake. The only difference is her voice and demeanor.”

Su Qingyue’s father’s eyelids twitched violently. It was indeed that child—she was still alive.

He had personally thrown her off such a high cliff, yet she had somehow survived.

His feelings were complicated. Back then, she was just an infant, and dealing with her would have been straightforward. But now, she had grown into a person, and it wouldn’t be easy to resolve the situation.

Unsure of what to do next, he thought he would need to consult Master Li again to see what the child’s fate was now. Perhaps it had changed. If it had changed, bringing her back wouldn’t be out of the question.

With the thought of Qingli being connected to the emperor, Su Qingyue’s father began to calculate his next steps.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he decided to return home with his men, halting further searches for the time being. It would be better to consult Master Li first before making any decisions.