The spring examinations is soon approaching. Lucky for them, the capital city is just four hours walk. Thus Sheng Qin on the night before, start packing all the things he need. Hu Li did not know what is needed watch him as he busy walking around the room and mumbling to himself. Finally she he is done, he sits down and wipe his forehead. Hu Li pour him a cup of tea.
"I will be gone for at least nine days."
"That long?"
"Yes, one day wasted when i reach the city. Second day register. Third day read my books whole day the last chance to memorise whatever i have forgotten. Fourth day the start of the examinations which will take five days to complete. Six day, i can pack up and return home. "
"When will the results be known?"
"I think it will be release by Autumn."
"Why does it takes so long?"
"That is because, the imperial examinations is taken by all men from other provinces and county. Everyone who studies hard and wants to try. Some have repeatedly fail but every year they will come and do the examinations. They will keep doing it till they pass. That means there is a lot of men going for the imperial examinations. This will include the upper class men too."
"Who are the upper class men?"
"Those who are rich like merchants and noble born men."
"I still don't understand."
"Well that means ... For example, there is one thousand men taking the examinations. The makers are only five men from the imperial court. So it will take a lot of time on the markers to check all the submitted papers."
"Ahhh... i think i understand a bit. "
Sheng Qin continue to talk to Hu Li till the morning comes. As usual, they walk out to have breakfast together. After that he when to the ancestor hall for prayers. On the trip, Fu Man will be following him. As he have a distance relative in the capital city. They can stay in the living quarter for a while. Nine aunty gives Sheng Qin a big bag of money. It should cover all the expenses incur during the stay.
Hu Li watch him walk away. Sheng Qin keep turning back to wave with his big bag strap on his back. With the last bit of magic in her, she cast her spell for his protection. She watch her magic flow towards him like snow drops and they melted into him. She smile and satisfy with it after that she disappear behind the old servants. Hu Li is back in the scroll. She is in her fox form with two long tails. Tired and drain. She lay down and close her eyes. She doesn't know how long she have sleep. For the first time, she begin a journey to dream.
As she dream, a small third tail appear. In her dream, she see Sheng Qin dress in grand. He looks older with a small mustache and beard. However he is not smiling and there is another woman and a child besides him. Their faces are turn away from her. Sheng Qin stretch out his hand to Hu Li. However, she did not go to him. The other woman hold on to him and ask him not to go to Hu Li. She continue to dream of other things as well. She see that there is another man. A tall handsome man with a golden hair pin. The longer Hu Li dreams, the more she gets tired and sleepy. Thus she lay in her scroll for many days. While staying still, the red symbol design on her forehead, right at the center between her eyebrows begins to grown tiny crystal on the bottom of the symbol which is now a clear lighting shape. Inside the scroll, a gentle breeze keep blowing and it makes her comfortable and not wanting to move. A tree soon starts to grow in the scroll. a small creek appear behind. Rocks appear in the scroll beside Hu Li. It's now not an empty scroll with a fox but a fox with a comfortable home now. Hu Li is now a guardian beast of the Yue clan. Her divine status is now heavenly. However the child in her still remains. She is still equal to a ten year old child who is learning about the world.
After many days pass, Hu Li open her eyes. The scroll is now move to another room. It's the ancestor hall. The door and the windows are close thus there is no one around except for the light floaters. She test if the wall is in font of her. She step out and the floaters change into their human form. They bow to her.
"Master, you are awake."
"What had happen when I'm asleep."
"Master, there is nothing much. We are waiting for Sheng Qin's return."
"Why the scroll..."
"The old servants did a cleaning in the study room. So most of the paintings are moved to other rooms. They must have forgotten to put your scroll back after the cleaning is done."
"How many days now since Sheng Qin have left."
"It's been seven days. Soon he will return."
"I have place a protect spell on him. If anything should happen, it will inform me. He wound be harm in any way. Both of you need not to worry."
They both bow and express their gratefulness to the fox.
"Is there a mirror around?"
"Only in Sheng Qin's bedroom."
Hu Li look around before leaving the ancestor hall. She quietly sneak in the bed room and walk to the mirror on the vanity table. Just as she suspected, her appearances as a feline with human form have change. There is a strange white cloud like floating around her shoulders. Her long white hair is now longer than usual. Her white eye lashes have curl up. Her golden eyes fill with electricity looks strange as if they have accumulate more power in it. The red symbol is now clearly a shape of a lightning blot. The small crystal under it is glowing yellow. While the red dots on each corner near her eye have been to stretch side way in wards to her nose. The corner of her mouth at both ends have small yellow crystal growing as well. She look at her long black nails which have crystals forming on the cuticle. She mumble under her breath
'Soon i will look like an ugly fox...'
On the ninth day, Sheng Qin returns in the afternoon. He is not in a hurry to find his wife because he looks like an unkept man with his long messy beard. He needs to look presentable for her. He hurry to the shop who specialist in shaving beard for men. He even request for a hair wash and a man bun. He keep touching the pocket in his garment. He smile to himself. Tonite, he will try to propose to his wife.