Out in the garden, the young men had found many places for their amusement. With no respite from rain, some were setting up places to compete in their archery skills in sprawling gardens, shaded under cover of tents. While some in a quiet little pavilion standing tall beside a pond, sat discussing today’s event. There were some twelve of them - dressed quite peculiarly from the rest that had come to the Weijia. For one, none of them had taken off their fur lined cloaks, or even made themselves comfortable by taking off their weapons - their swords clung to their waist, sheathed inside their silver covers at all times. A round cap, furlined at rims, covered their head and their hair braided in a single braid hung low down to their hips.  

The day was so murky, its pitty-patty showers and soft breezy caresses constantly chilling their faces. For a few, nothing flickered past to entangle their somber gazes; the weather could hardly save their small talks. How could the melancholic murkiness of a wet, sullen day be any good for any auspicious word? How could the nostalgic air that seeks solitary reprieve be a nice thing to observe upon, especially in the midst of that medley of jubilation that surrounded them? The occasion was such that no proper sentiment could be translated into words. As such, many of them lingered outside in the pavilion, forming their own small group.

The moss covered marble pillars of the pavilion, the pathway leading into shrubbery full garden and leaning willows, a pond spread close-by at the feet of pavilion and ripples that formed therein at each falling raindrop...many eyes took it in and raised a warm cup of tea to their lips. 

“I say - it's not all that bad. This jinghai. If it weren’t for Wei Yize’s coming of age ceremony being so out of proportion, we could have enjoyed this trip a lot. For one, imagine if it was just a random gathering - this place could have made a perfect place to read some poetry.” Someone observed and a general hum of agreement followed. He stood beside the stone steps descending down into the pond, his boots almost touching the water, but he seemed unfazed whether they remained unwet or not. 

When others followed his gaze, they saw the green pond, with blooming purple lilies and white lotuses. Each droplet of rain pierced the water like needles, and endless round ripples merged- and then emerged like echoes from the bottom. The mist rising from the dark buildings surrounding the pond at faraway opposite shore, seemed to be rolling over the water surface. It was a beautiful moment to remain silent.

“Most definitely -yes. This rain, as bothersome as it is, seems to be made just for this place. Just this scene - how poignant is that? I should have brought my brush and ink.” Someone couldn't help but sigh. 

“Yeah, you’re right. Damn, we forgot so many supplies back at school!”

As if finding a small opening, a few of them started talking. There was much to be dwelt upon - all the popular news or one related to academic discussions, or which angry teacher was the worst and which sword style suited them best at that moment. Perhaps owing to the fact that some embarrassment of a sudden meeting had wafted away, the air heated up and the topics were skillfully maneuvered towards more colorful alleys.

What else could substitute such perennial topics as swords and warriors, but maidens and their beauty, their virtuosity, and their characters? And so they talked about that. Did someone hear anything new from the scholar who released that pamphlet called ‘Most influential beauties of the land’? Was there a mention of the capital city, and its several newly acclaimed accomplished women?Was there someone in it who was completely a surprise? Were they in a relationship, engaged or married?

“They always lie - over there in these books from the capital! You know the capital people rarely acknowledge other beauties who don't come from there. They will have you believe that the rest of Dajin is just full of one eyed maiden, all made of bulging noses and flesh bursting out if they could. It is their selling point at this point- call everyone ugly enough and, then highlighting the local maiden’s to make everyone more enthusiastic to buy it. What do you say happens when someone actually falls into their illusion? Does such an idiot even exist?”  

“The world is so large that you cannot definitely say there aren’t. But, I guess at least the ones written by outsiders are better. Now all of them share the same titles for beauties. And you cannot deny why they would do that - it definitely adds to their credibility. The name did great justice to beauty Wei, the title White lotus certainly suits her.” A young man with his crimson cloak covering his broad shoulder nudged closely towards the pillar, leaning backwards for support. Luo Chen stood beside his friend - a tall young man draped in a silver, white fur lined cloak. “There is some strange innocence in her eyes - I cannot clearly explain what. But when we met today, she felt like that pristine bloom gently cradling morning dew in her heart.” 

"His highness the second prince really appeared at the most opportune time. Before the flower could fully bloom in the spring, it was plucked off. Alas! What can one do but raise a toast to a missed fate." Yu Mingyang turned to catch the fleeting expression of loss reflected on his friend's face.  

"Nothing unusual to me.” Someone quipped up from the other side of the pavilion. “In fact, I had long expected something of this sort. With such caliber as he has, nothing short would have suited the status of either of them. Or why do you think people swear by the ‘White Lotus of the Western Mountains’? Not even the ‘Peony of the imperial city’ so celebrated could ever match her in her grace. And I heard - the beauty in the capital - is a childhood friend of his highness. Despite being so well learned, she was never betrothed to him, why do you think that is?"

“You talk of Miss Wei, I assume, when you all call her the white lotus. I still don’t understand, what is this about those titles? Who keeps a record of these, and who even decided to come up with that?” A boy sitting with his ankles in the nearby pond with the soft shower wetting his cloak's rims looked up at his friends standing beside him, some of whom immediately rolled their eyes at him and took a sip of their warm tea. “Come on! Don’t tell me it's common knowledge. How could it be unknown to me if it were so popular - or a common knowledge so to speak- as you claim? All day long, there is someone calling Miss Wei the “white lotus” and there just happens to be another one – I don’t recall the lady’s name but it goes something like, “the orchid of lone mountains” and whatnot. Although they sound poetic, who has so much time in their hands to dwell on these things? It exasperates me. That is such a confusing way to remember someone, if you ask me.”

“Not someone like you, at least. All day long, all I see you doing is nothing but plowing through those texts. You don’t go to assemblies, never attend an informal meeting - how would you know what is common knowledge or not? Fine, good for you - you are a good scholar! But please don’t expect others to be the same as you, alright? Normal people read normal things and people like you -? They read stuff in which not even a simile, nor metaphor comes even once, forget allusions to aesthetics and sentiments-do they even write of those? So, don’t talk as you know what poetic expressions even mean, brother. You don’t know anything of the sort. How could you know what "the white lotus of the western mountains” means? Don’t pretend or you will only embarrass yourself, An Jin. We know what stuff you are made of.” A few of them burst out laughing.

“I do actually come across such expressions more often than you would guess. My books that you call dry are not that dry actually - they have a different sort of beauty. No, but in all seriousness brother Mo. There must be a book you all refer to - right? A kind that names these beauties in such a high handed manner? Because if it was spontaneous, you wouldn’t all just come together to think of the same title, would you? Let’s just say it happens in one case, but what about other such titles? It cannot be true for all! No way is that possible. That can only mean that you are hiding that book from me. Why –? Because you are ashamed of it! Tell me, have I deduced this problem correctly?” In his anticipation to know the effect of his speech, An Jin dragged out his wet ankles and started dragging his friend to sit down over the carpet, his arms reaching over his shoulder in a half-embrace.

“Ah! You are such a pain!” Sui Mo exclaimed as he tried to wrestle his body away from his grip. “It's not like you can bully me into confessing something so untrue - okay?” 

“No, I am not. And this is not bullying - I just know you are definitely doing something behind my back. Tell me which book is it in?” An Jin continued to drag his friend down, till they were sitting down over a thick carpet. A spread of platters full of desserts and small tea-cups and their refills stood together held in porcelain jars. Another brazier burned closeby . 

“You are! Now, An Jin, let's stop here. Okay, I confess. We did hide it from you in the beginning. And no, there is nothing shameful about it! We just thought you wouldn’t be interested in these things so it didn’t matter whether you knew of it or not. We just didn’t want you to report us wasting our time in such activities to teacher Li. You can be a passive tattle-tale at times you know. Especially when you start chattering about things you like - or as in this case, dislike.”

“I do not! Don’t hide things from me - I really never go telling all your secrets to everyone, you know. When we go back to Imperial Academy together, you can show it to me there. I don’t think you have brought that book with you, have you?”

“No, of course not! How can you even think of that-!?”

“And he has successfully derailed our conversation. Just like always.” Luo Chen whispered to his companion, snickering at others' antics. They too were now sitting over the carpet, leaning against the pavilion marble pillars. 

After some while, he himself couldn’t help but discuss something different. “Second prince’s entourage hasn’t arrived yet. Something must have happened to them. They would have reached before the ceremony began, but there is no sign. It's already noon - what do you think might have happened to them? I don’t think any of us has even received a letter of some sort?”

“There was a landslide in Shijiazhuang, I think. It's a small town some miles away. I heard my old man talk about that on the way here. If anything, he must have gone there first to survey the disaster struck area. He will arrive here, if he has time. Of course, official duties are more important than a brother-in-law’s coming of age ceremony. I still think this Wei house has made too much out of a personal ceremony - even my sister’s wedding wasn’t this elaborate and mind you, she was marrying the newly titled number one scholar of that year.  I just don’t know why our teacher’s thought of sending all of us here first, though?” Yu Mingyang whispered. Although the others around the two seemed to be engrossed in their own conversations, many ears were listening to them. A few even stopped their own conversations, lowered their voices to hear some more.

“Ha -! Look at who’s talking? As if brother - as if that could ever be true. You brother, know more than that. I know you. You cannot lie still till you have got your hands around those juicy details, or some nice gossip before you let anything rest. You don’t seem restless to me, right now. It can only be that your old man slipped something more in his drunken stupor last night, did he not?” Luo Chen’s guffaw followed his words. 

“Fine! I will tell you then. It's not that big of a secret, alright -?” Yu Mingyang bent down and took up a piece of dessert, completely unperturbed at being seen through. “There just happens to be a plan for us in store. Are you happy now? Indeed there is - no, I kid you not when I say this. But the plans are not for here. We are to catch up with another entourage, and join them in the exploration of the ‘Mysterious Mountains’ of Jinghai down south. For whatever reasons, we are to tag along them. I only know this much. You know my old man seems to talk a lot when he is drunk, but actually, he will never say more than he really can let others know. Even if I make him drunk like a drowning horse, he will still not talk of those official secrets with me!” Yu Mingyang explained nonchalantly. 

“At least you do know something.” Luo Chen tilted his head distractedly, while he drank some more warm tea to drive away the chills. “It’s a funny business, ha. Our grandfathers won’t talk, our fathers are silent. But they all treat us like some porcelain dolls, always fussing about something or the other. I haven’t talked to my father so much in eighteen years of my life as I did these past three months! And that says a lot about them, doesn’t it?”

For some while, they both stayed silent.

“It stinks of mystery. I don’t like it. But what were we talking about? That ‘White lotus’ thingy, An Jin?” Here Luo Chen raised his voice to an eavesdropping An Jin, taking him aback. Although a little startled, An Jin raised his drooping head doggedly and met Luo Chen eyes as if to affirm while rubbing his nose in embarrassment.

“As you guessed, it is indeed a book. ‘Three thousand blossoms’ - is what it's called and is kind of a long running series. Definitely a classic, mind you. The author has been running it for five decades now, and has remained anonymous for all this time. So, you know it's old. Even my father used to secretly read them, when he was our age - maybe your father’s might have done too? My mother would always become angry whenever anyone recalled a certain young maiden’s title, you can guess why.” He chuckled a little and then continued, “It came out in a recent volume, the ‘White Lotus’ thing. Dajin, Daxia, Qi, Jing, Xia, Wu, Samhan, Oserthim… every known nation on our Tianxin continent, and their countless beauties were put together and then each ranked in a single list of some hundred people. They called it their special edition. So the competition was brutal. You can just imagine its reach among young people and popularity, especially with maiden’s- many will die just to see their names coming up in there for even once in their life. Someone tried to dig a little deeper into who the author was, but to his surprise found nothing - so, he went and wrote an article for the weekly pamphlet for scholars. So, now some people think it’s a complete organization to be able to reach out into so many places, while others hold the opinion that the author must be a well-connected adventurer.