Chapter 6: The Splendid Entrance

Qiu Zhenheng had arranged for his entrance to begin above everybody else's heads.

His academy platform stood on the provincial court's highest terrace.

A white silk canopy covered its rail, leaving a narrow place for him to land.

Ji studied that place while Luo found a seat on the lower bench.

She could see fresh wooden boards beneath the silk.

Someone had repaired the platform without allowing the wood to dry.

The boards bowed under the attendant arranging Qiu's ornamental scabbard.

Ji had carried too much laundry over old bridges to enjoy that movement.

She pointed it out to Shen, who was inspecting the audience's chairs.

Her master looked up and nodded without pretending to know the academy's plans.

Ji could warn the attendant, although doing so would draw Qiu's attention.

He had spent the morning pretending not to see her school invitation.

She decided he could manage seeing her now.

"Move the landing cloth away from that board," she called.

The attendant turned with one end still caught beneath his foot.

Qiu appeared at the upper stair before the man could reply.

Two golden rings formed around his wrists in the bright morning air.

He let their force lift his robe clear of the wet stone.

The spectators straightened, and somebody began to clap.

Ji felt the old pull of that beautiful display in her own ribs.

She wanted the second ring, the stronger reach, the room it gave a person.

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