Among the sons of farmers carefully selected by Qin Wan, five passed the provincial examination. After the academy examination, two of these five were grandsons of Old Man Sun, and one of them even passed the examination to become a scholar!

At this point, in the small farm, eight people took the exam, and four of them became students and one became a scholar, which was truly a stunning achievement.

These children in the small farm immediately attracted the attention of many schools. Many schools extended olive branches to them. Some well-known universities even visited Old Sun's grandson repeatedly and invited him to study there.

In order to compete for this young scholar, some even offered to exempt the tuition fee, and some even provided food, accommodation, tuition fee, and writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Old Sun was undecided and went to find Zhenzhen. "Miss Zhenzhen, we are grateful for the Crown Princess's kindness and would like to stay in the academy to study. However, these scholars keep coming to visit us, and I'm not good at speaking. I'm afraid that if I say no, I'll be unpleasant and anger them. So, I've come to find Miss Zhenzhen to discuss how to refuse them in a way that will save their face."

Zhenzhen was at a loss for words and said, "Now that there's a good place to go, why not go? The Crown Princess has long said that the school on Zhuangzi's campus is just a way for everyone to learn to read and write."

What Zhenzhen didn't say was that the teachers Qin Wan hired were all old teachers who taught the Qin family's children. Now that they were old and didn't want to work hard, they were sent to the manor for retirement. Teaching them was only secondary. It was also because the children were talented and the teachers were good that they achieved such results.

Old Sun couldn't believe it: "Those books, if all these children go, how can there be students in the village?"

Zhenzhen shook her head and said, "Not all of them need to go. Some children are still young and can't cope with the changes in their environment. Going to school will do them more harm than good. So, only your two grandchildren and the other three students should go to school."

"Also," Zhenzhen handed Old Sun a piece of paper, "this is the book the Crown Princess selected for them. It was also recommended by the teachers. It's based on their temperaments and the corresponding teaching methods of the teachers. As for the money, don't worry. When the Crown Princess said she would support their studies, she naturally gave them enough money."

Zhenzhen asked someone to bring out the prepared pens, ink, paper, and inkstone: "Take them with you when you go back later. There will be plenty of them."

Each person received five brushes, ten ink sticks, an inkstone, and a box of paper.

Zhenzhen added, "I've already told the paper mill. They'll send you paper every month. Just accept it. They'll also replace your brush with a new one every month. When the ink runs out, they'll send it back. Don't worry about these expenses."

"Old slave, old slave... Old slave thanks the Crown Princess!" Old Sun kowtowed and expressed his gratitude with tears streaming down his face. All his family members had been released from prison, and he had long stopped calling himself an old slave. But now, only this way of calling himself that could show his loyalty.

Zhenzhen quickly helped him up, but couldn't bear to see him cry, so she tried to comfort him. After finally stopping him, she hurriedly sent him out, telling him not to come back and cry again, as she had no words to say.

After Old Sun returned, he told everyone about the Crown Princess's arrangements. Everyone was naturally grateful and kowtowed from afar towards the palace to express their gratitude. The children also secretly vowed in their hearts that they would study hard and be loyal to the Crown Princess!

These things are big things for Old Sun and others, but they are small things for the upcoming Spring Examination.

The imperial examinations in the capital were held in the Imperial Examination Hall used for the Spring Examination. After the examinations were over, the Imperial Examination Hall was sealed off and cleaned and inspected from top to bottom. Any necessary renovations were also done to ensure that not a single piece of paper remained inside.

When the day for the Spring Examination arrived, the sun was shining brightly and countless students lined up in a long queue in front of the Imperial Examination Hall. The parents who sent their children to the exam placed all their earnest expectations on the shoulders of the students, which gave them more motivation but also more pressure.

Old Man Sun brought his grandson again, this time the eldest grandson and two other younger grandsons.

Send the eldest grandson to take the Spring Examination, and let the two younger grandsons experience the atmosphere of the Spring Examination.

Standing in front of the Imperial Examination Hall, Old Sun stood on tiptoe and patted his eldest grandson on the shoulder: "Don't feel pressured, you are still young, we have plenty of time."

The eldest grandson really didn't feel any pressure at all: "Don't worry, Grandpa. I've only been studying for a few years. It's not shameful if I don't pass the exam. I just want to go in and take a look at the examination hall."

The young man was full of vigor and ambition, with a proud look in his eyes. Moreover, because he held an indifferent attitude towards the Spring Examination, he seemed even more free and unrestrained.

Among the slightly nervous students, he actually became the dazzling one.

Old Sun watched his eldest grandson carry his exam basket into the examination hall and drive his ox cart to the alley opposite the Imperial Examination Hall. He took out ten coins and gave them to his two grandsons: "If you're hungry, go buy something to eat. We'll wait at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall for the next few days until your brother comes out."

The Spring Examination is divided into three sessions. The first session includes three questions on the Four Books and four questions on the Classics.

The second round consists of an essay with five judgments and one question to be answered from among the imperial edicts, decrees and memorials.

The third round tested five questions on classics, history and policy.

The three exams lasted a total of seven days. During these seven days, candidates were not allowed to leave the examination room. They had to eat, drink, defecate and urinate within the small square grid. Not to mention tall people, even petite people would find it difficult to stretch their bodies inside. You can imagine how difficult these seven days were.

Coupled with the mental pressure in the examination room, many people could not get through the first round and gave up the exam.

Old Sun huddled in the ox cart and looked intently at the Imperial Examination Hall opposite. This was his first time watching others take the imperial examination.

Not to mention that those who brought cheating materials were searched and kicked out before entering the Imperial Examination Hall, but on the first day of the exam, as soon as the papers were distributed, some candidates came out dejectedly with their exam baskets.

Old Sun's heart skipped a beat. He trudged after him, trudging along with his old arms and legs, asking, "Why are you out just after entering? Didn't they say you can't go in or out for seven days?"

The examinee was dejected: "I can't answer a single question. Why don't I just get out and waste time in here? The longer I stay, the less confident I am. I might as well get out soon."

"Ah?" Old Sun still didn't understand: "But why can I come out?"

"Of course I can come out if I don't go in again." The candidate shook his head. The next time he would take the exam would be three years later. But after three years, would he still have hope?

Old Sun watched the candidate stagger away and couldn't help but worry about his grandson.

On the first day, as many as three candidates left the examination room on their own and gave up the exam.

On the fourth day, some candidates who fainted and were exhausted were sent out.

Although Old Man Sun comforted his grandson and told him that it didn't matter how he did on the test, he still prayed that his grandson would finish answering the questions carefully and not be sent out by anyone.

It was really heartbreaking because those who were sent out cried and regretted after waking up in the clinic nearby.