Jiang Shuyue comforted her, saying, "What are you afraid of? You've already gotten your indenture back. You're free now. If she dares to make things difficult for you, we'll report her to the authorities."

Hongfu's illness could be cured with just a period of medicinal baths, but she was worried that the madam would find out she had exaggerated her condition and cause her trouble again.

"Moon Lady, Su Jin passed the exam!" Nangong Zeyue strode in like a whirlwind.

When Hongfu saw that the person who came was Nangong Zeyue, she relaxed her grip on the handkerchief slightly.

"What place?" Jiang Shuyue asked with a smile that curved her eyes.

When she and Qiuju went to the examination hall, there were so many people that the carriage couldn't get close at all. Qiuju suggested that they go back to the restaurant first and send a waiter to check the list.

Nangong Zeyue beamed with pride and said, "Second place, the top spot belongs to Young Master Zhen."

Seeing that her master and manager Nangong had something to say to each other, Hongfu stood up and bowed slightly to them, saying, "Hongfu will go back and practice the music score first."

Jiang Shuyue nodded, "Okay, you practice 'Fisherman's Song at Dusk' first, and you can practice the others later."

After redeeming herself, Hongfu didn't have much money left. It was Jiang Shuyue who asked Nangong Zeyue to give her her monthly allowance in advance to rent a house.

After seeing Hongfu off, Nangong Zeyue sat down and frowned slightly as he asked, "Yueniang, if Hongfu's identity is exposed, will it affect our restaurant's business?"

Jiang Shuyue said confidently, "You're overthinking it. Hongfu used to wear heavy makeup, but now she dresses simply and elegantly. She even wears a veil when she plays the zither."

People who aren't particularly familiar with her would have a hard time recognizing her. Besides, she's using her real name now, not the name she used when she was a top courtesan, so you don't need to worry.

Jiang Shuyue wasn't afraid of anyone causing trouble; she had a strong backer.

...

At the Jiang residence, the gatekeeper overheard people on the street discussing the names of the top few on the list.

He excitedly said to Mei'er and the servant who had just returned from outside, "Miss Mei, did you hear that Young Master Biao is on the list?"

Mei'er instructed the servant to carry the things to the kitchen, and said with a smile, "Everyone in the streets and alleys is talking about the names on the list, of course I know. Miss instructed long ago that the dishes prepared today should be plentiful, so that everyone can share in the joy."

The servant grinned and chuckled, "Miss treats us so well."

Just as the servant was about to close the door, Su Nan, Chang Le, and Sui Sui came out.

Su Nan asked, "Sister Mei'er, my older brother passed the exam?"

"Congratulations, Second Young Master! The Eldest Young Master came in second!" Mei'er congratulated Su Nan with a beaming smile.

Sui Sui jumped up excitedly: "Wow! Uncle is amazing!"

"Su Nan, let's go to the street to buy firecrackers. Let's have some fun tonight." Chang Le said, pulling Sui Sui's hand and walking towards the door.

Chang Le originally called Su Nan "brother," but Su Nan dared not let the princess call him "brother," so Chang Le started calling him by his given name.

"Princess, please wait a moment. I'll go and call the others." Jing'er caught up from behind.

"Stop! What are you yelling for? With Su Nan by my side, how could we possibly get lost right here in front of our house?"

Jing'er was genuinely startled by Chang Le's shout.

She looked up at Mei'er, who suddenly had a bright idea. "I don't have anything to do right now, so why don't I accompany the princess to the street with Jing'er?"

Chang Le waved his hand, "No need, with Su Nan here, you don't need to worry."

Mei'er dared not disobey the princess, so she bowed and withdrew.

“Princess, but…” Jing’er looked at Chang Le with worried eyes and dared not step forward.

Su Nan often took Sui Sui out of the mansion. Now that the capital was peaceful, he also felt that Mei'er and Jing'er were too nervous.

He said to Mei, "I'll take the princess to the front to buy it, and we'll be back in a little while."

The gatekeeper said, "Young Master, please hurry back. I'll be waiting for you outside."

Chang Le was eager to go to the examination hall to watch the excitement, so she took Sui Sui's little hand and walked out.

Su Nan quickly followed.

The streets are paved with wide bluestone slabs, and the sunlight shines on the red walls and green tiles. The dew on the leaves of the osmanthus trees by the roadside has disappeared.

Along the streets, groups of people gathered together, chatting and laughing, and you could vaguely hear them talking about the release of the exam results.

"Sui Sui, would you like to go to the Imperial Examination Hall to see the lion dance?" Chang Le bent down and asked Sui Sui in her ear.

Sui Sui blinked. "Auntie, didn't you say you were going to buy firecrackers?"

"We can watch the lion dance first and then come back to buy firecrackers."

The shouts of vendors rose and fell, but Su Nan only saw Chang Le whispering to Sui Sui with her head down, and he couldn't hear what she was saying.

The place selling firecrackers was only one street away. When they reached the crossroads, Su Nan discovered that Chang Le was heading straight towards the Imperial Examination Hall.

"Miss... Second Miss, you've gone the wrong way." Su Nan strode after her and took Sui Sui's little hand.

Calling her "Princess" on the street would attract too much attention, so Chang Le didn't care how Su Nan addressed her.

Chang Le had a sudden inspiration and said with a grin, "Sui Sui wants to go to the front to watch the lion dance."

"Who said there was a lion dance today?" Su Nan remembered that Sister Qiuju said there would only be a lion dance performance during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

There are still several days until the Mid-Autumn Festival, but there are already quite a few lanterns being sold on the streets.

Chang Le squeezed Sui Sui's hand, and Sui Sui immediately understood what her aunt meant. She looked up at Su Nan and gave him a sweet smile, "Second Uncle, I want to go to the Imperial Examination Hall to find my eldest uncle."

He never refused any of the requests made by his children.

"Okay, your second uncle will carry you." Su Nan said, squatting down and holding Sui Sui in his arms.

With people coming and going on the street, he was worried that passersby might accidentally step on Sui Sui.

The air was filled with the lively atmosphere of the marketplace, and Chang Le couldn't take her eyes off the dazzling array of goods in the shop.

Chang Le strolled along, looking around and exploring. When the three of them arrived at the examination hall, the crowd in front of it had already dispersed.

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