Huo Rang was taken aback, his hand holding the wine jug paused. "What method? Kidnapping? Hiding?"

Pan Bin's lips twitched. "What are you saying? This is the capital city, and you're a public official. You can't just break the law by trying to snatch someone!"

Huo Rang's surprised and expectant eyes dimmed instantly. "I thought it was some brilliant plan."

Pan Bin was both amused and exasperated. "What brilliant plan could we possibly have? Let alone the fact that that slender horse is from the Marquis of Anning's mansion and already has a concubine, even if she were from an ordinary family, could we really seize her by force? If it were a county or prefecture, we could rely on underhanded tactics, but in the capital, under the emperor's nose, there are far more officials than people. Who dares to claim they can control everything?"

Huo Rang snatched the wine jug away. "Then why are you spouting all this nonsense?"

Pan Bin snatched the wine jug back and said, "I mean, if he can buy a skinny horse, you should go and buy one too."

Huo tried to grab the wine jug, but failed.

Pan Bin continued, "You met that woman once and can't forget her. I think you're just itching for her because you can't have her, not that you like her. I have a brother in Jiangnan. If you're willing, I can write to him and ask him to find you a beautiful young woman, and then send her to the capital."

Huo remained silent. "But... I only like that one."

"You don't just like that one, you've only seen that one. If you go see a couple more, you'll find there are plenty of beautiful and interesting women like that! You just like pretty, clever, and unique girls, right? Let's just buy girls like that, okay?"

"..."

Huo admitted that he was somewhat tempted.

Pan Bin patted his friend on the shoulder, "Come on, tell me your requirements, or tell me what Bai Qingzhou's skinny horse looks like, and I'll have my brother buy one based on that."

...

Several days have passed.

Finally, it was time for Bai Qingzhou to take his formal exam.

A day in advance, Bai Qingzhou told his mother that she didn't need to prepare a special breakfast or farewell banquet for him, or even have anyone see him off.

After having breakfast, he prepared his writing materials and food, and then, accompanied by Guan Shui, left the Marquis's residence for the examination.

The exams were not conducted in one session or over several days; the county-level exam alone was divided into five sessions.

The first exam consisted of two essays from the Four Books and a five-character, six-rhyme poem.

The second exam consisted of one passage from the Four Books, one essay on sexual theory or the Classic of Filial Piety, and memorizing approximately one hundred characters of the "Imperial Edict and Extensive Instructions".

The third exam consists of one passage from the Four Books or a classic text, one regulated verse, one five-character eight-line poem, and memorizing the first two lines of the "Imperial Edict and Extensive Instructions" from the previous exam.

The fourth and fifth exams were held consecutively, mainly testing knowledge of scriptures, poetry, and romance.

Each exam was held five days apart.

After the ranking of the previous exam results, those who pass are determined according to a certain ratio to enter the next exam, and the number of people admitted decreases as the exam progresses.

In order to allow the young master to concentrate on the exam, Lady Ding did not even let Bai Qingzhou return during this period. She prepared a small house in the Marquis's mansion in advance and had the servants of Qingfeng Courtyard and some of the servants of the main courtyard move there to serve the young master.

We will return to the Marquis's residence only after the heir has finished all his exams, to prevent him from being distracted.

Everyone knew what Ding was thinking—the young master was so infatuated with Consort Shen, what if he suddenly became obsessed with women after the exam and missed the next one?

But only Shen Mianmian knew that Fengchu wasn't as lecherous as everyone thought. Although the two of them slept together every day, nothing actually happened most of the time.

They rarely even hug each other; they usually sleep separately.

The idealized image of a woman nestled in a man's arms while sleeping is simply not real.

And just like that, nineteen days passed in the blink of an eye.

evening.

While Chen Mianmian was taking a bath in the bathroom, she heard the servants outside the door greeting the young master.

Chen Mianmian was taken aback—Fengchu is back? He just finished his exams today, two in a row. Madam's idea is for him to rest for a day and return tomorrow morning.

Then, they heard the boy's voice outside the door, "Where's Mianmian?"

Hanrong replied, "Your Highness, your concubine is bathing in the washroom. Would you like to go back to your room and rest first? This servant will go in and speak with your concubine."

"No need, I'll go take a look."

Chen Mianmian was startled and was about to shout, "Wait, don't come in, I'll be done washing right away!"

But before he could even shout it out, the door was pushed open.

Fortunately, there was a screen between the bathroom door and the bathtub.

Shen Mianmian hurriedly submerged herself, "Is that the Crown Prince?"

"It's me."

"Did you go to Madam's? You just got back, you should go to Madam's first!"

“I went there, but I told my mother I was tired, and she told me to come back.”

While they were talking, the person had already walked around the screen.

The young man was not wearing brocade clothes, but still wore fine cotton robes, which were light-colored, clean, and refreshing, making him look even more slender and refined.

Seeing the woman hiding underwater, Bai Qingzhou chuckled, "Are you shy? We're an old married couple, why would we be shy?"

Chen Mianmian rolled her eyes—Who said you're an old married couple? This grandma finally transmigrated into a book at 18, and she's already old? Grandma can stay 18 forever, okay?

"If you're tired, why don't you go to your room and rest? What are you doing in the bathroom?"

"I'll help you take a bath."

"..."

Shen Mianmian was inwardly panicked. She was used to taking a bath by herself, not even with Han Rong. Why would she need to take a bath by a man?

This... isn't that a bad idea?

Although the two had been in the same room, the lighting was dim, and she could just lie down with her eyes closed. Now she had to play bathroom play with her eyes open?

Bai Qingzhou's face also turned slightly red—in fact, he came simply because he couldn't wait to see her, just to meet her, take a look, and exchange a few words, but as soon as he entered, he saw the woman's shy appearance.

After that, he unusually showed a mischievous side and said he would help her take a bath.

How could he possibly help people take a bath?

But since I've already said it...

Bai Qingzhou thought about it seriously, then rolled up her sleeves, revealing a pair of slender and delicate wrists—"I already said, so I'll help."

Chen Mianmian, "..."

Bai Qingzhou picked up a towel. "Stand up a little, and I'll help you?"

"No, no, no, no, no! I'm done washing!"

The thought of standing naked in front of him in broad daylight was unbearable for her.

Bai Qingzhou secretly breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully she had finished washing, otherwise she would have been disappointed if he had helped her and hadn't done a good job.

"Your hair is still dry, shall I wash it for you?"

"...Alright, I'll leave it to you, Your Highness." Chen Mianmian thought—washing her hair was better than washing her body, at least it wouldn't be embarrassing.

Unfortunately, she was too happy too soon.

Before she could react, a ladle of warm water was poured over her head. "Pfft... spit it out!" she hurriedly spat out the water that had gone into her mouth.

Bai Qingzhou hurriedly put down the water ladle. "I'm sorry...did I do something wrong?"

Shen Mianmian gritted her teeth and wiped the water off her face, brushing her long, Sadako-like hair away from her face, and forced out a gentle smile, "Your Highness did very well, but next time, it would be even better if you poured water from the back of your head."

Bai Qingzhou looked at the woman, her face flushed with anger, yet she was still forcing a smile. He found it both funny and touching. "If I didn't do well, you can scold me."