"Little sister, what kind of fragrance is that?" Miss Tao asked curiously. "It smells quite nice."

"This is rose water I bought from Xiangfafang. Their rose water is not only fragrant, but it can also keep the fragrance for three months. It also has an anti-itch effect. Their products are really good!"

Upon hearing this, Miss Tao couldn't help but ask, "Is it really that good? But I've never seen it before?"

The things that noble families and dukes have are all top-notch; things she's never seen before are truly rare.

"This was opened two months ago, sister. Let me tell you, this fragrance in my hair was used a month ago when I washed my hair. They say it can keep the scent for three months."

In the south, wealthy families have no shortage of water, but it is not easy to dry their hair quickly, so they bathe every three days and wash their hair once a month. In the sixth month of the lunar calendar, they would wash their hair once every two weeks.

Therefore, hair emits an unpleasant smell, so people use hair oil and similar products. Now, there are even better products than hair oil.

Miss Tao asked for a bottle, and said to pour in about a third of it when shampooing.

The eldest daughter of the Tao family married the heir of the Yongchang Marquis's family in the capital, Xie Jin'an, whose mother-in-law was the emperor's sister.

Every word she said, every action she took, and even every pattern she created set a trend for young ladies in the capital.

Little Fu Bao had no idea that he was about to become rich.

After July, on the first day of August, all the new and old scholars will go to the prefectural capital to take the imperial examination, but the number of people coming to take the exam this time is slightly different.

Almost all the scholars in Jiangzhou came; the youngest was only thirteen years old, and the oldest was sixty-seven.

There were probably seven or eight hundred people, two or three hundred of whom were former scholars who had failed the imperial examinations for many years.

Among those taking the imperial examination this time was Grandpa Zhuo from Haijia Village, as well as Niu Daxiu, a scholar who had failed the exam many times and was a teacher at the school.

The provincial and metropolitan examinations were held every three years for those who passed the provincial examination and the metropolitan examinations every year for those who passed the county-level examination. Xiao Heng was the top scorer in last year's provincial examination.

The scholars who came together this time are all resting at the post station, because the examination for the title of Juren is of utmost importance and they are not allowed to go home to rest.

Among the people traveling with us were some who were quite famous, such as Mu Yan.

Mu Yan's behavior was quite eccentric, and he was very generous with his money.

Therefore, many scholars in the same circle liked to hang around him, holding poetry gatherings from time to time, and would also invite Xiao Heng and Niu Yong.

Xiao Heng was the top scorer in last year's provincial examination, and he is not yet fourteen years old.

Mu Yan was the top scorer in the provincial examinations in the previous two years.

They are from the same place.

Accompanying them was a scholar surnamed Xu, who had topped the provincial examination two years prior.

However, the top scorer in the provincial examination, surnamed Xu, came from a poor family and therefore particularly liked to flatter Mu Yan. Mu Yan was also eccentric and generous, often rewarding people with gold.

Xiao Fubao and Xiang'er followed Xiao Heng and Niu Yong, one responsible for feeding them and the other for taking care of their daily needs.

She glanced at Mu Yan, who inexplicably resembled Master Mu, not only in appearance but also in temperament. He was currently exchanging poems with friends.

Although Xiao Heng didn't like participating in these things, Xiao Fubao loved to join in the fun and would go wherever it was exciting.

One of the scholars said, "Let's set aside everything else and just talk about his elegant and refined demeanor, his loyalty and generosity. How about composing a eulogy using those eight characters?"

"But how exactly is this generosity?" another scholar asked.

"Throughout history, countless generals have perished on the battlefield, and beautiful women have met tragic ends. Princess Pingyang once led an all-female army to guard Niangziguan Pass." "How shameful are the incompetent men! Perhaps we should compose a lament for them."

Mu Yan said softly.

The others echoed:

"good"

Mu Yan then said, "Since it was proposed by Minister Xu, let Minister Xu begin!"

Xu Xiangong said:

"Then I, Xu, will humbly accept your offer."

Xu Xiangong picked up his brush and wrote:

"I cut my own Shu brocade battle robe, and on my peach-blossom horse, I asked for a long spear. How many extraordinary men are there in this world, who would be willing to travel ten thousand miles to the battlefield!"

Everyone else clapped: "Well done, Master Xu truly deserves to be the champion of Niushan County two years ago!"

"Not at all, Xu Zhen is unworthy," Xu Zhen replied. "Brother Mu is truly unparalleled." "I heard that last year's top scholar, Young Master Xiao, also topped the list."

Everyone's attention was focused on Xiao Heng.

Xiao Heng frowned slightly.

"I also have a poem, which I'd like to present to you all," said Old Master Zhuo, stepping out from the crowd and immediately easing the awkwardness. He then picked up his brush and wrote:

"I vow to endure hardship and sleep in the open, and drink blood instead of rouge. The triumphant songs and peaceful melody on horseback are not the songs of Zhaojun leaving the border."

"The old gentleman is indeed highly talented."

"What a genius!"

Little Fu Bao rested his chin on his hand and sighed inwardly: I don't know if these students are really talented, but their flattery skills are truly top-notch!

They argued for a long time.

Then it was Mu Yang's turn. Mu Yang was talented, and everyone in Jiangzhou knew about him. It's just that he was a bit unlucky. I heard that he was hit by a carriage when he took the imperial examination a couple of years ago.

Despite being injured, he took the provincial examination and fortunately still came in first place.

"Having mastered the Eight Trigrams Formation of Western Sichuan, she holds the military tally in her sleeves. Women have always been willing to accept this fate; why must a general be a man?"

"Excellent, excellent, excellent! Young Master Mu's literary talent is truly unparalleled!" Xu Zhen and the dozens of scholars present applauded and cheered one after another.

"That's wonderful!"

Little Fu Bao felt like she couldn't hear anything anymore. Mu Yan did have some literary talent, but this was far too flattering.

"I heard that Brother Xiao was the top scorer last year. I have also read your article. I just don't know how Brother Xiao performed on the day?"

Xiao Heng said:

"Naturally, I'm not as good as Brother Mu," but of course I'm better than you...

Xiao Heng wrote: "Heroines rise up in Longxi, their battle robes stained with blood, replacing rouge."

They led their troops north to defend the emperor, and beat the drums to march west to quell bandits.

They guarded the strategic pass of Dengwei Marsh and surrounded and annihilated Wang Dougu of the Tang Palace.

Suppressing rebellions and rescuing the endangered with an iron fist, ensuring agricultural stability and promoting commerce—these are the practices of the pre-Qin era.

The title is: Lady Li guards Niangziguan Pass.

Little Fu Bao looked at her little brother with admiration. Although she didn't understand the words or even recognize the characters, she could hear the powerful spirit in the words and tone of the onlookers reciting them.

This poem overwhelmed everyone present.

Xu Zhen secretly observed Mu Yan's expression for a moment. Seeing that Mu Yan had no expression, he assumed that Mu Yan was jealous of Xiao Heng.

"It's not very interesting to just write poems and lyrics together. We should appreciate something that's both refined and popular. How about we write some verses while we eat?"

One of the scholars, surnamed Liang, said.

This scholar, Liang, was quite old and had failed the imperial examination five or six times. He came from a poor family, and his entire extended family had supported him to become a scholar. He was closest to Xu Zhen.

Among the scholars, most came from poor families, and few were from wealthy merchant families like Mu Yan and the Niu family.

After the banquet, Mu Yan waved his hand and rewarded each person present with a gold leaf, each gold leaf being worth ten taels of silver.

Mu Yan originally intended this as a way to thank everyone for attending his poetry gathering.

Most of the people who came to take the exam came from poor families. Many of them had never even touched silver, let alone gold leaves.

The scholars who received the gold leaves were all moved to tears.