Judging from his voice, he's got plenty of energy; he's far from dead.

Once outside the door, Qiu Zhongqi was put down and slowly stood up.

"Ouch, take it easy, that hurts. What brings you to my home, Mu Hanlin?"

Mu Hanlin was so angry he almost twisted his nose, but he held back.

“Young Master Qiu, my daughter was reckless. Yesterday, she accidentally threw down the handkerchief containing fruit, which hit you. It was truly my daughter’s fault.”

Today, I, Mu, brought her here to apologize to Young Master Qiu, and hope that Young Master Qiu will forgive my daughter's rashness.

I feel extremely guilty for the harm I caused to Mr. Qiu.

Here are some excellent tonics, please accept them, Young Master Qiu.

"You brat, come over here and kowtow to Young Master Qiu to apologize!"

Without waiting for a reply, he pulled Mu Wan'er over.

"Look at you, so reckless! What kind of person is the third-ranked scholar? Because of your rashness, the third-ranked scholar was injured. How can you bear it?"

Quickly kowtow to the third-ranking scholar and admit your mistake.

Mu Wan'er cried.

"I'm sorry, Scholar Tan, I really didn't mean to hit you. I just didn't expect it to be just a fruit wrapped in a handkerchief."

It was all my fault that the third-ranked scholar was injured. Please forgive me.

I kowtowed to the third-ranked scholar.

As she spoke, Mu Wan'er was about to kneel down.

To be honest, Mu Wan'er is quite pretty when she's not causing trouble.

Especially now, with tears streaming down her face, she looks absolutely pitiful.

Qiu Zhongqi was not a malicious person. Seeing that the young lady was about to kneel down, he felt sorry for her and stopped her before she could kneel.

"Well, to be honest, it can't be entirely Miss Mu's fault. It was just a coincidence. I'll accept Mu Hanlin's medicines."

Miss, you'd better skip this. I'm afraid it will shorten my lifespan.

Due to arm pain and the absence of my elders at home, I was unable to invite Mr. Mu Hanlin into my home for tea. I respectfully bid farewell to Mr. Mu Hanlin.

As he spoke, Qiu Zhongqi gestured for Mu Hanlin to get into the car.

Well, Mu Hanlin's expression improved somewhat; at least this kid knows what's good for him.

If he were to actually accept Wan'er's kowtow, the Mu family would truly lose all face and dignity.

After getting into the car, Mu Wan'er wiped away her tears.

"Father, if Qiu Zhongqi is truly magnanimous, shouldn't he refuse even those herbs?"

Why did you even buy the herbs? Those cost a lot of money!

Mu Hanlin really wanted to slap this brat.

"Fool, Young Master Qiu is being generous by not making you kowtow."

If he doesn't even accept a little bit of herbal medicine, how can he explain it to his grandfather?

How could I have given birth to such a brainless idiot like you?

All you do all day long, besides being jealous of others who are better than you, what else can you do?

From today onwards, stay quietly in your own yard and don't go out and cause any more trouble.

"Father, are you really going to confine me to my quarters? How can you do this? You never treated me like this when Grandfather was alive."

Mu Wan'er was unhappy.

"Hehe, you hadn't caused such a big mess when your grandfather was alive."

Do you know that it was only because the top scholar was quick-witted yesterday that he dodged your attack? Otherwise, it wouldn't have been the third-place scholar who was injured, but the top scholar who died on the street.

At that time, you would have no chance of escaping exile.

Now that I think about it, was confining you to your home really that serious?

You're not getting any younger; you've reached the age where you should be getting married. If you don't behave yourself soon, you might have a hard time getting married later.

Mu Hanlin believed that what he said to his daughter was the most heartfelt thing he could say.

But Mu Wan'er was unhappy.

"Father, I don't care about my reputation, I'm the granddaughter of the Grand Tutor, how could I not be able to get married?"

"Your grandfather has retired from his official post, and I hope you will remember that."

Even if your grandfather were still serving in Beijing, no family would marry a fool.

Look at yourself now, all you're good for is your face, you're completely brainless.

Mu Hanlin felt that if he said another word, he would lose ten years of his life.

Mu Wan'er was very displeased, "Father..."

"Shut up." Mu Hanlin ruthlessly silenced his daughter's next words.

From then on, no further news of Mu Wan'er circulated in the capital.

Wang Huaijing, Qiu Zhongqi, and Mu Wanzhou were not assigned to the Hanlin Academy as was customary, but were instead given real posts outside the Hanlin Academy.

The places we went to weren't very good.

Wang Huaijing was sent to Mogao County in the northwest, a region mostly consisting of plains and deserts. The locals primarily relied on animal husbandry.

Mu Wanzhou was sent to Yunshan County in the southwest. The local climate was extremely hot, and the population had been leaving too quickly in recent years, causing successive county magistrates to complain endlessly.

Qiu Zhongqi was relatively lucky; he was assigned to be the magistrate of a county called Tashi in Northeast China.

However, there are only 5 months of frost-free period here each year; the rest of the time it's either snowing or the road is covered in snow.

When Wang Huaijing learned that he was to be sent to such a desolate place in the Northwest, his face almost turned green.

With his limited geographical knowledge, he also knew that the area was severely desertified.

If we want people to live a good life, the first thing we must do is control desertification.

However, over the years, none of the officials who have succeeded in controlling desertification have succeeded; on the contrary, desertification has become more and more severe.

The emperor actually had the audacity to describe the exile as something he valued highly.

If reason hadn't told him not to act impulsively, Wang Huaijing would have almost defied the imperial decree on the spot.

What do you mean, that you are the most learned and insightful group among all the Jinshi graduates of all time?

I believe that as long as you manage things with your heart, you will surely reap the rewards of your efforts. I have high hopes for you.

The three players, who initially disliked each other, suddenly became antagonistic towards each other.

"I never imagined that after all these years of comparing ourselves to each other, just to see who is better, we're now about the same, except that your side is a bit better than mine."

It's a bit cold, but at least the land there is fertile.

Mu Wanzhou patted Qiu Zhongqi on the shoulder and said.

Qiu Zhongqi rolled his eyes at Mu Wanzhou.

"This capital city is cold enough, and now you want me to go to an even colder place? I don't even know if I'll be able to return to this capital city alive in my lifetime."

Wang Huaijing stood to one side.

"You two should be grateful. I'm a southerner and they sent me to the northwest. It's not only cold, but it's also desert everywhere."

Look at me, don't you two feel much happier now?

Sure enough, both Qiu Zhongqi and Mu Wanzhou showed expressions of sympathy.

"Considering how miserable you are, I won't blame you for stealing my top score."

Qiu Zhongqi said.

Mu Wanzhou was unhappy.

"What are you saying? How can it be that he stole your top scholar title, not mine?"

Don't you have any self-awareness about your own education?

Well, the two started arguing again, and Wang Huaijing went home with his hands behind his back.

He's in a bad mood today and needs to calm down and sort out his thoughts so he can tell his wife when he gets home.

"Oh dear, this is terrible! What kind of luck is this? How am I supposed to manage such a desolate place?"

Wang Huaijing was so worried he was going bald. He went to several bookstores along the way, but couldn't find any information about the Northwest.

As I walked, I unconsciously arrived at the Huicui Pavilion.

He stepped forward and said, "I am Wang Huaijing, and I wish to see your Chief Steward Chang."

Wang Huaijing was led to the reception area, and while waiting for Chang Yi, he gradually calmed down.

"Scholar, if you have something to ask me, is there something you need?" Chang Yi asked.

Wang Huaijing sighed, "That's right, the matter of sending officials has been settled, but the location is a bit remote."

It is Mogao County in the northwest, which is at least three months away from the capital by carriage.

Because there was no way to return to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors, he had to set off immediately.

Please ask Steward Chang to help deliver this message to my father-in-law's house and have him pass it on to my parents.

My uncle was also appointed to an official post. He was lucky enough to be sent to Linrou County in Lingnan to fill the vacancy previously held by Magistrate Liu, which put my aunt at ease.

After hearing Wang Huaijing's words, Chang Yi was speechless. What incredible luck!

Sending a top scholar to the harsh northwest is surely a sign of high regard or an exile.

When Chang Yi learned that the third and second place winners hadn't gone to a very good place either, he felt a strange sense of balance.

"Since the top scholar is about to set off for his new post, Chang Yi will go and contact the escort agency."

The journey to the Northwest is long and arduous, so safety is of utmost importance.

The top scholar and his wife only need to bring everyday items, especially a change of clothes; they should bring all of these.

The Northwest is windy and dusty, with large temperature differences between day and night, so it's common to change clothes several times a day.

Everything else, including the small items, will be prepared neatly.

I wonder if the top scholar will bring the servants from the second courtyard.

They don't have any relatives, so if the top scholar finds them useful, he might as well take them with him.

Having acquired a place where the people and land were unfamiliar, it would be inconvenient to hire additional manpower.

Wang Huaijing was naturally very grateful. After agreeing to depart the day after tomorrow, he returned home.

When I got home, I saw Zhao Qingyi leading the women to hang out the cotton-padded clothes to dry.

"My wife, what made you decide to hang these clothes out to dry?"

Wang Huaijing was a little uneasy, worried that if his wife got upset, she would go back to her hometown and leave him to go to his post alone, which would be too difficult.

Seeing Wang Huaijing's predicament, Zhao Qingyi pulled him into the house.

"Husband, what's wrong? Are you worried about taking up your post? My uncle has already told me that you are going to the northwest to be a county magistrate."

I am so happy for my husband, but I don't see him smiling at all.

"Could it be that my husband doesn't intend to take me and our son out for a good meal?"

Wang Huaijing was stunned by Zhao Qingyi's words.

"My lady, what nonsense are you talking about?"

How could I bear to leave you and our child? But the journey is long, and the Northwest is bitterly cold; I worry that you won't be able to endure the hardships there.

Zhao Qingyi gave Wang Huaijing a look that seemed both reproachful and reproachful.

"We are husband and wife, how can I abandon you because of a little hardship?"

Besides, I'm not the kind of person who can't endure hardship.

No hardship can compare to the hardship of martial arts training? No hardship can compare to the hardship of not having enough to eat?

My family's life has gradually improved in recent years. When I was a child, we still spent our days digging for vegetables in the mountains and catching fish in the river.

If we're talking about hard times, my husband might not adapt as easily as I do.

Wang Huaijing was comforted by his wife and hugged her for a long time, reluctant to let go.