Chen Wang stared intently at Qingyin.

In a fleeting moment, a beam of light shone on Qingyin's face, making her look like a hermit about to ascend to heaven.

Chen Wang panicked and subconsciously interrupted Qingyin's thoughts: "Ayin, the exam is coming up soon, aren't you nervous?"

Over the past two days, Chen Wang's way of addressing Qingyin has quietly evolved from "Young Master Xie" to "Ayin".

Qingyin raised her head and said calmly, "There's nothing to be nervous about. If it doesn't work this time, it can still work next time."

Anyway, she will definitely pass.

Hearing Qingyin say that, Chen Wang's tension about the exam subsided unconsciously.

He secretly glanced at Ayin. Ayin had a trustworthy aura about him, as if he had nothing to fear when he was around him.

"Then Ayin should get some rest early tonight and be well-rested for the exam!"

Chen Wang encouraged himself, and his energy returned to normal, full of vitality like a little sun.

Qingyin glanced at him and smiled slightly: "Brother Chen too."

The autumn imperial examinations are about to begin; the exams will be held in early August, and the results will be released in October.

Qingyin walked towards her seat where she was supposed to take the exam, under Chen Wang's reluctant gaze.

Her seat wasn't too close to the toilet, but it wasn't too far either; it was a rare good spot. Qingyin smelled the faint stench on the tip of her nose and looked at the examinee who had been assigned to the toilet for a second with pity.

Better to die for a fellow believer than for a poor friend.

Qingyin listened calmly to the retching sounds coming from the restroom and looked at the exam paper that had been handed to her.

Qingyin skimmed through the pages, reading ten lines at a glance.

It was alright, not too difficult. It was the easiest exam overall.

Qingyin mentally reviewed the revised text and quickly picked up her pen to write it down.

The proctor, standing in front and staring intently at the examinee, frowned slightly as he watched Qingyin write exceptionally quickly and without hesitation. Was this examinee being too reckless or was she overly confident?

County Magistrate Zhan was a small old man in his seventies or eighties. He was serious on the surface but very lively on the inside. He was very curious as he watched Qingyin write quickly. Unfortunately, he was temporarily in charge of supervising the two examiners. One of them had to stand in front and keep an eye on everyone to prevent cheating, while the other could wander around the examination room and supervise.

Thinking this, Magistrate Zhan secretly glared at his colleague, County Lieutenant Wang, who was strolling in the west. It was all this guy's fault that he couldn't sneak a peek at the examinee's answer sheet.

That guy surnamed Wang is so cocky. Those kids from the west are all as timid as quails. What's so interesting about them? They just linger there, like they're sitting in a latrine without doing their business.

Magistrate Zhan angrily glared at County Lieutenant Wang a few more times.

Wang, the county magistrate, looked at Zhan, the county magistrate, who had been glared at for no reason. What was wrong with this old man? He hadn't done anything, so why was he glaring at him? Had he gone mad from old age?

The two colleagues, who were secretly badmouthing each other, exchanged a knowing glance.

After a while, County Lieutenant Wang finally got tired of walking around and decided to switch places with old man Zhan.

Just as he arrived there, he spotted Old Man Zhan. His eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he abandoned him and headed down, his purpose quite direct: to walk towards the middle.

County Commandant Wang frowned. Had this old fellow discovered someone cheating, or had he found a promising talent?

If this person is talented, he should keep an eye on them.

After a long period of curiosity, Magistrate Zhan strode towards Qingyin's location and, seemingly unintentionally, stood behind her, gazing at her answer sheet.

The paper was already mostly filled with writing, each character neatly arranged, flowing and elegant, each with its own unique style. The entire answer sheet was remarkably beautiful.

Magistrate Zhan's eyes lit up; the handwriting was quite good.

After quietly admiring the candidate's handwriting, Magistrate Zhan finally turned his attention to what Qingyin had written. Once he saw it, Magistrate Zhan's hand was completely captivated.

"Excellent, excellent! This method is brilliantly written, truly amazing!" Magistrate Zhan exclaimed in admiration. "It's incredible! How did this person come up with such a brilliant idea?"

A clear and organized approach makes it easier to achieve your goals.

If he weren't also an examiner and had to stay in one place for too long, Magistrate Zhan would have been reluctant to leave his post. In the end, before leaving, Magistrate Zhan secretly glanced at the candidate's face.

Upon seeing this, Magistrate Zhan couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Damn, he's not even of legal age yet, thirteen or fourteen? County Magistrate Zhan guessed wildly, but with such a young and tender face, he couldn't be much older. To come up with such a brilliant plan at such a young age, it's truly a case of heroes emerging from among the young, one wave after another.

County Magistrate Zhan suppressed his sour and jealous feelings and complained.

Qingyin also noticed the examiner's resentful gaze, but she was even calmer than the chubby candidate next to her, continuing to write her essay and conceiving sentences that would catch the eye.

...

After the exam, Qingyin also saw several men break down emotionally and cry right after the exam.

She glanced at it indifferently and then left.

When I reached the main gate, I was walking out.

Qingyin paused.

Chen Wang stood out conspicuously in the crowd. He had somehow found a wooden board with Xie Yin written on it, and he held it up on his head like an idiot, making him incredibly conspicuous.

In Qingyin's view, whether people were leaving or coming in, they all inadvertently glanced at the sign in Chen Wang's hand.

Qingyin suddenly didn't want to go to Chen Wang's side anymore.

Unfortunately, she didn't want to go, but the sharp-eyed Chen Wang had already spotted her mixed in with the crowd.

He ran over excitedly, nimbly pushing through the crowd: "Ayin, I've been waiting for you here."

Chen Wang proudly took the sign off his head and placed it in front of Qing Yin, raising an eyebrow and saying, "See this? I wrote this sign. Isn't it great? It's big and nice-looking. It'll be easy for you to find me if you see it."

Qingyin glanced at the incessantly chattering Chen Wang with a dark expression, ignoring the stares from the crowd, and headed towards the inn where they were staying.

"Why?"

"Ayin, Ayin, why did you leave?" Chen Wang scratched his head, wondering why Qingyin had suddenly left so quickly. He strode after her.

She said cautiously, "What's wrong, Ayin? Don't you like this? If you don't like it, I won't make it anymore."

As he spoke, Chen Wang's non-existent dog ears seemed to droop down, listless, like a husky that had done something wrong.

It's rare to see such a lively young man so downcast; it almost feels like he's pitiful and heartbreaking.

Qingyin looked at the spot where she had almost disappeared from the crowd, then turned to look at Chen Wang, who was hanging his head and looking depressed.

"It's not that I dislike the brand, but it's too conspicuous in that kind of setting and could easily attract trouble."

"Oh, I see." Chen Wang nodded in sudden understanding.