Da Yu.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Jiang Yu looked at Qin Ke'er, who seemed to be still in a daze, and asked, "Miss Qin, are you still not back to your senses?"

"Why am I on the list, but my brother, Sun Cai, and Sister Shu aren't?" Qin Ke'er looked confused. "I'm still last on the list. Your Majesty, did you already know that the aristocratic families were certain that Dayu would make us fail the exam, and that you had arranged for people to be on the list in advance so that you could use me to compete with them?"

"The imperial examinations in Da Yu were never fraudulent."

Jiang Yu only replied to Qin Ke'er with one sentence, but Qin Ke'er squatted down a few breaths later and burst into tears.

"Make tea for Miss Qin."

A complex look flashed in Jiang Yu's eyes. This time, Qin Ke'er and the other three's test papers were mixed with the other people's test papers, and their names were covered up in the same way, so there was no special treatment at all.

Qin Ke'er's inclusion on the list clearly demonstrates her genuine talent and ability.

“I…I have loved reading since I was a child. Everyone says I am proficient in all the arts, but I have never had the opportunity to get involved in family affairs. I know that I can only please my future husband.”

Qin Ke'er's eyes were red. She was lively, so among the noble ladies, Sister Shu was more demure than her, and Azhi was more capable than her. She knew that the praise from others was only because of her status.

But she was unconvinced; she was clearly no worse than anyone else.

"So you volunteered to come to Dayu for a marriage alliance?"

Upon hearing this, Qin Ke'er's tears flowed even more freely. "I just... I just want a chance to prove myself. I can mediate the relationship between Dayu and the aristocratic families. What my brother can do, I can do too."

"Now that you have passed the imperial examination with flying colors, you can participate in the subsequent palace examination." Jiang Yu reached out and covered her stomach, a gesture that made Qin Ke'er's eyes narrow sharply. "You can also enter the court as an official."

"Are you pregnant?"

"Seven months." Jiang Yu looked down at her high, protruding belly, a look of tenderness flashing in her eyes.

"I am from a noble family, how can I become an official in Dayu?" Even Qin Ke'er herself did not believe it. She could prove herself in Dayu. She had no regrets.

"The state of the Yun family now will determine the state of the Qin, Sun, Gong, and Pei families in the future."

Jiang Yu looked into the distance. "Qin Ke'er, the unification of the world is inevitable. As for you, if you miss this opportunity to enter officialdom through the imperial examination, who knows when the next one will come?"

"Our family will not be defeated by you so easily."

"Shh." Jiang Yu gestured for silence. "The Pei family's supply of medicinal herbs will be cut off soon. As for the Gong family... how could I let them get away with targeting the Yun family?"

"And then there's the Sun family. The head of the Sun family is someone who can be swayed by enough benefits."

"And the Qin family, your father has been poisoned and hasn't woken up yet. Can you guess whether it was the Da Yu or a powerful family that poisoned him?"

Thump—Qin Ke'er, who had just stood up, fell heavily to the ground again.

"You're lying to me."

Why would I, an old woman, deceive a girl like you?

Looking at the dazed Qin Ke'er, Jiang Yu stretched her somewhat stiff limbs. "I have said all I need to say. As for whether or not you want to participate in the upcoming palace examination, that is up to you."

Half an hour later, Qin Ke'er staggered away.

"Ayu, do you think Qin Ke'er will participate in the palace examination?" Gu Lin asked while peeling fruit for Jiang Yu.

"She will."

Jiang Yu spoke with absolute certainty, “The allure of the imperial examinations for women is irresistible, especially since she has already passed the exams.”

Even Sun Shu will most likely wait three years to try again.

"Ah Yu is so clever, she managed to disperse the aristocratic families so quietly." Gu Lin smiled and glanced at Jiang Yu's belly. "Tomorrow when you go to Lingyun Garden, everyone will know about this little one."

"Yes, five women from Lingyun Garden made the list this time, I definitely have to go and see for myself." Thinking of this, Jiang Yu still sighed quietly.

A considerable number of women passed the autumn examination, but only five passed the spring examination this time. This shows that these women's knowledge was still insufficient when they actually took the spring examination, and they had not studied for long enough.

"Don't worry, Ayu. Just like you said, they will want to try again. We will give them the opportunity."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu nodded. Thinking about the Pei family now, Jiang Yu's worries lessened considerably.

Indeed, seeing the enemy preoccupied with their own troubles is the best remedy for worry.

......

"Something terrible has happened, Master! Something terrible has happened!"

Another hurried voice rang out. Pei Jian, who was already preoccupied with a lot of trouble, frowned so much that a fly could be trapped between his brows upon hearing this voice. "What is it now?"

Pei Ming, who was standing to the side, kicked the servant who came to report the news hard, "What kind of behavior is this, rushing around in front of the master?"

"Our supply of medicinal herbs has been cut off."

"What?!" Pei Jian's eyes narrowed sharply. "Da Yu has cut off our supply of medicinal herbs?"

"Exactly."

"Outrageous!" Pei Jian angrily swept everything on the desk to the floor, making a loud crashing sound, but no one in the study dared to utter a sound.

"Master, please calm down. Many of our medicinal herbs are transported from Dayu. If Dayu intends to cut off our supply, we will really..." Pei Ming said slowly. It can only be said that Dayu has taken drastic measures this time.

“Da Yu has really lost all sense of shame.” Pei Jian laughed angrily. “Cutting off the supply of medicinal materials to a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners will cause countless innocent people to die. I don’t believe Da Yu can bear such a crime.”

Upon seeing this, Pei Ming moved his lips, wanting to say something but then remained silent.

The servant spoke again, "Master, the government of Dayu has opened free clinics and pharmacies in various places, and said that... if any members of the noble families need them, they can go there."

"That's absolutely outrageous!"

Pei Jian was so angry that his vision blurred and he almost fainted.

“Patriarch, the most urgent task is to find a solution.” Pei Ming supported Pei Jian. “Either we negotiate with Dayu to stop Dayu from cutting off the supply of medicinal materials, or... we have to bring our previously hidden businesses into the open.”

On the surface, the Pei family appears to be a family of doctors who are incorruptible, but in reality, they also have many businesses and are making a fortune.

Do you think Da Yu will let us go?

A sinister glint appeared in Pei Jian's eyes. "Since Da Yu has taken action against the Pei family, it means that the Pei family is already in their mouths. Negotiations alone will not end well."