"Mom, why are you up so early!" Jiang Yaojie pushed open the kitchen door, rubbing his sleepy eyes, while Jiang Ling was busy frying dough sticks in the kitchen.

"Why are you up so early? Sleep a little longer, it's still early!" Jiang Ling said, busy making fried dough sticks.

“My sister is taking an exam today, so I’ll drive the carriage to take her!” Jiang Yaojie said.

Jiang Ling glanced at the gray sky and whispered, "Rest a little longer, it's still early. I'll wake you up later!"

Just as Jiang Yaojie was about to say something, there was a knock on the door of Jiang Ling's house.

"Godmother, open the door, it's me, Zhao Qianyu!"

The sound reached Jiang Ling's ears, and she was somewhat surprised that the child had come over when it was almost dawn.

She walked quickly to the door, where Zhao Qianyu was standing with a smile.

"Why did you come here?" Jiang Ling asked Zhao Qianyu with a hint of surprise.

"Godmother, I heard that Sister Suihe is participating in the competition today, so I've come to cheer her on!" Zhao Qianyu said, her face gradually turning red.

Jiang Ling, seemingly knowing but not saying anything, brought Zhao Qianyu in and said to him, "Are you sleepy? Do you want to go to sleep for a while?"

Zhao Qianyu shook his head and said, "It's okay, it's okay, I'll just go to sleep in a bit!"

Jiang Ling smiled and let Zhao Qianyu and Jiang Yaojie play in the yard while she went back into the kitchen to start cooking.

A moment later, Jiang Suihe appeared in front of Jiang Ling, rubbing her slightly sleepy eyes. She yawned and asked, "Mother, who's here?"

Jiang Ling was worried that Jiang Suihe would fall asleep during the exam, so she quickly whispered, "Suihe, go and rest for a while, there's still plenty of time!"

Jiang Suihe shook her head and said, "No, Mother, I'm not sleepy now that I'm awake. What are you doing? I'll help you!" As she spoke, she came to Jiang Ling's side.

Jiang Ling quickly led Jiang Suihe outside and said to her, "Today is an important day for your exam, so you can stay outside!"

The aroma of fried dough sticks soon wafted out of the kitchen. After frying the dough sticks, Jiang Ling also fried a few eggs, then boiled some soy milk, and placed several plates of homemade pickled vegetables in front of the children.

"Mom... what... what is this?" Jiang Suihe asked blankly, looking at the fried dough stick and two fried eggs in front of her.

"Ah...this..." Jiang Ling was about to say "one hundred points." But then she suddenly remembered that exam results in this era weren't usually calculated by scores.

She rolled her eyes and said to Jiang Suihe, "Ah, this is a tradition from your maternal grandmother's side of the family. It has a very auspicious meaning. Your mother hopes you will succeed!"

Although Jiang Suihe had some doubts, she nodded happily when she heard her mother say that, and ate the fried dough sticks and fried eggs in big bites.

“Sister Suihe, I…I…I also have something to give you!” Zhao Qianyu said to Jiang Suihe, his face flushed.

Jiang Suihe looked at Zhao Qianyu with some confusion but didn't say anything. Zhao Qianyu nervously twisted the hem of his clothes and scratched his head, saying, "This...this is for you!"

As she spoke, she took out a pink sachet from her bosom, on which were embroidered exquisite lotus flowers.

“This…this is a talisman! The old Taoist priest said this talisman can guarantee your success in the imperial examination, so…so he gave it to you!” Zhao Qianyu’s face turned as red as a ripe apple as he finished speaking.

Jiang Suihe, a little embarrassed, tugged at the hem of her clothes and whispered, "I...I'm just taking the winter exam, not trying to become the top scholar. Brother Zhao, you're too kind!"

Upon hearing that soft "Brother Zhao," Zhao Qianyu felt his blood rush to his head, and his body became unusually hot.

He waved his hand frantically at Jiang Suihe, appearing extremely flustered, and his speech became incoherent.

"No...but...this...no...Oh, Suihe, please accept it!" With that, she slammed down her chopsticks, placed the sachet on the table, and ran outside.

Jiang Suihe looked at the scene before her with some surprise, while Jiang Ling smiled faintly and comforted her, "I'll go check on Qianyu, you guys take your time eating!"

As soon as Jiang Ling stepped outside, she saw Zhao Qianyu sitting listlessly in the carriage, cracking his whip.

"What's wrong? You're not going to eat anymore after eating so little?" Jiang Ling didn't expose Zhao Qianyu's thoughts.

“Godmother, I…I…” Zhao Qianyu suddenly looked up, his eyes and brows unable to hide his feelings for Jiang Suihe.

Jiang Ling remained calm. She did not interrupt Zhao Qianyu and sat beside him patiently, waiting for him to continue.

"I...I don't know why this happened, I don't know when it happened, godmother, Suihe, she...I..." Zhao Qianyu said, rubbing his hair in frustration at the end.

Jiang Ling simply smiled at the boy in front of her, remaining silent.

"Godmother! I...I think I've fallen for Sister Suihe!" After a long while, Zhao Qianyu leaned against the carriage, head bowed, and said in a voice barely audible.

"I know!"

Jiang Ling's words were like a thunderclap, reaching Zhao Qianyu's ears. Zhao Qianyu felt his brain buzzing and even experienced a brief moment of dizziness.

He clutched his head and shook it vigorously, looking at Jiang Ling with an expression of utter disbelief, and tentatively asked, "God...godmother, do...you know?"

Jiang Ling calmly nodded and looked at Zhao Qianyu, saying, "Why wouldn't I know? You're my godson, and Suihe is my daughter. How could I not know your little schemes?"

Zhao Qianyu seemed a little flustered and reserved after Jiang Ling's words. Jiang Ling gently patted Zhao Qianyu's shoulder and said, "Qianyu, you have to work hard for yourself. Although Suihe is my daughter, I don't interfere too much in her affairs! But she's about to take the winter exam, so you can't let her get distracted right now!"

Zhao Qianyu looked up at Jiang Ling and nodded somewhat blankly, saying, "Godmother, don't worry, I've been thinking about saying this... I'll say it in a while. Don't worry, I won't disturb her mind!"

"Qianyu, you need to think this through. After all, you are the son of the magistrate of Guangping County, while my Suihe is just the child of a peasant woman. I hope..."

“Godmother, you can’t belittle yourself. You are truly outstanding. Even my father admires you very much. If I were to be with Sister Suihe, I would feel like I’m marrying above my station…” Zhao Qianyu interrupted Jiang Ling with a frown.

Jiang Ling nodded in satisfaction and changed the subject, saying, "You weren't full just now, were you? Come on, let's go back and have another bite!"

After Zhao Qianyu expressed his thoughts, he felt unusually relaxed. He smiled and nodded, and returned to the courtyard with Jiang Ling.

Jiang Yaojie and Jiang Suihe had finished eating, leaving only Nianci and Jiang Zhishan at the table.

Zhao Qianyu coughed lightly and continued eating breakfast as if nothing had happened.

After a hearty meal, Jiang Yaojie intended to take Jiang Suihe to Linghui Academy in his own carriage, but Zhao Qianyu beat him to it, saying that his carriage was bigger and more stable.

Jiang Yaojie couldn't refuse Zhao Qianyu, so he nodded and led Jiang Ling and Jiang Suihe to sit in Zhao Qianyu's carriage.

Zhao Qianyu gestured to the servant, who then spurred the horse toward Linghui Academy.