"What old man? This is our prefect!" The second bailiff stepped forward and helped Sun Shanhe down.
Yamen Runner A said to Sun Shanhe, "Sir, these two men have come from the countryside and are clamoring to see you. You are so busy with your official duties, how can you just let them see you?"
Yan Funing murmured again, "Mr. Futai?" Then she smiled, "So the old man is the Mr. Futai."
Sun Shanhe walked up to her with a smile and said, "Miss, let me ask you, why are you here?"
Yan Funing pulled Fu Ciyi and said, "This is a long story. My husband and I came here to ask for a favor!"
Fu Ciyi bowed to Sun Shanhe and said, "I am honored to meet you, sir."
Sun Shanhe nodded and raised his hand: "You two, please let the lord speak."
Seeing this, Yamen Runner A and Yamen Runner B looked at each other.
What's going on?
Please come in person, my Lord!
Sun Shanhe walked in front, followed by Fu Ciyi and Yan Funing.
Yamen Runner A quickly followed Yan Funing's footsteps and said, "Miss, please forgive me if my words just now were inappropriate!"
Yan Funing glanced at him and said calmly, "Yesterday you told me that the prefect would be back today, and I was grateful. But some of what you said today I think is inappropriate."
"Yes, yes, I hope you will be magnanimous and not take it to heart!"
"I don't have time to worry about it. The most important thing right now is to resolve the issue of my husband's place in the Autumn Examination."
Yamen Runner A nodded: "Yes, yes, yes!"
The group followed Sun Shanhe into the study.
He sat down first and raised his hand to signal Fu Ciyi and Yan Funing to sit down as well.
The couple nodded in greeting and took their seats one after another.
Sun Shanhe ordered the yamen runners to serve tea and asked Fu Ciyi and Yan Funing, "When did you two arrive?"
"We arrived yesterday," Yan Funing said. "We heard from the yamen runner that you would be back today, so we waited all night."
Sun Shanhe laughed heartily: "What a coincidence! I returned from your Ling County yesterday and arrived home in the evening."
Yan Funing asked, "Your Excellency, have you been in Ling County recently?"
"To be honest, I arrived in Ling County two days before you rescued me from the trap, and I've been staying here for quite some time." After a pause, he asked, "What do you two want to see me about?"
Fu Ciyi stood up and bowed, "Sir, I am a humble student, but I would like to participate in the Autumn Examination this year."
Sun Shanhe raised his hand and motioned him to sit down. "You call yourself a student, and you want to take part in the Autumn Examination. This means you have the status of a scholar, right?"
Fu Ciyi sat down again: "That's right."
Sun Shanhe said, "Since you have the status of a scholar, you can naturally participate in the Autumn Examination."
Yan Funing said, "The problem is that when confirming the quota for the Autumn Examination, the Ling County Magistrate crossed out my husband's name."
Sun Shanhe frowned. "Fu Zhengqing? That shouldn't be the case. His evaluations over the years have been very good."
Fu Ciyi said slowly: "I am your student Fu Ciyi. Fu Zhengqing and I are related. This is where the problem lies..."
He briefly talked about how his family was kicked out of the Fu Mansion.
No mention was made of the wrong bride.
Yan Funing said, "Fu Zhengqing has a son named Fu Minghe. He always fails to pass my husband's exams. Fu Zhengqing doesn't want my husband to take part in the Autumn Examination. His purpose is precisely this: he's afraid that my husband will outperform his son."
Sun Shanhe stood up and took a book from the bookshelf behind him. He flipped open a few pages and pointed to a name: "Fu Ciyi, the top scholar in Ling County."
Yan Funing glanced at him and asked softly, "Sir, the number of candidates for the Autumn Examination requires the approval of the County Magistrate. What do you think of the current situation?"
"The first-place scholar will naturally have to participate in the Autumn Examination." Sun Shanhe said with a smile, "I have written this letter. Please give it to Fu Zhengqing to read. If he still disagrees, you can come back to me."
Hearing this, Fu Ciyi bowed again: "Thank you, sir!"
Sun Shanhe waved his hand. "I'll remember your life-saving grace." He smiled kindly. "Studying hard is not easy. The legitimate rights of scholars should be protected. Besides, I didn't do anything wrong."
Yan Funing smiled: "My Lord is a good official!"
Sun Shanhe shouted, "Someone come here."
Yamen Runner A came in and said, "Sir?"
"Go and weigh a few pounds of oranges."
"Yes, sir."
Sun Shanhe picked up his pen and wrote a page of words, which he stamped with his personal seal.
The letter was written and put into an envelope, which was then handed directly to Fu Ciyi without being sealed.
Fu Ciyi took it with both hands and put it in his arms.
Just as the couple was about to leave, Bailiff A came back with a bag of oranges.
Sun Shanhe asked, "Are oranges sour or sweet?"
Yamen Runner A: "Your Excellency, it is sweet. I have tasted it and it is all sweet."
Sun Shanhe raised his hand and said, "Give all the oranges to this girl."
Yamen Runner A respectfully offered it: "Please accept it, young lady!"
Yan Funing accepted it and was pleasantly surprised: "This is too many oranges."
Sun Shanhe laughed out loud: "The sour orange that the young lady gave me was really thirst-quenching."
Yan Funing and Fu Ciyi laughed along.
After saying goodbye to Sun Shanhe, the couple returned to the inn and checked out.
With the letter in hand, the problem of the quota for the autumn examination can be mostly solved. It will then depend on how Fu Zhengqing deals with it.
The couple went to the car dealership to hire a car to go back.
Outside the carriage shop, there were several horse-drawn carriage owners calling out, most of whom were heading to the surrounding counties.
Yan Funing pulled Fu Ciyi's sleeve, walked up to one of the car owners, and asked, "Are you going to Ling County?"
"Passing through Ling County, 200 coins per person."
"But we hired a car and it only cost 500 wen."
"That bus you came on was on the return trip, right?"
Yan Funing nodded: "It is indeed the return bus."
The driver held up a finger and said, "If we hire a car for the trip we're on now, it'll cost one ounce of silver. And for the return trip, even if he doesn't have any passengers, he'll have to go back, right?"
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