After Ouyang Cheng left, the Li family's attention focused on Li Qingduan, Li Qingyi, and Li Qingyao.
Their family felt sorry for them because they had suffered a lot outside, so they fed them well every day and didn't allow them to do anything but rest.
Yan Min hadn't seen Li Qingyao for over a year, and she grabbed Li Qingyao, looking at him from all angles, unable to get enough of him.
Wang Jiao was also very happy. He heard Li Qingyao talk about the dangers along the way and wished he could be there to help.
A happy family.
This year has been a year of both drought and floods, making it a truly eventful time.
While civil unrest broke out in the south, the drought in the north began to ease, and it started to rain there.
The imperial envoy went down with disaster relief supplies, executed several corrupt officials who did nothing, and, thanks to the prior preparations made in various places, managed to stabilize the situation.
There is no chance of a good harvest this year, and the people will have no means of livelihood, which may lead to further unrest.
Fortunately, the emperor then issued an edict exempting several of the most severely affected areas from taxes, and also reducing taxes in other less affected areas.
Moreover, a series of measures were implemented to reassure the people, and the north was completely stabilized.
When news of the peasant uprising in the south reached the capital, Ying Hao was furious.
He couldn't even imagine how incompetent the local magistrate must have been to cause the two county assistants to fall one after another.
This was only his second year in office, and this incident felt like a slap in the face.
It wasn't until the prefect of Daze Prefecture sent word that Ouyang Cheng had executed the ringleader and quelled the rebellion that he felt relieved.
The fleeing magistrate was also captured and sentenced to have his entire family executed.
Ouyang Cheng handled things successfully, and Ying Hao was very satisfied with the Ouyang family. He made a special trip to the Empress's palace several times and praised the Ouyang family highly.
If Li Qingruo became pregnant, Mo Qiaoniang stayed in the prefectural city to take care of her. After Li Qingduan and Li Qingyi returned, they heard about this good news and wanted to visit their sister. Unfortunately, they were forced to stay in their room to recover from their injuries by their elders and were not allowed to go out.
When Li Qingruo heard that her two younger brothers had been in danger and were injured, she was terrified.
Mo Qiaoniang hadn't seen her sons for over a year, and was extremely worried when she heard they were injured. Although the family said they were fine, as a mother, she couldn't rest easy without seeing them for herself.
Gao Chuan noticed the mother and daughter's worries and went to the Gao family that same day.
It's not usually considered good for a married woman to return to her parents' home to rest during her pregnancy, but Gao Chuan didn't want to send Li Qingruo to the Gao family. He was going to take the provincial examination this year, and he wasn't comfortable leaving Li Qingruo alone at the Gao family.
Gao Chuan made a special trip back to the Gao family to find his father and told him about Li Qingruo's younger brother's injury and how Qingruo's cousin had become General Ouyang's godfather.
After hearing Gao Chuan's purpose, Gao's father was somewhat displeased. He was not necessarily willing for Li Qing to return to the Gao family to prepare for childbirth, but if she returned to the Li family to prepare for childbirth, wouldn't that mean that the Gao family had no one to rely on? That was absolutely unacceptable.
After hearing about Li Qingtong's situation, Gao's father quickly changed his attitude and had no objections this time.
Since the couple is one, if they stay at Li Qingruo's parents' home for a while longer, their relationship with this cousin will become closer, which will only benefit Gao Chuan in the future; if it benefits Gao Chuan, it will benefit the Gao family.
My cousin is so kind; she found me a great in-law!
Before leaving, Gao's father slipped Gao Chuan five hundred taels of silver notes.
"Since we're eating and drinking at the Yue family's house, we should at least show some appreciation. We shouldn't be stingy, and we should also get along well with the Yue family's brothers."
"Yes, thank you, Father!"
As soon as Gao Chuan left, Madam Gao came to cause trouble. Even though the family had already been divided, she still tried to give Gao Chuan money, and so much of it at that. Did she think he was dead?!
"Madam! Please calm down, Madam! This is all for the sake of our Gao family! You don't know, Gao Chuan's in-laws have established a connection with the Empress's maternal family!"
This matter wasn't publicized much; only close relatives knew about it.
Madam Gao was stunned upon hearing this. What was going on?
A down-on-his-luck merchant first got engaged to the Cao family, and now he's even connected with royalty?!
The value of this marriage alliance is gradually increasing.
The next morning, Gao Chuan prepared a spacious and comfortable carriage and took the two of them back to Lijia Village.
He has to take the provincial examination this year and won't be able to take care of Li Qingruo. His two younger brothers have also had an accident. He might as well send them home directly and let Li Qingruo take care of her pregnancy at the Li family home so that he can feel at ease.
It's my father-in-law's family that will require a lot of effort.
“That’s my daughter. What’s wrong with her staying at her parents’ home to rest during her pregnancy? A man should focus on making achievements and establishing a career. If you’re doing well, then my daughter will be doing well too.”
Li Xushi offered Gao Chuan some words of comfort, saying that things had all piled up at once, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Besides, Gao Chuan is going there to pursue his future, so they should naturally help him if they can.
Li Qingruo was resting at her parents' home during her pregnancy, with her parents, brothers, and husband all by her side. She had returned to her own room and was in a very good mood. After getting over the morning sickness, her appetite had also improved.
Gao Chuan's gratitude needs no further explanation, and Li Qingyao also welcomed his study partner.
It's already the end of April. Although a lot has happened this year, the provincial examinations will still be held as scheduled.
Many students endure three years of hard work, perhaps waiting for this day. If they miss this opportunity, they may have to wait another three years. How many three-year periods does one have in a lifetime?
The provincial examination, also known as the autumn examination, is held every three years, and each examination takes place in August. There are less than four months left before the examination.
With the provincial examinations approaching, the previous civil unrest has completely faded from public discussion. Life goes on, and people must always look forward.
Nowadays, the topic of discussion everywhere is the provincial examination. In this dynasty, the provincial examination was held in one of the five surrounding prefectures.
This year, candidates from Ning'an Prefecture and Daze Prefecture will all have to take the exam in Suyang Prefecture.
Master Liu shared much of his experience from the provincial examinations with the two of them.
The provincial examination consisted of three consecutive sessions, with one session following the next. The time was very tight, making it a huge test for the candidates, both physically and mentally.
One hundred people were selected from the provincial examination list. Those who passed were called "Juren" and could participate in the metropolitan examination held in Kyoto the following March. This metropolitan examination would also be the first metropolitan examination after the new emperor took the throne, so its importance and prestige were self-evident.
The supplementary list will also admit a number of people. Those on the supplementary list are called "tribute students". These people are not qualified to participate in the metropolitan examination, but they are qualified to serve as instructors in official schools.
Gao Chuan and Li Qingyao were grabbed by Master Liu and began their final sprint.
The two of them were training intensively, and all the family could do was prepare soups and broths for them every day to help them recover.
In early June, Li Qingyao and Gao Chuan bid farewell to their families and set off to take the imperial examination.
Suyang Prefecture is too far from Ning'an Prefecture. We need to get there as soon as possible, lest there be too many students and we can't find a place to stay.
They brought a lot of money with them, planning to rent a courtyard to live together later.
A while ago, the martial arts instructor that Ouyang Cheng arranged for Li Qingtong also arrived.
Li Qingduan and Li Qingyi were not fully recovered yet, and they also wanted to audit Li Qingtong's master class, so they did not go with her this time.
Yan Min didn't go either. Instead, she spent her days burning incense and praying to Buddha with Mo Qiaoniang, hoping that the two of them would achieve great success.
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