"The imperial examination is approaching. Focus on preparing for it at home and don't run around. You won't need to come here again."
After today's lesson, Zheng Xingkai ushered everyone out.
He had been teaching Li Qingyao for a long time, but the two had not yet established a formal master-disciple relationship. However, apart from Zheng Xingkai's cold attitude towards Li Qingyao, the Zheng family all liked Li Qingyao very much.
Zheng Jiayu was writing at the desk next to him when she heard this. She looked up and winked at Li Qingyao.
Li Qingyao bowed deeply to Zheng Xingkai.
"Thank you for your guidance, teacher. I will study hard at home and wait until I pass the imperial examination. Then I will bring all the gifts to formally become your disciple!"
Although Zheng Xingkai doesn't acknowledge it, Li Qingyao has long regarded him as his teacher.
Before Zheng Xingkai could speak, Zheng Jiayu jumped up.
"I wish my junior brother success in the imperial examination! Come to my house soon to become my disciple!"
He spoke with a serious expression the first time, but then became playful and cheeky in the second, earning him a glare from Zheng Xingkai.
Zheng Xingkai's son, Zheng Jiayu, is only thirteen years old this year. He has been taken in and personally taught by Zheng Xingkai since he was a child.
The little boy was pretty and cute, but every time he saw Li Qingyao, he would bow respectfully and proudly call him "Junior Brother".
When Li Qingyao first heard Zheng Jiayu shout like that, he was quite frightened. He naturally wanted to take advantage of the situation and become Zheng's student. Although he had mentioned this before, he was refused.
Lord Zheng is a man of high moral character. His rejection must be because Li Qingyao has not yet gained Lord Zheng's approval. Li Qingyao is also diligent in his studies and practice.
As for being called "junior brother" by a child much younger than himself, Li Qingyao didn't feel anything. Since he could become Zheng Daren's disciple, junior brother was junior brother.
"Go."
Zheng Xingkai only gave Li Qingyao two words: whether or not he can become Li Qingyao's apprentice depends on his performance.
Li Qingyao was not discouraged; he had long since grown accustomed to Lord Zheng's temperament over the years.
She has a sharp tongue and a stubborn temper; I wonder if she's like that in front of the Emperor too.
After silently saying a few bad things about the teacher in his heart, Li Qingyao respectfully took his leave.
He had just stepped out the door when he was stopped by Madam Zheng again.
"Teacher's wife."
Madam Zheng saw that Li Qingyao looked delighted.
"You're back? Your husband told you not to come back?"
Li Qingyao nodded awkwardly.
"Listen to him, he's giving you advice. The imperial examination is just around the corner, and there's a lot of undercurrent in the capital. As long as you stay home, you won't get into trouble. You're a smart person, so just stay home."
"Yes, Madam. Qingyao understands."
Li Qingyao composed himself and solemnly replied.
The first imperial examination after the emperor took office yielded very poor results. The Li family was overjoyed when they heard this, thankful they hadn't participated.
Li Qingyao originally thought that there would be many candidates taking the first imperial examination, as there are always people more capable than oneself.
The first batch of imperial students were always different in the eyes of the emperor. These people would definitely use all their skills to try to become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).
In addition, due to factors such as travel distance, I gave up taking the imperial examination that year.
In the end, a case of cheating in the imperial examinations actually came to light.
When the results of the imperial examination were released, three candidates who had failed the exam beat the petition drum together, claiming that their exam papers had been impersonated and that they had almost met with misfortune.
They were lucky to survive; besides the three of them, several other candidates also died.
The essays of those who passed the imperial examination would be posted, and only then did the group realize what was going on.
In a fit of anger, he struck the drum to appeal to the emperor, received thirty strokes of the cane, and then his appeal reached the emperor's ears.
Upon learning this, Ying Hao was furious. He immediately ordered a thorough investigation and that anyone involved be severely punished.
This is not only fooling the scholars of the world, but also fooling an emperor. How could Ying Hao possibly let this go lightly?
Kyoto was a scene of carnage, casting a bloody shadow over the first imperial examination.
Although those scholars later recovered their scores, they were unable to take the palace examination due to their injuries, and their health suffered as a result. As for those who lost their lives, the court provided some compensation to at least comfort the students across the country.
Because of this incident, Pan Jinhua and her companions walked slower and slower on the road, and only entered the capital after the matter had completely passed.
With this precedent, Li Qingyao naturally understood Zheng Xingkai's meaning.
"Perfect timing, this is for your mother. Take it back with you. We won't keep you here today."
Li Qingyao took the food box from the maid, only finding out later.
Madam Zheng and her mother were still very close friends. Later, they both married other people, but at that time, the relationship between the Zheng and Li families was not very good, so the two of them drifted apart.
Later, the Li family encountered another problem.
After returning to Kyoto, with the matter of expressing gratitude and Li Qingyao acting as a link, the two started hanging out together again.
Every few days, Madam Zheng would have Li Qingyao bring some pastries to Yan Min.
After bidding farewell to Madam Zheng, the pageboy who had been drinking tea at the gatehouse immediately followed.
That's right, Li Qingyao now has a pageboy.
"Young Master, shall we go straight home?"
"Um."
"Okay."
Once Li Qingyao was seated, the pageboy rode the horse towards Pan Jinhua's residence.
Yan Min, Li Qingyao, and Wang Jiao also lived in Pan Jinhua's house.
The house was too big for her family to live in, so Pan Jinhua simply let Yan Min's family move in with her.
In addition, Yan Min and her son were also hoping to buy back the Li family's original house. Fortunately, although the house now had a new owner, no one had moved in yet.
Yan Min had already made arrangements with someone and prepared the money. He was just waiting for Li Qingyao to pass the imperial examination so that he could buy it back.
Although there are not many masters in the family, the Pan family is well-organized. Currently, Yan Min is helping to manage the servants in the mansion. Once Li Xushi and his wife arrive, the household can be handed over to Mo Qiaoniang.
That's right, the Pan residence.
When they first arrived in Kyoto, Li Xuhai and his wife had already helped hang up the plaque for their residence.
But no matter how Pan Jinhua looked at the words "Li Mansion," she just couldn't get it right. She had bought it with her own money, so it would be more reasonable to call it "Pan Mansion."
I don't know what came over me, but I suddenly got carried away and went to have a new signboard made the next day. As soon as the shopkeeper delivered it, I immediately had it hung up.
In this world, she doesn't own anything yet; this mansion will be hers from now on.
She is old; it is rare for someone to live to seventy.
In this world, living to seventy is already a stroke of luck for her. She'll likely spend the rest of her life here, so naturally she should be content.
The younger generation was also surprised, but since they were elders, they had no objections, and the plaque remained hanging there.
Everyone was present at the meal, except for Li Qingduan and Li Qingyi, who were in the army and could only return once every two weeks.
There are far fewer people than when we were in Lijiacun.
"Judging by their walking distance, the second brother and the others should be here by now."
After the meal, Pan Jinhua and Yan Min chatted over tea, while the three children stayed and sat to the side listening.
Now everyone has their own things to do, and they don't have much time to spend with Pan Jinhua. The younger generation prefers to sit and chat after meals to keep Pan Jinhua company.
"We should be arriving soon. It will get cold soon, and the journey will be much more difficult."
"I hope they can arrive soon, especially the children. It would be terrible if they caught a cold on the way."
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