This was Gao Chuan's first time spending the New Year in Kyoto. With his beautiful wife and young child by his side, he felt only warmth and happiness. On the second day of the New Year, the family of three went to the Pan residence to pay their respects.
On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Sheng Kun, the eldest son of the Sheng family, Madam Sun, and their youngest son Sheng Mingxing came to propose marriage with various gifts they had prepared.
The entire Li family gathered at the mansion, including Li Qingruo's family, who had come back to watch the commotion. Today was the betrothal ceremony; weddings in the capital were numerous, involving matchmakers and formalities, each requiring strict adherence to procedures. Because the imperial family was acting as matchmakers, the Empress had specially appointed officials from the Ministry of Rites to oversee the process.
The Li family accepted the betrothal gifts, and the marriage was settled.
Pan Jinhua gave Li Qingruo's birth date and time to the Sheng family, and the Sheng family also gave Sheng Mingxing's birth date and time to the Li family. This was to ask about their names. The two families needed to take the birth dates and times of the two people to have them calculated to see if their marriage was auspicious.
This was just a formality; the Empress had already arranged the marriage, and the royal family had already investigated these issues.
Sheng Mingxing was seventeen years old, and Li Qingzhi was meeting him for the first time. It's funny, she was meeting her fiancé for the first time when they got engaged.
Sheng Mingxing is a lively person. Perhaps because he is the youngest child of his parents, he is usually spoiled. You can tell that he is quite innocent.
She had a round, fair face, which was quite cute, but she was not short. When she first met Li Qingzhi, she blushed for a moment.
Sheng Mingxing is currently preparing for the provincial examination. Hearing that Li Qingyao and Gao Chuan will be taking the metropolitan examination this year, he looked at them with great admiration and kept talking to them about their studies.
Li Qingyao examined Sheng Mingxing very seriously and found that he had learned very well.
"With your knowledge, you will surely pass the provincial examination next year. Now you can write more policy essays, go out more, and apply what you have learned. I still have some manuscripts from when I took the provincial examination. I will have my servant make a copy and give it to you. I hope it will be of some help to you."
Sheng Mingxing was overjoyed and thanked them repeatedly. The Sheng couple were even more satisfied.
After the betrothal ceremony, the Li family became quiet and closed their doors to guests. The imperial examination was approaching, and the family was afraid of disturbing Li Qingyao's studies.
Because of the imperial examination, the Lantern Festival wasn't very lively at home, and Li Qingyao felt very guilty.
“My son, you must not think like that. The reason why the family is in such a good state is because the old lady values you. We missed the Lantern Festival this year, but we can make up for it next year. If you are on the list, it will make the family even happier than the Lantern Festival.”
Yan Min's words completely dispelled Li Qingyao's hesitation. Now, he needed to focus on the provincial examination. His mother was right; if he could pass both the provincial and palace examinations, his great-aunt would be even happier. He had been studying with Lord Zheng for the past few years, so he was confident about his chances in this provincial examination.
The spring chill lingered. After the New Year, the candidates who had come to the capital for the imperial examinations arrived in droves, making the capital even more crowded. Everywhere you looked, you could see scholars reciting classical Chinese phrases.
The atmosphere at the Pan residence became even more tense. Li Qing was in charge of the soap business and traveled around every day. He was well aware of the changes in the capital and would inevitably say a few words when he dined with Pan Jinhua.
"Grandmother, you have no idea how many scholars there are in the world. I heard that all the inns on the street are full, and many people can't find a place to stay."
"Is that so? It's completely full?"
Pan Jinhua was also surprised. How could the merchants in the capital be so bad at business? Someone paid money and they still let the person run away?
"The guesthouses are incredibly expensive these days. The local associations are the cheapest, but they're always full, and sometimes several people share a room."
"Sigh, it's like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge. Are there any candidates from Nanze and Ning'an Prefecture? They are from the same place after all. Go and rent a few empty rooms. They don't need to be too nice. Just provide them with rooms for free. Don't worry about anything else."
A small act of kindness is appreciated, but excessive kindness breeds resentment. This was merely a casual gesture, a way to build good karma.
“Grandmother is kind. I will take care of it right away. Once the house is ready, I will go to the manager of the fellow-townsmen association to let him know. If anyone is there, I will ask him to come and find me.”
Pan Jinhua nodded.
"You can arrange it."
Li Qing was surprisingly efficient, resolving the matter by the next day. It was only because the Li family now had Lady Liang, backed by the Empress, and possessed abundant wealth that inefficiency would be problematic.
Within two days, the houses prepared by the Li family were filled with scholars. These people even went to the Pan residence to express their gratitude, but before they could even enter the Pan residence, Li Qing sent them back.
"My Li family is a prominent clan in Nanze, and we have risen through the ranks in Ning'an Prefecture. This matter is merely a small favor, nothing to boast about. You are all pillars of the court's future. With the imperial examinations approaching, it is of utmost importance to prepare diligently and live up to the Emperor's expectations."
These words were well-reasoned and respectable, so the people had nothing to say. They bowed at the door and went back to their studies.
A few days later, Li Qingyao and Gao Chuan went to the Ministry of Rites to register with their floating tickets. There were so many candidates queuing to register that it took them most of the day to finally get their registration done. Despite the biting cold wind, they were both sweating.
With countless candidates, Gao Chuan, who initially had some confidence, completely lost heart after the registration process. The competition was so fierce; as a lucky nobody, the thought of passing the imperial examination on his first try made him feel incredibly apprehensive.
Back home, the two buried themselves in their studies again. Li Qing was even spurred on by the atmosphere at the registration site, worried that she might not be good enough, so she locked herself in her study to fill in any gaps in her knowledge. Gao Chuan, on the other hand, was mentally preparing himself while reading, thinking, "If I don't succeed this year, I'll try again next year!"
While the scholars throughout the capital were engrossed in their studies, so engrossed that they became obsessed, the imperial examination began.
On the day of the imperial examination, the sky was dark, but the Pan residence was brightly lit. The servants hurried about, and smoke rose from the kitchen. Young Master Qingyao, who was temporarily staying at the residence, was going to take the imperial examination.
The exam was to begin at 3 AM, so Li Qingyao and Gao Chuan got out of bed early. The Pan residence was closer to the exam venue, so Gao Chuan went to the Pan residence first and had breakfast with Li Qingyao.
The whole family was there to accompany them. They didn't send any gifts, though. It was freezing cold, and their home was warm and comfortable. Li Qingyao and Gao Chuan didn't want them to send anything. Even Li Qingruo and the child stayed at home and didn't come over.
"Grandma/Great-Grandma, we're going."
"Success is assured. In these nine days, you must take care of your health. As long as you are healthy, you can always make a comeback. You are still young."
The imperial examination would last for nine days, and with the weather so cold these days, Pan Jinhua had to give the young man a few more words of advice, fearing he might overexert himself.
"yes."
Without saying much, the two agreed and then bid farewell to Yan Min and Mo Qiaoniang. The two gave them some more instructions, and then, fearing that they might waste time, they let the two leave through the gate and head towards the examination hall.
"I only hope that this journey will be like a roc soaring into the wind, rising ninety thousand miles high."
The two figures disappeared from sight. Pan Jinhua clasped her hands together and murmured aloud, while the others also prayed silently.
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