Soldiers came to distribute the morning rations: cold steamed buns and flatbreads, along with ginger soup. Clearly, the examiners had taken the cold weather into account and had prepared ginger in the examination hall beforehand.
Li Qingyao gulped down a bowl of hot ginger soup, and felt as if he had come back to life. His body warmed up, and his stiff feet seemed to soften.
Although ginger soup is not as good as medicine, it is already a rare treat under these circumstances. At this critical moment, being able to drink a bowl of ginger soup is like receiving a lifeline, and Li Qingyao is filled with gratitude.
He wasn't the only one feeling grateful; all the examinees in the courtyard drank every last drop of the ginger soup, and then ate the cold, hard steamed buns with hot water.
The second exam was about to begin. Li Qingyao adjusted his mindset; the questions wouldn't be easy, and he had to give it his all.
Despite feeling unwell, Li Qingyao did not want to give up. He had missed the previous imperial examination and had prepared diligently for three years. He was unwilling to give up.
I used to wonder why so many students didn't take care of their health and died in the exam hall. Now that it's his turn, he can't let go of it either.
As Li Qingyao sighed, he jotted down what was in his mind on a draft. He was determined to persevere; he didn't want to wait another three years.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but Li Qingyao felt his head getting heavier and heavier, his breathing becoming more and more difficult, and his throat was particularly uncomfortable, causing him to cough every now and then.
Oh no, this is really bad luck, it's getting worse. He touched his forehead, it was burning hot. Luckily, he had finished answering all the questions and was just waiting for the examiner to collect the papers.
The examination hall served him three meals a day, each with a bowl of ginger soup, but unexpectedly, even the ginger soup couldn't save him. Li Qingyao curled up into a ball, trying to clear his mind, eagerly awaiting the bowl of ginger soup that evening, hoping it would last for another three days.
"Should we give up and leave the examination hall?"
The two examiners who sealed the exam papers could tell from Li Qingyao's appearance that he had a fever.
This is not unusual; they have seen quite a few over the years, especially in the last few days alone.
If you want to give up after the exam, you can leave; it's normal for them to ask a question.
"Thank you both, but I will continue my exam."
He has already taken the first two exams, and he is determined to take the third one no matter what. How could he be content if he didn't?
Furthermore, how can one be certain about the imperial examinations? If you have a fever this year and can't take the exam, what if you have a fever again next time? It depends on the right time, place, and people; there's no such thing as being so lucky.
The officials exchanged a glance, shook their heads helplessly, and left. They couldn't persuade him, nor would they; it concerned their careers, and everyone had their own destiny.
The third exam was particularly difficult for Li Qingyao; his cough worsened, becoming excruciatingly loud at the slightest provocation. He wasn't alone; the sounds of coughing and sneezing filled the exam hall, suggesting that many others had fallen ill.
After three days of grueling struggle, Li Qingyao staggered out of the examination hall, his steps uneven. Looking back at the examination hall, he felt as if he had survived a lifetime.
Gao Chuan, pale-faced, tremblingly met up with Li Qingyao.
"I'm afraid I won't pass the exam; I have diarrhea again."
Gao Chuan was on the verge of tears. He had diarrhea during the last provincial examination, and it happened again this time. Fortunately, it only started during the last exam, and he managed to get through it.
Although the exam is over, the questions were just too difficult. He had absolutely no confidence and probably had no chance.
"What's wrong with you? You don't look well."
After making his rant, Gao Chuan realized that Li Qingyao's demeanor was also quite off.
Qingyao waved his hand, completely speechless, unable to utter a word. He took only one step before collapsing. The last thing he saw was Gao Chuan's panicked face.
When Li Qingyao woke up, it was already completely dark. However, the room was brightly lit by candlelight, and the blankets were warm and cozy, making him feel much more comfortable.
"My son has finally woken up! He scared his mother to death!"
"Jiao'er, quickly go and tell the old lady that your brother has woken up and is alright. Tell her to get some rest."
Wang Jiao glanced at Li Qingyao with concern, responded, and quickly left, heading towards Pan Jinhua's main courtyard.
"You child, you really scared the whole family. You debt collector! When your mother saw you being carried back, she could hardly stand."
"What did your great-aunt tell you? 'Take care of yourself, take care of yourself.' You should have been fine, but you didn't take it to heart at all. Why are you so stubborn, just like your father?"
Yan Min was crying uncontrollably, her eyes swollen, indicating she had cried a lot while Li Qingyao was unconscious. She was truly terrified; this was her only child.
"mother…"
Li Qingyao called out to her with difficulty, but his voice was broken and extremely unpleasant.
"You'd better not speak. That raspy voice of yours will only make your mother angrier. The doctor said you've been infected with a pathogenic wind and have had a fever for a few days. You need to rest and recuperate properly from now on."
Everyone in the household has been working tirelessly and worrying about you today. You must recover quickly so we can thank you properly.
Li Qingyao didn't say anything more, listening to his mother's rambling voice, feeling at ease.
Exams are mentally taxing, and with a fever, he took medicine and found comfort in his blankets. Before long, he drifted off to sleep again.
Gao Chuan was also in bad shape; his diarrhea was much worse than before, and he had to take a lot of medicine. The two of them had gone to take the imperial examination with high spirits, but returned home dejectedly. The suffering they endured was beyond what outsiders could understand.
Their family didn't disturb them, letting them rest and recover properly for a few days before bringing up the matter of the imperial examination.
"Sigh, I'm afraid I have no chance this year. I've learned something from this experience, and I'll definitely work hard to improve my health and studies over the next three years, hoping for a better future."
Gao Chuan was quite calm. He had been mentally prepared before the imperial examination, and he was still young and could endure the ordeal.
"I can't say for sure. Some questions are quite subjective, and I don't know if I'm on the examiner's mind. I'll just do my best and leave the rest to fate!"
Although Li Qingyao felt that he had done well on the exam, his feverish state did have an impact, and the examiner's preferences were also a factor, so the outcome was hard to predict.
"That's right. We should just do our best and not worry about anything else."
Pan Jinhua also offered words of comfort.
"Take a good rest these days and make sure you get some rest. The results of the provincial examination won't be out for a while, so you can also go out and have some fun with your friends."
The two nodded repeatedly, agreeing that they needed to get out and socialize. They had been burying themselves in their studies at home, but now that the exams were over, they needed to connect with other students. This would be valuable connections if they entered officialdom in the future.
The women of the Li family went to the temple to pray for blessings. Nowadays, temples near Kyoto are very popular, and candidates who have finished their exams and their families are willing to go there to burn incense and pray for success in the exams. The Li family was no exception.
The closer the results were to be released, the more agonizing it became for everyone. Even Gao Chuan, who had long said he had no hope, was so anxious at night that he couldn't sleep.
He was clearly still clinging to a sliver of hope; perhaps he'd gotten lucky again.
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