Before entering the examination room, all candidates must undergo a thorough check to prevent them from bringing in any cheating materials.
Fortunately, the dignity of scholars was preserved. Two sheds were set up at the entrance of the examination hall. Each time two candidates entered, they had to take off their clothes and be checked before being allowed into the courtyard.
If any student misbehaves, they are immediately pulled out and dragged away.
In previous years, there were indeed students who took the risk, but this year not a single one was found.
Because all the students were afraid of being cheated or falsely accused of cheating, they didn't bring any extra things!
The soldiers found the investigation uninteresting and eventually grew bored, so they just went through the motions.
This process sounds simple, but it is actually very slow and agonizing.
Even though Tianwu now only has half of its territory left, the imperial examination has been barely preserved. Many unnecessary rules have been eliminated, and it is even uncertain whether there will be preferential treatment such as tax reduction or exemption after passing the examination. However, many people still take the exam.
After all, the saying "Of all professions, only studying is noble" is ingrained in the bones of all the people of Tianwu and will not change because of anything!
The line of students taking the exam stretched very far, leaving onlookers even further away.
This included the academy's dean and teachers, as well as Mr. Wen, the three Li brothers, and Old Lady Li, Tao Hongying, and Jiayin, who were peeking out from the carriage.
This time, Jiaren and Lige'er will stay in a small cubicle in the examination hall for three days.
Jia Yin's previous idea was definitely to prepare some good things for her brothers, such as biscuits and oil tea noodles, which are convenient and filling.
The former can be eaten right away, while the latter can be made into a bowl of sweet noodle soup by simply rinsing it with hot water.
However, the academy was terrified by the incident of hiding notes on wooden plaques, and immediately prepared all the food and supplies needed by the students, not allowing anyone to bring anything extra. Jiayin had no choice but to give up.
After all, she was really unfamiliar with the imperial examination system in this time and space. If she brought her brother something taboo, she would end up doing more harm than good.
Everyone watched expectantly, and as noon approached, the last student finally entered the examination hall.
The gate was immediately slammed shut, and soldiers guarded both inside and outside the gate, their blades gleaming, preventing anyone from approaching.
There was no point in everyone staying any longer, so the academy kept one teacher and two attendants, the Li family kept Zheng Feng and Zheng He and a carriage, and the rest of them went back.
Li Laosan was in a hurry to return to Luo'an, and noon was the busiest time for the canteen.
Li Zhensheng also wanted to return to the restaurant, while Li Lao Er wanted to take Mr. Wen to the flower shop.
Grandma Li was in a mess, worried about her grandson. Since she couldn't do anything at home, she simply went to the new flower shop as well.
Li Lao Er just named his flower shop "Baihuayuan" (Hundred Flowers Garden), and the signboard has already been carved and hung at the entrance of the courtyard.
The gardeners sent by the head steward of the Marquis's mansion were a family surnamed Cao. The old couple and the young couple were all honest, hardworking and obedient people.
They've only been here two days, but they've already tidied up the courtyard, including the small garden on the east side, making it neat and clean.
Their indentures had already been transferred from the Marquis's mansion to the Li family, and Li Lao Er had explained this clearly to the four members of the family.
They would live and eat in the courtyard from then on, receiving the same treatment as those in the Marquis's mansion, with clothes for all four seasons and rewards for festivals.
In addition, the wages are 20% higher than those at the Marquis's residence, because there is more work at the Hundred Flowers Garden, unlike the leisurely work at the Marquis's residence.
The Cao family of four were terrified. They were long-time servants of the Marquis's mansion, and the princess was the young mistress of the mansion. It was only right that they worked for their masters, so how could they be given a raise?!
But they couldn't refuse, so they had no choice but to accept.
These past few days, they've been so busy they haven't had a moment to breathe, afraid they'll let themselves down for the wages they're paid!
The only regret is that, although this little courtyard is called the Hundred Flowers Garden, there isn't a single flower in it now...
Mr. Wen and Grandma Li took a tour and were very satisfied with the courtyard. They also asked the same question.
Mr. Wen smiled and said, "This yard is beautiful in every way, except for the lack of flowers. When will you send some flowers over?"
After saying that, he pointed to the small garden and asked, "If we're going to build a greenhouse here, it would be best to find some glazed tiles. They let in light in winter, making it warm and beautiful."
"But neither Zhiheng nor I have the ability to find glazed tiles. We can only wait for the Marquis to return and ask him to find them."
Li Lao Er chuckled and said, "Don't worry, sir, there will be beautiful flowers, and there will be glazed tiles too!"
After saying that, he winked at his little niece.
Jiayin smiled and gave her second uncle a funny face.
These past few nights, the uncle and nephew haven't been working for nothing; they had made arrangements long ago.
Of course, famous flowers are fine to take out; they can just be moved from the space.
As for the glazed tiles, when Jiayin returned to the village in her previous life, she wanted to completely renovate the old house. She had already bought all the materials, but the temperature suddenly dropped, making it unsuitable for construction.
So, the old house was repainted, the floor tiles were laid, the kitchen was renovated, and all the furniture and appliances were moved in. Only the exterior roof tiles, doors, and windows had to be repaired after spring. And then she time-traveled...
Therefore, she kept the large pieces of glass she bought, which have been stored in the warehouse ever since.
Now that flower shops need to build greenhouses, they can come in very handy!
Of course, if she builds greenhouses on every acre of land, the glass she has saved will definitely not be enough.
But with proper design, ensuring that half of the greenhouse receives natural light shouldn't be too difficult...
Mr. Wen also knew that Jiayin had some magical abilities, and seeing the two of them like this, he didn't ask any further questions.
Everyone ate lunch at Cyclamen Restaurant. Old Mrs. Li was a little irritable, constantly worrying about her grandson's exam.
Jiayin and her second uncle discussed it and decided to bring forward all the work that was scheduled for a few days later. So, they went back to Baihuayuan.
Grandma Li and Tao Hongying were in charge of tidying up the main house in the backyard, as they were going to stay there for a few days.
Even after the examination hall opens, we will bring Jiaren and Lige'er over to live with us. We will let them relax for a few days while we wait for the results to be posted.
To prepare for the exam, the two children got up before dawn and stayed up until midnight, enduring a lot of hardship.
No matter how well you did on the exam, you should take a few days off and have a good rest!
Li Lao Er went to the carpentry workshop to pick up the flower stand he had ordered, while Jia Yin took Dong Mei to the backyard of the Marquis's mansion.
Dongmei and Dashan's courtyard is right by the back gate, making it too convenient for Jiayin to cheat.
Soon, pots of famous flowers were loaded onto the carriage outside the back gate. Even if outsiders saw them, they would assume that the Marquis's mansion had helped the Li family find these flowers.
After all, the head steward of the Marquis's mansion used to scour the entire capital for flower seeds and roots, and he didn't even mind half-dead flower seedlings, taking them back in their pots...
Of course, a garden shouldn't be filled with only famous flowers. Firstly, it would be too eye-catching and easily arouse excessive jealousy.
Secondly, things are valued for their rarity; famous flowers are famous precisely because they are scarce!
If they were everywhere, and you could easily trample down five or six with one step, then nobody would care, nobody would like them.
So, in the end, we hauled several more truckloads of ordinary flowers and plants, and even a few pots of water lilies.
Among them, the most outstanding are the dozens of rose bushes, which, when in full bloom, are enough to decorate the walls of the garden.
The four carriages traveled back and forth between the Marquis's residence and the Hundred Flowers Garden seven or eight times, inevitably attracting attention and drawing glances.
No one dared to inquire at the Marquis's residence, but a curious crowd had gathered outside the Hundred Flowers Garden...
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