Shen Yuan drove the carriage alone. When they passed the city gate, she jumped off the carriage, pulled the horse, and walked to the back of the line waiting to be inspected before entering the city.
Among the people in line were those who recognized Shen Yuan. Upon seeing her, they quickly greeted her, "Madam Shen, please join my line!"
Shen Yuan smiled faintly and said, "Thank you, but it's inconvenient for me to move while I'm leading the horse."
Upon hearing Shen Yuan's voice, Chu Yuning, who had reached the city gate, paused in her steps.
He looked up at Shen Yuan.
It had been more than a month since I last saw her, and her complexion was much better than before. The peach-pink dress she was wearing suited her very well, making her look like a blooming peach blossom in March, lively and agile.
He heard about Shen Yuan being granted the title of Ninth-Rank Lady not long after he entered the city.
In the Great Yan Kingdom, women who received official titles from the emperor were mostly the mothers or wives of officials and scholars who had made meritorious contributions. It was rare for someone like Shen Yuan to be granted the title of a ninth-rank lady based solely on her own merits.
Therefore, he was extremely shocked to hear that Shen Yuan had been granted the title of Lady Shen and had received many rewards.
Along with the shock, there was also a hint of anger.
It turns out that the reason Shen Yuan saved him and the villagers of Chu Family Village was only to gain merit and rewards!
She risked entering Chu Family Village with a specific purpose in mind!
She wasn't as kind and compassionate as he thought!
Upon learning of Shen Yuan's background, everyone in line gathered around her and bowed to her.
"Greetings, Madam Shen!"
Seeing this scene, Shen Yuan couldn't help but feel a headache. This wasn't the first time this had happened. She never wanted to attract attention, but she always ended up being the center of attention.
Even if she wore a veil or even dressed in men's clothing, she would still be recognized by acquaintances, who would then greet her with bows and greetings, just like they are doing now.
It's made her almost afraid to go out!
"Dear uncles, aunts, and sisters, please rise!" Shen Yuan smiled, but her tone revealed a hint of helplessness.
Chu Yuning was only ten steps away from Shen Yuan. Looking at Shen Yuan, who was the center of attention in the crowd, he felt a surge of indescribable emotions.
He couldn't tell whether he was happy or angry.
Chu Yuning felt as if his soul had been struck in two by lightning.
Half of her was irresistibly drawn to Shen Yuan, while the other half was filled with jealousy, disdain, and an obsessive desire to compete with her.
Wang Jinzhu and Wang Mingzhu, who were standing behind Chu Yuning, also noticed Shen Yuan. They were a little afraid of Shen Yuan, and seeing so many people bowing to her, they hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed to her.
"Greetings, Madam! Greetings, Madam!"
Shen Yuan turned around when she heard Wang Jinzhu and Wang Mingzhu's voices, and only then did she notice Chu Yuning.
Chu Yuning was startled when she saw Shen Yuan looking at her.
Wang Jinzhu knelt on the ground, tugged at Chu Yuning's sleeve, and whispered, "Cousin, kneel down! Kneel down!"
Chu Yuning coldly pulled her sleeve back.
A man's knees are worth gold; how could a mere young girl like Shen Yuan be worthy of making him kneel in respect?
So what if she's a woman? He's a scholar!
Chu Yuning raised his head arrogantly. He was a scholar, not a commoner, and he would never kneel before Shen Yuan.
Can……
Chu Yuning hesitated, seeing Shen Yuan staring at him with a half-smile, seemingly waiting for him to bow and greet her.
He couldn't help but feel annoyed.
"Cousin! Can't you hear me? Kneel down now! That woman is vicious! If you don't kneel down, she'll force you to eat the rice that's been dumped on the ground!"
Chu Yuning was lost in thought when Wang Jinzhu pulled her so forcefully that she lost her balance and fell to her knees with a thud.
By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late.
Looking at Chu Yuning kneeling in front of him, Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
Because of the distance, Shen Yuan couldn't hear what Wang Jinzhu and Chu Yuning were saying, but she always felt that someone as arrogant as Chu Yuning would never kneel down to her so easily.
Regardless of the reason, Chu Yuning knelt down in front of her.
Shen Yuan was enjoying herself.
This was the only kneeling gesture that she found particularly pleasing.
Chu Yuning quickly stood up from the ground, patted the dust off his robes, and walked towards Chen Yuan.
As they drew closer, he said to her, "Don't get too cocky! The autumn imperial examinations are in six months!"
After saying that, Chu Yuning turned around and confidently and calmly left the city.
No one can be unlucky forever. Last year was just bad luck, but this year won't be.
Not long ago, he had a dream in which he not only became the top scholar in the imperial examination, but also married the most beautiful princess of the Great Yan Kingdom. Although there were only these two scenes in the dream, it felt as if they were real events.
Therefore, he became even more certain that he would definitely become the top scorer in the exam!
During this time, he stayed at the Zhao family's house and studied diligently. Once he passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar, becoming a fourth-rank official would be a piece of cake.
When the time comes, the one who will have to kneel on the ground will definitely be Shen Yuan!
Seeing Chu Yuning walk away, Shen Yuan calmly withdrew her gaze. Autumn Examination?
Yes! The autumn imperial examinations are in six months!
From spring to autumn, six months passed in the blink of an eye, and the autumn imperial examination, which the scholars in Jian'an City had been eagerly anticipating, arrived in the blink of an eye.
Three days before the exam, Shen Yuan Pharmacy was doing exceptionally well.
People who come to the pharmacy are all there to buy sachets, which contain a special blend of herbs, including agarwood and coriander, that can calm the mind and soothe the nerves.
Parents with children taking exams at home heard that Shen Yuanpei's sachets could calm the mind and help with exams, so they rushed to buy one regardless of whether it would actually work and hung it on their child's schoolbag.
Some people even buy several at once.
"Miss Chen, please give me one of these calming and soothing sachets. If my son gets nervous about a question he can't answer during his exam, maybe smelling this sachet will calm him down! And please give me one of these invigorating sachets too. If my son gets sleepy during his exam, maybe smelling this sachet will wake him up! And please give me one of these soothing and sleep-aiding sachets as well. If my son can't sleep in it after his exam, maybe smelling this sachet will help him fall asleep!"
Shen Yuan: "..."
She took out a sachet and smiled helplessly: "Madam Lu, my sachet isn't that magical. One is enough for you! Besides, Young Master Lu is exceptionally talented and hardworking. He will definitely pass the exam. Madam, you don't need to worry too much!"
"Miss Chen, you're too modest! The sachet you chose is exceptionally useful!"
Mrs. Lu smiled broadly, "I used to buy so many mosquito repellent sachets, but none of them worked! This year I bought yours, and I haven't had a single mosquito bite all summer!"
"I hung your sachets at the four corners of my bed, and I slept like a log all night without any mosquitoes. Your sachets are amazing! You won't regret buying more!"
After speaking, Madam Lu paid for Shen Yuan's medicine, then left the pharmacy with the sachet in her pocket, satisfied.
Shen Yuan glanced at the sold-out sachets and clicked her tongue.
It seems she'll have to make another trip out of town to buy some herbs to make sachets.
I just wonder if the embroiderers in the city's embroidery workshops who rush to make purses are tired.
Just then, someone stepped through the door.
Shen Yuan was slightly taken aback when she saw the person who had arrived.
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