Clusters of flowers bloomed on the wall, and when all fifteen clusters were in full bloom, the osmanthus tree below the wall also began to emit its fragrance, just as the song says, August has arrived.
The capital was bustling with activity. Not only were there scholars who had qualified for the provincial examinations from all directions of Shuntian Prefecture, but also candidates from all over the country who had already passed the provincial examinations. These candidates were coming to the capital now for next year's metropolitan examination. Many of them had traveled long distances, and if they were to arrive too late and something went wrong on the way, they would be too late. So they would try to arrive early to experience the sights and sounds of the capital, meet with literary friends from other places, and some even tried to take shortcuts by submitting their own essays to high-ranking officials in hopes of getting noticed.
In short, August of that year was the prime time for scholars across the land.
In the past, such matters had nothing to do with the Marquis of Changxing's mansion. Even with the Duke of Ying's mansion's power, they had to step aside. This year, however, things are different.
Xiao Xin's examination basket was personally inspected by Lord Xiao—although he couldn't understand the many intricacies and taboos involved, just one glance was enough to show how much importance he attached to it. Old Madam Zhang also sent someone to give him a few words of advice. If Xiao Xin's path is successful, it will not only be meaningful for his personal future but also for both mansions.
The longer peace lasts, the weaker the military power becomes.
Even for a long-established duke like the Duke of England, who could hold the top position among the nobles, his influence was limited to the military.
When it came to important matters of state and people's livelihood, the nobles were generally marginalized. Generation after generation of scholars fought their way out of the brutal imperial examinations, and only the most elite could stand in the court. Meanwhile, the nobles mostly put away their weapons and enjoyed their wealth and status. The power of the two sides waxed and waned, and generation after generation they clashed. As a result, the nobles remained wealthy and powerful, but gradually all they had left was wealth and status.
To regain a foothold in the central government and touch the core power, there are no shortcuts in times of peace and prosperity. One can only follow the rules laid out by the literati and honestly pick up a pen to join that different battlefield.
The provincial examination was the most competitive of the three, with an elimination rate even higher than that of the metropolitan examination the following year.
The provincial examination had a ratio of 1 in 30 to 1 in 10, and the metropolitan examination had a ratio of 1 in 10. Because of this huge difference, there was even a saying that a successful candidate in the provincial examination was worth gold, while a successful candidate in the metropolitan examination was worth silver.
Xiao Xin was about to embark on this major test that would last for nine days.
Needless to say, he was extremely busy; Xu Rong had been very busy since late July.
Her bookstore opened last year after Xiao Xin achieved the top three honors. Although there were many things to do at the time, it did not affect her established plans. The bookstore did not openly use Xiao Xin's name, but those who knew would understand. It was easy to spread the word, and thus, the bookstore opened up business very easily.
This year, being the year of the provincial examinations, business was even better than last year. The two original employees in the shop were too busy, so Xiao Yue reported back and, with Xu Rong's approval, temporarily hired two more employees to barely cope with the surge in the number of scholars.
Yes, Xiao Yue is now considered one of hers. Last year, after he finally recovered from his injury, he slowly came to thank her under Cai Die's guidance. His slowness was not due to reluctance, but because he still had a lingering ailment in his leg. Walking slowly on flat ground was fine, but if he went too fast, his limp would become apparent.
This meant he could never return to Xiao Lun's side. When Xu Rong asked him to repay the loan with his work, he immediately agreed.
This was not a problem for him, but a way out. Otherwise, at the age of just over 20, if he lost his job, it would be difficult to find a decent one. Would he just be wasted his life like this?
He cherished this path, and when he was busy, he wouldn't even go home, simply putting together a few stools in the shop to sleep. Bai Fu, cautious and timid, once asked, puzzled, "After all, he used to be the prince's man—"
Xu Rong asked her with a smile, "Is it me who cares about the bookstore's meager prospects, or Xiao Lun?"
The bookstore did well after it got going, but compared to her dowry, it was just pocket change. Xiao Yue managed the bookstore from the outside and seemed to have a lot of influence, but he didn't actually enter the core circle of her dowry. Even if he had ulterior motives, all he could report to Xiao Lun was the bookstore's accounts. Xiao Lun, as the heir of a marquis's mansion and a fourth-rank military officer, would only look at them when he was full.
Bai Fu suddenly realized: "Yes, that's right, the young master has been promoted again."
"Having connections in the court makes it easier to get an official position," and this perfectly describes Xiao Lun. Xiao Xin studied day and night to pass the imperial examination and became a scholar, but soon after, Xiao Lun easily rose from a garrison commander to a deputy commander. What ordinary people might not be able to overcome in a few years or decades seemed to be non-existent for him.
However, his relationship with Chang Shuyin did not improve. The eldest son of a concubine was like a thorn between them, causing pain at the slightest touch. It is said that Xiao Lun tried many ways to make peace, but Chang Shuyin would become indifferent again as soon as she went to see Madam Xiao. This was because the child left behind by Zhi Tao was still being raised by Madam Xiao. Because he was young, he did not have a proper name, and the servants only called him "Big Brother".
Xiao Lun had certainly tried to ask for the child back, but Madam Xiao had her reasons: "Yin Niang already has an older sister. She is young, and it will be difficult for her to raise this child. Let's wait a few years until the older brother is a bit older before we take him back to you."
Before Xiao Lun could say anything more, Madam Xiao became displeased: "Do you think I would harm my eldest son? Don't you know who is best for him to be raised? I'm worrying about you, am I making a mistake?"
Xiao Lun knew his mother's character well and couldn't go against her too much, so he had no choice but to give up.
Xu Rong was relieved of this worry. She didn't know how to raise children, and there were just as many accidents that could happen to a baby as to a new mother. It was the best choice for Madam Xiao to raise the child, and it also fulfilled Zhi Tao's wish.
Besides that, there's Xiao Shan.
Lord Xiao still felt sorry for her. He heard that he was sifting through the candidates who were taking the imperial examinations and planned to find a candidate with a simple family background and good looks to marry.
This is actually a good idea. Those who can pass the imperial examination and become a Juren have all gone through several rounds of screening by the court. They must be clean and unmarried, so they can be considered promising young people with a bright future.
When Aunt Ruan heard about it, she was somewhat tempted.
She was the daughter of a Hanlin scholar, although that was almost a thing of the past. But she still retained this family wisdom. The threshold from a Juren to a Jinshi was not that high. After passing the exam, she would have a Marquis's mansion to rely on, making it easier for her to get promoted than others. Moreover, because of this relationship, she would automatically be a step below and dare not bully Xiao Shan. Although such a son-in-law might seem weak in the short term, in the long run, he would have potential and be someone to be proud of.
But Xiao Shan didn't understand.
She grew up in a noble circle, where marriages were arranged by people within the circle, with this man being a duke and that man a marquis. What did it mean for her to marry a nobody scholar with no background?
I was too ashamed to even leave the house.
Aunt Ruan tried to persuade her, but to no avail. She just cried, "It's fine if he's a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), but a Juren (successful candidate in the provincial imperial examination)... Waaah, I won't marry him."
“Where are the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) who are still unmarried?” Aunt Ruan said anxiously. She knew a bit about this. “Unless they are widowed, are you going to become someone’s second wife? Let alone Jinshi, it’s not easy to find unmarried or unengaged candidates among the Juren (successful candidates in the provincial imperial examinations). If your father wants to inquire now, he will have to pull a lot of strings.”
Hearing this, Xiao Shan automatically misinterpreted it: "Am I not even good enough to be married to a mere scholar? Waaah... Even my aunt looks down on me, I might as well not marry at all!"
She caused a ruckus at home, but Lord Xiao didn't take it to heart. Marriage was a matter of parental decision, and Xiao Shan had no real say in it. While Xiao Xin was fighting for his life in the examination hall, he finally chose two candidates and brought them back to the mansion to compare with Consort Ruan.
"This man is from Huguang. His family owns thousands of acres of fertile land. He is a Juren (successful candidate in the provincial examination) from the previous year. He is just twenty years old this year. He has been so focused on his studies that he has neglected his marriage."
"This one is from the capital. His family was originally poor, but things got better after he passed the imperial examination. His family was even smaller, with only his widowed mother. He had been betrothed to a girl, but she was unlucky and died not long after the engagement."
Aunt Ruan was undecided after hearing this. The first man was from a well-off family, but he lived too far away. If Xiao Shan failed the exam, she would have to go back to his hometown with him and try again in three years. The second man was from the local area, but he was already engaged and poor. She was afraid Xiao Shan would be even less willing to accept him.
Lord Xiao didn't think it was a problem: "Just give Shan'er more dowry. Shan'er is spoiled. If she marries into the family, she won't have to deal with those sisters-in-law. She'll only have a widowed mother. With us looking after her, no matter how fierce they are, they won't be able to bully Shan'er."
When Aunt Ruan heard him say that he would give more dowry, she felt at ease: "What the Marquis said is right. With the money in Shan'er's hands, she is just like the Second Mistress. The Second Young Master doesn't listen to her at all, and he doesn't stop her from doing whatever she wants. He even protects her in everything. That's not bad."
Seeing that she was willing, Lord Xiao made the decision and decided to send someone to see her in person first.
Since the matter had not yet been accomplished, in order to avoid attracting attention, he planned to wait until Xiao Xin appeared and then have Xiao Xin invite him over. It would be much more natural for scholars to make friends. He could invite him to his residence for a meal. If it worked out, great; if not, he would quickly think of another way.
But an unexpected event occurred before that.
Upon learning this news, Xiao Shan refused to accept her fate and secretly ran away.
She didn't go far. According to her maid, she was going to the Marquis of Ji'an's residence to ask Xu Huazhang in person.
This was certainly very disobedient and disrespectful to Lord Xiao, but if she had actually gone to the Marquis of Ji'an's residence, it wouldn't have been that serious. She could have just been brought back and given a scolding. The problem was that she disappeared halfway there.
Lord Xiao went to ask her personally, and Xu Huazhang was completely confused: "Looking for me? Why would you look for me? I'm not even familiar with her!"
He insisted that he had never met Xiao Shan.
Lord Xiao was furious, but he still believed him, because although Xu Huazhang was a well-known playboy in the capital, it was really unnecessary for him to abduct Xiao Shan; it was more likely that Xiao Shan would be throwing herself at him.
Lord Xiao had no choice but to return and send people out to search. He couldn't make a big fuss and let outsiders know, which would ruin Xiao Shan's reputation. He also had to send out as many people as possible to find her as soon as possible, because if she spent the night outside, the problem would be much bigger.
So, after Xiao Xin left the examination hall and rested for a night, he didn't have time to do anything else but join the search for people.
He was much luckier than others. As evening approached, he found Xiao Shan first, or rather, the person who saved Xiao Shan found him first.
"Second Brother." Standing in front of him, Xiao Shan was dressed neatly, but looked very tired. She was supporting a maid and called out to him breathlessly and pitifully. She only managed to say it once before tears started falling.
"Erlang, are you Erlang?"
The middle-aged man who escorted Xiao Shan back had his eyes light up. He rushed forward and enthusiastically tugged at Xiao Xin's sleeve: "I'm your uncle!"
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