☆, Chapter 134: Did I fail the exam?
The prefectural examination arrived as scheduled.
Because Zhou Mujiao promptly taught the doctors how to disinfect and suture, the students' hand injuries were almost completely healed. Zhao Yunjing recovered the fastest, leaving only a light red scar on his wrist.
However, he had injured his bones, and he would feel weak after writing for a long time during exams. After each exam, he felt as if he had used up all his strength and would collapse on the bed, unable to get up.
Fortunately, his performance in the prefectural examination was quite good, and he was still the top scorer. All the students who passed the county examination also passed the prefectural examination.
According to convention, the top scorer in the prefectural examination is exempt from the provincial examination. This is because the time interval between the county, prefectural, and provincial examinations is not long. Taking so many exams in a short period of time would exhaust many people, and they would ultimately fail at the provincial examination.
The top scorer in the prefectural examination was exempt from the provincial examination, which was to give students more time to study and conserve their energy and strength. Otherwise, if someone ranked first in the prefectural examination but underperformed in the provincial examination and lost the qualification to participate in the provincial examination, it would be a great loss.
However, after discussing it with his family, the academy, and Lord Fang, Zhao Yunjing decided to take the academy exam as well.
“I noticed that some of the questions in the imperial examinations over the years appeared in the preliminary examinations, but they were just repackaged and became new questions in the provincial examinations. I went to participate in the preliminary examinations to familiarize myself with the question types and the examination atmosphere in advance, so that I could be more at ease in the provincial examinations.”
Uncle Zhao suddenly lost confidence: "What if I underperform?"
“Then let’s start over.” Zhao Yunjing said in a deep voice, “I don’t necessarily have to be the top scholar.”
“Starting over would take another three years. Ah Jiao is already seventeen. If we wait another three years, she’ll be an old maid.” This was Aunt Zhao’s concern.
Jiang Wuyu smiled and said, "Our Ajiao is so talented that she never has to worry about getting married. Even if she doesn't get married, she can be the most carefree nun for the rest of her life."
"Is this uncle a fake uncle? Who would prevent their own niece from getting married and becoming an aunt? Wouldn't that be harming her?"
"Who says not getting married is harmful? On the contrary, I think Gillian's advantages of not getting married outweigh the advantages of getting married!"
"You're being selfish! You—"
Lord Fang's face darkened: "This concerns Yun Jing's future. Why are you dragging Miss Zhou into this? Don't you have any confidence in Yun Jing's abilities?"
"Personal ability may last a lifetime, but true feelings are another matter. The prosperity of the capital is intoxicating, and how many perfect couples have turned into resentful ones after arriving there?"
Zhou Mujiao was speechless. What kind of perfect couple is this? You're overthinking it.
However, Jiang Wuyu was right. Even if she didn't get married and remained a nun for the rest of her life, she would still be the freest and most carefree nun in the world.
Under the table, Zhao Yunjing quietly scratched her palm, as if to say, "Ah Jiao, trust me."
After the previous student attack, the heads of both academies put aside their past grievances, and the students of both academies also broke the ice, frequently interacting and exchanging ideas. Their relationship was more harmonious than ever before.
The provincial examinations were held at the provincial examination halls. The students from the two academies got along well, so they all stayed at Boss Tang's Hongyun Restaurant. Zhou Mujiao even had the embroiderers make uniforms for them, which were pleasing to the eye. As soon as the twenty candidates appeared, they became the focus of the entire venue.
Before entering the examination room, Liang Shanzhang gave a long list of instructions, to which Zhao Yunjing responded with only monosyllabic words. When Zhou Mujiao shouted encouragement to Zhao Yunjing, he not only smiled but also gave a long list of promises in return!
Liang Shanzhang pursed his lips.
"Who are you trying to fool with that long face? Don't you want them to get good grades?" Wang Shanzhang from next door laughed.
"What do you know?"
"I see that your precious student came to the academy not to serve the court, but only to become the top scholar so that Miss Zhou can be his wife. So, don't worry about it. He will do everything he can for Miss Zhou."
Zhao Yunjing had never seen the exam format before, so he really gave it his all.
After finishing the three-day exam, he felt completely dazed. On the way back, looking at the signs along the way, he suddenly felt like he couldn't even recognize the words anymore.
Zhou Mujiao noticed his unusual behavior immediately. When she got home, she took him to the grove of trees, saying that she hadn't been to the mountains to look for mushrooms in a long time.
“Brother Zhao, you don’t look right. What happened?” Zhou Mujiao said, touching his forehead.
My forehead feels warm to the touch, which is a normal temperature.
"I'm fine." Zhao Yunjing took her hand. "I might be a little weak."
Zhou Mujiao asked him about his feelings again, and finally said, "I think you're just injured from the exam. Don't go to the academy for now. Starting tomorrow, you'll come with me to the mountains to hunt every day. Put the exam and books aside for now, get back into the swing of things, and then go back to the academy."
The provincial examination is in August, and it's already June. There's not much time left, but Zhao Yunjing is in such a state that going to the academy would be pointless. He'll hide his true condition to avoid worrying the teachers. If he can't adjust, he'll definitely have no chance of passing the provincial examination.
Zhao Yunjing took leave from the academy, and the whole of Peach Blossom County was talking about whether he had failed the provincial examination. Some criticisms also arose in the village.
It is said that he was lucky enough to get two first place rankings, so he thought he was invincible and that the top ranking in the provincial examination was his for the taking. Little did he know that good luck always runs out. The provincial examination was meant to teach him a lesson, to curb his arrogance and his sense of entitlement.
Of course, all these criticisms came from Uncle Zhao and his family.
The Zhao family was much smarter than the Zhou family. After suffering three or four major losses, they kept their distance from them. Only after seeing Zhao Yunjing's 'shameful' appearance did they dare to spread these rumors in hushed tones.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Chen Lizheng scolded. "Although Yun Jing is not on good terms with you, he is still a member of your Zhao family. If he becomes prominent, won't you all benefit from it?"
"Who, who wants to take advantage of him?! We don't want to benefit from his fame!"
"Oh, then let's exchange the land in the west for it."
That was a fertile piece of land. Back then, Aunt Zhao came to Chen, the village head, crying and begging him to exchange the land for their family, saying that they were so poor they were almost starving. Chen thought that the Zhao family was still one family, and it didn't matter how much they fought among themselves. Maybe they would suddenly reconcile one day. If Aunt Zhao complained to Zhao Yun Jing about him then, he might have to change his position as village head.
That's why the land was given to the Zhao family.
Chen Lizheng was naturally furious that the Zhao family was so arrogant.
"No way! I earned it with my own abilities, why should I give it back? Chen Lizheng, you must have misjudged him this time, Zhao Yunjing must have failed the exam!"
Chen Lizheng was also uneasy. It just so happened that his mother's birthday was in two days, so he took the opportunity to invite Zhao Yunjing to his home under the pretext of writing a few pieces of calligraphy for him.
Since Zhao Yunjing entered the academy, Chen Xiuxiu hadn't had much of a chance to talk to him. So when Zhao Yunjing arrived, she was so happy that she almost forgot who she was.
She quickly went up to him and said, "Brother Zhao, don't be sad. If you don't do well this time, you can take the exam again in three years. Xiuxiu believes in your ability. Even if you don't pass in three years, six years later, nine years later... one day you will become the top scorer!"
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