“This is a matter of great national importance, and we must not make any rash comments,” said an elderly scholar.
"It's just a few words, what's the big deal! Uncle Wu, this is your fifth time this year!" the scholar opposite him teased.
"If I don't pass this year, I'll go back to my hometown and farm! I'm not taking the exam anymore!" The old scholar looked to be in his early thirties, and he had already grown a beard on his chin.
"Old Wu, with such a big reform in the exams this year, you have a chance!" said a scholar next door.
"This year's exam is said to be set at the last minute. Everyone will receive a different test paper, so there's no way to copy. The pre-prepared questions won't work either. It's all about luck; whoever gets the questions they're good at will get them," the old scholar said.
"I wonder who the examiners are this year. If someone's answer to the question happens to match the examiners' preferences, then they can also get a good score," another scholar said.
"Yes, we still need to see if we can meet a mentor!" someone sighed.
Upon hearing this, Fourth Master frowned. He glanced at Lanqin, who had already eaten three buns, making it only six in total! He had just picked up one himself. This woman!
Fourth Master looked at Lanqin with silent protest, as if to say: I said I'd order two baskets, but you insisted on ordering noodles with soybean paste and glass noodles!
Lanqin looked at Fourth Master with a fawning expression and had already pushed the noodles with soybean paste in front of him. Her meaning was clear: she wanted Fourth Master to eat the noodles with soybean paste!
Fourth Master scooped up the noodles with soybean paste, and after a few bites, he slurped them up with a muffled slurping sound, as if protesting against Lanqin.
"Master, if you eat these vermicelli noodles too, I'll go back and give you a brilliant plan that will definitely solve the problem they were just talking about!" Lanqin put the remaining two buns onto the plate in front of her.
Fourth Master looked up, nodded, and immediately reached out to take the vermicelli over as well.
Lanqin ate all the Goubuli steamed buns with great satisfaction.
As soon as the two walked out the door, Fourth Master grabbed Lanqin's hand and said, "Don't try to back out. Come on, let's get in the car!"
Lanqin noticed the strange looks she was getting from the people around her, and assumed she must be this young master's handsome husband. So she quickly pulled her hand away from Fourth Master's and coughed a few times, saying, "Young master, I can still walk. I was just feeling dizzy."
Having said that, Lanqin left Fourth Master behind and immediately walked forward in small steps. Watching Lanqin sway her small, round hips, and seeing her dressed in men's clothing, Fourth Master almost wanted to drag that little woman back on the spot.
After getting into the car, Fourth Master hugged Lanqin tightly and pressed his lips to hers.
Lanqin pushed Fourth Master with all her might, but how could her two skinny little arms withstand the pressure of Fourth Master's six-pack abs?
Grandpa, what's wrong with you? We've been married for so long, there's no need for this. It's like you haven't eaten meat for a month, and now you're grabbing at it and won't let go! It's really scary!
Ignoring Lanqin's protests, Fourth Master continued kissing her relentlessly! Faced with Fourth Master's domineering, CEO-style kisses, Lanqin had no choice but to endure it! This was absolutely blatant revenge!
Just as the two were about to lose control and start having sex in the car, Fourth Master finally calmed down. They were going to a bookstore called "Green Pine" later.
"Master, do you think you're particularly fond of me just because I'm dressed as a man?" Lanqin said resentfully, suppressing her immense discomfort. From the moment she boarded the carriage that morning, this man's eyes had been looking strange.
"Hmm, you look very handsome in men's clothing." Fourth Master actually admitted it.
"Does Your Highness have homosexual tendencies?" Lanqin asked, glancing sideways at the Fourth Master.
"I don't like men, I only like women. Want to give it a try?" Fourth Master said with a dark face.
"Then why do you feel such intense desire when you see me dressed as a man, Master?" Lanqin continued to tease the Fourth Master. Although this man was acting a bit strangely today, she secretly liked him.
Fourth Master stared at the little woman, wishing he could teach her a lesson immediately, but the shouts outside were incessant, indicating that they were in a bustling market, which was really not the place!
"If you keep talking nonsense, I won't hesitate to pounce on you!" Fourth Master warned Lanqin with a very threatening look.
Lanqin pouted, and finally had no choice but to remain silent, turning her head away from Fourth Master: Humph, bullying!
Fourth Master took a deep breath, calming the agitation within him. He had indeed lost his composure today. For some reason, seeing the young woman dressed as a man in front of him was simply irresistible. Could it be that he truly loved men?
Fourth Master's lips twitched slightly as he continued to circulate his energy.
"Sir, we've arrived at Qingsong Academy!" The coachman's voice remained unchanged, seemingly unaffected by any sounds coming from inside the carriage.
The Fourth Prince had composed himself, and Lanqin had also regained her composure. They disembarked from the carriage one after the other. After giving the coachman a few instructions, the Fourth Prince led Lanqin inside.
It turns out that this "Qingsong" Academy was a bookstore, but it was a relatively large bookstore, similar to the Xinhua Bookstore of later generations.
The academy was decorated like a teahouse, but the bookshelves around the perimeter were filled with all sorts of books. Guests would order a pot of tea and a few plates of snacks, just like drinking tea, and then pick up a book they liked, sit down, and slowly enjoy their tea and reading.
How charming! As Lanqin walked to the door and looked at the scene in the academy, these four words came to mind. This is no different from the experiential bookstores of later generations.
Looking at the guests here, they are different from the scholars at the Goubuli steamed bun shop. They are all dressed in silk robes, and their expressions and demeanor exude the air of officials and wealthy merchants. The scholars here must be sons of rich families, even if they are not officials, they are still sons of merchants.
Fourth Master led Lanqin through the crowd and found a corner to sit down.
Lanqin looked around at the people, who were gathered in groups of three or five, talking loudly about the imperial examinations.
"Young Master Wang, are you determined to win this year?" A young man in a blue robe with bat patterns bowed deeply to a man in a brown Suzhou-style robe.
"Hehe, preparations for this year are almost complete. Young Master Chen has also been studying diligently for several years," said Young Master Wang.
"Hehe, all the hard work of the past few years has come down to this one exam. I hope we can both pass with flying colors!" said Young Master Chen.
"This year's exam is different from previous years, Young Master Wang, are you all aware of this?" said a fat man who looked like a wealthy merchant, dressed in a brown robe embroidered with large chrysanthemums in gold thread.
"Oh, isn't this Young Master Wu? What, you've come to take the exam in person too?" Young Master Wang glanced at the fat man opposite him and said.
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