There were two people from the Zhou clan who went to take the exam together. The three of them rented a carriage together, and after arriving in Ganzhou, they rented a small courtyard, and the cost was shared equally by the three of them.
Jiang Erlang studied hard for a few days, or the three of them went out together to meet students from all over the country, and waited busily for the day of the exam.
The provincial examination involves several sessions, which can feel like a year to the candidates who are constantly on edge. Looking back after the exam is over, it feels like it was all over in the blink of an eye.
"Erlang, how do you think you did on the test?"
When the three of them gathered together, Zhou Mingqing looked at Jiang Erlang, who looked very calm, and asked, feeling a little unsure.
"It's going pretty well. We'll know whether it's good or not soon. Let's go eat first, the three of us."
On the day the results came out, unlike Zhou Mingqing and Zhou Mo who were impatient, Jiang Erlang had his meal at a roadside stall before going to see the results.
Back in the courtyard again, Zhou Mingqing's gloomy face formed a sharp contrast with Zhou Mo's cheerfulness. However, because of Zhou Mingqing, Zhou Mo was trying his best to suppress his joy.
Upon seeing Jiang Erlang, his eyes lit up. "Erlang, I just saw your name. You're actually in second place! I heard that the first place winner is an old man over fifty years old who has taken the Guangfu exam more than a dozen times. It's normal that he's better than you in terms of experience and knowledge."
Jiang Erlang nodded and said, "I didn't expect to get this ranking."
He glanced at Zhou Mingqing, suppressing the joy in his eyes, "We're leaving tomorrow, and we still have some free time today. Do you two want to take a stroll around Ganzhou City?"
"I can't." After saying this, Zhou Mingqing turned and went into the house.
Zhou Mo said helplessly: "Don't mind, he's impatient... I'll go to the street with you, just in time to bring back some food."
The next day, Jiang Erlang set off for his hometown with the things he bought for his family.
As April began, Shen Huaixu, far away in the capital, was overwhelmed by various affairs. First, there was the Cold Food Festival, then the Qingming Festival for ancestor worship, and then there was preparation for the Empress' birthday.
In the Houfu Ancestral Hall, Shen Huaixu knelt on the futon and stared at the five tablets placed in front of him. They were the tablets of Shen Miaomiao's mother, grandmother, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-grandmother.
[Doesn't Chen Su hate his father? Why is there still a tablet for him?] Fu Tuan showed his cat-like head and peered furtively into the ancestral hall.
These servants are too much. They won't let it enter the ancestral hall no matter what.
"After all, there's an unbreakable blood relationship, and Daddy isn't a cold-blooded person. This grandfather didn't make it into the Jiang Family Ancestral Hall. If his own son doesn't even offer him homage, won't he just become a wandering ghost?"
[Tsk tsk tsk, you are becoming more and more superstitious.]
Chen Huaixu bowed three times and placed the incense in his hand into the incense burner. [When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Even in modern times, there are such customs. You, an alien, won't understand.]
[Hmph!] Futuan proudly lifted his tail and left gracefully.
Chen Huaixu instructed: [Please help me take care of the planting space. Fubao will be your little brother from now on.]
[It is originally my little brother, and so are you, host! ]
Shen Huaixu rolled his eyes in his heart.
After leaving the ancestral hall, she said to Shuangjiang, "Shuangjiang, please keep an eye on the letters from Beichuan County. I'm afraid they've been quite busy these past few days."
"Don't worry, Miss. I will remember this."
"Miss, the master has brought back a lot of jewelry in the past few days, waiting for you to choose. You can attend the queen's birthday banquet in a few days and let those ignorant people take a look!" Xiaoman said with anticipation.
Ever since the Marquis got angry, the exaggerated rumors had decreased a lot. However, as the Marquis was a favorite of the Emperor, his only daughter naturally attracted a lot of attention. Those who had never seen her daughter mocked her by saying that she was unsophisticated. In her opinion, her daughter was much better than some of the pretentious noble ladies in the capital.
Chen Huaixu looked up at her and said, "Sister Xiaoman, although I've grown taller, I'm only ten years old. I'm still a child. Why should I dress up for an occasion like this? Let Aunt Ji help me choose clothes and jewelry. Just make sure they're suitable."
Xiaoman responded, feeling a little regretful.
On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Shen Huaixu dressed up and got on the carriage.
Chen Su looked at his daughter's apricot-yellow dress and the jewelry on her head with satisfaction. They were all chosen by him. He suddenly felt a sense of pride that "my daughter has grown up."
"Miao Miao looks very pretty today." His eyes were full of smiles.
Shen Huaixu smiled and narrowed his eyes, "Dad, are you saying that Miaomiao is not good-looking on weekdays?"
"You mischievous girl, you know daddy doesn't mean that." Chen Su's smile remained as he gently tapped her forehead.
The father and daughter laughed and joked for a while before Chen Huaixu asked, "Dad, why haven't I heard that Prince Yan and Prince Kang came to celebrate the Queen's birthday?"
"Although vassal princes are not allowed to leave their fiefdoms easily, Prince Duan has just left. Considering the Empress's maternal concern, I have specially allowed them to come to the capital this time. However, no extravagance or publicity is allowed. The princes and princesses of the counties are also coming with them. They only arrived in the capital last night, so you may not have noticed them."
Prince?
A person's face appeared in Shen Huaixu's mind. Could it be that he could meet this old acquaintance?
Shen Su noticed that her expression was different and asked, "What's wrong?"
Chen Huaixu then told his father about how he had saved Yun Qi, and said with a smile, "We've gotten to know each other since we fled the famine. He doesn't know I'm your daughter yet. It would be fun if we ran into each other at the birthday party this time."
"Cang Heng? Is he the youngest son of the King of Yan? Father has heard that the King of Yan's youngest son is outstanding in both character and talent. If you can save him, it will be considered a good relationship."
The father and daughter chatted all the way until the carriage stopped. After they both got off, Shen Su couldn't help but give a few more instructions. Shen Huaixu responded promptly and followed the eunuch all the way to Fengyi Palace.
Many ladies and young ladies had gathered in the palace, all of them were wearing makeup and dressed in their best clothes. One could smell a fragrant breeze just by standing outside the palace. After the young eunuch reported, Shen Huaixu heard the noise in the palace suddenly disappear without a trace.
The silence in the palace was soon broken by the Queen's gentle voice, "Mingyi is here, let her in quickly."
Soon after, Shen Huaixu entered the palace and paid his respects. The Empress called her forward. The Empress smiled and introduced her to everyone, "Since Mingyi came to the capital, she has never appeared before so many people. She is the daughter of Marquis Xuanping, and was recently conferred the title of Princess Mingyi by the Imperial Court."
Shen Huaixu bowed to everyone leisurely.
"Grandmother~" A young girl took the Queen's arm and shook it, "She is the sister of the Shen family you often mention, right? She looks like a well-behaved and lovely girl, no wonder you like her. Yue'er can't always be by your side, Grandmother, so it's a relief to have the sister of the Shen family come to the palace often to chat with you."
The Queen Mother smiled and patted Cangyue's hand.
"I thank you, my lady, for your praise."
Cang Yue smiled and looked at Shen Huaixu: "I heard that this sister knows medicine, and her medical skills are very superb. I wonder what else the Shen family sister can do besides medicine?"
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