Second Madam Xiao checked the examination basket again and again until she could remember the placement of every item in the basket with her eyes closed. Only then did she feel relieved. She told the servant, "Take the eldest master's things carefully. If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible!"
Jiang Cang's bookboy was a clever one, and he said happily, "Second Madam, don't worry, the eldest master will surely be able to help you pass the exam and become a judge."
Xiao smiled and said modestly, "Your reward will be indispensable when the time comes."
On the day Jiang Cang went to Gongyuan, he was about to leave at daybreak, and everyone in the mansion came out to see him off.
"Cang'er, don't be nervous, just perform at your usual level." Old Master Jiang patted Jiang Cang's shoulder gently.
"My son understands."
Xiao followed up with, "I heard that the environment in the dormitory is very bad. Cang'er, you have to take good care of yourself."
Jiang Cang had a calm smile on his face: "Don't worry, mother. Your son will take good care of himself."
Elder Jiang Er was a little impatient: "Okay, stop talking and let Cang'er go to Gongyuan as soon as possible."
Xiao raised her hand to straighten Jiang Cang's collar and stopped talking.
Jiang Cang bowed deeply to Old Madam Feng and said, "Grandma, please go back quickly. Your grandson is going to the examination room now."
Madam Feng forced herself to remain calm and nodded repeatedly: "Go ahead, remember what your father reminded you, you will be fine."
Jiang Cang bowed to Old Madam Feng and the others again, got on the carriage and drove towards Gongyuan.
The light black in the sky gradually turned into a light orange-red, and the dawn broke, and it was another good day.
Old Madam Feng stood there, staring at the direction where Jiang Cang left for a long time, her heart filled with excitement.
The eldest grandson is only nineteen years old this year. As long as he passes the exam this time, he can take part in the Spring Examination in February next year. If he passes the Spring Examination, he will immediately come into the sight of the powerful circle in the capital.
Everyone knows how cruel the imperial examination is, and even more so how competitive it is to be a Jinshi at the young age. When the time comes, there will be no need to worry about your eldest grandson not having a good future or a good marriage.
The second son of this generation of sons has a bright future, and the eldest grandson of this generation of grandsons will soon be able to come to power. It doesn't seem that scary even if the Earl's Mansion loses the title in the future.
As Old Madam Feng thought about these things, her aging heart seemed to be revitalized and even the wrinkles on her face smoothed out.
"Hey, has big brother left?" Jiang Zhan hurried over, rubbing his eyes.
Although Jiang Zhan and Jiang Cang were not close in private, the imperial examination was a big deal, and almost any family would see him off with the whole family, so Jiang Zhan naturally remembered to get up early to see him off.
However, Yu Jin had already informed Jiang Zhan that he had to report to Jinwu Guard immediately. In order not to show his weakness, he practiced all day long. As he was young and sleepy, he accidentally overslept.
Seeing Jiang Zhan, the gentleness on Old Madam Feng's lips disappeared, and she said unhappily: "You still remember it!"
Jiang Zhan said embarrassedly: "I didn't expect that big brother would leave so early."
Old Madam Feng stretched out her hand with a sullen face, and with the help of Ah Fu, she turned around and walked back.
She had completely given up hope on this grandson, and even looking at him for one more moment would only cause her distress.
Jiang Zhan blinked awkwardly.
He was wrong today, but the disgust in his grandmother's eyes was too obvious.
Xiao passed by Jiang Zhan and said coldly, "Studying is so hard. Second Master, go back. It's still early. You can have a good sleep."
Jiang Ancheng was of course unhappy with Jiang Zhan's late arrival, but thinking of his son's recent efforts, he silently swallowed his original reprimand and went out with Mr. Jiang San to do some business.
Jiang Si fell behind at the end, walking back side by side with Jiang Zhan.
"Second Aunt seems to be becoming more and more weird." Jiang Zhan said in a low voice.
Jiang Si looked at Xiao's back and smiled: "Yes, everyone is different. Some people become more calm after encountering setbacks, while others forget their original calmness completely after encountering setbacks."
Thinking about her past life, Jiang Qian had never been rejected by her grandmother because of the "evil possession", nor had she been sent back to her parents' home because of the incident in which the son of Marquis Changxing tortured and killed a woman. The complacent Xiao always maintained a full sense of superiority in front of the people in the first house, and of course she was calm and generous.
In this life, as many things have changed, it is not surprising that Xiao finds it difficult to maintain the mask of hypocrisy amid the accumulated resentment.
"Then it looks like Second Aunt's illness is about to be cured."
Jiang seemed confused.
Jiang Zhan said with a smile: "Big brother will obviously pass the high school entrance exam. Then Second Aunt will be very proud and will not have the nerve to be so gloomy."
"That's not necessarily true." Jiang said meaningfully.
Jiang Zhan thought Jiang Si was referring to the Xiao family, so he didn't think too much about it. He changed his tone and said, "Fourth sister, Yu Qi brother informed me that I can report tomorrow. I have already got the number plate."
As soon as he received the license plate, Jiang Zhan's employment as a member of the Jinwu Guard was set in stone, and he felt relieved.
Jiang Si was genuinely happy for his brother: "Congratulations, second brother."
Jiang Zhan went out early the next morning, and when he came back he was wearing a blue and black guard uniform embroidered with gold thread, which made him look particularly handsome.
The gatekeeper almost didn't recognize him: "Second, Second Young Master?"
"Uncle Wang, don't you recognize me?" Jiang Zhan didn't even ride a horse, he walked all the way back, but he felt full of energy and not tired at all.
It turns out that being envied by others feels so wonderful.
"Second Young Master, where did you borrow the clothes from? They look like the clothes of the Jinwu Guards, right?" Having guarded the Dongping Marquis's Mansion for so many years, the doorman still has some good eyesight.
Jiang Zhan staggered and nearly fell.
What do you mean by borrowed clothes? A mere disciple actually looked down upon him so much!
Young Master Jiang stood firm, straightened his back, and patted the sword hanging on his waist: "What are you talking about, Uncle Wang? Can I borrow someone's clothes? These are my own clothes."
After he finished speaking, he walked in with his head held high. The servant shouted worriedly, "Second Master, I heard that if you copy the clothes of an official, you will go to jail—"
Jiang Zhan paused and took a deep breath.
He is now a member of the Jinwu Guard, so at least he cannot do anything like beating up his followers.
The news that Jiang Zhan became a Jinwu Guard quickly spread throughout the Bo Mansion.
Old Madam Feng felt extremely complicated as she looked at her grandson, who looked even more handsome and handsome in the fitted guard uniform.
She thought that this grandson's life was doomed to failure, and she was thankful that he didn't bring trouble to the family. However, she didn't expect that he would infiltrate the Jinwu Guard.
Jiang Er Lao Ye couldn't help but look at Jiang Ancheng: "Brother, Zhan Er must have relied on a lot of connections to be able to join the Jinwu Guard, right?"
If you want to join the Jinwu Guard, it would cost a lot of money to find someone through connections. It's strange that he didn't hear any news about it.
Jiang Ancheng smiled and said, "I don't have any connections. Zhan'er has many friends, and he found his own way."
Well, Xiao Yu is really good. If Si'er is satisfied with him and wants to keep him as his son-in-law, he can't reveal it to others.
Jiang Zhan had never felt so proud before: "Yes, Uncle, I asked my friends for help, and it didn't cost my family a penny."
Seeing Jiang Zhan's pride, Mrs. Xiao felt uncomfortable and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that the second young master would become the Jinwu Guard. This is good. From now on, you two brothers will help each other in both civil and military affairs."
So what if he is a Jinwu Guard? Can he have the same glory as a judge or a Jinshi?