Chapter 99 The Provincial Examination (1)
After treating the whole family to a big meal, Li Xiaoxiao woke up the next day to find that her life had not changed at all. She still lived in the same old wing room. After getting up, she went to the kitchen to get Meng Guanqi and Asheng's breakfast and went to the study to eat with them.
After the meal, Meng Guanqi asked, "Is your luggage all packed?"
Ah Sheng said, "Everything is packed. Today I'll go to Huichuntang to pick up a few bottles of medicine that Madam ordered in advance. We can set off first thing tomorrow morning."
Meng Guanqi stood up and said confidently, "Okay, we'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."
He was determined to pass this round of provincial examinations!
The next morning, Magistrate Meng and Liu escorted Meng Guanqi to the city gate. Magistrate Meng said calmly, "Zhang Li has already rented a quiet courtyard in the prefectural city. You don't need to worry about not getting enough rest. Just relax and treat it like a normal exam. You can relax for a few days after the exam and come back after the results are released."
Zhang Li was a newly purchased servant in the family. His family was originally from Lin'an Prefecture. Because his family had four sons and were struggling to make ends meet, his parents sold him to a brokerage firm. He was very clever and was chosen by Liu Shi. He usually helped Steward Zhao and Zhao Jian with their work in the outer courtyard. He was a diligent and quick-witted young man.
The provincial examination is held every three years, and Lin'an Prefecture is always overcrowded at this time. Not only are the accommodations expensive, but it is also very difficult to find suitable ones. Relying on his status as a local, Zhang Li is familiar with the streets and alleys around the examination hall and quickly helped Meng Guanqi find a quiet courtyard with its own entrance. Steward Zhao and Granny Qi even went to see it together and were very satisfied. They immediately rented it, and Meng Guanqi will live there until the results are announced.
Liu looked conflicted. She wanted to give her son a few more instructions, but she was afraid of adding pressure to him, so she turned to Li Xiaoxiao and Asheng and said, "You must take good care of the young master. Don't let him go hungry or get sick. Zhang Li's mother will bring you food every day. I have already told her that she must buy fresh vegetables every day. Don't be greedy for cheap and convenient things and buy several days' worth at once. If you eat any vegetables that are not fresh, tell her immediately. If the young master gets sick from eating them, I will not forgive you."
If only one of Li Xiaoxiao and Asheng could cook. Although Zhang Li was a newly purchased servant and his mother was practically family, they weren't familiar with each other's backgrounds. What if she didn't like the food or accidentally didn't cook it properly and made Meng Guanqi sick?
It's a pity that Li Xiaoxiao, who came from a kitchen background, didn't learn even half of Mama Mao's cooking skills. She couldn't make any fancy dishes, or even ordinary steamed buns or dumplings; she only knew how to steam rice.
Thinking of this, Liu felt annoyed. It was also her fault for neglecting to think of this point. Otherwise, she would have forced Li Xiaoxiao to learn some home-style dishes and cook them for Meng Guanqi herself.
It's too late to say anything now.
Magistrate Meng, however, thought she was worrying unnecessarily. It was just cooking a meal. Zhang Li said he had four brothers, and his mother had raised all four sons. Couldn't she cook a meal properly? She didn't need to make any fancy dishes. Couldn't she cook a few simple home-style dishes?
Meng Guanqi doesn't need to eat rich and greasy food. For the next month, he only needs to eat clean and light meals. Besides, Zhang Li eats with them. What reason would Zhang Li's mother have to harm her own son?
Magistrate Meng was afraid that Liu's nagging would only affect Meng Guanqi, so he waved his hand and said, "Alright, you can go now. Be careful on your journey."
Seeing his master wave, Zhang Li immediately drove the carriage towards Lin'an Prefecture.
Liu watched her son walk further and further away with tears in her eyes. Magistrate Meng frowned and said, "Alright, it's just a small provincial examination. He has a long road ahead of him."
Granny Qi quickly comforted Madam Liu: "Madam, you mustn't cry, you must laugh. The young master will be a scholar when he leaves, and he'll be a successful candidate in the imperial examinations when he returns. Madam, you mustn't cry."
Liu immediately stopped crying. Yes, she couldn't cry. What if it was bad luck?
She forced a smile and turned to Granny Qi, saying, "The fifteenth is just a few days away. Come with me to the temple to offer incense to Qi-ge'er and pray that he will pass the imperial examination with flying colors."
Granny Qi said, "Yes, this old servant has already prepared. On the fifteenth, we will leave at the crack of dawn and rush to the temple to burn the first incense for the young master, so that he may pass the imperial examination with top honors."
Liu smiled through her tears: "I wouldn't dare dream of becoming a top scholar. As long as my son can pass the exam, I don't care about the ranking."
Granny Qi said, "We're not in the capital anymore, so the young master doesn't need to worry about those older cousins. He can naturally do as well as he can in the exams..."
Now that you have gradually established yourself in Biyang County and separated from the Meng family in the capital, there will be two branches of the family from now on. There is no need to keep a low profile like before.
Zhang Li was indeed very familiar with the roads of Lin'an Prefecture. It was July 13th, and there were still more than 20 days until the first provincial examination on August 9th. The city of Lin'an was already so crowded that the carriages could hardly move.
Zhang Li skillfully drove the carriage through the streets and alleys, and soon passed through the congested roads, appearing by a river. The carriage continued for about two incense sticks' time before stopping in front of a small courtyard near the river: "Young master, we have arrived."
With the help of Li Xiaoxiao and Asheng, Meng Guanqi stepped down from the carriage and stretched.
Take a closer look at the surroundings. Before you is a river more than three zhang wide. The water is crystal clear, and willows sway along the riverbank. The river is paved with stone slabs. It is evening, and many women are washing clothes or vegetables by the river, while children are playing and frolicking nearby.
He couldn't help but say, "This place is nice."
When Zhang Li heard him praise him, he couldn't help but grin: "Only locals can find such a great place; outsiders wouldn't even have a chance to rent it!"
He took out his key and opened the courtyard gate: "Young master, I've already had my parents clean the courtyard. You can go to sleep once you've laid out your bedding."
Meng Guanqi entered the small courtyard. There were three main rooms with two side rooms in front, a kitchen on the left and a stable on the right. The courtyard was about three zhang in length and width, and there was a stone table and benches in the middle. Although it was small, it had everything you needed.
The house is right next to the river, surrounded by local residents. It's a quiet oasis amidst the hustle and bustle, with excellent feng shui.
Meng Guanqi was very satisfied with the courtyard. Both its layout and environment were top-notch, and it would be difficult to rent it if you weren't a local.
There are three main rooms in the courtyard. The middle room is the main hall, and the two sides are bedrooms. Meng Guanqi lives in the bedroom on the left and uses the right room as a study. Li Xiaoxiao lives in the side room on the left, and Zhang Li and Asheng live together in the side room on the right.
Fearing that Meng Guanqi might not adapt well to the new environment, the bedding, sheets, and mattress were all washed and brought from home. Li Xiaoxiao put away the previous owner's quilt and put it in the closet, then laid out the quilt she brought. She touched the other furniture in the room and found that there was no dust on her fingertips. Zhang Li's parents were quite reliable; the room was very clean.
After arranging everything he brought, Zhang Li entered somewhat shyly: "Young Master, my parents have brought the food..."
Zhang's parents were probably around forty years old. Zhang's father was tall with thick hands and feet. As soon as he saw Meng Guanqi, he lowered his head and blushed, not daring to look at her again. He looked very honest. Zhang's mother was a bit short and plump, and she had a kind face. However, neither of them looked like Zhang Li at all.
Zhang Li said, "I look like my grandma."
Zhang's mother quickly added, "Of the four sons in the family, the third one looks the least like my husband and me."
Mr. Zhang gave a simple, somewhat awkward smile.
Since it was their first meal after arriving, Zhang's mother didn't buy any groceries. Instead, she made some steamed buns and twisted rolls and brought them over. Li Xiaoxiao took one, ate it, and then widened her eyes, giving a thumbs up: "Delicious!"
Her skills are no worse than those of Mother Mao, which is truly remarkable.
Zhang's mother lowered her head and smiled shyly. Zhang Li said, "Father, Mother, this is our young master. He's taking the provincial examination this year. I've already told you to come and bring him three meals a day, and to cook light meals without chili peppers—"
Zhang's mother said repeatedly, "I know, I know, I wouldn't dare make anything that would upset my stomach."
Meng Guanqi ate a meal of steamed buns and twisted rolls and thought it was quite good.
After Zhang Li introduced Meng Guanqi to his parents, he sent them home. After dinner, he showed them the surrounding roads: "The courtyard we rented is only about the distance of an incense stick's time from the examination hall. If we walk quickly, it won't take that long. Young master, you can walk this road more often in the future and familiarize yourself with the area..."
Meng Guanqi led Li Xiaoxiao and Asheng to follow Zhang Li for two days, and they all became familiar with the roads in the vicinity. It would take an incense stick's time to walk from here to the examination hall if they walked slowly, but if they walked quickly, it would take about a cup of tea to get there. It could be said that the location was excellent.
Zhang Li said, "The inns near the examination hall, as well as some courtyards owned by locals, are rented out to scholars from other places. They often go to the river to study and meet friends. If you want to make friends, you can meet many people here."
Meng Guanqi didn't need to. Firstly, he wasn't studying at the local academy, so he wouldn't have many opportunities to interact with the other scholars taking the provincial examination. Secondly, he had a grudge against Lu Weifu, who had been a student at the academy. Many people from the academy were taking the provincial examination this year, and if he made friends everywhere and people found out his identity, who knew if his old friends would come looking for trouble? Thirdly, he would be returning to Wanshan Academy immediately after the exam, so he probably wouldn't have much contact with the students here. Fourthly, he didn't want to waste his energy and time making friends; he just wanted to quietly focus on the provincial examination.
Zhang Li showed Meng Guanqi the way for two days, after which Meng Guanqi stopped going out and focused on reading. In the evenings, when he got tired of reading, he would look at the scenery by the river and take a walk to relax. Usually, Li Xiaoxiao or Asheng would accompany him. Zhang's mother would bring him three meals a day, mostly steamed dishes, but she was especially good at cooking. Even steamed dishes could be made into different delicious dishes. The group ate very well, and Meng Guanqi felt relaxed and comfortable.
No one came to disturb them, and nothing unexpected happened. The days passed by like flowing water, and in the blink of an eye, it was the ninth day of the eighth month, the first session of the provincial examination.
On the night of the eighth day, Zhang Li, Li Xiaoxiao, and Asheng took turns keeping watch, afraid that they would oversleep and cause Meng Guanqi to be late. Each of them kept watch for an hour and a half, just in time for Meng Guanqi to get up and head to the examination hall.
The first part of the provincial examination consisted of testing students' knowledge of three of the Four Books and a five-character, eight-line poem. Meng Guanqi arrived early at the examination hall with his book basket and lined up. After watching him finish his examination and successfully carry his book basket inside, the three of them went back to catch up on their sleep.
On the ninth day of the eighth lunar month, Meng Guanqi returned from the first exam without any problems, looking perfectly normal. After the three of them brought him back, they didn't mention the exam at all, acting as if nothing had happened. Meng Guanqi remained disciplined, and his study habits were no different from usual.
The second exam was on August 12th, testing the interpretation of five classic texts. The three of them took turns guarding the exam in the same order as in the first exam and successfully escorted Meng Guanqi into the academy. After the exam, Meng Guanqi returned with a normal expression. With the experience of the first exam, everyone felt more confident for the second exam. They were just waiting for the third exam to be over before the autumn imperial examination was considered complete.
The third round was on the fifteenth of August, which was during the Mid-Autumn Festival. By the fourteenth of August, the entire city of Lin'an was decorated with lanterns, and there were countless vendors selling mooncakes on the roadside. Although it was the third round of the provincial examination, it did not affect the festive mood of the residents of Lin'an. The streets were bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder, and very lively.
Ah Sheng was young and at the age where he loved excitement. Seeing such a grand scene, he had long wanted to go out and have some fun. However, tomorrow was the young master's third exam, and he had already walked two li of the three-li road. He only needed one more li to complete the exam. He held back and decided to wait until the young master finished the exam before he could go out and enjoy the festivities.
Zhang Li, feeling embarrassed, asked Li Xiaoxiao and Asheng for leave. His grandparents wanted the whole family to go back to their hometown for dinner, and he asked if he could go back.
After being sold to Biyang County, he rarely had the chance to have a meal with his family again.
Seeing that he was about to burst into tears, Li Xiaoxiao and Asheng felt sorry for him and agreed without hesitation.
If he goes back, only Li Xiaoxiao and Asheng will be left to keep watch at night, and each of them will need to keep watch for two and a half hours.
Li Xiaoxiao thought it was a small matter: "It's okay for me. Young master, you only have one last exam left. Go ahead and come back after the Mid-Autumn Festival."
Meng Guanqi also felt that this was not a big deal. He had passed the first two exams smoothly, and he trusted Li Xiaoxiao and Asheng more. Whether Zhang Li kept watch or not was not important to him. He just followed behind them to send him into the examination hall and then had nothing else to do.
Zhang Li was very grateful and thanked Meng Guanqi repeatedly. He also promised Li Xiaoxiao and Asheng that he would bring them mooncakes made by his grandmother when he returned from his hometown.
The meal that Zhang's mother brought that evening was especially lavish. Because she had to rush back to her hometown, she delivered it half an hour earlier than usual. She had stewed chicken soup, a plate of steamed pork ribs, a bowl of lush green vegetables, a steamed fish dish, and a dish of stir-fried river shrimp with chives.
Li Xiaoxiao was a little surprised. The dishes were so plentiful today. Had the cost of the food exceeded the budget?
She smiled broadly: "Since it's almost a festival, I prepared two extra dishes. Tomorrow is your last exam, young master. Eat your fill, and you'll be a successful candidate in the imperial examination."
Since it was Zhang's mother's kind offer, Meng Guanqi did not refuse and even rewarded her with one tael of silver, allowing her to return to her hometown with Zhang Li.
Zhang's mother returned home overjoyed.
The three of them, master and servant, enjoyed the sumptuous dinner together.
Ah Sheng smacked his lips: "This chicken soup is so delicious! I've never had such delicious chicken soup before. It seems like there are some medicinal herbs in it, it smells especially good."
The soup was especially delicious, and Meng Guanqi drank a big bowl of it. After dinner, all three of them felt a bit full, so they went for a walk by the river together.
It was already dark when Meng Guanqi got home. After washing up, he turned on the light and wanted to read a book, but suddenly a wave of drowsiness washed over him. The words in the book became blurry. He rubbed his eyes, but instead of waking up, he became even sleepier.
The exam is tomorrow, and although it's the last one, what if he can't wake up and misses it? Thinking of this, he put down his book, blew out the lamp, and went to bed.
After Li Xiaoxiao finished washing up, she found that Meng Guanqi was already asleep. She looked at the sky outside and estimated the time. It was only around 7 p.m. He usually went to sleep at 9 p.m., so why was he asleep so early today?
But considering he has to get up at 3 a.m. tomorrow, it's normal for him to go to bed early.
Now that Meng Guanqi was asleep, she and Asheng had to start preparing for their night watch.
Li Xiaoxiao asked Ah Sheng, "Are you on guard duty for the first half of the night or the second half?"
Ah Sheng was so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open: "Sister Xiaoxiao, I'll stay up for the rest of the night. I'm so sleepy I can't keep my eyes open. Just wake me up when it's time."
Li Xiaoxiao originally wanted to take the second half of the night shift, as she had taken the second half for the first two sessions because she was worried that Asheng, being young, would oversleep. However, seeing that Asheng couldn't open his eyes now, she had no choice but to agree: "Alright, I'll take the first half of the night shift, and it will be your turn to take the shift at midnight."
Ah Sheng nodded, then threw himself onto the bed like a ghost, rolled himself up in the blanket, and fell asleep.
Li Xiaoxiao turned on the lamp and sat down at the table to flip through the storybooks she had bought a couple of days ago.
Entertainment in ancient times was pitifully barren. Even such ordinary stories of lovesick men and women could sell like hotcakes among the common people. They were nothing more than heartless men who forgot their lovers once they became rich and powerful, and devoted women who devoted themselves to serving their in-laws and taking care of their children only to have their husbands change their minds. There was really nothing of substance to them.
Perhaps the story was too boring, Li Xiaoxiao's head gradually drooped until she lay motionless on the table.
The candle gradually shortened, and the candle wax filled the candle bowl. After melting, it could not be relit, and the last glimmer of light was submerged in the candle wax.
All was quiet; everyone was asleep.
Li Xiaoxiao suddenly jumped in surprise, opened her eyes abruptly, and instinctively reached for the short sword at her waist.
A sense of danger was approaching in her subconscious, which awakened her instincts.
She hadn't encountered this situation in a long time.
She took a breath, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and felt the changes in her body, then suddenly froze.
This feeling... was her body automatically expelling foreign substances; she was drenched in sweat.
Having lived in this world for so long, she has only ever felt this way when she was seriously injured. So why is she feeling this way now?
The room was pitch black. It took her a while to realize that she had fallen asleep while on night watch.
Her body was still involuntarily rejecting the foreign substance, and she was terrified. She was clearly not injured, so why was her body automatically rejecting it?
She suddenly realized that if she wasn't injured, then she must have been poisoned; otherwise, her body wouldn't have had this inexplicable rejection reaction.
Poisoning?! Why was she poisoned? Who poisoned her?
Oh no! What time is it now?
Her expression changed drastically, and she immediately fumbled to light the candles in the room. When she looked at the water clock, she was terrified to find that it was already past 4 a.m.
She had been unconscious for nearly four hours!
Before 5 a.m., Meng Guanqi had to arrive at the entrance of the examination hall for inspection, as today was the last day of the provincial examination!
He's going to be late!
Li Xiaoxiao didn't have time to think about anything else. She immediately opened the door and rushed into Meng Guanqi's room. Only when she moved did she realize that her legs were as weak as noodles.
Her heart sank to the bottom.
If someone as physically strong as her could be drugged like this, what about an ordinary person like Meng Guanqi? Could he even be woken up?
She was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth to powder!
In a flash, she remembered the chicken soup from yesterday.
The vegetables, fish, ribs, and river shrimp from yesterday tasted normal, but the delicious chicken soup contained several medicinal herbs she didn't recognize.
The problem may lie with those medicinal herbs.
She couldn't be sure whether Zhang's mother had deliberately put it there, or if someone had tricked Zhang's mother into putting medicine in the soup. She didn't have time to think about that right now.
She had more important things to do; she had to take Meng Guanqi to the examination hall.
She immediately drew the small sword from her waist and cut all ten of her fingertips. A sharp pain shot through her fingertips, and Li Xiaoxiao felt a buzzing in her head. She immediately became much more alert, and her uncontrollable limbs finally returned to normal.
She closed her eyes, circulated her internal energy around her body, and broke out in a sweat. Good, after a short while, she was fine.
Now she's in big trouble. How is she going to wake Meng Guanqi up and get him into the examination hall before dawn?
She took a deep breath, calm down, calm down, Li Xiaoxiao, there is still time. If she panics now, it will be utterly disastrous.
She kicked the door open and found Meng Guanqi unconscious on the bed. She quickly dressed him in his coat and shoes, picked up the examination basket she had prepared, slung Meng Guanqi over her shoulder, and ran like the wind towards the examination hall.
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Author's Note: Everyone says the new name isn't very good, and that it's not as good as the current one, so I'll hold off on changing it for now. I'll think of a better one later [laughing and crying emoji].
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