The imperial examination was usually held in spring, hence the name "Spring Examination". It consisted of three sessions, each lasting three days and two nights, for a total of nine days.
Before entering the Imperial College to take the exam, candidates had to undergo a strict body search to ensure the fairness and seriousness of the exam.
Once in the Imperial College, candidates were assigned to answer questions in their respective "haoshe" rooms, which were small, confined rooms where they would complete all the exams.
Since the exam lasts for nine days, candidates' diet and daily life will be carried out in the examination room. This is undoubtedly a huge challenge for candidates with poor physical condition, and they may not be able to hold on until the end of the exam.
This examination is of vital importance to many students, as it concerns their future and destiny.
The Song Emperor, who was far away at the front, was also anxiously waiting for the officials selected from the imperial examination in the capital to come to Dongjinguo to take up their posts.
On the day of the exam, Jin Linlin personally escorted Jin Jin and Jin Ke to the exam room. She took the brothers' household registration certificates and other important documents from Chunxue, then took the exam basket from Qiuyu, carefully instructing them:
"Be especially careful of those around you when you go in. Some people will do anything to frame others. They might slip a note into your pocket or into your exam basket when you're not paying attention, making it easy to find. So be careful and don't give others any chance to take advantage of you. Do well on the exam, and I'll come pick you up in nine days."
Jin Ke nodded:
"Yes, I understand. You should go back quickly. You're so heavy right now, you shouldn't have come in the first place, but you insisted on coming. Haruyuki, help your master back!"
The two brothers entered the examination room safely, but Jin Linlin went to the newspaper office. The newspaper office was still crowded, and there were two more news items in today's newspaper.
One was about what was seen and heard on the front battlefield, which everyone liked very much, and the other was a detailed introduction to the imperial examination, which attracted the attention of many students and parents.
Jin Linlin read the reaction to this issue of the newspaper for a while, found it to be quite good, and then returned home.
The weather was getting hotter and hotter. When they slowly returned to the gate of the courtyard, Butler Liu was already waiting there.
"Greetings, Madam!" As soon as Butler Liu saw her, he stepped forward to greet her.
"Get up! What's the matter?" she asked as she walked into the house.
"Madam, Jia Liu sent ten people from the manor. They were bought from the pawnbrokers. They used to be secret guards. When their master's family was raided, these people fell into the pawnbrokers and were bought by Jia Liu. They have been trained for half a year and are now being sent here."
Butler Liu followed behind and said. Jin Linlin's eyes lit up, she stopped, turned around and asked:
"Oh? Jialiu is quite thoughtful. What are the abilities of these ten people?"
Butler Liu quickly replied, "Jia Liu said they are quite skilled and their loyalty has been proven. After training, they are even more capable."
"Bring it in, let me see it."
When Butler Liu heard this, he greeted and had someone bring them in. Soon, ten agile men were brought in front of Jin Linlin, their eyes firm and their postures upright.
Jin Linlin paced slowly in front of them, looking at them carefully.
Suddenly, she stopped in front of a man who was as tall as a pine tree, with deep facial features, a high nose bridge, and a cold gaze, and asked:
"What's your name?" The man knelt on one knee and said in a loud voice:
"Madam, I don't have a name. Brother Jia asked you to give us a name. I'm good at close combat and tracking."
Jin Linlin nodded, then looked at the others and asked them one by one. After understanding their situations, Jin Linlin nodded with satisfaction and said:
"Your name is Mo Ren, and you are responsible for my safety." Mo Ren knelt down immediately after hearing this:
"Yes, I will obey your orders."
"Since Jialiu said you have passed the test, I will believe him. From now on, you will stay in the mansion and obey my orders. If you perform meritorious deeds, I will not treat you unfairly. The others, from left to right, will be Mo Yi to Mo Jiu."
Everyone responded in unison, "Thank you, Madam! We will be happy to serve you!"
Jin Linlin arranged for housekeeper Liu to arrange accommodation and daily affairs for them. After everything was arranged, she rubbed her heavy stomach and prepared to go back to her room to rest.
Jin Linlin entered the room and just sat down to drink some tea when Chunxue came in:
"Madam, Madam Shao has returned to her hometown again."
She tapped her fingers on the table:
"Let her be. She relies on her motherhood to be so unruly and unbridled. I will punish her when I come back."
"Madam, before she left, she went to see the Fourth Master and gave him a lot of silver in the Second Master's name."
Jin Linlin frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes. "She's good at doing favors, using Second Master's money to curry favor with Fourth Master."
Chunxue said cautiously, "Madam, she's trying to sow discord between the two families. Madam Shao's actions will only corrupt the Fourth Master."
Jin Linlin sneered, "It's okay. Let's see what she wants to do. This Madam Shao relies on the Second Master's favor and thinks she can do whatever she wants in the mansion. Send someone to the countryside to investigate! She always goes there to find out what's going on."
She stroked her belly, slowly stood up and paced around the room.
"Now I need to recover my health first and wait for my brothers to come back after the exam. Let them handle the things in the mansion for now." Chunxue nodded in agreement and said:
"Madam, should we secretly keep an eye on the Fourth Master's movements?" Jin Linlin thought for a moment and said:
"Let Mo Ren arrange people to keep an eye on her and report any signs of trouble to me immediately. I want to see what new tricks she can come up with." After saying that.
She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes and rested, but in her heart she was thinking about whether she should prevent the fourth brother from seeing Nanny Shao.
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