Autumn of the third year of the Jin Dynasty.
All the grains in Peach Blossom Spring were harvested, dried, packed into sacks, and transported to the granary.
Sweet potatoes and potatoes were replanted in the field.
They also planted more than 2,000 mu of green corn.
On this sunny day, everyone gathered at the watermill to grind rice and flour.
Suddenly, a deafening sound of gongs and drums erupted.
Looking over, everyone could see a large ship docked at the Eleven Trees Wharf in the distance.
The sound of gongs and drums came from this large ship.
Li Lanzhen was overjoyed; it must be that Han Mingxiang, Lu Boyan, and a few other children had passed the imperial examinations.
She patted herself down and set off for the Eleven Trees Wharf.
Looking up, I saw Granny Hua approaching with a big smile on her face, hurriedly taking small, quick steps.
"Oh dear, Master, hurry up and leave, the messenger has arrived with good news."
The Third Young Master and the Young Master have passed the imperial examinations!
It was a congratulatory message personally delivered by the prefect.
Li Lanzhen raised her hand to smooth her hair, chuckled, and walked lightly toward the Eleven Trees Wharf.
When they arrived, the people on the boat had already disembarked, and they were making a joyous occasion with gongs and drums.
When Prefect Wu saw Li Lanzhen arrive, he waved and laughed heartily.
"Madam Li, I've come to bring you good news!"
Han Mingxiang passed the imperial examination with the rank of Tan Hua (third-place scholar), and several other children also passed with the rank of Xiucai (second-place scholar).
"Great news! In the past six years, our Youzhou City has produced its first third-place scholar!"
Hearing the laughter behind her, Li Lianzhen turned around and saw that Master Xu was running towards her with a group of children.
She quickly stopped and waited for Master Xu.
From afar, Master Xu looked radiant and moved with the lightness of a young man.
Behind him were the children in the school, their little faces flushed with excitement.
Upon arriving before Prefect Wu, Li Lanzhen bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Your Excellency the Prefect."
"Haha, Madam Li, please rise. I've come today to deliver good news."
Your youngest son, Han Mingxiang, was appointed as the third-ranked scholar by the Emperor after the imperial examination.
Your eldest grandson, Han Yinan, and Zheng Sanwang both passed the imperial examination and became scholars.
The other two were already students who had passed the preliminary examinations.
Han Dazhong, who arrived later, started setting off firecrackers that he had prepared in advance.
Li Lanzhen invited the prefect to have lunch in the main dining hall.
Prefect Wu happily agreed.
He couldn't forget it ever since he ate there once.
Using the same ingredients, the food prepared at Taohuayuan's canteen is always delicious.
The Peach Blossom Spring was filled with joy and celebration today, and lunch was exceptionally lavish.
After Li Lanzhen selected a pig weighing over 200 jin (approximately 100 kg) from the pig farm, she slaughtered it and sent it to the main kitchen.
Braised pork belly, braised spare ribs, braised pig's head, braised offal...
Chickens, ducks, geese, and green vegetables in the greenhouse.
Of course, alcohol is indispensable.
They ate, talked, and laughed all the while.
Harmonious and warm!
The plates and bowls were removed, the table was wiped clean, and tea was served.
Li Lanzhen and the prefect were drinking tea and talking at the same table.
"Mrs. Li, oh no, I should call you Yiren now, hahaha."
The others were still baffled as to why Li Lanzhen was called Yiren.
Manager Hua quickly explained to everyone.
"Because Lady Li donated grain and discovered a new variety of grain, which made a great contribution to the Le Dynasty, the Emperor bestowed upon her a pleasant title."
Everyone is asking again what kind of official Yiren is.
Lord Wu laughed and said, "This Yiren is equivalent to a sixth-rank official."
Zhang Deshui, Li Erhan, and the others were dumbfounded.
"What? Daughter, when did you become an official? Why didn't you tell your parents when you came back?"
Zhang Deshui looked at her, shook his head, and said in disapproval.
"Yes, Lanzhen, you haven't told us you're back for so long. This is great news, how could we not tell you?"
Li Lanzhen waved her hand, "It's not worth mentioning, what's there to say? I should have done these things."
The pleasant title was the Emperor's reward and encouragement, urging me to do more good deeds.
So what's there to brag about?
The prefect nodded repeatedly, sighing inwardly once again.
It's such a pity that Li Lanzhen is a woman. If she were a man, she would have had a very bright future!
Then I thought, this woman did things that many men wouldn't dare to do.
Seeing that everyone was in high spirits, the prefect stood up and said, "I'll go take a look around."
Han Dazhong and Zhang Deshui quickly got up and took him out.
Li Lanzhen didn't move. She and Manager Hua stayed behind, wanting to ask in detail about Han Mingxiang and the other children's participation in the scientific expedition.
Seeing that Prefect Wu and the others had all left, Manager Hua smiled slightly and said to Li Lanzhen.
"Madam Li, Han Mingxiang almost became the subject of a search for a son-in-law by the powerful families of the capital."
"What? Who would do something like this?"
"Did you scare my daughter-in-law?"
Manager Hua shook his head, "How could that be? Your son-in-law Xue Bao is there to protect us."
...
It turned out that after Li Lanzhen returned, Han Mingxiang and his group gradually attracted the attention of major families in the capital.
They knew that the Emperor and the Crown Prince greatly admired these people.
So I always try every possible way to get close to them.
Those ladies who had previously looked down on Li Lanzhen, this country bumpkin, were now filled with regret. They should have gone to her residence to try and get closer to her when the Emperor issued his decree.
By the time they came to their senses and went to deliver their invitations to see Li Lanzhen, she had already returned to Youzhou City.
Unable to find a way through Li Lanzhen, they turned their attention to Han Mingxiang and the children.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince and Xue Bao protected them well, and these people did not gain much advantage.
After the imperial examination, the emperor personally appointed Han Mingxiang, a scholar from a poor family, as the third-ranking scholar.
On the day of the horse parade,
The prince had booked a room at a tea house on the second floor of a bustling street well in advance.
Han Shulan held Xiaobao, while Han Yuemei, Wu Shi, and Xue Laohu all sat there watching.
Along the way, people saw Han Mingxiang and his group coming from the windows on both sides of the street and from the girls at the underground station.
She recklessly threw her handkerchief and hairpin at him.
There's no other reason than that the top scholar was a man in his late thirties, while Han Ming was the most handsome and dashing young man among the three.
As for the third-ranked scholar, he already had a wife and children, so they didn't even consider him.
Handkerchiefs, purses, and hairpins were thrown at her in a deluge, but Han Mingxiang deftly deflected them all with a wave of her hand.
Just as they passed by Han Shulan's window, Han Shulan called out, "Husband," and then threw down a blue purse.
Han Mingxiang caught the purse accurately with one hand and hung it on her waist. Then she raised her hand and waved to Han Shulan, smiling brightly.
That smile must have shattered the hearts of countless young ladies.
Li Lanzhen sat there, listening silently as Manager Hua recounted these events.
She could almost see the lively scene from back then in her mind.
"Madam Li, when your eldest grandson parades through the streets on horseback, you must go and see him!"
"Okay, I'll go there early on that day."
In August, Xue Laohu returned with a message, asking Li Lanzhen to go to the capital.
They said that Han Mingxiang was going to take the imperial examination, and if she did well in the palace examination, she would be paraded through the streets on horseback so that she could see the magnificent sight.
But at that time, I really couldn't leave Peach Blossom Spring.
Li Lanzhen replied with a letter, advising the children to do their best in the exam.
Manager Hua said to Li Lanzhen with a smile.
"Madam Li, Han Mingxiang has been directly admitted to the Hanlin Academy this time."
Lu Boyan ranked fifth in the palace examination and was appointed as a county magistrate.
It belongs to Linshui County of our Youzhou City.
This county is large in area and has a large population, so he was appointed as a county magistrate of the sixth rank.
"Oh, really? That's great, it's not far from us."
"Yes, Madam Li, you two are of the same rank, both sixth grade, hahaha."
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