Outside the gate, Leng Xue thoughtfully handed her a sugar figurine.

She whimpered, “Leng Xue, I’m so moved. Only you in the whole world believe I’ll succeed.”

Leng Xue scratched his head and said this was a consolation gift.

“How do you know I definitely failed?”

She fiercely bit off half the sugar figurine’s head and chased after him to hit him.

Time passed this way.

The mysterious Mu San mysteriously disappeared.

Seeing the examination date drawing ever closer, the two had no choice but to seek other government departments to report the case of switching fake for real.

The result was they were all thrown out.

This day, the two arrived at the Ministry of Justice.

Minister Xiao Yue rewarded each of them with ten strikes of the board to punish their crimes of counterfeiting and disturbing the government office.

Leng Xue, who always considered himself handsome, said, “Hey, don’t hit the face.” Su Zhen looked miserable and said, “Sir, don’t hit my bottom, hit my face instead.”

The result was that Leng Xue got hit in the face, and Su Zhen got hit on the bottom.

Back at the inn, Su Zhen took medicine to apply to Leng Xue’s face. Leng Xue said he’d help Su Zhen apply hers, and Su Zhen said get lost.

Afterward, the two went downstairs to eat.

Upon arriving, they discovered there was actually an empty table right in the middle of the restaurant.

This inn had extremely good business, and it was mealtime—having an empty table was quite strange. Su Zhen wondered to herself, could business be bad today? Looking around, it didn’t seem so, as all the surrounding tables were quite crowded.

She glanced around again and saw many people looking at her. A waiter pulled the cloth from his shoulder, wiped the table, and several servers quickly brought dishes to that empty table. Behind the counter, boss Shi Jian said, “Ah, today I’m hosting. Young Master Li, please dine.”

She was stunned, seeing that Shi Jian had already turned away, but his earlier gaze had been kind.

Most around were lodging students, with occasional Beijing citizens coming to dine. Their expressions were also complex. Someone said quietly, “Wishing you safe return to Lu County.”

This was exactly the young Zhou who had reminded Mu San who she was that day. This fellow was also a candidate.

Yes—she suddenly realized something. The news of her recent running about for the examination had long spread, including today’s punishment.

She had always known that people would naturally protect themselves, but at this moment, some people weren’t cold. She had also seriously considered Chancellor Yan’s words, asking herself whether her original actions were wrong. That child was destined to die anyway—she had changed the process but couldn’t change the outcome. Was there meaning in doing so? Now she knew—she didn’t regret it.

But her bottom hurt like fire. In the past she had no table to enjoy, and now she had table and chairs but couldn’t sit. She poured herself a cup of wine and called out loudly, “Huaisu wishes all fellow students success in the examination.”

Young Zhou muttered beside her, “No need to force yourself—there’s no need for such hypocritical words.”

This guy >_<

Many people remained silent, but all quietly drank a cup.

At this time, someone laughed and said, “Brother Li, I toast you.”

Su Zhen looked up in surprise and saw it was actually Li Zhaoting’s friend Song Yang, along with several men she had seen that day at the Success Inn in Qiongrong County.

How did they end up here? Had Li Zhaoting also come… Her heart jumped as she quickly scanned the restaurant.

——

Everyone have a happy holiday, and be careful not to get fooled today 🙂