Before long, Chen Yu also returned. Lin Ruhai was confirmed to spend this year outside.

The news Gao Shi had mentioned earlier was accurate. Lin Ruhai’s trip this time wasn’t very smooth. Originally, he was supposed to return to the capital, but was held up by an unexpected situation.

So Chen Yu returned first. He traveled through wind and dust, and it was the depths of winter. When he came back, his cloak was covered in snow. The Old Madam felt so sorry seeing this that she repeatedly called for maids to send hot water and hot tea, change his outer clothes, and bring a bowl of hot mutton soup to ward off the cold.

She couldn’t help but reproach: “If we had known, why didn’t you come back earlier? You didn’t need to suffer so much.”

Hearing his grandmother’s concerned words, Chen Yu smiled: “I wore thick clothes, there won’t be any problems.” Knowing he had grown up and had his own ideas, the Old Madam said no more.

Yun Shuyao also examined him carefully. After this trip out, the environment there hadn’t been that friendly. He looked like he’d suffered quite a bit. Yun Shuyao also felt somewhat sorry for him, but she also knew she should let go—otherwise young birds wouldn’t learn to fly independently.

After he washed his face and hands with warm water, what he saw was a table full of dishes he loved.

The Old Madam had him eat more: “Since you’re back, don’t go out again. After the new year you still have to go to Gusu. Rest well at home and nourish your body.”

Regarding his grandmother’s words, Chen Yu didn’t object.

He had no worries about the upcoming examination, but he also had his own ambitions. He wanted to take first place and couldn’t be careless.

This year, the Lin household wasn’t very lively, because the master of the house wasn’t home, and there were several examination candidates present—it was precisely a time when quiet was needed.

The Old Madam declined the vast majority of social obligations. If there was work to be done, she would go, letting her grandson concentrate on exam preparation. She also stopped her two granddaughters from going out. After turning the year, it would be their imperial selection year. She knew that some with “great ambitions” would trip up those who might become their competitors.

If she wasn’t careful for a moment and something happened, regret would come too late.

Other families with those participating in the imperial selection were basically the same way.

The Old Madam had pulled many strings and was gradually losing hope—exemption wasn’t that easy.

She had thought too simply before. However, working connections to have the children fail selection after the imperial selection wasn’t that difficult.

Learning that Chen Yu would participate in next year’s county examination, the Jia household was stunned for a long while. He was only fourteen this year—turning the year he would only be fifteen.

This made them easily think of the deceased Jia Zhu. He had passed the scholar examination at fourteen, causing their family to hold banquets for three days. At that time, they all believed the Jia family would soon produce a star of literature to lead the Jia family to glory. Who could have predicted he would pass away so early?

Fortunately, they still had Baoyu. Baoyu was accomplished—he had an extraordinary origin from birth and would certainly lead the Jia family to even higher peaks.

So Jia Baoyu, who had relaxed for quite a while using the excuse of illness, was once again targeted by his father.

Jia Zheng examined him with a dark face. Seeing him stammer and unable to say anything of substance, if not for a young maid quickly spreading the news, Jia Baoyu’s bottom would have enjoyed another round of bamboo shoot fried pork.

Tan Chun and the others quietly watched this scene.

This wasn’t the first time such a thing had happened. They were almost used to it. However, sometimes they couldn’t help but regret—if only they could also participate in the imperial examinations to earn a future. They wouldn’t dislike the hardship of studying.

Even if they couldn’t participate in the examinations, having another path they could fight for themselves would be good. Unfortunately, this world was particularly harsh toward their daughters.

Tan Chun had a brother from the same mother. She knew her legitimate mother couldn’t stand her brother, but Tan Chun also didn’t want him to grow up muddled.

That elder brother from the Lin family was also a son of a concubine. Now at such a young age he could go participate in the examinations. Once he passed, his future would be secured. Whether legitimate or from a concubine wouldn’t matter so much anymore.

Tan Chun also hoped her brother could earn a future in the days ahead. Even if he couldn’t test all the way through, if he could achieve provincial graduate or scholar status, he could support himself and be looked upon favorably by others when going out.

When the family divided in the future, he wouldn’t be reduced to muddling through days like those clan members who needed relief.

Once the year passed and the ground thawed, Chen Yu headed south with others. Going along with him, besides Lin Ruhai’s aide Lin Yong, was also Yun Guangyu. He also headed south together. He could accompany Chen Yu to participate in the county examination, then return to his ancestral home to participate in the academy examination.

The others were guards and escort masters.

The Old Madam wasn’t afraid of making a big fuss. As long as safety could be guaranteed, more people was fine.

Since they set out, the Old Madam had almost taken up residence in the Buddhist hall.

Praying that this trip could go smoothly and that they could naturally achieve good results.

Yun Shuyao experienced what it meant to have the mentality of a gaokao student’s parent—moreover, one traveling far away to take the gaokao elsewhere.

Although this “gaokao” didn’t have only one chance, Chen Yu’s age hadn’t even reached high school senior year yet.

Generally speaking, gaokao students were sixteen or seventeen years old. However… fourteen or fifteen-year-old gaokao students weren’t unheard of either—juvenile genius classes existed.

Only parents who produced an SSR could experience this supreme enjoyment.

Thinking this way, she felt she should have more confidence in him.

Ying Yu would also worry about Chen Yu. Although they weren’t born of the same concubine, with only this one brother and growing up together all these years, they had feelings. She also hoped Chen Yu could get better and better. If he could test for first place, that would be even better.

So she would also pray for him, even copying scriptures.

Concubine Mei watched coldly without stopping her.

If she had a son, she could compete. Without a son, even if she couldn’t help, if this brother looked impressive enough to let her daughter hold her head high before her future in-laws, that was also good.

Luo Yu appeared to be the calmest one. She even advised Yun Shuyao: “Concubine, although the teacher doesn’t directly praise him in class, the meaning between the lines is clear. His talent for studying is good. This time he’s just taking the scholar examination—there definitely won’t be problems.”

The only possible suspense was his ranking.

But as long as he passed, at his age it would all be joyous news.

“Those words are correct reasoning, but the better the ranking, the more others will value him. He hasn’t taken a teacher yet—he’s waiting to use his achievement as a pledge of allegiance.” There was also another thing—better marriage prospects.

Yun Shuyao lightly drew in a breath.

She opposed children marrying too early, but betrothal was fine.

At his age, these two years were precisely the time for betrothal. The better he performed, the higher the possibility of finding an excellent match.

Yun Shuyao didn’t think about reaching too high for which family’s daughter, but in the situation where her Chen Yu was indeed excellent, she hoped his other half would also be excellent enough to match him—this was human nature.

In this current era, it wasn’t that poor families had no excellent good daughters, but indeed wealthy families, especially legitimate daughters, more easily appeared excellent. For example, reading and writing, then having seen the world, being confident and generous—these were things that daughters of ordinary families in this era found very difficult to possess.

Literacy alone could stump a large number of people.

Besides remembering her grandson, the Old Madam also didn’t forget her grand-nephew and others, nor did she forget her two granddaughters. She hired a nanny who had come out from the palace to teach them propriety.

The family had previously had nannies from the palace, but they’d been out for some years. The Nanny Fang invited over now had just left the palace recently.

Nanny Fang had adopted a nephew. For him, she was willing to come out and teach proper young ladies of great households some rules. She was in high demand. The Old Madam had also expended considerable effort to invite her.

So Yun Shuyao, Concubine Mei, and Concubine Chu—all three also gained an audit course.

When she taught propriety and spoke of some “idle matters” in the capital, they also became students together.

Through these “idle matters,” they could gain a fairly deep understanding of these imperial family members in the capital.

For example, the Crown Prince—how many children he had, what family the Crown Princess came from, who was in the family, what official positions they held, who the secondary consorts were… counting down and down, when reaching the Fourth Prince, Yun Shuyao perked up.

This one was the next emperor.

Yun Shuyao had originally paid particular attention to his situation. Through Nanny Fang’s limited “gossip,” her understanding of him only increased slightly—still those “impartial and incorruptible” words.

While counting the days, the spring examination arrived.

The spring examination had three sessions, each lasting three days—these nine days weren’t easy to endure.

Each time there were candidates who fell ill or had incidents inside.

Combined with the seasonal reasons and being allowed only single-layer clothing, those who could endure it all had decent physical constitution.

But there were also many who fell ill after each examination.

Anxiously sending people into the examination grounds, counting the days to pick them up when finished.

The Lin household sent out three carriages to pick people up. On the Yun family side, Yun Guangyu and the senior attendant went to pick people up.

As soon as Xie Zimo and the other two came out of the examination grounds, two fainted. They were carried by servants onto carriages and rushed home to have Physician Zhou take their pulse to see if there were major problems.

On the other side, the Yun family had also arranged for a physician in advance. Once they picked people up and brought them home, a physician was there to examine them.

Although physicians were very expensive at this time, because Yun Heng had seen many people who couldn’t endure in the examination grounds, even though he was accustomed to frugality, he wouldn’t save silver at this time.

Fortunately, both Yun Chang and Yun Yan had good health. They were just overly exhausted. Forcing themselves to wash and drink a bowl of congee, they fell into deep sleep.

They woke up needing the privy—woken by the urgency.

On the Lin household side, including Xie Zimo, there were three people total. Xie Zimo was the youngest. After sleeping for about a day, he woke up on his own.

The other two were slightly weaker in health. One even developed a high fever. Fortunately, after drinking medicine, he slowly recovered.

From the three people’s complexions, it was easy to judge whether they had tested well.

Xie Zimo was the most stable. From this, one could judge he had tested well.

The days waiting for results were undoubtedly somewhat difficult to endure.

The Old Madam almost fell ill.

But ultimately, they still awaited good news.

At that moment, the Old Madam’s hundred ailments disappeared, her spirits a hundredfold.

Yun Yan’s results were best—twelfth place. Xie Zimo was twenty-third.

With their rankings, if there were no accidents, they would both be second tier.

Among the two Lin clan members, the older one finally passed this time. This was the last spring examination he had decided to participate in. His ranking was near the bottom—he should be third tier presented scholar—yet it still moved him to red-rimmed eyes.

Yun Chang didn’t pass. He was disappointed, yet it was also within expectation.

His provincial graduate ranking hadn’t been high to begin with. The hope of passing the spring examination was slim. He just wanted to give it a try.

He had originally thought to give up the spring examination, but seeing so many peers still striving, he was somewhat hesitant whether to try again in three years.

Even passing as a third-tier presented scholar would have much better prospects than a provincial graduate.

However, if he still didn’t pass, he would have to wait another three years, using three years to gamble on a possibility. Was it worth it?

He fell into conflict.

Yun Heng also couldn’t make the decision for him. He only said that if he still wanted to test, he suggested not returning to their hometown but staying in the capital or going to the culturally flourishing Jiangnan region.

If he stayed in the capital, the two brothers could give him extra tutoring.

After the tribute examination, there was still the palace examination. When the palace examination results came out, they weren’t much different from the previous rankings—that is to say, the presented scholar achievement was in hand.

Hearing this good news, the Old Madam happily donated another sum for incense oil to the temple.

Good news!

The Xie family had successors, the Yun family was also in an ascending period. Now she only hoped her grandson would soon also have good news.

Indeed, before long, good news arrived.

Chen Yu placed first in the county examination and was designated as the head of the list.

Basically, those designated as head of the list would definitely pass the academy examination, just with somewhat different rankings.

That is to say, his scholar achievement was already secured.

The Old Madam almost said she would hold a banquet to celebrate. Fortunately, Luo Yu talked her out of it: “He still has good news that hasn’t arrived yet. Grandmother needn’t be anxious. When the good news all arrives together, we can hold it then—it won’t be too late.”

“What you say is correct.” Having calmed down a bit, she agreed. However, the smile on her face didn’t diminish at all, creasing into a blooming flower.

She didn’t know that this time in Gusu, things hadn’t gone smoothly. If not for having many people, something would have almost happened.

However, Chen Yu feared the family would worry, and since it had already passed, he temporarily concealed it.

——

The atmosphere in the Jia household wasn’t very good. After Wang Xifeng returned from the Old Ancestress, she reclined on the couch and couldn’t help but sigh.

What kind of life was she living?

Carefully accommodating everywhere, while also enduring her own bitterness to advise the Master not to be too angry—days of chaos.

Wang Xifeng knew it was because everyone’s hearts weren’t comfortable. As for the reason, it was also simple. At the root, it was the Lin family—joyous events at their son-in-law’s household occurred one after another.

However, what was joyous news for the Lin family wasn’t necessarily so for their Jia family.

Even though Wang Xifeng felt those people spent so much effort only to obtain insignificant minor official positions, she also knew they had growth potential. In a number of years, they might become regional administrators or enter the cabinet.

This was what made civil officials enviable. As long as they passed the examination and honestly served as officials, with some luck and some background and ability, they could rise level by level.

What about military officers?

Building achievements required gambling with their lives. In peacetime, they could only rust at home, leaving their family members unsure whether to hope they would build achievements or stay home safe and sound.

As for that Yun family, the better they did, the more the Jia family would become a comparison. Even occupying the position of first wife would become delicate.

The world had eyes for wealth and status. Once the Yun family rose, would the grandson Lady Yun gave birth to recognize the Jia family or the Yun family?

In Wang Xifeng’s view, this didn’t even require thought—naturally, whichever had power and influence would be recognized.

But if this continued, their Jia family would be in trouble.

So the Old Ancestress wasn’t happy.

Even to trip up the Yun family people, they had to go through several connections, and those people still weren’t willing to offend others. If they did this, would their son-in-law stand by and watch? Because of this concern, ultimately nothing succeeded.

Moreover, on that side, that Lin family’s son of a concubine had passed again—and placed first.

This ranking was even better than what Jia Zhu had achieved back then. Their ages were also similar. His health was good. If he didn’t die midway, his future might not be inferior to another Magistrate Lin.

So recently Baoyu had suffered.

The Master was stimulated and watched him study. If watching were useful, Wang Xifeng also wanted to have the Second Master watched a bit—maybe he could even bring back an imperial conferment title for her.

However, this was just thinking.

Ping’er massaged Wang Xifeng: “Did the Master get angry again? Did he beat Baoyu?”

Wang Xifeng lazily extended her wrist: “No, Madam arrived in time.”

Ping’er sighed: “That’s good then. Otherwise, Baoyu’s body is weak—there would be problems again. Forcing him to study like this now is making him suffer.”

Making Baoyu suffer?

Wang Xifeng suddenly found it funny: “This suffering is something some people want but can’t obtain even if they seek it.”

Wang Xifeng thought of discovering Tan Chun secretly giving Jia Huan lessons, and felt somewhat dispirited.

People were different from each other. Even among those born of concubines, it was different.

But as the legitimate wife, naturally she would only safeguard the interests of the legitimate line. Moreover, the Second Madam was also her own aunt. Pretending not to know was already her greatest kindness.

Before long, Chen Yu participated in the academy examination. The results came out—he swept all three examinations.

This was the Minor Triple Crown.

Great joyous news!

The Old Madam was overjoyed.

Although her grandson hadn’t returned yet, she still held a banquet at home.

By this time, Xie Zimo had already become a Hanlin scholar and bought a courtyard to move out. His family members were also en route.

Hearing about holding a banquet, he returned to help manage it.

Lin Ruhai hadn’t returned yet. Chen Yu was also on his return journey. Without a male family member at home, there were indeed inconvenient aspects.

However, once Chen Yu returned, it would be fine.

When he participated in the autumn examination, that would be the forty-fifth year of Kangxi—still two years away.

Chen Yu had just set foot on the capital’s soil. He only saw his two elder sisters once before they boarded carriages and headed to the Shenwu Gate.

This year’s imperial selection had begun.