In the Great Zhou, even street vendors and laborers firmly believed that “all pursuits are of low value; only studying is high.”

Was the Brocade Scale Guard intimidating? Absolutely! If a family had someone serving in the Brocade Scale Guard, their neighbors would have to tread carefully around them. But behind that fear was also disdain.

Was the Imperial Guard prestigious? Of course, only young masters could enter the Imperial Guard, so it was beyond the reach of ordinary people’s envy.

Only the path of studying was considered a proper way out, a true leap from fish to dragon. Even for noble families, having a son pass the imperial examinations was a cause for celebration. The reason was simple: those who could reach the pinnacle of power in officialdom were always officials who came through the examination system.

As for the rest, they were just small fries.

Madam Xiao was now consoling herself with the thought that Jiang Zhan was just a small fry.

However, this small fry had previously been a hopeless case that everyone thought would never amount to anything. Thinking about this, Madam Xiao felt a twinge of bitterness.

Wait a little longer, she thought. Once the autumn examination results were out and the list of successful candidates was posted, no one could steal her eldest son’s glory.

“Second Brother, your uniform looks so good. Are you really in the Imperial Guard now?” Fourth Young Master Jiang Ze looked up and asked.

The Third Old Master Jiang had one son and one daughter. The daughter was Jiang Qiao, and the son was Jiang Ze, who was only ten years old this year, at an age where he understood some things but still retained his innocence.

Jiang Zhan unhooked the sword at his waist and handed it to Jiang Ze to show off: “Of course I am. Fourth Brother, look at the flying eagle on the scabbard. It’s the special emblem of the Imperial Guard.”

Nearby, Third Young Master Jiang Yuan watched Jiang Ze caressing the imposing sword with envy: “Second Brother, let me touch it too.”

Madam Xiao glanced at Jiang Yuan, secretly annoyed at her second son’s lack of ambition. She said coolly, “Stop touching things carelessly. Don’t damage your Second Brother’s belongings. Look, your Second Brother already has a proper job. You should study hard in the future.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan’s face fell: “Mother, I don’t want to study either—”

“Shut up!” Madam Xiao’s voice rose. “If you don’t study, what can you do? Do you think you’ll have your Second Brother’s good fortune to enter the Imperial Guard?”

Jiang Zhan silently rolled his eyes.

He had befriended Brother Yu Qi through his efforts. How was having a capable friend just relying on luck? This was clearly due to his character and abilities.

“If Second Brother can enter the Imperial Guard, why can’t I? At worst, I’ll ask Father to pull some strings,” Jiang Yuan said stubbornly.

Jiang Yuan was now fourteen years old and shared one similarity with Jiang Zhan: they both particularly disliked studying, seemingly lacking aptitude for it.

However, Jiang Yuan was slightly younger, and with the troublesome Jiang Zhan above him constantly drawing attention, his shortcomings weren’t as noticeable for the time being.

“Nonsense!” Since her eldest son had shown intelligence from a young age, in Madam Xiao’s mind, nothing was more important than studying.

Second Old Master Jiang, looking at Jiang Zhan standing tall like a poplar tree, seemed somewhat moved.

His second son was completely different from his eldest. After studying for so many years, being able to recognize a few characters and compose a couple of mediocre poems was considered decent. When children were young, of course, they should study to temper their nature, but as they grew older, there was indeed no need to stubbornly pursue the path of imperial examinations.

The Imperial Guard was indeed a good choice.

Jiang Yuan was too young to enter the Imperial Guard at his current age, so Second Old Master Jiang naturally wasn’t in a hurry. He said calmly, “Study well for now. Later, we’ll hire a martial arts instructor for you to learn for three years before deciding.”

“Great!” Jiang Yuan punched the air, looking at Jiang Zhan with increasing closeness.

In a few years, when he entered the Imperial Guard, he would have his Second Brother to look out for him.

Madam Xiao was inwardly dissatisfied with Second Old Master Jiang’s decision but said nothing in front of everyone.

Never mind, she thought. Her second son wasn’t cut out for studying anyway. Being in the Imperial Guard in the future wasn’t bad either. Brothers from the same mother, one scholarly and one martial – that would truly be complementary.

Thinking of her eldest son, Madam Xiao became particularly concerned. Returning to Yaxin Courtyard, she couldn’t help but fret to Second Old Master Jiang: “It’s so hot these days, I wonder if Cang can bear it. I’ve heard that the examination cells don’t even have room to stretch one’s legs.”

The so-called examination cells were small, low houses where candidates took their exams. The provincial examination was divided into three sessions, each lasting three days. During these three days, candidates ate, drank, and slept in these tiny cells.

Second Old Master Jiang, having experienced both autumn and spring examinations, was certainly aware of the poor conditions in these cells. He said calmly, “Everyone goes through this.”

“I’ve heard that some of these cells even leak when it rains. What if he’s assigned to one of those—”

“Shut up!” Second Old Master Jiang glared at Madam Xiao in displeasure.

If one were assigned to a leaky cell and it rained, wetting the exam papers, the results would be invalidated.

Realizing her mistake, Madam Xiao quickly said, “Our Cang has always had the best luck. He’ll be assigned to the best cell. I’m just worrying unnecessarily.”

Second Old Master Jiang grimaced irritably.

Ignorant woman, he thought. A leaky cell was nothing. If one were assigned to the “stinky cell” next to the latrines, that would truly mean not even having a chance to take the exam.

In such hot weather, just imagine the smell—

Second Old Master Jiang recalled his examination year when an unfortunate classmate was assigned to the stinky cell. He lasted only one day before fainting and being carried out. The memory made him sigh deeply.

However, such stinky cells were extremely rare. Only the most unlucky would be assigned to one.

Of course, Second Old Master Jiang didn’t believe his son would be so unfortunate. His momentarily disturbed thoughts quickly settled.

In the blink of an eye, it was August 11th, the last day of the first session of the provincial examination. By dusk, candidates participating in the first session would be released. Those like Jiang Cang who lived nearby naturally didn’t need to stay at inns but could return home.

As the afternoon approached, the entire Marquis’s household became tense and expectant. Second Old Master Jiang and his wife were particularly anxious.

Second Old Master Jiang, having participated in the imperial examinations himself, knew better than anyone the importance of the first session.

The eight-legged essay system only emphasized the first session’s interpretation of the classics. If one did well in the first session, passing the remaining two sessions was enough to succeed in the examination. It could be said that the first session truly determined the candidates’ futures.

Securing this session was equivalent to securing eligibility for next year’s spring examination.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded, like thunder striking one’s heart. Second Old Master Jiang inexplicably felt a sense of foreboding.

Soon, the owner of the footsteps burst in. It was the steward from the outer courtyard, who shouted as soon as he entered: “The… the First Young Master has returned!”

Second Old Master Jiang’s heart sank. It wasn’t time for the exam to end yet. Why would Cang be back?

“What exactly happened?” Second Old Master Jiang’s voice was urgent as he asked.

The steward, pale-faced, said: “The First Young Master was carried back unconscious!”

Madam Xiao, who had stood up instinctively upon hearing of Jiang Cang’s return, wobbled and fell back into her chair upon hearing this news.

“Where’s his page boy?”

A small, thin figure fell to his knees with a thud, wiping tears as he said: “Young Master was assigned to the stinky cell. When he was carried out, I learned that Young Master had endured for two days. Today, he was vomiting incessantly and finally couldn’t bear it anymore. He fainted and was carried out…”

Even Second Old Master Jiang, with his years of experience in officialdom, felt dizzy upon hearing this.

Foundation, experience, perspective, talent – he had calculated and recalculated, firmly believing his eldest son’s success in the examination was almost certain. The only thing he had failed to account for was his son’s luck.

“Where is the First Young Master now?” Madam Xiao stumbled out in a panic.