Chapter 670: Chapter 345: Imperial Examination

Xu Suying was a woman of her word. Whatever she promised, she delivered. Therefore, during the days Sheng Mingchuan stayed in the Capital City, Xu Suying specifically asked her eldest brother and the Eldest Princess to intervene. She had the two of them personally visit the Sheng Family to deliver a new list of betrothal gifts.

She didn’t send the actual gifts right away, wanting to leave room for negotiation just in case the Sheng Family was dissatisfied with the list.

How could Sheng Mingchuan be dissatisfied?

He agreed to it immediately.

However, since he would be leaving the capital in a few days, he felt it would be better to hand the betrothal gifts directly to Kaiyan once she arrived, rather than accepting them himself.

Kaiyan was an independent girl with a mind of her own. When the time came, she could decide for herself how to manage and store the items.

Now, Xu Suying needed to head back to conduct a fresh inventory of the betrothal gifts. She would pack everything meticulously, placing items into their respective chests and boxes. Once everything was properly organized, she would just wait for Kaiyan to arrive in the Capital City to present them to her.

Speaking of Kaiyan inevitably brought up matters concerning Xinghuai Prefecture.

Mrs. Zhao and Xiang’er were both still in Xinghuai Prefecture. When Chen Wanqing discovered she was pregnant, she had sent the good news back home immediately. She had even discussed with Zhao Jing whether they should bring the two of them to the Capital City.

After considering it, Zhao Jing had replied, "There’s no need for now."

Chen Wanqing actually understood his concerns.

For one, he was currently living under someone else’s roof. How would it look if he brought his mother and sister over? Even though they had properties of their own—whether gifted by Xu Suying or other elders—placing Mrs. Zhao in one of those empty estates would likely make her feel isolated and uncomfortable.

Second, Zhao Jing had an unspoken consideration. If he truly managed to pass the Imperial Examination and the subsequent Palace Examination, he would be required to return to his hometown to pay his respects to his ancestors.

Rather than forcing Mrs. Zhao to endure the exhausting journey back and forth, it was better for them to stay in Xinghuai Prefecture. From there, it would be much more convenient to return to Qingshui Town when the time came.

Of course, there was perhaps an even more crucial consideration. The Xu family was, after all, a large and prosperous household that highly valued Chen Wanqing. Setting aside the fact that they invited an Imperial Physician every month to check her pulse, her daily diet and provisions were held to the same exacting standards as the household’s esteemed matriarch. Here, Chen Wanqing didn’t have to lift a finger; she could simply relax and focus on nourishing her pregnancy.

Conversely, if his mother and Xiang’er came to the Capital City, it would be inappropriate for her to continue living at the Yue Family residence, meaning she would have to move out. Once she moved out, Chen Wanqing would become the head of the household, burdened with endless chores and responsibilities, completely shattering her current life of leisure.

When Chen Wanqing briefly mentioned some of Zhao Jing’s considerations, Xu Suying sighed. "You really must treat Jing well in the future. He arranged everything this way entirely for your sake."

Chen Wanqing naturally nodded. "I know."

She then shared what she had been doing on her end. Recently, she had made it a point to send Mrs. Zhao two letters a month. The contents mostly revolved around the baby’s condition and Zhao Jing’s life in the Capital City, all to soothe the heart of an anxious mother and grandmother.

She also specifically reassured Mrs. Zhao that there was truly no rush regarding Xiang’er’s marriage. By this summer at the latest, they would certainly settle on a suitable match for her. If they just waited a little longer for Zhao Jing to achieve greater success, Xiang’er would have a much wider pool of candidates to choose from.

Chatting amiably, the mother and daughter arrived at the entrance of Yulan Hall.

Xu Suying went inside to take inventory, leaving Chen Wanqing to sit in a rocking chair in the courtyard and enjoy the scenery. Red flowers bloomed amidst green willows, while songbirds fluttered and butterflies danced in the air. Everywhere she looked was a feast for the eyes.

Chen Wanqing couldn’t help but think of Zhao Jing. She wondered how Jing was doing, as the exams had surely started by now.

Just as Chen Wanqing suspected, the examination hall had already commenced testing.

As for Zhao Jing’s mood, it couldn’t exactly be called good, though it wasn’t terrible, either. The reason for this strange emotional state was a tremendous coincidence: Meng Jintang was seated in the examination cell right next to his.

What were the odds?

The sprawling Capital City Imperial Examination Hall contained a staggering ten thousand examination cells. Yet, by some twist of fate, just as Zhao Jing sat down and settled into his cell, Meng Jintang arrived next door.

The two men locked eyes.

Without Chen Wanqing around, there was no need for superficial pleasantries or feigned politeness. They simply stood there in icy silence, their eyes filled with mutual indifference. Fortunately, with the exams looming over them, neither man had the energy to make a fuss.

In the dim light of dawn, the answer sheets were distributed one by one.

Meanwhile, constables struck brass gongs and marched down the aisles, repeatedly reciting the exam questions aloud to ensure every single candidate could hear them clearly.

At this critical juncture, all worldly distractions were tossed to the back of their minds. Everyone calmed their breathing and began to grind their ink, their minds racing as they pondered how to introduce and develop their essay topics.

A spring breeze brushed past, carrying a gentle warmth. SWISH! The sudden gust rustled the exam papers on the wooden desks, sending the scholars into a panic. Terrified that their precious papers would be smeared with wet ink, they hastily grabbed their inkstones and other heavy objects to weigh them down.

DRIP DROP. A water clock echoed steadily in the background. Gradually, it was joined by the faint SCRATCH SCRATCH of Wolf Hair brushes gliding across paper. Moments later, that steady scratching was the only sound left in the entire venue.

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