Chapter 583: Chapter 571: At the Very Least... At the Very Least, He Should Have Said It Wasn’t True!
Two years later. Emperor He passed away, and the young new Emperor ascended the throne.
Many royal relatives and officials were stripped of their titles and dismissed from their positions.
The imperial court needed fresh blood, so the Emperor specially opened the rural examination and the Imperial Examination to scout for capable talents outside of the triennial Great Biennial Comparisons.
The rural examination was held in August, followed by the Imperial Examination in February of the following year.
This was Shen Hua’s first visit to Shengjing.
Young scholars in blue robes, gathering from all over the world, flocked to the imperial capital. The inns had been packed early on.
Ji Teng obviously placed great importance on this special examination, and patrolling soldiers could be seen everywhere in the streets.
The inns insisted on keeping the noise down to ensure that the scholars could study and rest undisturbed. Even passersby on the streets instinctively lowered their voices.
Those with money, naturally, would not squeeze into an inn; the Shen Family had sent servants ahead of time to secure a quiet residence.
"The Imperial Examination is in three days. Once the results are posted, if you’re selected, the Palace Examination will be in April. Your classmates and teacher are all at the Huaiji Inn; there are six of them in total. I thought we all need to eat, so I asked the kitchen maid to prepare extra food to send to them. Our own place is definitely cleaner than the inn."
Xiao Sesu was folding clothes and spoke in a soft voice.
She was here to accompany [someone] for the examinations.
Those who could participate in the Imperial Examination were all scholars who had passed the rural examination. Friendship among classmates came first, followed by the necessary social courtesies.
She attended to everything meticulously.
"These snacks won’t last long. Yangyang, since your brother is busy preparing for the examination and needs to study at home, why don’t you help your sister-in-law with this errand? We’ve received protection from Young Master Cui back in Fengzhou; we can’t just come to Shengjing and not show any appreciation."
Shen Hua was here... for amusement.
She was dressed in a skirt of lotus-colored brocade and draped in a snowy white mink fur. Her porcelain-white face flushed with rosy lips.
One could easily inquire about the address of Marquis Yangling Mansion from the outside. The carriage stopped in front of Cui Mansion, and Shen Hua ascended the steps.
Stopped.
The guard was cold and stern: "Calling card."
The exquisitely beautiful Shen Hua indifferently sprawled out: "Can I pass with my face credit?"
Just as the guard was about to shoo her away, he caught sight of Yingwu standing behind the girl.
The guard fell silent for a moment, then without another word: "Fine!"
Shen Hua: ???
She stepped back and looked up solemnly at the shimmering golden plaque under the light.
"Didn’t get the wrong place?"
Shen Zhui: "It’s the Marquis Yangling Mansion."
"Their household seems rather lax about comings and goings."
Shen Hua scrutinized the guard: "You don’t seem the type to neglect your duties."
The guard: ...
Yingwu: ...
Fortunately, Shen Hua looked down and kicked the pebbles on the ground: "Is the Second Young Master Cui at home?"
"To my lady, our Second Young Master is at the Ministry of Justice. But our Madam is present in the residence. Since you’re already here, why not meet her?"
Shen Hua’s pretty eyes blinked.
Why should she meet Cui Yun’s mother?
So much so that Shen Hua had a ridiculous feeling that she could take a stroll in the Imperial Palace and just by showing her face, be able to leave with a basin of flowers in hand.
She had Yingwu hand the food to the guard.
"These are all specialty products from Fengzhou. My brother is acquainted with the Second Young Master Cui. Today, I shall not trouble the Madam. Later, I will properly visit with my brother and sister-in-law."
"Who is it?" A babyish voice sounded.
Cui Rong was quite small and not very graceful in her movements, rushing forward so quickly that it turned her maid’s face pale with fright, fearing that the little princess might fall.
She was short, but she looked down on people with her nose in the air.
She looked up at Shen Hua and spoke unclearly.
"Another one who wants to marry my uncle, coming here to offer kindness."
Cui Rong: "You can drop your little scheme."
She pondered for a long time, and with some struggle managed to blurt out a sentence: "My daddy says my uncle already has someone in his heart."
Shen Hua pursed her lips. Shouldn’t a man like Cui Yun end up lonely?
It turned out that during the year he visited Fengzhou twice and a few months ago, when he wrote to suggest that she come to Shengjing for a visit, he was also not idle on the side, getting cosy with another girl?
She felt a rising sense of irritation.
The girl was tugging at her handkerchief.
At the very least... at the very least, he should have said it wasn’t true!
How very stranger-like of him!
"How would I not know?"
Cui Rong saw her stony face and took note of her poor tone. Suddenly baffled: "He’s not you, should he have specially notified you?"
She pointed at Shen Hua’s face: "Really big."
Shen Hua listened to her finish, expressionless.
"Cui Rong, right."
Cui Rong stretched out her index finger warningly: "Don’t be disrespectful, and call me Commandery Princess."
Shen Hua couldn’t stand her attitude and fiercely pushed her index finger back.
Cui Rong: ???
Her head was patted gently but firmly by the girl.
Shen Hua cursed at her: "Shorty!"
Saying so, she turned her head expressionlessly and quickly descended the steps.
Cui Rong lifted her plump hand to measure the top of her head. Clouds of gloom descended, and she squatted down in sadness.
"I’m not short, I... I’m only three years old this year."
She watched Shen Hua’s furious departure recede and suddenly felt happy again, shaking her head, with the tuft on her head swinging back and forth: "Another girl hurt by my second uncle."
Saying so, she spread out her fingers, thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and counted seriously: "This month, she’s the third one!"
————
The prosperity of Shengjing Street is something little Fengzhou City just can’t match.
This was Shen Hua’s first time traveling far from home.
She was distracted.
Full of eagerness on the way here, but now that she’s here, she doesn’t find the Emperor’s feet, Shengjing, anything special!
On the streets, scholars carrying satchels filled with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, as well as boxes of books were everywhere. Some in groups of three or five conversing in their blue shirts, while others were deeply engrossed in reciting poetry and texts.
Passing by Yifeng Hall, Yingwu couldn’t move another step. The last time she had a chicken leg from Yifeng Hall was two years ago.
Oh, how she suffered!
"I’ve asked around, this is the most famous restaurant in Shengjing," Shen Zhui said with stars twinkling in his eyes.
"If you want to eat, then eat. Brother, you and sister-in-law have both lost weight."
Shen Zhui: "Aren’t you nervous, sister?"
"It’s not me who’s taking the exam."
Shen Hua said irritably: "Do you see brother being anxious?"
If it were not for Nian Xiaosese’s constant worry, Shen Zhi might have taken them to Yunxiang Pavilion to choose the most fashionable dresses a long time ago.
"He’s been waiting for two years; he must be well prepared. No need to be trembling with fear before the exam."
"If he passes, our family ancestors will be glowing with pride, and we’ll have to hold a banquet for a few days when we return. Even if he doesn’t succeed, he is still a renowned young man in Fengzhou City.
Shen Hua calmly pointed out to Shen Zhui: "See that old man with white hair? He’s also here to take the exam. Brother is still young, so what if he waits a few more years?"
Her humble mouth said so, but in her heart, she thought.
What kind of blind examiners wouldn’t appreciate the writing my brother does!
If he doesn’t pass this time, it’s surely because there’s something fishy in the imperial examination! Definitely not because my brother’s studies are inadequate!
It wouldn’t matter if he never took the exam again!
It would be great if brother just went home to take over the family business!
"Eating at Yifeng Hall is extremely expensive, not something that common scholars like us can afford. Other inns aren’t so extortionate!"
Someone came out of the restaurant quite indignantly.
Shen Hua fixated on one word.
Exploitative.
Without hesitation, she walked in.
She wanted to see, who could be more exploitative than her!
