Chapter 103 Siblings

Chapter 103 Siblings

The carriage stopped in front of the house, and Fan Yelin got out, heading straight inside. His father, Fan Minghui, was still at the government office, so he walked to the back and saw many women gathered at the second gate. Upon closer look, he recognized his mother leading the group. He hurried forward and said, "Mother, aunties, why are you all here? I would naturally come to greet you after finishing my exams. There's no need for such a grand welcome."

Li Rong beamed with joy, holding Fan Yelin's hand and smiling warmly. "This is your big day. Why shouldn't Mother come to greet you? Not just us, but even your wife is here. Everyone hopes you do well."

Fan Yelin glanced behind Li Rong and saw Chen Shi being supported by a young maid, standing two steps behind Li Rong, surrounded by several younger girls from the family. They looked at him with gentle, joyful expressions.

"Let's go inside and talk more. It's chilly outside," Fan Yelin suggested with a smile, his youthful face radiating vibrant energy. He lowered his head to address everyone kindly.

"Alright, let's go inside first. You've taken three exams in a row; look at you, you've lost weight," Li Rong said, her concern evident in her words.

Everyone entered the main room and took their seats. The women, whether sincerely or not, asked about Fan Yelin's health, the conditions in the examination hall, and how he performed in the spring exams.

"The examination hall wasn't great. Each cubicle is narrow, with grooves on the east and west walls. There are two wooden boards: one for writing when placed in the upper groove as a desk, and one for sitting when placed in the lower groove as a bench. When combined, they can serve as a bed. However, the cubicles are very cramped. A man of average height cannot stretch out fully and must curl up to rest," Fan Yelin explained calmly, though he had indeed endured some hardship.

Although the Fan family wasn't wealthy, Fan Yelin and the other young ladies and gentlemen each had a maid or servant, along with a nursemaid. They were pampered.

In the examination hall, there were no soft blankets, only felt mats that hurt their bones. Sleep was uncomfortable, and the cubicles were arranged in rows with narrow alleys between them, allowing sounds but not sights to pass through. Even the slightest movement made the wooden boards creak.

At home, the family members were careful and quiet when he slept. In the examination hall, however, there was no such luxury. Some candidates coughed, spat, sighed, talked in their sleep, and even ground their teeth, making it difficult for Fan Yelin to get proper rest. He woke up feeling sore and dizzy, with no energy.

Each exam lasted three days, with no chance to wash, and the smell of sweaty men was overwhelming, causing nausea. Lack of sleep and the stench were both torturous for someone like Fan Yelin, an official's son.

Fortunately, Li Rong had prepared well, providing a refreshing medicine. Initially, Fan Yelin tried to endure the smell, but eventually, he dripped some medicine onto a handkerchief and covered his nose and mouth to block the odor.

"I'm lucky my cubicle was in the middle. If it had been near the latrine, it would have been unbearable. Last year, a talented candidate who ranked first in the provincial exam ended up failing because he was assigned to a stinky cubicle," Fan Yelin remarked gratefully.

Yu Shi smiled and said, "The examination environment is indeed tough... Big Brother must have done well this time. We're looking forward to hearing good news."

How could Li Rong be so fortunate, having given birth to a daughter who became a Zhaoyi and gained the Emperor's favor, giving birth to the Crown Prince? One day, if the Crown Prince ascends the throne, Li Rong would become the Emperor's maternal grandmother!

And then there's the eldest son, who gave up a prestigious position at the Imperial Academy to take the imperial exams. Does he think positions are guaranteed? The Imperial Academy has only a few students, while the imperial exams have many. May the heavens bless him and let him fail, so he'll be humiliated!

Yu Shi cursed silently, but she didn't truly believe Fan Yelin would fail. Even if he did poorly, he was the brother of the favored Zhaoyi, ensuring future success. And their fortunes would rise with his.

"It was a challenging exam, and I did my best. The final ranking depends on the examiners' appreciation. My own assessment isn't reliable," Fan Yelin replied, maintaining a gentle and scholarly demeanor, his handsome face exuding warmth. The young ladies present couldn't help but admire him, thinking, "I wish I could marry someone like him, elegant and knowledgeable..."

Meanwhile, candidates across the country awaited their results. At the palace, Fan Xueyao knew the spring exams had concluded and eagerly awaited Chu Nan's return from court to ask him.

"Your Majesty, have the final rankings been announced?" As soon as Chu Nan stepped off the imperial carriage, Fan Xueyao approached him eagerly.

Chu Nan smiled at her, saying nothing, and walked inside.

Fan Xueyao followed, pouting and asking softly, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, have the rankings been announced? Please tell me."

A palace maid served tea and retreated. Chu Nan sat down, sipped the tea, and smiled, his movements deliberate and graceful. However, Fan Xueyao was too anxious to appreciate his beauty. Seeing him remain silent, she grew impatient.

"Your Majesty..." she called softly.

Chu Nan's smile widened, but he continued sipping his tea.

Fan Xueyao stepped closer, leaning against him. Seeing no reaction, she moved even closer, almost touching him. Chu Nan remained composed, sitting like a statue.

"Your Majesty..." her voice even softer, she wrapped her arm around his, noticing his slight smile. She pressed herself against him, her chest brushing against his arm.

"What is it?"

Chu Nan finally put down the tea cup, looking at her innocently.

Fan Xueyao blushed deeply, her ears red, and glanced at the maidservants standing nearby. They kept their heads bowed, pretending to be statues. But they weren't real statues; they could hear everything.

She whispered, "The spring exam rankings..."

Trying to withdraw her arm and move away slightly, she asked again.

"Oh, you mean that." Chu Nan feigned realization, pulling her closer. "Your brother did well, showing true talent."

"What rank did he get?" Fan Xueyao asked anxiously, hugging his arm again.

Chu Nan savored the moment before saying, "From my perspective, your brother's essays were excellent, placing him among the top ten. The final result depends on the palace exam."

"He did that well? He's improved since I left home. It seems he hasn't slacked off," Fan Xueyao said happily, knowing Chu Nan's praise was genuine.

"At least he's studied hard and hasn't embarrassed me in front of Your Majesty," she thought.

Fan Yelin is promising, and Chu Nan was pleased.

To support Fan Xueyao, he needed to elevate her family, especially her brother, who was the right age to be impressive without raising suspicion. However, Fan Yelin needed real talent to avoid future trouble.

"The palace exam will be held soon, and he'll receive his appointment shortly after. He'll leave for his post in a few years. If you miss him, meet him now while he's still in the capital," Chu Nan reminded her gently.

Fan Xueyao was surprised. "So soon?"

"After the palace exam, I'll call him to see him. It's been over two years since we last met. I miss him," she said, recalling their close relationship at home.

They used to greet elders together, eat together, and exchange poems. She even made special embroidery for him. Their bond was strong, and she missed him dearly.

A few days later, the palace exam was held. Fan Xueyao didn't know what it entailed, but she soon learned the result. Her brother, Fan Yelin, ranked first in the second class, becoming a Jinshi graduate.

No cheating, no favoritism. This was his genuine achievement.

This was somewhat unexpected for Fan Xueyao. She had guessed that her brother would place in the second rank, but she never expected him to be first in the second rank. Being first in the second rank essentially meant he was fourth overall in the imperial examinations.

Such an achievement would be considered excellent even among many powerful and wealthy families. These families could afford to hire the best Confucian scholars to tutor their children, provide them with the finest writing materials, and give them access to the most comprehensive books. As long as they were not overly indulged and lacked ambition, their education would naturally be more solid than those from ordinary families.

Fan Xueyao was delighted. Her brother's success indicated that he was intelligent and had taken their advice to heart, diligently studying all this time. After the palace examination and the banquet held in the palace, Fan Xueyao summoned Fan Yelin for a meeting.

Fan Yelin was already twenty-three years old, an age when one should be establishing a career and family, both in the present era and in the twenty-first century. He wore a dark blue robe embroidered with sea creatures and auspicious beasts, a black undercoat, a gold crown inlaid with jade, a jade belt, and black boots. His eyes, similar to Fan Xueyao's, curved into crescents when he saw her.

His appearance had not changed much over the past two years; he looked only slightly more mature. Although there was still a hint of youthful vigor, he exuded confidence and elegance, standing tall and straight, making the palace maids who served nearby feel their hearts flutter.

Though they were siblings, propriety dictated that they maintain certain formalities. Unlike meetings with Li Rong or their mother, this meeting took place in the main hall with many palace maids present. With so many people around, formalities could not be neglected. Fan Yelin formally paid his respects before looking up at Fan Xueyao, greeting her warmly yet respectfully.

Fan Xueyao scrutinized Fan Yelin, her gaze lingering on a half-worn sachet tied to his jade belt. It was something she had made before her marriage. Her eyes welled up with tears as she said, "It's been two years since we last met, and you've grown even more."

"Zhaoyi has also grown. When we were at home, you were just a little girl, barely reaching my chest, like a tender bud. Now, you are the esteemed Zhaoyi lady in the palace, so noble and dignified that I almost don't recognize you..." Fan Yelin's eyes also turned red.

He had a deep affection for his sister, whom he had grown up with. In some ways, he relied on Fan Xueyao more than their parents. They lived under the same roof day and night, and it was only after they were separated that he truly felt the bond between siblings. Whenever he had troubles, Fan Xueyao would always notice and listen to him, offering comfort and advice. She supported him in every aspect of life and helped him with his studies without overwhelming him.

In their leisure time, they would recite poetry and paint together. When he was bored with his studies, they would play chess, board games, or kick ball. Even crickets were a source of entertainment. Because of her, he could focus on his studies and achieve success.

As a child, he resented his father's favoritism towards his younger brother and the strictness he faced, which made him dislike studying. It was thanks to Fan Xueyao that he did not become idle and unlearned.

For two years, he had not seen her, only hearing bits and pieces from their mother. He worried about her frailty and the jealousy of other concubines in the palace, fearing that she might lose favor due to her innocence.

These concerns drove him to study hard and succeed, earning a prestigious position to bring honor to his sister. Hearing her words, Fan Xueyao's eyes welled up with tears, but her smile was full of joy and warmth. She spoke softly, teasingly, "Even if I am a Zhaoyi, am I not still your sister? Why wouldn't you recognize me?"

Initially, seeing Fan Xueyao, Fan Yelin felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

Their last meeting was two years ago, when Fan Xueyao was still a fourteen-year-old girl, blossoming but not fully grown.

Now?

To make Fan Yelin realize the difference in their current status, she dressed herself in grand attire, adorned with a high, elegant hairstyle, gold hairpins embedded with pearls and jade, and a red silk robe with intricate embroidery. Her attire was opulent and regal, making her seem like a celestial being.

Despite this, Fan Xueyao did not flaunt her new status, still addressing herself as "I," which warmed Fan Yelin's heart. The initial sense of strangeness and respect gave way to a profound feeling of closeness.

"I do recognize you, how could I not? You are both the Zhaoyi and my sister. It's just that you've grown so much, and your aura is so noble that I almost didn't recognize you. Hearing your familiar words, I see that I was overthinking things."

Fan Yelin felt ashamed. How could he have thought her strange? Even if she became the Empress, she would still be his beloved sister.

Hearing this, Fan Xueyao smiled radiantly, her beautiful eyes playfully glaring at Fan Yelin. "Brother, you're indeed overthinking! Mother was more composed during her first visit to the palace."

Feeling embarrassed, Fan Yelin shifted the conversation to family matters. "My sister-in-law is due soon, and my brother will be leaving for his new post shortly. What are their plans?"

Fan Yelin had already discussed this with his father, Fan Minghui, and knew that he would likely be posted outside the capital. He replied calmly, "We've discussed it at home. Given that my sister-in-law will be giving birth around the time of my departure, it would be detrimental to her and the baby's health for them to travel. So, we've decided to let her stay at home until after the baby is born and well enough to join us later."

Fan Xueyao nodded, agreeing with their decision. Traveling with a newborn would be too risky. She asked, "What about my nephew? Will he go with your sister-in-law or stay at home?"

Fan Yelin hesitated, "Well..."

Seeing his hesitation, Fan Xueyao asked, "Have you not decided yet?"

"Not yet," Fan Yelin nodded, his brows furrowed with uncertainty. "I think it would be best for the baby to come with us. This assignment could last three years or more, and separating a newborn from its parents for so long seems cruel. This is Sishi's first child, and she has been longing for it for years, so she values it greatly."

Fan Xueyao nodded, "Indeed, a long-awaited child must be cherished."

"My mother worries that traveling with a newborn could be dangerous. If anything happens, it would be disastrous..." Fan Yelin agreed with his mother's concerns.

Fan Xueyao understood. A newborn needed careful care, and the journey could be perilous. She asked, "And what does your sister-in-law think?"

Fan Yelin replied, "She doesn't want to be separated from the baby, but she's also concerned about the baby's health. Leaving for several years means missing out on crucial bonding time."