Chapter 120: Palace Examination Results Announcement

Chapter 120: Palace Examination Results Announcement

The large mansion, covering nearly five acres, took Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse over an hour to fully explore.

The mansion, including the central courtyard, is divided into nine major areas, with over a dozen doors connecting the different sections. Each door leads to a different place, and someone unfamiliar with the layout could easily get lost.

Qiu Huanian was very fond of this large mansion and had already begun planning the uses for each courtyard.

The only downside was that with such a large mansion, the handful of servants they currently had were far from sufficient. Just sweeping the floors would be a never-ending task.

Moreover, with such a big mansion, having too few people would make it feel empty, cold, and devoid of human presence, like something out of a horror movie.

The two returned to the main hall in the second courtyard. Qiu Huanian sat on a black lacquered official chair with intertwined floral patterns, stretched lazily, and said to Du Yunse, "It seems we'll need to hire more people to fill up this mansion."

"Jiu Jiu is already eleven, and Chun Sheng is eight. The children are growing up. Let them each pick a small courtyard to live in, and each courtyard will need a few people."

"Also, for the front courtyard, the back courtyard... well, we'll need at least a dozen more."

The official broker, seizing the opportunity, smiled and said, "Actually, the nobleman close to His Highness the Crown Prince has already instructed us. We've prepared a batch of diligent, clean, and well-behaved people, just waiting for the master and Township Lord to need them."

Sixteen was really too thoughtful, Qiu Huanian thought with a mix of helplessness and warmth.

Qiu Huanian was about to say that they would pick a time to see the people, but Du Yunse spoke up first, "Bai Quan and Xing Mi, go to the official broker, select suitable people to bring back, and take some funds to purchase the items we're lacking. Once everything is ready, we'll move in."

Qiu Huanian was momentarily stunned, then realized that Du Yunse was trying to develop Bai Quan and Xing Mi's skills.

Bai Quan and Xing Mi were both very intelligent. They had gained some experience under their previous masters, and after following Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian, they had been encouraged by Qiu Huanian to read more and guided by Du Yunse, making considerable progress.

Assigning them the tasks of selecting people from the official broker and buying the necessary items to tidy up the mansion was indeed a good idea. It would give them the opportunity to develop their abilities and also make things easier for them.

Qiu Huanian smiled and said, "Then let Bai Quan and Xing Mi handle it. First, determine what needs to be purchased, prepare a list, and then come to me for the money."

Bai Quan and Xing Mi were both very pleased. Their previous masters had held higher-ranking positions than their current ones, but they were well aware of the potential of their current master.

In less than half a year since they arrived, their master had moved from Xiangping Prefecture to the capital and acquired such a grand mansion. In a little over a month, after the Palace Examination, if the master passed and became a jinshi (imperial examination scholar), it would be even more impressive.

They had the advantage of arriving first and were being entrusted with significant tasks by the master, which was truly the best outcome.

Qiu Huanian wanted to continue exploring the mansion, but Bai Quan and Xing Mi first followed the official broker out to handle their tasks.

After passing through the hall and reaching the front courtyard, Xing Mi elbowed Bai Quan, "Hey, aren't you worried that new people might replace us?"

Bai Quan glanced at him and said nothing.

Xing Mi persisted, "The master and Township Lord have entrusted us with this task together. If you ignore me, I might go and complain."

Bai Quan had no choice but to speak, "The Township Lord likes you; he won't replace you."

Xing Mi was satisfied and said gleefully, "Since you're being nice, if the master ever decides he doesn't want you, I can put in a good word for you. The master only listens to the Township Lord."

...

Bai Quan was steady, and Xing Mi was clever. The two worked efficiently and, within three or four days, had selected the people and tidied up the two main courtyards.

The other courtyards could wait; they would be cleaned up once the entire family moved in.

Coincidentally, the lease for the house near the examination grounds was about to expire, so Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse decided to move directly.

They informed Wang Yinzhi and Deng Die about this, leaving the couple momentarily stunned.

Having been in the capital for almost a month, they naturally knew what the Nanxun District was and how expensive the houses there were.

Deng Die covered her chest and said, "Truly, she is Lady Qishu."

Qiu Huanian smiled and said, "It's close to the imperial city and the place is spacious. It’d be a shame not to live there. You should come with us."

Wang Yinzhi and Deng Die couldn't refuse and were persuaded by Qiu Huanian to join them.

A few days later, when they returned to the house, Bai Quan and Xing Mi had already replenished the missing furniture and arranged all kinds of daily necessities, bringing a lively atmosphere to the main courtyard.

There were sixteen new servants in total, hailing from four families. Considering the need for work, their ages ranged from teens to forties, with six men, six women, and four boys.

Some lived in the row houses in the backyard, while others lived in the rear-facing houses in the front yard.

For convenience, everyone was accustomed to calling the first courtyard the front yard and the second main courtyard the inner courtyard.

Deng Die and Wang Yinzhi stayed in the east wing of the front yard, while Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse, as the heads of the household, naturally stayed in the master bedroom in the inner courtyard.

The master bedroom in the inner courtyard had a heated wall, and instead of a traditional heated bed (kang), there was a beautifully crafted six-poster canopy bed.

The canopy bed is a classic style of Chinese classical furniture, with vertical posts supporting the upper canopy and surrounded by foot-high openwork carved railings, with a front panel that opens like a door.

The canopy bed in the master bedroom where Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse stayed was made of huanghuali wood, with the door panel designed in a semi-circular shape, carved with openwork patterns of cranes and auspicious clouds on both sides.

The bed was about one and a half meters wide, with two layers of bed mats, the lower one made of palm rope and the upper one made of rattan skin, firm yet slightly springy. Qiu Huanian pressed it with both hands and nodded in satisfaction.

The advantage of a kang is that it is warm in winter and cool in summer, but the disadvantage is that it is too hard, even with thick padding, it can still be uncomfortable. The elasticity of this canopy bed's mat was just right.

The bedding, pillows, and silk curtains on the bed were all newly purchased. Among the new servants, there was an uncle who was an excellent cook. After Qiu Huanian inquired, he was tasked with selecting two people to run the kitchen.

Bai Quan set off a string of firecrackers at the main gate, and Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse together paid their respects to the Kitchen God and the Earth God. Everyone sat at several tables and had a housewarming feast, officially settling in.

At this time, the imperial examination had ended, and the results of the imperial examination had not yet been announced. Thousands of candidates who had taken the examination gathered in the capital, inevitably socializing with each other.

Du Yunse had some friends in the capital. As the top scholar from Liaozhou and a disciple of the great scholar Wen Huiyang, many sought his acquaintance, and he was busy every day with different invitations.

Qiu Huanian was also not idle. As spring approached and the weather warmed, it was time to plan the cultivation of the capital's land.

Qiu Huanian planned to set up the sixty-acre estate far from the capital as their "base camp," producing meat, oil, fruits, and vegetables for their family, planting profitable crops, setting up workshops to produce goods, and building a house for occasional outings and vacations.

As for the thirty acres of land near the imperial estate by the city gate, Qiu Huanian planned to designate them as "experimental fields," utilizing the manpower and resources of the imperial estate to conduct various uncertain trials and experiments.

When Qiu Huanian went to the land near the imperial estate again, officials from the Ministry of Revenue at the imperial estate came to see him.

It turned out that the Yuanhua Emperor had ordered the people on the imperial estate to ask Qiu Huanian about the sugar beet that could produce sugar. They inquired and learned that Qiu Huanian would accompany Du Yunse to the capital for the examination in early spring, and they were worried they might miss him, so they decided to wait for him in the capital.

After all, this large piece of land belonged to Lady Qishu, so they were not afraid he wouldn't come.

The last time Qiu Huanian had just arrived, he was "whisked away" by the Crown Prince. This time, the official from the Ministry of Revenue in charge of the imperial estate finally got the opportunity.

This official's surname was Tian, with the given name Ji. He had only passed the provincial examination, but because he was skilled in agriculture and there happened to be a vacancy, he was recruited into the Ministry of Revenue as a low-ranking official, not even at the ninth grade, assigned to manage the planting affairs of the imperial estate outside the capital.

Although he was a low-ranking official, being an official in the capital and doing what he was good at, Tian Ji was already very satisfied.

After a few exchanges, Qiu Huanian found that Tian Ji indeed understood agriculture and was not the type of official who would issue random orders.

"Lady Qishu, in your memorial to the Emperor, you said that sugar beets, if well cultivated, could produce sugar like sugarcane. Is this true?"

Qiu Huanian smiled and said, "Of course it's true. I wouldn't dare deceive the Emperor."

Tian Ji was taken aback and quickly shook his head. "I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that I never thought sugar beets could be grown to this level. If that’s the case, couldn’t other grains and vegetables be as well?"

Qiu Huanian showed an expression of approval. "Master Tian got it exactly right. Indeed, it is so."

"You should know the concept of quality seeds. The seeds from high-producing crops are more likely to sprout, and this principle applies to all plants. As long as the right method is found, not only can they be cultivated for higher yields, but the environment can also bring out different traits. After several generations of stable cultivation, we can develop new seed varieties."

Some of Qiu Huanian’s wording was a bit unusual, but in context, Tian Ji could understand the meaning. He just figured it was Qiu Huanian’s usual way of speaking and didn’t pay much attention.

—Who’d dare nitpick the words of a Township Lord in the emperor’s good graces?

Moreover, it was the content of Qiu Huanian’s words that really stunned Tian Ji.

Of course, he knew where quality seeds came from; the imperial estate’s main job was breeding quality seeds. But he had never thought more deeply about it, never considered using these methods to cultivate more things.

Bigger wheat heads, sweeter fruit, longer corn cobs… Tian Ji’s heart raced, and he suddenly felt he could try anything.

Qiu Huanian was glad to see Tian Ji’s enthusiasm.

After all, in his past life, he wasn’t exactly an agricultural scientist, nor did he have some kind of magical advantage. He could only give a rough idea of many things. To succeed, he must rely on the wisdom of the ancients and find more capable people to work together.

The more people, the easier the work—that’s always true.

Tian Ji heard Qiu Huanian say that sugar beets had been grown for two cycles in Liaozhou, yielding sweeter beet roots, and couldn’t wait to ask for details.

Qiu Huanian simply told Tian Ji about Wei Mai, explaining that the cultivation of sugar beets was mainly handled by Wei Liuhua’s brother, Wei Mai, and that Tian Ji could just ask him directly.

Tian Ji immediately planned to report to his superiors, asking them to consider inviting Wei Mai to the capital. If this succeeded, Wei Mai’s family would hit the jackpot.

Qiu Huanian did not see the Crown Prince or sixteen this time, but the imperial estate sent folks to help him map out the land. Qiu Huanian selected two and a half acres to build a house, finalized the general style, paid the money, and just stepped back and let them handle it. The imperial estate’s manpower was there to be used, after all.

Tenant farmers weren’t a problem either; these thirty acres originally had tenant farmers, and they were simply transferred from the imperial estate.

Qiu Huanian also left one and a half acres for the tenant farmers to build houses. They’d already secured over twenty tenant farmers, and a manor was immediately established, taking less than a day from start to finish.

After returning, Qiu Huanian sighed to Du Yunse, "I’m used to doing things myself, but I’m starting to love the feeling of just using my brain and mouth, and things get done."

What to do? If this continues, his reputation as a workaholic might not be safe.

Du Yunse pinched Qiu Huanian’s slightly thin chin. "What will Brother Hua do tomorrow?"

"Not decided yet. There are several things to do. The main house on the large estate is built, so I need to inspect it and plan what crops to plant this year. I’ll also teach the tenant farmers how to graft and nurture fruit trees. What to plant on the small estate next to the imperial estate needs to be coordinated with Tian Ji. The shop in the West Market can’t open yet, but the decoration can be started early. Opening Qiu’s Six Staples in the capital means researching supply channels for raw materials…"

"Uh…"

Qiu Huanian blinked. Okay, he thought too much just now. He is still that unique little workaholic.

"I’ll help Brother Hua think about what to do tomorrow."

"Hmm?"

"The apricot blossoms in Cun Jin Yuan have bloomed, the new staircase is ready, and Bai Quan bought some excellent apricot wine. Brother Hua can stay home tomorrow and have a few drinks with me."

Du Yunse kissed Qiu Huanian’s brow. The noble gentleman smiled at the corner of his mouth, looking down at his little husband, his long eyelashes fluttering on his jade-like face.

With such a beauty’s invitation, Qiu Huanian immediately "foolishly" postponed a long list of tasks and happily gave himself a holiday.

He often gets so caught up in work that he loses track of everything, but thanks to Du Yunse often pulling him back, reminding him to balance work and rest.

The study building in the Cun Jin Courtyard is oriented to the west, with an intricate design. When the large window on the second floor is opened, a branch of apricot blossoms eagerly peeks inside, filling the room with a faint apricot fragrance.

Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian sit opposite each other on a small couch, with a small square table between them, on which are placed clear wine and several plates of snacks.

Du Yunse lifts his hand to pour a cup of wine for Qiu Huanian. The wine set was a gift Guan Liu received from settling a debt, with a small and delicate pea-green ice-cracked wine cup, perfect for handling.

Qiu Huanian plucks an apricot blossom and lets it float on the wine, adding a touch of pale pink to the sea of green.

After two or three years of recuperation, Qiu Huanian's health has greatly improved, and a few small drinks are harmless to his body. After the Palace Examination, he plans to return to his hometown and seek Old Physician Gu to prescribe a new formula.

As noon approaches, the warm sun melts away the chill of early spring, and the apricot blossoms unfurl their pink-white petals in the sunlight.

Qiu Huanian, not a heavy drinker, feels slightly tipsy after a few cups. He rests his arm on the window sill, his head on his arm, enjoying the fragrant breeze, and softly laughs.

Du Yunse rises to drape a cloak over him, etching the beautiful scene deeply into his heart.

...

By late February, the apricot blossoms are in full splendor, and the day of the examination results announcement is near.

The chief examiner submits the top ten examination papers to the emperor, and the Yuanhua Emperor personally determines the rankings from first to tenth.

On the official announcement day, which falls on the first of March, the weather is clear and pleasant, with all flowers in bloom, and most people in the capital have switched to lighter clothing.

Eager not to miss the excitement, Qiu Huanian insists on dragging Du Yunse to the scene to see the results. Du Yunse has to arrange for a group of people to follow and protect Qiu Huanian from being jostled. Deng Die and Wang Yinzhi, however, prefer to see the results on their own.

Just at the hour of Chen, the entrance to the examination hall is already crowded with people everywhere coming to see the apricot blossom list. Qiu Huanian and his companions struggle to squeeze in and have to spend a hefty sum to book a private room in a teahouse opposite the examination hall.

The Ministry of War dispatches guards to the entrance of the examination hall to prevent the list from being leaked early. Officials from the Ministry of Rites complete the list and post it page by page, stamping the Ministry of Rites seal on the date and seams.

By the hour of Si, the large bell at the examination hall entrance suddenly tolls ten times in a row, and the people from the Ministry of War and the officials from the Ministry of Rites orderly disperse. A minor official proclaims loudly, "The grand list of the capital examination for the twenty-third year of Yuanhua is now revealed—"

As his voice falls, amidst the resonant bell sounds, countless people push towards the location where the list is posted.

Qiu Huanian laments the absence of telescopes in this era and quickly sends Bai Quan to go down and take a look.

"Start from the front; don’t bother with the back."

Bai Quan replies, "Township Lord, don’t worry, our master’s name is definitely at the top!"