Chapter 217: The Provincial Examination

Chapter 217: The Special Provincial-Level Examination

Emperor Zhaoxin's frenzy lasted for over a month. During this period, he practically turned the capital region upside down, digging three feet into the ground in search of a "queen" whose remains had already been discovered. Families and officials who had been overlooked during his initial ascension were now being re-examined. The execution platform at the market square was never empty, and a bloody storm hung over the skies of Great Yu.

Many finally realized that the humility and gentleness Emperor Zhaoxin had displayed while still in his princely residence were merely a facade. At his core, he was a cold-blooded ruler, no different from the Yuanhua Emperor. But now that the situation was settled, regret was as futile as a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Tianjin Prefecture was searched repeatedly, with waves of officials from both the local and central governments sent to find the traces Emperor Zhaoxin desired. If it weren't for Du Yunse being the highest-ranking official in Tianjin and Qiu Huanian holding a prominent position, Mei Wangshu's whereabouts would have been nearly impossible to hide.

For over a month, both sides cautiously yet desperately vied against each other. This grand search finally ended when Emperor Zhaoxin temporarily halted his efforts.

It was said that Azure Phoenix Lord risked entering the palace to directly counsel Emperor Zhaoxin, who had been residing in the ruins of the Jinshen Hall since the incident, refusing to leave. The content of their conversation remained unknown, but after that day, Emperor Zhaoxin finally returned to normal in handling state affairs, and the blood on the execution platform at the market square finally ceased.

Phoenix Roost did not visit Tianjin to see Qiu Huanian. He was aware of the relationship between Mei Wangshu and Qiu Huanian and was the only one who could guess part of the truth behind the feigned death. However, he did not disclose the crucial details to Emperor Zhaoxin. In this matter, Qiu Huanian owed him an immeasurable favor.

Phoenix Roost simply had someone retrieve a few jars of wine they had brewed at the estate and sent a letter to Qiu Huanian, informing him that he would be taking his consort on a journey to explore the mountains and rivers, seeking immortality and spiritual enlightenment.

After the death of the Grand Empress Dowager, Azure Phoenix Lord had spent nearly a decade wandering far from worldly strife, rarely returning to the capital even once a year.

He was originally a majestic eagle soaring freely between the heavens and the earth. For the sake of his family and past events, he willingly rolled in the ashes of the mortal realm, enduring the filth and burns without a word of complaint. Now that everything had settled, he was ready to shake off his wings and fly away without a hint of attachment.

Phoenix Roost took on the task of finding Mei Wangshu for Emperor Zhaoxin, and he openly wrote about it in his letter to Qiu Huanian, stating, "When fate brings us together, we gather; when fate parts us, we part. Heaven has its own designs, so why force it?"

Qiu Huanian understood the metaphor in Phoenix Roost's words. He was telling Qiu Huanian that he would not deliberately search for Mei Wangshu, leaving everything to natural development. If fate allowed, they would meet again; if not, so be it.

Qiu Huanian set down Azure Phoenix Lord's letter and let out a long sigh of relief. His heart, which had been anxious for over a month, finally calmed.

Today, the gatekeeper also received several letters from Xiangping Prefecture. Qiu Huanian picked them up and couldn't help but smile.

"Xing Mi, call the person who delivered these letters. I have some questions to ask."

Xing Mi acknowledged and quickly brought the messenger from Xiangping Prefecture, a merchant who traveled between the north and south trading goods. The merchant had anticipated that the county lord would want to speak with him after delivering the letters, so he had stayed near the prefectural residence. When summoned, he immediately entered.

The merchant was led through a side gate to the third hall, not daring to look up the entire way, keeping his eyes on the beautiful brick patterns on the path. Upon entering the room with the brazier, he became even more cautious, removing his fox-fur-lined melon cap and bowing behind a light screen embroidered with the four gentlemen—plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum.

"Merchant Wei Quan from Xiangping Prefecture, Liaozhou, pays his respects to the county lord. May the county lord enjoy good health and constant joy."

Hearing the familiar local accent, Qiu Huanian smiled. "I've read the letters. You're from Xiangping Prefecture. Tell me more in detail."

"This year, with the new emperor's ascension, a special provincial-level examination was held. The first session was on August 9th, and the three sessions concluded on the 18th. The results were announced on September 10th. Our Yun Cheng made the list, ranking 17th, and is now a provincial graduate!"

"Yun Cheng, at only eighteen years old, has become the youngest provincial graduate in this year's Liaozhou examination. People say he lives up to being the younger cousin of the literary star, Du Yunse, and has not tarnished his elder brother's reputation."

"Before I left, I heard that the Du family village had become the most sought-after in the entire prefecture. Countless families want to marry into the Du family to gain some literary luck and have sons who can become high officials!"

During this year's special provincial-level examination, Emperor Zhaoxin was at his most frenzied. Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse were overwhelmed and on edge every day, so much so that they didn't even have the energy to properly celebrate Qiu Huanian's birthday, let alone pay attention to Yun Cheng's provincial examination thousands of miles away.

Fortunately, Yun Cheng had always been mature for his age, with a steady personality unaffected by external influences. Du Yunse's unreserved guidance had opened his eyes to the path of scholarly pursuits. Through diligent study, his knowledge advanced by leaps and bounds, and he successfully passed the provincial examination.

Although this achievement couldn't compare to Du Yunse's six consecutive top honors, passing the provincial examination on the first attempt was still impressive, especially given the leniency in grading and quotas for the special examination. An eighteen-year-old provincial graduate was undoubtedly a prodigy.

Yun Cheng was one of the first people Qiu Huanian met after arriving in this world and one of the first to show him kindness. The two families had lived together for a considerable time before moving apart, but their bond never broke. Seeing Yun Cheng pass the provincial examination filled Qiu Huanian with joy and pride, as if watching a young sapling grow into a sturdy tree.

As for the many families wanting to marry into the Du family, Qiu Huanian wasn't worried. Bao Yi's letter, which came with the others, had already addressed this matter.

Under the leadership of Bao Ren and Meng Fuyue, the Du family was thriving. With Bao Yi, a local official of considerable rank, stationed nearby, and the wise and upright Yun Cheng providing guidance, Qiu Huanian had no fear of chaos breaking out in the village.

In addition to the letters from Bao Yi and Yun Cheng, there was also a letter from Liao Cang, the teacher at the Du family village school. Liao Cang had also participated in the special examination, achieving a high rank. His years of accumulated knowledge paid off, earning him third place in the classics category, and he had high hopes of passing the metropolitan exam and Palace Examination in the coming spring.

To thank Liao Cang for his years of dedicated teaching, Bao Ren and others decided to allocate twenty taels of silver from the estate's income as a token of gratitude.

Liao Cang will head to the capital for the imperial examination next year, and the clan school will need to hire a new teacher.

For Qiu Huanian, the Du Village Clan School is not only a necessity for the clan's development but also a very important educational experiment. The selection of the clan school teacher must be handled carefully, and Qiu Huanian plans to have a good talk with Du Yunse about it later.

In his letter, Liao Cang also mentioned that their former classmate from Qingfeng Academy, Yu Min of the Yu clan, whose family property had been confiscated, also passed the provincial-level examination, ranking eleventh in the Liaozhou provincial examination.

After years of ups and downs and many setbacks, Yu Min has finally made progress, no longer just a noble scholar who knew nothing of the world and only loved romantic poetry. Given the current state of the Yu clan, the truly difficult path still lies ahead for him.

Liao Cang only casually mentioned Yu Min in his letter, and after reading it, Qiu Huanian did not take it to heart and casually set it aside.

Last month, news came from the capital that the marriage between Min Leyi and Wu Shen had been verbally agreed upon by both families. They should have immediately requested the Emperor to bestow the marriage, but because the "Empress" was missing and Emperor Zhaoxin's mood was unpredictable, it was delayed, and it is estimated that the marriage will not take place until next year.

The love and hate between Min Leyi and Yu Min have faded into the mists of the past, and looking back, it is no longer clear. Everyone has their own path to follow.

Qiu Huanian came back to his senses and asked Wei Quan on the other side of the screen, "How was Brother Ling's health when you left?"

Yun Cheng and Meng Yuanling grew up together and married early. At that time, they were young and did not dare to make a fuss, and only this year did they start their real married life.

Now that they've reached this age, they're naturally inseparable, deeply in love. In less than a year, Meng Yuanling had good news, which was also mentioned in the letter.

Wei Quan knew the county magistrate would surely ask about this and hurriedly smiled, "As soon as the list of successful candidates was posted, Yun Cheng and Meng Yuanling were eager to send letters to the county magistrate and Master Du to report the good news. They entrusted me, and I set off the next day. At that time, Meng Yuanling had just found out he was pregnant, and the doctor said it was a little over a month. Meng Yuanling's complexion and appetite were excellent every day, and his health was fine."

Qiu Huanian remembered how Meng Yuanling ate like a little squirrel, always eager for more, and couldn't help but smile.

He estimated that if Yun Cheng went to the capital for the imperial examination next year, Meng Yuanling would be more than six months pregnant, which would be an inconvenient time to travel. If Meng Yuanling stayed in Xiangping Prefecture, Yun Cheng might not be able to study and take the exam with peace of mind.

Rather than that, it would be better for the young couple to come to the capital now. The weather is not too cold at this time, and Meng Yuanling is not yet showing, so it wouldn't be particularly uncomfortable.

Qiu Huanian thought of the scene when he first met Meng Yuanling and still found it somewhat unbelievable. That enthusiastic and lovely tofu shop young lad with two dimples when he smiled has also reached the age of becoming a father.

"How time flies."