Chapter 160

Chapter 160

The Liu family, with its extensive network of relatives and friends, hosted a grand celebration today. Over thirty tables were set, and the place was bustling with guests.

Wang Ying and Lin Qiu, each cradling a child, found a place to sit. Having been awake since midnight and busy all morning, they were both exhausted and sleepy. Second Baby, being too young, had stayed home with Chen Rong and Li Shi.

Little Yuanbao had cried the entire journey, and now his eyes were swollen like peaches, still whimpering softly.

Wang Ying gently wiped his tears. "Soon we'll see your aunt. From now on, whenever you miss her, you can visit."

"Really?"

"Really. Has your father ever lied to you?"

Little Yuanbao pouted, on the verge of tears again, looking utterly pitiful.

A short while later, Lin Sui arrived with two bowls of egg custard. "I got these from their kitchen staff. Let the children have something to tide them over first."

Little Yuanbao insisted on feeding himself, so Wang Ying placed him on a stool beside her. Wheat, being a bit younger, couldn't reach the table, so Lin Qiu held him while Lin Sui spoon-fed him.

Soon, Cao Kun and the three Chen brothers arrived. "Didn't Mother come?"

Wang Ying replied, "Mother said she had a headache and decided to stay home. Third Aunt is also home, looking after Second Baby. Fourth Aunt did come, but I saw her chatting with an acquaintance earlier."

"Are you hungry? I'll find you something to eat."

Wang Ying and Lin Qiu quickly waved their hands. "The little ones are already eating. We're fine; we can eat later."

Cao Kun mentioned, "We just ran into Marquis Wuping."

Lin Qiu quickly asked, "Did you greet him?"

"Yes, the Marquis was very polite. He said he didn't realize our Second Baby was so young and hoped we wouldn't mind being brought here on such short notice."

Lin Sui, feeding Wheat a spoonful of custard, remarked, "I was wondering why you'd bring such a young child on this trip. Turns out he sent someone to fetch you."

Lin Qiu said, "The escorts were very considerate along the way, and the child is resilient—it wasn't a big deal."

Cao Kun nodded. "That's what I told him. The Marquis said our family must be busy with Qingyun's wedding and suggested we get together in a few days."

Lin Sui's lips curved slightly, feeling a sense of reassurance.

The banquet commenced towards the end of the *si* hour (late morning). The Liu family's feast was renowned as one of the best in the prefectural city, featuring master chefs from top restaurants, and the dishes were, naturally, exquisite. With four cold and eight hot dishes, totaling twelve courses, the balanced mix of meat and vegetables offered more substance than a typical restaurant meal.

As members of the bride's family, Wang Ying and the others were seated at the head table, where the dishes were even more elaborate than at other tables. Everyone was hungry and cast aside formalities, picking up their chopsticks and digging in as soon as the food was served.

During the meal, Liu Changyi came to offer a toast. Chen Qingyan, knowing his low tolerance for alcohol, didn't press him, letting him leave after just one cup.

The wine, brewed from grains, wasn't particularly strong; Wang Ying could drink two cups without getting drunk.

After eating and drinking their fill, Wang Ying and the others took the children to Chen Qingyun's courtyard.

Along the way, Lin Qiu marveled, "This Liu residence is so grand! I thought Sister-in-law's new courtyard was spacious enough, but this place is even bigger!"

Wang Ying said, "This is nothing. The street they live on is truly impressive—properties here are almost impossible to buy. Their courtyard alone could buy ten of ours, with change to spare."

Lin Qiu gasped. "The prefectural city is indeed much more refined than the county."

Passing through a winding corridor, they reached the East Courtyard. It was quite separate from the main residence, with its own entrance. If they ever decided not to live together, a separate gate could easily divide it into two independent households.

It was clear that Mrs. Liu had planned for the long term, understanding that relationships can change over time. Such an arrangement was a prudent precaution.

The East Courtyard was meticulously tidy, with neatly laid stone bricks and several holly bushes trimmed into charming spherical shapes.

Inside, two young women, likely Liu family relatives, were seated. They rose and left when they saw the guests arrive.

Chen Qingyun was eating dumplings. She hadn't eaten all morning and was ravenous, so her eldest aunt's sister-in-law had brought her a bowl.

Seeing Wang Ying and the others, she happily stood up to greet them. "Come in! Have you eaten?"

"We ate before coming."

"Auntie!" Little Yuanbao rushed over and threw himself into her arms.

Qingyun lifted him onto her lap. "Oh, Little Yuanbao, have you been crying? Your eyes are so swollen."

Little Yuanbao shyly buried his face in her embrace.

Wang Ying explained, "He was sad about you getting married and cried the whole way here."

"My dear Little Yuanbao, Auntie's affection for you hasn't been in vain."

Aunt and nephew snuggled cheek-to-cheek for a long while. "Did Mother come?"

"No, she didn't sleep last night and felt a bit dizzy after you left, so she stayed home to rest."

Qingyun sighed. She knew her mother well; she must have been crying alone.

Lin Qiu consoled her, "Don't worry. You'll see her when you return home in a couple of days. Since you're married so close by, you can visit whenever you want."

Lin Sui looked around and said, "Your house is so spacious! This carved canopy bed is even nicer than the one in your dowry."

Qingyun said, "The dowry bed is in the side room. This bed, I hear, was sent from the capital. Come, let me show you around."

The group, with the children, toured the new house. The East Courtyard had nine rooms in total, similar to a two-courtyard residence. There were two main bedrooms on the east and west, a central hall for receiving guests, and in the courtyard, a study, guest rooms, a kitchen, and side rooms for servants.

Currently, only Qingyun and Liu Changyi lived in the courtyard, attended by a kitchen maid and an elderly servant.

Wang Ying advised, "The Liu family has been very considerate towards you. You and Changyi must live well together. Don't bully him."

"Yes, I understand."

It was getting late, and the banquet outside was almost over. The group prepared to leave.

Qingyun grabbed a handful of crispy candies and put them into the children's pockets. "Be good, Little Yuanbao. Auntie will be home the day after tomorrow. No more crying, okay?"

"Mm." Little Yuanbao nodded obediently.

After seeing them off at the gate and watching them disappear into the distance, Chen Qingyun could no longer hold back her tears. She wanted to go home too...

*

With Qingyun's wedding concluded, it was soon time for the provincial exam results to be announced.

In previous years, provincial exam results were typically released in mid-October. The extended delay was due to the vast number of candidates, as grading the exams was an extremely laborious task.

This year, Jizhou Prefecture had eight examiners, plus a chief examiner. On average, each examiner had to grade over ninety papers, a process that alone took more than seven or eight days.

Out of seven hundred exam papers, only the top thirty were selected. The chief examiner ranked them, and after verification, they were sent to the capital. The same process applied to other prefectures.

Across the nation's seventeen provinces (excluding remote regions like the Western Frontier and Southern Yue), it took approximately a month for exam papers from each prefecture to reach the capital. Finally, the Hanlin Academy in the capital selected the top two hundred candidates to become provincial scholars.

The final list was then dispatched to various regions across the country. Those who passed the provincial exams could travel to the capital in March of the following year to take part in the Metropolitan Examination and the Palace Examination.

As a prefecture relatively close to the capital, Jizhou received its results within two months—a notably swift delivery. Other prefectures might have to wait much longer.

On the ninth day of the tenth month, Chen Qingyun was scheduled to return to her natal home for the traditional post-wedding visit. Early that morning, Li Shi rose and began preparing food.

"Yun'er loves smoked chicken. Later, have Er Shun buy one from Luo's Smoked Chicken Shop. If we go too late, it might be sold out."

"Alright," Wang Ying replied. "How about dumplings as the main dish? We still have plenty of the wild boar the Marquis sent last time."

"Sure. Qingyun especially likes cabbage and pork dumplings."

"I wonder what Brother-in-law likes to eat. Let's also prepare a few homestyle dishes."

Li Shi nodded. "Good. You handle it."

Wang Ying went to the experimental plot to pick some scallions and a few tender cucumbers for a cold dish. The vegetables there would mature in about ten days—just in time to sell them as the weather turned cooler.

Around dawn, Chen Qingyun and Liu Changyi arrived by carriage, laden with packages.

As soon as she stepped down, Qingyun eagerly rushed into the courtyard. "Mother! Sister-in-law!"

Hearing her daughter's voice, Li Shi quickly got up and put on her shoes. In her haste, she nearly stumbled, but Chen Rong caught her just in time. "Don't rush—she's back now."

Mother and daughter met with tears in their eyes. Qingyun threw herself into her mother's arms and sobbed, "Mother, I've missed you so much…"

Li Shi gently stroked her head. "I've missed you too. How have you been these past few days?"

Qingyun nodded, wiping her tears. "I've been well."

"Where's Changyi?"

"He's unloading the gifts at the back."

Everyone went out to greet them and saw Liu Changyi and a servant carrying seven or eight boxes, their faces flushed from exertion.

Wang Ying and Lin Qiu quickly moved forward to help. Li Shi exclaimed, "Why did you bring so many things?"

Liu Changyi grinned sheepishly. "I prepared gifts for everyone."

Soon after, Chen Qingyan, Chen Qinghuai, and the third Chen brother arrived and took Liu Changyi to the study to talk.

"I heard emissaries from the capital have arrived in the prefectural city. The provincial exam results should be announced in a day or two."

"Emissaries from the capital?" Chen Qinghuai rubbed his hands together excitedly and stood up.

Liu Changyi nodded. "They arrived last night and sent someone to ask my father to meet them at the courier station."

"Then it really might be soon. I wonder if I'll pass this time."

After over ten years of diligent study, he had finally reached this moment. The anticipation and nervousness were indescribable.

Chen Qingyan suppressed his excitement and asked, "How have things been since the wedding? Have you treated my sister well?"

"I adore her too much to let her suffer even the slightest hardship."

"Qingyun is young and a bit headstrong. Please be patient and yield to her when issues arise."

"Don't worry. My mother is even more headstrong than Qingyun. Have you ever seen my father dare to say a word all these years? It's the same with me—it's a proud tradition in our Liu family."

The Chen brothers couldn't help but laugh. This fellow was proudly admitting he was henpecked.

Inside the main room, Li Shi was also asking Qingyun, "How have you been these past few days? Did they treat you poorly?"

"No, we slept until late morning every day. After waking up, we'd decide what to eat, and then Brother Changyi would take me around to enjoy myself."

Wang Ying couldn't help but smile. "These two are still so childlike." One was eighteen, the other sixteen—in modern terms, they'd be considered teenage sweethearts.

Li Shi asked anxiously, "Don't you go to your mother-in-law's room to pay your respects? Would your in-laws criticize you?"

"My mother-in-law said we're all family and there's no need for formalities. If we want something to eat, we just tell the servants, and she'll cook it for us."

Wang Ying recalled that Madam Liu particularly enjoyed cooking. Previously, Chen Qingyan had even brought back some dishes she had made.

Chen Rong said, "From what you're saying, your mother-in-law sounds very easygoing."

Li Shi still advised her daughter, "Even though your mother-in-law is understanding, you mustn't be disrespectful. Make time to spend with her often. After all, she's not an outsider. Only when you get along well will I feel at ease."

"Alright, I understand."

Before Qingyun could finish speaking, a sudden clattering sound came from outside.

Wang Ying stood up curiously and opened the door. She saw Chen Fang running in, shouting, "The magistrate's messengers are here with good news!"