Chapter 86 What a Delightful Person

Chapter 86: A Truly Wonderful Person

"Auntie, I've come to see Mr. Qi. Xun Geer is my young master. With the autumn provincial exam approaching, I've brought some fresh treats for the teacher on behalf of our young master."

Mrs. Zhang and Nanny Zhang quickly got up to receive her warmly.

Mrs. Zhang had a good memory and recalled that the last time she saw this maidservant, she had been walking behind Miss Xi.

Of course, it wouldn't be proper to say that she had come on behalf of the young lady to visit the teacher.

Amao was pleasantly surprised to see Qing Bi: "Sister Qing Bi, you've come at just the right time. Our young master has been studying especially hard lately. We're all worried he might burn himself out."

Qi Jing heard the voices and stepped out of his study into the courtyard.

He was also delighted to see Qing Bi.

Since Xi Qianyue had asked him to stay at home to study these days, he hadn't been going to the Xi residence.

"Mr. Qi, I've come on behalf of Xun Geer and the young lady to visit you and bring you some bread to sample. My young lady said that one should strike a balance between work and rest. Pushing too hard will only make it harder to maintain a calm mind and good form. Oh, and she also said that if you feel nervous, you can take a mock examination."

Qi Jing asked curiously: "What is a 'mock examination'?"

"The young lady said that if you go into the exam hall unprepared, you might feel uncertain and nervous. So you can replicate the real exam environment with your fellow students at the academy. Whether it's the seating, the examination papers, or the timing, everything should strictly mimic the real exam."

Qing Bi spoke in a clear, crisp manner, and everyone found her words convincing.

Qi Jing clapped his hands in admiration: "Miss Xi is truly brilliant. Please thank your young lady on my behalf."

Qing Bi smiled: "Besides the mock examination, you should also get enough sleep, so that you can perform at your best."

After sharing all her advice, Qing Bi took her leave.

Mrs. Zhang murmured: "This Miss Xi is truly a wonderful person. A sheltered young lady, yet she knows so much."

Amao opened the oil-paper package and exclaimed in surprise: "Mother, Madam Zhang, come look. This is the bread from Miss Xi's shop—the new pastries. They're so expensive! I asked around; one costs fifty to sixty copper coins!"

Nanny Zhang was startled: "Oh my, such a luxury!"

Mrs. Zhang was equally surprised. She had learned about Miss Xi's shop later on. It turned out that the shop where she loved to buy red bean rice dumplings belonged to her.

Back then, she'd thought the red bean rice dumplings were pricey, but they tasted so good she loved them. Whenever her son had a bit of money, he'd buy them for her.

Now she realized that the red bean rice dumplings were actually quite cheap compared to these expensive breads!

"Look at these exquisite breads—this one has red bean paste, this one has peanuts, what flavor is this? It seems to have egg yolk? And this..."

A good number of breads had been sent over; even after giving two to each person, there were still some left.

Nanny Zhang suggested: "Madam, should we send two to the clan head? We've been fortunate to have his care."

Mrs. Zhang was not a stingy person. She picked out four and had Amao deliver them.

The rest were shared among everyone.

Amao and Nanny Zhang insisted on not eating—each bite cost several copper coins, and just thinking about it made them wince.

Qi Jing took his own portion and feigned displeasure: "Nanny, Amao, you are my family too. Why all this fuss? No matter how precious this food is, it's meant to be eaten."

Mrs. Zhang also encouraged them, taking a bite of the red bean paste bread herself.

"So delicious! No wonder it's so pricey—even better than the red bean rice dumplings..."

The family eventually shared the bread, and Amao and Nanny Zhang ate with their eyes crinkling with delight.

Qi Jing sighed inwardly. A wonderful person like Miss Xi had ended up divorced and back at home... That man surnamed Yang was not only worthless but also blind.

In the afternoon, Qi Jing took Amao to the academy and shared Xi Qianyue's suggestion with the teacher.

The teacher was also surprised: "That's a good idea! If we hold a 'mock examination' once, everyone will have confidence and won't be nervous."

The teacher took the suggestion seriously and immediately brought it up with the headmaster.

So, for the next three days, the academy held a mock examination every day.

Until all the students got used to it and no longer felt nervous!

On the fourth day, when it was time to go to the real examination hall, Qi Jing and his fellow students appeared relatively relaxed, unlike many others who were anxious.

Yang Xingxian also took the exam. He had spent a whopping three thousand taels of silver to buy the examination questions.

As soon as the examination paper was in his hands, Yang Xingxian was thrilled—he had bought the right ones! The questions he purchased were real!

Although not every question matched, quite a few were ones he'd practiced before.

Moreover, the person had guaranteed that the most important part—the third session's policy essay—would definitely match. The first two sessions mainly tested textbook knowledge, but the third session's policy essay was the most crucial.

Therefore, after obtaining the questions, Yang Xingxian wrote several essays, paying special attention to the policy essay question. He combined several essays and had multiple teachers critique them.

After that, he memorized the essays that had been polished by several teachers.

This way, after the examination, the teachers would only think he was impressive for having predicted the questions!

Yang Xingxian could almost see the glorious imperial decree announcing his succession to the title—he would become the Marquis of Changping.

Reining in his excitement, he looked at the students around him. Most of them were frowning, unlike him, who was so at ease!

Over the next few days, Yang Xingxian was in his element. The third session's policy essay indeed matched the question.

He wrote out the essay he had memorized long ago, feeling that there was no better deal than these three thousand taels of silver.

During the waiting period after the examination, Qi Jing continued to tutor Xun Geer as usual.

"How did the examination go? Were you nervous this time?" Xi Qianyue asked with a smile.

"Thanks to your guidance, my fellow students and I were able to adjust our mindset and weren't nervous. I think I did well on the examination. The policy essay was a bit challenging, but nothing I couldn't handle."

Later, his fellow students at the academy all thanked him profusely. Thanks to his brilliant suggestion of three mock examinations, they felt no nervousness when entering the examination hall.

After the examination, he also breathed a sigh of relief.

In that dream, he had failed the provincial examination. But this time, he felt confident he had passed, because it wasn't that difficult.

That dream must have been all false!

Soon, the results were posted in September. What no one expected was that Yang Xingxian was the top scholar (Jieyuan)!

And Qi Jing came in second.

The Yang household was overjoyed—even the Marquis was in such good spirits that he ate an extra bowl of rice.

After encouraging his son, he also had his usually sedentary boy placed in a wheelchair and took a leisurely stroll around the garden.

He was unaware that Yang Xingxian had ultimately bought the exam questions.

Lady Wu and Yang Xingxian shared an unspoken understanding and never brought it up.

Bai Zhining was also overjoyed, thinking that just like in her previous life, as long as Yang Xingxian passed the provincial exam, he would surely gain the emperor's special favor.

Xi Jiaojiao was even more delighted, boasting smugly, "Lv Zhi, your mistress here's got sharp eyes, doesn't she? Lucky me, I got the benefit—but my dear elder sister, she's just got no luck."