The beloved baby has a space

Chapter 593 The Examination for the Imperial Examination

Grandma Wang wasn't really interested in the imperial title, but since it was something Ayu had earned, she was overjoyed.

Old Mrs. Wang asked Ayu in detail why she had been granted an imperial title. Ayu replied, "The Emperor said that I had appeased his mother and cured his wife, so he was willing to reward me."

"You saved her?" Old Mrs. Wang frowned. She had previously warned Ayu not to use that divine water in the palace casually.

The palace was a complex place, unlike the Wang family she had personally trained, and even less so than the people of Hu Family Village. It was full of people who prioritized profit above all else.

If one's intelligence is merely discovered, they are considered a peerless genius, and those people wouldn't find it particularly surprising.

But if it's something that extraordinary people can possess, then it's hard to say.

Ayu is only eleven years old. Grandma Wang plans to teach her how to conduct herself in society and how to read people's hearts in two more years.

As for now, it would be good enough if she could live happily and freely.

"I didn't save him." Ayu didn't know that her grandmother's mind was already racing with a thousand thoughts. She honestly replied, "It was the divine doctor grandfather who saved him. He's staying in the palace now, along with Sister Liang Xue. They're saying they want to discuss opening a medical clinic."

Ayu told Grandma Wang everything that had happened in the past two days, and Grandma Wang seemed to be deep in thought.

After finishing speaking, before Old Mrs. Wang could ask any further questions, Ayu quietly yawned.

She hadn't rested well these past two days, and last night she even took Qin Huai for a light-footed ride to coax him, which exhausted her.

"Good child, are you tired? Drink some ginseng soup first. Don't stay up too late, or you won't grow tall."

Grandma Wang coaxed Ayu, then asked Old Wang to bring her some soup. After watching Ayu finish drinking it, she took the empty bowl and left.

After Ayu finished her drink, Old Mrs. Wang gave Qin Huai another serving.

It was too late for Qin Huai to rest anywhere else. Fortunately, the courtyard was big enough that a room could be arranged for him without feeling cramped.

Qin Huai held the warm ginseng soup, drank it all in one gulp, and sincerely thanked him.

"We're family, no need for thanks." Old Mrs. Wang casually took the bowl and handed it to Old Wang next to her. She glanced at Qin Huai, but seeing his tense and expectant expression, she didn't say anything. Instead, she turned around and left the house.

From the doorway came Grandma Wang's gentle voice: "Get some rest. The exam is in a couple of days, so don't let Ayu down."

In a few days, it will be the provincial examination for successful candidates. Only those who pass the provincial examination will be qualified to participate in the imperial examination for successful candidates.

People would usually take the provincial examination for the title of Juren in their hometown prefecture, and after passing the examination, they would travel to Wanning City to take the imperial examination for the title of Jinshi.

The time for the Jinshi examination would be announced separately each time, but it would never be later than three months after the Juren examination.

Wang Chuangui was already a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination). He was required to take the current affairs examination, but he was forced into the examination hall for the Juren examination. He would only be able to take the Jinshi examination after the Juren examination was over.

Ayu now understands all these intricacies and knows that passing the provincial examination, then the metropolitan examination, and finally the first-class examination, is the mark of a truly outstanding person.

But she still believed that Qin Huai would definitely become the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Qin Huai respectfully replied, "Grandma, don't worry."

Upon hearing his address, Old Mrs. Wang's lips twitched slightly, but there was no real smile, and she ultimately left.

Well, he's all saved, so I'll just have to accept him as a grandson-in-law.

Let's see how he treats Ayu these past few years. If he does anything wrong, she has plenty of ways to deal with him.

Grandma Wang led Old Wang back into the house, where Old Wang was still holding an empty bowl with longing eyes.

"Is there anything else?" Old Mrs. Wang asked.

Old Wang: "Um, didn't you save me a portion of the ginseng soup?"

That's a rare treat from my wife; the ginseng soup she cooks herself is secondary—it's just that it's so special.

The last time he drank it was when his leg ailment flared up, and he was in so much pain that he was barely breathing. His wife found a ginseng root somewhere and brewed a large pot of it for him.

After finishing the drink, his leg pain subsided, but he still felt bloated.

"Your big son did it to me," Old Mrs. Wang said coldly. "There's no ginseng soup, but there's plenty of plain water. Go get some yourself."

Old Wang: "?"

He stormed into Wang Chuangui's room and nudged Wang Chuangui, who was putting down his book and preparing to take a quick shower and go to bed. Wang Chuangui: "? Dad, what's wrong?"

"Did you drink my ginseng soup?! You bastard Wang Chuangui, that was specially made for me by your mother. I let you in to stay, and you just overturned my pot?!"

Wang Chuangui was completely bewildered: "...What ginseng soup? Didn't Mother ruin it and tell me not to waste it?" Besides, it was terribly bitter, otherwise how could he still be awake?

"Bullshit! Your mother is a great cook, how could she have ruined it? You heartless idiot, give me back my ginseng soup!"

Wang Chuangui: "..."

He wanted to touch his father's head to see if he had a fever.

Or, you could find a shaman to see if you're possessed by a ghost.

Otherwise, why would he think that his father is now like a three-year-old child?
Only little Zhu'er in the family would be so unreasonable.

Old Wang was indignant at not getting any ginseng soup. He wandered around Wang Chuangui's room for a while, finally settling on a soft mat inlaid with fur. He rolled it up in no time and took it away.

"Young man, do your best on the exam," Old Wang said through gritted teeth.

Wang Chuangui was dumbfounded. It was something his grandmother had bought for him at the market yesterday, saying it was for the imperial examinations and would keep him warm.

That was the only thing we could bring into the exam room besides food and clothes!

"...I should go back and ask my older brother when I have time. I suspect I'm not his biological son." Wang Chuangui thought to himself as he lay in bed.

He had long suspected that, given his mother's and father's personalities, how could they possibly have had so many children?

There must be some people who were adopted, like him.

When the imperial edicts bestowing titles were delivered to Sansi Street and the prefectural city, the imperial examinations for successful candidates in the provincial examinations officially began.

Qin Huai and Wang Chuangui entered the examination hall for a six-day exam, during which they could only move around in a small space.

Before the exam, many people broke down in tears. Occasionally, someone would be found to have cheat sheets, and their name would be recorded before they were escorted away.

From then on, three generations of his family would be cut off from scientific research.

Some people were so nervous that they were trembling all over and shouted that they didn't want to take the exam.

Wang Chuangui and Qin Huai, however, remained the most composed.

Seeing their composure, onlookers eagerly inquired, "Brother, young man, why are you so calm? Is there some secret to it?"

The man asked in a low voice, "Do you... know something?"

For example, knowing the contents of the exam paper in advance.

Wang Chuangui said, "Oh, just take the test a few more times, and you'll be fine."

Qin Huai: "That's true."

The two who were retaking the exam stood together, naturally calm.

A bystander said, "...I'm also retaking the exam. This is my seventh time, but I'm still nervous, and even more nervous than before."

Fortunately, his family is quite wealthy, so even if he retakes the exam seven more times, they can still afford it.

"Then do your best." When it was Wang Chuangui's turn, he turned around and patted the man on the shoulder, saying earnestly, "That's life. If you fail, you can try again. Everything will get better."

Just as the man felt encouraged, someone else said to him, "Are you stupid? Why are you asking him? He's the one who passed the third-class Jinshi exam but didn't want it, and was determined to pass the second-class exam! He wasn't taking the Juren exam, he was writing a policy essay, and the questions were even written by the emperor specifically for him."

"..."

"And this young man over there, do you know how old he was when he took the last exam? It's said he was only nine. But at nine years old, he already wrote an article that made the Grand Secretary exclaim in admiration. It's said that his exam paper was lost last time, otherwise he would have been a Juren or Jinshi by now!"

"..."

"Hey, why did you faint?"

(End of this chapter)