The first time in history

"No." Qian Mingduo sat down next to the charcoal fire and took the cup of water handed over by Ling'er. "How did you know I wanted to drink water?"

Ling Er smiled shyly, "The kang is too hot, I feel like I'm going to be dried out. I feel very thirsty too."

"Do you miss grandpa?" Qian Mingduo held Ling'er's little hand, "Why did you cry just now?"

Ling'er nodded, "I'm sorry, sir. I won't cry anymore."

Qian Mingduo smiled, "Can I still stop you from missing grandpa? It's just..." Qian Mingduo felt that it was not fair for his grandfather to sell him in order to survive. "It will get better after a while."

"Hmm!" Ling'er lowered her head and wanted to pull her hand back, but she glanced at Qian Mingduo, bit her lower lip, and covered Qian Mingduo's hand with her other hand. "Sir, you won't sell me out again, will you?"

Qian Mingduo looked at Ling'er and said, "What are you thinking about? I just bought you, and the girl made new clothes for you. Why should I sell you?"

"I'm scared!" Ling'er's tears flowed again.

"Silly child," Qian Mingduo held Ling'er in his arms, "Now that you are here, you don't have to be afraid of anything. The girl is a very good person, and your sister Xiaocui is also a good person. And me..." Qian Mingduo kissed Ling'er on the head, "I bought you, how can I not be nice to you?"

Ling'er raised her head and looked at Qian Mingduo with her big watery eyes. She said shyly, "I know you are good to me, and I will serve you for the rest of my life." She lowered her head, bit her lip, and said slowly, "Just like Grandpa said to me, I will do whatever you ask me to do, and I will never dare to go against your wishes."

"Just be obedient." Qian Mingduo stood up. "It's cold outside, go back to bed!"

On the morning of the palace examination, at three o'clock in the morning, Li Shishi, Xiao Cui and Ling'er started preparing for Qian Mingduo.

Xiao Cui was preparing breakfast, while Li Shishi and Ling'er were packing things for Qian Mingduo's exam. They prepared a flat copper kettle at the bottom of the small basket, which contained the only clean coal left by Li Shishi, so that Qian Mingduo could use it to keep warm when he felt cold. She also specially prepared three wolf-hair brushes and asked Ling'er to wipe a Duan inkstone until it was shiny.

Yesterday she went to the bookstore and bought two pieces of the best Hui ink. "What should I do if it's cold and I can't grind it?"

Qian Mingduo then dressed and came out, "Today's palace examination is in the Jiying Hall, which is different from the provincial and metropolitan examinations."

"It's cold inside the hall." Li Shishi took another small copper kettle, opened the lid and looked at it. "You need to wear more clothes and prepare two more copper kettles."

Ling'er took the small copper kettle obediently and wiped it carefully. "Miss, do you think the emperor also has a heated kang in his palace?"

Xiao Cui just came in with a pot of steaming meatballs. When she heard Ling'er's words, she laughed with Qian Mingduo and Li Shishi. "Sister Ling'er, you really think about it. Why would the emperor have a heated kang in the palace?"

"I don't know, and I'm afraid you'll be cold. So...that's why I asked!" Ling'er felt embarrassed by the laughter from several people.

"Is everything ready?" Li Shishi asked Xiao Cui, "Bring it up quickly so that the young master can eat and go to take the exam."

"Yes!" Xiao Cui looked at Qian Mingduo, "I think you will definitely pass this time."