The first time in history

The results will be announced in three days, and today is the second day. It is too cold outside, and neither Qian Mingduo nor Li Shishi want to get up early.

Xiao Cui got up early. She first put a few thick firewood on the kang, and then went to the kitchen of the inn to prepare breakfast for the two masters.

"Miss, Sir." Xiao Cui and Ling'er each held a tray and stood outside the door and whispered, "It's ready. Shall Ling'er and I bring it in for you?"

Qian Mingduo took his hands off Li Shishi's chest and looked at Li Shishi.

"Bring it in." Li Shishi rolled her eyes at Qian Mingduo shyly, "Young Master and I will eat on the kang."

Li Shishi fed Qian Mingduo a piece of pancake and asked, "Why do you want to schedule the palace examination in this cold winter?"

"This year is an extra examination," Qian Mingduo said. "If it is an imperial examination held every three years, the provincial examination usually starts in February of the following year, and the metropolitan examination and palace examination start in March."

"February?" Li Shishi looked outside. "It's still very cold in February! It's snowing again, and it's snowing heavily."

Qian Mingduo sat up and looked out the window. "Let's go down. We're not going anywhere anyway. We can just sit on this warm kang after we finish eating."

After Ling'er cleared the tray away, Xiao Cui brought in two hot towels. Qian Mingduo and Li Shishi both wiped their faces.

"Have you thought about what I told you yesterday?" asked Li Shishi.

"what's up?"

"It's about asking you to take Xiao Cui as your concubine!"

"Why are you bringing this up again? Didn't we agree to wait and see?" Qian Mingduo lay on his side with one hand on Li Shishi's thigh.

Li Shishi held Qian Mingduo's hand and said, "I really don't mean anything else. Don't think too much about it. I just want Xiao Cui to give birth to a child for you next time."

"Let's talk about it in a few days." Qian Mingduo caressed Li Shishi's smooth belly and patted it gently. "If you suddenly... that would be great, wouldn't it?"

Master Li sighed, "I also wish I could give birth to a child for you, but... we have agreed that in a few days... in a month or two, if it still happens... you have to do as I say."

"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you." Qian Mingduo knew that it was normal to have three wives and four concubines in feudal society, but he seemed unable to accept this fact from the bottom of his heart.

It was snowing heavily outside. Qian Mingduo and Li Shishi were in the east room, while Xiaocui and Ling'er were in the west room. The kangs in both rooms were warm.

On the day when the results were announced, Xiao Cui got up before dawn. She put on a new satin cloak that Li Shishi had bought for her, and put on the hood of the cloak, following Li Shishi's example. She went out through the back door and walked to the place where the results were announced.

There was only one soldier standing guard at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall. Xiao Cui waited for a while but saw no movement. She went up to the soldier and asked him. Only then did she learn that the results of the palace examination were announced outside the palace. So Xiao Cui hurried to the palace.

Many people had gathered outside Xuande Gate, just south of the palace. Although the golden notice had been posted on the palace wall, it was covered with a piece of bright yellow silk.

Everyone was waiting anxiously. The yellow cloth would not be removed until 4:45 pm. This was known as the unveiling of the yellow list.

Xiao Cui looked back. Li Shishi had agreed with Xiao Cui last night that she would be the one to check the results today, because it was Xiao Cui who checked the results of the imperial examination, and Qian Mingduo won the first place. So she would be the one to check the results of the palace examination this time.