There is still one month left before the Autumn Examination, and Jinghua Academy has begun intensive preparations. In every examination, Jinghua Academy always takes the top ten places, and sometimes even the top twenty. This year, Qingshan Academy and Nanfeng Academy have recruited many outstanding students from outside the capital, which makes Ren Qishan dare not take it lightly.

A spy reported that the Seventh Prince had gone to Linzhou and that Magistrate Zhang had been arrested and would soon be taken back to Beijing for investigation by the Dali Temple. Ren Qishan was shocked. He had thought that the Seventh Prince had taken Ye Youlan on a sightseeing trip, but he had never imagined that they had actually gone to Linzhou.

Ren Qishan made a gesture of wiping his neck, and the spy understood.

In the imperial study, the emperor asked Li Zong about some preparations for this year's autumn examination. Li Zong answered very clearly and the emperor was very satisfied.

"My dear, you have been an assistant teacher at Jinghua Academy for a while. Do you think Jinghua Academy can still take the top spot in this year's exam?"

Li Zong knew the emperor was testing him, so he answered sincerely, "Jinghua Academy has hope, but Qingshan Nanfeng Academy also has many outstanding students this year, and it's possible that a hundred flowers will bloom."

The emperor was delighted: "What a wonderful display of blooming flowers."

Li Zong left the imperial study with his back straight, feeling very proud. It turned out that being an official was not as difficult as he had imagined. He could not go wrong as long as he spoke in accordance with the emperor's wishes.

After returning to the Ministry of Rites, his subordinates arranged the tasks he had to do, and he basically just reviewed and signed them.

Wangyue Tower held a reading club and invited famous scholars from the capital to give lectures and provide pre-exam guidance to candidates, such as making some guesses about the exam questions in previous years, how to solve and answer questions, etc. The most important thing is that the sharing is free, but there is a limit on the number of places.

The students of Jinghua Academy came here happily by bus, but were turned away because Jinghua Academy only had five places in total. The remaining twenty-five places were allocated to students who came to Beijing in advance to prepare for the exam, including six from Qingshan Academy and six from Nanshan Academy. The rest were given to students who came to Beijing in advance to prepare for the exam.

When Ren Qishan heard the news, he cursed Li Zong for being ungrateful. What embarrassed him the most was that Qingshan Nanfeng Academy actually had one more place than Jinghua Academy. This was done deliberately to embarrass him and Jinghua Academy.

The reading club was very successful and received rave reviews. Li Zong was very proud of it. Even Prime Minister Ye, who had always looked down on him, praised him for this move, saying it would help win over the hearts of the people and better select talents.

The prime minister praised him regardless of past grudges, and the others also gathered around to praise him. By the time Li Zong left the palace, it was dark outside.

The carriage suddenly stopped as it was moving. The driver jumped out and said that the wheel was cracked and needed to be fixed.

Li Zong jumped off the carriage and breathed in the night air, feeling very relaxed. He looked down at himself and suddenly felt a little depressed. Why couldn't he feel better? Otherwise, tonight would have been so wonderful!

A passerby glanced at him sideways. He held his head high, showing his imposing demeanor. Suddenly, someone poured something on him. The fishy smell made him feel nauseous and want to vomit.

The driver beside him was not spared either, it was the smell of rotten soybean paste.

Li Zong wiped his face and saw no one around. He shouted, "City Patrol, where are the people from the City Patrol?" As soon as he finished speaking, he felt nauseous and couldn't help vomiting.

Li Zong kicked the driver's butt: "It's all your fault. The carriage broke down at this time, not earlier or later."

The driver was terrified: "I don't know either. Someone tampered with it in the dark, and I don't know either."

Li Zong took off his coat and threw it aside, then got on the carriage: "Even if you have to take me home, I'll take you home."

The stench of soybean paste spread from outside the mansion to inside. Wherever he passed, the servants in the mansion couldn't help but cover their noses.

Xiao Bao ran over and asked, "Master, what's wrong with you? Did you fall into the toilet?"

"Go away and prepare some bath water for me. Where have you been today?"

Xiao Bao, who was standing in front, covered his nose and said, "I've been waiting for you at the palace gate, but my stomach is upset, so I'll leave for a while. When I come back, I won't be able to see the carriage from the palace."

"Wait, why didn't the driver tell you to leave first?"

Xiao Bao smiled bitterly and said, "Aren't the drivers used to it? I covered for you before, have you forgotten?"

"Shut up, I need to take a shower."

Li Zong took a full hour bath, but the smell was still on his body.

The servants cleaned the courtyard thoroughly. Qin Yurou asked Xiaohong to guard the gate and prevent Li Zong from entering. Because she was pregnant, she couldn't stand the smell of anything strange.

Li Zong was so angry that he went back to his study and fell asleep, but he couldn't fall asleep. He tossed and turned, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

The people next door were cleaning their house just fine, and Ren Yue soon found out what had happened. She hated Li Zong, who had clearly promised to help Jinghua Academy, but she didn't expect that the event organized by the Ministry of Rites would humiliate Jinghua Academy in this way. She couldn't imagine how her father would treat her when he saw her.

She went to the backyard and saw that the dog hole had been sealed. She cursed Li Zong in her heart for being heartless and ungrateful.

The Seventh Prince knew everything that happened in the capital. He calculated that he would spend three to five days in Gyeongju Gokseong and return just in time for the Autumn Examination.

Gyeongju lies southeast of Linju, separated by the Wutong Mountain Range. Each side of the mountain is a world of its own. Gyeongju boasts vast plains and expansive views, with endless fields of soybeans and corn, lush and green, evoking a vibrant summer vibe.

Ye Youlan lifted the curtain and looked out at the greenery. She couldn't help but sigh, "This place is obviously much better than Linzhou."

"Gokseong is south of Gyeongju. This way, we can go around and get back to Yangseong. Then, we can return the same way and catch up with the Autumn Examination."

Ye Youlan lowered the curtain and sighed, "It looks like a sightseeing trip, but the whole journey is full of ups and downs, more exciting than a storybook."

"Are you scared?"

"I'm not afraid. Life is an adventure. I've finally come here, so how can I live a dull life? I want to live the rest of my life with great fanfare. Li Ke, you have to stay with me and not walk ahead of me."

"why?"

"My life would be so bleak without you. I can't bear it, so you must live well."

The Seventh Prince was somewhat moved: "But if you go ahead, I won't be able to survive."

Ye Youlan thought of the ending in the book. She covered the Seventh Prince's mouth and said, "What if, one day, I die before you? Don't be too sad. Live well, no matter how hard it is."

When the Seventh Prince heard her say this, he felt as if needles were stabbing his heart: "What are you doing? You are fine, as if you are making arrangements for your funeral. Don't talk nonsense, and don't slap me."

Ye Youlan slapped her mouth out of habit: "While I was talking, my mouth started to slur again."

The Seventh Prince held Ye Youlan in his arms and said, "We must live well together and turn my fiefdom into a paradise."

Ye Youlan pressed herself against the Seventh Prince's chest and said softly, "Okay."

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