The daily life of a peasant girl taking the imperial examination

After the clan school selection ended, Zhuge Yun Chu and Zhuge Yun Jin were taken to the capital by people sent by their second grandfather, Zhuge Feng Nian.

For this reason, Zhuge Yunshu's life returned to its former tranquility.

Every day, besides answering questions for my cousins, I also complete necessary learning tasks within the "Serving the Country and the People" system.

Of course, she didn't neglect her public duties either.

For example, medical skills and martial arts.

Now, she has passed Grandpa Sun's initial assessment and completed the most basic medical knowledge theory.

I am currently learning human anatomy diagrams from him.

This is what is known as the acupuncture technique.

I have to say, sticking pins in people's mouths is quite stress-relieving.

If Grandpa Sun knew about her idea, he would definitely call her a "little pervert".

As for martial arts, it is worth mentioning that Aunt Wu's eldest son, Sun Da, is not only proficient in fist and footwork, but also quite accomplished in swordsmanship and horsemanship.

This was exactly what Zhuge Yunshu wanted.

In this way, the source of the "Number One Divine Sword Technique in the World" that she learned within the "Serving the Country and the People" system was found.

However, it's time to put her riding skills within the system on the agenda.

After all, these are all elective courses once you go to the county school.

Since we'll have to learn it sooner or later, why not finish it early? That way, we can at least impress our classmates.

And so, the days passed one by one.

Although Zhuge Yunshu was very busy, thanks to the system, which acted as a time cheat, she was able to handle things relatively well.

Originally, Zhuge Yunshu believed that she would study alone at home until the day she went to the county school to register.

But to her surprise, on the tenth day of the eighth month, before the morning mist had dissipated, Zhuge Yunshu was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard when she suddenly saw a blue-feathered carrier pigeon fluttering down onto the window frame in front of her.

She strode forward, took the plain paper from the bamboo tube on the carrier pigeon's leg, and unfolded it. Zhuge Yunshu saw the familiar, vigorous handwriting of Master Wang appear before her eyes:

"Today, at 1:15 AM, a meeting will be held in the town's academy study."

That is, 9:45 AM.

Zhuge Yunshu looked up at the sky, then quickly returned to his room, washed up briefly, and then hurried towards the town school along the wet bluestone path.

She wasn't the only one who came; Wang Yi and Zhang Hao were also there.

When Zhuge Yunshu arrived at the town school in Yunshui Town, he happened to see Zhang Hao leaning against the door frame, panting heavily, with the books he was holding scattered all over the ground.

Wang Yi, who is usually quite fastidious about cleanliness, also had mud spots all over her plain-colored skirt.

Seeing this, Zhuge Yunshu chuckled and teased, "Senior Brother Zhang, you're in such a hurry; you must have been having so much fun lately that you've forgotten all about home!"

Even so, I still helped pick up the books scattered on the ground.

The collection of commentaries on the Analects and the outline of the Four Books clearly shows a last-minute attempt to cram for knowledge, a panicked look of fear of being punished by Master Wang.

However, no sooner had she finished speaking than the sound of a teacup tapping lightly came from the study.

"Are they still outside, waiting for their master to come and invite them?"

The three exchanged a glance before pushing open the door and entering.

At this moment, Master Wang was seen standing in front of the carved screen, stroking the sandalwood paperweight inscribed with "Investigation of Things to Attain Knowledge".

Sunlight slanted across his neatly combed hair, reflecting a cold gleam onto the bronze incense burner on his desk.

"In a few days, students from the Xiaoshan County School will be coming to our Linxi County for a study tour. Their real purpose is to exchange skills with the students of Linxi County, thereby gaining recognition..."

It is said that most of the students who came this time were scholars under the age of sixteen, with the youngest being only about twelve years old…

He paused here, then, as if remembering something, continued:

"The Xiaoshan County School has sent a total of twelve students this time."

Master Wang turned around and opened a scroll of vermilion names on his desk. "Among these twelve students, there is a twelve-year-old named Ji Mingyuan, who last year at the Xiaoshan County Classics and Literature Conference left three old scholars speechless..."

This week, Wenchang has achieved even greater success, writing "A Comprehensive Explanation of the Xia Laws" at the age of fourteen. It is said that even the Emperor himself praised it highly…

Zhuge Yunshu's gaze swept over the annotations on the roster, and he noticed that several names had the following notes:

He was a mathematical prodigy, an outstanding poet and writer, and also well-versed in etiquette and law, with imperial annotations. In fact, a large red circle was drawn around his mathematical genius.

It's obvious that the recent study tour of students from Xiaoshan County School to Linxi County School is not a simple matter.

Even Wang Yi and Zhang Hao remained silent as they stared at the comments on the vermilion register.

Master Wang glanced at his three disciples and spoke again:

"They will stay in Linxi County for three days."

Then, the fingertip pointed to a line of small print: "Every day from Chenshi (7-9 AM) to Shenshi (3-5 PM), a competition will be held in the Mingde Hall of the county school...debating classics, competing in arithmetic, impromptu poetry, and analyzing laws and regulations, with the four subjects taking turns."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Yi suddenly tapped the table lightly:

"In previous years, the study tours were always held at the prefectural academy. Why is it in Xiaoshan Prefecture this time...?"

Her fingers traced the pages of books on the desk. "Why did they have to come to our Linxi County School this year?"

The more Wang Yi thought about it, the more her brows furrowed.

"Good question, that's exactly the key point."

As he spoke, Master Wang took out three gold-embossed challenge letters from the wooden box. "It's funny, I've heard that the magistrate of Xiaoshan County and the magistrate of Linxi County have differing political views..."

It's always the gods fighting above, while the little devils below suffer.

What deep-seated hatred could there be between two county magistrates who have no connection whatsoever?

Following Wang Fuzi's words, Zhuge Yunshu guessed that it must be that their respective backers had a conflict in the court, and their underlings wanted to help their superiors vent their anger, so they found another underling who was easy to bully.

And so, the Linxi County School was honorably selected.

The purpose is self-evident: to humiliate the other side by using a trivial matter like a competition between the two county schools.

Thinking of this, Zhuge Yunshu's heart stirred slightly.

She couldn't help but recall the temporary task suddenly released by the system last night: "Make friends through literature and slap at least ten students in the face." At first, she thought it was just a friendly exchange task with Wang Yi, Zhang Hao, and the other senior students in the town. Only now did she realize the undercurrents in this task.

At this moment, Wang Yi, with a cold face, unfolded one of the gold-embossed challenge letters and said in a low voice, "It seems that this time, these senior brothers from the county school are going to suffer a lot."

It should be noted that the county school in Linxi County is notorious for its students having difficulty with mathematics.

Hearing her words, Master Wang slammed the paperweight down on the desk with a loud thud, causing the book to slip half an inch.

"This year, apart from the three of you and the five students from the towns of Yunmu and Yuntu, all the students from the Linxi County school who participated in the academy examination lost because of mathematics..."