A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

The next morning, Wei Susu came over for breakfast as usual. Nie Qianqian noticed that Jiang Lingyang was not there, so she casually asked, "Why isn't Father here?"

Wei Susu smiled and shook her head: "He seems to have something on his mind these past few days, always leaving early and returning late. He went out early again this morning and didn't even have time for breakfast."

Nie Qianqian nodded: "Perhaps he's busy with affairs in the capital."

Wei Susu said, "By the way, Zheng'an will be returning to the capital in the next few days. He already has business in the capital, and he specifically asked for leave to come here. Besides, your sister-in-law is heavily pregnant and needs someone to take care of her, so he will be returning to the capital in the next few days."

Nie Qianqian nodded, then heard Wei Susu remember something and said softly, "And Mu Xin, she also has to return to the capital in a few days. She was entrusted by the Grand Princess to enroll in the Princess's girls' school. She also asked for leave to come see you this time. Now that things are settled here, she should go back to continue her studies."

Nie Qianqian remained unmoved upon hearing this. She had witnessed Jiang Muxin's actions, and whether Jiang Muxin stayed or left was ultimately irrelevant to her, so she naturally didn't care...

On the other hand, what Jiang Lingyang had been thinking about for days was Gu Xiao.

Ever since Gu Xiao passed the imperial examination with top honors, a strong sense of familiarity welled up in his heart. Even though a thousand voices told him that Gu Xiao could never be that person, that intuition grew stronger and stronger, lingering in his mind day and night.

These past few days, he has been leaving early and returning late, precisely to go to the Education Office of the Prefectural Government to retrieve Gu Xiao's examination papers.

Appearance can be changed, and handwriting may be practiced, but the way one writes, the strength of one's pen strokes, and those ingrained writing habits are the hardest to hide, and sometimes they are more discerning than appearance.

He was the former Crown Prince Jingyang's mentor. From learning to write to composing a complete piece, Jingyang was taught by him. He had already memorized every minute detail of the characters.

As long as he can see Gu Xiao's exam paper, he will be able to discern the truth.

However, the examination papers at the top of the list must be sealed for several days until all the review procedures are completed before they can be unsealed.

These past few days, Jiang Lingyang has been restless, even neglecting to prepare breakfast for Nie Qianqian, only eagerly awaiting the day he can begin reading.

Finally, the day of lifting the lockdown arrived. The Provincial Education Commissioner, Lord Hu, personally led Jiang Lingyang into the examination room, smiling as he said, "Lord Jiang, are you curious about the papers of these three top scholars? Fulin County has produced such a talented student; it truly deserves attention. It's quite a coincidence that I reviewed all of Gu Xiao's papers for the top three examinations. The content was truly astonishing, insightful, and full of quotations from classical texts. Even after decades of scholarship and official service, I am still deeply impressed. Rest assured, Your Excellency, all the provincial examination papers were reviewed and verified by several of us old scholars; there is absolutely no error."

Jiang Lingyang nodded, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and said calmly, "Lord Hu is too kind. I naturally trust all of you. I came here to investigate because I am concerned about the development of talents in Jining Prefecture. If this boy can continue to excel in the imperial examination and enter the court, it will be a good story and a great help to Fulin County."

"Your Excellency is absolutely right!" Lord Hu stroked his beard and laughed. "Heaven has blessed Jining Prefecture. First, we have a brilliant and talented man like you who has been appointed Grand Tutor. Now we have Gu Xiao, a rare triple champion who is one in a century. His future is truly limitless!"

After saying this, Lord Hu ordered someone to bring Gu Xiao's examination paper and personally handed it to Jiang Lingyang. As soon as the seal was broken, the faint scent of ink wafted out.

The neat handwriting leaps off the paper, with even strokes and a rigorous structure, no different from the style of ordinary students pursuing the official script. In fact, it could be said that in pursuit of absolute standard, the handwriting is slightly... deliberately stiff, losing the sharpness that a young person should have.

The flame that had been burning in his heart due to days of speculation seemed to have been doused with a handful of cold water.

Jingyang's calligraphy back then was famous for its "silver hooks and iron strokes, with hidden dragons soaring," exuding grandeur and spirit. How could it be so proper and even somewhat restrained now?

He gave up on this absurd conjecture with a wry smile—he was truly lovesick.

But when his gaze swept across the bottom of the paper, it landed on a "之" character at the turning point of the article.

The final stroke has a barely perceptible pause at the beginning.

Jiang Lingyang's breathing suddenly stopped!

This was a bad habit Jingyang developed when he was young and was learning to write. He tried to correct it many times without success. Later, Jingyang deliberately changed it in other characters, but when writing the character "之", it would still unconsciously show up when he was emotionally excited or focused.

Jiang Lingyang's fingers trembled.

He quickly scanned several key transition words in the text, and sure enough, the unique return stroke habit was hidden at the end of the strokes of words such as "然", "故", and "盖"—seemingly rounded, but actually containing sharp edges, like a dragon lurking in the abyss.

That's Jingyang's handwriting!

The handwriting on this scroll is clearly deliberately concealed and altered.

With Jingyang's intelligence, even if his late emperor were alive today, he probably wouldn't be able to recognize this handwriting.

But he could recognize him because he had watched Jingyang teach him to write stroke by stroke as he grew up.

Jingyang's calligraphy, every dot, every stroke, every line, the hidden strength of the brushstrokes, the subtle habits at the turns, have long been deeply imprinted in his mind, etched into his bones, and can never be erased.

Jiang Lingyang's icy fingertips were covered in cold sweat, and his heart was pounding violently!

"Lord Jiang?" Lord Hu was startled when he saw that Jiang's face had suddenly turned ashen white, and he quickly took two steps forward.

"What...what's wrong? Could it be that this article...is really flawed?"

Jiang Lingyang seemed to hear Lord Hu's voice, but he felt that the voice was coming from a very far place, and it was blurry and unreal.

His mind was already filled with countless fragmented memories, all of his past interactions with Jingyang.

The boy, born into royalty, was exceptionally talented and proud, like a snow-capped mountain peak. He disdained worldly social interactions, yet he showed special favor to his teacher, who had taught him since childhood.

In the dead of winter, he would hunt foxes and have someone sew a fox fur coat for him to wear.

She doesn't know how to use a hand warmer herself, but she always keeps one ready for him.

In the sweltering heat of summer, he would order people to continuously deliver ice, the equivalent of his own daily supply, to the Grand Tutor's residence, just so that the Grand Tutor could have a bit of coolness on summer nights.

Such a wonderful Jingyang, such an amazing disciple, yet he passed away so suddenly back then.

His grief at that time was like that of losing a child; his hair turned mostly white overnight. But he never expected that Jingyang would still be alive!

The late emperor's only bloodline, the former crown prince, is still alive!

Heaven has eyes! He actually found Jingyang in his lifetime!