After hearing my inner thoughts, the ancestors in the Dream of the Red Chamber went berserk.

Jia Daishan:

"How to say?"

Jia Zheng stood up and solemnly said:

"Father, I no longer want to use the family's quota for Imperial Academy students. I want to take the provincial examination next year and earn my degree through my own abilities."

It turns out that Jia Zheng had been a student for a long time and originally wanted to continue taking the exam, but Grandmother Jia said that there were people in the family who could be admitted to the Imperial Academy.

Yinsheng was a son of an official who entered prison through the official positions of his father and grandfather.

You don't need to take the county-level exam to become a scholar; even if you become a provincial-level scholar, you can still be appointed to an official position.

Such students were looked down upon by most scholars, and even if they were appointed to official positions, they would only be insignificant, low-ranking officials.

However, this was a privilege reserved for the children of officials, especially since their fathers usually held high positions and they weren't worried about not being promoted in the future.

Jia Zheng originally felt that he could not disobey his mother, but he always complained that because of his mother, he had talent but could not enter the court through the imperial examination. He believed that if he took the exam, he would definitely be able to do so based on his talent.

This period of time has made him see many things clearly. He realized that he had been too arrogant in the past, but he still wanted to prove himself and give it a try.

Jia Daishan was quite surprised when he heard this. He had seen many years ago that his second son was only good at studying. When his wife suggested that his second son become a student of the Imperial Academy, he agreed. After all, his eldest son was not good at studying and would inherit the title in the future, so it would be appropriate for his second son to become a student of the Imperial Academy.

Why did the second son suddenly decide to take the exam himself? He asked:

"Are you sure you want to go?"

“My son is sincere,” Jia Zheng said.

Jia Daishan then asked, "If you don't regret it later, do you know what will happen if you fail the exam...?"

Jia Zheng gritted his teeth and made a decision:

"My son will never regret it."

Jia She:

"Second brother, I understand that you want to prove yourself. But you don't need to participate. There are plenty of students in the capital who can be promoted. No one will say anything. And with your father around, you don't need to worry about not being able to advance in the future."

Jia Daishan also said:

"Your older brother is right, you don't need to worry about the future..."

Jia Zheng smiled:

“I understand what Father and my elder brother are saying. It’s just that I used to think I was very talented, but I’ve heard Hu’er say several times that I will rely on my ancestors or even my children in the future. I don’t want that. I just want to take the exam based on my own abilities.”

Jia Daishan pondered for a moment and said:

Even if people laugh at you later, you're still willing.

Jia Daishan was also curious about how much his second son could change.

Jia Zheng nodded:

“My son is willing. If he fails the exam once, he will keep taking it until he passes.”

A surge of unprecedented impulse rose within Jia Zheng; he wanted to see if he was truly capable.

Jia Daishan looked at his second son, who was finally showing some enthusiasm, and smiled:

"Alright then, take the exam. Start with the academy exam based on your own ability."

After thinking for a moment, Jia Daishan said again:

"Even if you prepare yourself mentally and pass the exam, and even if you become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), as long as I am in court, you are destined not to have a high position."

Jia Zheng also frowned slightly and said:

"Same as Brother He Jing?"

Jia Daishan said:

"It's the same but not quite the same. Your elder brother Jing has already become a Jinshi and has been selected for the Hanlin Academy. It was your uncle who made an excuse to ask for leave and didn't go."

Because Jing'er will inherit the title in the future, and after inheriting the title, he will have an official position. Right now, our Jia family has too much power in the court. Only after your eldest uncle and I retire will your eldest brother Jing have a chance to be promoted and given important responsibilities.

This also applies to you, except you won't inherit the title. If you actually pass the exam, the Emperor will likely appoint you to an official position, but he won't promote you.

Jia Zheng thought of his elder brother Jing, who had always been at home, and said:

“My son understands. Even if he can’t become an official in the future, he still wants to go.”

Jia Daishan smiled and said:

"It's not impossible. As long as you have the ability, you will rise to the top in the future."

Jia She frowned, pondering the matter, utterly bewildered by the ways of officialdom. He found it all too daunting.

"Why are you still worried about this? Second brother, you haven't taken the exam yet. Don't say that your elder brother doesn't have confidence in you. Your elder brother is very supportive of you. It's just that after passing the county-level exam, there's the imperial exam, which takes year after year. Who knows when you'll actually pass it?"

Jia Zheng glared at his elder brother inwardly, thinking that his brother was already saying discouraging things before he had even taken the exam.

Jia Daishan laughed heartily and said, "We are just worrying ourselves unnecessarily. Although your elder brother's words are not very pleasant, they are the truth. The provincial examination is next August, and the metropolitan examination is held every three years. It will be held in March the year after next. If we don't pass, we will have to wait another three years. There is still a long way to go."

Jia Zheng blushed; he had taken things for granted. The imperial examination was not that simple.

Jia Daishan:

“Since you want to study hard, I will ask your sister-in-law’s father to find you a tutor, and I will ask him to guide you when I have time.”

Jia Zheng was very happy.

"Thank you dad!"

My sister-in-law's father is the Crown Prince's tutor, and he has many students. If I could get his guidance, I would definitely benefit a lot.

With the tutor the Grand Tutor had found for him, he was even more confident of passing the exam.

Jia She:

"Second brother, why are you only thanking Father? What about your eldest brother, me?"

Jia Zheng didn't want to pay attention to his eldest brother, who was starting to act out of line again.

Jia Daishan glanced at Jia She.

"Thank you, okay. Then go tell your in-laws to find a tutor for your brother and have him give him some guidance."

Jia She immediately waved his hand and said, "Father, I was just joking. Of course, it's Father who should go."

Jia She thought to himself that even if he had a few more lives, he wouldn't dare to go to his father-in-law; he would rather avoid him than go to him.

Jia Daishan was not surprised at all by his son's behavior. His son was fearless except for his in-laws, and had really been useless all these years.

With his wish fulfilled, Jia Zheng returned to his courtyard still overjoyed. Upon seeing him, Wang asked curiously, "Master, what joyous occasion has this?"

Jia Zheng smiled and said:

"Father has agreed to let me participate in the imperial examination."

Wang didn't understand and said, "My husband is already a student of the Imperial Academy, and he will be appointed as an official soon. Why do you have to take the exam yourself?"

Jia Zheng's smile faded slightly; his wife had never understood him.

He glanced at his wife's pregnant belly and offered an explanation.

Although Wang couldn't understand why he was doing this, she could see her husband's displeasure, so she obediently said:

"With your talent, sir, you will surely pass the imperial examination."

Jia Zheng was then pleased and personally helped Wang Shi sit down, saying:

"Father, go and ask my uncle by marriage to find me a tutor. I also plan to find time for him to guide me. He is the Crown Prince's tutor."

Upon hearing this, Wang gripped her clothes tightly and said:

"That would be great."

Wang felt some resentment. Her father was a Grand Commandant and a County Earl, in charge of military and political affairs, while she had never been to school and had only learned to read and write after marrying into the Jia family from her sister-in-law.

Her husband happens to be a scholar, and she often feels that she doesn't understand romance.

Despite having a family background that makes her inferior to others, she still always feels inferior.