After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was thinking about the imperial examination and my mind wandered."

Xue Xu lied, which is rare for him. What a sin!

But he couldn't very well say that he had his eye on a ten-year-old scholar, could he? Wouldn't that scare the child?!

Because I felt a little uneasy, I didn't hear what the others were saying clearly, and just nodded reflexively.

Then someone said, "Since Brother Xue has no objections, let's settle on this. It'll be better if we all stay together and can look out for each other!"

"Huh? W-what together?"

"It's what we were just discussing. Since several families are going to the capital for the imperial examination, it's better to travel together so that more people can help each other out. Brother Xue, didn't you just agree to that?"

Jiang Xiaoqi deliberately ignored Xue Xu's confused look and said decisively that the other party had already agreed to the proposal.

"Yes, yes, it's good to be together. The journey won't be lonely, and we can exchange knowledge. We won't waste the one or two months on the road!"

Dong Jin genuinely wanted to interact with those who ranked higher. What if he crammed for the next six months and worked hard enough? Maybe he'd just get lucky and pass the provincial exam by sheer luck!

He was waiting to be carried by the "academic superstars" around him! So how could he miss this living, breathing fifth-place candidate in the provincial examination?

With the fourth and fifth place winners in the provincial examination, and even the top scholar, all by his side, what was he worried about? With three people supporting one, he could surely carry this nobody to victory, right?

Xue Xu nodded helplessly; things had come to this point, and there was no way to refuse any longer. After agreeing on the departure date, everyone dispersed.

Xue Xu returned to his room and suddenly laughed out loud. It was good that they were going to the capital together. This would give him more opportunities to get to know Young Master Jiang. Once they were more familiar with each other, he could subtly bring up the marriage proposal.

Furthermore, he selfishly thought that with only a coachman and a page by his side, and the journey to the capital being long, he might encounter some danger or accident on the way. Having someone skilled in martial arts by his side would make him feel more at ease.

During their stay at the Jiang residence, everyone was busy. Jiang Xiaoqi had already prepared all the materials for the imperial examination, including a collection of past examination questions.

After calculating, he realized that there were five candidates in his family who needed these materials, so he prepared five copies of the past exam papers. Since he had photocopying equipment, he didn't need to copy them by hand anymore; it was much faster.

When Landlord Jiang learned that his beloved grandson had brought home another scholar who had passed the provincial examination, and who had even ranked fifth in the provincial examination, he was speechless. He vaguely guessed his grandson's plan, but he did not intend to interfere.

Jiang Wenqing didn't care who came to Beijing with him; he was just worried and felt that his future was bleak, that he couldn't see any light at all!

How could my son possibly finish reading through four or five large wooden crates of materials and past exam papers in half a year?! It's simply wishful thinking on my part. Even if he didn't eat or sleep for twelve hours a day, he couldn't possibly finish reading them all!

It was only at this time that Xue Xu learned that the Jiang family actually had four candidates who were preparing to take the imperial examination!

Moreover, among them was Old Master Jiang, whose ranking was even higher than his own. The most unexpected one was Brother Li, who was actually the top scholar in the provincial examination! Sigh... I really underestimated the Jiang family at first.

It seems that if I want my sister's marriage to go through, I really have to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), otherwise my family's social standing is not good enough for her.

Not to mention that his younger sister was born out of wedlock, while Young Master Jiang was the only legitimate son in four generations!

Sigh... but I really don't want to miss out on such a talented young boy.

After distributing the exam preparation materials, Jiang Xiaoqi didn't forget to create a little chance encounter for her third sister and Young Master Xue.

Of course, we also need to inform our grandfather that not only should our eldest and second eldest sisters go with us to the capital, but it would be best if our third and fourth eldest sisters also went.

As for the fifth and sixth sisters, they are still young, so it's up to them whether they go or not. We'll ask them what they think later.

"I knew you were planning this. What? You want to gather all the talents in the world for your sister? How do you know she'll be happy?"

Moreover, after the provincial examination, the successful candidates become tribute students, and after the palace examination, they become Jinshi. Those who rank high can directly enter the Hanlin Academy, while those who rank low can take the examination for probationary officials and observe the administration of the Six Ministries in the capital.

Even the lowest-ranking scholar who passed the imperial examination could become a seventh-rank county magistrate. Back then, would anyone even consider a concubine's daughter from the Jiang family?

Landlord Jiang thought a lot and didn't think his grandson's idea was very practical. The marriages of Xiwen and Xiyue were unintentional, and at the time of their marriages, both of them were only scholars. They had only obtained their titles of Juren later. This Juren Xue was different from Dong Jin and Li Haisheng before.

“Grandfather’s concerns are not without merit. I just had this idea. Of course, if it doesn’t work out, I will not force it. We daughters of the Jiang family have the pride of the Jiang family and will never be sycophants.”

Being a simp, you'll end up with nothing, and it doesn't fit the demure style of women in this era.

"Lick, lick dog? Why are you swearing at me..."

"Oh! It's just an example, just an example...hehe~"

Landlord Jiang shook his head helplessly. His grandson always came up with strange and unusual words. He wondered where he learned them from. Could they be southern slang?

South: We won't take the blame for this!

"Alright, since you have your own ideas, then let's arrange it as you wish. Just don't be too stubborn, lest you damage the reputation of the sisters in the family."

Jiang Xiaoqi nodded repeatedly, "Grandfather, don't worry, Xiaoqi understands."

In the following days, Jiang Xiaoqi actively prepared for her sisters' trip to Beijing.

As expected, the sisters Jiang Feier and Jiang Weier did not plan to go to the capital. They wanted to stay at home to continue their studies with Master Su and also be able to stay by their grandmother's side to take care of her.

Otherwise, the house would be too quiet, and Grandma would have no one to talk to.

Jiang Xiaoqi asked Steward Wen to stay, since the old steward was getting on in years and not fit for long journeys. He also suggested that Wen's second son continue to accompany Jiang Wenqing, so that the Wen father and son could look after each other.

Besides Wenbin and Li Mo, he only brought A Niu with him, so that he could continue to post missing person notices along the way and help A Niu find his relatives.

"Third sister, this is wonderful! I never imagined I would ever go to the capital! It's the capital!"

As Jiang Lian'er packed her personal belongings, she excitedly chatted with her sister.

"Fourth sister, keep your voice down, don't lose your ladylike demeanor," Jiang Lan'er reminded her with a smile. There was nothing wrong with her younger sister, except that she was a little too lively.

Jiang Lian'er stuck out her tongue, but couldn't hide the joy in her eyes. She shook her head and tied the bundle tightly, placing it together with the wooden box that was to be loaded onto the carriage.

Jiang Lan'er secretly decided that she had to keep a close eye on her younger sister along the way and not let her sister lose face for the Jiang family.

After all, along the way, it wasn't just their own family members who were traveling with them, but also the Dong and Li families. Oh, right, now the Xue family has joined them as well.

With so many men from outside the family, my sister and I need to be even more careful with our words and actions. We can't let our grandfather and father down, and more importantly, we can't cause trouble for our seventh brother.

However, with several bandits in the same industry, there are more people, and the safety is more guaranteed. Besides, what kind of blind bandit would not rob a group of scholars who are going to the capital for the imperial examinations instead of robbing wealthy and powerful merchants?

...Do you have a death wish?

Jiang Lan'er's years of studying were certainly not in vain. Although Master Su regretted that women could not participate in the imperial examinations, he still talked a lot about the imperial examination system.

Therefore, the young ladies in the family were well aware of the value of their fathers' and grandfathers' academic degrees.

Now, both her eldest sister's husband and her future second sister's husband are scholars who passed the imperial examinations. Their family can be said to be on the road to prosperity, and it is becoming more and more prosperous.

A change in social status also affects the marriage prospects and future of the family's descendants.

The daughter of a scholar could at most marry into the family of a licentiate, while the daughter of a licentiate could even marry into the family of a minor official.

Moreover, the Jiang family did have officials among its members; their great-uncle Jiang Changqing was a fifth-rank official, serving as a sub-prefect.

Oh, right, there's also a distant cousin who seems to be a seventh-rank county magistrate now. My grandfather mentioned yesterday that he met that distant cousin when he went to the prefectural governor's family gathering.

For members of such families, marriage is never a problem; many people will naturally want to marry into their families.

After packing their personal belongings, Jiang Lan'er and her sister decided to take all the money they had saved over the years with them.

Even though they might not have many opportunities to spend their own money, they should at least buy a few things to bring back to their grandmother when they arrive in the capital.

Also, the fifth and sixth sisters who aren't going to Beijing this time, when they come across any little trinkets suitable for young girls, they can buy them and bring them back as gifts for their sisters.

In fact, most of the money he had saved over the years was given to him by his seventh brother as New Year's gifts. Over the years, it had accumulated to several hundred taels.

In other families, it's the older sister who dotes on the younger brother, but in their family it's the other way around. Sigh~

When we get to Beijing, I'll buy my younger brother lots and lots of toys that boys like.