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

Before the palace examination begins, the candidates will be arranged to enter the palace to attend a banquet before the emperor.

To ensure they did not offend the emperor, the day before the banquet, officials in charge of etiquette would provide unified training to the candidates.

The imperial banquet was the only opportunity for candidates to showcase their image and etiquette before the palace examination, and it was also a banquet specially organized by the palace to alleviate the candidates' anxiety.

When the emperor himself attended the banquet, many older scholars would seek out a famous facial groomer in the capital to stylist them before entering the palace.

Even if one doesn't have the looks of a third-place scholar, one should still present oneself in a spirited manner before the emperor so as not to be overshadowed by the younger scholars.

The Jiang family members didn't go to see any facial sculptors, since although they were of different ages, they were all still very good-looking.

Even Landlord Jiang is a sprightly old man, and for some reason, the wrinkles on his face have lessened these past two days. Perhaps it's because he's in high spirits when he's having a good time.

Jiang Wenqing had been growing a beard for a long time, but for some reason, he shaved off his already thin beard before the imperial banquet.

Now, people will believe I'm thirty; I've successfully faked my youth.

Dong Jin, Li Haisheng, Xue Xu, and the others were young and hadn't grown beards yet, so they only put some effort into their hair this time.

The three of them had their hair tied up in the same style, and from behind, they looked just like brothers from the same family, all neat and tidy.

The banquet before the imperial examination was a small one; the emperor might or might not attend.

The banquet following the palace examination was the Qionglin Banquet, a gathering for the newly appointed scholars to meet with the officials, and the emperor attended.

"Father, His Majesty the Emperor may not even attend the banquet before the imperial examination. Aren't we being a little too anxious?"

Landlord Jiang glanced at Jiang Wenqing's slick and flashy appearance and wanted to roll his eyes.

"You're not worried at all? Where did your beard go?"

Jiang Wenqing paused, a little embarrassed, as he touched his face: "Hehe, hehehe, I shaved it off because my beard made me look too old."

Landlord Jiang's hand, which was stroking his beard, froze awkwardly in mid-air, and the air seemed to freeze.

Jiang Lian'er brought tea and snacks to the study and sensed the tense atmosphere.

"Grandfather, you look better and better lately. It must be the effect of Seventh Brother's ginseng chicken soup. I'll go and ask my brother to make you some more chicken soup!"

Jiang Lian'er cleverly shifted the topic to her grandfather's most beloved grandson.

Sure enough, when Jiang Xiaoqi was mentioned, Landlord Jiang's face brightened.

"Oh dear, Fourth Sister, you noticed too? I've also felt pretty good lately, but I haven't really noticed if my wrinkles have gotten less, haha, I haven't noticed."

Landlord Jiang's smile betrayed him. Having achieved her goal, Jiang Lian'er flattered her grandfather with a few kind words.

"Then Grandfather, please rest well. Tomorrow's banquet in front of the palace is very important. Father and my brother-in-law are inexperienced and will need your help to look after them!"

You are the pillar of our family, you can't overwork yourself. If you get tired, your sisters and brothers will feel sorry for you, just like Lian'er."

"Alright, alright, you go too. Tell Mingfei not to overwork himself. Just have the kitchen make some chicken soup. Don't keep an eye on things personally."

"Yes, Grandfather." Jiang Lian'er turned and left the study, then hurried to her younger brother's courtyard.

"Is Seventh Brother busy?"

"No, just drawing some things out of boredom. Fourth Sister, is something the matter?"

"Hehe, I just went to bring Grandpa some snacks, and he said he wanted to drink the chicken soup you made~"

"Oh? Then I'll go to the small kitchen in a bit and have Grandpa have dinner."

"Okay, nothing else, just this."

Jiang Lian'er came and went in a hurry, while Jiang Xiaoqi took out the chicken she had stored in her space and prepared to go to her small kitchen.

After thinking about it, I used my points from the system to redeem a Youth Preservation Pill, kept a small portion for myself, and threw the rest back into my spatial storage.

That's about right. If Grandfather wants to become an official in the future, he won't be meeting as few people as the women in the inner quarters. It's not an exaggeration to say that he'll be ten or so years younger than his peers, but any more would be bad.

At dinner, Landlord Jiang was able to enjoy the chicken soup that his grandson had personally cooked, and it was a special chicken soup that he had specifically requested to be made just for him.

"Why can't others drink it?" Jiang Wenqing asked, somewhat oblivious to the situation.

“Father, I can make you a pot of chicken soup another day, but today’s soup is really only for Grandfather to drink.”

This was specially prepared based on my grandfather's current health condition. If others drink it, it will not only fail to nourish their bodies, but may even harm them.

Jiang Wenqing was greatly disappointed, while Landlord Jiang was so happy that his eyes narrowed.

The next day, the Jiang family prepared five carriages and set off in a grand procession towards the palace.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, the group disembarked and walked for more than half an hour to reach the side hall where they would wait for the banquet.

Under the guidance of the palace attendants, all the tribute students who were attending the banquet in front of the palace gathered together in one place, and the small side hall was crowded with people.

There were only a few chairs in the side hall, and no one dared to sit down. They just stood there, not daring to look around or talk too much.

Who knows how many of the Emperor's men are watching from the shadows? One wrong move and you could offend the Emperor. It's best to keep a low profile and not become the conspicuous scapegoat.

Of the group, only Li Haisheng knew martial arts, and in this quiet environment, he naturally had even sharper hearing and eyesight.

The five scholars from the Jiang family gathered together, not speaking to each other, communicating only through eye contact.

This is the tacit understanding built up over a long period of working together, studying diligently and enduring hardships together; a single glance is enough for them to know each other's meaning.

Jiang Wenqing frowned and looked at his father, Landlord Jiang: How long will this take?

Landlord Jiang glared: "Stop talking nonsense! Just wait patiently for your turn, do you even know where you are?! If you want to die, don't drag your whole family down with you!"

Dong Jin nodded: "Grandfather is right. Father-in-law, let's just wait patiently."

Li Haisheng raised an eyebrow: It seems someone has arrived; they must be leading us to the banquet.

Xue Xu's lips curled slightly: Second brother-in-law is right, I think I heard footsteps too!

"His Majesty's decree: All tribute students are invited to attend a banquet at the Hall of Supreme Harmony..."

The Jiang family of five: We've finally waited for this! My legs were cramping!

The three hundred tribute students in the side hall left in an orderly manner, without any crowding. Everyone was extremely polite, well-mannered, and courteous to others, forming their own line.

The banquet before the imperial examination—this is where the top talents of the Great Zhou Dynasty gather.

The three hundred people were seated according to their rankings in the imperial examination. Li Haisheng sat conspicuously at the front, attracting the attention of the other candidates.

So this is the Huiyuan Gong who "disappeared" after the imperial examination!

After the imperial examination, he did not participate in any poetry or literary gatherings organized by the tribute students in the capital, which led everyone to believe that this top scholar was arrogant and disdainful.

Looking at him today, it seems that Yuan Gong is more like a warrior than a scholar.

With broad shoulders, a narrow waist, dark skin, and bright, piercing eyes, he looked like he could lead an army into battle the moment he changed his clothes.

Despite their various thoughts, everyone ultimately wanted to cultivate a good relationship with the top scholar, as he had a very high chance of becoming the number one scholar.

Xue Xu was three people away from Li Haisheng. He never expected that he would be fifth in the provincial examination, and even in the capital, a place that gathers the best talents in the country, he would be fifth in the metropolitan examination.

Although they both ranked fifth, the significance of their achievements is completely different.

He knew that this was all because his future brother-in-law had taken good care of his health. He was also an ambitious person. He couldn't compete for the top spot, but he should at least try to be the third-place winner.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at the second, third, and fourth place winners; they were all middle-aged men over thirty.

As for appearance... I naturally have the upper hand. If I perform well in the palace examination, I should still have a chance.

After all, none of the sixth to tenth place winners were particularly good-looking.