Female Supremacy and Rise to Power: Lin Shu's Imperial Examination Adventures

The next day, at Qingfeng Academy.

Lin Shu stepped into the academy, where Zhao Lin was already waiting quietly at the gate:

“Our academy is divided into four classes: A, B, C, and D. Class D consists of young children who have not yet received any formal education; Class C consists of students who have been enrolled for two years; Class B consists of students with better academic performance; and Class A consists of students who will participate in next year’s imperial examination. According to the dean, with your knowledge, you can enter Class A. It just so happens that I am giving a lecture today, so come with me.”

Lin Shu nodded and said, "Thank you, Master."

Within Class A.

Zhao Lin entered with Lin Shu, and all the students rose and bowed:

"Greetings, Master."

"No need for formalities, please be seated."

Zhao Lin then spoke:

"This is Lin Shu, a new student."

He then looked at Lin Shu and said, "Lin Shu, why don't you sit down in this empty seat in front?"

"Yes, Master," Lin Shu nodded in response.

Throughout the lesson, Lin Shu discovered that she seemed to have a photographic memory, perhaps thanks to the spiritual spring water. She then realized that she hadn't entered her spatial dimension in a long time.

"Alright, that concludes this lesson." Zhao Lin finished her lecture and left.

Lin Shu then looked around the classroom. Lin Yue wasn't there? Wasn't Lin Yue supposed to be competing next February?

Just as he was thinking this, someone suddenly waved in front of him.

"Hey, hey, hey! Lin Shu? Your name is fitting for you."

Lin Shu snapped out of her daze and turned to look at the person who had spoken.

The girl appeared to be about 1.75 meters tall, with a round face and a slightly chubby appearance. She was wearing a blue and pink brocade robe, which made her look round and adorable, perhaps because it was cold and she was wearing a lot of layers.

Lin Shu's expression was indifferent as she said calmly, "Hmm."

It took the chubby little girl a while to realize that Lin Shu was responding to her, but she didn't mind and continued smiling as she spoke to herself:

“My name is Li Yun’er. You’re so beautiful. I always thought my brother was the best-looking one, but after seeing you, I realized I was so narrow-minded.” Then, afraid Lin Shu might think he was implying she was talking about his masculine features, she added, “I didn’t mean you look like a man, I…”

"It's alright," Lin Shu said casually.

Li Yun'er thought Lin Shu had a good temper, so she chatted with her:

"You must also be taking the imperial examination next February. Sigh, I've taken it three times and still failed. I finally got into Qingfeng Academy this time, and I thought I could finally relax. But my mother sent my brother to supervise me. Sigh! I feel like I'm just not cut out for studying."

"Just do your best."

"Let's not talk about that. Where do you live? I'll come find you after school, and we can hang out sometime." Li Yun'er was getting into the conversation and thought Lin Shu was a pretty good person.

"The house in Songhua Lane behind the government office, just inside the alley." Lin Shu found this person quite interesting.

Li Yun'er was visibly excited. "That's great! I live there too, but it's at the end of the alley. It's so far to get to the academy every day."

“I am from Yun County. I studied at the county school for the past few years, but failed the exam three times. I heard that the dean of Qingfeng Academy is very talented, so I came to Dongshan Town to study this year.”

After saying that, she continued to complain incessantly:

“My family has been in business for generations, but the social hierarchy is very clear: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. The elder brother is in his prime and values ​​literature over martial arts, so our business is often squeezed out by the clans in the county. My mother is now pinning all her hopes on whether I can pass the imperial examination and change our family's fortunes…”

Listening to her endless chatter, if Lin Shu wasn't mistaken, the woman in front of her should be the young lady from Li's Grain Shop. She raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself that this person was quite interesting: "Sir, you've arrived."

……

Half a month passed in this way, and before we knew it, it was late December.

After dinner that day, Su Mu sat in the main hall, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

"Amu, what's wrong?" Lin Shu has been getting along well with her two husbands lately, and has been a little gentler with her family.

Su Mu glanced at Lin Shu, "My lady, it's not good for that shop in the front yard to stay empty all this time. I... I'd like to open a pastry shop."

"Yes, you can take charge of things at home." She took Su Mu's hand, squeezed it gently, and said, "Go and buy two servants tomorrow, don't work too hard."

Su Mu blushed and replied, "Thank you, my lady!"

"It's alright, I just think Father can't sit still either. From now on, I'll trouble Amu to take care of these household chores." With that, Lin Shu gave Su Mu a five-hundred-tael silver note, "Just tell me if it's not enough."

The next morning, Su Mu took the silver to the brokerage firm. He selected three young and capable male servants, all skilled in kitchen matters, to take home and help manage the shop.

When Su Mu finished school, he brought the two of them to Lin Shu. Lin Shu looked them over and nodded.

"From now on, you will all work under the Lord's command," Lin Shu said, leaving the rest to Su Mu's arrangements.

The two servants replied in unison, "Yes, Master."

Su Mu led them to the shop in the front yard and began preparations for the opening.

After several busy days, the dim sum shop "Lin's Dim Sum Shop" finally opened, at Su Mu's strong request to be named this.

The opening day happened to be a holiday.

The crackling sound of firecrackers drew people's attention to the area.

Lin Shu was forced to stand at the door with a cold face to attract customers. Her father thought that Lin Shu was beautiful and would definitely be popular. Sure enough, ever since she stood at the door, the area has been crowded.

Su Mu and Song Yun looked at Lin Shu's awkward expression, and then at the crazy young men outside the door. They felt both sad and amused.

Su Mu: "My lady, the place is already packed. You may come in now."

Lin Shu could tell from Su Mu's smile that he was making fun of her, so she said with a straight face, "No need."

"Pfft~ Hahahaha~" Song Yun burst out laughing.

……

On the other side, Zhu's Pastry Shop.

"Erzi, why are there so few people in the shop these days?" asked Julie, the female shopkeeper.

"Shopkeeper, a pastry shop opened up down the street. Their pastries are incredibly fragrant and delicious; everyone's flocking there," said Xiao Si Erzi, adding flatteringly, "Shopkeeper, I heard there's only one woman in that family. Maybe we should just kill her; she can't cause any trouble anyway. But that woman is studying; although she doesn't have any official rank, but..."

"Tch~ It's not like we haven't done it before. Alright, go do it." Julie waved her hand fiercely.

……

as predicted.

After school, Li Yun'er and Lin Shu made an appointment to go to the Lin family's pastry shop to buy some pastries for their older brother, but they were attacked halfway there.

Just past the government office, four or five masked men rushed out of the alley, carrying short knives.

"It's all over, Lin Shu! It's all my fault! Someone must be jealous of my family's business and sent these assassins to take my life!" Li Yun'er was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing around in circles.

At first, Lin Shu also thought the same thing.

However, they discovered that the assassins were all after her, completely ignoring Li Yun'er in front of them.

"Lin Shu, run!" Li Yun'er had obviously noticed it too. Before she could finish speaking, she was shocked to find that the temperature around her had suddenly dropped and the ground seemed to be covered with a thick layer of ice.

The assassins also felt their movements slow down. When they realized what was happening, Lin Shu stretched out her left hand and gently squeezed. They felt a chill spread from their hearts to their blood vessels, and within moments they stiffened and collapsed, as if they had been dead for days.

This was the first time Lin Shu had used ice-type superpowers since she came to this world. Li Yun'er was terrified, thinking there were some kind of zombies in the world. She didn't suspect Lin Shu at all and even dragged Lin Shu to get out of the crowded place as soon as possible.

"Lin Shu, do you know who did this?"

Lin Shu narrowed her eyes upon hearing this:

"Ah."

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