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

“Of course she can, but I heard her academic performance is only so-so, so it might not be easy for her to pass the exam.” Just as Li Yun’er finished speaking, she saw the teacher approaching with his books. “Oh dear! Why do we have to start class again after only a few words…”

Lin Shu pondered Li Yun'er's words and couldn't help but think deeply. No wonder Lin Yue was so confident about the children's examination two months later; she probably thought she had gotten close to Master Zhu. Who knew that Master Zhu was so decisive and directly broke off the engagement.

That young man from the Zhu family doesn't seem to be one to stay put. In the future, Lin Dafeng's family will probably be too busy taking care of themselves to bother me anymore.

However, she was curious to see how the village chief and elders of Peach Blossom Village, who had placed high hopes on Lin Yue, would react upon learning of this...

Just then, a dignified female voice rang out:

"Lin Shu, you shall compose a poem."

Lin Shu snapped out of her thoughts, stood up, and bowed:

"Please, Master, give us a question."

"Today is a snowy winter day, so why don't you compose a poem about it?" The teacher, surnamed Wu, was in charge of teaching poetry and prose at the academy. He had clearly seen Lin Shu daydreaming, so he spoke up.

Lin Shu then noticed that it had started snowing outside, with large snowflakes falling. Only then did she truly understand what 'goose feather-like snow' meant.

Looking again at the clumps of branches on the corner of the wall outside the school, which seemed to be adorned with 'snowflakes,' and taking a sniff, one could faintly smell a delicate fragrance, before one could react further, a poem spontaneously flowed from one's lips:

"Snow falls silently in the night, plum blossoms bloom alone. Standing alone on the cold branch, they are beautiful, their pure fragrance filling the universe."

Her bones are like jade, her skin like ice, pure and untouched by worldly dust. She displays her beauty amidst the snow, her solitary elegance attracting her own admirers.

A traveler returns home on a snowy night, treading through the snow in search of plum blossoms. The fragrance, though chilly, permeates his clothes, but his heart warms as if spring has begun.

Of the three friends of winter, plum blossom and snow are the closest. Sharing this chilly night, they complement each other, creating a beautiful poem.

(I originally wrote "Ode to the Plum Blossom", but some lovely readers said it didn't address the theme, so I changed it~)

"Excellent, excellent! Not only does it address the topic, but it also uses plum blossoms as a metaphor for people. Very good!" Master Wu glanced at the white plum blossoms outside the door, his eyes almost overflowing with satisfaction. "Sit down. You still need to concentrate when you lecture in the future."

"Yes." Lin Shu sat down in response, and when she turned her head, she found that Li Yun'er was actually taking notes seriously. This was the first time she had seen her so serious in class, so she couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Li Yun'er: [My friend is really amazing! This poem, though simple, is no exaggeration to call it a timeless masterpiece. I'm going to copy it back and show it off to my brother...]

Lin Shu was unaware of her thoughts. After today, she would be on her annual leave, which would last until January of next year. At this moment, she was listening to her teacher's lectures at Ling Shuang Residence. Since enrolling in the school, she had come to listen to the policy discussions every five days.

Originally, the preliminary examination did not include policy essays, but Han Shuang wanted her to be prepared just in case...

"Do you have any questions about what I've said today?" Han Shuang asked, looking at the only student in front of her.

"No, thank you, teacher. I've learned a lot today," Lin Shu replied truthfully.

"Hmm, not bad. After today, you will have a half-day off, but you must still study diligently so as not to fail next year's imperial examination," Han Shuang admonished.

“Students understand.”

"Go!" Han Shuang waved for Lin Shu to leave.

"I'll take my leave." Lin Shu stood up, bowed, and took her leave.

……

When she left the academy, she was surprised to find Li Yun'er still waiting for her at the gate. But then she thought about it and realized that this person was always waiting for her whenever she went to the teacher for extra classes, so it wasn't surprising.

"Girls, I'm going back to the county tomorrow. I'm so sad that we won't see each other again until next year. So let's get together tonight?" Li Yun'er hooked her arm around Lin Shu's neck, but then realized that Lin Shu was too tall and it was uncomfortable to hook her arm around her, so she reluctantly let go.

"Okay," Lin Shu readily agreed.

"Chunjiao Pavilion!" Li Yun'er said excitedly, winking. "It's my treat."

“This name…” Lin Shu was about to say that the name Chun Jiao Pavilion sounded familiar, but before she could finish speaking, Li Yun’er interrupted her.

"Don't refuse, I've never been before either. Let's go and see for ourselves." Li Yun'er pulled Lin Shu towards Chun Jiao Pavilion.

Upon arriving at Chun Jiao Pavilion, Lin Shu suddenly remembered something, took out some silver, and instructed a servant at the entrance to run to Songhua Lane to deliver the message.

The two then found a private room and sat down. After the food and drinks were served, Li Yun'er raised her glass, "Come on, let's have a drink! May we both pass the imperial examinations next year!"

Lin Shu also raised her glass, and the two drank it all in one gulp.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Li Yun'er was already slightly tipsy. Lin Shu's eyes were clear, but a closer look revealed that she was not sober either.

"Lin Shu, do you know? I actually envy you a lot," Li Yun'er suddenly said.

"Hmm?" Lin Shu turned her head to look at Li Yun'er a beat late, puzzled.

“You are beautiful, talented, and have a harmonious family. As for me, I need to consider the interests of my family and protect my brother, so I must pass the imperial examination, otherwise he will be bullied if he marries into the Liu family.” Li Yun’er’s tone was somewhat downcast.

Lin Shu patted Li Yun'er on the shoulder, "You will definitely pass the imperial examination." After spending time together, she knew Li Yun'er's level. Passing the county-level examination would not be difficult, but it was hard to say whether she could go further.

Li Yun'er looked up at Lin Shu and asked, "Really?"

“Of course it’s true.” Lin Shu nodded.

Li Yun'er looked at Lin Shu in the dim light and blurted out something she shouldn't have: "If only my brother could marry you! Hiccup!"

"Hmm," Lin Shu replied, her mind still foggy.

"Hiccup~ It's settled then, hiccup~ Come and marry my brother when you get to high school."

"Ah."

……

Finally, Li Yun'er was so drunk that she was unconscious. When Lin Shu took her to her doorstep, she kept calling Lin Shu "brother and sister-in-law." Li Huanzhi awkwardly had someone take her back to her room before saying to Lin Shu, "Thank you, Miss Lin!"

"It's alright, farewell." In the quiet night, Lin Shu's voice stood out, as if whispering in someone's ear.

For some reason, Li Huanzhi felt a tingling sensation in his heart as he looked at Lin Shu's tall and straight back.

……

Lin.

Hearing the door open, Su Mu immediately put on his clothes and got up to greet him. He frowned upon smelling the strong odor of alcohol.

"Has my wife been drinking?"

"Yes, I drank a little bit." Lin Shu answered obediently, and seeing that Su Mu didn't say anything, she added, "Don't be angry, Amu."

Su Mu felt that his wife was acting a little strange, as if she was talking too much, but he didn't think much of it and went to prepare a hangover soup for Lin Shu.

……

After helping her wash up, I stayed by her bedside, worried that she might feel uncomfortable from drinking too much. After tucking Lin Shu in, she pulled me onto the bed...

"Ah... Mistress..." Su Mu was startled.

Before he could even regain his composure, the woman beside him flipped over and climbed on top of him... Her usually cold eyes softened slightly, and Su Mu's heart pounded wildly, as if it were about to burst out of his chest. At that moment, he could hear nothing but his own heartbeat.

With Lin Shu's voice:

"Amu, be good!"

The woman's head lowered further and further down his body, finally pressing gently against his lips, and then there was no more movement...

……

After a long time.

Having calmed her thoughts, Lin Shu gently pecked his forehead, pulled him into her arms, covered him with the quilt, and said in a low, husky voice, "Sleep!"

Su Mu was stunned for a moment, followed by sadness and grievance. Even after all this, why did his wife still not want him? He buried his head in the woman's arms in despair.

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