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

Looking at the woman before her, Song Ling saw a woman with a refined and gentle demeanor, possessing a scholarly air that was hard for people from farming families to describe. She was nothing like the unpleasant woman described in the rumors. Seeing that the number of people gathering outside the door was growing, Song Ling said, "Come in!"

Lin Shu agreed and instructed the servant to bring the things she had brought into the house.

As everyone watched the silks, cotton cloths, and pastries being carried into the Song family's wooden house like a flowing stream, they were all envious and asked Yun Shi to confirm who these people were.

"Hi! His aunt, his uncle, this is his wife, Lin Shu, who came back with Xiao Yun. She came back today to visit his mother and me. Let's talk another day when we have time, we'll stop here for now." Yun Shi introduced them with a hint of pride, looking at these people who had been kicking Song Ling when she was down since she fell ill. She paused, then remembered Song's third aunt and quickly handed her a box of pastries: "Third aunt, thank you for today. Come visit his mother another day..."

Everyone was talking about it.

"She really is the mistress of the house..."

"It seems the Song family is really about to turn things around..."

"..."

After saying that, Yun ignored what others said, went straight into the house, closed the wooden door, and blocked the view from outside.

Looking at Yun Shi's smug expression, Lin Shu finally realized who Song Yun inherited her stubborn and forgetful nature from.

After entering, Song Ling invited Lin Shu to sit down and poured her a bowl of water: "There's only a little water at home, please don't mind it."

"It's alright! You're too kind, Mother-in-law." Lin Shu said, then picked up the bowl and took a sip.

Song Ling felt a sense of satisfaction as she watched her actions.

Song Yun was taken to a room by Yun Shi for a private talk.

Suppressing a cough that was about to escape her lips, Song Ling earnestly said to Lin Shu, "We were unwilling to marry Xiaoyun to you in the first place, but alas... Now, his father and I don't ask you to treat him well, we only ask that you don't mistreat him... cough cough... cough..."

Seeing that she was coughing so badly that she couldn't stop, Lin Shu quickly got up, gently patted her back with one hand to help her catch her breath, and picked up Song Ling's bowl with the other hand to feed her water.

Seeing that she had stopped coughing, he asked, "Has your mother-in-law seen a doctor for this illness?"

"Sigh! I've seen doctors, but it can't be cured. It's something I was born with, I'm used to it!" Song Ling said dejectedly.

Lin Shu thought for a moment and then said, "My daughter-in-law will be taking the prefectural examination in April. The first reason for this trip is to bring A-Yun back to her parents' home, and the second is to bring my mother-in-law and father-in-law to the prefectural city together. I wonder what my mother-in-law thinks?"

Before she could finish speaking, Song Ling resolutely refused: "No! Absolutely not! Since you are taking the prefectural exam in April, it means you intend to take the imperial examination route in the future. If you bring us along, it will damage your reputation. Scholars value their reputation the most, so you must not!"

Lin Shu frowned: "Mother-in-law, please don't refuse. Reputation is of no importance to me. Besides, Ayun and the others have opened a shop and need manpower right now. But I don't trust outsiders. So my father discussed it with me and asked you and your father-in-law to go and help."

Lin Shu's meaning was clear: first, she, Lin Shu, didn't care about her reputation; second, her family's shop was short-handed and she wanted to ask them for help without feeling burdened; and third, this matter was decided by her father, Xue Wen.

Sure enough, Song Ling couldn't say anything to refute it for a moment, and could only stammer, "Let me think about it! Let me think about it!"

Lin Shu nodded in agreement.

……

Inside the Yun family's room.

Yun hugged Song Yun and cried her heart out.

Song Yun was crying, but Yun Shi's interference made him hold back his tears. He could only hug his father, patting his back again and again, and said helplessly:

"Dad, why are you crying? Shouldn't you be happy that I'm back?"

Only then did Madam Yun raise her head, wipe away her tears, and hold Song Yun's soft, white hand, touching it endlessly.

"Isn't it all because of you, you brat? You've gotten married and haven't come back to see your mother and me. I don't even know if you're doing well. You've always been naughty since you were little. I wonder if Lin Shu has been bullying you..." Thinking about it, she was about to cry again?

Upon hearing his wife's name, Song Yun smiled, his eyes crinkling with joy.

"Father, my wife is so good to me, and Father is good to me too, as is my elder brother, they all take such good care of me! I live a very comfortable life in the Lin family, where everything is done for me. Hehe..."

"That's good! That's good! Stay a few more days this time! Let Dad take a good look at you!" Madam Yun looked at her son's round little face and couldn't bring herself to say anything in rebuttal.

Upon hearing this, Song Yun quickly refused: "No, no, we have to go back tomorrow, my wife still needs to..."

"What? You were just saying how good she was to you? Now you won't even let me stay for two days?" Madam Yun interrupted, frowning.

"Oh dear! Father, I haven't finished yet. My wife is taking the imperial examination now, and she'll be taking the prefectural examination in April. We need to hurry to the prefectural city." Song Yun said helplessly.

Madam Yun: "Ah, that is indeed a big deal. It's just a pity that Father has only just met you and you're already leaving..."

Upon hearing this, Song Yun said smugly, "Hey! Father, the mistress said that she came here to take you to the prefectural city, and she may not be coming back again, so you'd better pack your things quickly."

Yun was stunned. Pick them up? What did that mean?

Seeing the incredulous look in his father's eyes, Song Yun continued, "My wife said she will take care of you two in your old age!"

"Really?" Yun was still somewhat skeptical.

"Of course it's true, don't you believe me?" Song Yun said, pouting and pretending to be angry.

To her surprise, Yun slapped him hard across the face. Looking at the handprint on her son's wrist, she thought to herself, "This son is too delicate now." Then, with a guilty look, she said, "I knew Lin Shu was a good person. I told you to marry her back then, but you still made a fuss. Now you know!"

Song Yun...

Who was it that was so desperate to die back then? How come I never noticed before that my father could twist the truth like that?

"By the way, son! Your belly has been showing no signs of pregnancy for a year?" Thinking that this daughter-in-law was a good one, Madam Yun began to urge her to have a baby.

"Huh? What's that?" Song Yun asked, looking puzzled as her father stared at her belly.

"Oh dear! Silly boy, you're pregnant!" Madam Yun exclaimed, her face full of disappointment.

Song Yun's face turned bright red, and he stammered aggrievedly, "No, no, my wife doesn't sleep with me."

Yun was shocked: "Never even once? Could it be that she's impotent? That shouldn't be the case, judging from her physique... Could it be that you're impotent?"

"Father, what nonsense are you talking about? My wife said she pities me because I'm still young and wants to wait two years..." Song Yun knew this reason sounded like a lie. Men usually get married around fifteen or sixteen and start having children, but that's what my wife said.

Looking at Song Yun, who had his head bowed, Madam Yun felt a pang of heartache. She gently patted his head and said, "Good boy, if the mountain won't come to you, then go to the mountain. Your mother doesn't seem to be a lustful person, so there's only one way!"

Song Yun (eyes sparkling): "What method?"

Yun: "Climbing into bed!"

-

【Small Theater:

Song Yun (eyes sparkling): My lady, Father said you are not a lustful person.

Lin Shu (with a cool expression): Of course.

Su Mu (holding his back): ...

Song Yun (one morning): Waaaaah, Father and Mistress both lied to me. Waaaaah, my back!

Lin Shu (with an air of matter-of-fact): I wasn't lying. You can still get out of bed!