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

Originally, it was the gatekeeper who went in to report to Li's mother, but now the two of them have returned together, and they have brought several thugs with them.

Seeing the thugs approach, Liu Qiqi was frightened and struggled to her feet. Covered in filth, she no longer cared about the dignity of a scholar and threatened Li's mother: "Li Xin, do you know what you are doing? His Majesty values ​​literature. I am already a student of the Imperial Academy. After passing the provincial examination in April, I will become a tribute student. I will also take the autumn examination in August. If I am lucky enough to pass, even the county magistrate's wife will give me some face. How dare you insult me ​​like this?"

She passed the county and prefectural examinations last year and is only waiting for the provincial examination at the end of April this year to become a scholar. At that time, she will be able to see officials without having to kneel.

"Throw it back to the Liu family." A month ago, Li's mother might have been somewhat hesitant, but now... Hmph!

"Fine, fine, the Li family, fine, Li Huanzhi, you just wait..." Liu Qiqi hadn't expected Li's mother to be so confident. She shouted loudly as she was being dragged away.

Once Liu Qiqi's figure had completely disappeared, Li's mother turned around and said to Lin Shuyan, "Niece Lin, we are so grateful to have you here today."

Seemingly worried that Lin Shu might misunderstand, Li's mother glanced at Li Huanzhi before explaining:

"Five years ago, Liu Qiqi was engaged to Huanzhi, but the Liu family kept delaying the marriage and kept sending servants to their backyard. Seeing that Huanzhi was getting older, I had no choice but to break off the engagement between the two families."

"Alas! Who would have thought that Liu Qiqi, seemingly refined, is actually a scoundrel? If you hadn't been there today, and Huanzhi had been touched by her, the consequences... Alas! You came as a guest, but I've brought you so much trouble! I'm truly sorry."

"It's alright!" Lin Shu said, indicating that it was a trivial matter.

The three exchanged pleasantries at the door for a few more moments before Lin Shu took her leave, boarded her carriage, and slowly departed.

Li Huanzhi watched as the sleeve in his hand was resolutely pulled away, and he felt a sudden emptiness in his heart.

……

Inside the inn, Su Mu and Song Yun had been waiting for Lin Shu in the lobby since their meal. At that moment, a gentle yet incredulous call came from behind, breaking the brief silence:

"Mu'er? Is that you?"

Upon hearing this, Su Mu's pupils constricted sharply. Gu Qing? Hadn't she already moved her entire family to the prefectural city? Why was she here?

Seeing that Su Mu ignored the newcomer, Song Yun turned around to look at her. The newcomer was tall and slender, dressed in a spotless white dress, with her hair tied up with a jade crown and two wisps of hair falling on either side of her forehead. She held a folding fan in her hand, and her eyes were dark and bright, filled with tenderness. Anyone who saw her would praise her as a graceful young lady!

In Song Yun's eyes: not as tall as his wife, not as fair-skinned, not as big-breasted, not as beautiful...

The person seemed to notice that Su Mu kept his back to her and refused to turn around. Thinking she had misjudged him, she was about to go upstairs when a man's voice gave her confirmation:

"Brother?"

Su Jing had accompanied his wife, Gu Qing, to visit friends in Yun County. Now, as they were checking out and returning to the prefectural city, he handed the key to the innkeeper. Turning around, he saw his wife looking at a certain spot with a complicated expression. Following her gaze, he was caught off guard and blurted out the name of the person in disbelief.

Realizing what had happened, she quickly looked at Gu Qing's expression, but couldn't discern anything, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Back when the Su and Gu families lived in Yun County, Gu Qing was Su Mu's fiancée. He had been envious and jealous, but Gu Qing was better than him in every way. So, he devised a scheme to ruin Su Mu's reputation. Although Lin Shu, who appeared out of nowhere, intercepted the plan and prevented Su Mu from losing his virginity, the result was roughly the same. Su Mu was forced to marry that scoundrel, while he, too, got to marry Gu Qing as he had wished.

After thinking for a moment, Su Jing smiled brightly, took Gu Qing's hand, walked to Su Mu's side, and said, "Brother, it's been a long time! I didn't expect to meet you here!"

Su Mu had composed himself, raised his dark brown eyes, glanced at the two of them, and replied, "Long time no see."

Gu Qing was momentarily stunned when she saw Su Mu's cold and elegant face. She wanted to pull her hand away from Su Jing's grasp, but Su Jing's smile froze. "This bitch!" she thought, and then held the hand tightly in her arms again.

Looking around, he didn't see the scoundrel, only a handsome and charming man with Su Mu. Could it be that he had been abandoned?

"Huh? Where are my brother and sister-in-law?"

“My wife has gone to visit a friend. We will wait here,” Su Mu replied with a clear and honest gaze.

Song Yun, standing to the side, was still trying to figure out the relationship between the group, so he could only look this way and that way.

Upon hearing this, Su Jing assumed Su Mu was lying because he couldn't save face. How could a scoundrel have friends in a county town? He continued his veiled provocation: "By the way! Brother, my wife has now obtained the title of Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations). I wonder what you and your wife are doing now? Are you still as idle as you were back then?"

Before Su Mu could answer, she turned to look at Gu Qing and said with a regretful expression, "Alas! My wife, you don't know this, but although my brother's innocence was ruined, my mother originally did not agree to you marrying that scoundrel. Who knew that my brother insisted on marrying him."

“Mu’er…you…” Upon hearing this, Gu Qing’s face showed a look of disappointment, as if she couldn’t understand why Su Mu would willingly degenerate.

Song Yun couldn't tell that Su Jing was being sarcastic, but he did hear that the man was speaking ill of Lin Shu, and he immediately became angry: "You're the one who's idle, you're the one who's a good-for-nothing! My wife is the most capable! What's so great about being a scholar? My wife will be able to pass the exam soon, humph!"

Su Jing was taken aback by Song Yun's rapid-fire delivery, then looked Song Yun up and down with an unfriendly gaze: "And who is this?"

"My second husband." Lin Shu had just stepped into the inn and didn't hear the whole thing, but she could guess what it was from the expressions of the people around her.

Gu Qing and Su Jing turned around upon hearing the voice behind them. They saw a woman dressed in a simple blue, wide-sleeved dress, her hair pulled back and held in place by a blue jade hairpin. She was tall and slender with a beautiful face…

A hint of amazement flashed in Su Jing's eyes, and then she heard Su Mu and the other man behind her call out in unison, "My lady."

Wasn't that slut married to a thug? How come he's so good-looking?

Lin Shu walked to the two of them and first ruffled Song Yun's hair.

He then took Su Mu's hand and said, "Why is it so cold?" He didn't let go, but turned to look at Gu and Su, asking, "Who are you two?"

Seeing Lin Shu's attitude towards her two husbands, Su Jing couldn't tell whether he was more envious or jealous. He could only force a smile and say, "This must be my brother and sister-in-law! It's been years since we last met, I almost didn't recognize you."

Lin Shu gave a perfunctory reply: "Mm."

Seeing this, Su Jing clenched his fist, his fingers digging into his flesh, and continued, "I heard that my brother and sister-in-law are also taking the imperial examination. I wonder where they are studying now?"

Lin Shu glanced at him coldly and said, "What's it to you?"

"No need." Su Mu said almost at the same time as Lin Shu. He didn't want to get involved with the two people in front of him, nor did he want his wife to misunderstand.

Lin Shu understood Su Mu's personality and his meaning, so she squeezed his hand to reassure him.

Su Jing: ...

He then pulled Gu Qing forward a little and forced a smile, saying, "My wife has already achieved academic success. If you have any questions about your studies, you can ask her for help."

Lin Shu stared at him for a long while, until he was almost embarrassed, before slowly uttering a few words in a clear, cool voice:

"If you don't want to laugh, don't pretend; it's too fake."

-