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Zhou Linghuai agreed deeply. “Continuing to take the examination will take more time and money. We don’t know if he’ll be able to pass next time, and there are many people who have taken the examination from young to old.

They will only be left with grief and indignation. On the other hand, donating to an official requires a lot of money. Not to mention whether they can afford it, even if they can, taking the path of donating to an official will basically cut off their future path.”

It was already enough for an official to reach the seventh-grade.

Officials who were seventh-grade and above had to be evaluated every three years. This was the key to promotion.

The first round of the evaluation was birth.

Similarly, first-class scholars, second-class scholars and so on were all key to the examination. Those who had donated to the officials were not qualified to be on the examination list, so it was impossible for them to take another step forward.

After studying hard for ten years, everyone had ambitions to succeed in the imperial examination. How many people were willing to be stepped on for the rest of their lives?

Yu Youyao sighed softly. “The cruelest thing isn’t the imperial examination, but after passing it. You don’t have a background, connections, or channels. What other way out can you have after entering the court? If a noble takes the initiative to offer an olive branch at this time, not only will it guarantee that you’ll pass the examination, but you’ll also be able to obtain a place after passing it. Everyone understands the principle of having another party’s support.”

It was really not easy for ordinary families to produce an official.

Just like Concubine Jiang’s family that had many farming families. It was only their ancestors who had nurtured a scholar like Official Jiang.

However, after taking the examination and successfully becoming an official in the court, would everything really be fine?

Look at Official Jiang. After wasting so many years working as a sixth-grade official registrar, he should know that passing the examination was only the first step. After entering the court, he still needed more money and connections.

Didn’t a large family like the Yu Residence also need the Xie Residence’s money, connections, and channels?

The strength of one’s family background would be revealed.

Zhou Linghuai nodded. “There was fraud in the examination and the restrictions were not strict. No dynasty or generation could avoid it. The main examiner of this examination, Huang Zhiyuan, is currently a scholar of the Hanlin Academy and has studied politics. He was the main examiner of the countryside examination.”

Yu Youyao quickly asked, “I heard that the President of this examination is the Chancellor of the Hanlin Academy, Lord Tang. Will he be implicated?”

The Tang and Yu families were family friends. It was said that when her grandfather was around, the two families were close, even closer than the Zhenguo Marquis Residence.

It was also after her grandfather passed away that her grandmother became a widow and rarely went out. Many of their families’ relationships slowly faded.

Later on, Yu Zongzheng and Second Uncle entered the court one after another to become officials, and the two families interacted again.

However, her grandmother did not think much of it. The Chancellor’s scholar, Lord Tang, who was also Fifth Miss Tang and Tang Yunxi’s father, doted on his concubines more than his wife. He did not like Matriarch Tang’s personality.

The two families were still very distant.

However, there were many benefits of befriending a family. As long as one did not deliberately sabotage the other, they would not fall out.

Zhou Linghuai said calmly, “He can’t help but be implicated. However, Madam Tangs father is the administrative official of the Zhan Residence. His official position isn’t high, but it’s very important for him to be in charge of the government) workshops, and bureaus to guide and teach the princes. Just based on this, many people in the court will plead for Lord Tang. In addition, the Hanlin Courtyard is an important place for the Imperial Court to choose talents. If there’s a mistake in the Hanlin Courtyard, it’ll still shake the country. The court officials don’t want this matter to be too serious. Lord Tang will most likely be able to escape unscathed, but he’ll definitely be removed from his position.”

Yu Youyao’s gaze flickered. “It’s just that the family won’t be implicated. Madam Tang’s maiden family has a lot of people. Lord Tang still has a chance to rise again.”

Whether Lord Tang could recover depended on Eldest Madam Tang’s maiden family. This way, Eldest Madam Tang’s status in the Tang family would rise.

Eldest Madam Tang was someone who could fight in silence. She would definitely not let go of this opportunity. Then, it was time for him to give an explanation for doting on his concubines more than her.

No matter how much a concubine was doted on, could she be more important than Lord Tangs future?

It was really good karma.

Zhou Linghuai smiled. “That’s right.”

When Yu Youyao heard this, she knew that the Yu Residence wouldn’t be implicated in the fraud. “When can Brother Fang be released from prison? If the fraud is confirmed, it has nothing to do with him. Will it still affect his future?

Zhou Linghuai shook his head. “His ranking isn’t high. and his scriDtures and strategies are all above average. After an examinee like him enters the prison, as long as they investigate his interpersonal relationships after entering the capital and confirm that he’s not suspicious, he basically won’t suffer too much. There will definitely be forced confessions. There won’t be torture. When this matter is settled, the Imperial Court will definitely reopen the examination.”

Yu Youyao heaved a sigh of relief and understood what he meant. Her eyes widened. “You mean, almost everyone in the top ranks has to be tortured? Then wouldn’t Heir Song…”

Zhou Linghuai raised his eyebrows and swallowed the rest of Yu Youyao’s words.

She had only mentioned Song Mingzhao casually and did not mean anything else. However, her cousin clearly did not like her mentioning Song Mingzhao. She would just not mention him.

Zhou Linghuai’s gaze darkened. “Yao Yao

“Huh?” Yu Youyao looked at her cousin suspiciously.

The little girl’s eyes were innocent and bright, like a lake, sparkling. Zhou Linghuai’s expression subconsciously softened a little, but his tone darkened. “I’m not a magnanimous person.”

Song Mingzhao had an ulterior motive. His desire for Yu Youyao was like a fishbone was stuck in his throat.

Yu Youyao was stunned. What did her cousin mean?

What did Mingzhao have to do with her cousin’s magnanimity?

The little girl blinked and looked at him in confusion. Zhou Linghuai couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s good that you don’t understand. It’s not an important matter after all.”

This time, Yu Youyao understood and nodded repeatedly. “He’s an unrelated person. There’s no need to care about him.”

Zhou Linghuai smiled again and looked up at the little girl. The tassel hairpins she was wearing today had been carved by him when he was free a while ago.

He was proficient in carving, so carving a jade hairpin was not a problem. However, the craftsmanship of the tassel jewelry was very complicated. He felt that Yu Youyao looked good in it, so he specially found a book to learn how to make it. It took a lot of effort.

Now, it seemed that it was worth it for the little girl to wear the jewelry he had personally made.

The entire body of the jade was carved into a few jade hairpins. The hairpins were at the side of the little girl’s temples. They were of different lengths and had beautiful tassels. They fell from the stamens and reached her ears. Small jade hairpin flowers fell under the tassels and swayed lightly, making the little girl look delicate and elegant.

Yu Youyao rested her chin on her hand. “Cousin, is this the dead end you arranged for Ning Yuanbo’s residence?

Even the emperor couldn’t protect him if it involved cheating in the examination.

Zhou Linghuai smiled faintly. “It’s just a sword dance.”

Yu Youyao’s eyes widened.. Cousin meant that although he was pointing his sword at Ning Yuanbo, he actually had other motives?