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Chapter 54

During this time, there were also invitations for Li Hui to attend literary gatherings. He carefully selected a few with people he knew well and attended a couple of times. After understanding the procedures, he stopped going out and secluded himself to study until the day of the exam, when he carried the examination basket prepared by Zhao Pan into the examination hall.

After a careful inspection, Li Hui obtained his number plate and proceeded to the corresponding cubicle. Fortunately, this cubicle was in the middle of the row. Its cleanliness exceeded Li Hui's expectations.

He wiped and cleaned the desk, prepared himself, and waited for the examination papers to be distributed. With three consecutive days of exams, one per day, Li Hui felt completely drained after the final session as he walked out of the gate. Zhang Hu and Qing Zhu came forward to support Li Hui and helped him into the carriage. Wen Zhu drove the carriage back to their separate residence.

The physician summoned by Zhao Pan was waiting. Li Hui took a hot bath and ate the meals carefully prepared by the cook. The physician took his pulse and diagnosed him with extreme exhaustion, prescribing two days of rest. Zhao Pan, still concerned, also prepared soothing herbal medicine.

After two days of rest, Li Hui recovered. The county examination results would not be announced for another half month, so Li Hui did not wait in the prefecture city but returned to Liuzhou. Seeing the much thinner Li Hui, Mrs. Lu took his hand, tears flowing as she murmured, "You've lost so much weight, let the kitchen prepare more dishes, you must recover." Li Xin hurried to the kitchen to make arrangements.

Guessing that Li Hui would return in a few days, the kitchen had stocked up on ingredients. That evening, the family gathered for a rare dinner together. Li Ming had already seen Li Hui's draft essays and was confident he would pass. Delighted, he urged his three sons to drink more that night.

Deep into the night, Li Xia came to the desolate mountain and noticed signs that someone had visited the grave of Tian Fa. Who could it be? The Shadowless Pavilion or Prince YongKang's people?

Either party was bad news for Li Xia. He continued to the ruins and found more footprints, as if someone had been searching for something. Li Xia prepared to enter the secret chamber but heard a sound and swiftly climbed a tree.

Soon after, a figure dressed in black, with only the nose and eyes visible, emerged from the secret chamber. After scanning the area, the figure departed. Li Xia followed, trailing them over a mountain and out of Liuzhou's borders. Unable to continue pursuit, Li Xia noted the direction and returned.

It was dawn when Li Xia got back. Fortunately, Mrs. Lu had sent word that he need not attend the morning greetings. Li Xia slept in, then summoned Qiu Shui to call for Qiu Ling. He instructed Qiu Ling to investigate the matter discreetly, without outsiders knowing.

Accustomed to an unrestrained life, Qiu Ling disliked being confined to the courtyard. She enjoyed going out and interacting with different people. Li Xia's task suited her perfectly. Taking the silver, she promised to uncover everything thoroughly.

"Be careful," Li Xia cautioned the elated Qiu Ling.

"Don't worry, Miss. Since childhood, the first thing this servant learned was how to stay alive," Qiu Ling replied. Though unsure why Li Xia wanted this investigated, she would uncover the truth no matter how arduous, to prove her worth and earn Li Xia's esteem.

Before the exam, the Lu household was tense. After the exam, they anxiously awaited the results. Mrs. Lu worried that Li Hui might not pass, or that his ranking might disappoint him. Her anxiety caused mouth sores, and she could neither eat nor sleep properly.

On the day the results were announced, Mrs. Lu sat in her room early, listening for news from outside. Auntie Mei brought Li Xia to pay respects. Mrs. Lu waved them aside, not wanting distractions. Li Xia and Li Xin sat together, both visibly anxious.

"Big brother is very capable. He's sure to pass," Li Xin said.

Li Xin glanced at Mrs. Lu. "I believe Brother will pass too." Hearing them, Mrs. Lu felt pleased but soon looked outside again, wondering why no one had come with the good news yet.

"Granny, is that the sound of someone coming to share the news?" asked Mrs. Lu to Chunlu Granny when she heard a commotion outside, rising to go out.

But before she could take a step, Auntie An's shrill voice rang out, "You little maid, can't you watch where you're going? How dare you bump into me like that?"

Seeing the household's concern for Li Hui's exam, Auntie An felt resentful, recalling how no one had cared when her sons took the imperial examinations. She muttered that Li Hui would likely fail the county exam, making it even harder for her sons to advance.

Today was the day the results were announced. Auntie An did not want to see Mrs. Lu's smug face at the Wild Goose Pavilion but, as a concubine, she could not avoid going. Suppressing her feelings, she entered with a smile.

Just inside the courtyard, a little maid bumped into her. Auntie An's suppressed anger erupted. "Which courtyard are you from, to be so careless?"

Xiao Lan was a water-carrier from the front courtyard. Mrs. Lu had ordered her to carry back two large baskets of copper coins. Li Chuan needed someone to report to Mrs. Lu at the rear courtyard. Xiao Lan had long wanted to work there, so she seized the opportunity.

Seeing Auntie An approach from the left, Xiao Lan entered from the right. Unexpectedly, Auntie An turned right, and Xiao Lan could not avoid colliding with her.

Xiao Lan quickly knelt and begged for forgiveness. "Auntie, please pardon me. I saw you going left, so I entered from the right."

Hearing this, Auntie An became angrier. A little maid dared to talk back to her. If Li Hui passed the county exam, would there still be a place for her and her sons in this household?

"You insolent wretch, still talking back? Xiao Hui, slap her mouth!" Xiao Hui, standing behind Auntie An, turned pale. Striking someone in the lady's courtyard was like jumping into a fire pit. She softly cautioned, "Auntie, this is the Wild Goose Pavilion."

Seeing Xiao Hui's inaction, Auntie An rolled up her sleeves to strike Xiao Lan herself.

"Sister An, why are you so angry so early? Look, you've startled the orioles in the courtyard," Aunt Wang's voice came from behind, causing Auntie An to lower her hand. She glared at Aunt Wang, no better herself.

Chunlu Granny came out, calmly stating, "Aunties, the Lady is waiting."

Auntie An and Aunt Wang composed themselves and entered.

Chunlu Granny looked at the kneeling Xiao Lan. "Get up."

Xiao Lan carefully stood. "Granny, I am Xiao Lan from the front courtyard. Steward Li instructed me to report to the Lady that the copper coins have been exchanged."

"Very well, I understand. Xiao Lan, be more mindful in the future," Chunlu Granny said, removing a hairpin from her head and placing it in Xiao Lan's hand.

Watching Chunlu Granny enter the room with silent, measured steps, Xiao Lan gripped the hairpin tightly, determined to become as formidable a housekeeper as the granny.