The county-level examination lasted a total of three days and two nights. Entry, however, began on the afternoon of the first day. By the time the candidates had been searched, found their assigned cells, and settled in, dusk was already falling.

According to tradition, no examination papers were distributed, nor were any questions to be answered on the first day. Once settled, the candidates would use the remaining daylight to read. After the sky grew completely dark, they ate their evening meal, washed up quickly with some water, and then lay down to rest.

It was no wonder none of the candidates stayed up late studying. They simply couldn’t afford the toll it would take.

This was because the examination was set to begin at three in the morning.

That time of morning, when night gives way to day, is also when the body is most overcome with fatigue. Failing to get proper rest beforehand would inevitably affect their performance.

Furthermore, from the time they settled in until they had to wake, the candidates had a grand total of only three hours for rest.

Resting for three hours to face the following six-hour exam was an absolute necessity.

Indeed, the examination sessions over the next two days were incredibly long. Each day, candidates spent six hours answering questions. They were allowed to move about in their cells twice during that time, but each break was limited to a maximum of fifteen minutes...

Because Chen Wanqing was right there in the Prefecture, staying in the small courtyard they had rented, Zhao Jing felt that these three days and two nights were dragging on longer than ever before.

It was only when he was focused on the examination questions that his mind would quiet, allowing him to stop thinking of Wanqing and lose himself in the flow of time.

Three days and two nights—so brief for the common folk outside the examination hall, yet so momentous for the candidates within.

Their success or failure in becoming a Scholar would be decided here and now.

Throughout the three days of the examination, the weather remained pleasantly warm.

Even at night, the breeze was gentle. Zhao Jing slept soundly each night, as did Chen Wanqing.

Worried it wasn’t safe for her to stay alone in the small courtyard, Chen Song had made special arrangements to move out of the inn. He took over De’an’s room to stay with his daughter for a few days.

During the day, Chen Wanqing wandered the streets, buying spices, fabrics, local specialties, and medicinal herbs, while Chen Song went around making inquiries about matters related to Guyuan County.

He started making inquiries, and what he discovered was alarming.

When Chen Song returned that day, his expression was grave. He said to Chen Wanqing, "I have to be away for a day. Will you be all right here on your own?"

Chen Wanqing nodded, of course. "The Prefecture is very safe, with guards patrolling the streets every night. Father, if you have something you must do, please go. I’ll be fine."

Chen Song nodded and grimly told his daughter what he had discovered. Chen Wanqing’s heart clenched as she listened, her brow soon knitting into a worried frown.

"Father, we could ignore this if we didn’t know about it. But now that we do, we can’t possibly let it go."

"That’s what I was thinking. I’m preparing to go to Guyuan County myself. It’s close to the Prefecture, so if I travel through the night, I can be back within a day."

"Are you going by yourself?"

"Mr. Qi will go with me. Mr. Wang will stay behind at the inn to provide support. If you run into any trouble you can’t handle, go find Mr. Wang at the inn."

"Don’t worry, Father. I won’t go anywhere for the next couple of days. I’ll just stay here in the courtyard."

As it happened, on the very day Zhao Jing and his companions were leaving the examination hall, Chen Song and Qi Lan returned from Guyuan County, having ridden hard the entire way.

She had been worried because they were a full day later than expected. Seeing them return, safe and sound, she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

As it happened, Zhao Jing and De’an had just finished their exam. Overjoyed, Chen Wanqing decided to take everyone out to a restaurant to celebrate.

But Chen Song said, "I need to go see Mr. Cheng. I’ll find you after I’m done."

Before he left, he gave De’an and Zhao Jing a meaningful look, and the two obediently followed him.

The three of them—a father, his son, and his prospective son-in-law—exchanged a few whispered words. It was unclear what Chen Song said, but both De’an and Zhao Jing frowned deeply, their faces twisting with utter disgust.

Chen Wanqing didn’t have a chance to ask what was going on, as Huang Chen, Chu Xun, and a few others had just come over to pay their respects.

They had been invited by Wang Jun and were preparing to go stay at the Wang Family’s home for a few days.

Chen Wanqing understood their implication at once and flushed slightly. "To be frank, I’ve already found us a room at an inn. We can move in as early as this evening..."

"Inns are crowded and full of prying eyes. It would be quite inconvenient for you and Mr. Zhao to move in so suddenly. Besides, the Wang brothers have invited us several times now; we can’t keep turning them down. Now that the exam is over, we might as well go stay for a few days to unwind."

Zhao Jing and De’an returned at that moment. After hearing the conversation between Huang Chen and Chu Xun, Zhao Jing cupped his hands in gratitude and said, "I’ll treat you to drinks next time."