She had an expression of understanding: "Oh, I see."

She didn’t pursue the matter any further.

She still remembered that servant, who had a prominent red mole under the corner of his right eye, making a deep impression on her.

She didn’t know that it was that very servant who spoke foully of her in private, and Pei Wanmu punished some people in the mansion because of this. He returned from Dragon Tiger Mountain this time, and would go back in the spring of the following year. His master once prophesied that he would face a calamity; if he went up the mountain next year and stayed there for three years, it would ensure his safety. However, he didn’t know when this calamity would occur.

Before he left, he had to arrange certain affairs in the Capital City.

Such as Shen Chen, and the future position of State Preceptor, it was time to step down for someone more worthy.

Three years wasn’t too long, nor too short. Constant replacement would lack consideration.

...

The autumn wind swept by, taking the feathers of passing geese.

In the blink of an eye, the day of the autumn examination arrived.

The autumn exam, also known as the "provincial examination," usually took place in August, hence the name.

The chief examiners of all regions were appointed by Emperor Jingping. The Central Capital referred to them as "Grasp Scholars," with the first place being: Top Scorer, also called Top Scorer.

Second place: Second Best.

Third, fourth, and fifth places: Runner up.

Sixth place: Second Runner Up.

After the provincial examinations, one must proceed to the metropolitan and palace examinations.

The metropolitan examination was a unified test taken by Grasp Scholars in the Capital City; those who passed were called Advanced Scholars, with the first place being: Top Scorer.

The palace examination was the highest level, presided over by Emperor Jingping himself; the first place was called: Champion Scholar, the second place: Second Place, the third place: Flower Snatcher.

The Daqing Dynasty had countless students, many devoted their whole lives, yet never passed the provincial exam. Imagine how many people it takes to produce a single Champion Scholar.

On the day Shen Chen went to the exam, Ye Zhi did not go to see him off but planned to take Ming Yan to Longhua Temple early in the morning to pray for him, to bless him in passing.

Strangely enough, even though she knew the outcome, she couldn’t help but worry—it’s truly uncanny.

Lu He was pregnant for more than three months and also intended to go with Ah Zhi to Longhua Temple to give thanks.

Zhao Jun was initially supposed to accompany her, but as the Ye Mansion’s Grand Steward, he had many trivial matters to oversee, and in remembrance of the mansion’s past kindness, he took care of everything, no detail too small, unable to spare himself, yet unwilling to let go of his wife.

She rolled her eyes and said: "You don’t need to accompany me; go tend to your own affairs. I will go with Ah Zhi, whose Martial Arts are unparalleled; you may not even be able to defeat her, what are you worried about? Don’t believe me, try it?"

Named, the young girl flexed her wrist, looking as if ready for a fight: "Brother Zhao, you were injured earlier, so I’ll let you have three moves. I’ll use the Luoyan Spear, and what weapon will you use?"

Zhao Jun: "..."

Finally, he conceded and let her go.

He selected a guard with decent martial skills as the driver, adding two more to escort them.

Lu He chuckled: "Making such a fuss. It’s not our first time going to Longhua Temple, and besides, that water monkey has already been found, so there’s no fear even passing Yanming Lake."

Ye Zhi, after her last near-drowning, had been kept inside by her mother to learn Luonan embroidery, forgetting about the water monkey incident, she responded with a mildly surprised expression: "The water monkey was caught? Who caught it?"

She remembered that day, how her ankle was grabbed by something resembling a human hand, pulling her into the lake.

Lu He clicked her tongue: "Oh, Ah Zhi, you still don’t know? I even went to see it; a month ago, they found the water monkey’s corpse, and it had been dead for quite some time."

After a brief pause, she continued: