I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 56 Good Back
"I know, what are you yelling about?"

The woman in the yellow dress didn't even look up, quietly reading her book.

Xue Jian stepped forward and took the manuscript away. "Still pretending? You clearly care about it too."

"I didn't ask you to go and see the list."

"You didn't object either."

"You brat, I just wanted to know how my teaching went. Now it seems I have a skill to rely on, so at worst I won't starve."

"The dignified Princess Consort of Yong..."

"shut up!"

Xue Jian stuck out her tongue. "Alright, alright, it's all thanks to your excellent guidance. You're a born master teacher, is that alright now?"

"You brat."

The woman in the yellow dress feigned anger and made a move to strike.

Xue Jian raised his hand to beg for mercy, "By the way, after the imperial examination, the scholars made a fuss about 'Mr. Er Diao' and forced Young Master Xue to write a poem."

The woman in the yellow dress suddenly tightened her voice, "What kind of celebratory poem is this, let alone one that's just for show? This is forcing my friend Xue to lose face."

It's true what they say about intellectuals looking down on each other.

"Hmm? No, even you know about this. Friend Xue must have made a big deal out of nothing again."

Xue Jian laughed, "Yuan Jun guessed correctly."

"Still keeping us in suspense? You're asking for it."

"Hehe, as Xue Langjun's poem says: 'The filth of the past is nothing to boast about, today I indulge in boundless debauchery. Riding a swift horse in the spring breeze, I can see all the flowers of Yunmeng in a single day.'"

"What a wonderful day to see all the flowers of Yunmeng."

The woman in the yellow dress chuckled, "It seems that after Mr. Er Diao, another flower-viewing gentleman is about to be born."

Unexpectedly, this Mr. Xue, who appears so refined and cultured, is also a notorious womanizer.

"How does admiring flowers relate to romance?"

"What do you think the flowers in poetry represent? Flowers symbolize beautiful women."

After every imperial examination, the Flower Planting Hall is always packed with Confucian scholars. He wants to see them all in one day, tsk tsk..."

"Are you envious of his good back?"

"seek death……"

The woman in the yellow dress finally panicked and tried to pull the snow sword away.

Xuejian laughed and dodged away, then suddenly pointed east, "Someone's coming."

The woman in the yellow dress quickly straightened her clothes and composed herself. She looked over and saw a small boat rowing towards them.

"The city examination is over, and Zhaoye Dock is closed, so why are there still ships coming?"

Just as Xue Jian was wondering what was going on, he finally saw who it was and jumped up and said, "It's Young Master Xue."

The examination hall had only just opened, meaning he hadn't even had time to go home before rushing over. That's really thoughtful of him.

Before long, the boats moved closer, and Xue Xiang jumped onto the pavilion, cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Yuanjun, greetings, Miss Xuejian."

I originally intended to visit you two at Zhaoyewu, but seeing the boats moored here, I thought perhaps it was Yuanjun and Miss Xuejian enjoying themselves here.

When I came over, I realized I had indeed run into them.

"Isn't Xue friend preparing for exams? What brings you here?"

The woman in the yellow dress had a clear, crisp voice.

Xue Xiangdao said, "I came to express my gratitude after the city examination is over."

This time, he was sincere.

If he hadn't encountered the woman in the yellow dress, even with all his tricks and exploits, he would have had a hard time getting through the level.

"Have the city examinations all ended? I was lost in thought, wandering beyond the borders, and completely forgot about time. How did you do, my friend Xue?"

The woman in the yellow dress spoke lies with a straight face, remaining calm and composed.

Xue Jian, standing to the side, turned red in the face and couldn't help but turn around. The newly dug three-bedroom apartment under his feet was about to be put on the market.

"You've been selected, ranking seventeenth."

As he spoke, Xue Xiangchong bowed deeply to the woman in the yellow dress, saying, "I dare not express my gratitude for your great kindness."

The woman in the yellow dress moved her veil slightly, reached out to help Xue Xiang up, but then withdrew her hand. "Friend Xue, you flatter me. It was Mr. Yin Chuan who taught you. I dare not take credit for it."

Xue Xiang straightened up. "I am also grateful to Mr. Yin Chuan, but I will never forget the kindness of the Empress's careful teaching."

"You exchanged the manuscript for it, so there's no need to feel indebted."

The woman in the yellow dress gently rubbed the emerald green thumb ring on her index finger.

Xue Jian knew perfectly well that the woman in the yellow dress only rubbed her thumb ring when she was happy, and the happier she was, the faster she rubbed it.

"Alright, you two, stop with the one saying thank you and the other saying no. Can't we talk about something else?"

Xue Jian was worried that the green thumb ring would catch fire from being rubbed, so he quickly interrupted.

Xue Xiang pointed to the chests on the large ship, "Is the Lord Yuan about to embark on a long journey?"

The woman in the yellow dress nodded. "I will be going to Jiannan." Xue Xiang was taken aback. "When are you leaving?"

"We will depart at 1:15 PM tomorrow night, once the painted boats on the Xiang River have been arranged to take us there."

"Can it be returned?"

The woman in the yellow dress shook her head.

Xue Xiang felt a pang of regret. "I came in such a hurry and made no preparations. I am ashamed that I could not make the journey of Lord Yuan smooth."

Xue Jian said, "A scholar's favor is like a piece of paper. If Young Master Xue could give me a poem, my wife would remember it on her journey and have no regrets."

"No rudeness."

The woman in the yellow dress spat softly.

"Miss Xuejian, do you have paper and pen?"

"Have."

Xue Jian leaped onto the large ship and, in an instant, brought out the Four Treasures of the Study.

Xue Xiang spread out the paper, picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote: "The willow catkins have all fallen, and the cuckoo cries; I hear that the Yuanjun has left the Dragon Machine. I entrust my sorrowful heart to the bright moon, to follow you all the way to Jiannan West."

Yunmeng was formerly known as Longji.

Xue Xiang stopped writing, and the woman in the yellow dress trembled slightly.

Xue Jian's eyes reddened first, and she cupped her hands and said, "A single word, 'sorrow,' fully expresses my sincere feelings, my lord."

The woman in the yellow dress bowed respectfully and said, "I have no regrets about coming to Yunmeng."

After drinking half a cup of tea, Xue Xiang got up to take his leave.

When Xue Xiang returned home, it was past midnight.

After seeing the woman in the yellow dress off and sending her home, he attended three banquets in a row.

One was a thank-you banquet hosted by his own family, another was a small group dinner organized by Meng De, and the third was a reunion dinner for classmates organized by Wei Wendao.

Xue Xiang pushed open the hall door, his steps already somewhat unsteady.

An oil lamp was lit in the main room, and the gentle, fairy-like Liu Mei was adding something to the boiler on the stove.

Before long, a steaming bowl of dumplings was served to Xue Xiang.

"It's so late, why are you still doing this?"

Holding the dumplings, Xue Xiang felt a warmth in his heart.

"Eat up, you're sure to drink a lot more alcohol."

As she spoke, Liu Mei took another bowl and ladled out a bowl of dumpling soup.

After Xue Xiang finished eating the dumplings and drinking the soup, he felt warm inside and out, and even his churning stomach was calmed down.

"what is this?"

Xue Xiang noticed a book under the cushion next to him and reached for it, but Liu Mei snatched it away first.

"Let me see."

Xue Xiang reached out his hand.

Liu Mei hid the book behind her back, her fair face flushed, "It's nothing..."

"It doesn't look bad."

Xue Xiang went around behind Liu Mei, took the book, and opened it. It turned out to be the literacy textbook he had compiled for Xiao Shi.

Liu Mei was at a loss and was about to sneak back to her room when Xue Xiang grabbed her sleeve.

Xue Xiang held her hand tightly. "Why did you suddenly want to learn this?"

Liu Mei lowered her head. "The mistress said that the young master will definitely have to take the county examination. The family is in dire straits, which will make people laugh. She discussed with Madam Zhang about buying some literate maids."

Xue Xiang knew that Liu Mei was feeling inferior, and his heart ached. He gently hugged her and said, "Even if I bought a fairy, I would only want my sister Mei."

However, it's always a good thing for my sister to learn to read and write.

It was my oversight. I'll bring back a female schoolteacher tomorrow, so the three of you can teach together.

However, I'm also worried..."

"worry about what."

"I'm worried you won't be able to learn from Xiao Shi."

"Ugh...you're asking for it..."

Her eyebrows were all painted, exuding endless charm and beauty.

After comforting Liu Mei, Xue Xiang quickly washed up, returned to bed, took out the Nebula Box, and began to guide Qi into his body.

Unexpectedly, the speed at which the Qi was drawn into the body this time was more than twice as fast.

When spiritual energy enters the body, the pain is not as intense as before.

Xue Xiang guessed that it was probably a change brought about by the tempering of the body with literary energy, and it might even have improved the spiritual root aptitude.

With a thought, a wisp of golden energy emerged from between his eyebrows.

(End of this chapter)