The young lady is delicate and soft, yet she criticizes the powerful minister for bowing and scrapin

Two years later, on the day the imperial examination began, the capital city was bustling with activity at the crack of dawn.

Qi Yunsi put on his best clothes, which his sister had bought for him a few days ago. The collar and cuffs had been stitched with extra thread to make them neater.

"Don't panic, do your best and leave the rest to fate. Your sister is waiting for you at the alley entrance. Besides, you're only fifteen. This trip is just to gain some experience."

"Don't worry, I know." Qi Yunsi grinned, looking very cheerful.

Two years can transform a boy from an introverted person into a very lively one.

At the entrance of the examination hall, the Imperial Guards and examiners were inspecting the examination room in a very serious manner, requiring the candidates to hand over the examination documents they had been given.

The examiners were somewhat surprised to see that he was still young, but it was within the rules; he was only fifteen years old.

They didn't say much, and after verifying the information, they let them pass.

The midday sun was very strong. When the examiners announced the start of the exam, the candidates lowered their heads and began to write.

The first exam, which tests understanding of the scriptures, requires written texts that are clearly organized and well-supported by classical texts. It demands both adherence to traditional methods and the writer's own insights.

The exam lasted until nightfall, and oil lamps were lit inside the examination hall, their dim light illuminating the focused faces of the examinees.

Qi Yunsi rubbed her sore wrists, ate a few bites of the dry rations she carried with her, drank some water, and then continued answering questions.

It wasn't until the third watch of the night that he neatly copied the exam paper, checked it, and then lay down on the table to sleep.

The last two sessions consisted of tests on policy essays and poetry.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, what he wanted most was a policy that would bring peace and prosperity to the country and its people.

Qi Yunli usually enjoyed discussing things with him, which surprised Qi Yunsi.

Based on the reforms to the administration implemented after the new emperor ascended the throne, Qi Yunsi wrote down three major propositions: light taxes and levies, emphasis on agriculture and commerce, and broad recruitment of talented individuals. His arguments were well-organized and logical.

However, he was still a young man and did not have many practical solutions. He was more concerned with his country and family, expressing his aspirations through the scenery, and creating poems with broad artistic conception.

The three days passed quickly, and the table was covered with a dense stack of test papers.

By the time they left the examination hall, it was almost dark. The crowd at the alley entrance had dispersed, and only Qi Yunli was still waiting.

"How about it? Let's fight again in three years."

"Three years later, my sister will be an old maid."

"You take your exam, what does my age have to do with it?"

Qi Yunli didn't want to go see the results on the day they were released.

She never felt that her younger brother had any extraordinary talent; it was good enough that he could gain some experience by taking exams at the age of fifteen.

Furthermore, in the capital, besides Wei Jun, who else would have the opportunity to become the top scholar at the age of seventeen?

Qi Yunsi kept accusing her of not caring about her younger brother, saying that after two years of hard study, she should go and see him, and even if he didn't pass the exam, she would know where the gap was.

Qi Yunli couldn't refuse him, so she also squeezed to the outside of the examination hall. It was packed with people, and she was completely surrounded by other students and their relatives.

Everyone stood on tiptoe, their eyes fixed on the single list, each feeling anxious and uneasy.

Qi Yunli squeezed into the crowd, her palms slightly sweaty, but she pretended to be calm.

Start from the top and work your way down the list.

I actually saw my brother's name on the list.

"A scholar?"

Qi Yunli stood there, stunned, and didn't react immediately.

Upon confirming that it was indeed her younger brother's name, an indescribable surge of joy welled up inside her.

"Sister?" Qi Yunsi looked completely bewildered outside the crowd.

He had been really looking forward to it, but his expression froze the moment he saw his sister's face.

"You've really made something of yourself!" Qi Yunli's eyes suddenly welled up with tears, but her lips were turned up in a wide smile that she couldn't stop. Her voice choked as she broke through the crowd.

She hugged her younger brother tightly: "You are a scholar!"

He became a scholar at the age of fifteen, and after three years, he could directly participate in the metropolitan examination.

Inside the study, the emperor was reviewing memorials when a young eunuch tiptoed in:

"Young Master Qi has passed the county-level imperial examination and is the youngest one to achieve this. He will be able to directly participate in the metropolitan examination in three years. He is truly gifted."

Upon hearing this, Wei Jun looked out the window at the sky, which was cloudless and bathed in sunlight.

"I also cherish talent. I will reward Prince Qi with a hundred bolts of brocade and a thousand taels of silver, so that he can focus on preparing for the exam. Three years later, I will be waiting for him in the main hall."

Xie Dongpo and Wei Ruowei immediately sent someone to deliver congratulatory gifts.

They no longer concealed their relationship with Qi Yunli. The courtyard was small, but everyone was all smiles.

The gifts filled half a room, including writing implements. When the neighbors found out, they all came to offer their congratulations.

Amidst the lively atmosphere, Qi Yunli felt genuinely comforted.

Her years of hard study paid off; she and her younger brother traveled all the way from Jiangnan to the capital and sought refuge with the Marquis of Dingyuan.

After several years of diligent study, the younger brother truly transformed from a timid boy into a capable young man, eventually becoming famous throughout the capital and passing the imperial examination. Their lives finally held hope.

But after this sense of relief came a lingering, inexplicable melancholy.

The emperor's intentions were obvious, and everyone was telling her that the time had come and she should move forward.

She still didn't want to enter the palace, didn't want to become a concubine in the deep palace, didn't want to be bound by the palace walls, and didn't want to be bound by the rules of the three palaces and six courtyards, letting her joys and sorrows depend on the emperor's whim.

"What's wrong? Sis, are you tired?" Qi Yunsi noticed that she seemed dazed.

"I'm just happy for you."

Wei Ruowei suddenly pulled her aside and brought up gossip:

"Let me tell you, my younger brother Wayne was granted a royal title before."

"Wasn't that something that happened a year ago?"

"Yes, he was granted a fief, but he didn't leave the capital." Wei Ruowei thought about it and found it funny. "After the Li family found out that my brother had been granted a title, they actually sent Wei Chu over, hoping that the emperor would bestow the title of king upon Wei Chu."

"You're really shameless," Qi Yunli exclaimed in surprise.

"Isn't that right? My brother was able to be made a king entirely because the third branch of the family didn't fight or compete for anything," Wei Ruowei remarked.

At this point, Qi Yunli was somewhat puzzled: "Logically, once a prince is granted the title, he should leave the capital and go to his fiefdom to guard it. What does His Majesty mean by this?"

"I don't know either, but my brother has always been unpredictable. He and my brother had a lukewarm relationship before, and were not that close. It was only after my brother ascended the throne that their relationship became closer."

That's strange.

Previously, Wei Jun had even tried to get Wei En and Wei Chu into gambling at a casino.

They said it was to test their sincerity, and that one should always be wary of others, and so on.

Wei Ruowei chuckled and sat down on the stone bench, fanning herself with a round fan.

"At that time, my elder brother needed to keep the various branches of the family in the Marquis of Dingyuan’s mansion in check, and there were also wolves and tigers watching from the outside. He did that just to see which of the clan’s disciples would lose their temper in the chaotic gambling den."

Qi Yunli also sat down.

"Leaving aside these political infighting matters, how is your married life with Xie Dongpo?"

Seeing Xie Dongpo chatting happily with Fu Chong and the others in the distance, occasionally glancing at them with a smile, she didn't speculate much.

"Judging from his expression, if my heart hadn't fallen for him, he'd probably be jealous. How can he still be smiling?"

"You've fallen for him?"

"Yes, his pursuit was so sincere and passionate, he was willing to risk everything to be the last one standing in the ring. It would be a lie to say I wasn't moved, especially since there's no difference between before and after marriage, and no one is around to talk to you about marriage."

Wei Ruowei sighed, "You, I wish you happiness too."