Dream of the Red Chamber: Madam, please have some self-respect!

The date for the prefectural examination was fast approaching.

The examination venue was still set up in Shuntian County School—after all, it was in Shenjing Prefecture, right under the emperor's nose, and the prefectural examination was only nominally one level higher.

Jia Yun knew that he had barely managed to get seventh place in the county examination last time, and had been appreciated by the examiners and promoted to a higher rank. This time, he absolutely could not be different again.

He made up his mind to only write articles that were safe and sound, seeking neither merit nor demerit.

Just after midnight, Jia Yun got up, washed up, picked up the lantern and examination basket that had been prepared, and went out.

The street next to the county school is no longer the quiet place it used to be.

The road leading to the county school was completely blocked by carriages, horses, and lanterns of all kinds, as well as many scholars like him carrying baskets on foot.

The sounds of people, horses' hooves, and turning axles mingled together, creating a lively atmosphere.

Taking advantage of his youth, Jia Yun weaved through the crowds of carriages and people, finally managing to squeeze his way to the imposing gate of the county school.

At the gate, yamen runners held lanterns to maintain order, their shouts echoing throughout the area.

Just as Jia Yun was about to step forward in order, a young, unfamiliar constable, perhaps seeing that his clothes were not particularly luxurious, tried to show off his power.

The other person blocked the way with their arms outstretched: "What are you pushing for! Get in line at the back! Don't you know the rules?!"

Jia Yun frowned slightly, about to speak, when a seasoned constable with sharp eyes grabbed his young colleague's sleeve and said urgently, "You clueless brat! Look closely! This is Jia Yun, the seventh-ranked scholar in the county examination! You've made things difficult for him today; if he becomes a master someday, you'll regret it!"

Upon hearing this, the young constable's face instantly changed.

With a beaming smile, he seemed to shrink in stature: "Oh! It's Master Jia! I was blind! Please, be magnanimous, come inside! Please come in!"

As he spoke, he hurriedly made way for them.

Jia Yun sighed inwardly at the coldness of the world, but on the surface he simply nodded and stepped into the examination hall.

The courtyard was brightly lit and bustling with people.

Jia Yun looked around but couldn't see Wang Wei, Zhou Xiangyu, or any of her familiar friends for a moment. Just as she was wondering about this, she heard someone call out to her from the side:

"Brother Jia! Over here!"

"Brother Wenwei, you've come too!"

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw several unfamiliar students.

After a moment's thought, he remembered that it was one of the people who had witnessed him saving Yang Sichang at the restaurant that day.

Jia Yun had no choice but to clasp his hands in return and exchange a few pleasantries.

When his gaze swept to the end of the line, he finally saw Wang Wei and Zhou Xiangyu.

They were in line behind, also craning their necks to look for him. The three of them saw each other from a distance, their eyes lit up with smiles, and they nodded slightly to each other in greeting.

What followed was a rigorous search.

Sure enough, many of those who had taken a chance were caught.

An elderly scholar with graying hair was found with several sheets of oiled paper covered in fine writing on them, pulled from the sole of his shoe. He immediately collapsed to the ground, pleading tearfully, "Sir! Please have mercy! This is the last chance I've had! I've taken the exam my whole life..."

Her voice was so pitiful that it was heartbreaking, yet she was still dragged away without mercy by two ruthless bailiffs.

Another child, pale with fright, shed several finely rolled strips of paper from his tightly tied hair.

Jia Yun watched silently from the side, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

Because he ranked seventh in the county examination, he was specially led to sit in the inner hall.

These are the exam seats reserved for the top ten candidates; the environment is much quieter than the main hall outside.

Looking up, he saw the chief examiner, Magistrate Xu, sitting upright in the hall, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, meeting his own.

Magistrate Xu nodded slightly to him. Jia Yun did not understand the deeper meaning, but dared not be negligent, and quickly bowed his head respectfully in return.

When the test papers and questions were handed out, Jia Yun stared intently at them and was overjoyed—the questions were indeed extremely similar to the policy directions that the three of them had repeatedly pondered and discussed together in the past!

Many viewpoints and allusions were discussed and debated by them.

At that moment, his thoughts flowed like a spring, all the pent-up emotions in his heart were released, and he wrote as if divinely inspired.

All that could be heard was the scratching sound of the pen tip moving across the paper. Before noon, Jia Yun had already finished writing a beautifully written article and then carefully checked it over.

As he handed in his paper and stepped out of the examination hall, the sunlight stung him, making him feel as if he were in another world.

Wang Wei and Zhou Xiangyu were already waiting outside the door, and they surrounded him as soon as they saw him.

"How is it?" Wang Wei asked impatiently, grabbing Jia Yun's arm.

Zhou Xiangyu also looked expectant: "Judging from Yun-ge's complexion, she must be feeling very well!"

Jia Yun finally showed a rare, relieved smile: "It's truly thanks to my two elder brothers! This question is exactly the same as the one we discussed the other day! If I hadn't been discussing it with you two regularly, I wouldn't have been able to handle it so smoothly!"

All three were overjoyed, as if a great weight had been lifted from their hearts.

"Let's set a date, I'll definitely be the host, and we'll have a good get-together, drinking until we're completely drunk!" Jia Yun said with a smile.

After the agreement was reached, everyone dispersed, and he boarded the carriage that had been hired and was waiting for him.

With a crack of the whip and a shout, the coachman sent the carriage rumbling toward the capital city.

Jia Yun leaned against the slightly bumpy carriage wall, looked out the window and let out a long sigh of relief—this crucial prefectural examination was finally over smoothly.

When Jia Yun returned to the west corridor, he found Qingwen sweeping the courtyard with a broom.

When Qingwen saw him return, she immediately dropped the broom and rushed to greet him, her bright eyes scrutinizing his face: "Second Master Yun is back! How did the exam go? Judging from your expression, could it be that..."

Hearing the commotion, Madam Bu came out of the house, still holding needle and thread. She asked anxiously, "Yun'er, how did the exam go?"

Jia Yun gave a wry smile, took the warm water Qingwen handed him, took a sip, and then said, "The questions were a bit tricky. I did my best, but whether I passed or failed is really hard to say. I'm afraid... it's a bit uncertain."

He's starting to scare people again—even though it's something that's practically a sure thing.

Mrs. Bu hurriedly said in a panic, "What's there to worry about! My son is studying so hard, he'll definitely pass! Even if he doesn't, it's alright, we'll study hard for another three years!"

Qingwen, however, was outspoken. Raising her eyebrows, she said coquettishly, "Second Master, don't belittle yourself! We've all seen how hard you study day and night. If you still can't pass, then there would be no justice!"

After she finished speaking, she suddenly remembered something and continued to ask, "By the way, if we happen to win, how much reward should we give when the messenger comes to announce the good news? We can't be impolite and make people laugh at our Jia family for being stingy."

Jia Yun pondered for a moment and said, "According to custom, for such a good news, each person should be given one hundred coins."

"One hundred coins?" Qingwen's voice immediately rose. "My dear Second Master! You really don't know the cost of living! How much rice and flour can one hundred coins buy? In my opinion, fifty coins is the most we can manage! Any more than that, and we won't be able to make ends meet!"

As she spoke, she put her hands on her hips, giving off an air of "Don't even think about paying an extra penny."

Seeing her fiery demeanor, Jia Yun couldn't help but chuckle, "Alright, alright, we'll do as our Miss Qingwen says. Fifty coins it is. But it's not even certain we'll pass yet, isn't it too early for you to say such things?"

"Pah! Pah! Pah! Children say the darndest things!" Qingwen, ignoring her blushing face, spat several times. "Second Master, quickly knock on the wood! Such auspicious words shouldn't be spoken carelessly!"

As the three were chatting and laughing, footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate. It turned out to be Yuanyang from Grandmother Jia's room, who had arrived with two maids.

Amber smiled and said, "Second Master Yun is back? The old lady was worried about you and sent me to ask how you did in the imperial examination this year. The old lady said that Second Master is a member of our Jia family, so if you need anything, just ask."

Jia Yun hurriedly bowed and said, "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Please ask Sister Yuanyang to report back. I have done my best. As for the outcome, I leave it to fate."

Not long after Yuanyang left, Feng'er from Wang Xifeng's courtyard also arrived, saying similar things, nothing more than expressing concern on behalf of Second Mistress Lian. Immediately following, Li Gui, a steward from Jia She's household, also came to inquire.

Li Gui's eyes flickered. After conveying Jia She's words of "encouragement," he smiled at Qingwen and said, "Miss Qingwen, our master has recently acquired several bolts of fine satin. He thought that if Second Master Yun wins the imperial examination, he would need to have presentable clothes to show to others. He instructed you to go and have your measurements taken, and bring them back while you're at it."

Although Qingwen was straightforward, she also knew that the master Jia She had a bad reputation.

Her expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and she was about to speak.

Jia Yun stepped forward, shielding Qingwen behind him, and said solemnly to Li Gui, "Thank you for your kindness, sir! However, my academic record is not yet finalized, so I dare not accept such a generous gift. Besides, Qingwen is a capable person in my mother's service, and with the household affairs so complicated right now, we cannot do without her. If I am fortunate enough to pass the exam after the results are announced, I will personally come to your residence to express my gratitude to you, sir."

Li Gui was met with a rebuff, and his expression turned somewhat displeased, but he couldn't force the issue, so he had no choice but to leave dejectedly.

After everyone left, Qingwen patted her chest, still shaken, and said, "My goodness, thank goodness Second Master stopped us! That Master... he's no good place!"

Madam Bu was also worried: "Yun'er, won't your refusal offend the master?"

Jia Yun snorted coldly: "So what if I offended you? Although we are poor, we cannot let others manipulate us. Besides, who doesn't know what he's thinking? If anyone from over there comes to call you again in the future, just refuse and say that I told you to."

How could I not know what Jia She was thinking?