Do you know: I am Qi Heng

"Alright, your mother has reluctantly accepted this matter now."

Qi Xuan said, "I understand your mother's temper. As long as you pass the imperial examination with flying colors, although she doesn't like Miss Sheng, she won't deliberately make things difficult for her."

"I understand!" Qi Heng nodded with a wry smile.

He understood what his mother meant, but he knew that passing the imperial examination was no easy feat.

There are more than a million scholars in the world.

The candidates who participated in the imperial examination were all selected through a series of rigorous processes.

To achieve academic success, talent is one aspect, resilience is another, and luck is equally important.

Qi Heng really wasn't confident about whether he could pass the exam.

But since his mother had said so, he could only try his best.

The next day, Qi Heng went to the Sheng family to continue his studies, but Sanlan did not come.

Sheng Changbai explained, "My younger sisters are all grown up and it's not suitable for them to continue studying at the school. Grandmother has invited an elderly nanny who was released from the palace to come to our home to teach them manners. They will not be coming to the school anymore."

Upon hearing this, Qi Heng knew it must be Granny Kong. According to the original plan, Sanlan had studied the rules with Granny Kong for a period of time before returning to the school.

But now that Minglan's marriage to him is arranged, she definitely won't be coming back.

Unless they were attending a polo match, the two of them would hardly have a chance to see each other before getting married.

That's fine too, otherwise he would feel awkward if he actually met Minglan.

You can't exactly spend your time romantically with a young girl under the moon and flowers.

With Minglan not coming, he avoided an awkward situation and could focus entirely on his studies.

Minglan did not show up when they went to Shou'an Hall for lunch.

Grandma Sheng didn't explain anything, and Qi Heng didn't ask either.

As usual, I chatted with Grandma Sheng for a while after lunch before going back to take a nap.

After the provincial examination, Zhuang Xuejiu changed his teaching style, teaching very little from the books and letting them study on their own after returning home.

The classes mainly focused on model questions from past imperial examinations and questions from the palace examination.

They would not only explain the best policy essays from the imperial examinations to them, but also have them write essays based on the questions from the provincial and palace examinations over the years.

Although these are past exam questions, everyone has different opinions and insights on policy essay questions, and there is no single, fixed answer, so they are never outdated.

Qi Heng and his group had no need to plagiarize, because even if they answered well, it wouldn't help them in the later imperial examination.

Because the imperial examinations were to be held the following year, Sheng Hong proposed canceling the ten-day holiday, but Zhuang Xuejiu did not agree.

Too much pressure might not be a good thing.

Studying for ten days and resting for one day can effectively relieve their stress and fatigue, allowing them to adjust their state before continuing their studies.

And so, spring came and autumn went, and before we knew it, autumn had arrived.

After autumn arrived, the weather in Bianjing did not cool down much. It was unbearably hot at noon, and even on the bustling streets of Bianjing, there were far fewer pedestrians than usual during the two hours at noon.

However, the banks of the Bian River outside the city remained bustling with activity.

As the economic lifeline and "golden waterway" of the imperial court, the Bian River not only provided sustenance for millions of people but also brought together delicacies from all over the world and exotic flavors from all directions. At this time, the docks were no longer just transportation nodes but a grand panorama of bustling city life and prosperous times.

The Bian River is wide and sparkling, and the sunlight shining on it makes it look like it's covered with a layer of broken gold.

On the river, boats of all sizes were densely packed together, shuttling back and forth.

On the dock, laborers, drenched in sweat, shouted slogans as they unloaded goods.

Even the air was filled with a slight smell of sweat.

A passenger ship slowly docked, and after a young man disembarked, there was no further movement.

After about an incense stick's time, Xiao Si led several laborers onto the boat and unloaded several boxes from it.

Gu Tingye carried his son, while Manniang led her daughter Rongjie out of the cabin and hurriedly disembarked. Led by Xiaosi, they boarded the carriage waiting at the dock.

The coachman immediately spurred the horses and headed towards Bianjing.

"Father, is this Bianjing? It's so lively!"

Rongjie lifted the curtains and looked at the lively scene outside.

"Yes, this is Bianjing." Gu Tingye reached out and rubbed his daughter's head.

"Jiro!"

Man Niang scolded, "You've messed it up! People will laugh at you when you meet them!"

"Haha, no way, Zecheng and the others are my close friends, how could they laugh at me?" Gu Tingye laughed.

"Father!"

Rongjie turned her head away from Gu Tingye and asked, "Where is that Fanlou you mentioned before?"

"Fanlou is in the inner city. We haven't even entered Bianjing yet, so it's still a long way off," Gu Tingye said.

"Can Father take us to Fanlou for dinner?"

Rongjie asked expectantly, "Father said Fanlou is the best restaurant in the world, but I've never been there before."

"Eat~ Eat!"

Changge'er is still young and can't speak clearly. When he hears "eat," he waves his little fist and shouts.

"Alright, alright, I'll have your mother take you there later!" Gu Tingye smiled and pinched his son's cheek.

"Isn't Father going?" Rongjie asked in confusion.

"Father has something to do. I'll take you there when I have time!" Gu Tingye said.

Fan Lou was frequented by too many high-ranking officials and dignitaries; how could he dare to bring Man Niang and her son along?

The carriage arrived at Jiying Lane and stopped in the alley next to the Sheng family's side gate.

Xiao Si stepped forward and knocked on the door. After the doorman opened the door, they exchanged a few words in hushed tones and then Xiao Si handed over a letter.

"Hold on!"

The gatekeeper closed the courtyard gate, delivered the letter to the school, and handed it to Sheng Changbai.

It was during the break time. After reading the letter, Sheng Changbai pulled Qi Heng out of the school.

"Yuanruo, Zhonghuai is back!"

"Second Uncle is back?"

Qi Heng asked in surprise, "Where is he now?"

"The doorman said the person is at the side door; something must be wrong!"

Sheng Changbai said, "Shall we ask the scholar for leave to go and take a look?"

The side door was used by servants when they went out to buy groceries, and it was also used when concubines were brought in.

Gu Tingye returned to Bianjing but sought him out through a side gate; this seemed highly unusual.

"Um!"

Qi Heng nodded, and the two immediately went to ask Zhuang Xuejiu for leave, then hurriedly arrived at the side gate.

"Zhonghuai!"

"Second Uncle!"

"Zicheng, Yuanruo!"

When Gu Tingye saw the two of them, a happy smile appeared on his face, and he went to greet them.

"After all these years, Ze Cheng hasn't changed much; Yuan Ruo, I almost didn't recognize him!"

Sheng Changbai appears much older than his age, looking older than his actual age.

However, this kind of appearance has an advantage: even in the past few years, the appearance will not change much, only looking more mature.

"You're finally back!" Sheng Changbai said with a smile.

"Second Uncle..."

The three had not seen each other for many years and exchanged pleasantries for a long time upon meeting.

"Father!"

Just then, the curtain of the carriage parked nearby was lifted, and Rong-jie exclaimed, "It's so hot inside! I want to get out!"

Sheng Changbai and Qi Heng looked in the direction of the sound and saw a little girl of about four or five years old peering out of the car window. Inside the car, a beautiful woman in her early twenties with her hair tied up flashed by.

The little girl's address and the woman who flashed by left Sheng Changbai stunned.

Qi Heng also feigned surprise.