Do You Know?: Rule the World

After saying that, Rulan turned away unconvinced.

Wang Ruofu rolled her eyes at her and said, "Sixth girl, you are thorough and considerate in your words and actions. This is the demeanor that a lady from a noble family should have."

"Your elder sister is now the Crown Princess, so she should act even more fairly. You should learn from these principles."

Seeing Rulan still pouting, Wang Ruofu slammed the table and said, "You bastard! Your own brother is taking the imperial examination, and instead of preparing for him, you're here making sarcastic remarks."

"I know." Rulan responded reluctantly.

Wang Ruofu took a deep breath and folded the knee pads herself and put them into the examination basket.

In Linqi Pavilion, Lin Qinshuang was wearing a peach-pink brocade robe, with her eyebrows and eyes painted particularly delicately.

Looking at the knee pads in the package, his eyes were full of disgust.

"Send anything here."

Sheng Changfeng glanced at it, and after thinking for a while, he said, "When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince took the imperial examination, I heard my second brother casually mention that Wei Xiaoniang also gave him a pair of knee pads."

Molan picked up the kneepad and touched it. "He's quite good at copying. Xiaoliu has become more and more astute in recent years."

"It's just that the material of this knee pad is a bit shabby."

Lin Qinshuang raised her hand and threw the kneepad to the maid beside her, "Take it away, don't leave it here and get in the way."

"I'm afraid Wei Ruixuan is also very disgusted with it."

Sheng Changfeng just sat there eating pastries and didn't care about the knee pads.

After Lin Qinshuang finished packing, she looked at Sheng Changfeng expectantly, "My son, you must do your best."

"I, your little mother, finally managed to find some evidence against you, and only then was I able to suppress Wei Ruixuan's limelight for the past few months."

"If my second brother gets into high school and you fail, I wonder how they would ridicule the three of us behind our backs."

Molan also said: "Third brother, you must pass the imperial examination and come back. Don't embarrass me and my mother."

In her heart, if her brother could pass the imperial examination, she would have one more chance of marrying into the Duke of Qi's mansion.

Chang Feng waved his hand and said confidently, "Don't worry. Scholar Zhuang said my writing was excellent a few days ago."

"I will definitely get into high school this time!"

Seeing this, Lin Qinshuang's eyes flashed with relief, and she nodded hurriedly: "It's good that my son has such ambition!"

Chapter 110 Blame Him for His Outspokenness

The next day, there was a crowd of people outside the Imperial Examination Hall, and the road was blocked by carriages from all families.

Gu Yankai brought Xiao Qinshi and his third son Gu Tingwei to send Gu Tingye into the examination room.

Xiao Qin's brows relaxed, and she said softly, "Erlang, when you enter the examination room later, you must do your best."

"These past few days, our entire family has been bathing and fasting together, burning incense and praying for you."

Seeing Gu Tingye standing with his eyes downcast, he turned a deaf ear to Xiao Qin's words.

Gu Yankai frowned and reminded: "Why are you daydreaming? Your mother is talking to you!"

"I heard it, son. Thank you, mother." Gu Tingye bowed to her, his tone more distant than ever before.

The smile on Xiao Qin's face froze, and she turned to look at Gu Yankai, "Erlang must be thinking about the imperial examination, so he got distracted."

"My Lord, why are you so harsh? Our Erlang has always been the most resourceful and will definitely pass this time."

Gu Yankai took a step forward and slapped him hard on the shoulder.

"Erlang, do your best in the exam. The hope of this generation of our family rests on you."

"Son, I understand." Gu Tingye bowed, feeling mixed emotions.

From the Sheng family, everyone except the old lady came to see them off.

Lin Qinshuang changed her previous brothel-style dress, and all the flamboyance and charm between her eyebrows and eyes were restrained.

In order to save face for Changfeng and Molan, she deliberately acted dignified and serious.

"Read the questions carefully, don't be impatient, and make sure you save your mother's face."

Lin Qinshuang gave gentle instructions, completely different from the way she was at Linqi Pavilion.

"I heard that the Duke of Qi's Mansion has booked the largest inn on this road."

"Look at this scene, if you don't know, you would think it's a wedding." Rulan smiled and stood on tiptoe to look around.

Molan's eyes were fixed on the Qi family's team, and she echoed, "Now, the emperor and the queen love Princess Pingning the most, apart from His Highness and the princess. Naturally, they have to put on a grand display."

Rulan snorted softly and curled her lips, saying, "Fourth sister is very clear about this. It seems that it is better to have a wife as a mother."

Molan hoped that her brother could pass the high school entrance examination, so she did not argue with her. She just straightened her sleeves calmly.

Duke Qi, Princess Pingning, and Qi Heng rode in the same carriage today.

Qi Heng was wearing a moon-white brocade robe and sitting upright inside the carriage, his fingers resting lightly on his knees, occasionally lifting the curtain to look outside.

Princess Pingning looked at her son. Seeing how handsome and elegant he was, a hint of pride flashed in her eyes.

Duke Qi stroked his beard and said nothing along the way, but he had high hopes for Qi Heng in his heart.

"Now, countless eyes in Bianjing City are waiting to see whether the only son of our Qi family will rely on his ancestors' influence or rely on his real talent and knowledge to enter the court as an official."

"Yuan Ruo, your mother has been disciplining you strictly these years, just waiting for this day, so that those who gossip about you can see what a true noble family is like."

Qi Heng lowered his head slightly upon hearing this and replied, "Mother has high hopes for me, so I will do my best to fulfill them."

Princess Pingning nodded with satisfaction.

Just as the carriage was about to arrive at the Imperial Examination Hall, Qi Heng, who had been preparing for a long time, suddenly said, "Mother, after the Spring Examination is over, shouldn't it be time for me to discuss my marriage?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Princess Pingning paused in waving her round fan, and her tone became teasing and tentative.

"My son... do you already have a girl in mind?"

Qi Heng's cheeks flushed slightly. "My son was just thinking that if he could pass the imperial examination this time, it would be time for him to consider his lifelong affairs."

"I mean, I hope you can get married and start a family soon, so your mother and I can enjoy the days of having grandchildren."

The Duke of Qi spoke with a smile. He was well-known in Bian Jing for his gentle and modest character and was the easiest to deal with.

Therefore, over the years, all matters big and small in the Duke of Qi's Mansion were decided by Princess Pingning, and no one dared to contradict her.

Princess Pingning's eyes flickered slightly as she continued to probe, "What kind of girl do you think is worthy of our family?"

Qi Heng's breathing quickened, thinking his chance had come.

He straightened his back and said solemnly, "To be honest with you, mother, I think the girl from the Sheng family is very suitable."

"Oh?" Princess Pingning raised her eyebrows slightly.

After a moment's silence, she nodded and said, "The eldest daughter of the Sheng family is now the Crown Princess. I remember there is a fifth daughter named Rulan, who is also a legitimate daughter. After you pass the imperial examination, you can consider her."

"Mother..." Qi Heng's heart tightened.

When Princess Pingning saw this, her face suddenly darkened.

"What? Not the Fifth Miss? Could it be that you're after his concubine's daughter?"

"Mother, although she is not born of a legitimate wife, she is very gentle and intelligent, well-educated, proficient in poetry and songs, and in managing the household."

"My son has been in the same class with her for three years. He would never have made a mistake in choosing her." Qi Heng's eyes flashed with eagerness, and he almost wanted to beg.

Princess Pingning remained silent, and the atmosphere in the carriage suddenly became tense.

Duke Qi coughed lightly and tried to smooth things over, saying, "Since she's a concubine's daughter, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take her as your concubine after Yuan Ruo passes the imperial examination."

"No, she can never be my concubine!"

"Mother, this is my only wish. If you agree, I will try my best to pass the exam and bring honor to the Qi family." Qi Heng looked stubbornly at Princess Pingning.

Princess Pingning held a round fan in her hand, her pupils shrank slightly, and a surge of anger rose in her heart.

Just at this moment, the carriage stopped steadily outside the Imperial Examination Hall, and many candidates had lined up and were being inspected one by one.

She curled her lips and said, "Okay, when you're on the list, I'll go with you to the Sheng family to take a look."

"Thank you, mother!" Qi Heng felt relieved, with a glint of surprise in his eyes.

He bowed solemnly, lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage.

After accepting the blessings of their sisters, the brothers Changbai and Changfeng walked towards the Imperial Examination Hall at Sheng Hong's urging.

Wang Ruofu looked at Changbai's back and silently prayed to God that Bai'er would be admitted to high school!

Only after Qi Heng's figure completely disappeared from the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall did Princess Pingning and Duke Qi set out on their return journey.

"Do you really agree to let Yuan Ruo marry the concubine of the Sheng family?" Duke Qi couldn't help asking.

Princess Pingning's face was grim, and she gritted her teeth as she said, "Not to mention the Qi family, even in my mother's family, the Xiangyang Marquisate, there has never been a precedent of a concubine's daughter marrying into the family as the principal wife."

"He doesn't mind being ashamed, but we still have our dignity to save!"

"What kind of despicable tricks won't those illegitimate girls use to climb up the social ladder?"

"Yuan Ruo has always been polite and sensible, he must have been bewitched by that vixen!"

"She can't even be a concubine of the Duke's Mansion. This little concubine is really ambitious!"

Duke Qi nodded awkwardly, feeling curious whether the girl from the Sheng family was so beautiful that Qi Heng was so fascinated by her.

At the same time, he was secretly thinking that his Qi family had been declining in recent years, and now there were only four or five people serving as officials in the court.

If Qi Heng cannot find a capable Yue family, he will probably have difficulty making progress in his official career.

-

Three days later, the Spring Examination ended, and all the candidates came out of the Imperial Examination Hall with dark circles under their eyes and exhausted.

Qi Heng straightened his chest, his eyes filled with joy, and got into the carriage with full confidence.

As soon as Sheng Changbai walked out of the door, the servant Hanniu immediately took the examination basket from his hands and said softly, "Second brother, you have worked hard. Our eldest lady has been burning incense and praying for blessings every day these days, worshipping the three schools of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism together!"

"Mother, you're so mean! If burning incense and praying could bring you fame and fortune, then why would students in this world have to study so hard for ten years?"

Having said that, a warm feeling still welled up in his heart. He raised his hand to rub his sore temples, then got on the carriage back home.

After all the candidates had left, the gate of the Imperial Examination Hall was closed as usual.