Chapter 839: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 839: Private Whispers in the Boudoir (4)
"Stop talking nonsense!" Mo Yan lightly slapped her friend and, seeing her younger sister's frightened expression, scolded her gently, "Xin'er is still here, and you're saying such things. You've scared her!"
Xin'er was indeed startled. At twelve years old, she was beginning to develop a vague understanding of love and relationships. In the past, seeing her sister and the newly introduced brother-in-law getting along so well had made her think that marriage and living together were beautiful things. But hearing Liu Tinglan's seemingly shocking remarks now made her feel conflicted and unsure, unable to decide whether marriage was good or bad. For a moment, she was utterly confused.
Seeing this, Mo Yan immediately took Xin'er's hand and sat her down, comforting her, "Don't listen to what Sister Liu said. You're still young, so these things are not for you to worry about. When you grow up, you'll have your own opinions and judgment, and then you'll truly understand. For now, don't get caught up in confusion, okay?"
Xin'er snapped out of her confusion, nodding earnestly, "Mm, these things aren't for me to think about. I just want you and Sister Liu to be happy and well. Otherwise, I'll start overthinking everything!"
By the end of her words, Xin'er couldn’t help but chuckle.
"That's right!" Mo Yan smiled. "But remember, what we say today stays between us. Don't let anything slip, or we'll all be in trouble if the adults hear about it!"
It was fine to talk about these things privately, but if the adults found out, they’d surely lecture them. Especially Sister Liu’s remarks—if they reached Liu Bo’s and Liu Bo’s wife’s ears, they might even lock her up for three months to reflect.
Liu Tinglan understood the seriousness of the situation without needing Mo Yan’s reminder, while Xin'er, still young, nodded and promised to keep it to herself.
The bustling coming of age Ceremony and engagement ceremony passed, and the Mo family returned to their usual busy and fulfilling routine. However, this sense of busyness and fulfillment was short-lived, as the triennial Spring Imperial Examination was fast approaching!
The Spring Imperial Examination was held at the Imperial Examination Hall, with both newly graduated jinshi (successful candidates from previous exams) and those who had failed multiple times—altogether, over ten thousand candidates gathered from across the kingdom. These candidates were far from the only ones who had attempted the exam, as many did not participate due to inadequate preparation or lack of confidence, and others, like Master Liu, who had no interest in pursuing a government career, simply gave up.
In any case, with ten thousand candidates competing, only the top one hundred would be chosen as "gongshi" (official scholars). With such fierce competition, the odds were slim.
During these days, the Mo family was filled with a mix of nervousness and excitement. Although Mo Qingze was participating in the Spring Exam, the family was not overly anxious. Every morning when they opened the door, they found eggs or even chickens left at the gate by the villagers, a gesture of good luck and support.
Though the Mo family accepted these offerings, it unknowingly heightened their own anxiety and tension.
"Father, here's a brain tonic pill. If you place one on your desk during the exam, it will last all day. This is a quick-acting wind-dispelling pill. The night temperatures are low, and it’s easy to catch a cold, so be sure to take it if you feel unwell. This is a qi-boosting pill made from aged ginseng. If your energy is low, take one, and you'll feel rejuvenated… And these cooked foods—don’t mind the trouble, but be sure to heat them before eating. Don’t eat them cold; it’ll upset your stomach!"
In the study, Mo Yan was carefully placing each item she had prepared into a wooden box, explaining its use in great detail to her father, making sure he wouldn’t forget any of the essentials.
Mo Qingze smiled knowingly as he listened to his daughter’s meticulous instructions. He nodded patiently after each item was mentioned, assuring her that he would remember.
Once everything was packed and double-checked, Mo Yan took a deep breath and began preparing two more sets—one for Han Zhiyun and another for Shen Ji.
Han Zhiyun, needless to say, had a very close relationship with the Mo family. As for Shen Ji, although their relationship wasn’t as close, he was still an important friend of the Mo family. Moreover, since Mo Yan had decided to break off the engagement between the Liu and Du families, she had made it her goal to pair him with Liu Tinglan, so she had to take care of him as well.
Once all three boxes, identical in size but different in color, were prepared, Mo Yan finally relaxed with a cup of hot tea.
Tomorrow would be the first day of the Spring Imperial Examination, and Mo Yan would accompany her father into the city to familiarize him with the examination hall. That evening, Mo Qingze wouldn’t return home, as he would be staying in the small house previously owned by Han Zhiyun. Shen Ji would also be there.
(The End of This Chapter)
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