Chapter 879: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 879: Aiming for the Zhuangyuan (Part 3)
Using his years of salary and rewards, Xiao Ruiyuan had purchased shops across the country. He arranged for some individuals to train under the managers of his capital shops to learn the trade. Once they were proficient, they were assigned to manage these shops, enabling them to earn a living and maintain their dignity.
However, over the years, despite the network of shops expanding nationwide, the number of people he could assist remained limited. Many injured soldiers continued to live in hardship at the border, refusing any aid from the great general, Xiao Ruiyuan.
To most, these soldiers' refusal seemed stubborn or foolish. While Mo Yan also felt that certain principles could be set aside when survival was at stake, it was precisely this perseverance that made them all the more admirable.
Moved by their resilience, Mo Yan suddenly wanted to help these honorable individuals. She suggested to Xiao Ruiyuan, “Our orchard and herb fields need a lot of caretakers. I think these people would be perfect. I can’t promise much, but at least they won’t have to suffer from hunger or cold. What do you think, Brother Xiao?”
Xiao Ruiyuan’s eyes softened, his gaze glowing warmly as he looked at her. “Yan’er, thank you!” He didn’t know how else to express his gratitude, even though such formalities were unnecessary between them.
Mo Yan rolled her eyes at him, her tone stiff. “I’m not doing this for you, so why are you thanking me?”
“Yes, I know.” Xiao Ruiyuan didn’t expose her hidden intentions, smiling indulgently. “But I’ll thank you on their behalf.”
Mo Yan huffed, saying nothing more.
Her motivation to help these former defenders of the nation stemmed from both admiration and a desire to share some of the burdens of the man she cared for. Additionally, there was an important personal goal: accumulating virtue to help her space upgrade further.
Mo Yan had set a non-negotiable goal of upgrading her space to level ten within ten years. Presented with such an opportunity to gain significant merit, she couldn’t let it slip away. Although she couldn’t assist everyone in need at the border, helping a few was better than none. In the future, her orchards and herb fields would expand, and the number of people she could employ would only grow.
Of course, even this wouldn’t be enough to achieve her goal. Though she had a long-term plan to accumulate virtue, the timing wasn’t right yet, so she had to put it aside for now. Once the time came, the tasks ahead would far exceed her current efforts.
“By the way, today isn’t a rest day. Don’t you have official duties to attend to?” Mo Yan finally asked the question she’d been meaning to since morning.
Xiao Ruiyuan’s hand, holding his cup, tightened briefly before he relaxed again. “There’s not much to do these days. I knew you’d be sending your father to the palace for the imperial examination today, so I came to see if you were free.”
Unaware of his subtle hesitation, Mo Yan responded nervously, “I wonder what kind of question His Majesty will set today. My father seems determined to win the top scholar title… If the essay topic is too difficult or doesn’t suit him, I’m afraid he’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t perform well.”
Xiao Ruiyuan gently smoothed her furrowed brow, speaking in a low, comforting tone. “Although His Majesty personally sets the questions, there are still guidelines he’ll follow. I’m sure your father is prepared. Don’t worry too much, Yan’er.”
Mo Yan felt a bit more reassured. Just as she was about to reply, a thought struck her, and she swatted Xiao Ruiyuan’s hand away. “Our cold war isn’t over yet. Don’t touch me.”
Xiao Ruiyuan froze, staring at her serious expression. At a loss for words, he carefully asked, “Then… how can the cold war end?”
Suppressing a laugh, Mo Yan put on a stern face and said, “That depends on my mood.”
Xiao Ruiyuan was truly at his wit’s end. Yet, seeing the lively woman before him, he couldn’t feel any dissatisfaction. Instead, he wished to present her with everything good in the world.
Although they didn’t talk much after that, the mood between them was pleasant. Silently sipping tea and basking in the tranquil sunlight streaming through the window, they both felt a rare sense of peace.
Time passed quickly. Before the imperial examination ended, Mo Yan and Xiao Ruiyuan left the teahouse together. After escorting Mo Yan to the palace gates, Xiao Ruiyuan finally departed, reassured.
When Mo Qingze emerged, Xiao Ruiyuan was nowhere to be seen. Father and daughter chatted and laughed on their way home, neither bringing up the results of the examination.
The next morning, Mo Yan escorted her father to the palace gates again. This time, she stayed there, determined to be the first to hear the results once they were announced.
In the grand and solemn Golden Throne Hall, the usual assembly of civil and military officials was joined by a group of scholars dressed in their academic robes. These were the top 100 candidates who had made it through the grueling imperial examination.
At Emperor Hui’an’s signal, Eunuch Liang personally announced the names of the third-tier (Tong Jinshi) and second-tier (Jinshi) candidates. All eyes then turned to the three remaining names yet to be read, one of which belonged to the ministry of rites minister, Zhao Daren.
Among the three, one was an elderly man who had taken the exam nine times and finally made it into the Jinshi ranks. The second was a scholar from Jiangnan, just past his thirties. The third was Mo Qingze.
Everyone present knew that no matter which of the three secured the top scholar title, the futures of the other two would still be bright—especially for Mo Qingze and the Jiangnan scholar, as both were still young.
[End of Chapter]
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