The Farm Girl’s Charismatic Fortune
Chapter 278 - 274: Being Targeted

Chapter 278: Chapter 274: Being Targeted

The days quickly passed by as Xuanbao diligently ascended the mountain daily to study, soon arriving at the day of the Imperial Examination Court exam.

Ruo Shui and Ruo Jiang had both passed the county and prefectural exams and were only participating in the court exam as Scholars.

Therefore, they needed to finish the court exam before they could attempt the provincial exam. The child student exam was held a few days before the provincial one; those who passed could proceed to the provincial exam, and after passing that, they would wait for the imperial examinations to continue their trials.

Ordinarily, the provincial and court exams did not coincide, with the provincial exam occurring once every three years at the end of autumn, whereas the court exam was held every year in April or May.

However, this year was exceptional, as the Imperial Court had scheduled an additional court exam for reasons unknown.

Some said it was due to the reconquest of Nanyu Island, which led to a shortage of officials, hence giving child students an extra opportunity. But many found this explanation unconvincing, arguing that even if one passed as a Scholar, there was no guarantee of becoming an Advanced Scholar.

In truth, there was only one reason: the Empress Dowager had the Emperor specially arrange this extra session to give Ruo Shui and Ruo Shan a chance to take part in next year’s imperial examinations.

As a result, exam venues for the court exam were established only in Shaxi County and the prefectural city of Shengping Prefecture.

Upon receiving the news, many child students came to register, causing the exam venue to overflow with candidates.

Since Ruo Jiang had broken his leg on his way to participate in the child student exam in the past, and now the family owned a bookstore and a Princess Residence in the city, there was no need to rush into the city anymore.

At that time, Ruo Jiang thought that as the county town was not far from home, he could simply wake up early and head to the Imperial Examination Court, never expecting that an accident could occur on a path he had traversed thousands of times.

So when the brothers Ruo Jiang and Ruo Hang took the provincial exam, the entire family made a move to the city, and early in the morning, Madam Liu, Madam Jiang, along with Ruo Hai and Ruo Chuan took the children to escort their father to the exam venue.

Xuanbao went along to watch the excitement (and to prevent anyone from stealing their luck), while Ruo Hang’s brothers followed because the Academy was on break, allowing them to experience the atmosphere of the imperial examinations.

Many child students had arrived outside the Imperial Examination Court.

Most of the child students participating in the exam were teenagers, with some as young as ten, while those over twenty were relatively scarce. There were some close to thirty like Ruo Shui and Ruo Jiang, but they were a minority. This extra court exam was not widely known, so most participants were teenage students currently enrolled in the Academy.

After all, if one failed to become a Scholar by the age of thirty, it indicated a lack of innate talent for studying, and continuing to take the exams was merely a matter of reluctance to give up!

Therefore, many candidates could not help but take an extra look at Ruo Shui and Ruo Jiang as they queued to enter the Imperial Examination Court.

Some people around even couldn’t help but grumble to those next to them, "Hey, see those two men? Guess how old they are?"

"They’re old enough to be my dad."

"They’re so old and still attending the court exam, they sure have the nerve. Do you think it’s possible their sons are taking it with them?"

"They’ve really got thick skins. If it were me, I wouldn’t dare to show up, but it’s different if they’re accompanying their sons for the exam!"

"Gotta admire their courage. To keep persisting without having passed the court exam at such an old age, I would’ve given up long ago."

"Don’t underestimate them, perhaps they never considered taking the imperial examinations before and suddenly decided to pursue a career in civil service, so they’re trying now. Who knows, they might advance all the way."

"This gentleman is right. They’re the proprietors of Wenyuan Bookstore, and they’re actually quite learned! You might not have heard of Wenyuan Bookstore, but what about Shui Yifang and Number Pulse Plaque? Yup, those are theirs!"

"Ah? The proprietors of Wenyuan Bookstore?"

"Ah! They’re from Shui Yifang and Number Pulse Plaque?"

"No way? People of such great learning and fine calligraphy, and yet they’ve never even taken the court exam?"

"It’s probably because many thought that despite their reputation, they were not even Scholars, so they’re here to prove themselves through the imperial examinations."

"Gosh, with the two of them here, other people have no hope for the top two spots in the child student exam!"

"Perhaps they’re just seeking fame and trying to show off!"

"Does being learned necessarily mean passing the court exam? The exams test on policy essays and eight-legged essays; knowing poetry and having good penmanship don’t guarantee success."

"You obviously haven’t heard these two gentlemen engage in scholarly discussions. I was fortunate to witness it once. Their interlocutors were Advanced Scholars, many of whom felt inferior. They’re really something! They recite the Four Books and Five Classics effortlessly, citing references offhand. Whatever question you ask, these gentlemen know the source. Saying they’re as knowledgeable as a carriage loaded with books is no exaggeration."

...

Ruo Shan and Ruo Shui had heard everyone’s comments, both good and bad, but they no longer took them to heart.

After all, with age came a wealth of ups and downs, and people became steadier, capable of remaining unruffled by honor or disgrace.

Moreover, they now held a reputation among the literati. Once a person acquired fame, their mentality often broadened, reflecting in their ability to not be easily provoked by just anyone.

Even the Ruo brothers listened without reacting!

Anyway, in their hearts, they all believed that their father would surely come out on top.

Xuanbao became even less responsive to everyone’s words; she sensed that among the cards held by the examiners, three emitted an evil aura, waiting to be given out.

Ruo Shan was soon called to enter the examination.

After being checked, the staff at the Imperial Examination Court handed Ruo Shan a bamboo plaque, which recorded the exam room and bed number.

Xuanbao immediately sensed the malevolent aura emanating from the Number Pulse Plaque.

Next was Ruo Shui’s turn, and the number plaque he received had the same evil aura.

Xuanbao became really angry!

They had their eyes on her father and second uncle!

Luckily, she was there!

After Ruo Shui and Ruo Shan entered the Imperial Examination Court, Madam Liu said, "Let’s return to the bookstore! We can come back in the evening."

The examination at the court would only last one day and conclude by evening.

Moreover, the result of this screening examination would be out in five days, and those who became Scholars could directly participate in the prefectural exam.

The prefectural exam was in six days.

Xuanbao: "Wait, I still want to see more."

Madam Liu and the others didn’t think there was anything worth watching, but since Xuanbao didn’t want to leave, everyone continued to wait patiently.

It didn’t take long before Xuanbao saw whom the third card was given to—a person named Dong Hua.

Reassured, Xuanbao ran back to Bogu Pavilion and reported the name to Xuanyuan Que.

Xuanyuan Que had also come to the city today and was currently in the back courtyard of Bogu Pavilion.

He had actually visited the Imperial Examination Court earlier and found that four tokens had been tampered with.

That made seven in total.

This was only the screening examination; the prefectural exam leading to becoming an Advanced Scholar probably had even more manipulations.

Xuanyuan Que told the shopkeeper about the names of the five individuals: "Keep an eye on these five individuals’ results when the time comes."

"Understood."

~

In the evening, Madam Liu and Madam Jiang went with the children to pick up Ruo Shui and Ruo Jiang.

Candidates from the Imperial Examination Court were coming out one after another, with everyone discussing amongst themselves: "This court examination felt even harder than the one at the start of the year!"

"I probably won’t make it again, it’s too difficult!"

"The questions were too obscure."

...

Ruo Shui and Ruo Shan were surrounded by people as they came out; they encountered the bookstore fans, and the two of them were like stars circled by admirers.

"Mr. Ruo, you’re really amazing, knowing where that line originates is one thing, but you know even the exact page and line number!"

"As expected from the world-renowned ’Shui Yifang,’ ’where there are mountains, spirit thrives.’"

"Both Mr. Ruos are truly knowledgeable across a broad spectrum; this time, you’re certainly set for the state-funded scholars."

Ruo Shui: "We dare not claim so, we just happen to have read that book and have some insights."

"Sir, what are your thoughts on the upcoming prefectural exam?"

...

No one noticed two figures walking behind the group, their faces showing smug smiles.

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