The day when Xiao Yu Zai officially transformed into a human form was the ninth day of August, which was also the day when Qin Zhao passed the Xiao San Yuan exam. Jing Li and Qin Zhao decided this day to be Zai Zi's official birthday, but because it was autumn in a few days, the two of them

No big deal.

The family just had a simple dinner as a celebration.

This year's Autumn Festival is scheduled to take place on August 13th, and the exams will be held at Gongyuan. It is customary to have three consecutive exams, each lasting three days, which is a full nine days.

Fortunately, it was autumn and it was not too cold at night. Otherwise, Qin Zhao, with his precious body, would have to stay in the room in Gongyuan for such a long time. Jing Li felt terrible just thinking about it.

‌However, preparation is essential.

This time Qin Zhao came to Qiu without his fellow villagers, so Jing Li personally sent him to the gate of Gongyuan.

Before leaving, I was still carefully checking the contents of the small bamboo basket: "clothes, pens and ink, sachets, dried meat..."

"I've checked it several times. There will be a problem." Qin Zhao took the thing away and stopped Jing Li from doing what he had done countless times since the morning.

How many times has he taken the exam? Why is it that this person is still sending him to the exam room as if it is the first time?

Qin Zhao thought for a moment and said, "I'll go home by myself after the exam, so don't wait here stupidly, do you hear me?"

"I'm a fool again." Jing Li paused and muttered in a low voice, "Who wants to wait outside..."

Qin Zhao: "Which little fish stood outside all day during the county examination?"

Jing Li's face heated up at what he said, and he pushed him toward the door of Gongyuan: "Come over, your name will be called soon."

Early in the morning, many people were already waiting in front of the Gongyuan. When a few people noticed that Qin Zhao and Jing Li were present, they turned their heads to look over.

Due to Zhaoli's status, Jing Li's popularity in the literati circle in Fucheng is now lower than that of Qin Zhao. Such a smart, beautiful and well-educated young man has become the dream object of many scholars.

Qin Zhao glanced around, raised his hand to pull Jing Li into his arms, and blocked the person with his wide sleeves with a stern voice.

He lowered his head and kissed Jing Li's forehead: "Go home quickly, there are so many people watching, I'm even jealous."

"The provincial examination is coming soon, can you think of something serious?" Jing Li almost laughed angrily at him.

Who can tell him why his mature and steady Mr. Qin is becoming more and more childish now.

Qin Zhao smiled and said "Okay", just as the gongs and drums were beating at the door of Gongyuan, the officials called out Qin Zhao's name.

Qin Zhao said warmly: "Wait for my good news."

Jing Li nodded and watched Qin Zhao turn around and walk away, stepping into the gate of Gongyuan.

The street in front of the Gongyuan was crowded with people. The roll call continued. Candidates and students entered the Gongyuan one after another, and the atmosphere was slightly solemn. The township examination was only taken once every three years, and the atmosphere was completely different from the county examination and the government examination. The candidates who came to take the examination had a young look.

Sheng, and even the elderly, they have been preparing for several years, hoping to pass this exam and fly into the sky.

Jing Li didn't know whether he was affected by this atmosphere, and his heart felt a little heavy.

With Qin Zhao's talent, he was worried about whether the other party could pass the provincial examination. However, after the provincial examination, Qin Zhao would be a candidate and would be eligible to participate in the joint examination in March next year.

It means... they are going to Beijing.

Jing Li lowered his head, knowing what he thought of, his eyes dimmed slightly.

He stood there for a long time, and before he knew it, all the candidates had entered the venue one by one, and Jing Li was the only one left at the gate of the Gongyuan. Even the officials guarding the outside of the Gongyuan came over to ask suspiciously, and Jing Li was overjoyed.

Come and leave in a hurry.

The autumn examination is the same as the college examination. Each candidate has an independent room. The interior is narrow and cramped. There are only two wooden boards at the top and bottom, one high and one short, used as tables and chairs. When resting at night, the boards can be removed.

Put together a simple small bed.

There were also a few candles and a charcoal basin placed in the room, but nothing else.

Each provincial examination takes three days, and the amount of questions is much larger than that of the previous examinations. After Qin Zhao sat down in the room, he began to look through the examination papers.

One section for "The Analects of Confucius", one section for "The Doctrine of the Mean", one section for "Mencius", one section of five-character poem in eight rhymes, and four sections on the meaning of the classics.

He read very carefully, and it took him a full stick of incense to read all the questions. When Qin Zhao put down the examination papers, he could vaguely hear the sound of flipping through examination papers and studying ink from other cells.

Although we have three days, the environment in the room is so bad that no one can guarantee that their future status will be affected.

Therefore, most candidates will try their best to answer the questions on the first day.

The same is true for Qin Zhao.

His health is a little worse than others. After sleeping in such a poor place for one night, he doesn't know what will happen to him. Now he is delayed.

Qin Zhao didn't waste time and immediately took out his pen and ink. He never needed a draft for his articles, he wrote as soon as he picked up the pen. His handwriting was neat and smooth, with every word correct. Qin Zhao took a break after writing a few paragraphs, and answered all the questions on the first day of the provincial examination.

Completed "The Analects of Confucius", "The Doctrine of the Mean" and the Two Classics.

As soon as the sky darkened, Qin Zhao stopped writing.

He had no intention of lighting candles and staying up late to answer the questions. It would be so taxing on his body and mind that he wouldn't get much time.

Qin Zhao took down the wooden boards and put them together into a small bed. He spread a coat on top and lay down with his eyes closed to meditate.

The space in the No. 1 room was narrow, and Qin Zhao had long hands and long legs, so he could only curl up his body. The No. 1 room was not well ventilated, and it was sultry at noon and cool at night, and he had to guard against snakes, insects, rats, and ants.

The environment is extremely bad.

Under this kind of environment, we don’t know how many students and aspiring people have been affected by this, and their reputations have declined.

Is this how Gongyuan treats the future pillars of the country?

Before Qin Zhaolin fell asleep, he was still sighing.

If there is a chance, someone must repair the Gongyuan.

Qin Zhao was unlucky this time. After sleeping in such a harsh environment for a whole night, he didn't even have a fever when he woke up the next day. He completed all the examination questions on the second day. Unfortunately, the provincial examination was not allowed to hand in the paper in advance.

I can wait until the application time on the third day and leave Gongyuan together with all the candidates.

Qin Zhao walked out of the Gongyuan and breathed in the fresh air outside, feeling a little dizzy for a moment.

These three days have been really tough, and what’s even more tough is that there are two exams ahead.

Qin Zhao sighed and walked towards home. After taking a few steps, he saw a carriage parked on the roadside and a familiar figure beside the carriage.

The other party also saw him and came up to him: "Mr."

Qin Zhao handed the things in his bag to him and asked with a smile: "If I ask him to wait, he will call you to come?"

Ah Qi said: "Madam is worried about your health, so she asked me to rent a carriage and wait here."

Qin Zhao naturally knew that the young husband was doing it for his own good, but it still made him a little dissatisfied when someone got into trouble and refused to pick him up because of his words.

When the autumn period is over, I have to teach him a lesson.

Qin Zhao was thinking this when he suddenly heard the sound of many footsteps coming from behind him.

"The governor has arrived."

A group of guards rode on horseback to clear the way, followed by a luxurious carriage. People on both sides gave way and curiously looked inside the carriage.

The governor is a military and political minister sent from the capital, and is much more senior than the prefect. In this autumn, except for the two examiners, the chief and the deputy, who were transferred from the Imperial Academy, all supervisory duties were held by the governor.

"I heard that the governor was the number one scholar appointed by the Holy Spirit back then." Some people on the roadside whispered.

"Stop talking nonsense, how old was the Holy One back then?" Someone interjected, "It must have been the one who ordered it."

"Shhh, don't let anyone hear you! Who knows that what the governor regrets most is that he was a disciple of that man in the past. It would kill him to mention this in front of him."

These discussions naturally reached the ears of the governor, but they were listened to by Qin Zhao and Ah Qi.

Ah Qi seemed not to have heard anything and just waited quietly beside Qin Zhao.

Qin Zhaoze turned his head and looked at the team of carriages and horses parked at the gate of Gongyuan. After a while, a young man got off the carriage.

The man was wearing an official uniform and had a slender figure. He looked relatively young, about thirty years old. He was surrounded by people and walked to the front of the Gongyuan. He seemed to be aware that someone was looking at him and turned his head towards Qin.

Zhaohe glanced in the direction where Qi was.

But all I saw was a carriage slowly leaving.

Inside the carriage, Ah Qi lowered the curtain and whispered, "He's in."

He paused and then added: "You shouldn't have seen us."

Qin Zhao leaned in the car, closed his eyes and rested his mind, and only responded in a low voice when he heard the words.

‌Debate happiness and anger.

This little incident did not affect the subsequent rural examination. After all, the governor was only responsible for supervision and would have direct contact with the candidates.

In the next few days, the governor did not show up.

The remaining two provincial examinations went as usual, perhaps because he had finally settled a worry. Qin Zhao had a slight fever on the night after the last provincial examination, which scared Jing Li and kept him awake all night.

"When will this body be able to gain some energy?" After Qin Zhao's fever subsided the next day, Jing Li said angrily despite the bruises under his eyes.

It's strange. Qin Zhao has been taking care of his body according to Mr. Xue's instructions and has been detoxifying for almost two years. Why is there still little improvement in his body?

I have to find an opportunity to go to the county seat and let Mr. Xue take a look.

Regarding her husband's complaints, Qin Zhao could only shut up and listen.

He roughly knows his physical condition. Medical books say that thinking is a disease, and Mr. Xue also said that he thinks too much, which is good for regulating his body.

But the current situation is special. Is there anything he can let go of if he wants to?
To be continued...