County Examination Seventh (Seeking Collection, Seeking Follow-up Reading)

Outside.

Xinghua works as a cook for the Li family. He knows that no matter what, he has to bother the Li family.

Of course.

Wei Tu hadn't forgotten about Li Yaozu's attempted misdeed back then, but now wasn't the time for him to dwell on it.

What was more important.

He knew that clearly.

In the eyes of outsiders, he was still a household slave of the Li family, indebted to them.

Even though he had been freed from his status, this "stain" of his origins was difficult to wash away.

Leading his horse through the familiar streets, Wei Tu looked at the scenery, the objects, the plants, and the trees before him. His state of mind was vastly different from half a year ago.

There was more leisure and composure.

Wei Tu guessed this was related to gaining the approval of Martial Graduate Dan while he was at the Dan family, giving him confidence in the County and Prefectural Examinations for martial arts, and... after learning the martial way's killing techniques, his confidence in his own martial strength.

"Go around that alley, and we'll be at the front gate of the Li Residence."

Wei Tu looked straight ahead and led his horse past.

However, just as he reached the street where the Li family lived, Wei Tu was slightly surprised by the bustling scene at the Li Residence, with carriages and guests filling the entrance.

The Li family started as traveling merchants a hundred years ago and established their business here. In the county town of Qingshan County, they were just an ordinary wealthy family, nothing special.

Logically, this shouldn't have attracted so many officials and gentry to visit.

Seeing Chun Lan and Cai Xia standing at the side gate to welcome guests, Wei Tu tied his Green Dappled Horse to the hitching post next to the main gate and walked over.

A moment later, after inquiring, Wei Tu learned that the commotion at the gate was because Li Xingye's name appeared on the list when the county posted the case files yesterday.

And his ranking was not low.

He was seventh in the County Examination!

"Seventh in the main examination..." Wei Tu was genuinely shocked when he heard this.

Qingshan County had at least a thousand candidates participating in the County Examination. To stand out among these thousand and make it onto the case file list was not easy, let alone achieve a good result like seventh place in the main examination.

(The case file only included the top fifty results. Not being on the list meant failing.)

Li Xingye, at the age of twenty, managed to get on the list in the County Examination and ranked seventh. Even if he wasn't as brilliant as the child prodigies or the top scorers in the county's history, it was still an outstanding achievement within Qingshan County.

Furthermore, seventh place in the main examination didn't necessarily mean he was weaker than those ranked higher. After all, there was no absolute "first" in academics, and the County Magistrate's grading also had his preferences.

"If the candidates in this session of Qingshan County are not weak, Li Xingye has a high probability of obtaining a scholar's title this autumn."

Thinking of this, Wei Tu finally understood why so many carriages from wealthy families had arrived at the Li Residence today.

Although a scholar's title wasn't particularly precious, it was a different story for a young scholar.

It meant he had a high chance of advancing smoothly, passing the Autumn and Spring Provincial Examinations, and thus reaching the imperial court in his prime...

After the surprise.

Wei Tu explained his intentions to Cai Xia, asking her to go inside and inform Madam Li that he intended to see Xinghua and stay at the Li Residence for the night.

"After the martial arts County Examination is over, I will leave the Li Residence and head to the Prefectural City."

Wei Tu stated a specific time.

Hearing this, Cai Xia nodded and moved towards the Inner Quarters.

About fifteen minutes later, Cai Xia returned. She shook her head at Wei Tu and said, "The First Mistress is in the parlor entertaining the female family members brought by the guests. I waited for a long time but couldn't find a suitable opportunity to speak with her..."

"Perhaps, Brother Wei, you can wait at the door for a while. Later, when it's the hour of the Rooster (5-7 PM), the visiting guests should be leaving," Cai Xia said, looking up at the sky as the sun set in the west.

"Alright." Wei Tu nodded, left the side door, and sat on the hitching post where his Green Dappled Horse was tied, stroking its mane while waiting for the guests at the Li Residence to leave.

More than half an hour later, as the sky began to darken, there was finally some movement at the side door of the Li Residence.

Maidservants carrying lanterns, followed by officials and noblewomen, walked out, like a string of fiery serpents.

As the carriages rumbled away, the entrance to the Li Residence returned to its usual quiet, and the chirping of insects gradually rose.

Wei Tu saw Li Yaozu and his wife standing at the door to see off the officials. He led his horse over, bowed slightly, and stated his purpose.

"First Mistress, Brother Wei arrived early this morning, but you were busy, so I didn't have a chance to inform you," Cai Xia added after Wei Tu spoke.

"Brother Wei?" Madam Li looked at the young man before her, her face showing surprise.

She had seen Wei Tu standing outside the door earlier, but because it was dark, she hadn't recognized him immediately. She had only thought the young man by the hitching post was a servant of some official, waiting nearby.

Madam Li's lips moved, preparing to say something.

But at that moment.

Using the light from the doorway, Madam Li finally saw Wei Tu's appearance clearly, as well as the refined aura unique to a martial artist that emanated from him. She thought for a moment and immediately swallowed the words in her throat.

—If not for the material of the purple padded jacket he was wearing, which she had gifted to Xinghua, Madam Li wouldn't have believed that the Wei Tu before her was the strong servant who had redeemed himself at the residence half a year ago.

"You have been neglected; our Li family has not entertained you properly." Madam Li repeated the words she had used to entertain her distinguished guests today to Wei Tu.

"Oh, right, it's almost time for the county's Martial Arts Examination. No wonder you've come to the county town, coming from Martial Graduate Dan..." After Madam Li apologized, Li Yaozu greeted Wei Tu with a smile.

In his eyes, he had helped Wei Tu, recommending him to Martial Graduate Dan to learn his craft... making him Wei Tu's undeniable benefactor.

As a benefactor, Wei Tu would naturally be grateful to him.

A scholar dies for his confidant.

—He had to manage this relationship well.

"Yes, Master Li," Wei Tu nodded and responded briefly.

"About the lodging, it's a small matter. You are, after all, someone from my Li Family, always loyal and sincere. I promise you this."

Li Yaozu feigned closeness, patted Wei Tu's shoulder, and chuckled.

Hearing this, Wei Tu frowned slightly, feeling a bit displeased internally.

—Loyal and sincere? He had a gut feeling Li Yaozu's words held a hidden meaning. Was he still being treated as a household slave?

However, Wei Tu did not retort, instead hinting that he should relax.

Perhaps he was too sensitive about being at the Li Family's.

A gentleman judges actions, not thoughts.

After Li Yaozu had moved a little distance away, Wei Tu bowed slightly and offered a word of thanks.

"Come into the Inner Quarters for a meal."

Madam Li walked through the side door, leading the way, and said warmly to Wei Tu.

As for the Green Dappled Horse Wei Tu was leading, it was taken by the Li Residence's newly hired Groom, who pulled its reins and led it to the stables in the side courtyard of the front residence.

"Wei Tu?"

In the dining room, a young man in scholar's robes, sitting on a stool, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly when he saw Wei Tu being ushered in by Li Yaozu and his wife.

Regarding Wei Tu.

Li Xingye was certainly familiar with him.

When he was young, the family had hired a tutor to teach him Confucian classics, and at the same time, taught a few of the household's maidservants and servants to read.

Wei Tu had been one of them back then.

At the same time, he was one of his few playmates in the Li Residence during his youth.

PS: I made a mistake earlier regarding the Imperial Examinations, and no one pointed it out. I only realized I had written it incorrectly when writing this chapter.

The Imperial Examinations are divided into the County Examination, Prefectural Examination, Academy Examination (Dao Examination), Provincial Examination, and then the Metropolitan Examination and Palace Examination.

Only after passing the County, Prefectural, and Academy examinations can one obtain the title of scholar. The Provincial Examination grants the title of Recommended Man. The Martial Arts Examination is the same. Only after the Provincial Martial Arts Examination can one obtain the title of Martial Graduate.