Leaving aside Lin Wan staying in Pharaoh Country to go through the motions, two days after Lu Zheng returned with the women, the five women of Five Beauties Manor came to visit Tonglin County again.
"Nothing much has happened lately, right?" Liu Qingyan asked with concern, placing a chopstickful of food into Hu Cainiang's bowl.
"Nothing much," Hu Cainiang replied.
"Third Sister really has changed this time. Over the past few days, two Scholars passed through on their way to Yanzhou Prefecture for this year's Autumn Examination, and Third Sister actually held herself back instead of sneaking into their rooms," Bai Ting'er said.
Hu Cainiang turned around and rapped Bai Ting'er on the head with her chopsticks. "Eat your food!"
Bai Ting'er tilted her head aside and dodged it. "Was I wrong?"
"You were," Yu Mingxin said blandly. "When the second scholar left, he forgot a book. Third Sister took it to him."
Liu Qingquan, who had been eating, immediately brightened and asked, "Really? Really? How long did she deliver it for?"
Everyone: "..."
Liu Qingyan's gaze flickered, and two slender jade fingers descended onto Liu Qingquan's head.
Dong!
"Ow!"
Liu Qingquan clutched her head, lowered her eyes, and pouted. "You still treat me like a child. I'm all grown up already, okay?"
"Hm?"
Feeling Liu Qingyan's hostile gaze, Liu Qingquan decisively picked up a chicken leg and stuffed it into her mouth.
"So that's why things were lively for a while some time ago. It turns out this year is the Autumn Examination." Liu Qingyan withdrew her gaze and nodded.
"Some of the county's Talented Scholars have all gone," Du YueYao said. "The Autumn Examination is held once every three years in Yanzhou Prefecture, the administrative seat of Lingbei Province. It isn't a short journey, so many of them