How about I personally arrange a marriage for you?

Shiqiao Village, Xiao Mo's courtyard.

Xiao Mo, having returned from the Provincial Examination, was having tea with the village chief.

After Bai Ruxue returned to the village, she had first gone up the mountain to see her sister.

However, at noon and in the evening, Bai Ruxue would still come down the mountain to cook and do laundry for Xiao Mo.

"You're saying the last question of the policy essay was about the feudal lords?"

The village chief took a sip of tea, his tone somewhat surprised.

"Yes," Xiao Mo nodded.

"Indeed, the feudal lords have great power nowadays, and they still hold military authority. Although I am just an old Talented Scholar, I have heard that there are loud voices in the imperial court calling for the reduction of their power.

Even though the last question of the policy essay was about discussing the feudal lords, everyone knows that the politically correct stance is to reduce their power.

This time, the last question has directly laid bare the issue of the feudal lords. It seems Your Majesty truly intends to act."

Xiao Mo smiled slightly. "For the scholars participating in this Provincial Examination, who would dare not write about reducing the power of the feudal lords? His current Majesty is probably also using the 'outcry' of these scholars to deliberately put pressure on those feudal lords."

The village chief also chuckled. "A year ago, Your Majesty personally led the expedition to quell the rebellion of the Seven Kings, significantly weakening the strength of the feudal lords. Coupled with Your Majesty's current overwhelming prestige, the imperial court's military strength and morale hold a decisive advantage over the regional feudal lords. It is indeed the best time to reduce their power."

"That is so," Xiao Mo nodded.

Xiao Mo's final decision was to write about the "Edict of Spreading Grace." He reasoned that although the feudal lords possessed military power, His current Majesty had quelled the rebellion of the Seven Kings, giving the imperial court a significant military advantage over the regions. Moreover, the feudal lords feared the imperial court.

The fact that the Provincial Examination openly presented "reducing the power of the feudal lords" on the exam paper this time meant that the imperial court was going to confront the feudal lords head-on.

Otherwise, how could the imperial court openly allow scholars to discuss the feudal lords?

Actually, in Xiao Mo's opinion, even if the imperial court dared not provoke the feudal lords, even if the imperial court's strength was at a stalemate with the feudal lords, it wouldn't be wrong to write about his "Edict of Spreading Grace."

Because if central authority was not strong, it would be obvious to everyone that the "Edict of Spreading Grace" could not be implemented. However, the examiners wouldn't say anything.

He would be offering a different perspective.

The examiners would merely think, "He has an idea, a novel one, but it's not well-thought-out."

But even if it wasn't well-thought-out, the examiners' impression of him wouldn't be low.

What?

Did they really expect a mere Talented Scholar, who had only read books and never experienced officialdom, to govern the world?

"Xiao Mo, this last question, how did you answer it?"

The village chief was genuinely curious about how Xiao Mo had answered.

If nothing else, the quality of the answer to this last question would greatly influence the examiner's impression of a candidate.

"I wrote..."

"Village Chief! Village Chief!"

Just as Xiao Mo was about to explain his "Edict of Spreading Grace," Hu Hansan from the village rushed over.

"Village Chief... outside... outside... er..."

Hu Hansan was out of breath, unable to finish a complete sentence.

"Don't rush, speak properly. What's happening outside?" Seeing Hu Hansan's state, the village chief also became a little nervous.

"Village Chief! Outside, the County Magistrate! The County Magistrate is here!" Hu Hansan exclaimed excitedly.

"The County Magistrate?" The village chief was startled. "Why would the County Magistrate come to our village?"

"Pili-palang, pili-palang!"

"Dong dong dong!"

"Dong dong dong!"

Just then, the sound of gongs and drums could be heard from not far away.

A dragon and lion dance troupe also came into view, performing as they walked.

The County Magistrate of Qingshan County, leading the procession, had a beaming smile. He fanned himself with a fan, shouting happily to those around him, "Don't stop! Keep playing the music, keep dancing! Louder! More festive!"

"Could it be!"

Suddenly, the village chief's heart began to race, and a bold idea formed in his mind.

Tomorrow afternoon was the day the results would be posted.

But today, the County Magistrates from various parts of Jiangnan Prefecture would receive the list of successful candidates.

In the Qi Kingdom, once the list left the examination hall, it was no longer a secret. County Magistrates could learn which scholars had passed the examination a day in advance.

And Xiao Mo was the only one from Shiqiao Village who had participated in the imperial examinations.

The County Magistrate's arrival at Shiqiao Village at this time, making such a festive scene with gongs, drums, dragon, and lion dances, could only be because of Xiao Mo.

"County Magistrate, that must be Mo-ge'er. Next to Mo-ge'er is our Village Chief."

A man pointed at Xiao Mo, speaking excitedly.

Magistrate Sun quickly walked towards Xiao Mo. Xiao Mo and the village chief, not wanting to be impolite, also walked out of the courtyard and bowed, "Greetings, our official father and mother."

"Hahaha, no need to be so formal, the two of you," Magistrate Sun helped Xiao Mo up. "Scholar Xiao! No! Top Scholar Xiao! From now on, I'll be relying on your success, Top Scholar Xiao!"

"What? Top Scholar?" The village chief was momentarily stunned, even wondering if he'd misheard.

The village chief had originally thought it was a tremendous stroke of luck for Xiao Mo to pass the Provincial Examination.

But it turned out Xiao Mo... he was the top scorer in the Jiangnan Prefecture Provincial Examination!

"Magistrate Sun is too kind. If not for your sponsorship, I fear I wouldn't have even passed the Provincial Examination," Xiao Mo hadn't expected to win the top spot either.

"Hahaha, Scholar Xiao's victory is entirely due to his true talent and learning. I merely added a touch of icing to the cake,"

Despite saying that, Magistrate Sun was inwardly quite pleased with himself.

When Magistrate Sun first arrived, he had only intended to win the favor of the local scholars and improve his reputation.

He hadn't truly expected any of the Talented Scholars he sponsored to pass the Provincial Examination.

Now, not only had someone actually passed, but they had also taken first place in the Provincial Examination!

This was a political achievement! A shining political achievement!

If things went as expected, Xiao Mo would surely pass the Metropolitan Examination next time, and perhaps even aim for the title of Zhuangyuan (top scholar)!

It was just that this young man was so calm upon learning he'd become the Top Scholar.

Truly, as expected of someone who had achieved the rank of Top Scholar, his temperament was extraordinary.

Scholar Fan from the neighboring county, upon hearing that he'd passed the Provincial Examination at sixty years old, had almost gone mad with joy.

Magistrate Sun treated Xiao Mo like a long-lost brother, becoming more animated the more they chatted.

The village chief was also very sensible, leading the other villagers away to allow the Magistrate and Xiao Mo to converse properly.

Magistrate Sun chatted with Xiao Mo about everyday life, his parents, and his hobbies.

When Magistrate Sun learned that Xiao Mo was an orphan who made a living herding cattle and gathering herbs daily, enduring all kinds of weather, and traveling a hundred miles to find a master, he admired the disciple even more, considering him to be from a background far humbler than even the poorest families.

"Xiao Mo,"

Magistrate Sun held Xiao Mo's hand, his tone filled with emotion.

"I am truly happy for your achievements today, and I know you have endured much hardship.

I have a daughter, sixteen years of age, currently unmarried.

If you, Xiao Mo, do not find her unsuitable, may I, as Yue'er's father, personally arrange a marriage for you?"