Eldest Uncle Took the Metropolitan Examination

After the Crown Prince's wedding, the triennial Metropolitan Examination was fast approaching.

The Metropolitan Examination, also known as the Spring Examination, was the imperial examination in which provincial graduates competed to become metropolitan graduates.

Since her eldest younger brother, Han Yucheng, would also be sitting the examination this time, Princess Yu paid it particular attention.

Chu Siqing asked her curiously, Mother, is Eldest Uncle confident?

She remembered that her eldest uncle had not yet reached twenty. To be taking the examination for metropolitan graduates so young-could he be a teenage genius?

Princess Yu said, "It's all right. He's only going to give it a try. It doesn't matter if he fails; gaining some experience will be good, too."

She felt both proud of this younger brother and sorry for him.

After their mother died, their father had elevated Madam Wang to the position of principal wife. Naturally, he had paid little attention to the siblings and had even cut their allowances for food and clothing.

Han Yucheng had seen it all and wanted to rise above the crowd. That had made him steady by nature and driven him to better himself from childhood.

Afraid that Madam Wang would not take proper care, Princess Yu personally prepared everything her brother would need for the nine days of the Metropolitan Examination.

From the bedding he would take into the Examination Compound to the brushes and ink he would use, as well as his food for those days inside, Princess Yu prepared every last thing for him.

Before the examination, Princess Yu specially summoned both her younger brothers and gave them some advice.

Seeing both her uncles arrive, Chu Siqing unhesitatingly held out her little hands to her eldest uncle and uttered a few words in her baby voice. "Hold me~"

A graceful young man with a face as lovely as jade-he was absolutely dreamboat material!

Han Yucheng smiled knowingly and settled Chu Siqing on his lap.

Feeling that his little niece had ignored him, Han Nanxing hurried over to tease her. "Siqing, don't you remember your second uncle?"

His throat had long since recovered, and his voice no longer sounded as unpleasant as that drake-like croak from before.

Chu Siqing babbled "ah, ah" at him a few times, then tilted up her little face to stare at her handsome eldest uncle. She looked utterly lovestruck, stopping just short of drooling.

At the sight, Han Nanxing brushed a finger over Chu Siqing's cheek and asked, amused yet puzzled, "My eldest brother and I are brothers by blood, so why is Siqing always closer to him?"

Chu Siqing thought, Because Eldest Uncle is my dreamboat!

Han Yucheng smiled. "Perhaps it's because I look like our sister."

He let Chu Siqing's plump little hand grasp his finger, clearly enjoying his little niece's affection for him, too.

Princess Yu teased, "Siqing has always liked the refined sort."

They chatted about family matters for a little while longer.

Finally, Princess Yu told her eldest younger brother, "Yucheng, I've prepared everything you'll need for the Metropolitan Examination. Just do your best when the time comes, and don't be too nervous."

A faint shimmer of tears appeared in Han Yucheng's eyes. "Thank you for taking so much trouble, Sister."

Princess Yu patted his shoulder. "The Spring Examination lasts nine whole days. It'll be hard on you."

Han Nanxing chimed in from the side, "Sister, don't worry. Eldest Brother went through the same thing during the Autumn Examination. He'll definitely be fine!"

Princess Yu glanced at him. "Nanxing, you make it sound so easy. Then let me ask you: you've been studying under General Fang for so long now. When will you pass the Military Examination and show me?"

Han Nanxing rubbed his head and said sheepishly, "I wanted to take it, too, but my master said I wasn't seasoned enough yet."

Princess Yu said, "Just listen to General Fang. Spend a few more years studying diligently, learn to be steadier, and stop being so rash."

Han Nanxing brimmed with confidence. "Sister, don't worry. In a few years, I'll become the Military Examination Champion and show you!"

Chu Siqing chuckled inwardly. Second Uncle's confidence really does come from nowhere!

Princess Yu could not help her lips curving upward, either. "Then I'll wait and see."

On the day of the Metropolitan Examination, Han Nanxing accompanied Han Yucheng to queue outside the Examination Compound early in the morning. Once Han Yucheng entered, he would have to stay for nine days.

Outside, Princess Yu could not help worrying about him.

Though she believed in neither Buddhism nor Taoism, she actually took Chu Siqing to temples and Taoist shrines to burn incense over those days, hoping to secure blessings for her brother's success in the imperial examination.

Chu Siqing could not resist teasing her mother inwardly. Mother, you used to say you mainly visited temples and Taoist shrines to admire the scenery, and burning incense was merely incidental. Why have you started praying to gods and Buddhas now?

Looking unusually embarrassed, Princess Yu told her daughter, "Siqing, your eldest uncle is taking his examination in the Examination Compound. I'm a little worried, but there's nothing I can do, so I can only come here for some peace of mind."

Chu Siqing chuckled to herself. Mother, so when it comes to your own family, even your reason wavers! Haha!

Princess Yu said, "It's only human nature. Look, His Majesty cracked down on fraudulent practices among the people before, but he never banned legitimate Taoist shrines or Buddhist temples."

Looking at the Bodhisattva, she told her daughter, "That's because sometimes, we simply need something to place our hopes in."

Only after nine days did the Metropolitan Examination end. When the Examination Compound opened again, Princess Yu brought her daughter and Han Nanxing to wait outside for Han Yucheng.

The area outside the Examination Compound was packed with people just like them, all waiting for the candidates to emerge.

With the clang of a gong, the heavy gates of the Examination Compound opened from within, and countless expectant gazes turned toward the entrance.

The examiners came out first, followed by the provincial graduates who had taken the Spring Examination.

Sitting on her second uncle's shoulders, Chu Siqing spotted her eldest uncle with her sharp eyes.

She babbled "ah, ah" a few times and pointed in one direction with her plump little hand.

Princess Yu and Han Nanxing looked that way and saw a haggard-looking Han Yucheng.

Seeing his sister, niece, and younger brother waiting for him, Han Yucheng could not help smiling warmly.

When he drew closer, Princess Yu noticed the dark shadows beneath her eldest younger brother's eyes. Her heart ached for him. "Yucheng, you've worked hard."

Han Yucheng smiled. "Sister, I feel all right. Everyone went through the same thing, after all."

With Chu Siqing perched on his shoulders, Han Nanxing leaned his nose toward his eldest brother and sniffed, then immediately let out an exaggerated cry. "Eldest Brother, you smell sour!"

Then he promptly addressed the little niece on his shoulders. "Siqing, do you still want Eldest Uncle to hold you? He's all stinky!"

Chu Siqing immediately gave him an enormous eye roll.

Second Uncle is simply too mean!

Watching his younger brother clown around, Han Yucheng did not know whether to laugh or cry. Even his exhaustion from the examination eased a little.

Princess Yu laughed, too. "Nanxing, how can you say that about your eldest brother? You little rascal!"

Talking and laughing, they returned to the Ningyuan Earl's Residence.

The Earl of Ningyuan stroked his beard and asked his son, "Yucheng, how did the examination go this time?"

Han Yucheng replied, "Father, I think I did fairly well."

Han Nanxing said breezily, "Eldest Brother is just being modest. If he says fairly well, he must be confident!"

Madam Wang said, "Yucheng has always excelled in his studies. It looks as though our family will have a top examination graduate this time!"

Princess Yu glanced at her and said coolly, "Yucheng is still young. Mother, you'd do well not to smother him with praise."

Madam Wang wanted to offer a few words in her defense, but the Earl of Ningyuan had already glared at her. "Hold your tongue!"

Madam Wang had no choice but to shut her mouth, though her expression turned decidedly ugly.

Princess Yu ignored her and went on talking to her father.