Chapter 24

Fortunately, the prefectural examination was unlike the provincial examination, which required candidates to spend three whole days in their examination cubicles, eating, drinking, and relieving themselves within those three meters of space.

The second day's repeat examination tested the Five Classics, with one essay and one poem. As usual, Zhou Jinian considered the questions and composed his answers in his head before carefully writing them down.

Not far away, a candidate had already been carried out. His constitution was so weak that a bout of wind-cold had made him faint. The education commissioner shook his head. How could someone like that take the provincial examination?

Papers were collected an hour earlier in the second examination, and there was no need to pay another paper-sealing fee, so they were soon able to leave the examination compound.

Xie Yao rolled his head to loosen his neck and invited Zhou Jinian to unwind over drinks. "The results will be posted in five days. Shall we go have some wine and relax for an evening?"

"No drinking with courtesans," Zhou Jinian teased his elder brother-in-law.

Xie Yao laughed heartily. "Don't worry. With you being so conscientious, I couldn't bear to take you somewhere that would break my little brother's heart."

When they ran into Zhou Wenshu again, he looked so dazed that he might as well have had "failed" stamped across his forehead. Zhou Jinian pressed his lips together, smiling inwardly. This time, he extended the invitation. "Brother Wenshu, would you like to join us for a drink?"

Ever since his rebirth, he had always called Zhou Wenshu by name. He had only addressed Xie Yao as "elder brother."

Zhou Wenshu had been muddleheaded throughout the examination. Drinking had ruined things, and he knew he had done badly. He quickly shook his head. "You two go ahead. I'm not... I have plans."

"See you, then." Zhou Jinian stepped past Zhou Wenshu and strode away.

Plans? Still stubborn as a dead duck with a stiff beak.

The examination for the xiucai degree was only the first major imperial examination. They had to check the posted results themselves; there was no possibility of officials sending soldiers to their inn with the good news.

Thus, the two of them remained at the Tong Family Inn for those five days. During the daytime, they wandered the prefectural city's streets and alleys, learning about housing prices and the cost of goods and familiarizing themselves with the surroundings.

If admitted to the prefectural academy, they would study in the prefectural city and sit the autumn examination in the eighth month of the following year-the provincial examination. If they passed and became juren, they would head to the capital. If not, they would have to wait another three years.

On the day the results were posted, soldiers stood guard as the names were announced, starting with the lowest-ranked candidate and ending with the first-class top scorer.

When the second-class results were announced, Zhou Jinian heard Zhou Liufeng's name.

Even by the end of the second-class results, he had heard neither his own name nor Xie Yao's.

As the announcements drew toward their end, everyone present was successfully kept on tenterhooks, holding their breath.

Xie Yao, tenth in the first class. Zhou Jinian, first-class top scorer!

Chapter 24

Third Zhou and his wife looked at Zhu Dachang and his three attendants, who had come for five days running, and both began to suspect something bad. After making inquiries in several places, they learned that this man was the son of a retired court official. They could not afford to offend him.

They simply told Ninglang not to leave the courtyard. In this dynasty, ordinary people were often punished for possessing something precious. If they could not afford to offend him, they could at least hide.

Wearing a padded jacket, Xie Ning ground beans in the courtyard. The stone mill rumbled as it turned. He was craving fish with tofu and wanted to stew a fish for dinner.

The courtyard was quiet. Even the sound of withered leaves stirred by the breeze and tumbling over the ground reached the ears with perfect clarity. In that peaceful afternoon, Xie Ning made tofu all by himself.

He wrapped the bean pulp in cotton cloth and weighed it down with a heavy wooden pot lid, leaving it to set on its own. Xie Ning wiped his hands and had just stepped out of the kitchen when he heard someone knock at the courtyard gate.

As he approached, he heard his elder brother's and husband's voices. Excited, he ran to open the gate. "Jinian!"

As he called out, he reached clingingly for his husband's arm, gazing at him with his peach-blossom eyes.

Xie Yao sighed. "Ah..."

"Brother..." Xie Ning hastily acknowledged him.

"That's more like it. Is there anything to eat at home? We rode hard all the way back. I'm starving."

"Yes. I'll stew some fish for you and cook some noodles too." Xie Ning hurried back toward the kitchen.

Zhou Jinian had not seen his little husband for over ten days. After setting down his bundle, he went to the kitchen to tend the fire for him. This was quite an eye-opener for Xie Yao. Whatever happened to "a gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen"?

To think Zhou Jinian doted on his little brother to this extent. He rubbed his nose, felt too embarrassed to follow them into the kitchen, and returned to his own room to rest.

Xie Ning kept his hands busy and chattered away, particularly curious about his husband's imperial examination experience. "What did they test you on to become a xiucai?"

Had it been his elder brother, he certainly would not have told him, thinking he would not understand anyway. Jinian was different. When they were alone in their room, he would teach him to read and recite poems for him.

"Essay writing and poetry." Zhou Jinian sat behind the stove, his gaze following his little husband without once looking away.

Once Xie Ning had prepared the fish pieces, he heated some oil and fried ginger, garlic, and scallions until fragrant, then tipped in the fish to pan-fry. "Then I want to memorize the poem you wrote. After we eat, write it down and teach me."

"All right." Zhou Jinian nodded and continued feeding firewood into the stove.

Xie Ning hesitated. He desperately wanted to ask how Jinian had done, since his husband's face truly gave nothing away.

Zhou Jinian knew his little husband far too well and did not keep him in suspense. "Ask whatever you want to ask."

Xie Ning pursed his lips as he always did when he wanted to act spoiled. He carefully studied Zhou Jinian's expression and saw a smile at the corners of his husband's mouth.

Xie Ning asked in a soft little voice, "Then am I a xiucai's husband now?"

"Mm." Zhou Jinian imitated his little husband's usual pursed-lipped response.

"Ah!!!" Xie Ning jumped in excitement, as though he himself had passed with distinction.

Hearing his little brother scream, Xie Yao hurried out. He had just left the main room when he saw his little brother sticking out his bottom, both hands held back at his sides as he leaned down to kiss Zhou Jinian...

Xie Yao let out a long breath. So it was excitement. He had given him a fright.

Xie Ning leaned in for a little smooch, then went back to turning the fish with his spatula. Zhou Jinian remained sitting perfectly upright. His little fish was growing livelier and livelier. Tonight, he would have to feed him well and give him a reward.

Third Zhou and his wife also packed up their stall early and returned to the courtyard. When they learned their son had become a xiucai, they beamed with joy. They asked a few questions, and their son answered each one, but when they saw the obvious weariness in his eyes, they urged him to hurry back and rest.

Naturally, Xie Ning followed Zhou Jinian back to their room. The moment he closed the door, the man behind him scooped him up around the waist.

"Let your husband hold you properly." Holding him, Zhou Jinian sat back down at the head of the bed.