Lady Wei Arrived

Although Xu Xi had learned the results from the system, she had no way to explain how she knew, so she couldn't tell Xu Xue.

When the two left the academy, the old woman guarding the gate gave each of them a token. "Come back to the academy tomorrow to see the list. If your name is on it, you've been admitted. This token is for entering the academy, so keep it safe. You must show it to get in. If you're admitted tomorrow, the token won't be taken back. You'll use it to come and go when you attend classes. If you aren't admitted, it will be collected. If you lose it, you won't be allowed to study here even if you were admitted. You'll be disqualified outright."

Hearing this, Xu Xue was so frightened that she gripped her token tightly.

Xu Xi tucked her token into her robes, took Xu Xue's hand, and thanked the old woman with her before they went out through the gate.

Many people had failed to pass muster on their way into the grounds and had been driven straight out. Quite a few more had been sent out after entering to take the exam. As a result, fewer than half as many people were waiting outside as when the two had entered. As soon as they came out of the gate, they saw Xu Yongyi standing a short distance away, waving to them.

The young women who had taken the exam stood a good chance of being admitted and becoming students at the Women's Academy, as well as classmates of their masters and relatives. So the people waiting outside seemed more courteous than they had been when the two entered. Seeing Xu Xi and Xu Xue coming their way, everyone made a path for them and offered friendly smiles.

Xu Xi guessed that the examination wasn't over yet. Perhaps there were still examiners outside the grounds watching their every word and action. She thanked the people making way for them again and again, then discreetly signaled to Xu Xue, who hurried to do the same. The two thanked people all the way until they reached Xu Yongyi.

"How did the exam go?" Xu Yongyi asked.

Xu Xi shook her head. "We don't know yet. We have to wait for the teachers to mark the papers. The list won't be posted until tomorrow." She added, "Uncle, let's hurry home."

"All right." Xu Yongyi took the two of them out, hired a mule cart on the street, and headed home. Since he hadn't known how long their exam would take, he hadn't asked the villager who drove the village mule cart to wait for them.

On the cart, Xu Xue wanted to take out her token to show her father, but Xu Xi stopped her. "Let's look at it when we get home."

She had glanced at the token when she received it. It was made of wood, carved with some patterns and the three large characters "entry and exit token," with nothing else on it. The old woman at the gate had also said that the token was proof of their right to enter and leave the grounds after being admitted.

If she lost it, not only would she be unable to enroll even if admitted, she might also be punished. After all, it would create a security risk for the grounds. So she had to keep the token safe over the next three days. A little caution never went amiss.

That was also why she hadn't lingered on the street, but had hurried straight home. Whether or not anyone from the Marquis of Suiping's Residence had come today, and whether or not they had left, she would have to face what had to be faced.

Meanwhile, back in Little Banyan Village, three carriages bearing the emblem of the Marquis of Suiping's Residence had slowly entered the village a full three hours earlier, drawing the village children after them. Before long, adults eager to watch the excitement had also made their way to Xu Yongyi's house, surrounding it three layers deep inside and out.

Everyone had enjoyed a huge helping of gossip yesterday. There was little entertainment in the ancient countryside, and yesterday's spectacle had been more exciting than an opera performance at New Year. With all that gossip to go with their rice, they hadn't even needed side dishes for dinner last night. Naturally, they couldn't miss today's gossip.

Lady Wei had been forced to come and fetch Xu Xi, and she was already in a foul mood. At the sight, she couldn't help cursing, "What kind of godforsaken place is this? It's filthy and stinks to high heaven." She then ordered the guards outside, "Drive them away."

Zhao Yuanliang glanced at Lady Wei with a dark face, then turned to the guards. "Speak politely. Don't get into any conflicts with them. Just keep them from coming close."

Seeing her husband contradict her, Lady Wei raised her brows and was about to argue with him. But when she saw his cold gaze, her heart tightened, and she reluctantly shut her mouth.

Lady Wei was born to her father's principal wife, but when she married, her father had been only a minor fifth-rank official from a humble background. More than a dozen people in the family had lived on his meager salary, and they had been desperately hard up. When she married, there had been hardly anything presentable in her dowry.

At the time of their marriage, the Marquis of Suiping's Residence had still been a duke's residence. The old duke had already been gravely ill, and Zhao Yuanliang himself had little ability and was born to a concubine, so it had been extremely difficult for him to marry a good young woman from a noble family. He had seen that Lady Wei's father was particularly adept at currying favor and seemed likely to rise in rank, while Lady Wei had been somewhat pretty, so he had gone to ask for her hand.

Although the old duke had been gravely ill at the time, the duke's household had not yet declined as it had now. Besides, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse. However far the household had fallen, it still occupied a grand residence and owned some fields and shops. Its members wore gold and silver, commanded servants and maids, and enjoyed fine food and clothing. They were a hundred times better off than the Wei family.

Besides, marrying a daughter into a noble family was a great source of prestige.

So, as soon as Zhao Yuanliang came to propose, the Wei family gladly agreed and married Lady Wei to him.

It had to be said that although Zhao Yuanliang had little ability, he had a decent eye. Things had turned out just as he expected: Lady Wei's father had slowly climbed the ranks and was now a high-ranking third-rank official. As he gained power, the family had gradually become more prosperous, and by now they had long been no worse off than the marquis's household.

The duke's household, on the other hand, had been demoted to a marquis's household after the old duke died. With the younger generation lacking ability, the family had lived off its assets until they dwindled, declining with each passing day.

As one fell and the other rose, Lady Wei, who had once humbled herself before her husband, began to throw her weight around. Whatever Zhao Yuanliang said, she would ordinarily argue with him. Zhao Yuanliang hoped his father-in-law could help him secure a post in a government office, so he indulged her in every way. This made Lady Wei even less aware of her own standing. If the old marchioness had not commanded such formidable authority, and if Lady Zhu, the marchioness, had not been such a formidable woman, Lady Wei might well have swaggered unchecked through the residence.

Only when the switched-baby affair came to light did the old marchioness step in to punish her. Zhao Yuanliang, seeing that his father-in-law had still not secured him a post, also turned a cold face toward her. Lady Wei herself felt guilty, so she finally started keeping her tail between her legs.

Although the people of Little Banyan Village liked their gossip, they knew where to draw the line. Seeing that there were many more guards today than yesterday, and that the carriages were more luxurious too, they knew the people who had come today were no ordinary visitors. When the guards came to drive them away, no one went forward, and they all followed at a distance.

In the Xu Family courtyard, Madam Xie had been unable to sit or stand at ease all morning. It was entirely because Xu Xi had said before leaving that people from the marquis's residence might come, and had told her to prepare herself.

A busybody had spotted the carriages from the marquis's residence entering the village and run over to tell Madam Xie before they even stopped.

When Madam Xie heard that the people from the marquis's residence had come, it was as though the boot hanging over her head had finally dropped, and she felt less apprehensive.

She straightened her clothes, thought for a moment, then simply opened the courtyard gate and sat down in the main room to stitch a shoe sole.

Matron Ruan and Steward Liu had accompanied them today, and the carriage drivers had been there yesterday as well, so they knew the way.

When they reached the Xu Family home, Matron Ruan got down from her carriage and trotted over to Zhao Yuanliang and Lady Wei's carriage. "Second Master, Second Madam, this old servant will go in and announce you first."

Matron Ruan was a favored attendant of the old marchioness. However puffed up Lady Wei might be, she didn't dare throw her weight around in front of Matron Ruan.

She suppressed her irritation and forced a smile at Matron Ruan. "Sorry for the trouble, Matron."