Chapter 581
Zhao Ruxi was only pretending and didn't really intend to pinch him. Upon hearing this, she was so ashamed and indignant that she twisted his ear all over until Xiao Lingyan begged for mercy before she let go.
Two days later, Zhao Ruxi entered the examination hall.
It was still the same examination hall where the provincial examinations were held—a familiar place, a familiar process, a familiar atmosphere. The only difference was the invigilators.
There are three exams in total, each lasting three days.
As expected, the exam included questions about the border regions. There were essays on border defense strategies and math problems about supplies and provisions.
Even before the provincial examination, Zhao Ruxi had his writing skills improved by the teachers at the Imperial Academy, who filled in all his gaps in knowledge. He continued to work hard for the next six months, practicing writing many articles.
Regarding this weakness in court politics, she not only read many books and official gazettes from recent years, but Xiao Lingyan also collected a large number of relevant documents for her after returning from the border, all of which she read.
She had always had a good memory; even if she couldn't memorize everything she read, she could generally remember it. In the past six months, she had become very familiar with all aspects of the politics of the Great Jin. Coupled with her experiences and insights from later generations, her writing was novel, unique, profound, and broad, often leaving Peng Guoan and the other teachers who helped her correct her assignments in awe.
Therefore, she wrote her essays with great ease during the imperial examination, showing none of the anxiety and nervousness of the male examinees.
Lady Zhu had returned to the capital a month earlier. Just like parents in modern times who send their children to the college entrance examination, she carefully prepared things for Zhao Ruxi for each exam, sent her into the examination hall, and then personally went there to pick Zhao Ruxi up.
Under the guise of taking the old lady's pulse, she specially invited a royal physician skilled in regulating the body to the mansion. After taking the old lady's pulse, she asked him for advice on medicinal diets suitable for Zhao Ruxi to eat during her exams.
Grand Princess Shangde and Madam Cui were just as nervous as she was. They also sent over precious medicinal herbs suitable for nourishing the body. Worried that Lady Zhu might not return, or that no one in the Earl of Suiping's Residence would know how to make tonics, they specially sent over two cooks who were skilled in preparing medicinal cuisine.
However, Lady Zhu was worried that someone might take this opportunity to drug Zhao Ruxi, so she did not dare to use the cook sent by Grand Princess Shangde and politely declined.
"Mother, there's no need to do anything special. Just a light diet is fine," Zhao Ruxi said. "Also, please keep an eye on the kitchen and the back of the house these next few days, and make sure no one with ulterior motives tries to do anything bad. There's nothing else special to do; just treat it with a normal attitude."
"You don't need to worry about the house or the kitchen. I'll have someone cook your meals in the small kitchen, not with us, and they'll be extra careful. Don't worry," said Lady Zhu.
Zhao Ruxi nodded.
She wasn't particularly worried.
If someone really dislikes her, it won't be easy for them to take action here. Xiao Lingyan's bodyguards are not to be trifled with.
However, apart from Princess Pingyang, who is at odds with her, it seems unlikely that anyone else would dare to cause trouble at this juncture.
The imperial examination was a very serious matter, and she was the top scholar in the new examination and the only female candidate, so she received a lot of attention from the emperor. If something happened while she was taking the examination, it would be fine if the person who caused the trouble wasn't caught; but if they were caught, the emperor's wrath might cause someone to lose their head.
Even if she fails the imperial examination, her life won't be affected. So this is a risky business with little reward; only someone who's not very bright would take such a risk.
Despite Zhao Ruxi's words, the secret guards sent by Lady Zhu and Xiao Lingyan were still very nervous. Ma Sheng was worried that someone might tamper with the horses and carriages, so he simply slept in the stable with Uncle Lu.
And you know what? Their efforts really paid off.
On the morning before Zhao Ruxi was to depart for her second exam, someone sneaked into the small kitchen, intending to poison the soup the cook was making. A young maid was tending to the soup, but it was the time when she was most sleepy and she was dozing off, not noticing the intruder. If it weren't for the guards noticing, a small pebble hitting the person's hand, and the maid screaming in alarm, the old woman on night patrol and the guards rushing in to catch the person, the intruder might have succeeded.
Upon receiving the report, Lady Zhu instructed that Zhao Ruxi not be disturbed. She then instructed Gao Weiqiang to take the person out for interrogation and instructed the cook to wash the kitchen utensils several times. She personally supervised the preparation of several simple breakfast dishes for Zhao Ruxi before she went to the examination hall. Only then did she have time to ask Gao Weiqiang about the results of the interrogation.
"It's Granny Wang, the cleaning lady. Her son was recently tricked into incurring a huge gambling debt. That person is using this to blackmail her. As for who that person is, he always wears a mask whenever they meet, so Granny Wang knows nothing about him except that he's a man."
Lady Zhu almost cursed when she heard that.
"There's nothing we can do now. Let's lock up Granny Wang for now and deal with her after the girl finishes her exams," said Lady Zhu.
"Madam, Ma Sheng has returned and wants to see you," Caidie announced as she entered.
"I was just looking for him, let him in," said Lady Zhu.
Upon seeing Ma Sheng, Lady Zhu asked, "Did you successfully escort the young lady into the examination hall?" She was afraid that something might go wrong at this stage as well.
"We got in smoothly," Ma Sheng said.
Only then did Lady Zhu feel relieved.
"However, before the young lady got off the carriage, she asked me if something had happened at home. She instructed me to come back and ask you, and to handle it," Ma Sheng added.
Lady Zhu and Gao Weiqiang exchanged a glance, and Zhu smiled wryly, "I knew I couldn't hide it from this little rascal."
She told Ma Sheng about Granny Wang's affair.
Upon hearing this, Ma Sheng immediately knew that it must have been the secret guards who discovered Granny Wang's whereabouts, which led to the exposure of the matter.
He bowed to Lady Zhu and said, "If you are at ease, please entrust Granny Wang and her son to me, and I will handle this matter."
Granny Wang's son was also a servant in the mansion, and he and Granny Wang's husband were in charge of the mansion's flowers and trees. When Granny Wang was arrested, Gao Weiqiang sent men to arrest Granny Wang's son and husband immediately.
Lady Zhu knew that Ma Sheng was staying by Zhao Ruxi's side, and that he was much more capable than before, and that he was deeply trusted by Zhao Ruxi.
She knew she wouldn't get anything out of Granny Wang; she had no other choice but to beat Granny Wang to death or sell her off.
She immediately agreed and instructed Gao Weiqiang to hand the person over to Ma Sheng.
Gao Weiqiang was very curious when he saw Ma Sheng escorting Granny Wang and her son out, but he didn't dare to ask too many questions. He secretly envied Ma Sheng's current status.
He was escorting the lady back this time, and he would return to Zhao Yuanxun's side after the young lady finished her exams. As a bodyguard to the prefectural magistrate, he was now quite prestigious.
But he clearly understood that the young lady was more capable than the young master. Even though she was a woman, her future was far brighter than the young master's. Didn't he see that the young master's success was entirely due to the young lady's influence?