The Examination the Day After Tomorrow

"Little Teacher Shen Qing, look what I brought you!"

Shen Qing lifted his head slightly. He heard her voice before he saw her.

The door creaked open.

Bai Mo stood there in a deep purplish-red dress of soft silver lily silk, looking especially delicate and pretty. Her little face was slightly flushed, her eyes curved with her smile, and shallow dimples showed at the corners of her mouth, giving her a playful air.

Her big eyes seemed to be searching for someone. When she saw Shen Qing, they lit up, and her gaze grew so tender it could almost drip water.

She looked particularly charming today~

"You're here?" The corners of Shen Qing's mouth curved upward, and a hint of tenderness unwittingly appeared in his eyes.

"Here, I brought you a gift."

"Have you had breakfast?"

Bai Mo shook the box in her hands as though showing off a treasure, then handed it to Shen Qing.

Shen Qing reached out to take it and couldn't help teasing her. "You even thought to bring me a gift? Are you thanking me, your teacher, for my instruction?"

"Haha, take a look! I'm sure you'll like it."

Bai Mo's pride was written all over her face.

Shen Qing didn't know what any of it was, so he looked up at Bai Mo, a question in his eyes.

"Open it and see."

Curious, Shen Qing carefully removed the wrapping, took the glass bottle in his hand, and examined it from every angle.

"What is this? The bottle is truly exquisite. You actually managed to find such clear glass, and in an inky blue, too. It really is beautiful."

Bai Mo opened the bottle, took Shen Qing by the wrist, and gave it a gentle spray.

A faint, delicate fragrance immediately spread through the air.

"It's called perfume. I got it from a Western merchant. This scent is fresh and delicate, with a faint note of green bamboo at its heart. It couldn't suit you better."

Bai Mo gave two more pumps into the air.

Shen Qing gently raised his wrist to his nose. The delicate fragrance seemed to envelop his whole body.

"I like it very much. It's the first time I've seen something so unusual. That was thoughtful of you."

It would have been a lie to say he wasn't touched. Warmth filled Shen Qing's heart; this was the first time he had received a gift from a woman.

It was only proper to return a gift in kind.

Shen Qing gently removed the jade pendant he wore and handed it to Bai Mo.

"Take this jade pendant as a return gift."

Bai Mo hurriedly waved her hands. "No need. Yours is a little too precious. Anyone can see this white jade is worth a great deal, while what I gave you was only a small trinket.

"Besides, I gave you a gift because I thought it suited you, not because I wanted one in return."

Shen Qing merely smiled at Bai Mo, keeping his hand outstretched.

"If you think it precious, then treasure it. I've worn this double-heart pendant since I was little. It was meant for my wife, anyway. I'm only giving it to you early. Take it."

Bai Mo was somewhat surprised, and a trace of sweetness welled up in her heart. She reached out and took it, clasping it tightly in her palm.

Bai Mo was rather happy. Shen Qing had made it clear that this was for his wife. Was this a token of love??

Seeing the unmistakable smile on Bai Mo's face, Shen Qing was delighted too, and he smiled very gently. He reached out and lightly tapped the tip of her nose, then leaned close to her ear, his soft breath brushing against it.

"Go sit down. It's time to study."

With that, Shen Qing turned and sat down, though the smile on his lips did not diminish in the slightest.

Bai Mo's heart trembled. "All right."

Literacy lessons, meals, literacy lessons, detoxification.

Shen Qing and Bai Mo worked together in an orderly rhythm.

In just two days, Bai Mo had thoroughly mastered the beginner's books.

Then she began studying the Four Books and Five Classics, poetry and prose...

Shen Qing truly was a man of overflowing talent, and he shared all the learning he possessed without reservation.

What astonished him was Bai Mo's extraordinary aptitude. She could remember everything he taught her in its entirety.

In the blink of an eye, twenty-eight days had passed.

The imperial examination was the day after tomorrow.

"We'll stop here for today. Your examination is the day after tomorrow, so you must rest well tomorrow. There's no need to come. With the knowledge you've acquired, you should have the academy examination well in hand. Let me congratulate you in advance, Scholar Bai."

Shen Qing looked at Bai Mo teasingly as he spoke.

"Mm, let's stop here for today. Hurry and take off your clothes. Today is the last detoxification, so let me congratulate you too. You can finally be healthy again."

Bai Mo's eyes were full of delight. She had really pushed herself during this time, studying until her head could barely hold any more.

As for Shen Qing's health, once the poison was removed, his life would no longer be in danger. She would nurse him back to health afterward; she wouldn't claim he would live to a hundred, but keeping him hale and healthy would be no problem.

Bai Mo felt that everything was moving in a better direction!!

Shen Qing walked slowly to the bed, undressed, and sat cross-legged.

Bai Mo climbed onto the bed right behind him and began using her ability to remove the poison.

The two of them had grown increasingly in sync.

Half an hour later, Bai Mo was just about to withdraw her hands. The poison in his body had been completely eliminated.

"Pff!" Shen Qing suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and slowly collapsed.

Bai Mo hurriedly withdrew her hands and caught him in her arms.

"Shen Qing, what's wrong?"

"Why are you coughing up blood..."

Bai Mo felt her heart leap into her throat. She had never been so frantic, and her eyes began to sting with tears. She knew nothing of medicine, relying entirely on her ability to heal... The poison had clearly been removed, so why was this happening?

No matter how Bai Mo called to him, Shen Qing had fallen unconscious and remained unresponsive.

Bai Mo hurriedly reined in her frantic thoughts and concentrated, sending her ability into Shen Qing's body to examine him. She found nothing!!

This shouldn't be happening.

She watched as Shen Qing's breathing began to slow.

His heartbeat was growing weaker and weaker.

Gritting her teeth, Bai Mo sent her Wood-Element Ability into Shen Qing's body.

An endless stream of vitality poured into the meridians around Shen Qing's heart as though it cost nothing.

Bai Mo herself didn't know how much time passed.

Her lips grew paler and paler, and the energy in her body seemed to have been drained dry.

"Shen Qing, wake up."

"You must be all right."

"Please, you must be all right."

The excessive use of her ability seemed to drain every last bit of strength from her body, and she immediately lost consciousness.

Shen Qing felt himself suddenly dragged into an unknown darkness.

Blackness stretched as far as the eye could see.

No matter how he shouted, there was no one there, only boundless darkness.

He could feel his life slipping away at a frantic pace.

"Heh, I can't accept this. How can I die just like this?"

Hope had clearly been within reach, and they had clearly agreed...

Just then, a streak of green light shot straight at the shackles.

Bang-

It seemed to shatter the black cage and wrap tightly around him.

"Bai Mo, it's you, isn't it?"