"My lord, this is the final list of successful candidates for this examination."
The county magistrate frowned as he looked at the list, clearly displeased.
"What is going on with this Lu Youqing?"
"My lord, after a comprehensive evaluation of her papers, she rightfully deserves to be ranked first."
"Rightfully?" The magistrate scoffed. "What do you mean, 'rightfully'? A woman should stay at home attending to her husband and children. What business does she have stirring up trouble in the examination hall? Isn't there a younger son from the Cheng family in this session? Replace her name with his."
Thinking of the generous gifts the Cheng family had sent not long ago, he lifted his chin and spoke dismissively.
"My lord… this case is somewhat different," the clerk said, wiping the sweat from his forehead as he leaned in to whisper an explanation.
"So you're saying she also has backing?" The magistrate recalled the City God Temple murder case, when he had already picked a scapegoat, only for someone from above to suddenly intervene by name, ordering him to release the man and arrest the real culprit at a later date.
"Yes, my lord. It's possible that higher authorities are also watching the results of this county exam. If we strike her name, we may invite trouble."
"Then move her ranking down a bit," the magistrate said after a moment's thought. "If a woman were to become the top candidate of Yong'an County, wouldn't I become a laughingstock?"
For him, corruption and manipulation in the imperial examinations were nothing new. But if someone from above came down to investigate, he would be finished. Whether or not Lu Youqing truly had powerful backing, it was better to err on the side of caution.
…
The day the results were posted arrived quickly, and scholars crowded in front of the government office early in the morning.
Qin Ke sent Han Qi ahead to watch the posting. Although Han Qi wasn't very literate, he could at least recognize the names of his master and mistress.
Qin Ke stayed back with Lu Youqing, not wanting to squeeze through the crowd. However, when he felt the dampness in her palm, he turned to look at her. Though her expression remained calm, her body betrayed her tension.
She was nervous.
Every time shouts of joy or sobs of despair rose from the crowd, her long, fan-like lashes trembled slightly.
Han Qi searched through the dense crowd one name at a time. Because he couldn't read well, it took him a while.
After some time, he finally ran back, drenched in sweat and brimming with excitement.
"She passed! Master, Madam placed sixteenth!"
Qin Ke broke into a wide smile. "Congratulations, my wife!"
Lu Youqing let out a quiet breath, the stone in her heart finally dropping.
Their belongings had already been packed. Once they saw the results, they planned to head straight home. As soon as they reached the gate, Han Qi eagerly shared the good news with Li Nanqiao and the others.
"Congratulations, Madam Qin," Pei Xiu said last, approaching Lu Youqing with a smile.
Lu Youqing gave a small nod in response.
Before nightfall, Lu Youqing had already begun preparing for the next stage, the prefectural exam. Qin Ke sighed softly as he watched her—she seemed to be pushing herself too hard.
"Wife, studying requires balance between work and rest. The next exam lasts three days and three nights. Just reading nonstop won't do—you need a strong body too."
Lu Youqing allowed him to take the book from her hands and said softly, "Don't I practice that tai chi with you every morning? And you've been giving me nourishing soups every day."
"I've heard the conditions at the prefectural exam are extremely harsh. If your body can't keep up, no amount of preparation will help," Qin Ke said gently, gazing at her. "Don't put so much pressure on yourself. Even if nothing else works out, we can still live well by farming."
"I…" Lu Youqing hesitated, unsure how to respond. She knew she had been putting too much pressure on herself. At first, it was only about securing protection so she wouldn't be at others' mercy.
But over time, ambition had quietly taken root.
"There's more than one path in this world," Qin Ke said. "We'll just do our best."
Lu Youqing forced a smile. She didn't want him to worry. What troubled her wasn't only the exams themselves, but the exchanges of interest behind them. She had been lucky this time—but who could guarantee fairness next time?
"Then I'll have to rely on you to farm and support the household," she said, changing the subject. "How are things going with Nanqiao and the others?"
"The rice fields and melon fields have been cleared. Once people heard there was pay, everyone rushed to work. As for buying land, unless a family truly can't survive, they won't sell their fields."
For farmers, land was their lifeline. Without natural disasters or extreme hardship, they wouldn't part with it easily.
Still, Qin Ke offered a high price, and families with surplus land sold some. Altogether, they acquired just under twenty mu.
"When do you plan to start on that vegetable greenhouse you mentioned?" Lu Youqing asked.
Qin Ke smiled, pulled her up, and led her toward the bedroom, speaking as they walked.
"All that's for me to worry about. Let's rest early tonight—I'll keep telling you the story of the Legend of the White Snake."
At the mention of the story, Lu Youqing's earlier reluctance vanished, her eyes curving into a smile.
"Did Xu Xian really die of fright when he saw Lady White's true form?" she asked, lying in Qin Ke's arms and looking up at him. "If she was the one he loved, why was he afraid?"
"Maybe he was weak and cowardly by nature," Qin Ke said, one arm around her, the other playing with her loose hair. "If you were Xu Xian, what would you do?"
"Me?" Lu Youqing frowned thoughtfully before replying. "If I had spent so much time with Lady White, feelings aside, I'd at least be certain she wouldn't harm me. Whether she's human or demon—what difference would it make?"
It sounded as though she were talking about Xu Xian, yet also about herself.
The person beside her was filled with strangeness, utterly different from who he had been at the beginning. She had wondered before—whether he was a wandering soul inhabiting another's body, or perhaps a spirit that had gained sentience.
But one thing she was certain of: he would never harm her.
…
The next day, Qin Ke took Li Nanqiao to inspect the newly purchased fields.
Fortunately, Li Nanqiao had grown more reliable. Although the land wasn't contiguous, it was divided into only two sections.
After forming a rough plan in his mind, Qin Ke prepared to head home—until Aunt Wu stopped him halfway, making him frown in confusion.
Aunt Wu was from the Wu family and related to Village Head Wu, living on the western side of Qinghe Village.
Qin Ke had never interacted with her before and had no idea what she wanted.
"Qin Ke, I hear you've bought quite a bit of land recently. Looks like you've made quite a fortune," Aunt Wu said, her enthusiasm unusually excessive.
"Ah, it's been alright. Is there something you need, Aunt Wu?"
"I just feel for you, child. Your parents passed away so early—they didn't even get to enjoy the good life with you."
Qin Ke silently waited for her to continue.
"Your household doesn't even have an elder to make decisions. How can that be? Look at others your age in the village—their children are already running all over the courtyard, while you still have no one by your side. My niece from the neighboring village just came of age…"
Qin Ke blinked, finally guessing her intention.
---
Currently at chapter 228 for advance chapters
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