Jiang Lin didn’t believe it!

She insisted that Yan Runzhi drink the rest of the sheep’s milk.

Eventually, Yan Runzhi couldn’t refuse and had to finish the half bowl.

After drinking, Jiang Lin said, “Mom, you all should do your own things and not worry about me all day. I’m doing just fine.”

She felt like Yan Runzhi had developed the keen observation skills of the palace maids and eunuchs in dramas—always appearing when needed, ready to help.

Yan Runzhi replied, “Okay, okay. We’re just trying not to disturb you and are keeping our distance. We’re not hovering over you!”

She didn’t even realize she was more nervous than Jiang Lin.

While stitching flowers, she would keep checking the time to see if it was time to cook, wondering if Bao’er’s mother was hungry or thirsty.

Old Lady Shang teased her, “You’re treating her like a three-month-old child!”

Yan Runzhi was very proud, saying, “Bao’er’s mother is going to university! Once she passes, she’ll be a college student! My brother once told me how hard it is to get into university—he didn’t even pass! Every exam, my grandma and my mom surrounded him, and he still couldn’t do it.”

In truth, she didn’t really know what school was like since she had never attended one; it was all just her imagination.

At noon, when Jiang Lin was eating, she noticed she was all alone again.

She had tried to find Cheng Rushan and the others in the morning but couldn’t, and now it was the same.

Sigh, in such a short time apart, she missed them—she missed Dabao, Xiaobao, and Wensheng.

Yan Runzhi sat nearby, kindly watching her and encouraging her to eat more.

Jiang Lin thought, “Why does this feel so strange? I wasn’t nervous before, but now I feel anxious. If I don’t pass, she’ll be so disappointed after caring for me so much.”

“Mom, where are my dad and the others?”

Yan Runzhi answered, “They’re over there eating.”

Jiang Lin felt a pang of loneliness: “Am I losing you all, or are you losing me? Is the college entrance exam making me feel so isolated?”

She reassured her mother, “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll definitely pass the exam.”

Yan Runzhi said, “I’m not nervous. Bao’er’s mother will definitely pass the exam.”

Jiang Lin replied, “Then you should call them back for dinner. I want to see them—I miss them.”

She didn’t go to the provincial city to study because she couldn’t bear to leave them behind.

Yan Runzhi worried that Daba, Xiaobao, and Wensheng would disturb her, saying, “Bao’er’s mother, you have an exam coming up soon, and the kids can be a bit noisy.”

Seeing her mother’s cautious expression, Jiang Lin smiled, “I actually like it! I like you all no matter what. If I can’t see you, I feel unhappy.”

Yan Runzhi thought to herself: Oh dear, I misunderstood; I’m too worried about the kids bothering Bao’er’s mother while studying.

When Jiang Lin said she would go call them back for dinner, Yan Runzhi said, “You stay here; I’ll go get them.”

She went to call the whole family back.

On the way, Cheng Rushan said, “Mom, I told you Linlin wouldn’t mind. Don’t be so nervous!”

Yan Runzhi replied, “I’m just worried she’ll get tired from studying and be annoyed by the noise.”

Dabao and Xiaobao chimed in, “We won’t disturb Mom’s studying!”

Cheng Yunzhi laughed, “You’re starting to sound like a prime minister!”

Wensheng and the others immediately asked what a prime minister was.

Cheng Yunzhi explained, then added, “A powerful prime minister can overshadow the emperor and control everything.”

Yan Runzhi exclaimed, “Oh no, does that make me a villain? I’m clearly more like Bao Longtu!”

Wensheng corrected her, “Grandma isn’t a villain; she’s a empress!”

As soon as they entered the house, the usually quiet Wensheng and Daba burst in, shouting, “Mom, we’re back!”

Yan Runzhi responded, “Listen to how noisy it is!”

Cheng Rushan quickly walked in behind them.

Yan Runzhi whispered to Cheng Yunzhi, “If I’m the empress, then who’s the emperor?”

Cheng Yunzhi held her hand and said, “Does that even need to be asked?”

Yan Runzhi chuckled, “So that means I’ve gained Bao’er’s mother’s influence—oh, that’s great!”

She then reminded Cheng Yunzhi, “For the next few days, no listening to the radio at home. We can’t disturb Bao’er’s studying.”

Cheng Yunzhi just nodded.

When Jiang Lin saw everyone was back, she joked, “If you didn’t come back, I’d suspect you were hiding to enjoy good food!”

Xiaobao squirmed in her arms, burying his face in her neck and pouting, “Mom, I miss you so much! It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

Wensheng already thought the college entrance exam was a bad thing that took their mother away from them.

Daba chimed in, “Mom, we won’t disturb your studying! I even made a test paper for you!”

He pulled out the exam paper he had created with Xiaobao and Wensheng, mimicking what the adults were doing.

Jiang Lin was delighted, saying, “Thank you, Teacher Dabao! I’ll do my best on it!”

She then asked Cheng Yunzhi if his cold was better and reminded him to take care of himself, saying, “It’s cold in that room during winter. Either get a stove or don’t go there.”

Cheng Yunzhi replied, “I haven’t been there for several days. I’ve been substituting classes at school for the kids.”

The family chatted and laughed, and Jiang Lin’s tension eased.

Hearing Wensheng, Dabao, and Xiaobao laugh made her feel so much better.

After dinner, Jiang Lin played with them for a while.

Cheng Yunzhi took the kids to school, while Yan Runzhi went to the embroidery workshop.

As they left, she winked at Cheng Rushan, signaling him to go out too and not disturb Bao’er’s studying at home.

As Cheng Rushan was about to leave, Jiang Lin playfully beckoned him with her finger, saying, “Dear Shan Ge.”

Cheng Rushan responded with a surprised look, “…”

He smiled at Yan Runzhi, indicating that it wasn’t his fault for disturbing Her Majesty’s studies; it was Her Majesty who summoned him.

Yan Runzhi hummed a little tune and happily walked away.

Jiang Lin looked at them in confusion, “What are you two whispering about behind my back?”

Cheng Rushan replied, “Is Her Majesty going to favor her husband today?”

Jiang Lin burst into laughter and jumped onto his back, “Wrong! I’m going to ride out of the palace to tour.”

Cheng Rushan responded flatly, “I suggest you change your position.”

Jiang Lin bit his ear, “You want to seduce me so I don’t attend morning court? You little fox spirit, I’ll have to deal with you!”

So that afternoon, Empress Lin didn’t study but instead favored her husband, while also showing him what hegemony was all about!

Cheng Rushan understood that special activities could relieve tension, so in the following days, he diligently helped ease his wife’s anxiety before the college entrance exam, right up until the eve of the exam.

A few days earlier, at the women’s prison in the provincial capital.

In the visiting room, Meng Yiyi’s face was somewhat twisted with anger as she glared at Bian Haitao across from her, “Don’t you believe me?”

Bian Haitao glanced outside; the guard had taken his bribe and granted him a few extra minutes.

He raised his eyebrows slightly, “Don’t get agitated; I believe you. But you know things aren’t that easy. It’s not hard to get you out of prison, but it takes time, and there’s no chance before the exam.”

Meng Yiyi suddenly understood; Bian Haitao was playing her.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t get her out.

She had been talking about this with him for a year—how could he not have a way?

He was clearly doing it on purpose, afraid that if she participated in the exam and gained abilities, he wouldn’t be able to control her anymore.

So it was better to keep her in prison.

Her eyes filled with heartbreak as she looked at Bian Haitao.

Bian Haitao tried to comfort her, making her believe he was doing his best, but it wasn’t easy.

Of course, this was a lie.

Since his promotion last year, he had several ways to get Meng Yiyi out.

After all, she hadn’t committed a serious crime; it was just rumors and fraud, and the punishment had been deliberately intensified.

Once she was transferred to the women’s prison, he only needed to make a few moves to get her out.

But he didn’t do it.

He had thought about a lot of things.

Initially, Meng Yiyi pointed out some of the difficulties he was facing and the solutions.

Later, she told him about several earth-shattering events.

A certain high-ranking official died, the “Gang of Four” was arrested, and a particular leader returned—she had predicted all of this.

When he asked how she knew, she claimed she suddenly started dreaming of future events.

He Doesn’t Believe It!

She never told him the truth.

So when Meng Yiyi asked him to help her escape, he played dumb.

Every time, he said it was very difficult, and just when he was about to succeed, something would ruin it.

This autumn, Meng Yiyi finally forced him to admit, “You need to help me get out so I can take the college entrance exam in December!”

Bian Haitao didn’t manage to get her out, but he worked hard to collect study materials and books for her, pretending to support her.

Finally, on October 21, the announcement about restoring the college entrance exam was made, and Bian Haitao was shocked.

This made him more suspicious of Meng Yiyi.

How did she know all this?

He wondered if she really could see the future.

If she could, whoever had her would have the future in their hands.

He realized she wanted to use him, and he could use her too.

But she couldn’t be too powerful; otherwise, he couldn’t control her.

They needed to find a way to cooperate.

Meng Yiyi’s advice helped him avoid trouble after the fall of a group, leading to a promotion.

He thought she just wanted him to become strong enough to help her escape.

However, he didn’t want her to take the exam because if she did well, she could get into a good university and become a leader, making it harder for him to control her.

So, he kept delaying, acting concerned while secretly feeling calm, even as it frustrated her.

Meng Yiyi was angry when she heard Bian Haitao failed again to help her escape.

But she realized she couldn’t offend him.

Even with her hidden card, she couldn’t show it too easily.

She didn’t fully understand him and needed someone like Bian Haitao.

She couldn’t turn against him and had to appeal to his emotions.

“Bian Haitao, if you help me get out, I’ll share all my secrets with you, and we’ll work together from now on. Otherwise, I’d rather die here than be controlled!”

After saying this, she rang the bell to signal that visiting hours were over and went back.

On the morning of the 10th, Jiang Lin asked Shang Zonghui to drive a tractor to take the students from Yanghong Brigade to the county exam site.

Cheng Rushan was accompanying Jiang Lin to check everything—exam permits, stationery, and so on.

Jiang Lin smiled, “Dear Shan Ge, how do you feel about sending your girl to the exam?”

Cheng Rushan smiled gently and replied softly, “After the exam, no more early mornings for the king.”