After noon that day, the fame of Fortune Hall quickly spread throughout the capital circle.

By dinner time that evening, many people came in groups, ordering several specialty dishes and a pot of fine wine, eating heartily and joyfully.

They were busy serving until nightfall before the guests finally left.

Shopkeeper Fang’s smile was so wide he could barely close his mouth.

He clicked his abacus happily and said, “Ladies, on our very first day, we took in 280 taels of silver!”

This figure stunned him for quite a while.

You have to know, the old Bai’s restaurant used to earn less than ten taels of silver in a whole month.

But now, the daily income was close to three hundred taels.

After deducting the costs of ingredients and other expenses, the net profit could reach two hundred taels.

So much money—it was beyond his wildest dreams.

He had previously scoffed at the rumors around town that Miss Li of the Marquis of Xiangyang’s Mansion was capable of making money.

Now, he truly believed it!

Bai Tang was also extremely surprised.

The Bai family’s financial foundation was not strong, so this amount of silver was a large sum for her.

Although her share was only one-third, it was still a number she had never dared to imagine before.

“Yue Niang, Wan Feng, this is all thanks to you,” Bai Tang said with reddened eyes. “I’m just basking in the glory.”

“That’s nonsense,” Cheng Wan Feng smiled and said, “If it weren’t for you providing the restaurant and for all your hard work, how could Fortune Hall have opened so smoothly?”

The three exchanged smiles.

From then on, Fortune Hall’s reputation skyrocketed, and there was only one reason: the dishes here were unlike any other restaurant.

Every dish was unique, every dish received endless praise.

The prices were a bit high, but totally worth it.

And for wealthy customers, the difference between paying two taels or twenty taels of silver wasn’t significant.

At the same time, the results of the Imperial Examination were finally announced.

Early that morning, the old Marquis dressed up and went to claim the best spot to watch the announcement.

Li Muyun hung his head and muttered gloomily, “Maybe it’s better not to go…”

Ever since the exam ended, no one in the family had asked him how he did, but he knew very well what the result would be.

Others had studied hard for over ten years, but he had only crammed for a little over two months.

If cramming actually worked, then everyone would just cram.

Li Zhiyue immediately understood and said, “If big brother passes, officials will naturally come to congratulate him. No need to go fight the crowds.”

The old Marquis wasn’t stupid and understood as soon as he heard that.

He angrily threw off his hat and said, “You stay locked up reading books every day, I really thought you could pass!”

“Old man didn’t pass, and neither did I. Isn’t it normal?” Li Suifeng rubbed his nose. “If I don’t pass, Yun-ge can inherit the Marquis title directly, and I’ll have time to handle my own affairs.”

Li Zhiyue felt embarrassed.

Their father was at least a fourth-rank official in the Imperial Horse Office, but still thought about playing every day.

She said, “I remember that after the Palace Exam, the court arranges for noble descendants to take an official exam, then assigns them official posts. Big brother still has one more chance, right?”

Li Muyun looked up, “That exam means either joining the Jinyiwei (Imperial Secret Police) or becoming a county magistrate in a remote area. I don’t know martial arts, so I can’t be Jinyiwei. That leaves the cold, harsh county magistrate job. No, I don’t want to suffer like that!”

“Do you have a choice?” Li Zhiyue said calmly, “Either you work your way up from county magistrate, or live a life of pleasure. When dad gets old and you inherit the Marquis title, you’ll just be a powerless figurehead.

But if you take the county magistrate job, you’ll gain experience governing the people and dealing with the court. That way, you’ll truly understand what the people need and what the court requires. Without that experience, you’ll forever be empty-headed and unable to accomplish anything great!”

Her voice turned cold, “You should know, the fact that you can even become a county magistrate without any merit is already better than most. What you disdain and the hardships you refuse to endure is exactly what many poor families would give anything for!”

Li Muyun was stunned by this speech.

Was this still his little sister?

When had she unknowingly become wiser than him?

Moreover, he didn’t know when the family’s discussions began to revolve around his sister.

He was the eldest son, the heir apparent, the future Marquis, yet he couldn’t even compare to his sister?

A fierce sense of competitiveness rose in Li Muyun.

He suddenly stood up and said, “Unless dad dies, I will never inherit the Marquis title. Just wait, I’ll make something of myself!”

He turned and went back into his study, closing the door behind him to continue reading.

The old Marquis scratched his nose and coughed, “Yue’er’s words are reasonable, but… I did the county magistrate job in a remote place for half a year. I simply couldn’t endure the hardship and found a way back to the capital. Yun-ge was spoiled and pampered, probably…”

Li Suifeng spread his hands, “Exactly. If the older generation refuses to endure hardships, then it’s the younger generation’s turn. The hardships my father and I didn’t endure, my son must face. If Yun-ge still refuses to endure, fine. Then it’ll be his son’s turn…”

Li Zhiyue: “…”

If she hadn’t transmigrated here, the Li family probably wouldn’t have any future generations left to endure hardship, because they would have died out.

Even though she now knew the later developments, she couldn’t guarantee whether the Li family would survive the succession struggle…

In this feudal era, lying flat and giving up too easily made one an easy stepping stone for others… but is striving always right?

Li Zhiyue didn’t know the answer.

No one in the Li family went to see the results posted.

It wasn’t until an invitation from the Princess’s residence arrived that Li Zhiyue learned the top scholar was actually the Princess’s son.

Having a noble family produce a scholar was a source of great pride, so the Princess hosted a grand banquet and invited all the prominent people in the capital.

Li Muyun was frustrated: “That guy often goes with us to listen to music, yet he became the top scholar. He must have been hiding at home studying every day—how annoying!”

“I’m not going to that banquet. I want to stay home and read!”

He still had one chance and wanted to perform well to avoid being assigned to a remote, harsh place.

The four Li family members took a carriage to the Princess’s residence.

Banquets held to celebrate passing exams were the most prestigious.

The Princess’s residence was bustling, and the carriages caused a traffic jam.

They entered through the main gate, presented their gifts, and followed the crowd into the banquet hall.

Bai Ruzhu spotted Lord Cheng Changyan at a glance and pulled Li Zhiyue, whispering, “Yue’er, look! Lord Cheng looks really handsome today.”