Chapter 43: The Provincial Examination

The next morning after breakfast, the innkeeper had their luggage moved to the carriage. He remained as hospitable as ever, even standing at the inn’s entrance waving goodbye long after their carriage disappeared down the road.

Pulling his head back inside, Cao Xi couldn’t help but marvel, “You really know how to handle people!”

“Of course. With a little patience, I can win anyone over.”

Qi Qige lazily flicked open his folding fan, fanning himself with an air of smug satisfaction.

Cao Xi: …

As the journey continued, they stopped at various places, and every stop seemed to feature a property owned by Qi Qige. This left Cao Xi completely stunned. He had underestimated Qi Qige—not just a “rich guy,” but a ridiculously rich guy.

Although Qin Zhao had some understanding of Qi Qige’s wealth, he, too, had not anticipated its scale. Watching Cao Xi’s wide-eyed admiration of Qi Qige, as if he were gazing at the God of Wealth himself, Qin Zhao couldn’t help but feel a sudden sense of crisis.

Qin Zhao’s gaze subtly flickered to Qi Qige as he began to compare himself. After some deliberation, he concluded: aside from being rich, handsome, having excellent penmanship, and a smooth way with words, Qi Qige didn’t really have that many advantages… right?

Still, Qin Zhao shot a sharp look at Qi Qige and, as if by coincidence, offered Cao Xi a plate of grapes. His casual gesture successfully drew Cao Xi’s attention away from Qi Qige.

Seeing Qin Zhao’s sneaky maneuver, Qi Qige silently rolled his eyes.

Without hesitation, Qi Qige grabbed a grape from the plate and popped it into Qin Zhao’s mouth, smirking wickedly. “Sweet, isn’t it, Qin Zhao?”

Cao Xi, munching on a grape, was caught off guard by Qi Qige’s antics and burst into a coughing fit, tears streaming down his face. He couldn’t wrap his head around Qi Qige’s bizarre behavior.

Qin Zhao, disgusted by the grape force-fed to him, spat it out and glared daggers at Qi Qige.

“Can’t you act normal for once?”

“Normal? Who’s the one glaring at me like a madman?”

With a snort, Qi Qige turned away, fanning himself leisurely as he leaned back in the carriage and popped another grape into his mouth.

Cao Xi watched the two in stunned silence, his gaze darting between them. Finally, unable to stop himself, he blurted out, “Are you two… possibly going to end up together?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the carriage fell into a deafening silence. Moments later, Qi Qige erupted with a furious roar.

“Are you insane? I’m a real man!” His voice echoed in the carriage for what felt like an eternity.

Cao Xi’s face turned beet red with embarrassment. He wished he could find a hole to crawl into and disappear.

Meanwhile, Qin Zhao’s expression darkened further. He alternated between glaring at Qi Qige like an idiot and casting Cao Xi a wounded look.

To ease the awkwardness, Cao Xi forced a change of topic, pointing outside the carriage.

“Look, someone’s selling herself to bury her father.”

Qi Qige shot Cao Xi a glare before lifting the curtain with the tip of his fan. Tilting his head slightly, he glanced outside and, sure enough, saw a young woman kneeling by the roadside next to a deceased person covered with a white cloth.

Clicking his tongue twice, Qi Qige remarked, “That girl’s quite pretty.”

“Are you thinking of going down there?” Cao Xi asked, uncertain of his intentions.

“What are you planning to do?”

Qi Qige looked at him with a face full of confusion.

Cao Xi: …

Heroic rescues, selling oneself to bury a parent, and acts of generosity—all of it came to an abrupt halt when it came to Qi Qige.

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By the start of June, the three of them finally arrived at the provincial capital. As soon as they reached the city gates, a group of people approached quickly. Among them, an elderly man stood by the carriage door and respectfully greeted, “Young Master.”

Qi Qige lifted the carriage curtain and, recognizing the old man, leaped out of the carriage while grumbling, “You’re not young anymore; must you stand out here waiting? It’s not like I wouldn’t be able to find my way home.” As he spoke, he helped the elder up into the carriage.

The old man quickly declined, waving his hands. “No, no, I couldn’t possibly. Young Master, please get back in the carriage. Let us return home at once.”

Witnessing the scene, Cao Xi and Qin Zhao hesitated to remain in the carriage and also stepped down, allowing the elderly man to take their spot.

The old man beamed brightly, his smile resembling a blooming chrysanthemum. He pointed toward a small donkey cart without a canopy nearby.

“Please, climb aboard. I have my own cart.” The donkey cart was adorably petite, with just enough space for one person in the back.

The old man was visibly proud. “This cart was specially designed for me by our Young Master. It’s wonderfully practical!”

It was only then that Qi Qige noticed the donkey cart tied to a tree in the distance. Indeed, it was a custom-made cart he had ordered for the elder. The old man wasn’t just anyone—he was the steward of the provincial residence.

This steward had been left to him by his late mother. It was said that he had traveled far and wide with Qi Qige’s grandfather when he was young, boasting unparalleled experience and resourcefulness.

After his grandfather’s passing and his elder sister’s marriage, the steward had remained in the provincial capital to oversee the household. Qi Qige’s stepmother had once attempted to extend her influence into the provincial capital, only to be thoroughly humiliated. From then on, she dared not overreach and had to settle for managing the properties in Qizhou.

Qi Qige’s provincial residence consisted of a modest two-entry courtyard. Though not large, its location was excellent, surrounded by the mansions of prominent families—a classic upscale neighborhood.

The courtyard staff was minimal, with only four servants in addition to the old steward. Despite this, the residence was impeccably maintained. The bedrooms and study were spotless, reflecting the meticulous care of the household staff.

The old steward assigned people to escort Cao Xi and Qin Zhao to their rooms, while he stayed behind in Qi Qige’s bedroom to report on the recent financial affairs of the provincial capital.

Cao Xi and Qin Zhao’s rooms were adjacent. Qin Zhao’s room was spacious, with a screen separating the bed from a small study area, giving it the feel of a suite.

In contrast, Cao Xi’s room was much simpler, furnished with just a bed, wardrobe, dressing table, and washstand, with no additional decorations.

After settling in, the two lay down to rest. After days of travel, they could finally stretch their legs properly.

Unknowingly, they both drifted off to sleep. It wasn’t until a maid came to wake them for dinner that Cao Xi realized he had napped the entire afternoon.

When Cao Xi arrived at the dining hall, Qin Zhao and Qi Qige were already seated. The round table, set for three, was adorned with simple yet exquisitely prepared dishes—clearly crafted with care.

Qi Qige smiled as Cao Xi walked in. “You really can sleep. From the moment we arrived till now, you even missed lunch.”

Cao Xi chuckled awkwardly, not expecting to have slept so long. He must have been thoroughly exhausted from the past two weeks of travel.

Noticing Cao Xi’s embarrassment, Qin Zhao turned to Qi Qige and quipped, “Not everyone has your stamina—chatting nonstop from start to finish.”

Qi Qige burst into hearty laughter, entirely unbothered. “It’s true. I did eat a lot, too!”

Qin Zhao glanced at him sideways. Was he really talking about food?

The three of them ate a simple meal together. Qin Zhao and Qi Qige each returned to their studies in their respective rooms, leaving Cao Xi wandering aimlessly in the little garden. It was more of a small courtyard with just a few shrubs and flowers.

As the county-level examination approached, Qin Zhao and Qi Qige hardly left their study rooms. They even ate and drank while reviewing, with household servants and maids taking care of their needs. This meant Cao Xi didn’t have to cook at all.

Occasionally, she would stroll through the streets. As the exam drew near, more and more candidates flooded the town. Some, unable to find a place to stay, wandered the streets in desperation.

The county-level exam lasted three days. As usual, Cao Xi prepared everything Qin Zhao needed for the test. This time, with helpers assisting her, the preparation went quickly and efficiently.

Cao Xi gathered the maids and servants, assigning tasks like drying towels and preserving jerky. Everyone worked systematically and efficiently. On the morning of the exam, Cao Xi handed them carefully organized and packed supplies.

On the way to the exam hall, Cao Xi reminded them to stay calm. “It doesn’t matter how well or poorly you do. You won’t starve, no matter what. Don’t stress over it.” She even specifically reassured Qin Zhao, saying, “You’re already excellent. Even if you don’t pass, you’ll still be the best.”

Qin Zhao blushed at her unabashed praise, while Qi Qige rolled his eyes dramatically. “I’ve never seen a relative tell a candidate they won’t starve even if they fail,” he muttered.

Most families hoped their children would excel and achieve greatness, but Cao Xi seemed to have no grand ambitions at all.

“Don’t listen to her,” Qi Qige advised Qin Zhao. “Do your best. Even though a Juren isn’t a high official, it will still benefit you greatly.”

He thumped his chest confidently. “Trust me, you won’t go wrong.”

The moment of warmth was thoroughly shattered by Qi Qige’s words. Qin Zhao gave him a pointed glare before bidding farewell to Cao Xi and walking into the exam hall.

Qi Qige, baffled by the glare, muttered, “What did I say wrong?” and followed Qin Zhao inside.

After undergoing the entry checks, Qin Zhao and Qi Qige were each assigned a seat. Qi Qige quickly found his—a sunny spot with a shade tree nearby. Delighted by his luck, he settled in comfortably.

Qin Zhao, meanwhile, had to walk further into the hall. After a few steps, he glanced back at Qi Qige with a meaningful look.

“You’re amazing,” Qin Zhao said softly. “I believe that whether or not you pass this exam, it won’t affect your life. You’re destined for brilliance.”

Qi Qige’s nose stung with emotion, and tears nearly spilled from his eyes. After a pause, he grumbled, “What’s with the sudden sentimentality before the exam?”

Qin Zhao finally found his seat—second to last, far from the invigilators’ gaze. A perfect spot.

As he arranged his supplies, he noticed someone staring at him. He looked up and saw one of the invigilators, a soldier, watching him with a disbelieving expression. The soldier kept rubbing his eyes, as though doubting his own vision.

Qin Zhao didn’t recognize the man, so he ignored him and settled into his chair, waiting for the exam to begin.

The soldier was, in fact, the same one who had monitored him during the regional exam. Back then, he hadn’t expected Qin Zhao to pass as a Xiucai, the lowest scholarly rank. Seeing him now, the soldier wondered if the previous exam had been unusually easy. He regretted not trying it himself.

As he observed Qin Zhao’s relaxed demeanor compared to the other candidates’ visible tension, the soldier shook his head. “What a slacker,” he muttered, mistakenly assuming Qin Zhao wasn’t taking the test seriously.

The exam started with an essay question about societal issues. Qin Zhao, having lived through various hardships from a young master to a beggar and back, had a deep understanding of the topic. After a brief moment of thought, he began writing swiftly.

The soldier, watching his speed, thought, “Here we go. He’s just scribbling nonsense.” Compared to the other candidates who were still pondering deeply, Qin Zhao’s approach seemed careless.

The first day ended at noon. That evening, Qin Zhao cooked himself a hot soup using dried meat, spices, and broth. The tantalizing aroma left the invigilating soldier dumbfounded. Qin Zhao’s casual feast was a stark contrast to the soldier’s plain steamed buns.

The next day’s test was arithmetic—Qin Zhao’s strong suit. He completed the paper quickly, checked his answers twice, and leaned back for a nap.

The soldier scoffed, assuming Qin Zhao had given up. But just as he was gloating internally, the chief examiner approached.

Spotting Qin Zhao sitting idly, the chief examiner glanced over the paper. Without a word, he turned and left, leaving the soldier confused and more certain than ever that Qin Zhao had failed.

After three days, the exam ended. Cao Xi and the steward had secured a prime spot outside to wait for Qin Zhao and Qi Qige.

Cao Xi spotted Qi Qige first, dragging his exhausted body out of the hall. The steward, worried, wanted to rush over and carry him to the carriage.

Qin Zhao came out later, looking slightly better but still tired. Once everyone was gathered, they climbed into the carriage and headed home.