Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Chapter 318 Towards the Golden Palace (22)

In the evening, Xie Zhao returned from his shift, and Meng Zhenyue greeted him as usual.

"My husband, you're back."

Xie Zhao remained calm and responded with a light, indifferent tone.

After exchanging a few words, Xie Zhao called over Xie Zhaolin and Xie Wanfang and asked them about their studies.

Soon it was time for dinner. The family of five sat around the table, and a maid brought out five bowls of soup.

Meng Zhenyue got up, picked up the soup, and served it to everyone.

When Meng Zhenyue delivered the soup to Xie Zhaolin, she accidentally tipped the soup bowl over, splashing soup onto Xie Zhaolin's clothes.

Xie Zhaolin was startled and jumped up like a monkey: "Ouch, it's burning me!"

Cheng Qingshuang was shocked and quickly got up and rushed over. She pulled Xie Zhaolin over and checked him over to make sure he wasn't burned. Then she turned and glared at Meng Zhenyue.

"How could you be so careless? What if Zhaolin gets burned!"

"You didn't give birth to him, so you don't care, right?"

"So clumsy... This stepmother is no better than a biological mother."

Meng Zhenyue: "..."

She glanced at Xie Zhao out of the corner of her eye. He sat firmly in the main seat, unmoved whether the soup bowl spilled on Xie Zhaolin or Cheng Qingshuang sarcastically scolded her for being careless.

His current appearance, as seen by Meng Zhenyue, slowly overlapped with the image of the man who squatted on the ridge of the field during the day, munching on steamed buns and ignoring his mother's insults towards his wife.

"In a family, the wife is an outsider, and the husband's attitude toward his wife determines the attitude of other family members toward the 'outsider'."

“If the husband paid even a little attention to his wife, the mother-in-law would have some reservations and wouldn’t dare to treat her daughter-in-law so recklessly.”

So, whether it's Cheng Qingshuang, Xie Wanfang, or Xie Zhaolin, they dared to be so disrespectful to me because they had Xie Zhao's tacit approval?

This realization sent chills down Meng Zhenyue's spine.

Did Xie Zhao, who didn't mind her lameness, didn't mind her age, insisted on marrying her despite the ridicule of so many people, and refused to divorce her or take a concubine after learning that she was infertile, truly love her?

-

A month passed in the blink of an eye, and the day for the results of the imperial examination arrived.

Early in the morning, many students eagerly awaited the announcement of the imperial edict.

The housekeeper had also sent people to occupy the front positions early on.

Wang Xiaocui got up very early, and while having breakfast, her gaze frequently fell on Xue Lin across the table.

Xue Lin noticed and asked, "Sister Xiao Cui, what's wrong?"

"Aren't you nervous?" Wang Xiaocui asked.

Xue Lin replied calmly, "There's nothing to be nervous about."

The exam papers have been submitted. Those who pass the exam will be overjoyed, while those who don't will simply not be able to pass.

After all, the answer cannot be changed.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaocui gave Xue Lin a thumbs up.

As expected of a scholar, his mindset is different from that of ordinary people.

After Wang Xiaocui finished her breakfast and left, Yan Zhen asked Xue Lin in a low voice, "Aren't you nervous?"

After she finished speaking, she looked at the untouched side dish in front of him.

Xue Lin has a sweet tooth, so cane sugar was added when pickling the side dishes; it was made especially for him.

Xue Lin put down his chopsticks, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "There are some. If you don't pass the exam, you'll have to wait another three years."

"It's alright, we can wait three years."

Xue Lin shook his head: "No, I know these three years are very important to you."

My elder sister has already planned to develop her career in the capital, so it's only a matter of time before she meets Xie Zhao.

If he could pass the imperial examination and obtain an official position in the court, then the Cao family would have officials among them.

Given time to face Xie Zhao, he would not dare to act rashly.

Conversely, the common people cannot fight against the officials. Even if the elder sister is the richest man in Yinzhou with immense wealth, they have no chance of winning if they go up against Xie Zhao.

Therefore, I can only win and cannot afford to lose.

Yan Zhen understood his thoughts and knew that he was working so hard for her. After a long silence, she said, "Thank you for your hard work."

The sun was rising higher outside, and time seemed to drag on as we waited.

After an unknown amount of time, the outer door was suddenly flung open with a bang, followed by the joyful voice of Afu, the servant who served Xue Lin.

"Shopkeeper, young master! You've won! You've won!!!"

Yan Zhen paused and looked at Xue Lin.

Xue Lin was stunned for a moment, then showed a relieved expression.

Afu stumbled in, breathless, and exclaimed, "Congratulations, young master! Congratulations, shopkeeper! Our young master has passed the exam!"

Yan Zhen smiled and took out a red envelope from his sleeve and gave it to Afu: "I know, go and rest."

Ah Fu accepted the reward and happily retreated outside the door.

A short while later, Wang Xiaocui and the housekeeper returned one after the other, both with faces beaming with barely suppressed joy.

"From now on, our Cao family will also have officials!"

"Congratulations, young master! Congratulations, young master!"

Yan Zhen gave red envelopes to all the servants in the mansion, told Xue Lin to go out and buy clothes in preparation for the palace examination the next day, and did not forget to send someone to the Xie mansion to inform Meng Zhenyue of the good news.

When Yan Zhen returned after preparing clothes for Xue Lin, the servants who had gone to the Xie residence also returned, bringing back a box of pastries sent by Meng Zhenyue.

The pastries are produced by "Caichun Garden," the most famous shop in the city. The "Zhuangyuan Cake" is a limited-edition pastry made only once every three years and is only sold on the day the results of the imperial examination are announced.

Because it uses the gimmick of guaranteeing a top score in the imperial examinations, it is not only limited in time but also in quantity, making it very difficult to buy.

The fact that the servant was able to bring back the Scholar's Cake from the Xie residence so quickly shows that Meng Zhenyue had prepared it long ago, just waiting for the messenger to come so he could take it back to the Cao residence.

Yan Zhen looked at the champion cake and couldn't believe he wasn't moved.

Meng Zhenyue was very thoughtful.

-

The next day, Xue Lin, dressed in his finest attire, entered the palace with the candidates who had passed the imperial examination.

Yan Zhen, wearing a veiled hat, accompanied the steward to the palace gate.

Watching his figure disappear into the crowd of students until he was no longer visible, Yan Zhen said, "Let's go back."

The steward asked in surprise, "Manager, shouldn't we wait here for the young master to come out?"

“No need,” Yan Zhen said. “If he makes it into the top three, he won’t need to come out on his own.”

The top three scholars, personally appointed by His Majesty, will be paraded through the streets on horseback, adorned with flowers. Tens of thousands will watch, and they will not be able to get close to them at all.

The butler asked, "What if we don't win?"

Yan Zhen smiled slightly: "Then let him walk back by himself."

Back at the Cao residence, Yan Zhen set up a chessboard and played chess with the steward to pass the time.

In the afternoon, the sound of gongs and drums could be heard outside.

Hearing the noise, Yan Zhen and the butler looked up and exchanged a glance.

Both of them looked enlightened, put down their chess pieces, got off the couch, and walked outside.

Sure enough, there were people outside bringing good news.

"Madam Cao, congratulations! Young Master Xue has become the top scholar in the imperial examination!!"

The sound of gongs and drums attracted the attention of many neighbors and residents, who all came forward to congratulate Yan Zhen.

Yan Zhen accepted them all and had someone bring out the prepared baskets. Lifting the red silk covering them revealed two baskets full of loose silver.

She grabbed a handful of loose silver and scattered it among the onlookers at the door.

"There is a joyous occasion at the Cao family's residence today. Please share in the happiness."

The people were stunned for a moment, then began to frantically grab the goods.

When other families have a big celebration and throw money around, they scatter copper coins, but the Cao family does it differently—they scatter silver pieces!

This is incredibly wealthy and powerful.