Chapter 2793

Zhu Yanyi traveled to the prefectural capital with her classmates. Many students from their county school were going, accompanied by their teacher, Master Shao. It was a good arrangement.

"Yanyi, there are two small courtyards here. Together they have seven rooms. With Master Shao, we each get one room." Fan Jingdao, a fellow student, said after finding their temporary lodging.

"Okay." Zhu Yanyi nodded.

"The price is a bit high. Thirty wen per night," Fan Jingdao said with a helpless look. "But the courtyards are nice."

"I don't mind. Thirty wen is fine." The Yun family’s third branch had enough money. Zhu Yanyi was not wasteful, but she did not stingy when money was needed.

"Alright, I’ll tell the others," Fan Jingdao said.

Most of the students were not poor. There were two Ru students (martial scholars) and four Shi students (civil scholars). Everyone agreed to the arrangement. Zhu Yanyi, another Ru student named Li Gang, and Master Shao stayed in one courtyard. The four Shi students stayed in the other.

After putting her luggage in her room, Zhu Yanyi went out and saw Master Shao leaving.

"Master, are you going out too?" Zhu Yanyi greeted her.

Master Shao smiled. "I went to handle the registration procedures. You and Li Gang can enter the exam hall early."

Ru students always had priority.

"Are you going out, Yanyi?" Master Shao asked, noticing her appearance.

"It’s my first time in the prefectural capital. I want to look around and broaden my horizons," Zhu Yanyi said honestly.

"Come with me. I’ll show you around," Master Shao suggested.

"Great. Should I call Li Gang?"

"Call him. I’ll ask Fan Jingdao and the others if they want to join," Master Shao said with a smile.

Zhu Yanyi nodded. Ru students did not look down on Shi students, but Shi students often stayed apart because they were physically weaker. However, during the exam period, it was possible for them to go out together. So, everyone followed Master Shao.

Master Shao told them to sit in a nearby teahouse while he went to the prefectural yamen to register their arrival. Since they arrived early, the teahouse was not crowded. They found a quiet spot by the window, ordered tea and pastries, and waited.

"Who do you think will get first place in the prefectural exam?" one student asked. Others were already chatting.

"I heard Ma Yun from Xunyang County is a child prodigy. He has a good chance."

"Not necessarily. Ma Yun is talented, but as a Shi student, his body is weaker than a Ru student’s. If there is a Ru student with similar talent, the result is clear."

"That’s true. Whoever wins, I just hope to pass this time."

"Haha, I know you’ve taken the exam for five years," a classmate teased.

"You’ve taken it for three years," the first student retorted.

They teased each other, finding joy in others’ struggles.

Master Shao entered, saw the six students listening, and sat down quietly. "How is it? Are there many people?"

"Not many," Zhu Yanyi smiled. "There are still ten days left, so most haven’t arrived yet."

"Right," Master Shao nodded. "This teahouse is popular with students. You can come here to listen if you have free time."

The six students nodded in agreement.

In the next few days, Zhu Yanyi only went out two or three times. The city was getting crowded, and inns were full. So, she stayed in her room, reading and cultivating her Book Qi.

Soon, the day of the prefectural exam arrived. Zhu Yanyi and Li Gang entered early with their identification papers. Fan Jingdao and the others had to wait in line.

Zhu Yanyi found her exam cell. She cleaned it first. The cell was dusty, and there were small holes in the roof. She wasn’t worried about heat or cold, but rain. Two of her five single-layer clothes were made of water-repellent fabric. She used them to cover the holes, preventing rain from leaking in during rest or the exam.

Her precaution worked. It rained on the second night. The temperature dropped, but as a Ru student, Zhu Yanyi was not affected by the cold.

Three days later, she went out and found that two of the four Shi students had fevers. Fortunately, Master Shao had already hired a doctor, so they recovered safely.

The results would be posted in seven days. During this time, students could move freely. Zhu Yanyi decided to buy souvenirs for her family. They rarely visited the prefectural capital. She planned to bring them to the capital only after she passed the metropolitan exam.

For most of the seven days, Zhu Yanyi focused on cultivation.

One day, she was practicing calligraphy, using her Book Qi. Master Shao entered and saw the blue glow around her. she was slightly surprised.

Zhu Yanyi finished writing and put down her brush. "Master, why are you here? Is something wrong?"

"Yanyi, your Book Qi has reached the blue level."

"Yes," Zhu Yanyi smiled. She hadn’t told anyone it was orange, but blue was sufficient for now.

"Indeed, you have top-grade Book Qi talent," Master Shao sighed. She had medium-grade talent and had practiced for years to reach blue. She couldn’t believe Zhu Yanyi had reached it so quickly.

"I came to ask if you will attend the poetry gathering at Siji Tower tomorrow," Master Shao said, remembering his purpose.

"No," Zhu Yanyi shook her head. "I’m not interested."

She knew too many poems. She didn’t want to listen to mediocre ones.

"That’s good," Master Shao said. He didn’t want them to go either. "You and Li Gang should not go. Such poetry might affect your cultivation."

"Okay," Zhu Yanyi agreed. "I didn’t plan to go anyway. I just want to walk around since I have nothing else to do."

"Yanyi, if you pass and become a Xiucai this time, will you take the provincial exam next year?" Master Shao asked. This was his real reason for coming.

Zhu Yanyi shook her head slightly. "No. I’ll wait three years." She paused. "Although I have top-grade Book Qi talent, I am only eleven. If I pass the provincial exam next year, they might not give me a good rank because of my age. Even if I am confident, others might not let me off easily. So, I think it’s better to wait three years."

She smiled lightly. "For me, any time is fine, as long as it suits me."

Master Shao breathed a sigh of relief. "It’s good that you have a clear plan. What do you plan to do for these three years?"

"I plan to travel and study," Zhu Yanyi said seriously. "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. I want to walk around and gain experience."

Master Shao agreed. "That’s a good idea. Your intelligence is beyond what the school can teach. Traveling is beneficial."

Zhu Yanyi agreed. Although the Yun family was not very famous, her younger sister Yun Ni was only three years old. This allowed Zhu Yanyi to plan her three-year travel without pressure. If Yun Ni were thirteen, Zhu Yanyi would have to take the exam next year. So, Zhu Yanyi was lucky. She had little pressure.

In three years, she could take the provincial exam, and Yun Xu could take the county and prefectural exams. If everything went well, it would be a double celebration. Then, when Yun Ni and Yun Xia grew up, their futures would be secure.

Zhu Yanyi also realized that although her Book Qi was orange, she needed to broaden her mind to break through. Otherwise, even if she memorized all the poems given by Liang Chen, her cultivation would hit a bottleneck.

When the seven days were over, the red list was posted again. Master Shao brought the six students to the teahouse to wait.

As soon as the list was out, the crowd rushed forward.

"Wait," Master Shao said. "There are too many people. It’s dangerous to push."

Everyone nodded. Although anxious, they stayed back because the crowd was too large.

"Who is Zhu Yanyi? Who is Zhu Yanyi? Zhu Yanyi from Mengyang County is first in the prefectural exam!" someone shouted.

So, Zhu Yanyi didn’t need to look for her name.

Master Shao looked at Zhu Yanyi. "There is only one Zhu Yanyi from Mengyang County."

"Congratulations," Li Gang said coldly.

"Thank you," Zhu Yanyi replied. She hadn’t heard from the others yet, so she didn’t say "mutual congratulations."