Chapter 24: Seventh in the County Examination (Please add to favorites and keep reading)

Beyond that.

Xinghua worked as a cook in the Li household. Whenever he saw her, he would find some reason to visit the Li family to disturb them.

Of course.

Wei Tu had not forgotten Li Yaozu's past misconduct, but now was not the time for him to dwell on such matters.

He knew how to weigh what was important and what was not.

In the eyes of outsiders, he was still a servant of the Li family, having received their benevolence.

Though he had been formally released from his status, this "stain" of his origin was difficult to wash away, no matter what.

...

Leading his horse through the familiar streets, Wei Tu looked at the scenery, the plants, and the trees before him. His state of mind was vastly different from what it had been half a year ago.

There was more leisure and composure.

Wei Tu speculated that this was likely due to the recognition he had received from Martial Candidate Shan while at the Shan residence, which had given him confidence in the county and prefectural martial examinations, as well as... the confidence in his own martial prowess after learning martial killing techniques.

"Bypass that alley, and we'll reach the Li family's front gate."

Wei Tu kept his eyes forward, leading the horse along.

However, just as he reached the street where the Li residence was located, Wei Tu was momentarily surprised by the bustling scene—the crowds and the carriages crowding the entrance.

The Li family had started as traveling merchants a hundred years ago and established their foundation here. Within Qingshan County, they were merely an ordinary wealthy household, nothing extraordinary.

Logically, it shouldn't have drawn so many gentry to visit.

Seeing Chunlan and Caixia standing at the side gate welcoming guests, Wei Tu tied his green-and-white horse to a hitching post beside the main gate and walked over.

After a short inquiry, Wei Tu learned that the reason for this commotion was that Li Xingye's name had appeared on the list of successful candidates when the county posted the results of the group examination yesterday.

And his ranking was not low.

He was seventh in the main examination!

"Seventh in the main exam..." Wei Tu was genuinely shocked to hear this.

There were at least a thousand candidates participating in the county-level imperial examination in Qingshan County. To stand out among a thousand people and make it onto the list was no easy feat, let alone achieving the excellent result of seventh place in the main exam.

(The group examination only selects the top fifty candidates. Those not on the list have failed.)

For Li Xingye to pass the county exam at the age of twenty and rank seventh was an extraordinary achievement for Qingshan County, even if he was not quite a prodigy or the top scorer like those in history.

Furthermore, being seventh in the main exam meant his actual strength was not necessarily inferior to those ranked higher; after all, in literature, there is no absolute first, and the County Magistrate's grading often depended on personal preference.

"If the quality of this year's candidates in Qingshan County is decent, Li Xingye is very likely to obtain the title of *Xiucai* this autumn."

Thinking of this, Wei Tu finally understood why so many carriages from wealthy families had arrived at the Li residence today.

While the title of *Xiucai* was not incredibly precious, it meant something entirely different if it belonged to a young man.

It meant he had a high probability of advancing steadily, succeeding in the autumn and spring metropolitan examinations, and eventually ascending to the halls of the Emperor...

After his initial surprise.

Wei Tu explained his purpose to Caixia, asking her to go inside and inform Lady Li that he wished to see Xinghua and stay overnight at the Li residence.

"I will leave the Li residence and head to the prefectural city once the county martial examination is over."

Wei Tu provided a specific timeframe.

Hearing this, Caixia nodded and headed toward the inner quarters.

About fifteen minutes later, Caixia returned. She shook her head at Wei Tu and said, "The Eldest Mistress is currently receiving the female relatives of the guests in the parlor. I waited for a long time but couldn't find a suitable moment to speak..."

"How about this, Brother Wei, wait by the gate for a while. When it reaches the hour of the Rooster, the guests should have dispersed," Caixia said, glancing at the sky and seeing the sun setting in the west.

"Alright." Wei Tu nodded. He left the side gate and sat on the hitching post where his horse was tied, stroking the horse's mane while waiting for the guests to leave.

After more than an hour, as the sky grew dim, there was finally movement at the side gate of the Li residence.

Maids carrying lanterns emerged, followed by gentry and noble ladies, moving like winding streaks of fire.

As the carriages rolled away, the entrance to the Li residence returned to its usual silence, and the sound of insects began to rise.

Wei Tu saw Li Yaozu and his wife standing at the gate to see off the gentry. He led his horse over, bowed slightly, and stated his purpose.

"Eldest Mistress, Brother Wei arrived early this morning, but since you were occupied, I couldn't find the chance to inform you," Caixia chimed in after Wei Tu finished speaking.

"Brother Wei?" Lady Li sized up the young man before her, a look of surprise on her face.

She had seen Wei Tu standing outside the gate just now, but because it was dark, she hadn't recognized him immediately. She had simply assumed the young man by the hitching post was a servant of some gentleman waiting nearby.

Lady Li's lips moved, preparing to say something.

But just then.

Using the light from the gate, Lady Li finally saw Wei Tu's appearance clearly, along with the lean, disciplined aura unique to a martial artist. She thought for a moment and immediately swallowed the words in her throat.

—If it weren't for the purple wool padded jacket he was wearing, which she had gifted to Xinghua, Lady Li would not have believed that the man before her was the sturdy servant who had been redeemed from the household half a year ago.

"We have been negligent; our Li family has failed to host you properly," Lady Li said to Wei Tu, repeating the sentiments of the distinguished guests she had hosted today.

"That's right, it's almost time for the county martial examination. No wonder you've come to the county town after coming from Martial Candidate Shan..." After Lady Li apologized, Li Yaozu greeted Wei Tu with a face full of smiles.

In his view, his act of promoting Wei Tu and recommending him to study under Martial Candidate Shan made him Wei Tu's well-deserved benefactor.

And since he was a benefactor, it was only natural for Wei Tu to feel gratitude toward him.

A scholar dies for the one who understands him.

—He had to manage this relationship well.

"Yes, Master Li," Wei Tu nodded, responding briefly.

"As for staying overnight, that is a small matter. You are, after all, someone who came from our Li family and have always been loyal. I agree to it," Li Yaozu said, feigning intimacy as he patted Wei Tu on the shoulder with a laugh.

Hearing this, Wei Tu frowned inwardly, feeling a slight sense of displeasure.

—Loyal? He had a feeling there was a subtext to Li Yaozu's words. Did he still view him as a house servant?

However, Wei Tu did not argue. Instead, he told himself to relax.

Perhaps he was being too sensitive about returning to the Li family.

A gentleman judges by deeds, not by intentions.

Once Li Yaozu had moved a little further away, Wei Tu bowed slightly and offered his thanks.

"Come into the inner quarters for a meal," Lady Li said kindly, leading the way through the side gate.

As for the green-and-white horse, it was taken by a newly hired groom from the Li residence and led to the stables in the side courtyard of the front residence.

"Wei Tu?"

In the dining room, a young man in scholar's robes sitting on a stool couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when he saw Wei Tu being led in by Li Yaozu and his wife.

As for Wei Tu.

Li Xingye was naturally familiar with him.

When he was young, when the family hired tutors to teach him the Confucian classics, they would also teach several of the household's maids and servants how to read.

Wei Tu had been one of them.

At the same time, he had been one of the few playmates Li Xingye had during his youth at the Li residence.

...

...

PS: I previously wrote the details about the imperial examinations incorrectly, and no one reminded me. I only realized it while writing this chapter.

The imperial examinations are divided into the County Exam, Prefectural Exam, Circuit Exam (Yanshi), Provincial Exam (Xiangshi), and finally the Metropolitan Exam (Huishi) and the Palace Exam (Dianshi).

Only after passing the County, Prefectural, and Circuit exams can one obtain the title of *Xiucai*. The Provincial Exam grants the title of *Juren*. The martial examinations follow a similar structure. Only after the Provincial Martial Exam can one obtain the martial title.

(End of Chapter)