Qin Yuanzhang clapped his hands in approval, overjoyed.
"Excellent, excellent! It's your good fortune to encounter a divine doctor. It's a pity, though... Father cannot thank her in person! Otherwise, I would surely show my gratitude!"
"Alright, Father. It's best we keep this quiet. Also..."
"Also what? Does Yun'er have something to say?"
Qin Yun clenched her fists secretly and whispered to Qin Yuanzhang, "Father, I suspect Third Sister will not willingly marry Ming Xiajing. You should pay closer attention to this matter!"
Qin Yuanzhang frowned. "Even in this state, that brat is still not obedient!"
"Father, why is Mr. Jin from the accounting office so good to the second branch but so indifferent to the third?" Qin Yun asked, feigning curiosity.
"Mr. Jin has been with me for a long time; he's an old retainer. He's good to the second branch because Min Yueyue earned merit by giving birth to a daughter for me. Moreover, Min Yueyue once saved Mr. Jin's life years ago!"
Qin Yun frowned. "Second Aunt saved Mr. Jin?"
"Yes, I heard that Min Yueyue was on an outing and saved him by chance in a refugee area! It happened that at that time... the former Emperor gifted this estate to me, and I was short of manpower. Seeing that Mr. Jin was literate, I brought him back to serve as my accountant!"
So that was it!
Qin Yun smiled wryly.
Min Shi must have started planning before she even entered the manor!
"Understood, Father. Your child understands!"
Qin Yun quickly finished her breakfast and then headed to the examination hall.
Today was the day of the imperial examinations, and the scholars had arrived early.
Outside the academy, guards were inspecting the students entering.
Only inkstones and writing brushes were allowed; nothing else could be carried.
Students entering had to wear the academy's uniform to be admitted to the examination hall.
Anyone caught cheating would be expelled from the academy.
The imperial examinations were held every three years.
Many scholars had studied diligently for over a decade, all for the sake of achieving fame in these examinations.
Qin Yun entered the academy smoothly.
To her surprise, she, Ouyang Siqing, Wei Xiaochang, and Zheng Haonan were assigned to the same examination room.
The four exchanged smiles and then took their seats.
When Qin Yun saw Ouyang Siqing, he was also looking at her.
Qin Yun responded with a smile. To her surprise, Ouyang Siqing turned his head, blushing, as if he hadn't seen Qin Yun's gesture.
Qin Yun tilted her head, wondering what was wrong with him.
Had she done something to him after getting drunk last night?
Qin Yun thought carefully, but couldn't recall anything.
After she got drunk, Ouyang Siqing had taken her into a carriage, and then... she seemed to have fallen asleep.
When she woke up again, she encountered Qin Yu causing trouble.
Thinking about it, she hadn't done anything last night.
Could it be that she had said something wrong?
No matter. After the poetry examination, she would find a time to ask him.
Inside the examination hall, the students fell silent as soon as the invigilator entered.
The invigilator took out the test papers and hung them at the front of the hall. The students quietly began to answer.
The moment they saw the questions, Wei Xiaochang was astonished.
The scroll of questions his elder brother had given him yesterday was exactly the same as today's questions?
Suddenly, a terrible thought flashed through Wei Xiaochang's mind.
He then clenched his fists.
Fortunately, he had heeded Qin Yun's advice last night, otherwise, they would have been dead after the examinations.
Wei Maoran... from now on, you are no longer my brother!
Our brotherhood ends here!
Wei Xiaochang closed his eyes in pain.
When he opened them again, his eyes were filled with determination and shrewdness. He then picked up his brush and began to answer the questions diligently, no longer troubled by Wei Maoran's affairs.
Similarly, Zheng Haonan and Ouyang Siqing were also shocked.
Both quickly regained their composure, acting as if nothing had happened, and began to answer according to their thoughts.
Since they had given part of the answers to Wei Maoran yesterday, they couldn't use the same methods to solve them now.
Looking at the questions provided by the invigilator, Qin Yun smiled.
She had found it suspicious yesterday.
Why would Wei Maoran suddenly take out test questions for them to solve? It was naturally bound to raise suspicions.
When she saw the scroll at that time, she felt something was amiss!
The fabric of the scroll was made of chiffon silk, and the embroidery on it was the masterpiece of a professional embroiderer. Even ordinary noble families might not possess such fabric.
Only items from the palace would have such fabric.
Unexpectedly, everything had unfolded as she had guessed!
Her caution last night was justified!
What puzzled her the most was who had given Wei Maoran the test questions?
She would have to find someone to subtly probe Wei Maoran's words another day.
Qin Yun picked up the paper and ink.
Shaking her head, she began to answer the questions diligently.
In another examination room, seeing that the questions on the scroll were the same as those in the hall, Wei Maoran was ecstatic!
His success in the examinations was practically guaranteed.
His answers were the works of the top four scholars from the poetry gathering.
Wei Maoran's lips curved upwards, wearing an air of confident victory.
Su Qingwen, not far away, sneered upon seeing Wei Maoran quickly writing down the answers.
These fools, he would catch them all.
Once the examination results were announced, they would be finished.
Several hours later, the examination ended.
The students submitted their papers and then lined up to exit the academy.
Coincidentally, Qin Yun walked just ahead of Ouyang Siqing.
Ouyang Siqing behind her kept staring at the back of Qin Yun's head.
The kiss from last night resurfaced in his mind.
He raised his hand and touched the place Qin Yun had kissed, as if reliving the sweetness of the previous night.
Realizing he was having inappropriate thoughts, Ouyang Siqing hurriedly shook his head.
Perhaps it was Ouyang Siqing's unusual behavior, or perhaps she sensed his gaze, but Qin Yun suddenly turned her head, her eyes meeting the blushing Ouyang Siqing.
The moment he met Qin Yun's gaze, Ouyang Siqing's heart pounded wildly.
He then averted his eyes, looking at the scenery elsewhere.
Qin Yun frowned.
Was he avoiding her? Did he not want to see her?
Just as Qin Yun was about to speak, Ouyang Siqing turned and said to Zheng Haonan beside him, "Young Master Zheng, how about we switch seats?"
Zheng Haonan looked bewildered, wondering what was going on between them.
However, he still agreed, "Alright!"
And so, Zheng Haonan was now positioned between Qin Yun and Ouyang Siqing.
After this incident, Qin Yun became very certain that she must have done something excessive last night.
No.
She had to find Qingshan and Hongfu to ask about the situation. They must know!
Qin Yun turned around, crossed her arms, and felt a pang of unease in her heart.
It felt bad to have the little milk bun starting to resist her.
She must have done something overly bold last night that scared him!
Could it be... she had forced herself on him?
Impossible!
She hadn't felt anything.
Ouyang Siqing, now separated by another person, felt his emotions calming down considerably.
His heartbeat gradually slowed, and his face was no longer so red.
As long as he wasn't in close proximity to Qin Yun, he was normal.
Thinking this, Ouyang Siqing felt that he needed to stay away from Qin Yun for a while. Perhaps after some time, the symptoms of his accelerated heartbeat and flushed face would disappear.