Chen Tingfeng lowered his voice when he said this, making sure only they could hear.
Fu Zhen subconsciously glanced at Mrs. Bai and saw that she was still watching the servants packing up. She heaved a sigh of relief. Then she turned to Chen Tingfeng and said, "Cousin, you're overthinking. Brother Xie and I are just friends. There's nothing between us."
Seeing that she was still evading the topic, Chen Tingfeng knew there was no point in trying to get information from her. So he didn't say anything more.
After a while, when Mrs. Bai finished packing, Chen Tingfeng asked Yuanbao to take the packages, then bowed and left.
It was drizzling outside that day. The cold wind crept up from his trouser legs, making him shiver.
Mrs. Bai looked at the weather worriedly. "I don't know what's wrong this year. It's been raining non - stop in spring. There's never a sunny day."
She looked at Chen Tingfeng, who was about to go to the examination hall. "I know you're ambitious and always want to do your best. I won't say much else. Just take good care of yourself. Fame and fortune are all illusory. I'd rather you fail this exam than see you carried out of the hall on a stretcher."
The imperial examination lasted for nine days, with three - day intervals between each session. After each session, the candidates could leave the hall for half a day to rest. Every year, there were candidates who fainted during the exam due to poor health. Some even died in the hall. Although this wasn't Chen Tingfeng's first time taking the exam, as a mother, how could Mrs. Bai not worry about her son?
She exhorted him earnestly. Chen Tingfeng nodded slightly and comforted her, "Don't worry, Mother. I know what I'm doing."
"It's getting late. You should set off. I'll wait for you at home." Mrs. Bai patted her son, who was now much taller than her, and gave a smile.
The examination hall was actually not far from the Marquis's Mansion. Mrs. Bai wanted to see him off to the gate of the hall, but Chen Tingfeng stopped her, saying it was unnecessary and troublesome.
Fu Zhen looked at Chen Tingfeng, who was all set to go, and sincerely wished him, "I wish you a successful result in the exam, cousin."
The Marquis's Mansion would be Chen Tingfeng's in the future. When she got married, she would rely on her natal family. The more successful Chen Tingfeng was, the better the Marquis's Mansion would be, and the better her life would be.
Moreover, looking at the hurried scholars on the street, she let out a long breath.
She always had respect for these scholars who had studied hard for ten years, regardless of the weather or the season.
Chen Tingfeng naturally understood her meaning. He looked down at her, for the first time putting aside his prejudice, and bowed to her. "Thank you, cousin."
"I'm leaving." After saying that, he didn't look at the people at the gate anymore and got into the carriage directly.
The coachman whipped the horse, and the carriage rumbled towards the examination hall.
Mrs. Bai watched his gradually disappearing back, still looking worried.
Fu Zhen stepped forward to support her and walked slowly into the mansion. "Don't worry, aunt. Cousin is in good health and practices martial arts every day. He must be much stronger than those bookworms."
Mrs. Bai naturally understood this, so she nodded and said cheerfully, "That boy is always confident. If he's not worried, why should I be? Come, let's go to my room and have some tea!"
The rain lasted for seven days and finally stopped on the day when the imperial examination was almost over.
Xie Yan was sitting in a restaurant, staring at the gate of the examination hall. The folding fan in his hand made a cracking sound as he waved it. He muttered to himself, "Why isn't he out yet? Hey—someone's coming out!"
"Tsk, this one is as thin as a stick. He's shivering while walking. It's definitely not Shaochuan! And that fat one isn't either! Hey, this one looks like him!"
"Fuyun, go! Go down there and see if that's Shaochuan!" he shouted.
Fuyun bowed quickly and said, "Yes, yes, I'll go right away!"
With great difficulty, he squeezed to the gate, but he didn't see Chen Tingfeng. He waited for a while, but still didn't see the elegant and charming Heir of the Marquis of Wu'an. So he had to go back dejectedly to report, "My lord, that's not the Heir Chen."
"Need you tell me! I saw it myself!" Xie Yan slapped him hard on the head and said disdainfully.
Fuyun rubbed his aching head but didn't dare to complain. He quickly said, "My lord has sharp eyes!"
"Another one is coming out! This one must be him. Fuyun, go and check again!" Xie Yan ordered Fuyun around like he was a dog.
Poor Fuyun ran back and forth at least five times. Finally, just before he collapsed from exhaustion, he saw Chen Tingfeng. At this moment, the Heir seemed to be shining a golden light in his eyes.
Chen Tingfeng saw him and knew that Xie Yan was here. He tilted his chin at him. "Lead the way."
Behind him, Yuanbao took the package that Chen Tingfeng threw over. Looking at Fuyun, who was still out of breath in front, he couldn't help but smile maliciously.
When Chen Tingfeng entered the restaurant and closed the door, Fuyun collapsed on the ground like a deflated balloon.
"Quick, quick, quick! Have a cup of tea! I made this tea especially for you. Try it!" Xie Yan quickly poured a cup of tea for him. This tea wasn't like green tea. It was slightly yellow.
Chen Tingfeng smelled it and knew it was ginseng tea. He took a sip and closed his eyes because of the strong medicinal taste. "If Doctor Liu knew you stole his two - hundred - year - old ginseng to make tea, he'd fight you to the death."
Xie Yan crossed his legs carelessly and said with a smile, "I'm not afraid of him!"
"How was the exam?"
"As expected."
Xie Yan knew from his answer that he had done well. He praised him, "Work harder and try to be the first person in our dynasty to achieve the 'Triple Success'!"
Chen Tingfeng gave him a sideways look and ignored his crazy talk.
Even if he had the ability, he wouldn't show it in public. After all, a tall tree catches the wind, and there were many people jealous of the Marquis's Mansion.
Chen Tingfeng sat for a while and then stood up. "I'm going back to the mansion."
Xie Yan came just to greet him. Other things weren't urgent, so he waved his hand. "Go, go. Oh, right,"
Chen Tingfeng knew there was something bad coming next. He immediately walked out. Xie Yan shouted behind him with a mischievous smile, "I heard your cousin made you a pair of knee pads embroidered with chrysanthemums. How are they? Are they good?"
The only response he got was a stone flying towards him with a whistling sound.
Xie Yan blocked it with his folding fan. The stone fell into a corner. He laughed out loud and sat on his seat, talking to himself, "That little girl's embroidery skills are quite good. The chrysanthemums look so real. I'll ask her for a pair another day."
After nine days of continuous exams, even Chen Tingfeng was exhausted. After taking a bath when he got back to the mansion, he fell asleep immediately. When he woke up, the moon was already high in the sky.
Hearing the noise, Yuanbao knocked on the door. "Heir, are you up?"
"Yes." Chen Tingfeng replied indifferently. "Bring some water."
Immediately, a servant carried in the prepared hot water. After Chen Tingfeng finished washing up, Yuanbao came in with a box and put it on the table in the room.
"This is the pigeon soup made by the lady. There are some medicinal herbs in it. She told you to drink it while it's hot."
Yuanbao served the soup. Chen Tingfeng took it and took a sip. Suddenly, he stopped. "Who made this soup?"
"The lady," Yuanbao scratched his head. Then he seemed to remember something and suddenly realized, "Oh, no, it was the young lady!
"The steward from the manor outside the city came this afternoon. Mrs. Bai was busy dealing with him, so she gave the soup to the young lady. What's wrong, Heir? Is there something wrong with it?"
This pigeon soup was what Mrs. Bai always made for him after every exam. The medicinal herbs in it were in a certain proportion. A slight mistake would change the taste.
Ordinary people might not be able to tell, but Chen Tingfeng had a sharp sense of taste. He could tell that a few of the herbs were a bit too much, making the soup a bit too sweet.
He lowered his eyes indifferently. After a moment, he took another sip. "It tastes bad."
Yuanbao started scratching his head again.
The Heir said it tasted bad, but why did he finish the whole bowl of soup?