After being reborn as a man, the woman improved her family's fortunes through education.

Chapter 338 Heading to the Capital Immediately to Escape the "Claws"

Without lingering at the teahouse, the servants grabbed the two food boxes that the teahouse waiter had packed and went downstairs.

Jiang Xiaoqi and his group of five also went downstairs, got into the car, and went home.

The teahouse hadn't had any good news for a while, and everyone's attention had shifted.

With the top scholar emerging, the teahouse will surely become lively again. If we don't leave now, when will we?

By the time the people in the teahouse realized what was happening, all they could see was the dust kicked up by the wheels of the Jiang family's carriage.

Escaping those who came to chat was one thing, but more importantly, it was about escaping the search for a son-in-law.

These people have very high standards; they focused their attention on the top ten.

After all, these are the people who are most likely to pass the imperial examination.

If all you really want is a son-in-law who is a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, Xuanzhong Prefecture certainly doesn't lack successful candidates, at least not today.

This provincial examination admitted 278 successful candidates. After deducting those who were married, engaged, or of unsuitable age, there were still quite a few eligible and marriageable individuals left.

Although there are many wealthy families in Xuanzhong Prefecture, they don't have daughters or granddaughters of marriageable age to marry off every year.

So the dating market here isn't as competitive as you might imagine; it's just that people always want something better when they have something good.

Merchants who are not short of money are more eager to find a powerful patron.

The only easy way to make a merchant's daughter become an official's wife is through the "marriage selection" method, as going through normal channels is quite difficult.

Among them were those who harbored malicious intentions and resorted to despicable means, and most of the scholars who encountered them could only accept their fate.

After all, he still had to continue his official career, so it was much better to have a rich man's daughter come knocking on his door than to be entangled with a down-and-out.

If they become successful in the future, they can even engage in collusion between officials and businessmen—no, I mean, mutual assistance and appreciation, right?

After the group returned to the Jiang residence, Butler Wen locked the main gate, bolted it, and propped it up with doorposts.

They had to attend the Deer Cry Banquet tomorrow. The group discussed how to handle the situation and asked Steward Wen to pack their luggage. They also sent some servants and guards out of the city to wait for them.

Before the city gates are locked tomorrow night, the five of them must find a way to escape and reunite with them outside the city.

Deer Cry Banquet

The newly appointed candidates finally saw the chief examiner in person, and in a word, he was incredibly young!

The chief examiner, Lord Li, appeared to be no more than thirty years old. Dressed in a scarlet official robe, he stood out among the group of older examiners.

The scholars took their seats and, as before, recited the poem "Deer Cry" from the Lesser Odes of the Book of Songs.

This is the core of the Deer Cry Banquet, and also the origin of its name.

"The deer cry out 'yoyo,' as they eat the wild apples."

I have guests, playing the zither and the sheng.

Playing the sheng and drum, carrying baskets.

Those who are kind to me show me the right path.

The deer cry out, "Yo-yo!" as they eat the wild artemisia.

I have a guest, whose virtue is worthy of Kong Zhao.

If one does not deceive the people, then the virtuous man will follow suit.

I have fine wine, and I invite my guests to feast and enjoy themselves.

The deer cry out, "Yo-yo!" as they eat the wild herbs.

I have guests, playing the zither and the lute.

Playing the zither and the lute, the music is harmonious and melodious.

I have fine wine to share with my guests and bring them joy.

After the chanting was finished, the cup was filled with wine.

The chief examiner and the prefect of Xuanzhong Prefecture gave concluding remarks on the provincial examination, and congratulated the candidates present, wishing them a bright future and boundless prospects.

In short, they were all nice words and polite phrases.

Jiang Xiaoqi wanted to keep playing the fool, but his seat was too far forward, so he could only play it by ear. If all else failed, he would let his cousin and brother Wang go first.

Although the city walls of Xuanzhong Prefecture are high, they can't stop Jiang Xiaoqi. He's a pro at scaling city walls!

The examiner didn't give Jiang Xiaoqi a chance to continue pretending to be a coward and called his name mercilessly.

There's no way around it; a thirteen-year-old top scholar is bound to attract attention.

After being summoned and asked some trivial questions, Jiang Xiaoqi still couldn't figure out Lord Li's intentions.

Fortunately, he wasn't asked to start a poem.

He believed his talent was no less than that of the scholars present, but writing poetry was truly his weakness.

This Lord Li seemed to know him inside and out, as if he could read his mind. He only asked him at the end if he could take the calligraphy.

“My master did give me a courtesy name, but I was still young a few years ago and didn’t tell anyone. My master said that I would use it when I passed the imperial examination.”

"Oh? I see. In that case, I will wait for you, the top scholar and all the newly promoted scholars, in the capital."

Some of the scholars present were going to take the imperial examination next spring, while others wanted to spend another three years honing their skills.

However, since the chief examiner had already said so, it was naturally inappropriate to say they wouldn't go, so they all nodded in agreement.

Finally, some people couldn't resist showing off their talents, and one poem after another was born at the Deer Cry Banquet, vying to reach the ears of the adults.

These verses were certainly not improvised on the spot; it's possible they were written by someone else.

That's understandable. Who wouldn't want to leave a deep impression on their mentor, Lord Li, at the Deer Cry Banquet?

Not a good ranking? Then rely on your poetic talent!

What if some of my best lines catch Lord Li's eye? Then I'd be on the radar of an official of the imperial court!

Opportunity knocks but once, or it will never come again.

If they have no hope of passing the imperial examination, this may be their only chance to get in touch with high-ranking officials in the capital.

If not now, when?

Wouldn't it be foolish not to seize the opportunity now?

Jiang Xiaoqi greatly admired the momentum of the scholars taking turns to perform, while secretly giving his cousins ​​and brother Wang a meaningful look. If they didn't leave now, when would they?

It's rare to have so many scholars volunteering to help us, so why don't we seize the opportunity to slip away?

The eighty to two hundred candidates were already seated quite far back, close to the main gate, making it a perfect combination of timing, location, and people.

At the crucial moment, it was Old Wang who received his little brother's brainwaves and pulled Jiang Yan and Jiang Hao away on either side.

It wasn't that Jiang Lin was deliberately pulled down; rather, the three of them were ranked close together and happened to be seated at the same table.

Jiang Lin's seat was a bit too far forward; you'd have to walk through several tables to call him, which would be too obvious.

By the time Jiang Lin realizes what's happening, he'll know he's slipped away. Old Wang thinks Jiang Lin isn't as quick-witted as he was with the other two.

However, it was his little brother Jiang who was the most clever; he chose the perfect moment.

The three of them went out and got into the carriage prepared by Steward Wen, a very ordinary green-brimmed carriage.

Without waiting for Jiang Lin and Jiang Xiaoqi, they went out as many as possible, since there was more than one carriage.

Jiang Xiaoqi excused herself to change, said something to the people at her table, and walked out with somewhat unsteady steps.

When they reached the middle, they tripped and said, "Hurry up and get out of here! The carriage is waiting in the alley outside. Just go out and leave. Don't wait for me."

Jiang Lin helped Jiang Xiaoqi up: "Oh dear, you're drunk. It's not safe for you to go to the bathroom by yourself. I'll take you there!"

The two brothers exchanged a knowing glance.

The two managed to squeeze through the door and were about to get into the car—

"Please wait a moment, you two!"