Chapter 54

Chapter 54

After Li Hui moved in, he rarely went out or talked with others, content to read books in the courtyard. Zhao Pan and Zhang Hu, on the other hand, went out to gather information and understand the important matters, reporting back to Li Hui everything they had learned.

When Li Hui heard that in previous years, some had deliberately sabotaged capable students by giving them drugs to make them ill, preventing them from entering the examination hall and forcing them to abandon the exam, he felt grateful that Mrs. Lu had instructed him to bring a cook.

During this time, there were also invitations for Li Hui to attend literary gatherings. He carefully selected a few with people he knew well and attended a couple of times. After understanding the procedures, he stopped going out and secluded himself to study until the day of the exam, when he carried the examination basket prepared by Zhao Pan into the examination hall.

After a careful inspection, Li Hui obtained his number plate and proceeded to the corresponding cubicle. Fortunately, this cubicle was in the middle of the row. Its cleanliness exceeded Li Hui's expectations.Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com

He wiped and cleaned the desk, prepared himself, and waited for the examination papers to be distributed. With three consecutive days of exams, one per day, Li Hui felt completely drained after the final session as he walked out of the gate. Zhang Hu and Qing Zhu came forward to support Li Hui and helped him into the carriage. Wen Zhu drove the carriage back to their separate residence.

The physician summoned by Zhao Pan was waiting. Li Hui took a hot bath and ate the meals carefully prepared by the cook. The physician took his pulse and diagnosed him with extreme exhaustion, prescribing two days of rest. Zhao Pan, still concerned, also prepared soothing herbal medicine.

After two days of rest, Li Hui recovered. The county examination results would not be announced for another half month, so Li Hui did not wait in the prefecture city but returned to Liuzhou. Seeing the much thinner Li Hui, Mrs. Lu took his hand, tears flowing as she murmured, "You've lost so much weight, let the kitchen prepare more dishes, you must recover." Li Xin hurried to the kitchen to make arrangements.

Guessing that Li Hui would return in a few days, the kitchen had stocked up on ingredients. That evening, the family gathered for a rare dinner together. Li Ming had already seen Li Hui's draft essays and was confident he would pass. Delighted, he urged his three sons to drink more that night.

Deep into the night, Li Xia came to the desolate mountain and noticed signs that someone had visited the grave of Tian Fa. Who could it be? The Shadowless Pavilion or Prince YongKang's people?

Either party was bad news for Li Xia. He continued to the ruins and found more footprints, as if someone had been searching for something. Li Xia prepared to enter the secret chamber but heard a sound and swiftly climbed a tree.

Soon after, a figure dressed in black, with only the nose and eyes visible, emerged from the secret chamber. After scanning the area, the figure departed. Li Xia followed, trailing them over a mountain and out of Liuzhou's borders. Unable to continue pursuit, Li Xia noted the direction and returned.

It was dawn when Li Xia got back. Fortunately, Mrs. Lu had sent word that he need not attend the morning greetings. Li Xia slept in, then summoned Qiu Shui to call for Qiu Ling. He instructed Qiu Ling to investigate the matter discreetly, without outsiders knowing.

Seeing Auntie An approach from the left, Xiao Lan entered from the right. Unexpectedly, Auntie An turned right, and Xiao Lan could not avoid colliding with her.

Xiao Lan quickly knelt and begged for forgiveness. "Auntie, please pardon me. I saw you going left, so I entered from the right."

Hearing this, Auntie An became angrier. A little maid dared to talk back to her. If Li Hui passed the county exam, would there still be a place for her and her sons in this household?

"You insolent wretch, still talking back? Xiao Hui, slap her mouth!" Xiao Hui, standing behind Auntie An, turned pale. Striking someone in the lady's courtyard was like jumping into a fire pit. She softly cautioned, "Auntie, this is the Wild Goose Pavilion."

Seeing Xiao Hui's inaction, Auntie An rolled up her sleeves to strike Xiao Lan herself.

"Sister An, why are you so angry so early? Look, you've startled the orioles in the courtyard," Aunt Wang's voice came from behind, causing Auntie An to lower her hand. She glared at Aunt Wang, no better herself.

Chunlu Granny came out, calmly stating, "Aunties, the Lady is waiting."

Auntie An and Aunt Wang composed themselves and entered.

Chunlu Granny looked at the kneeling Xiao Lan. "Get up."

Xiao Lan carefully stood. "Granny, I am Xiao Lan from the front courtyard. Steward Li instructed me to report to the Lady that the copper coins have been exchanged."

"Very well, I understand. Xiao Lan, be more mindful in the future," Chunlu Granny said, removing a hairpin from her head and placing it in Xiao Lan's hand.

Watching Chunlu Granny enter the room with silent, measured steps, Xiao Lan gripped the hairpin tightly, determined to become as formidable a housekeeper as the granny.