Yueyao hesitated whether she should tell Ma Chengteng or not. If she told her uncle, then her eldest cousin would surely pass the imperial civil service exam this time. Becoming a Palace Graduate as opposed to a Juren was an entirely different class of accomplishment. If her eldest cousin became a Palace Graduate, his future prospects would certainly be bright. Him becoming a high official in the future was naturally a good thing for her; the stronger her backer, the more her uncle and Lady Mo would have to think twice before scheming against her or even selling her off. Yet, having received so much proper education over the years, Yueyao felt that a good result obtained through cheating was unacceptable, not something a gentleman would do, and it left her truly torn between the two options.
Yueyao tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Hua Lei, who was on night duty, kept listening to Yueyao turning over and said, "Miss, what on earth is wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"
