"Brother Li is back~"
"Brother Li, Brother Li~~~"
"Brother Li, what goodies did you bring us this time~?"
As soon as Li Han stepped into the courtyard, a group of little boys and girls rushed toward him.
"Hehe, don't fight, don't grab—there's enough for everyone. Xiaohua, help me hand these out to the kids. There's food and clothes for everyone," Li Han said cheerfully.
"Yay, new clothes to wear~ Thank you, Brother Li~" a little girl jumped up in joy, clapping her hands.
"Brother Li, when I grow up, I want to join the army too. I want to be like you and join the Blood Asura to earn lots and lots of money," a little boy ran up with a face full of anticipation.
"I want to join the army too."
"Me too!"
With one boy taking the lead, the courtyard quickly filled with similar cries.
"You little fools, what's so great about joining the army? It's dangerous and exhausting," Li Han said, playfully patting one boy on the head.
"Besides, you can't join the army just for the money. There are plenty of ways to earn money; joining the army isn't the only one. If everyone in Wu Kingdom's military joined only for money, the country would be doomed sooner or later. Alright, alright, go pick out your new clothes. Off you go."
Driven off by Li Han, the children reluctantly left, a little disheartened.
To them, being a soldier meant free food and housing, plus money to send home—it seemed like the perfect job. But once they got their new clothes, their spirits quickly lifted again.
"You don't need to bring so much stuff every time you come back."
From the kitchen came a young woman named Ye Ye.
Dressed in an apron, the clear-featured girl exuded an air of gentleness, though her single ponytail draped over one shoulder gave off a faint sense of danger.
"It's no trouble at all; the kids are happy," Li Han said with a grin.
Ye Ye seemed about to say more but simply shook her head. "Lunch is almost ready. Let's eat first."
Li Han nodded. "Alright."
The older children carried out the meal buckets and dishes, serving food to the younger ones.
Lunch wasn't extravagant, but it was far from plain. There was meat, vegetables, and even egg drop soup.
After lunch, the younger kids helped wash the dishes, while the older ones left to work or learn a trade.
In the afternoon, as the children returned to their small beds for a nap, the courtyard suddenly grew quiet—an unusual stillness.
Ye Ye and Li Han sat in the courtyard. Ye Ye glanced at him.
"You really don't need to bring so much back each time. Military achievements aren't easy to earn, especially for someone like you, a martial practitioner. I've heard that the materials for body refinement and your weapons and armor are very expensive.
You've been using your military merits to exchange for money all these years. Just look at yourself—your clothes are patched up in so many places."
"It's no big deal, Sister Ye Ye. I don't spend anything on food or lodging in the Blood Asura Battalion," Li Han said with a hearty laugh. "Besides, the body-refining herbs they provide are more than enough. As for clothes, we mostly wear uniforms in the Blood Asura Battalion and rarely need casual wear."
Ye Ye shook her head.
"You can't fool me with that. I may not know much about military life, but how can any army—even the Blood Asura—provide everything you need?
Especially as your level progresses, the resources you require will only grow more expensive. A lot of it must come from your own military merits, right?
As for the family, you don't need to worry so much. Many of the kids in the courtyard have grown up and can earn their own keep.
You've reached a point where you should aim higher for yourself. It's time to start thinking about your own future."
"..."
Li Han lowered his head.
He wanted to say something, but Ye Ye had already changed the subject: "By the way, today isn't a holiday or festival. What brings you back?"
"Hehe…" Li Han scratched his head, looking rather proud. "One of my brothers is taking the imperial examination. Today is the day the results are posted, so a few of us from the camp decided to come out together."
"Someone from the military camp taking the imperial examination? Did he pass as a juren?" Ye Ye asked in surprise.
"He didn't just pass as a juren… My brother—"
"Sister Ye Ye, Brother Li, it's so lively outside! The results are out! The top scorer has been announced!"
Just as Li Han was about to introduce his brother, a child ran in excitedly.
"Sister Ye Ye, let's go take a look!" Li Han quickly stood up, looking eager.
"Alright," Ye Ye replied with a light laugh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Li Han noticed the bracelet on Ye Ye's left wrist and paused for a moment before his smile grew even brighter.
---
In the residence of the Minister of War, Xiong Wentian looked at his son.
"Haizhi, why are you back today?"
"Master, what are you saying? Isn't it normal for Haizhi to come back because he misses us and wants to visit?" Lady Xiong said with a smile.
"Hmph!" Xiong Wentian snorted coldly. "The Blood Asura Battalion has strict regulations, and leaves are rare throughout the year. If you're leaving the camp for no good reason, do you take this as a joke?"
"Master, how can you say that? How is this a joke? Our son—"
"Father, Mother." Xiong Haizhi interrupted his mother. "This time, I left camp because of an important matter. A brother of mine is taking the imperial examination, and today is the day the results are announced. Once we've seen the results, I'll head back."
---
In a courtyard in Wudu.
Guang Yin and Hu Tao, having been granted a short leave from the Blood Asura Battalion, had temporarily left the military.
They purchased a two-wing courtyard—not too expensive, but not cheap either.
After cleaning up, Guang Yin and Hu Tao made the place their home.
That morning, Guang Yin woke up early and began pacing back and forth in the courtyard, frequently checking the time.
He had never felt time pass so slowly.
"Brother Guang! Brother Guang!"
Just as Guang Yin grew increasingly anxious, Hu Tao rushed into the courtyard.
"Brother Guang, the results are out!"
---
At the Xu residence, two young and elegant women sat together.
In front of them stood a large white goose.
Compared to four years ago, the goose had grown taller, its neck longer and more graceful. Its snowy feathers glistened, and its eyes were strikingly expressive.
It even had long lashes, and upon closer inspection, an almost refined and delicate appearance.
Yet despite its elegant looks, the goose flapped noisily around the courtyard, somewhat at odds with its graceful exterior.
"What's wrong?" Wang Feng asked Chen Suya. "Ming'er will be back today. Why do you look so nervous? Aren't you happy?"
"Of course, I'm happy to see Ming'er."
Chen Suya smiled and shook her head.
"It's just that I haven't seen Ming'er in four years. These past four years are when children grow the fastest. I don't even know what he looks like anymore or if he'll recognize me as his mother. I haven't been able to do much for him. Ming'er is so outstanding, and I'm afraid of holding him back."
Wang Feng smiled gently. "What nonsense are you saying? No matter how much he's changed, he's still your child. How could he not recognize his own mother? Besides, letting him pursue his dreams back then was the greatest support you could give him."
Chen Suya smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Sister Wang, for your kind words."
"You really underestimate yourself," Wang Feng said with a chuckle. "The hardest thing in life is knowing what you should and shouldn't do. You've done well."
Wang Feng let out a sigh.
"When Xu Ming's reputation spread across Wu Kingdom and he ranked fiftieth on the Qingyun List, you remained the same as always, quietly embroidering here in Xiaochun Courtyard, neither vying nor scheming, surpassing countless women in grace.
But do you know how arrogant the Xu family became when Xu Ming was summoned to the palace and gained favor with His Majesty?
The Xu family is bound to bring trouble upon themselves."
Chen Suya was startled. "Sister, you mustn't—"
"Mustn't say such things?" Wang Feng chuckled, her voice calm yet commanding. "I am the mistress of the Xu family. What can't I say?"
Chen Suya: "..."
"Enough, let's not dwell on these unpleasant matters." Wang Feng changed the subject. "The results should be out soon. Let's go take a look."
"Alright." Chen Suya stood up.
Just as the two stepped out of the courtyard, Chunyan came running, panting heavily. "Madam, Fifth Madam, someone from the palace is here!"
"If someone's here, they're here. What's the fuss about? Are all the men in the Xu family dead? Can't they handle receiving an imperial decree?" Wang Feng said coldly.
Chen Suya and Chunyan: "..."
"Madam, it's not an imperial decree. The Minister of Rites has come to congratulate us! Young Master Xu has passed!"
---
When Xu Ming walked out of the palace, he still hadn't seen Xu Pangda.
It couldn't be helped. Upon entering the palace, the 400 examinees were split into five batches to enter in turns, and Xu Ming hadn't seen Xu Pangda in his batch.
After his interview, Xu Ming was taken to the Ministry of Rites examination hall.
When he exited the hall, he was greeted by a massive crowd, tightly surrounding the area. Finding Xu Pangda in that chaos was impossible.
Stewards from various officials and wealthy merchants approached anyone they could, trying to strike up conversations and praise their daughters' virtues.
Since the results hadn't been posted yet and no one knew who ranked highest, everyone was being relatively reserved.
Otherwise, many of these 400 scholars might have been forcibly carried off by eager matchmakers.
Xu Ming, like the others, pushed through the crowd and headed toward the nearest bulletin board.
"Blood Asura! Blood Asura is here!"
At the sound of this shout, the crowd parted.
An official holding the results list approached the bulletin board, escorted by ten Blood Asura soldiers.
Before posting the main results, the list of scores for all 400 examinees was put up first.
Everyone immediately ignored the names of the other 399 and looked directly at the top.
"Huiyuan—Xu Ming."
Seeing this name, everyone doubted their eyes.
Xu Ming? The Xu Ming who spent three years in the Blood Asura Battalion had topped the provincial exam?
For a moment, many were in disbelief, wondering if there had been a mistake in grading or if favoritism had played a role.
But soon, those thoughts were dismissed.
The exams were anonymous, with names sealed until all four subjects were graded. Moreover, the test papers of all 400 examinees would be made public for scrutiny.
The imperial court would never treat the provincial exams as a joke or insult the intelligence of the nation.
"Wait, does this mean Xu Ming has now achieved double yuan?" someone exclaimed. "If he also tops the palace exam, wouldn't that mean—"
"Achieving triple yuan isn't that simple," another interrupted. "The palace exam is judged by His Majesty, the six ministers, the chancellor, and the Grand Secretary together."
"But I've heard His Majesty favors Xu Ming," someone else said.
"What does that matter?" a scholar said with a smile. "During the palace exam, all candidates take a silencing pill, making their voices identical. The policy responses are delivered behind a screen, with examinees identified only by numbers. Even if His Majesty wanted to favor Xu Ming, it would be impossible."
"Enough talk—the main results are being posted!"
This announcement drew everyone's attention back to the official, who began putting up the final rankings.
The gold list comprised three sections.
The official first posted the results for the third class—Tong Jinshi, with a total of 202 candidates.
Seeing their names on the third class list, many let out sighs of relief, though some couldn't help but regret.
Had they failed this time, might they have had a chance at a higher rank, such as the second class, four years later? Now that they had passed, they could no longer retake the exam.
Next came the second class—Jinshi, with a total of 194 candidates.
"I'm second in the second class! Hahaha! Second place in the second class!" a man shouted excitedly.
"Who's second in the second class?!" an older man asked sharply.
"It's me!"
"Bind him up! Tie him up!"
"Eh?"
Before the man could react, four or five people rushed over and tied him up with a red sash like a crab before carrying him off.
"I'm eighty-third! Hahaha!"
"Bind him too!"
"Which one is Wang Chuanlu?"
"Who's calling me?"
"Wang Chuanlu, my master's daughter is sixteen years old, beautiful, well-read, and virtuous. Please meet her."
As soon as the second-class results were posted, matchmaking chaos ensued, with many candidates practically abducted on the spot.
The official responsible for posting the results could only shake his head with a smile. Once the commotion died down, he picked up the final results list.
At the same time, near every bulletin board across the capital, the crowd fell silent.
The first class—Jinshi Jidi—comprised only three candidates.
All eyes scanned the list from the bottom to the top:
Tanhua—Yu Ping'an.
Bangyan—Xu Pangda.
Zhuangyuan—Xu Ming.
Xu Ming? Zhuangyuan?!
Xu Ming was just a teenager, wasn't he?
Fourteen-year-old Xu Ming had truly achieved the triple yuan!
---
"Brother Yu, your name—"
"Shhh."
In the crowd, a little girl with braided hair jumped with excitement upon spotting Brother Yu's name. Before she could finish, the young man gently covered her mouth.
Yu Ping'an smiled warmly and patted the little girl's head. "Let's go."
"Oh…"
As everyone remained in shock, Yu Ping'an glanced at the Zhuangyuan's name, then quietly limped away, leading the little girl through the crowd.
"Brother Yu, why are you the Tanhua?" the little girl asked.
"Because the Bangyan and Zhuangyuan are more outstanding than I am," Yu Ping'an replied with a smile.
"But in my heart, Brother Yu is the best!" she pouted.
"Mm." Yu Ping'an nodded, pinching her nose lightly. "As long as you think so, then Brother Yu is better than the Zhuangyuan."
---
Elsewhere in the crowd, a chubby boy stared at the name "Xu Ming" listed as the Zhuangyuan.
"Who said you weren't capable, Third Brother? When you pass the imperial exams and achieve high office, the title you earn will be worth far more to Aunt than the title of 'Duke Xu,'" he remembered his fifth brother saying to him long ago.
The chubby boy smiled contentedly, rubbed his belly, and squeezed through the crowd.
---
"Fifth Brother, I didn't sit for the provincial exam this year. I wanted to wait and take it alongside you."
Outside the crowd, Xu Ming gazed at the familiar name beneath his own on the Zhuangyuan list. His third brother's words from years ago echoed in his ears, and he smiled faintly before turning to leave.
"Xu Ming!"
"Pangda!"
They hadn't taken more than a few steps when Xu Ming saw Li Han and his companions waving at him, while Xu Pangda heard his father, Xu Zheng, calling out to him.
On the golden viewing platform that year, two young men stood side by side.
Their brows bore striking resemblance as they turned to look at each other, sharing a knowing smile.