CMWKSD -Chapter 74 The Exam

Jiu Yue felt a chill on her wrist, and Ji Yiqing awkwardly let go of her hand.

When Jiu Yue looked closely, she saw a silver bracelet on her wrist. The craftsmanship of the ancients was truly impressive.

Although it was just a small silver bracelet, the intricate openwork design was something even modern artisans might struggle to replicate so perfectly.

Seeing Jiu Yue staring at the bracelet, Ji Yiqing, rare for him, explained: “I had wanted to buy it for you a long time ago, but there weren’t any that looked this good in the county. I had someone bring it back from the prefectural city.”

Jiu Yue nodded. She didn’t like wearing such things—they felt cumbersome and inconvenient—but since Ji Yiqing had given it to her, she didn’t want to offend his kindness.

In fact, Ji Yiqing had initially wanted to buy her earrings, hairpins, and other bright, beautiful ornaments that young women love. With Jiu Yue’s beauty, she should have been dressed up splendidly.

But after observing her, Ji Yiqing realized that Jiu Yue didn’t even have pierced ears.

Even his youngest cousin, Ji Xiaoya, had hers pierced at age three. Jiu Yue didn’t. Ji Yiqing felt a pang of sympathy.

One could imagine what kind of life Jiu Yue had lived alone.

Others feared her, but Ji Yiqing didn’t—because he had noticed that although she could kill, she only ever killed those who provoked her first.

He had carefully inquired about her background, and Jiu Yue only said she was an orphan who got lost while collecting herbs in the mountains and fell somewhere she couldn’t find her way back. She had also forgotten her past.

Ji Yiqing believed her completely. After all, if Jiu Yue had wanted to scheme against his family, there wasn’t much of value for her to gain.

He couldn’t help wanting to treat her well.

Jiu Yue lifted her hand; the bracelet slid slightly, settling neatly on her delicate, fair wrist. Ji Yiqing hurriedly averted his gaze.

Then he turned and rushed out. Just seeing her made his heart race. If he stayed any longer, he didn’t know what he might do.

The next few days were filled with visiting relatives and friends.

It was New Year, after all, and people kept coming to the Ji family. Jiu Yue didn’t want to entertain them, so she stayed inside, working on matters related to opening a shop in the prefectural city.

She only had one base at the moment, but once she earned more silver, she intended to take control of all of Daqi.

By early February, Ji Zhouno, Ji Wanqiao, and Ji Weizhou were about to take their exams.

Passing this exam would allow them to join Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian in the prefectural exam in April.

All three were anxious.

During this time, they couldn’t just say they were studying tirelessly—they were under Jiu Yue’s strict guidance. Passing the exam was mandatory; failure meant death.

Under this pressure, the three practiced with such extreme diligence that some at the academy thought they were possessed.

The “Tongsheng” preliminary exams lasted three days—one exam each day, with an overnight rest in between.

Jiu Yue, in a rare display of “kindness,” went to the exam hall to see them off—or more accurately, to intimidate them.

The three entered the exam hall with Jiu Yue’s predatory gaze fixed on them. Already dressed lightly, they felt a chilling sense along their backs and shivered.

Even before entering the exam, they felt as if they might never see the sun again.

Perhaps the pressure from Jiu Yue was too great—once inside, they almost instantly fell into a focused state.

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian had already met the instructors and knew who they would be paired with for joint supervision. Regarding the academy exams, they were already confident.

Three days later, Jiu Yue didn’t go to pick up Ji Zhouno and the others. Instead, nearly the entire Ji family came out to meet them.

There was no choice—this exam was a matter of life and death.

Hu Chunhua, Shen Mei, Li Xiaocao, and the others looked at the three wandering, ghost-like youths. Their first reaction wasn’t sympathy but sharp curiosity: “How did it go? Did you pass?”

Ji Weizhou was fine; after all, he was the youngest, so failing this exam would be understandable, though he was the most vulnerable due to his age.

Ji Zhouno wiped his face fiercely: “I think it went okay.”

Ji Wanqiao muttered softly under his breath. Having passed the county exam, the three qualified for the prefectural exam.

Over three hundred students participated in the prefectural exam, with only fifty spots available. The county only admitted fifty.

Ji Wanqiao calculated carefully. They had only ranked in the thirties in the preliminary exams before the New Year. The county had seven or eight academies, with over five hundred students taking the exam.

The county exam eliminated over a hundred, and the prefectural exam would filter out over two hundred more.

Clutching his basket, Ji Wanqiao felt confident—they might not have done well in the preliminary exams, but the Tongsheng exam should be manageable.

The Ji family led the ghost-like three brothers home. Upon entering the courtyard, they saw Jiu Yue.

The three, whose souls felt almost separated from their bodies, felt them return at the sight of her: “S…Second Sister-in-law.”

Jiu Yue hummed: “How was the exam?”

Ji Weizhou trembled, but Jiu Yue didn’t notice him, only focusing on Ji Wanqiao and Ji Zhouno.

The two legs weakened under her gaze, barely leaning against the courtyard wall to keep from collapsing, their voices trembling: “It…It should be okay.”

Jiu Yue said “oh” and turned, carrying herbs as she went inside.

Ji Wanqiao and Ji Zhouno collapsed in relief.

No one in the Ji family dared speak. Once Jiu Yue left, they hurriedly helped the three brothers up.

“Children, I’ve prepared pig’s trotters soup for you. You’ve worked hard on the exam; eat something good.” Shen Mei looked at Ji Zhouno and Ji Wanqiao, grief overwhelming her. What on earth was going on?

The three brothers hadn’t eaten well for days. Hearing about the pig’s trotters soup, their stomachs grumbled as they shakily stood.

Jiu Yue appeared again as if by magic: “Since these three drained themselves, make sure to give them some rich food these days.”

Shen Mei and Li Xiaocao exchanged glances, confused by Jiu Yue’s words.

Ji Chaomian walked out holding a book: “They’ve been taking exams these past few days and haven’t eaten rich food. Their stomachs are weak; it’s best to give them something light for a day or two.”

Shen Mei gratefully glanced at Ji Chaomian.

Ji Dahai, muttering “tch, tch,” emerged from the small wooden house in the courtyard, saw the family had returned, and greeted his parents.

He then walked straight to Jiu Yue’s room: “Jiu Yue, the small wooden house you had me prepare is ready.”

Jiu Yue responded with an “oh” and walked out, seeing the two small wooden houses in the courtyard. She nodded in approval.

The dimensions and everything had been carefully researched by her through Shao Qing.

Turning to Ji Chaomian, who was standing in the courtyard dazed, she said: “You and Ji Yiqing get ready—the mock exams start the day after tomorrow.”

Ji Yiqing, feeling dizzy from the books, walked out: “Mock exams? What are those?”