Shen Yun found it increasingly difficult to control Su Xiaoqi.
She was like a wild horse that had bolted, leaving him unsettled. He demanded, "You must be well. Wait for me."
Su Xiaoqi smiled gently on the surface, but inwardly responded with impatience:
"Wait for you, wait for you, you dead bookworm. Aren't you going in yet? I'm in a hurry to check the renovation progress at the pastry shop with Yiyi."
Alright, a Su Xiaoqi who was wholeheartedly engrossed in doing business and making money was the real her.
Shen Yun walked forward steadily. When he reached the Dragon Gate, he stopped as the examining officials began to check the candidates' qualifications.
Ahead of Shen Yun, Huang Yuanxiang had been staring at him intently.
Seeing him pull out a piece of paper covered in writing, his heart felt like it was being squeezed.
This was the moment. Someone had seen what they shouldn't have.
He quietly waited for the examiner's outburst.
He also cast his gaze towards Su Xiaoqi, who was standing by the carriage not far away, watching Shen Yun depart.
Once Shen Yun was in trouble, he would definitely have a taste of his beautiful young wife as well.
However, the examining official glanced at it, a flicker of surprise appearing between his brows. It quickly subsided, and he nodded at Shen Yun, letting him pass.
Huang Yuanxiang stared at Shen Yun in disbelief.
How could this be?
The four students who had jointly guaranteed Shen Yun had already been replaced.
His guarantee document was no longer valid.
Why hadn't the examining official noticed?
He suspected the official either took a bribe or was blind.
He couldn't help himself and rushed forward.
Wang Tian, who was by his side, acted swiftly and raised his hand to stop him.
"Young Master Huang, don't be impulsive. This is the examination grounds." It was not the backyard of the county yamen in Mianzhou City.
"Let me see your guarantee document," Huang Yuanxiang took Wang Tian's and looked at it closely.
Shen Yun's name had previously been on their document.
But now it had been replaced with his.
This meant Shen Yun no longer met the condition of a five-person joint guarantee.
In other words, he had simultaneously lost his qualification as a candidate.
Such a case should be declared invalid, he should be sent back to his hometown, and not allowed to enter the Dragon Gate.
But seeing him about to cross it,
Huang Yuanxiang could not tolerate it.
He rushed out and restrained Shen Yun.
He even stepped forward and reported to the examining official, saying that the guarantee document in his hand was problematic.
"What's wrong?" The official responsible for the examination was from the Ministry of Rites in the capital. He looked at Huang Yuanxiang impatiently.
What was all this commotion so early in the morning?
"His is different from ours," Huang Yuanxiang said loudly. "He does not meet the qualifications to take the exam."
This sentence dropped into the water like a stone, stirring up a thousand waves.
All eyes turned to the thin piece of paper in Shen Yun's hand.
Shen Yun knew what was happening and immediately stepped forward and handed over his guarantee document.
The examining official, disbelieving, took it and looked at it carefully.
He especially examined the names and private seals of the guarantors again and then said to Huang Yuanxiang with certainty, "His is indeed different from yours."
"Ah..."
"Hmph, I knew it. He doesn't have the qualifications to take the exam," Huang Yuanxiang was smug, his eyes filled with the pleasure of revenge.
Heaven knew how embarrassed he had felt last time at Xishan Lake.
Especially after being threatened to have Su Dafu, with whom he had a decent relationship, thrown into prison.
He had wanted to deal with him long ago.
But his old man at home said that he was, after all, the top scholar of the county and a student of Mr. Gu, so he shouldn't act within the county.
Now, it was perfect. He could finally get his revenge.
He had waited for this moment for far too long.
But it was worth it.
Making a top scholar of the county unable to even participate in the provincial examination, the thought alone was exhilarating.
"Nonsense! The 'Great Liang Dynasty Law' stipulates that in addition to a joint guarantee from five students, the provincial examination also requires a guarantee from a county school teacher or a renowned scholar of the time.
Shen Yun is guaranteed by Mr. Gu. How can he not meet the qualifications for the provincial examination?" The examining official was truly angry.
What kind of nonsense was this, wasting his time.
There was a large crowd of people behind him waiting to be examined.
He glared at Huang Yuanxiang and waved him away, urging him to go inside quickly and not hinder his work.
Otherwise, he would report him to the Minister and make him suffer the consequences.
"No, it's not, it can't be."
"Young Master Huang, stop shouting. Mr. Gu is his teacher, so it's perfectly normal for him to guarantee him.
It's just that I didn't expect them to have never trusted us from the very beginning." Wang Tian pulled Huang Yuanxiang back with a look of lingering fear.
He happened to meet Shen Yun's gaze.
He pinched his sleeve, casually walked past Huang Yuanxiang, made a goodbye gesture, and was about to head into the Dragon Gate.
At this moment, Su Xiaoqi, who had been watching nervously from the periphery, suddenly ran over.
She grabbed his sleeve.
Although Su Xiaoqi had appeared indifferent in front of Shen Yun earlier,
In fact, seeing his figure slowly disappearing into the crowd, she felt a inexplicable sadness in her heart.
Since transmigrating here, she realized she hadn't really talked to him much.
Then, a very practical problem came to mind.
Without him accompanying her at night, she didn't know if she could sleep.
With a surge of courage she didn't know where it came from, she suddenly jumped off the carriage and ran towards Shen Yun.
Shen Yun, after coldly glaring at Huang Yuanxiang, seemed to sense something and happened to turn his head, seeing Su Xiaoqi rushing towards him.
A surge of ecstasy welled up in his heart. He opened his arms and embraced her.
His thin lips brushed against her earlobe, and he kissed her gently. Closing his eyes, he inhaled her scent to his heart's content.
It's so good. It turns out he wasn't the only one who couldn't bear to part.
"Shen Yun, you're amazing..."
"Call me husband," Shen Yun whispered, biting her earlobe.
"Husband, you're amazing." Su Xiaoqi said in a muffled voice, not wanting to burden him too much, considering the grievances he had just endured.
She also lightly kissed the corner of his mouth and whispered, "I'll wait for you to come back."
Shen Yun's heart burned as if water had been added to a pile of lime, instantly boiling.
He let go of Su Xiaoqi, smoothed his chest, and once again strode into the examination grounds with firm steps.
Beyond the Dragon Gate were four more doors, and beside them stood the tall Mingyuan Tower.
The tower was towering, overlooking everything from above, allowing one to see the situation inside and outside the examination enclosure at a glance.
After passing the inspection for contraband, Shen Yun inadvertently looked up at the Mingyuan Tower, then glanced back at Huang Yuanxiang, who was not far behind him.
It was soon Huang Yuanxiang's turn to have his contraband inspected.
A moment later, a stern shout came from behind Shen Yun: "Bold ruffian! How dare you carry contraband! Drag him away for a thorough investigation!"
Shen Yun's lips curved into a slight smile, and his steps became even steadier. He never looked back again, but he knew everything was proceeding according to his plan.