Regardless of the family's anxieties, Wang Qingchen and the others were too preoccupied to focus on anything else, as the Provincial Examination was only a few days away.

Among them, only Wang Qingchen and Zhao Cheng maintained a semblance of calm; the others had worn expressions of deep worry for days. Liu Hao, in particular, was visibly agitated and irritable, as he was the sort who always wore his emotions plainly on his face.

Wang Qingchen noticed Liu Hao’s state and felt a slight urge to offer some words of comfort, but upon reflection, he realized he himself couldn't claim to be entirely free of nervousness; he merely concealed it better. Furthermore, if he offered advice, Liu Hao might ignore it, or worse, become more anxious from the attempt, resulting in the very opposite of the intended effect. With that thought, Wang Qingchen dismissed the idea of intervening.

As the Provincial Examination loomed closer, Wang Qingchen found himself unable to concentrate on his reading for several days. Consequently, he turned to organizing his writing implements—the brushes, inkstones, and other tools he habitually used. Even after tidying everything, his mind remained unsettled, so he took up calligraphy, knowing it was an excellent way to calm the spirit.

Thus, in the days leading up to the examination, Li Yuntai and the others frequently observed Wang Qingchen practicing his brushwork. They failed to realize his goal was tranquility; instead, they assumed he was preparing for the exam itself, aiming to write more beautifully during the tests. This realization only unsettled them further. They felt they hadn't yet fully absorbed their studies, yet here was Wang Qingchen already striving for a higher level of refinement. Given that they all dedicated similar amounts of time to reading, how could the disparity in results be so vast?

Wang Qingchen was oblivious to the misunderstanding his actions were sowing. Had he known, he certainly would have taken the time to explain the situation to them. Alas, he remained unaware, and this misconception persisted right up until the morning of the Provincial Examination, meaning they felt continuously undermined by Wang Qingchen's demeanor until the test began.

When the day of the Provincial Examination finally arrived, Wang Qingchen awoke early. His first sensation was one of deep fatigue, yet his cerebral cortex remained in a state of heightened excitement, making further sleep impossible. This troubled him greatly; he had also struggled to fall asleep the night before, finally drifting off very late. Waking so early now, Wang Qingchen was certain he would have dark circles under his eyes.

In truth, Wang Qingchen was not alone in this state; the others were faring little better. Take Zhao Cheng, for instance: he had barely slept the previous night, for this Provincial Examination held too much weight for him. From childhood, Zhao Cheng knew how his mother was constantly beset by malicious gossip and slander. Moreover, she worked tirelessly, finding every possible way to earn money so he could study. Faced with this reality, Zhao Cheng desperately yearned to change their circumstances, and the surest path to that was through the imperial examinations. Perhaps because he valued it so highly, he had nearly remained awake the entire night. This left Zhao Cheng frustrated; he had planned to perform brilliantly, but now, before even entering the examination hall, his mind felt clouded from lack of rest.

Zhao Cheng splashed cold water on his face, hoping to shock himself into alertness. The morning air was quite cold, and the shock of the water made him shudder violently, causing him to stop immediately. It wasn't that he felt clearer-headed, but rather a sudden fear of catching a chill and falling ill, which would render any discussion of the Provincial Examination moot.

The Provincial Examination was held at the Examination Compound in the provincial capital, and Wang Qingchen and his companions planned to travel there together. They gathered their necessary items, checking one another’s belongings to ensure nothing essential was forgotten, as a missing item would surely cause trouble.

Madam Huang had prepared a lavish breakfast for them. Though the group had little appetite, they didn't wish to slight Madam Huang’s kindness, so they ate a symbolic amount before hurrying toward the direction of the Compound.

The Provincial Examination of the Great Yin Dynasty was conducted in three sessions based on the Four Books and Five Classics, policy questions, and poetry/prose composition, with each session lasting three days. Before the test commenced, each candidate was assigned a private room within the Compound, known as a haoshe (examination cell). At the start, candidates carried their exam baskets—containing various necessary supplies—into the Compound. After inspection, they proceeded to their assigned seats. Then, the gates of the Compound were sealed, and no one could leave until the three-day period concluded; eating, drinking, and sleeping all had to occur within the haoshe.

Mulling over these rules of the Provincial Examination, Wang Qingchen’s face twitched slightly. Enduring three days of examination was one thing, but having to eat, drink, and sleep within the confines of the haoshe? Alas, such were the regulations, and if he wished to obtain the title of Juren (Provincial Graduate), he had no choice but to comply.

After the guards managing the order at the Compound gates announced the examination rules, the inspection process began. The scholars voluntarily formed several long queues, submitting to inspection one by one.

Wang Qingchen disliked this level of scrutiny, especially since even their clothing was being checked. However, having already endured the thorough inspection during the Children’s Examination, he remained far calmer now. Once he passed inspection, Wang Qingchen stepped into the Compound.

Once all the scholars had been checked, entered the Compound, and settled into their cells, someone closed and locked the grated doors.

Wang Qingchen sat within his haoshe, striving to steady his nerves, waiting for the test papers to be distributed.

In stark contrast to the tense atmosphere surrounding Wang Qingchen, back in Wangjia Village, the Old Madam had finally secured a suitable match for Wang Qing-tong. Although the prospective bride's family was not wealthy, she had discreetly sought inquiries, learning that the girl possessed good character, was proficient in household duties and needlework—all qualities meeting her requirements.

Having found a suitable candidate, the Old Madam announced her decision to the family.

The Old Master, upon hearing the Old Madam extol the virtues of the selected girl, raised few objections. In his view, since the man managed external affairs and the woman managed internal ones, such matters were inherently the domain of the Old Madam or the daughters-in-law to handle. Furthermore, it was often more convenient for women to make discreet inquiries.

"If you believe she is suitable, then so be it," the Old Master told the Old Madam.

Unlike the Old Master’s accepting attitude, Tian Shi was distinctly displeased upon hearing the news. She remained adamant that Wang Qing-tong should marry into a family with a better financial standing. However, once Wang Youliang also voiced his agreement with the Old Madam, she couldn't overturn the decision and could only remain silent, engaging in passive protest.

The Old Madam was well aware of Tian Shi’s thoughts, but this time she could not allow Tian Shi to follow her own inclination, as this was a matter concerning her grandson’s entire future. Moreover, she felt confident in the candidate she had chosen, believing Qing-tong would surely be pleased.

Seeing the matter settled, Tian Shi felt deeply resentful. She resolved to work through her son; if Qing-tong himself disliked the match, surely the Old Master and Old Madam would not insist.

Having reached this conclusion, Tian Shi began watching for the moment her son Qing-tong returned so she could intercept him.

When Wang Qing-tong finally arrived home, before he could even go pay respects to the Old Master and Old Madam, he was waylaid by Tian Shi, who promptly pulled him into her own room.

"Mother, what is this...?" Wang Qing-tong looked at Tian Shi's actions with a degree of confusion.

Once inside, Tian Shi released her grip on her son’s arm and faced him. "Did you know? The Old Madam finalized a match for you today."

Wang Qing-tong was surprised by the speed of the arrangement.

Tian Shi watched his expression with satisfaction and continued, "However, that family’s means are not very good. If we truly proceed with their proposal, she will inevitably become a burden to you in the future."

Hearing his mother’s words, Wang Qing-tong suddenly grasped that she was clearly dissatisfied with the bride the Old Madam had selected.

Realizing this, Wang Qing-tong turned to Tian Shi. "Mother, isn't that a good thing? If it's settled early, it means less worry for you all later on, right? Weren't you both pressing me to arrange my marriage sooner? Shouldn't you be relieved now?"

Tian Shi had not anticipated her son would speak so directly. From his tone, it sounded as if he completely accepted this family, without a hint of complaint. What was she to do now?

"Mother, please don't worry. Grandmother has excellent judgment; I’m sure she is a good person. Once she marries in, we will all serve you with filial piety together," Wang Qing-tong feigned cheerfulness.

Stymied by her son’s reply, Tian Shi was left speechless. Finally, she shot him a fierce glare and stormed out of the room in anger. She felt utterly exasperated; she had intended to act in his best interest, yet he not only failed to appreciate it but also silenced her with his words. Tian Shi felt she might truly be angered to death by her son. Clearly, money was the most reliable thing; perhaps she should focus more on saving up; her son was unreliable.

Left alone in the room, Wang Qing-tong watched Tian Shi’s retreating, indignant back and sighed. His defense of the yet-to-be-wed girl just now wasn't because he was overly satisfied with her, but because he had mentally contrasted her with the daughters from the families Tian Shi had favored previously. When Tian Shi had previously tried to arrange a match for him, she focused almost exclusively on families with good financial standing, thereby overlooking the actual character of those young women. Later, when those matches fell through, Wang Qing-tong had secretly been overjoyed.

Just now, upon hearing Tian Shi’s implication—that he should reject the Old Madam's choice and instead pursue a match with one of the families Tian Shi preferred—Wang Qing-tong felt he could not allow it. He would sooner side with the Old Madam’s selection than follow Tian Shi’s wishes, since the Old Madam’s judgment of character was far more dependable than Tian Shi’s. This was why he had chosen to champion the girl selected by his grandmother just then.