To the very end, Li Yue Shu didn't know what to say, afraid of inadvertently putting pressure on the two children.
Finally, just before they entered the examination hall, she still spoke, "I'll pick you up when you're done."
Mother Mo, on the other hand, had a few more words of advice, but they were all about Mo Lian's health, not a word about the exam.
And so, the two mothers reluctantly withdrew their gazes only after the children's backs were out of sight.
Shen Wei had not spoken, but for some reason, a flicker of anticipation arose in his heart, as if he were the father of countless ordinary families, nervous and expectant about his child's examination.
This was a feeling he had never experienced, but he did not seem to dislike it.
"Alright, let's buy some things and get ready to go back!"
Li Yue Shu's voice instantly pulled his thoughts back.
Shen Wei asked doubtfully, "Is there anything else we need at home?"
Li Yue Shu untied the horse reins as she replied, "After the county exam is over, I'm going to Hong Ning City for a consultation. It's a long journey, so I naturally have to prepare in advance."
They had already sent the token, and although they hadn't explicitly urged her, there was a hint that she should go sooner rather than later.
The three of them got into the carriage and, like other parents, soon left.
No one noticed the figure hiding in the shadows, watching their every move.
Shen Cheng Cai glared resentfully at the closed examination hall door.
He could have participated in the county exam today, but it was all Li Yue Shu, that poisonous woman's fault!
For some reason, even after so long, the master of the Li mansion hadn't contacted him, and he didn't know what to do next.
Shen Cheng Cai was somewhat agitated, his gaze falling back on the closed door.
Then, he suddenly thought of something, and a strange smile appeared on his face.
How could he forget such an important matter!
Li Yue Shu, see how you like lifting a rock only to drop it on your own feet this time!
...
During these two days of the county exam, Li Yue Shu found herself distracted in everything she did.
Because of this, Shen Wei had the opportunity to sneak out and meet Chai Yang.
Chai Yang had been sent by him to deal with that prefect, and by rights, he should have returned to report by now, but he was delayed.
"Master, your subordinate has received news from Zhong Zhou that the General of Zhen Bei has found his daughter who was lost for many years." Chai Yang said with a solemn expression, "That person... is precisely Li Yue Shu's elder sister, Li Xiang Ru."
Upon hearing this, Shen Wei's heart trembled, "Is the news accurate?"
Chai Yang nodded, "Your subordinate's delay in returning these past few days was to investigate this matter. It is indeed Li Xiang Ru, and the General of Zhen Bei has also hosted colleagues from Zhong Zhou, formally acknowledging her identity."
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
The General of Zhen Bei's mansion had generations of loyal heroes. Their ancestors had fought alongside the founding emperor of Chen Nan to conquer the land. Although they had always held the rank of general, they commanded immense prestige in the Chen Nan Kingdom.
Through hundreds of years of imperial power struggles, the General of Zhen Bei's mansion never took sides, only loyal to the people and protecting Chen Nan.
Because of this, the sons of the General of Zhen Bei's mansion had all died on the battlefield, and only one son remained in this generation.
However, in fact, the General of Zhen Bei also had a daughter. It was announced to the public that she was stillborn, but in reality, she was lost due to certain circumstances.
For years, the General of Zhen Bei had been searching in secret, and only a few people knew about this matter.
Shen Wei was one of those few.
Li Xiang Ru's relationship with the Second Prince was well-known. The General of Zhen Bei's mansion openly acknowledging Li Xiang Ru at this time made it difficult not to suspect them of taking the Second Prince's side.
However, did Li Yue Shu know about this?
Shen Wei unconsciously clenched his fist, a hidden current surging in his eyes.
After a long while, he finally spoke, "Send people to monitor Li Xiang Ru and every move of the General of Zhen Bei's mansion."
"Yes." Chai Yang respectfully agreed and immediately turned to leave.
...
When Shen Wei returned, Li Yue Shu was busy in the kitchen. Seeing Shen Wei return, she just assumed he had been strolling around the village for a while.
During dinner, Shen Wei sat beside Li Yue Shu as usual, with Shen Zhi Yu on the other side.
Li Yue Shu served him a piece of meat, and then he suddenly spoke, "A Shu, is your sister's name Li Xiang Ru?"
Li Yue Shu was startled and nodded, "Why do you suddenly ask about this?"
Everyone knew Li Xiang Ru was her sister, but Shen Wei had incomplete mental faculties and had only met Li Xiang Ru two or three times, so it wasn't strange that he didn't know.
But his sudden mention of it now was a little strange.
Shen Wei's expression was calm, "I just heard Eldest Brother scolding her, and scolding you because of it. When I find her, I'll definitely make her stay far away from you, so that A Shu won't be scolded because of her."
As he said the last sentence, he pouted with dissatisfaction.
Li Yue Shu chuckled and gently stroked his head, "Then you probably won't be able to find her. She's probably enjoying a glory she's never had before."
Her gaze became somewhat peculiar, and Shen Wei, who was looking up at her, did not miss this fleeting emotion.
His heart skipped a beat.
Did she know that Li Xiang Ru had been recognized by the General of Zhen Bei's mansion?
But she had always stayed in Tong Mu County, how could she know about matters in Zhong Zhou?
Shen Wei's heart began to sink.
Li Yue Shu did not notice his emotions and was instead thinking about the plot in the original book.
Every female protagonist in a novel had an extraordinary background. Li Xiang Ru, as the chosen one of this world, was no exception.
The current Li Xiang Ru should have been formally recognized by the General of Zhen Bei's mansion, becoming Miss Gu, showered with countless affections.
Although the Gu family was only bestowed the title of general, their status in the Chen Nan Kingdom was no less than that of any official.
In the original book, the reborn Li Xiang Ru used the Second Prince to go to Zhong Zhou, a bustling city full of nobles. While offering incense, she met the wife of the General of Zhen Bei and "accidentally" dropped a jade pendant symbolizing her identity. The wife of the General of Zhen Bei, who missed her daughter dearly, saw it and recognized it.
Later, when everyone thought she would marry the Second Prince, Li Xiang Ru grew closer and closer to the Crown Prince.
This Crown Prince was the male protagonist of the original book and Li Xiang Ru's fiancé.
When the wife of the General of Zhen Bei was pregnant, the Emperor of Chen Nan, to show his importance and trust in the General of Zhen Bei's mansion, directly decreed in the court in front of all civil and military officials that if the wife of the General of Zhen Bei gave birth to a daughter, she would be bestowed as the Crown Prince's official wife.
It was a pity that the wife of the General of Zhen Bei gave birth to a stillborn child.
The main focus of the original book was the heroine's gradual rise to empress in Zhong Zhou. Therefore, Li Yue Shu did not know much about Li Xiang Ru's background.
But she remembered that the Crown Prince, who eventually ascended the throne, was wary of the General of Zhen Bei's mansion's great power overshadowing the emperor. Li Xiang Ru, in order to show her sincerity, disregarded the years of effort the General of Zhen Bei's mansion had put into her and committed a great act of righteousness by destroying her family.
Perhaps this was something she could use.
Li Yue Shu's expression was unfathomable as she began to contemplate whether she should go to Zhong Zhou to develop earlier and make arrangements for the children.
The others at the dinner table did not notice the brief conversation between Li Yue Shu and Shen Wei, nor did they notice the solemn expressions of the two with their own thoughts.
In the blink of an eye, the county exam reached its end.