The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune-Chapter 284 - 280 Both are Worthless

Yan Jiaojiao couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, "Isn’t what my little cousin is doing considered cheating? Shouldn’t we tell my father or inform Zhang Jie, so that the County Magistrate can investigate?"

"It’s not considered cheating."

Yan Huan asked, "How can this not be considered cheating? Then what would be considered cheating?"

Xuanyuan Que didn’t bother to respond to him.

Ruo Xuan knew that Divine Lord Xuanyuan was always a man of few words, so she explained for him.

"Hiring a master to enhance one’s fortune is just like hiring a master to bless and ensure one’s safety, is that considered cheating?"

Yan Huan said, "When you put it that way, it indeed doesn’t seem like it counts. But the spots for Imperial Scholars are limited, if he uses improper means to secure his place, isn’t that unfair to other truly talented scholars?"

"That’s why we must find evidence, catch the so-called master in the act of performing his craft, and prove that his sorcery is effective, and that it harms others."

"Isn’t that very difficult?"

"Mhm, it’s certainly difficult for you, but for Brother Xuanyuan, it’s very easy! Rest assured, Brother Huan. Everything is under Brother Xuanyuan’s control."

Yan Huan: "..."

Xuanbao, are you trying to comfort me?

Upon hearing this, Yan Jiaojiao and Yan Feng felt relieved, and they didn’t ask any more questions. They also didn’t say much when they returned home.

~

In the afternoon, a rumor spread through Tianxiang Tower that a master could help improve one’s luck enough to pass as a Scholar, Advanced Scholar, and even top the examination as an Imperial Scholar.

Many scholars scoffed at this, while many others inquired about the master’s whereabouts.

Each time the academic examination took place, temples in the region were crowded with people. This time, it was so packed it was beyond capacity, as everyone sought out temple masters for blessings of good fortune.

Whether they believed in the power of such masters, what if it was true?

If others believed and sought blessings, and one did not do the same, wouldn’t that be a huge loss?

If all the spots were taken by others, that would be a disaster!

With this mindset, everyone went to pray to the gods and Buddha.

Ruo Shui and Ruo Jiang remained indifferent upon hearing the rumors, calmly studying the Duke’s weaponry and practicing martial arts with Yan Heng at the Duke Yan’s Mansion.

Madam Liu and Madam Jiang, who rarely visited the provincial capital, didn’t go to the temples to pray, but instead went on a shopping spree in the city.

They bought loads of food, clothes, and other goods.

Two days passed like this, and finally, it was time for the county examination.

Once again, Ruo Xuan accompanied Madam Liu and Madam Jiang to send off Ruo Shui and Ruo Jiang to the Imperial Examination Court, with Shopkeeper Gu driving the carriage.

But there were so many carriages near the court that the traffic was extremely congested, and halfway there, their carriage was completely stuck.

The family simply got out of the carriage and proceeded on foot.

The Imperial Examination Court in the provincial capital was much larger than the one in the county. This time, there were more than six thousand candidates for the county examination, with only six hundred places available; this shows how difficult it was to be selected.

This was already a result of the Imperial Court increasing the number of selections, as in the past only five hundred were chosen.

As a result, many people spent their lives taking the examination without success, even into their forties or fifties.

As the family walked to the court, they happened to encounter Yang Qixiang and Hen Lan on the way.

Hen Lan saw Madam Liu, dressed in fine silk and satin, with a ruby hairpin in her hair, looking ostentatiously wealthy, and felt complicated emotions.

She had become aware that the Ruo Family was no longer what it used to be.

Ruo Shui had borne a good daughter who was conferred the title of Commandery Princess by The Emperor, and the entire Shaxi County was her fief.

Even the Ruo Family’s eldest son had become a Fourth Rank Great General!

The Ruo Family patriarch was granted the title of Earl Yinyong posthumously, and the matriarch became a First Rank Dame.

Madam Liu was now the mother of a Commandery Princess! The fabric of the clothing she wore was so fine that Hen Lan had never seen anything like it in the largest Cloth Store in the provincial capital.

And there was the ruby pomegranate flower hairpin on her head, and the red jade bangles on her wrist, all of which were clearly extraordinary items.

"It must have been a gift from the Emperor."

"They say the Ruo Family has received the Imperial Decree several times already, each time being bestowed with numerous items, mansions, fertile lands, villages, shops, gold and silver jewelry, fine silks, and satins—you name it!"

She could never have imagined that, within just a few years, the Ruo Family would turn their fortunes around, and even more impressively than before. One could say the Ruo Family now epitomized wealth and glory.

Even in the Capital City, they would be considered a family of wealth and status."

"If I hadn’t listened to my father and broken off the engagement back then, I would now be the mother of a Commandery Princess."

All that Madam Liu is wearing and adorned with should have been hers!

Yang Qixiang glanced at her and saw the envy in her eyes; he sneered, "What’s the matter? Regret marrying me?"

Hen Lan snapped back to her senses, afraid to affect his examination, and hurriedly said, "What are you saying, my husband? I was merely surprised to see Madam Liu and Ruo Shui. Ruo Shui is also taking the Imperial Examination? After wasting so many years, it would be a wonder if he passes!"

Hen Lan truly did not wish for Ruo Shui to pass the examination.

That would only add to her resentment.

After all, it was she who was initially betrothed to Ruo Shui.

Yang Qixiang bluntly exposed her, "Didn’t your esteemed father say before that Ruo Shui had become a Scholar and even received the state grant at the Academy examination? Weren’t you two feeling regretful about that?"

He had gone to pick her up from the Academy when he had overheard the conversation between father and daughter.

Regret calling off the engagement? Hah, he regretted marrying her!

If they hadn’t called off the engagement, Madam Liu wouldn’t have married Ruo Shui. Maybe Madam Liu would have married him instead.

Then today, he would be the father of a Commandery Princess!

Hen Lan was taken aback, not expecting he had heard their conversation; all she could do was coax him, "That was just my father speaking out of anger after being provoked by Master Liu. I’ve never regretted marrying you. I only wish for your well-being, hoping we can live our days well together. Whatever becomes of Ruo Shui is none of my concern."

Yang Qixiang scoffed, "Of course, it’s none of your concern. It also requires that he fancies you. Have you looked in the mirror? How do you compare to Madam Liu? You don’t match her beauty! Nor her figure! Nor her temperament! Even in bearing children, you can’t compare to her!"

Angered, Hen Lan’s face turned dark, and she could no longer hold back, "No matter how good Madam Liu is, she would have to fancy you for it to matter. I might not be good enough, but it was me whom Ruo Shui fancied back then; I was the one he was engaged to. Madam Liu is just picking up what I’ve left behind. What is she worth? And you’re nothing! Failing the Advanced Scholar exams year after year, and someone who neglected his studies for years passed at once!"

Enraged, Yang Qixiang raised his hand and slapped her, "Shut up!"

"You dare hit me!" Hen Lan retaliated with a slap but Yang Qixiang caught her hand, "Have you had enough?"

Ruo Xuan: "Embarrassing yourselves, both of you are worthless!"

After cursing, she bestowed her with a "Silence Spell" of Immortal Technique.

The reason she waited to curse was that she feared backlash.

Hen Lan turned away, intending to retort, but then she saw the icy gaze from Ruo Shui and Madam Liu, couldn’t help but her eyes redden with grievance as she looked at Ruo Shui imploringly.

Ruo Shui grew angrier, about to defend Madam Liu.

But Madam Liu held him back, "Husband, let’s go queue up; the line is getting so long."

With so many people around, whatever was said would only give them a laugh at their expense! Knowing that Ruo Shui wanted to stand up for her, but she did not want to be the subject of ridicule. Besides, now wasn’t the time.

Ruo Jiang also hurried him along, "Let’s go and queue up. They’re just a couple quarreling—nothing to see here, and it’s none of our business. The examination is what matters!"

Madam Liu also held on to Ruo Shui tightly, fearful that he might start a quarrel with Yang Qixiang and his wife.

The day was to proceed calmly and peacefully for the examination—that was the most important thing.

Marrying Ruo Shui, she had always been happy. Now that Xuanbao was better, nobody laughed at Xuanbao for being simple-minded anymore; she was even happier, not caring what those who envied her had to say!

Of course, if it weren’t for the crowd, and the day being significant for the county examination, she would definitely have retorted.

But now, she couldn’t!

Ruo Xuan: "Dad, do your best! Mom wants to become the wife of an Advanced Scholar with a decree."

Ruo Shui concealed all his anger, spoke gently to Madam Liu, "I’m going to queue now. You and Xuanbao should head back!"

Then he patted his precious daughter’s head, "Xuanbao, be good, and listen to Mom as I do."

"Okay."