Do you know: I should be fat and you should be thin!

"I have to go now!"

"Wait a moment, Ning Lang! I've made you some clothes; would you like to wear them and show them to me?"

A courtesan forced into a life of her own making, some clothes...

This was the result of countless nights of hard work, which left him no choice but to remain resolute.

Zhou Ning nodded, opened his arms, and let her do as she pleased.

One set after another, and they changed a total of eight sets!

Seeing that the measurements were off, Wei Xingshou frowned even more deeply.

Zhou Ning comforted her, "I've just grown a bit faster, it's not that there's anything wrong with your cooking, sister. I estimate I'll continue to grow in the next two years, so please don't do these things for me anymore. It's not too late for you to do them after you've mastered the craft."

Wei Xingshou glanced at him with her beautiful eyes. This little devil was still so good at talking. She leaned lightly against the young man's chest and said, "I understand. I won't be able to see you off the day after tomorrow. Will you blame me, Ninglang?"

"You know perfectly well what I'm asking. Okay, if you hug me again, I'm going to hug you back." Zhou Ning was thrilled by the hug.

"Ning Lang, feel free to hug me. I am overjoyed. How could I dare to be disrespectful?" Wei Xingshou said coquettishly, swaying slightly to the left and right.

"Then let's hug for a while, just for a little while..."

......

Zhou Mansion!

study!

"Xiaoqing, the clothes you wear to the exam room must not have any linings or writing on them. Go check them and prepare three clean ones."

"Xiaozhu, don't prepare any pastries; they'll be cut open for inspection and won't keep. Go and prepare enough flatbread and pickled vegetables for three days!"

"Xiaomei, go check your writing materials. Wrap the inkstone and ink stick in oiled paper. If there are any chips or cracks, go buy new ones now!"

"Little Ma, the sun is shining brightly today. Wash my thick quilt again and make sure it's dry by tomorrow morning!"

"If there's anything you can help with, you can ask Pear Head, especially Little Horse. The bedding is heavy when it gets wet, so don't try to dry it yourself. Don't come to the study today unless you have to. Just leave the food outside. Go on your way!"

For Zhou Ning, who had just participated in the provincial examination last year, everything seemed to be in good order.

The maid gave the order and scattered. Before leaving, Pear Head closed the door to the study and went to keep company with her beloved carriage.

Daylight passed quietly, and as darkness fell, Zhou Ning finally left his study to prepare for the night.

"Young master, are you going to be locked up for three days again tomorrow? You got a fever right after you came out last year," Pear Head said worriedly as she entered the room.

Zhou Ning flicked his head and laughed, "What are you worried about? Young Master is going to make a name for himself, do you think he's going to jail? We're all in the same boat, he'll get through it."

Even so, he still wanted to complain.

A mere three-foot square inch of land to eat, drink, and relieve oneself; at night, one must bring one's own bedding to sleep on the brick floor.

But the environment not only damages oneself, but also affects the performance of others. I am strong... a minor, who's afraid of who!

sleep!

Spring day!

Hundreds of candidates who had passed the Ministry of Rites' examination had gathered outside the examination hall early in the morning. The oldest among them was at least fifty-six, and the younger ones all had noticeable beards and hair.

"Brother, you are so young, yet you have passed the imperial examination? I am Fu Chunxu, courtesy name Qingwen! The top scholar of Tongren Prefecture!" A young scholar approached and bowed.

Zhou Ning returned the greeting, saying, "My name is Zhou Ning, courtesy name Pengqi! A mere top scholar! Not worth mentioning!"

"My name is Lin Yuanfu, courtesy name Renchu. Greetings, Brother Fu and Brother Zhou. Brother Zhou, you were fifth in Bianjing Prefecture last year, weren't you? I saw the list; you're only thirteen this year?" Another scholar approached and bowed.

Zhou Ning returned the greeting, saying, "Brother Lin's skills are still fresh in my memory. Brother Fu, this Brother Lin was the runner-up in Bianjing Prefecture last year; he is truly a man of exceptional talent!"

"I've heard so much about you, I'll take my leave now!" Fu Chunxu said, bowing slightly.

"please!"

"please!"

"Then I'll go in first. Brother Zhou has broken the record in Bianjing Prefecture. Let's have another competition today!" Lin Yuanfu said with a smile.

"please!"

(Both names were found in the drama; they are ranked tenth and twelfth in the first class of the drama!)

"As expected, top scholars and runners-up are everywhere... but who is stronger or weaker still depends on their performance! There is no first place in literature, and no one can surpass me, who achieved the top three in the imperial examinations!" Zhou Ning thought to himself.

After waiting for a while, the Sheng family's carriage arrived.

Apart from Old Madam Sheng, the entire family had arrived!

"Lord Sheng, Madam Wang, Third Brother, Fourth Sister, Fifth Sister, Sixth Sister..." Zhou Ning stepped forward, bowed, and greeted them one by one.

Sheng Hong nodded to Zhou Ning, but did not show any intimacy with him in front of Wang Ruofu, and said, "That's enough, everyone go in, don't be late for the exam."

Rulan smiled and bowed, saying, "I wish my second brother success in the imperial examinations. I also wish my younger brother Pengqi success in the examinations!"

Zhou Ning returned the gift to express his gratitude.

Mo Lan returned the bow and smiled, saying, "May you two brothers achieve great success and reach the pinnacle of your talents."

That's all?

Seeing that she didn't wish her well, Zhou Ning immediately looked at Sheng Hong, first pointing at Mo Lan with her chin, then narrowing her eyes slightly.

"This is the wife you chose for me? She can't even put on a show of respect for her future husband's important exam? Does she even possess the qualities of being well-educated, virtuous, and kind? Father-in-law!"

Sheng Hong received Zhou Ning's dissatisfaction, and seeing that Mo Lan really didn't wish her future husband well, his expression immediately turned ugly.

But Wang Ruofu was right there, so he couldn't make a scene!

Minglan, with her sharp eyes, noticed this scene and bowed, saying, "Then I wish my two elder brothers and younger brother Pengqi to drink plenty of water and rest well during the examination. It must be very stressful and irritable in the examination room; water can extinguish fire. If you are in a good mood, your essays will surely be neat and beautiful, as if divinely inspired."

Sheng Changbai smiled, a rare occurrence for him. He had always been very satisfied with this younger sister.

"Sixth Sister is absolutely right, I will definitely drink more water," Zhou Ning replied with gratitude.

Sheng Hong's expression grew increasingly grim. Compared to his other three daughters, Mo Lan seemed the least considerate. He hurriedly urged, "Are you finished? Let's go! Don't be late."

The three bid farewell to the crowd and began to enter!

"Pengqi, you're here so early. What have you seen?" Sheng Changbai asked.

Zhou Ning thought for a moment and replied, "They're all very talented and confident!"

"Aren't you and I the same? Let's compete again today!" Sheng Changbai said confidently.

"Please, elder brother!"

Candidates must undergo three search procedures before entering the examination room.

The first step was for officials from the Ministry of Rites to verify the candidates' identities by comparing their household registration information with their guarantee documents.

The three of them passed quickly, one by one.

The second step is to check personal belongings. Pens, ink, and inkstones must be tested on the spot, and all dry food must be broken into pieces to check for any concealed items.

When Sheng Changbai saw that Zhou Ning had brought not only dry rations but also exquisite pastries, he shook his head with a smile, thinking it was a useless effort.

Zhou Ning shrugged. Xiao Zhu made it herself, saying that at least the first day's food would be better.

All the prepared pastries were crushed!

The three of them passed the test again, one by one.

The third step is a close-up search, carried out by Imperial Guard soldiers.

All three of them removed their outer robes for inspection, and even the lining of their shoes was checked with bamboo skewers before they received wooden tags with their corresponding seat numbers.

After passing through, the three of them separated because they were seated in different seats!

The imperial examinations have officially begun!

......