Her daughter has always been well-behaved and lovable, so how come she turned into a little monster after spending so little time with her wild, monkey-like cousins?
Wushuang had long since stopped breastfeeding. The wet nurse remained by her side for two reasons. First, it was a custom in wealthy families that maids serving the young ladies were usually too old, had never given birth, and had no experience caring for children. Wet nurses, on the other hand, took on the role of mothers in daily life, caring for the young ladies and easing the burden on the mistress. Second, the mistress usually had to manage household affairs and couldn't be with the children all the time. When choosing wet nurses, they valued both physical health and character. This way, the wet nurses could stay by the young ladies' side constantly, correcting any misbehavior promptly and relaying the information to the mistress so the children could receive further guidance.
Because Wushuang has always been very well-behaved, Li Mama has hardly had the opportunity to perform this duty. Seeing that she was particularly willful today, she advised her, "Miss, listen to me. Although the examination hall is a place of sages, it is not good for a young lady to show her face in public. Anyway, since the young master has already succeeded, let's go back first."
The Qi Kingdom was not as strict about the separation of men and women as the previous dynasty, but girls from aristocratic families were still more disciplined than those from ordinary families. They rarely went out or met outside men, which was also a reflection of their noble status.
Although Wushuang is young, she was taught some things as soon as she could understand words and communicate with adults.
Madam Li fully expected that after saying this, her daughter would obediently get into the carriage with her. But Wushuang pouted and said, "Father said as long as it doesn't affect Third Cousin's exam, it's fine. Third Cousin has already entered the exam hall, so Shuangshuang can just watch from outside; nothing will happen." She waved her little hand to the side, "So many people are watching!" Why couldn't she watch?
Li's mother felt somewhat helpless.
However, there were guards outside the examination hall, and the old servant with them wore a badge from the Governor-General's office, so they were safe in every respect. Besides, this place was for examinees, a place of sages, not a mixed bag of people, so staying a little longer didn't seem inappropriate.
She had no choice but to hold Wushuang's hand tightly to prevent her from running into the crowd and getting lost.
As fate would have it, when about 70-80% of the candidates had entered the examination hall, Wushuang suddenly and without warning shook off her hand and ran out.
Wushuang, panting, ran with her short legs to the square table where the school administrator was sitting.
Lin Ruqing had just completed the step of guarantorly recognizing his status as a government-subsidized student and was walking to the bailiffs to wait for a body search when a pretty young girl suddenly tugged at the hem of his robe and sweetly exclaimed, "Brother Scholar, what a coincidence to meet you again!"
Several days later, Lin Ruqing forgot what Wushuang looked like after only meeting her once. However, he was already feeling uneasy because he had taken the exam for someone else. When he heard this unfamiliar girl say that he had the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the imperial examinations), he was so frightened that his legs trembled slightly. He immediately retorted, "Little sister, you have mistaken me for someone else. We have never met before."
And because there were other people around, he didn't forget to ask gently, "Whose child are you? Where are your parents? Are you lost? Do you need the constables to take you home?"
As he asked the question, the old servant of the Yang family and Li Mama came forward.
The old servant showed the governor's mansion's waist tag to the education official. The constables knew that she was the governor's daughter, so they naturally dared not make any rash moves. Besides, Wushuang was just talking to a candidate, which could not be considered causing trouble. The most serious thing they could do was stop her.
Li's mother picked up Wushuang and repeatedly apologized to Lin Ruqing, saying that her daughter was young and ignorant and had delayed the young master's important business, and hoped for his forgiveness.
"No! No! I didn't mistake you for someone else!" Wushuang kicked her short legs, shouting indignantly, "I really know Brother Xiucai! I bought a painting from you at Louwailou to give to my cousin! Brother Xiucai, don't you remember me? That day your friend pushed me over, and then you said you'd give me the painting, and I said that buying things without paying is robbery! Brother Xiucai..." Her eyes were brimming with tears, and she reached out her little hands to grab Lin Ruqing's sleeve tightly and shake it incessantly, "It's only been a few days, Brother Xiucai, have you already forgotten me?"
On the surface, Wushuang is just a stubborn little girl throwing a tantrum, but her repeated use of "scholar brother" is particularly eye-catching.
If he were truly a scholar, why would he need to take the preliminary examination for children?
Most onlookers assumed the little girl had mistaken someone for someone else and didn't take it too seriously.
Lin Ruqing looked unwell because of his guilty conscience. Although he did not remember Wushuang's appearance, he could not possibly forget what happened that day. However, he had already passed the final test of being recognized by the students. If he were to be suspected because of a little girl, not only would all his previous efforts be in vain, but he himself would also be ruined.
“Little sister, you’ve really mistaken me for someone else. I’ve been studying hard behind closed doors for the past few months. I haven’t left the house except for the upcoming exam, and I haven’t been to Lou Wai Lou either,” Lin Ruqing explained.
“No mistake, it’s definitely you! Your name is on that painting! Your surname is unusual, I don’t recognize the character, and I even asked my father. He said it’s pronounced… pronounced Lin, your full name is Lin…” Wushuang deliberately tilted her head, pretending to be deep in thought, in order to arouse the school administrator’s curiosity and make him remember her more.
“It’s Lin Ruqing!” a female voice suddenly interjected from behind.
Wushuang turned around and saw Qi Lan.
She came forward holding a painting scroll, not looking at Wushuang, but only at Lin Ruqing, and spoke up for Wushuang: "The painting that my young lady bought that day has your signature and seal on it. Your name is Lin Ruqing, and you are the youngest scholar in Hangzhou Prefecture. My young lady took a liking to your painting to find a good omen and to bless your son to pass the imperial examination smoothly."
As Qi Lan spoke, she unfurled the scroll. Lin Ruqing saw that it was a landscape painting and was furious. He had clearly sold a piece of calligraphy that day, but now they were using a painting to accuse him. This was utter nonsense! But he couldn't defend himself, because if he spoke, it would be tantamount to admitting his identity, and the matter of taking the exam for someone else would be exposed immediately.
But what if they don't acknowledge it?
The academic administrator was specifically responsible for supervision to prevent cheating and substitution. While others watched the spectacle, he saw the intricacies of the situation.
Moreover, Lin Ruqing was the youngest scholar in Hangzhou Prefecture. Although the education commissioner had only recently taken office in the area and had not yet had the opportunity to meet him, he had certainly heard of his great name.
Moreover, the roll call in front of him contained detailed records of each candidate's place of origin, age, and three generations of family history. The one currently being harassed was named Li Xiang, thirteen years old, and came from a prominent gentry family.
If you say he was wronged...
The educational commissioner glanced at Qi Lan, whose clothes were very ordinary, even slightly shabby, and Wu Shuang, who was being held in his arms with short arms and legs and a chubby face. If the governor's mansion wanted to deal with this Li Xiang, they certainly wouldn't need to use a toddler who was only a few years old and a little girl who looked like a servant.
The education commissioner turned to the student who had previously vouched for him and asked, "Are you absolutely certain that he is Li Xiang, without any doubt?"
At this point, Linsheng had no way to deny it, so he could only grit his teeth and insist, "It is indeed this person."
The education commissioner stopped asking questions and said, "Let him step forward and wait a moment. Send three people to Heshan Academy to invite the headmaster and teachers to come and re-identify him before making a decision. As for you two young ladies, you can't leave for now; you have to stay and act as witnesses."
Wushuang smiled particularly charmingly at this moment, nodding vigorously in response: "Yes, Father said that we must cooperate with the officials when we are outside."
The education commissioner was amused by her innocent words, a slight smile playing on his lips. He couldn't help but wonder who her father was. Governor Yang was known throughout Zhejiang for his chastity, having only one wife and one concubine, both around his age. Of course, he couldn't possibly have a four- or five-year-old daughter. As for grandsons, it was said that the Governor's household only had five grandsons, and Yang Tianxing, who had entered earlier, was the third, presumably the cousin the little girl was talking about. Therefore, this little girl must be the Governor's granddaughter…
Lost in thought, he was reminded by a bailiff whispering in his ear, "Sir, should we continue with the roll call, or..."
The academic official coughed lightly to cover up his embarrassment at having lost focus and said in a deep voice, "Of course we should continue taking attendance. We can't let shameless scoundrels disrupt the normal procedure."
Li Xiang could bribe the candidates who jointly guaranteed their places in the exam, as well as the students who had pledged their support, but he couldn't bribe everyone in the world. Hangzhou was such a large city; there would surely be someone who could recognize Lin Ruqing's true identity.
Less than half an hour later, as the roll call was nearing its end, the headmaster of Heshan Academy and several teachers arrived under the guidance of the bailiffs. In this way, Lin Ruqing's act of taking the exam for someone else was naturally exposed.
According to established rules, the fate awaiting Lin Ruqing and the other four candidates who jointly guaranteed their success was to be stripped of their academic titles and barred from ever entering officialdom again. The students who had received government stipends would also be dismissed from their posts and punished separately.
After watching Lin Ruqing being led away, and then the roll call ending and all the candidates entering the examination hall, and the gates of the examination hall closing tightly, Wushuang looked up at Mother Li and said, "Mother, let's go home, Shuangshuang is a little hungry."
She touched her little belly and smiled as innocently as ever.
Madam Li assumed that the incident was due to the Third Miss's excessive enthusiasm, which led to an accident. After all, impersonating someone else to take the exam was wrong, and it was only right that she was exposed. In a way, it was a good deed that Wushuang had unintentionally done, so she didn't think much of it.
However, on the small building with white bricks and gray tiles across the street from the examination hall, behind the wooden window under the horse-head wall, Chu Yao squinted at Wu Shuang, his face full of doubt.
Why does her attention to Lin Ruqing seem so strange?
Chapter 48 | Table of Contents