A master of metaphysics is farming.

Chapter 128 The exam is over

"Quick, quick! They're out!"

"Slow down! You're out, so what's the rush?"

"You may not care about your son, but I do!"

A large crowd had gathered in front of the examination hall, all waiting for the students who had taken the exam to come out. They had been eating and drinking in the examination hall for the past nine days, and everyone was worried about their children's health.

Two carriages were parked in the distance. Xiang He sat in front of one of the carriages, swinging her legs from side to side. Shen Zhuo got off the carriage and walked over, standing beside her and looking towards the crowd.

"Young lady, you've come early, but have you waited for anyone yet?"

"You've only been here a short time," Xiang He said, looking around with her head tilted back. "Are you waiting for Young Master Qi?"

"Yes, Father sent me to pick up Brother Qi and take him back."

The two remained silent as Xing Ji went to greet his young master.

From a distance, He Suian and Qi Xin were walking together. Compared to He Suian's neat and composed demeanor, Qi Xin and the others were dressed in loose clothes and looked much worse.

"I'm so frustrated by the exam..."

The ancient imperial examinations were indeed rigorous, lasting for nine days, and candidates were not allowed to leave the examination hall.

It's really exhausting to pursue fame and fortune.

Xiang He jumped down from the carriage, took out a food box from inside, opened the lid, and ladled out a bowl of rich medicinal soup. "Would you like to try some? It's a medicinal meal."

Shen Zhuoci looked slightly surprised, and brought the nose closer to smell it. "It tastes alright. Is it enough for them?"

"Enough."

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhuoci stopped being polite, accepted the drink, and began to drink. Yin Zhong, standing to the side, slightly moved his hand, but in the end, he said nothing and simply stared intently at his young master.

Seeing him finish the bowl and exhale a satisfying breath, Yin Zhong's tense shoulders finally relaxed a little.

Zhu Nan noticed his reaction. It was no wonder he was so nervous; as a guard, he naturally had to keep an eye on his master.

Xiang He lowered her eyes and put the bowl down. "Aren't you afraid I'll poison it?"

“How could that be?” Shen Zhuoci casually wiped the corner of his mouth. “Why would you harm me in front of everyone?”

Xiang He remained silent, only chuckled and looked up. He Sui'an and the others had already walked over.

She took out a clean bowl and filled it with soup. "Drink up," she said, then looked at Qi Xin and the others behind her. "You have some too, come and have some."

"You're so kind, young lady!"

He Sui'an looked somewhat pale, but his clothes were neat and tidy. Compared to the other students' dejected appearance, he seemed the most energetic.

only……

Xiang He wrinkled her nose. "These are medicinal herbs that Boss Feng sent. You should drink them quickly and go back to wash up."

He Sui'an glanced at her and said, "You're starting to complain now."

"Just a mental cleanse."

After the group finished drinking, Xiang He was cleaning up their bowls. He Suian was about to say something when they heard a familiar shout from afar.

Tang Yixue jumped off the carriage happily, lifting her skirt and fluttering like a butterfly.

"cousin!"

The voice was clear and melodious, and she ran over in a few steps. When she saw Shen Zhuoci, she bowed politely and said, "Greetings, Young Master Shen."

"Ah."

She was preoccupied with He Sui'an, "Cousin, how did the exam go?"

"Let's wait for the results."

Seeing his indifferent expression, Tang Yixue didn't mind. "Grandpa wants you to come back for dinner. Xue'er came to pick you up. Let's go."

Then she looked at Xiang He with delight, "Miss Xiang, come along too. Grandpa really liked the ginseng that was sent a few days ago. Please come with us."

He Suian glanced at Xiang He, who simply smiled and said, "Since Grandpa Tang has invited me, I will naturally go."

At this moment, Shen Zhuoci looked regretful, "It's a pity I have to go back, otherwise I really wanted to get together with you all."

These words surprised Tang Yixue slightly, but she quickly composed herself and said softly, "Your Highness is very busy. When you have some free time, I will personally come to invite you."

"You're too kind." Shen Zhuoci turned around with a flick of his sleeve. "Brother He, Miss Xiang, we'll meet again another day."

"Your Highness, please wait."

Watching Shen Zhuoci board the carriage and leave, Xiang He also climbed into the carriage. He Sui'an was about to get on, but Tang Yixue grabbed his sleeve, "Cousin, shall you travel with Xue'er?"

"You go home first. I'll go back and wash up before going to see Grandpa with He'er."

Before she could even pull away, He Suian had already boarded the carriage. Xing Ji quickly spurred the horse, leaving her standing there dumbfounded.

A slight anger rose to Tang Yixue's face. She bit her lip, stomped her foot, and angrily boarded the carriage. "Follow me!"

"Yes."

The two carriages traveled side by side. Zhu Nan turned around and glanced back. "Young master, young lady is following us."

"Let her go."

Xiang He lifted the car curtain and looked back, "She really likes you, why don't you give her a chance?"

Upon hearing this, He Sui'an's eyes darkened slightly. "I've told her clearly, but she won't listen."

"That's persistent!"

Hearing her praise, He Sui'an smiled helplessly and said, "You gave ginseng to your maternal grandfather?"

"Well, now that the Feng family's matter is resolved, Mr. Feng sent a thank-you gift, along with a thousand taels of silver notes. That's quite an eye-opener..."

Xiang He fiddled with the cloth bag, took out the silver note and flicked it, "Just as you said, people in the capital are really rich and generous. I don't know what I need so much money for..."

Back in Xiangjia Village, I desperately needed money for food, drink, and lodging. Now that I have so much money on me, I'm at a loss for what to do with it. Just looking at it, I don't really want anything...

The silver note in her hand twitched slightly, but He Sui'an looked at her cloth bag and asked, "What's in your bag?"

Xiang He bowed his head, put away the silver notes, and pulled out his black robe. "My Taoist robe is also my battle robe."

"Battle robes?"

The Taoist robe in her hand was of smooth quality. Xiang He gently stroked it and said, "Have you forgotten the case of the murder of Han? My body has not yet recovered, and I can only rely on external objects for support; I even fainted that night, I was too weak. This Taoist robe will be beneficial to me."

If she encounters a formidable opponent in the future, her Taoist robe will become her battle armor.

He Suian looked at the embroidery on the robe, his eyes flashing slightly. "It seems you haven't been idle these past few days."

"It's alright. Shen Zhuoci wants to win you over. Are you interested?"

His words were calm, but He Sui'an raised his eyes with a slight tremor in his eyelashes, his dark eyes deep and bright. "Since he is so eager to win him over, let's see what his purpose is."

"I think so too."

As the heir of a marquis's mansion, Shen Zhuoci's attempt to win over others clearly indicates impure motives.

The two had no intention of speculating; since he was willing to win them over, he would eventually reveal the reason.

He Sui'an lightly pinched his sleeve. "Have you ever been to a temple?"

"No," Xiang He put the Taoist robe in the cloth bag compartment, "I was thinking of waiting for you to come out so we could go together. You still have some time before the results are released, right? Let's go out for a walk."

With a slight twitch at the corner of her eye, He Sui'an lowered her eyes and smiled, "Indeed, it's time to relax a bit."

The two stopped talking, and the carriage moved quickly, arriving at the He residence in no time.

Hot water was already prepared in the kitchen, and He Sui'an went to wash up first, while Tang Yixue looked around in the yard. "This house hasn't changed... but why are you planting vegetables in front of the door?"

Xiang He, sitting on a recliner, swung her legs and said, "It's such a big piece of good land, it would be a shame not to use it to grow vegetables."

"..."

Just thinking about my handsome cousin tidying up the vegetable garden...

Her expression was somewhat indescribable. "My cousin doesn't tinker with these things too, does he...?"

"What's wrong with tinkering with these things? I come from a rural background, and your cousin travels around studying all year round, so it's normal for him to farm, right?"

Tang Yixue stopped talking, pulled up a chair and sat down, glanced at He Yi's silent face, and then closed her eyes to rest.