Rebirth: From being expelled from the imperial court to becoming a high-ranking official

In the end, the fox fur mat was kept.

At night, Qin Yunhe touched the mat with a complicated look in his eyes, feeling somewhat relieved and somewhat melancholy.

Yu Ru has watched Yu Ge'er grow up little by little in the past two years, so she naturally understands Qin Yunhe's thoughts: "Yu Ge'er is a very careful and considerate child."

Qin Yunhe sighed softly: "I have been preparing for various exams in the past few years, and I am always afraid that I will delay this child. Fortunately, Yu Ge'er is sensible and does not bother me."

"Yu Ge'er is indeed a sensible and good child. You two get along so well. This is also the fate of you as teacher and student."

"I always feel that there are still many things I haven't taught him, and I don't know if I will have the chance to do so in the future. If the place of work is close to him, that's fine, but if it's far, I'm afraid we can only communicate through letters in the future."

Yu Ru comforted her: "There will always be a chance..."

The next few days were the annual routine of writing Spring Festival couplets and preparing fruit offerings, and in the blink of an eye it was New Year's Eve, and the family lively set off firecrackers, stayed up all night, and made dumplings, just like every year.

Although the exam is approaching, there are always some close relatives to visit or entertain.

Qin Yunhe and Qin Si had to visit their maternal family and entertain the relatives who came.

After a few busy days, most of the relatives had been received, and it was time for Qin Yunhe and Qin Si to prepare to leave.

To go to Beijing to take the exam, one needs to obtain a certificate from the county school before departure and also have to renew his/her passport.

It was not until the tenth day after the first lunar month that the two brothers found time to go together to get the marriage certificate and identity card, and also received the five taels of silver given to each candidate by the county for travel expenses.

Although time was tight, Qin Yunhe still took the opportunity to pay his New Year's greetings to his teacher and say goodbye.

By the time everything was ready, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month had already passed.

That night, Yu Ru took two cloth bags, one large and one small, and put a string of copper coins and ten taels of loose silver into them respectively.

While putting it into Qin Yunhe's box, he gave him instructions.

"This big cloth bag contains copper coins. I put it on the top for you to take out easily. You can use these copper coins when you eat or stay in a hotel.

Put this small bag of change down there, and take it out when you run out of copper coins. And the silver notes, I've sewed them into your clothes, and you can wear this dress when you leave."

Qin Yunhe listened to Yu Ru's detailed instructions and agreed to them one by one.

"Okay, now that everything else is ready and the money is put away, let's take a break and talk."

Yu Ru was almost ready, so she sat down beside him after hearing what he said. She couldn't help but remind him, "Didn't the examiners of the past two sessions say that they were strict and would let candidates enter the examination room barefoot? I don't know if you are allowed to bring socks in. If you are not allowed to bring socks in, then wrap your feet with a mattress after entering the examination room, and don't catch a cold."

Qin Yunhe took Yuru's hand and brought her into his arms.

"Don't talk about me. I will definitely take good care of myself. As for you, I will be gone for several months and you will have to work hard at home.

This year we have more land at home, so you don’t have to work hard at home. If there is any farm work, you can hire a few temporary workers to do it, or if there are suitable permanent workers, you can hire two.”

"Well, don't worry. We have enough money and everything at home. I will take good care of the family. I am just worried about you. It's such a long journey, the rules of the Imperial Examination Hall are so strict, and you are unfamiliar with the place, which makes me more worried."

Qin Yunhe smiled and said, "Don't listen to what others say about how strict the Imperial Examination is and that someone is sick. This is the way the imperial court selects scholars. How difficult can it be? If it was really that serious, how could those Jinshi be selected?"

"Who can know until we get there? Just remember to take care of yourself and don't be reluctant to spend the money. I will feel at ease only when you are well fed and warmly clothed. It doesn't matter whether you pass the imperial examination or not, I just hope you come back safely."

"Okay—don't worry."

Ruyi was writing on the desk nearby. When she saw her father and mother talking there for a long time, she slid down from the stool and ran over.

"Daddy—"

"Well, Ruyi, come here."

Qin Yunhe let go of Yuru, reached out to pick up his daughter and put her between the two of them.

Ruyi is now six years old and is gradually becoming sensible.

She had heard that her father was going to take an exam. Although she was not very concerned about the separation, she could not help feeling a little reluctant.

"Dad, Brother Yu said it will take a long time for you to take the exam before coming back, so when will you come back?"

"When you feel the weather is a little warmer, Daddy will be back. Then Daddy will bring you some delicious food, okay?"

"Then what do I want you to do?"

"Well - what should I do if I miss my daddy..." Qin Yunhe wanted to comfort his daughter, but he also felt a little sad: "Then daddy, please come back soon, okay."

"it is good……"

Qin Yunhe kissed his daughter's hair: "Then you should listen to your mother at home and don't run around and make her worry."

Ruyi nodded obediently.

Soon the day of departure arrived, the twentieth day of the first lunar month.

Qin Yunhe and Lin Zhaotang agreed to meet on the official road outside the county town before 9:00 p.m., so they set off after breakfast.

Qin's mother, Chen Er and others sent the two people to the village entrance and gave them some instructions, which were nothing more than asking them to take care of their health and not to be stingy with food.

Qin Yunhe and Qin Si had no choice but to agree repeatedly before they were allowed to set off in an ox cart.

A quarter of an hour later, the Li family's carriage arrived at Qin Yunhe's house. Yu Ge'er jumped off the carriage and ran inside in a hurry.

"gentlemen--"

"Hey, Brother Yu, you got up so early."

"What about sir?"

"Your husband is going to take the exam. Didn't he tell you?"

"Ah--sir--"

Mother Qin was a little confused: "What's wrong with this child? Your husband will be back in a few months..."

When Qin Yunhe and Qin Si arrived at the agreed location on the official road, Lin Zhaotang had just arrived. Surprisingly, Lin Zhaotang's wife actually brought the child to send him here.

Lin Zhaotang's wife saw that Qin Yunhe and the others did not come over, so she just nodded at them and took Lin Zhaotang a few steps away to talk.

"You can go now. I've prepared enough money for you. It should be enough for your return trip. Do your best in the exam. If you don't pass, come back quickly. You can still make a living by selling oil."

Lin Zhaotang nodded in agreement and also instructed: "Take good care of yourself at home. If it's inconvenient to sell oil with Yun'er, just stop for a while and wait for me to come back."

Lin's wife was a little unappreciative and said, "I see. Taking care of a child will delay the sale of oil."

Lin Zhaotang smiled and said nothing, but bent down again and said to his son: "Mother has worked hard selling oil, Yun'er, you must be obedient at home and don't be naughty."

Lin's wife urged impatiently: "Go quickly, don't keep people waiting."

Hearing her urging, Lin Zhaotang did not delay any longer. He nodded and walked towards Qin Yunhe.

Lin's wife suddenly said from behind: "If you pass the imperial examination and get an official title, please come back to pick us up..."

For some reason, Qin Yunhe always felt that this sentence sounded a little unconfident and a little bleak, as if he was afraid that Lin Zhaotang would never come back.

Lin Zhaotang turned back to look at his wife and nodded seriously: "I know, I will come back as soon as possible whether I succeed or not. Don't worry about me at home."