pace four or five steps ahead, clearly showing that she knew her limits.Mrs. Wen gently rubbed her hair, her face flushed with a smile. "Auntie, it's been ages since we last saw each other, I missed y...At this moment, Jia's steward and Lu's young servant both squeezed out. Before they could report the good news, seeing their master's appearance, they knew they had heard about the ranking.

Then, they all urged him on.

"Young Master, let's hurry home. The official bearing good news will likely be here soon."

"Good." Both Lu Zong and Jia Xu responded.

Jia Xu still refused, the Jia family had many members, but the Lu family only had Lu Zong as the master. He needed to go back to receive relatives and friends who came to congratulate him.

After a few more words, the crowd dispersed.

The palace exam will be held in three days. A total of 123 people, including the top, second, and third-ranked candidates, will enter the palace for the examination.

Then they will gather together again, it's not a big deal to have this short reunion.

Soon, the Li family returned to Earl's Mansion.

Because Jiaren came in second, the official position was reported first, especially since Liger also did well on the exam.

Almost as soon as they stepped into the mansion, an official arrived at their heels.

It was inevitable that they should receive awards. Jiarren and Li Ge'er then accepted their respective posts.

During the palace exam, this post was their key to success.

As soon as the official left, Liu Zhiheng's whole family rushed over. Mrs. Liu brought Zhimn and Xiujie, even Old Master Liu came in person to offer congratulations.

Next came the three members of the Xing family, Guo Wenhao, Jiaren's good friend and schoolmate, Li Laoer's colleague and friend, and so on.

In the blink of an eye, the front of Earl's Mansion became lively.

Li Laoer personally spoke up, and all the servants were rewarded with an extra month's silver.

All the maids, housekeepers and little servants were overjoyed. They bustled about serving tea, snacks, and fruits, moving like butterflies among flowers. Everyone's face was lit with smiles, radiating joy beyond measure...

It's great if a family has one promising child, but the Li family produced two at once.

This is not yet counting the family righteousness of those who killed pirates in the south, there are also Jiaxi and Ji'an who went out to sea with the envoys of eight countries and returned.

Their faces were smiling, their mouths praising, but in their hearts they were truly envious...

In the Zilan Palace, Jia Yin almost wore a groove in the bluestone floor under the eaves with her hurried steps.

Finally hearing that Mu Xu brought back the news that both her elder brother and sixth brother were on the list, she was so happy she jumped three feet high, cheering.

"Princess, princess! We've been sealed for ten days now, nothing has happened. Shouldn't we ask Uncle Emperor to let us out"

The third princess was already getting restless from being locked up, so she quickly chimed in.

Of course, we aren't birds, who would be happy staying cooped up in a cage every day I'll send someone to ask Father immediately!

Having said that, she had someone carry a ladder and climbed onto the wall herself.

Although Zhi Lan Palace is closed, someone guards outside every day to prevent incidents inside the palace and promptly relay messages.

However, the eunuch guarding it was a bit too far away.

The third princess rode on the wall, shouting several times before the eunuch far away could hear her. He ran over with gritted teeth.

The third princess ordered without hesitation, "Go find Yi the steward and ask him to inquire with the Emperor. The Zhilan Palace has been closed for over ten days, and no one is sick. Can't it be opened If we keep it closed like this, both I and the county princess will go mad!"

The eunuch quickly kowtowed, then turned and ran.

Soon, Yi Zongguan received the message. After a moment's thought, he brought a pot of hot tea into the study.

The Emperor had a list laid out before him, and was chatting idly with the Marquis.

"The two boys from the Li family are really good. I originally thought they were being tricked and would fail the exam. Unexpectedly, they ranked very high!"

The Lord's eyes were full of smiles, as if his own child had been praised. He replied, "The Li family has a good family style, and their children are well-raised. They are not arrogant despite their wealth and honor, and they become even more determined in the face of difficulties. This is truly commendable."

The Emperor couldn't help but laugh even harder, and said playfully, "Looking at your proud expression, anyone would think they were your son."

However, the Li family children are indeed good. Just being around the third princess and Fu Niuer for so long has made them all grow a lot.

As they were talking, Master Yi walked in, replacing their tea with hot cups while saying, "Your Majesty, the Third Princess is demanding to open the palace gates! Perhaps she's been cooped up for too long and finds it terribly dull."

The emperor was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Perhaps Fu Niang heard the good news from home and couldn't contain herself, urging the three princesses to open the palace gates"

The Lord nodded and replied, "Funiu remembering her brothers is only natural. Counting it up, the palace has been closed for over ten days now. Now it's time to open the gates."

The Emperor pondered for a moment and said, “Then let’s open the doors of Zhi Lan Palace, but as for Shou Kang Palace, since that one is feigning illness, let her stew in there for a few more days. Let those two maids have some breathing room.”

Soon, the oral decree went down.

The gates of Zhi Lan Palace opened, and Shou Kang Palace received a batch of food and supplies. They called it an imperial gift to the Empress Dowager from the emperor, asking her to rest assured and recuperate.

No matter what others think, Jiayin and the Third Princess were overjoyed.

Two people hand in hand reached the Imperial Study, paying their respects to the Emperor and expressing their gratitude.

The two young ladies, one in peach and the other in willow green, were both wearing light, new-style spring shirts.

She even partially pulled up her hair and braided two braids, inserting a red ruby hairpin.

They were even more youthful and radiant, like beautiful blossoms.

It's truly pleasing to the eye, instantly lifting one's spirits.

"Haha, two little birds who have been cooped up for over ten days are finally flying out!" The emperor joked, personally helping the two young girls up, his face beaming with joy.

"These past few days, I'm sorry for putting you through this! Now that the palace gates are open, feel free to go out and have some fun. Just remember to bring a few attendants with you to look after you, and be careful not to be surprised by any troublemakers."

The emperor was so generous that all the words Jiayin had prepared were saved.

Overjoyed, her words became even more skillful. She showered the emperor with flattery, non-stop and relentless, until he laughed so hard his face ached.

Finally, as the Marquis left the palace, a group of people followed him.

Jia Yin and the Third Princess changed into men's clothing for convenience.

In their teens, they were hard to tell apart as male or female. From afar, they looked like two pretty good youngsters.

Jiayin's first thought upon returning home was, of course, to go back to the Earl's Mansion.

As expected, the family was delighted to see her bring Princess Three back home just as they were about to have a feast.

The Third Princess wasn't shy about it; she treated Earl's Mansion like her own home, eating and drinking whatever she pleased.

This did ease Liu's and Xing's minds, changing their views on the princess who was rumored to be willful and difficult.

After the meal, as the sun began to set in the west, the guests finally took their leave.

The Li family longed for their village and unanimously agreed to return to Suijin Beach.

As expected, the village head brought all the villagers, young and old, who had been waiting with bloodshot eyes.

After eagerly waiting for the Li family to return, they started slaughtering pigs and sheep early the next day to have a grand feast in celebration.

Needless to say, several nearby villages came to celebrate. No one arrived empty-handed, whether it was vegetables or chickens and ducks.

The Li family would naturally not care about the value of gifts; what they valued most was this sentiment.

The Third Princess spent the night at the County Lord's Mansion with Jia Yin. She changed back into men's clothing as usual and played with the children from the village, both in the courtyard and outside. She watched the lively scenes, which were novel and exciting to her.

Today's update is here~~gainst our Li family's children!""This time, if I cannot bring ruin to the Wu family and make the Empress pay the price, then I, Li Zhensheng, will headbutt myself to death at the palace gates!""No, i...