Chapter 534: Are you serious?

Hearing that, Qiao Sheng asked offhand, "A marriage alliance? Are they planning to send their princess to us, or are we taking a princess from our country back?"

Her words had just ended.

Shi Lin said, "Both marrying out and taking in."

It turned out that way.

Qiao Sheng asked curiously, "Over at the Tianqi side, who are they planning to marry their princess to? Currently, the only marriageable princes are the Grand Prince and the Second Prince."

Shi Lin shook his head, "I don't know either."

He doesn't know.

Qiao Sheng then asked no further questions.

Shi Lin, however, had a question for her: "A Sheng, how is Shi Yun today?"

"He's willing to come out for a meal, but still doesn't speak much."

Qiao Sheng said truthfully.

Shi Lin wanted to speak but stopped.

The academic examinations this year are later, starting on February 18, with both the literary and martial county exams held in Anqi County.

Shi Yun, because his condition wasn't very good,

didn't attend the exam.

Xiao Shitou, Shi Jin, and Shi Ren all went.

Xiao Shitou and Shi Ren took the literary exam, while Shi Jin, like Bu Yun, took the martial exam.

Compared to serving as a civil official.

Shi Jin prefers to be a military officer.

With An Yi and their protection.

Qiao Sheng and they didn't go along.

The county exam is the easiest to pass, and more students pass it than those who pass other examinations.

Xiao Shitou and Shi Ren passed without much effort; one placed fifth, the other sixth, very close.

Shi Jin and Bu Yun also passed.

However.

Shi Jin wasn't as good as Bu Yun; he only placed tenth, while Bu Yun ranked fourth.

The prefectural exam will be in April.

The academy exam will be in August.

At present, it's still early before both examinations.

After the exams, Shi Jin and the others returned to the Imperial Capital to continue studying and training.

Shi Yun hasn't been attending school these days.

A few days after Shi Jin's group finished the exams,

Shi Yun approached Qiao Sheng and said, "Aunt Qiao, I don't want to study anymore; I want to apprentice under a master to learn martial arts and medicine."

"Are you serious?"

Qiao Sheng asked Shi Yun repeatedly several times.

Confirmed that he had already decided.

Qiao Sheng inquired around, compared options, and decided to send Shi Yun to become a disciple of Na Lan Ruo Lan's Sixth Senior Sister.

She originally wanted to escort him herself.

Shi Yun didn't allow it.

First, he was worried someone might strike at Qiao Sheng again.

Second, he wasn't confident about Da Bao and the others; each of them clings to Qiao Sheng so much that if she weren't home, they would probably cry uncontrollably.

Finally.

An Liu and An Shi escorted him there.

Na Lan Ruo Lan's Sixth Senior Sister is in Yuxi City; it's not far from the Imperial Capital, but not close either—round trip takes about half a month.

Qiao Sheng was somewhat uneasy about Shi Yun; after they left, she had Shi Lin select a man of roughly the same age to look after Shi Yun.

When Shi Yun was present.

Shi Jin was quite disdainful of him; when he wasn't there, he missed him.

Xiao Shitou didn't think that much; he only wants to pass the scholar exam this year.

As for taking the recommended graduate exam.

He's not in a hurry; plans to take it when he's older.

What he thinks in his heart.

Qiao Sheng knows.

Because these days, he hasn't stopped reading at night.

While pleased, Qiao Sheng also worries about him, telling him not to read so long at night, as the nighttime light isn't as good as daylight; prolonged reading harms the eyes.

Time flew, and it was April.

After several days of preparation.

Shi Jin and the others, under the escort of An Yi and his group, went to attend the prefectural exam.

Bu Yun this time went with them, but he rode a horse instead of taking a carriage.

He hasn't arrived at the location yet.

Bu Yun noticed a sound around, immediately came to the side of the carriage and said: "You be careful, there may be an ambush."