After leaving the city and reaching a deserted stretch of the road, Song Shixue let Xuetuan out of its cage.
"Sister, the leash." She handed the rope to Song Jinzhao to hold. Only her older sister had the strength to subdue Xuetuan, ensuring that no one else would be in danger.
Sitting in the carriage, Duan Yanhua's eyes darted around for a long time before he turned to Song Gaoli and asked aloud, "Where did they get this white tiger?"
Song Gaoli glanced at Xuetuan's wagging tail. "Sister Jinzhao found it when she took Qiming and the others hunting in the mountains. They've raised it since it was born, so it's very obedient."
Duan Yanhua continued to press, "Do all three of the Song siblings know martial arts?"
Song Gaoli nodded, praising them highly. "Yes, Qiming and Shixue's martial arts were both taught by Sister Jinzhao. Her kung fu is incredibly impressive; there's no one she can't defeat."
After saying this, a thought crossed his mind. The journey from Anyang Prefecture to the capital would take nearly two months. Perhaps he could ask Qiming to teach him how to ride a horse, so he could ride his own once he bought one in the future.
Duan Yanhua had originally intended to chat more with the Song siblings on the road, but they traveled at a breakneck pace without resting in between. The bumps made his old bones crack and rattle, leaving him with a sore back and a numb body by the end of the day.
By the time they rushed into the city before dark, he was so exhausted he could barely keep his eyes open. He hastily ate a meal and fell straight to sleep. The next day, they got up early again to set off, and spent the night in a ruined temple. After enduring this for three days, Duan Yanhua felt as though he had suddenly aged several years. Half his soul seemed to have left his body, leaving him in a constant daze.
"Lady, the capital is far away, but there is no need to rush like this. If we take our time, we can reach it in three months and even enjoy the sights along the way."
Song Jinzhao's hand, which was picking up food with her chopsticks, paused slightly. Three months? It would be too late by then.
Song Qiming calmly took over the conversation. "To be honest with you, Lord Duan, Mr. Ye hopes I can reach the capital as soon as possible so he can keep me by his side and tutor me. That way, I can achieve a good rank in next year's spring examinations."
Duan Yanhua's beard twitched, a bitter feeling rising in his throat. As a top provincial scorer, passing the metropolitan exam to become a Jinshi was already a sure thing. He was only thirteen; was it really necessary to work this hard?
"It's a good thing that Lord Ye has high hopes for you, but it's just too exhausting."
Song Qiming smiled and shook his head. "Compared to working in the fields under the wind and sun, studying really isn't hard work at all. Whenever I pick up a book, I actually find it quite enjoyable."
Duan Yanhua let out a few awkward chuckles, lowering his head as he recalled his own youth spent studying.
In the dead of winter, his hands had been covered in chilblains. Enjoyable? Only the moment he passed the exam was enjoyable; everything else was pure misery.
Song Gaoli had attended to Duan Yanhua for several days. During the latter few days, the older man did nothing but sleep. Unable to sit still, Gaoli went to find Song Qiming to ask him to teach him how to ride a horse.
Every time Duan Yanhua opened his eyes and heard the laughter outside, he would shake his head and lament that he was getting old.
Burying his head in the bedding, he wondered how these youths could have so much energy. Weren't they tired?
The clip-clop of horse hooves echoed across the fields, growing ever more distinct as they entered the village.
Song Mancang, who had been counting the days, sat at his doorway whenever he had free time these past few days. He didn't know the results of the provincial exams yet. Even if they failed, they should at least send a letter to let him know.
Hearing the sound of hooves, he instantly stood up, craning his neck to look ahead until he saw a man from the escort agency riding over.
"Old man, where is Song Gaoli's house?" the messenger asked, pulling tight on the reins to stop.
Song Mancang's eyes lit up. He broke into a wide grin and said, "I'm Song Gaoli's grandfather. Did my grandson send a letter back?"
Hearing this, the rider swiftly pulled a letter from his breast pocket and handed it to Song Mancang. "Here you go, just brought back from Anyang Prefecture. Old man, let me ask you, where is Song Youshui's house?"
Song Mancang, who was about to open the letter, paused and pointed toward the inside of the village. "See that? That blue-brick and tile house furthest inside is the one."
It seemed that Song Jinzhao's and Gaoli's letters were delivered together. He wondered how Song Qiming had done on the exam.
At this thought, Song Mancang impatiently tore open the letter to find out the results. Even though the chances were slim, you never knew.
The escort leader hadn't ridden far when an earth-shattering scream suddenly erupted behind him. He hurriedly pulled the reins to steady his startled horse.
Looking back, he saw the old man who had just received the letter jumping up and down in place, roaring at the sky as if he had gone mad.
What was going on?
Hearing the shouts, Song Dazhuang's family all ran out of the house. They saw Song Mancang screaming incessantly at the door, his face flushed bright red.
"Father, what's wrong with you?" Could he have caught mad cow disease?
Master Zhao's plowing ox had suffered a bout of pinkeye these past few days. Could he have been bitten?
Song Mancang rushed over holding the letter, waving it at them, his face wrinkled with a massive smile. "Gaoli passed the exam and became a Juren! Gaoli is a Juren!"
Repeating it twice still didn't feel like enough, so he simply unfolded the letter and pointed at the words, letting Song Dazhuang see for himself.
"A Juren! This is a Juren! Gaoli is truly promising; he passed on his very first try."
Faced with Song Mancang's frantic ecstasy, Song Dazhuang and the others still hadn't quite processed the news.
Song Gaoli's mother eagerly slapped Song Dazhuang's arm. "Husband, read it to me quickly, read it!"
