eurekapd Chapter 156 My Husband Who Shared Hardships?
Chapter 156 My Husband Who Shared Hardships?
Before the exam, Xiao Bailing had a tailor make a scholar's robe for Shen Li. It was the same as the men's version and she also wore a scholar's hat. However, her appearance and height still revealed that she was a woman.
Before she entered, she noticed many students looking at her with curious eyes, seemingly unsurprised, as they had obviously already heard about her.
After putting her things away, Shen Li opened the exam paper, then calmed herself down and picked up her pen to make a draft.
Three days is enough.
Gu Chang'an felt for the first time that the scientific expedition would take so long, but he breathed a sigh of relief when he received the exam questions. They shouldn't be too difficult for A-Li, but the amount of dry food she could bring was limited, so she was bound to go hungry.
He sighed slightly, hoping that Ah Li would only take the test this once.
Shen Li had a well-organized schedule. She would do her homework during the day and rest in the evening. Then, at the crack of dawn, she would get up to wash, eat something, and continue answering questions.
Three days passed in a flash. Shen Li copied the answers onto the test paper, her tiny characters neatly arranged. Before leaving the test room, she washed up again, and when she walked out, she was still clean and refreshed, even a little paler than when she arrived.
I'm hungry.
There weren't many family members waiting for the candidates outside the examination hall, since most of them were from other provinces who had come to the capital to take the exam. But Shen Li spotted the Gu family's carriage early on.
After exchanging a few polite words with the people around her, she walked to the carriage, where Lianqiao and Shaoyao helped her into the carriage.
“Miss, you’ve lost weight.” Peony’s eyes were red as she looked at Shen Li.
Her young lady had never suffered such hardship before. What was the difference between the examination cells and prison cells?
"It's alright, you'll make up for it in a couple of meals," Shen Li reassured her, patting her head.
She was genuinely taken aback when she lifted the carriage curtain. Inside, there was not only Gu Chang'an, who should have been at the Ministry of Revenue or the Court of Judicial Review at this time, but also a low table with hot food on it, filling the entire carriage with a delicious aroma.
Moreover, there was a food box next to Gu Chang'an, which looked like it contained vegetables.
"Are you hungry? Have something to eat on the way, and then have a proper meal when you get home." Gu Chang'an noticed that her expression was similar to Shaoyao's, both filled with heartache.
Her Ah Li had never suffered like this before.
Shen Li instinctively widened her eyes, but before she could speak, Gu Chang'an had already picked up the small basin beside him and placed it in front of her: "Ah Li, wash your hands before you eat."
He knew she was a clean person, so he had prepared something in the car beforehand.
Shen Li was deeply moved. While washing her hands, she said, "If I were the only one in my family who could take the imperial examination, I would never abandon my first wife to find a gigolo after I have become rich."
As she spoke, she realized something was amiss; it seemed difficult to find a more handsome young man than Gu Chang'an.
If she hadn't said anything, this husband who had shared hardship with his wife might not be representative.
"Thank you for not abandoning me, my wife. I will serve you well in the future." Gu Chang'an put down the basin after she washed her hands, took a cotton cloth to dry her hands, and smiled indulgently as he played along with her act.
It was rare for Shen Li to hear him express his true feelings in such a relaxed manner. After her barrage of words, he relaxed as well. Gu Chang'an's eyes and brows were full of affection, making him incredibly alluring.
"It's not a problem to eat you first." She sniffed and suddenly felt less hungry.
"Ah Li, stop making a fuss and eat while it's hot." Gu Chang'an helped her sit down, handed her chopsticks, and started serving her food.
"Then let's eat first." Shen Li was a little regretful, but looking at the dishes, she quickly became hungry and began to eat heartily.
She's been eating only dry food and drinking water for the past few days; she's practically starved to death. It's only her strong willpower that has kept her going and giving her the energy she needs.
However, she felt that with the indulgence of this life, her willpower had obviously weakened, but she didn't care much and wanted to be more willful without harming others.
"Delicious, delicious," Shen Li praised as she ate.
She eats quickly, but it doesn't look like she's eating fast; her mouth isn't opened very wide or stuffed too full—everything is within reasonable limits.
Gu Chang'an wanted to advise her to slow down, but realized it was unnecessary; his Ah Li's good manners were ingrained in her bones.
A meal was prepared at the manor, but Shen Li was already full when she returned home. In addition to the food, Gu Chang'an also prepared hot water so that she could take a comfortable hot bath.
"Miss, the master has made such a thoughtful preparation. I have never seen or heard of a man treating his wife so well," said Peony while serving her.
Lian Qiao nodded in agreement: "Yes, Chun Sheng said that the master hasn't been sleeping well these past few days, and he's been restless all day except when he's handling official business."
Shen Li lay on the edge of the wooden tub with her eyes closed, and said upon hearing this, "The lord you speak of only looks smart, but is actually incredibly stupid. He only cares about others and never takes care of himself."
She felt quite helpless about this; she had lost weight, and so had he.
How could a person starve themselves to that extent in just three days?
"But it's all worth it, Miss. She's so amazing!" Remembering this, Peony asked, "How did Miss do on the exam?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Li realized that she had been taking important exams for three days, and Gu Chang'an hadn't asked her about them at all.
"At an average level, probably not bad," she replied.
She was well-versed in the Four Books from a young age, and among the Five Classics, she chose the Book of Poetry, which she was good at, so there shouldn't be any major mistakes.
"I wonder when the results will be released this year." Peony was getting impatient: "I really want to see them now."
"The results should be available within half a month." Shen Li relaxed after finishing the exam: "There aren't many candidates this year, so the results should be released in about ten days."
The low number of test takers is due to the oppressive policies of recent years and the heavy taxes imposed by war, which have made it impossible for ordinary people to even afford to send their children to school.
The previous dynasty of the Great Zhao dynasty declined because of this, and things only improved after the tax system was reformed.
In this life, with Gu Chang'an's promotion, the tax system will likely be reformed earlier than in the previous life, and the burden on the people will be lightened, allowing them to recuperate and thrive.
"What would you like to do in the next ten days, Miss?" Lian Qiao asked.
"Get some rest and focus on the palace examination." Shen Li had already planned this out.
The palace examination tested policy essays, an area where she was somewhat weak, so she needed to put in some extra effort at the end.
“Miss, you must be tired.” Peony felt sorry for her when she heard that she had to study again: “With your background, you have everything you need since birth, why bother competing with them?”
“Only someone like me, with my background, can barely compete,” Shen Li said earnestly. “Only if I carve out a way out will my sisters from less privileged backgrounds have a chance.”
She belongs to the privileged class, so since she has privileges, she can't waste them; she must use them wisely.
After the imperial examination, Shen Li only went home once, but she only saw her mother and not her father. Her father was still in the Ministry of Rites reviewing the candidates' papers. Fortunately, he had someone make a copy before reviewing them, otherwise her handwriting would have been recognized at a glance.
Her mother instructed her to prepare well for the palace examination and forbade Shen Yue from causing trouble at the Gu family. Shen Li readily agreed and then diligently studied the policy essays at home.