The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 120: The Palace Examination Results Are Announced

Chapter 120: The Palace Examination Results Are Announced

The grand residence, occupying nearly five mu of land,1 took Qiu Huannian and Du Yunse over half an hour to fully tour.

Including the courtyards, the estate was divided into nine major sections. There were over a dozen connecting doors scattered east and west, each leading to different areas; anyone unfamiliar with the layout could easily lose their way.

Qiu Huannian was absolutely enamored with this mansion and had already begun planning in his mind how to assign the courtyards for various uses.

The only downside was that with such a large estate, the few servants they currently had at home were nowhere near enough—just sweeping the grounds alone would take forever.

Moreover, when a house was this large but sparsely populated, it felt empty and desolate, devoid of human warmth—almost like the setting for a horror film.

When the two of them returned to the main hall of the second courtyard, Qiu Huannian sat on a black-lacquered official’s hat chair carved with twining floral motifs. After stretching lazily, he said to Du Yunse, “Looks like we’ll have to buy more people to fill up the estate.”

“Jiujiu is already eleven, and Chunsheng is eight. The children are growing up—let them each choose a small courtyard of their own later. Each courtyard will need a few attendants as well.”

“And then there are the front and rear courtyards… hmm, at least a dozen people.”

Seeing an opportunity, the broker from the official tooth shop2 chuckled from the side. “In fact, Your Highness, the people close to the Crown Prince had already instructed us long ago. We’ve prepared a large group of nimble-fingered individuals with clean backgrounds and good temperaments, ready whenever Lord Qiu and the Ladyship need them.”

Sixteen really was too thoughtful—it left Qiu Huannian feeling helpless yet touched.

Qiu Huannian was about to suggest picking a time to inspect the people later when Du Yunse spoke up first: “Boquan and Xingmi should go to the tooth shop, choose suitable people, and bring them back. Then, with another sum of money, purchase what’s lacking and set everything in order. Once that’s done, we’ll move in.”

Qiu Huannian froze for a moment before realizing that Du Yunse intended to cultivate Boquan and Xingmi’s ability to handle affairs.

Both Boquan and Xingmi were naturally intelligent; back at their former masters’ households, they had gained some experience. Since following Du Yunse and Qiu Huannian, they had grown even more—studying diligently under Qiu Huannian’s guidance while receiving practical instruction from Du Yunse.

Handling the tasks of selecting servants and purchasing household supplies was indeed suitable to entrust to them—it would hone their abilities and also lighten their masters’ load.

Qiu Huannian smiled. “Then let Boquan and Xingmi go. First make a detailed list of what needs to be bought, then bring it to me for the funds.”

Boquan and Xingmi were both inwardly delighted. Their previous masters’ ranks had been higher than their current ones, but they knew well how much potential their current masters possessed.

In less than half a year since joining them, these masters had already gone from Xiangping Prefecture to the capital, acquired such a fine estate, and after the palace examination, once Lord Du attained the jinshi degree and an official post, things would become even more extraordinary.

Seizing the advantage of being early followers and entrusted with important duties—what could be better?

Qiu Huannian still wanted to stroll around the estate, while Boquan and Xingmi followed the broker to begin their errands.

As they passed through the covered walkway to the front courtyard, Xingmi nudged Boquan with his elbow. “Hey, aren’t you afraid the newcomers will replace us?”

Boquan glanced at him but said nothing.

Unwilling to let it go, Xingmi teased, “The lord and lady let us handle errands together. If you ignore me, I’ll complain to them!”

Boquan had no choice but to reply, “The Lady likes you—he won’t replace you.”

Satisfied, Xingmi grinned smugly. “Since you know how to flatter me, if the lord ever wants to dismiss you, I’ll put in a good word. The lord only listens to the Lady anyway.”

…

Boquan was steady; Xingmi was quick-witted. The two worked efficiently, finishing the selection of people and tidying up the second courtyard’s main residence within three to four days.

The other courtyards would wait until the whole family moved in.

Conveniently, the rental term for their house near the examination compound was nearly up. Qiu Huannian and Du Yunse decided to move directly into the new estate.

When they told Wang Yinzhi and Deng Die about this, the couple was utterly stunned.

Having spent nearly a month in the capital, they naturally understood what kind of place Nanxun Ward was—and how astronomical property prices there were.

Deng Die clutched her chest dramatically. “As expected of the Lord of Qishu Township!”3

Qiu Huannian smiled. “It’s close to the Imperial City, spacious too. It would be a waste not to live there. Come with us.”

Unable to refuse, Wang Yinzhi and Deng Die were promptly swept along.

A few days later, when they returned to the estate, Boquan and Xingmi had already supplemented the missing furniture and arranged all living necessities. The main courtyard now exuded the warmth of daily life.

The new servants numbered sixteen, comprising four families. Considering the workload, none were too old or too young—ages ranged from teenagers to those in their forties, including six men, six women, and four “ge’er.”4

Some lodged in the rear courtyard’s row houses, others in the inverted wing rooms of the front courtyard.

For convenience, they referred to the first courtyard as the front yard and the second as the inner yard.

Deng Die and Wang Yinzhi stayed in the eastern wing of the front yard, while Qiu Huannian and Du Yunse, as heads of the household, naturally occupied the main hall of the inner yard.

The main hall had been fitted with a heated wall, and rather than a kang bed-stove, there stood a finely crafted six-post canopy bed.

This canopy bed, a classic of traditional Chinese furniture, had upright posts supporting a canopy above, surrounded by openwork railings over a foot high. The front featured a doorway design resembling a moon gate—an oval shape carved with motifs of cranes and auspicious clouds.

The bed was about one and a half meters wide, its frame consisting of two layers: the lower woven with palm rope, the upper with rattan skin—sturdy yet springy. Pressing down on it with both hands, Qiu Huannian nodded in satisfaction.

The advantage of kang beds was their warmth in winter and coolness in summer, but they were too hard; even with thick bedding, they could be uncomfortable. The springiness of this bed’s frame was just right.

All the bedding, pillows, and silk curtains were newly purchased. Among the new servants was an uncle skilled in cooking; after asking around, Qiu Huannian appointed him, along with two helpers, to manage the kitchen.

Boquan set off firecrackers at the main gate. Qiu Huannian and Du Yunse offered sacrifices to the Kitchen God and the Earth Deity, and everyone sat at several tables to share a housewarming feast—thus officially moving in.

At this time, the palace examination had concluded, but the Apricot List5 had yet to be announced. Thousands of examinees gathered in the capital, inevitably engaging in social visits.

Du Yunse himself had friends in the capital, and as Liaozhou’s top scorer and disciple of the eminent scholar Wen Huiyang, he attracted many who wished to befriend him. He was constantly busy attending invitations.

Qiu Huannian was no less occupied. With spring arriving and the climate warming, the farmland around the capital needed planning for cultivation.

He intended to designate the sixty mu estate farther from the capital as the “base camp,” producing fruits, vegetables, and meats for their family’s consumption, planting profitable crops, opening workshops for goods production, and building a residence there for occasional retreats.

The thirty mu of land near the imperial farm by the city gates would serve as “experimental fields,” leveraging the imperial farm’s manpower and resources to attempt various trials and experiments that might or might not succeed.

When Qiu Huannian returned to inspect the land near the imperial farm, officials from the Ministry of Revenue stationed there came to find him.

It turned out Emperor Yuanhua had earlier ordered them to inquire about sugar-producing beets. Learning that Qiu Huannian would accompany Du Yunse to the capital for the examinations, they waited in the city to avoid missing him.

After all, this entire tract of land belonged to the Lord of Qishu Township—they were confident he would come eventually.

Previously, Qiu Huannian had been “abducted” by the Crown Prince upon arrival; this time, the Revenue officials finally had their chance.

The leading official’s surname was Tian, personal name Ji. Having passed only the provincial examination, he was recruited into the ministry due to his agricultural expertise and happened to fill a vacancy, managing cultivation affairs at the imperial farm outside the capital.

Although technically lower than ninth rank and unofficial, serving in the capital in a familiar field already satisfied Tian Ji immensely.

Speaking with him, Qiu Huannian quickly realized Tian Ji truly understood farming—not one of those officials who merely barked orders.

“Lord of Qishu Township,” Tian Ji asked, “in your memorial to His Majesty, you claimed that properly cultivated sugar beets can yield sugar like sugarcane—could this really be true?”

Qiu Huannian smiled. “Of course it’s true; I could hardly afford to commit lese-majesty.”

Startled, Tian Ji quickly waved his hands. “That’s not what I meant. I simply never imagined beets could be cultivated to such an extent. If that’s the case, couldn’t the same apply to other grains and vegetables?”

Qiu Huannian’s expression brightened—like seeing a promising student. “Lord Tian has touched on the crucial point. Indeed.”

“You must know the principle of good seed stock: crops from abundant harvests produce seeds that sprout more easily. This principle applies universally. By finding the right methods, not only can we cultivate for higher yields, but we can also use environmental factors to induce other variations. After several generations, once stabilized, these traits can give rise to entirely new seeds.”

Qiu Huannian’s terminology was somewhat peculiar, but within context, Tian Ji understood. He merely assumed it was a habitual dialect and paid it no mind.

—Who would bother nitpicking the words of a township lord favored by the emperor?

Besides, it wasn’t the phrasing but the information itself that left Tian Ji shaken.

He certainly knew where good seed came from; one function of the imperial farm was cultivating such varieties. But he had never thought deeper—to apply these methods to everything.

Wheat with fuller ears, fruits sweeter in flavor, corn with longer cobs… Tian Ji’s heart pounded as he suddenly felt everything was worth trying.

Qiu Huannian was pleased to see this reaction.

In his previous life, he had not been a trained agricultural scientist and lacked any miraculous “golden finger.” He could only speak in generalities; real success required tapping into ancient wisdom and recruiting capable minds.

The principle of “strength in numbers” was timeless.

Upon hearing that sugar beets had already undergone two rounds of selection in Liaozhou and were successfully producing sweeter roots, Tian Ji eagerly asked for details.

Qiu Huannian simply directed him to Wei Mai, younger brother of Wei Liuhua, who oversaw the beet breeding. Consulting him would be easier.

Tian Ji immediately planned to report upward and petition for Wei Mai’s transfer to the capital—should this succeed, it would bring great fortune to the Wei family.

This time, Qiu Huannian did not meet the Crown Prince or Sixteen, but staff from the imperial farm came to help measure and plan the land. Qiu Huannian selected two and a half mu to build a residence, finalized the general design, paid the funds, and left the rest to them. The imperial farm’s manpower was too convenient to waste.

Tenant farmers were no issue either; the thirty mu already had tenants assigned, who were simply reallocated from the imperial farm.

He also reserved one and a half mu for tenant housing. With the contracts of over twenty tenants in hand, the manor was established in less than a day.

Returning home, Qiu Huannian sighed to Du Yunse, “Having been used to doing everything personally, I’m starting to enjoy this feeling of solving matters with just words and ideas.”

What to do? At this rate, his title of “King of Hard Work” might not survive!

Du Yunse pinched Qiu Huannian’s slightly thinner chin.

“What will Hua-ge’er6 do tomorrow?”

“Not sure yet. There are still several matters: inspecting the manor house at the big estate, planning this year’s crops, teaching the tenants how to propagate fruit trees; coordinating with Tian Ji about plantings at the experimental fields; preparing renovations for the West Market shop even if it can’t open yet; and researching supply chains for raw materials for Qiu Ji’s Six Delicacies in the capital…”

“Uh…”

Qiu Huannian blinked. Fine, he had been overthinking earlier—he was still the same unrivaled workaholic.

“I’ll help Hua-ge’er decide what to do tomorrow.”

“Oh?”

“The apricot blossoms at the Cun Jin Courtyard are in full bloom. The new staircase is finished. Boquan even found excellent apricot wine. Tomorrow, stay home and drink a few cups with me.”

Du Yunse kissed his brow. The refined gentleman smiled softly as he gazed down at his little spouse, long lashes fluttering against jade-like cheeks.

Invited by such a beauty, Qiu Huannian promptly postponed his long to-do list and happily gave himself a day off.

When inspiration struck, he often worked until forgetting himself. Thankfully, Du Yunse always reminded him to balance work and rest.

The study tower in the Cun Jin Courtyard faced east to west, intricately designed. When its second-floor windows opened, a branch of apricot blossoms eagerly reached inside, filling the room with delicate fragrance.

Seated opposite each other on a low couch, Du Yunse and Qiu Huannian placed a small square table between them, with clear wine and a few dishes of snacks atop it.

Du Yunse lifted the pot and poured Qiu Huannian a cup. The wine set—green with ice-crackle glaze—was a gift once received through Guan Liu’s debt-collecting; dainty and exquisite, perfect for appreciating in hand.

Qiu Huannian plucked an apricot blossom and let it drift atop the wine, a faint pink amidst the sea of green.

His body, nursed for two to three years, was much improved now; a few light drinks would do no harm. After the palace examination concluded and they returned home, he planned to consult Old Doctor Gu again for a new prescription.

By noon, the warm sun dispelled the lingering chill of early spring. Apricot blossoms unfurled their pink-white petals beneath the light.

Qiu Huannian, poor in alcohol tolerance, grew lightly tipsy after a few cups. Resting his head on his arm at the window, he smiled faintly as the breeze carried floral fragrance.

Du Yunse rose to drape a cloak over him, imprinting the beautiful scene deep in his memory.

…

By late February, the apricot blossoms were in full bloom, and the day of the palace examination results drew near.

The chief examiner presented the top ten papers to the emperor, who personally determined their ranking.

When the results were finally announced—coinciding with the first day of the third lunar month—the skies were clear, flowers abounded, and most people in the capital had already changed into lighter clothing.

Not wanting to miss such excitement, Qiu Huannian eagerly dragged Du Yunse to witness the posting. Du Yunse had no choice but to arrange numerous guards to protect him from being jostled. Deng Die and Wang Yinzhi decided to see the list on their own.

By the hour of Chen (around 7–9 a.m.), the gate of the examination compound was already packed with people, throngs coming to see the Apricot List. After great effort, Qiu Huannian’s group still could not squeeze through and instead spent heavily to book a private room at a teahouse opposite the compound.

Soldiers from the Ministry of War guarded the gates to prevent early leaks, while officials of the Ministry of Rites pasted the prepared list sheet by sheet, sealing the seams and margins with the ministry’s stamp.

By the hour of Si (around 9–11 a.m.), the great bell at the gate tolled ten times. Soldiers and officials withdrew in order, and a minor clerk shouted loudly:

“The grand results of the twenty-third year of Yuanhua’s reign—Capital Palace Examination—are now unveiled!”

As his voice fell, amidst the sonorous tolling, countless people surged toward the freshly posted list.

Qiu Huannian regretted that this era lacked telescopes and sent Boquan down at once.

“Start from the top—don’t waste time on the bottom!”

Boquan responded, “Rest assured, Ladyship. Our lord’s name will definitely be at the very top!”

Footnotes

1. 1. Mu (畝) – A traditional Chinese unit of area; one mu ≈ 666.7 square meters (~0.165 acre). ↩

1. 1. Official tooth shop (官牙) – Government-regulated broker offices in ancient China, often handling laborers, servants, and some property transactions. ↩

1. 1. Lord of Qishu Township (齊黍鄉君) – A noble title granted to Qiu Huannian. “Township lord” or “lady” was a minor noble rank, often used as honorific. ↩

1. 1. Ge’er (哥兒) – A male with delicate appearance or gentle temperament, sometimes associated with effeminate or “scholarly” qualities; in historical fiction, often distinct from regular men or women. ↩

1. 1. Apricot List (杏榜) – The list of successful candidates in imperial examinations; named after apricot blossoms, symbolizing scholarly success. ↩

1. 1. Hua-ge’er (華哥兒) – “Brother Hua,” an intimate affectionate nickname; “ge’er” here conveys closeness rather than strict sibling meaning. ↩