Rebirth: From being expelled from the imperial court to becoming a high-ranking official

Zhao Ping has been quite ambitious recently.

Ever since he found out that by helping the clerks he could learn to read and get extra money, he became very motivated.

Just think about it, if I have an extra source of income besides the monthly salary, my family will be a lot more well-off.

If I could become a clerk in the future, I would have even more hope for the future.

He no longer had to worry about grandma's medicine, dad's shoes, mom's clothes, his brothers' toys, and his third brother's books. He was happier than anything else.

That day, Zhao Ping helped to deliver a document to the provincial capital. When he came back, he saw an ox cart parked in front of the government office. Several people were standing in front of the ox cart. The young man in front took a few quick steps and was about to say something to the yamen runner in front of the door.

As I approached, I heard the young man saying, "Sir, I am Qin Shi from Fengle Village, Fuyu County. Official Qin is my uncle. Please help me to inform him."

The yamen runner saw Zhao Ping coming from behind and hurriedly said, "Zhao Ping, come quickly, he said it's your nephew."

Qin Shi turned around and saw Zhao Ping, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "Zhao Ping!"

Zhao Ping also recognized him now and ran over: "Master Shi, you are here. The master has been waiting for a few days. Why are you here so late?"

Although Qin Si was already a juren, few people in the village actually called Qin Shi "Young Master". When he was suddenly called that, Qin Shi's face turned red.

He waved his hands sheepishly: "You should just call me Brother Shi. Please go and tell my uncle."

"No need to report, I'll take you in, why didn't the fourth master send you here?"

"My father found two fellow villagers to come with me." Qin Shi said, turning around and pointing at the two people beside the carriage.

Zhao Ping hesitated for a moment and said, "Since you have come from far away, please ask two fellow villagers to come in together."

Qin Shi breathed a sigh of relief. He also felt that it would be impolite not to invite people in, but this was a government office, and it was not easy to just invite people in.

Zhao Ping walked over and bowed: "Thank you for bringing Master Shi here, please come in with us and have a cup of tea."

The two men had intended to send the person off and leave, but they did not expect to be invited in. They hurriedly responded, "Is it convenient? Would it be a bit presumptuous to go in like this?"

"No, no, the lord will blame me if he knows that a fellow villager sent Master Shi here but didn't invite him in."

After hearing this, the two men didn't bother to be polite anymore and followed Qin Shi and Zhao Ping into the hall.

Qin Yunhe has been waiting for Qin Shi's arrival these days.

The exam was on April 10th, and now it’s already April 1st, but my brother and nephew haven’t come yet.

Qin Yunhe knew that his brother was afraid of disturbing them by coming too early, and he couldn't help but feel anxious for his brother and nephew.

Yu Ru had the guest room cleaned up half a month ago, just waiting for Qin Shi to come.

Zhao Ping first took a few people to the side hall and had someone serve tea before going to the study to find Qin Yunhe.

Qin Yunhe was not very busy today. After finishing his official business, he took out a book to read.

"grown ups."

Qin Yunhe didn't raise his head, but just said: "Well, what's the matter?"

"Master Shi has arrived."

"Did you recognize him?" Qin Yunhe raised his head and asked, "Where is he?"

"Master Shi came with two fellow villagers. Master Si didn't come. I invited them to the side hall for tea."

Qin Yunhe put down the book and stood up, walking out while saying: "Fourth brother is really something, why don't you come with me."

The two men quickly arrived at the side hall. Qin Shi and the other two were drinking tea. When they saw Qin Yunhe come in, they quickly stood up.

"Uncle."

The other two also bowed and said, "I greet Master Qin."

"No need to be so polite, please take a seat, you two have taken the trouble to bring Shier here."

The two men exchanged a few polite words before sitting down.

Qin Yunhe patted Qin Shi on the shoulder and asked him to sit down as well, complaining, "Why didn't your father send you here?"

"Dad said that once we get here, we're at my uncle's house. There's nothing to worry about. Just follow the fellow villagers."

Qin Yunhe laughed: "Your father is relieved. How is your grandmother doing recently?"

"Grandma is doing fine. Aunt Chen gives her acupuncture every day. She is much better now."

Qin Yunhe nodded and felt relieved.

The two fellow villagers who brought Qin Shi here chatted with Qin Yunhe and drank tea in a somewhat reserved manner.

When he had almost finished drinking, he stood up and said goodbye, saying he was going to find an inn.

Qin Yunhe found Zhao Da and asked him to take them to find an inn that was close to the examination hall and had a reasonable price. He then took Qin Shi to the inner house.

"Your aunt cleaned up the house half a month ago and was waiting for you to come. I didn't expect you to come so late."

"My father said that the provincial exam is not a very important exam, so there is no need to come so far in advance. If I take the college exam next year, I will definitely come early."

"How can it not be an important exam? Without the prefectural exam, how can there be a college exam?" Qin Yunhe pushed open the door to the inner house and said, "Let Zhao Ping take you to the exam site tomorrow to get familiar with it."

"Okay, thank you, uncle."

As soon as we arrived at the inner courtyard, Chi'er was playing shuttlecock with Ruyi in the yard.

"Ruyi, look who's here."

Ruyi turned around and said in surprise, "Brother Shi, you are finally here. My parents and I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Qin Yunhe smiled and instructed Chi'er: "Help Master Shi take the bag to the guest room, and tell the kitchen to make two more dishes today."

Chi'er responded and took Qin Shide's bag.

Yu Ru heard the voice in the yard and rushed out of the house holding Qin Ci: "I found my son."

Qin Shi bowed and saluted: "Aunt, I'm here, how are you?"

"I'm fine, come in, I've been waiting for you."

Qin Shi had never seen the two little cousins ​​before. When he saw his aunt holding them, he walked closer to take a look: "Is this a certificate or a poem?"

Yuru smiled and said, "This is a poem. I can't let it go. I have to hold it in my hand to stop crying. Zheng'er is in the room, and the old woman is watching him."

Qin Ci seemed to know that his mother was talking about him, and he narrowed his eyes and smiled at Qin An.

The next day, Zhao Ping was ordered to take Qin Shi to see the examination room.

"Master Shi, that's the examination room," Zhao Ping pointed to the door of the academy and said, "It may not be convenient to go in now, but I've been in before and there's nothing special about it."

The examination venue for this provincial examination is in a college, and already there are guards going in and out to tidy up the place.

Zhao Ping added, "It's not far from our government office. It won't take long to walk here. On the day of the exam, ask the driver to take you there. You'll be there in a short while."

Qin Shi nodded: "Actually, you can just walk here, it's only a few steps away."

"That won't work. If you rush over here, it will inevitably affect the exam. The adults will definitely not let you come over."

Qin Shi nodded again.

The two of them walked around and got familiar with the place before walking back together.

Zhao Ping felt that Qin Shi had been quiet all the time, and guessed that he was probably a little nervous, so he said, "Don't worry, Master Shi. I heard that the number of candidates for the prefectural exam this time is not as large as last year. You will definitely pass it."

After dinner in the evening, Qin Yunhe took Qin Shi to the study to talk again.

"Have you seen the exam room today? How did you feel?"

"It's similar to the examination room for the county exam."

"It's almost the same as the county exam, except there are fewer retests. You did well in the county exam, so you should have no problem taking the prefectural exam. Just do your best when the time comes."

Qin Shi hummed and nodded seriously.