Although Zhou Nong Yun felt something was a bit off with Yan Jin, Yan Jin’s expression management was good. Zhou Nong Yun stared but couldn’t see any clues from her expression, so she scratched her head and put the matter out of her mind.

Because she had talked with Zhou Nong Yun beforehand and dispelled her “good intentions”, dinner that night was harmonious.

Before bed, Yu Shu even whispered to Yan Jin, “How rare, I didn’t expect Zhou Nong Yun really didn’t plan to send you any men.”

Yan Jin, who was hiding her accomplishments, patted Yu Shu’s head, “You can rest assured now, right?”

“I’m at ease now.” Yu Shu buried his head in Yan Jin’s embrace, rubbing against her stickily, “Xiao Xiao, you have to only like me alone from now on too.”

Yan Jin let out a low “Mm”, hugging Yu Shu as they fell into a deep sleep.

Time flowed like water. While Yu Shu was nurturing the fetus, it was time for the provincial exam.

The provincial exam was held in the third lunar month of the year after the county exam. Because it took place in spring, it was also called the “Spring Exam”.①

The provincial exam was conducted in three rounds. Unlike the county exam, each round of the provincial exam lasted three days, so candidates had to bring sufficient food and oil lamps.

Even though Yu Shu had already accompanied Yan Jin through four exams, this time, Yu Shu was still worried Yan Jin wouldn’t eat well during the exam. Despite his growing belly, he busied himself preparing things for Yan Jin.

On exam day, Yan Jin wanted to go to the exam site alone, but Yu Shu couldn’t rest easy and insisted on going with her.

“I’ve taken the exams several times and am familiar with the process. Yuan Yuan, you don’t need to watch me go in. Hurry back home to rest now.”

The wind in March still carried a hint of chill. Yan Jin adjusted Yu Shu’s cloak for him and gently reassured, “While I’m gone these three days, have Xiao Liu make whatever you want to eat.”

After Yu Shu’s belly started showing, Yan Jin hired a pair of siblings in their thirties from a labor broker to help manage matters big and small at home.

Xiao Liu was the brother of the siblings, an attentive person and a good cook.

Yu Shu, who had just started tasting his cooking, was still worried that his culinary skills, which he prided himself on, would be surpassed by Xiao Liu. Would he no longer be able to capture Yan Jin’s stomach after that?

It was only after Yan Jin noticed his unease and spent a good while holding back laughter to reassure him that Yu Shu’s unease was dispelled.

Yu Shu shook his head lightly, “I still can’t rest easy.”

“I have Xiao Qi guarding me here.” Yan Jin said softly, “Yuan Yuan, don’t worry.”

Xiao Qi was the sister of the siblings, tall and strong, with some martial arts skills.

Seeing the reluctant parting of the young couple, Xiao Liu and Xiao Qi exchanged a glance.

Xiao Liu, also a man, opened his mouth to persuade, “Young Master, you are heavy with child now. If you stay outside, it will only make the Young Mistress worry about you and unable to focus on the exam.”

“Xiao Liu is right.” Yan Jin tidied Yu Shu’s messy hair by his forehead, “Yuan Yuan, you go back first. Don’t make me worry, be good.”

[Pay attention to the expression of the long-faced scholar on the left, another innocent bystander blinded by the stickiness of these two.] [Haha, every time Yan Jin takes an exam, Yu Shu worries so much he almost wants to follow her in.] [This is the first time they’ve been apart for so long, right? I wonder if Yu Shu will hide under the covers and secretly shed tears.]

Yu Shu also knew that Yan Jin was about to go in for the exam, and him going home now was the best way to let her take the exam with peace of mind.

But since they transmigrated, the two had never been apart for such a long time. Plus with the pregnancy, Yu Shu’s dependence on Yan Jin was increasing day by day.

If possible, Yu Shu really wanted to turn into Yan Jin’s hair ribbon and accompany her into the exam room.

But Yu Shu could only think about it. After being sticky with Yan Jin for a while longer, he reluctantly boarded the carriage home, looking back with every step.

Even though Yan Jin had taken several exams before, when she entered the cubicle and saw the familiar and narrow space, she still couldn’t help but sigh.

Although the provincial exam was only one step away from the palace exam, the cubicle space had not expanded accordingly.

The size of the cubicle could still only fit a table, about the same size as a modern toilet stall.②

Even though Yan Jin liked to stay at home when she had nothing to do, it didn’t mean she could stay in the pigeon cage-like cubicle for three days without any ripples in her heart.

Every time Yan Jin took an exam before, she particularly missed the vast outdoors. After Yan Jin finished the exams and rested fully, she would always take Yu Shu out to play for a few days.

Ninety-nine steps had been taken, the last step made no difference.

The questions in this provincial exam were not only more numerous than the previous exams, but also very detailed. Several questions required an intimate knowledge of the article to be able to answer based on the context.

For Yan Jin, who had a photographic memory, these questions that tested memory were giveaways. But Yan Jin didn’t dare to be careless this time, and was even more cautious than before. She wrote on the draft paper first before copying it onto the answer sheet.

Yan Jin’s handwriting was learned from Yu Shu. Although she hadn’t studied for long, she had already formed her personal style. The characters soared like phoenixes, the brushstrokes dynamic, yet exuding a grandeur.

[Although I can’t tell if Yan Jin’s answers are good or bad, seeing the characters on the paper, Yan Jin’s appearance score is secured.] [My handwriting hides your shadow, does it count as you taking the exam with me? Ah, the secretly dug out candy is hard but sweet!]

[Is this candy hard? No? Real candy, not hard at all!]

From dawn to dusk, repeating in cycles, six days passed in a flash and the provincial exam came to a close.

Even though this time, Yan Jin intentionally balanced work and rest, when she came out of the exam site, her eyes still carried a hint of fatigue.

Yu Shu, who was waiting outside the exam site, saw Yan Jin come out. Ignoring Xiao Liu’s advice of “Young Master, be careful” beside him, he hurriedly went up to her with heartache, “Xiao Xiao.”

Yu Shu had a bellyful of questions like “Xiao Xiao, did you not sleep well inside, you have dark circles”.

But seeing Yan Jin with faint dark circles under her eyes, Yu Shu swallowed back the questions and put on a smile, “Xiao Xiao, let’s go home.”

Yan Jin took Yu Shu’s hand and nodded slightly.

After getting on the carriage, Yu Shu talked animatedly, telling jokes he heard these past few days, wanting to let Yan Jin relax her mind a bit.

But as he talked, Yu Shu felt his shoulder grow heavy. His eyelashes fluttered, and he continued telling jokes.

When he noticed the breathing by his ear gradually becoming steady and long, Yu Shu slowly turned his head and reverently planted a kiss on the cheek of Yan Jin, who had fallen asleep from exhaustion, “You will always be the champion in my heart.”

①②Still information I found online, not original.