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Lin Yuejuan, on the other hand, felt quite the opposite.

Since that incident, she developed a dislike for the girl.

The fear of her husband being taken away by the Government Official had been too profound; though her husband thought nothing of it, she still had a knot in her heart.

She constantly worried that if the girl couldn’t handle things properly, would her husband really end up in prison?

After all, she never liked noisy and troublesome girls to begin with; she preferred quiet and gentle ones. It was only because the girl was from Brother Changhe’s family that she had shown extra affection. But after that, her feelings simply reverted to her original disinterest.

As for everything else, there was not much to say. Brother Changhe and his wife were kind people and very easy to get along with.

Brother Changhe was amiable and optimistic, getting along very well with her own husband.

During the time they stayed together, the two men were almost inseparable, chatting endlessly whenever they met, each boasting about something or other.

Her husband, usually so stern and proper, couldn’t help but join in the boasting with Brother Changhe.

Brother Changhe’s wife was also a good person, intelligent and perceptive. She knew of her worries about Huihui’s marriage and had comforted her a great deal, even personally assisting her in looking for a suitable match.

The family that Huihui married into was one that Brother Changhe’s wife had helped to examine.

The couple lived harmoniously and happily; only the mother-in-law was somewhat difficult to deal with, but everything else was negotiable.

The son-in-law was reasonable and caring; Huihui suffered no grievances after marrying into their family.

It had been fortunate that she heeded Brother Changhe’s wife’s advice and did not marry her daughter into that first family.

That family was somewhat wealthier, and their son had seemed presentable, but only later did they learn that he was adept in all vices, from eating and drinking to gambling and carousing, a veritable wastrel.

Thankfully, she hadn’t married Huihui off to them.

She was grateful to Brother Changhe’s wife in her heart.

That one time, Brother Changhe’s family came to visit and stayed quite a while before leaving, with plans to visit again.

But life is unpredictable. The next time they were supposed to come, only a weak and pitiable little girl arrived. Brother Changhe, his wife, and their three sons were nowhere to be seen. The girl herself had changed drastically...

Lian Hua felt a sourness in her nose, and with a smile, she softly called out, "Clan Aunt."

After so many years in the palace, she finally saw her relatives, feeling an intense sense of kinship. It was supposed to be a happy occasion, but for some reason, she felt like crying.

Lin Yuejuan’s eyes regained focus, and upon recognizing the person, she wanted to respond but then remembered that the one before her was no longer the person from the past. She was now a Consort in the palace, and their statuses were worlds apart.

She hurriedly lowered her head, intending to pay her respects with a bow she had recently learned. But just as she began to kneel, a pair of strong hands lifted her up.

Lian Hua quickly stepped forward, supporting her, her eyes glistening with tears as she smiled and said, "Clan Aunt, why be so formal? I am Xiao Hua."

She looked up steadily at the person before her, and at the sound of "Xiao Hua," her eyes instantly moistened. She quickly lowered her head to wipe away her tears, hurriedly responding, "Yes, Clan Aunt... Clan Aunt... I’ve come to see you..."

It was Xiao Hua, as affectionate towards her as ever, still their Xiao Hua.

The past was difficult to reminisce. Regardless of whatever reasons made her dislike the girl previously, it couldn’t change the fact that the person before her was their Xiao Hua, their relative, her nominal daughter.

She only remembered how Xiao Hua used to cause trouble and bring problems to the family, but somehow forgot that Xiao Hua’s mischief had always been for their sake.

How could she forget that Xiao Hua was also a warm-hearted girl who would praise her cooking, or knowing her back was bad, would call her brothers to compete in helping her move things?

Upon inadvertently hearing gossip that she could not bear sons, Xiao Hua, along with her second brother, took up for her. They turned the gossiping woman’s house upside down, scaring the chickens, ducks, and geese from returning to their coops, fiercely avenging her.

When the gossiping woman came to their door, Xiao Hua and her brother were punished to kneel, severely chastised by Brother Changhe’s wife but refusing to reveal the reason. Only later did they learn it was for her sake, keeping silent out of fear she would be heartbroken if she heard.

As these memories emerged one by one, tears in her eyes became impossible to wipe away. How could such a good girl come to such a tragic end, losing her entire family?

Inside the Imperial Academy.

After an initial shock, Lian Musu regained her usual demeanor.

At that moment, Shanxue Square was cordoned off by soldiers, and the perimeter thronged with people, men and women, young and old, all sorts, with scholars and commoners alike, including peddlers and porters—a mix of every kind of person.

Some, for a better view, had climbed upon the poles across the street, and there were even those on stilts, whom the soldiers promptly chased down.

The crowd was pushy and noisy, with commoners cursing as they were squeezed, and even scholars, forgetting their decorum, spat insults continuously, fearful of losing their places to the peddlers and porters, pushing back and forth—and, incredibly, there were small traders hawking their wares amidst it all.

There were also many people inside the shops beyond the street, with every second-floor window flung open; the rooms seemed to have been reserved, some still unoccupied.

The moment Lian Musu appeared, the clamorous crowd fell silent, with audible gasps, soon followed by whispered conversations:

"Is this the lame Scholar from Taiyuan Prefecture? He doesn’t look it, is he really crippled?"

"This Scholar is quite handsome, even more so than the rumors suggested, truly a—a—"

"An exceptional talent, and something about facing the wind..."

"Yushu Linfeng!"

"Right, that’s the phrase, this Scholar seems to embody it."

"Brother Wu, is this the Lian Mu from Taiyuan Prefecture that your friend mentioned? The lot in Taiyuan must be blind and heartless!"

"Character speaks of the heart; a demeanor so refined. Just for that, no need for further exams, I am already convinced. No wonder he could discourse with Minister Qin."

"Move aside, move! You’re blocking my view. Oh, a portrait for sale, twenty wen apiece? I’ll take one! Draw a picture of this Scholar quickly, I want to show it to my sister back home."

"What, up to thirty wen now? Profiteer!"

As Lian Musu stepped forward, the crowd got a clear view of the slight limp in his left foot, and a wave of sympathy swept over them, heads shaking and sighs heard all around.

It was such a pity; how could he have a lame foot?

It was like a flawless jade with a blemish—although the flaw didn’t hide the jade’s brilliance, it was still regrettable.

Lian Musu hadn’t expected that simply taking an exam would attract so much attention, truly beyond his expectations.

He glanced around the crowd and saw Wu Sheng squeezed among them. He nodded at Musu, who then felt at ease.

He walked with composure towards the examination shed prepared for him in the center of Shanxue Square, a rudimentary structure supported by four wooden pillars, with just a table and chair underneath, atop which sat a complete set of writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Seated in the chair, one’s every movement could be seen by onlookers from all directions.

Someone was waiting next to the examination shed; when he approached, he stood still in front of the individual, spread his arms, and began to be searched, under the watchful eyes of everyone, to show he wasn’t carrying any concealed materials.

All eyes were on his every move.

At that time, a man with a particularly fierce appearance emerged from the Imperial Academy, walked to the front of the crowd, and shouted, "Silence!"

The chattering crowd immediately became silent; some, caught by a glance, took a frightened step back.