Upon arriving home, Second Madam Ding was seething with anger. Just as Ruan Jiading came out for a drink of water, he saw her in such a state and was quite surprised. "Shujun, what's wrong?"
Second Madam Ding looked at her husband, and tears instantly streamed down her face. Ruan Jiading, of course, was moved by this display and immediately embraced her. "Shujun, tell me everything that's troubling you."
But Second Madam Ding shook her head. "Husband, promise me that this time you must study diligently and pass the exams. Otherwise, not only will I suffer, but even our daughter will be bullied by the clan."
This was a masterful use of subtle persuasion, and Mi Niang admired it greatly. Her mother was illiterate, had never read military strategies, and had never navigated the intrigues of the inner court or household affairs, yet her approach was remarkably astute.
If her mother had rambled on about trivial disputes with her sisters-in-law, her father would likely have dismissed them as insignificant matters, not worth mentioning. He might have offered a few words of comfort, but in his heart, he wouldn’t have taken them seriously. This was how most things in the world worked—unless the knife cut one’s own flesh, the pain would never be felt.
Yet her mother’s demeanor clearly conveyed that she had suffered a great humiliation, though she kept it hidden beneath the surface.
To an outsider, it might seem that Second Madam Ding was acting this way because she felt humiliated on behalf of Ruan Jiading.
Upon hearing this, Ruan Jiading grew furious. "I’ve heard plenty of such idle gossip in the countryside. Those people weren’t even fit to tie my shoes in the past. If not for our family’s decline, why would I be in such a predicament?"
After saying this, he comforted Second Madam Ding. "Don’t worry, I will surely pass the exams."
This time, he was quite confident, and Mi Niang also knew that her father would indeed pass, though his ranking wouldn’t be particularly high.
But this time, Mi Niang wanted her father to achieve a higher rank. After all, a stipendiary scholar was different from an ordinary attached student. She needed to think of a way to make it happen.
While Mi Niang was still pondering how to devise a plan, Eldest Mistress Bin was already at home spreading pessimism.
"Men should be more practical. Dreaming all day about studying for Gongming—it’s not that easy. You know, I truly feel for my Second Sister-in-law Ding. She’s frail and has a young daughter to care for. Honestly, if he took up a job as a clerk, he could earn two taels of silver a month. Why put himself through this hardship?"
Zhou Li also agreed. "In our village, there was once a poor scholar who spent his whole life taking exams but never passed. His entire family lived on coarse food, and his sons and daughters didn’t marry until they were well into their thirties. Unless one is truly gifted, studying only impoverishes the family and makes everyone suffer."
Eldest Mistress Bin slapped her thigh in agreement. "Sister-in-law, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Honestly, our clan isn’t without scholars. Take Ruan Shiyi from Eldest Mistress Gui’s family—he comes from a wealthy background and is still young. I won’t even comment on how he studies."
Her implication was clear: Ruan Jiading would surely fail.
On the table was a plate of red bean glutinous rice cakes. Zhou Furou had already eaten quite a few, with crumbs sticking to the tip of her nose, making her look utterly adorable.
Eldest Mistress Bin took out a handkerchief and lovingly wiped her clean, finding her especially charming. "You little glutton."
"Auntie, Cong’er likes sweet potato cakes. I want to bring some for him tomorrow," Zhou Furou said, thinking of her little friend.
This Cong’er was the only son of the Surveillance Commissioner’s wife, named Zhang Cong. Although Zhou Furou hadn’t been chosen as the bed-rolling child last time, she had met Zhang Cong at Eldest Mistress Gui’s house, and the two children had gotten along very well.
Lady Zhang also took a great liking to her, not only recommending her to the girls' school but also often inviting her to stay for lunch at the Zhang residence.
When Eldest Mistress heard that it was the son of the Inspector who fancied her, she beamed with delight and hurried off to make preparations.
This niece truly has good fortune. Though she didn't become the bed-rolling child, she unexpectedly formed a connection with the Zhang family. Despite Lu Shujun's desperate efforts to have her daughter take Fu Jie'er's place, it was all in vain. It was said that Lady Zhang even secretly looked down on Lu Shujun as a country woman, which led to Granny Hao's displeasure toward Lu Shujun and her daughter.
Eldest Mistress and her eldest sister-in-law, Zhou Li-shi, sneered, "Our Fu Jie'er will rise to great heights in the future. How laughable that Lu Shujun still dreams of making her daughter an official's young lady. I suppose that can only happen in her dreams."
As the county examination drew nearer, the household grew increasingly quiet. Even the spinning wheel was moved by Second Madam Ding into Mi Niang's room.
Fortunately, Mi Niang spent her days playing with the children in the alley, returning home to eat when tired, and her sleep at night remained completely undisturbed.
One morning, Ruan Jiading, unusually, joined Second Madam Ding for breakfast—for no other reason than that Second Madam Ding was pregnant.
Second Madam Ding had always been cautious. Though she had suspected earlier, she waited until she was three months along and had a doctor confirm the pregnancy before announcing it. The first to rejoice, of course, was Ruan Jiading.
Ruan Jiading also reminded Mi Niang, "From now on, you mustn't let your mother carry you anymore. Your mother has a little brother in her belly now, understand?"
Mi Niang pouted, "It's always you and Mother who insist on carrying me." She was a big girl now and didn't want to be carried.
"Alright, alright, husband, don't scold Mi Niang. Mi Niang will always be Mother's good baby," Second Madam Ding said softly.
Only then did Mi Niang feel comforted.
Mother would always be the one who loved her most—that was beyond doubt.
Pulling her thoughts back, although Mi Niang had been reborn, her identity was different now, and she was still young. If she were to say something too outrageous, she might be seen as an oddity.
But she remembered the topic of her father's policy essay. It wasn't that her father had told her; rather, it was something Aunt Yu's son mentioned during a meal, asking her father how he would approach the topic.
"Father, I had a dream yesterday."
Ruan Jiading chuckled, "You dream every day. Yesterday, your mother said you were craving a big chicken leg so much that you drooled in your sleep. Don't worry, once your father passes the xiucai examination, I'll buy one for you."
Mi Niang shook her head, "That's not it. I dreamed of a white-bearded old man whispering something about policy essays in my ear."
Policy essays?
Ruan Jiading and Second Madam Ding, née Lu, exchanged glances. Madam Lu couldn't help but say to Ruan Jiading, "Second Master, children's dreams are often prophetic. When I was pregnant, this little girl kept dreaming of flower carp. Granny Hao interpreted the dream and said I might be pregnant, and sure enough, I was."
It's only natural that when people are under great stress, they sometimes turn to external beliefs for reassurance.
In her previous life as Virtuous Consort, Mi Niang may not have truly believed, but she worshipped Buddha with great devotion.
Besides, these two were her parents, who had always treated her well and would not suspect her.
"Mi Niang, do you remember what the white-bearded old man said?"
Mi Niang frowned, pretending to think deeply. "Father, I don't understand what it meant. It was something like, 'Emperor Wu of Jin conquered Wu by decisive action, while Fu Jian's invasion of Jin ended in defeat due to his stubbornness. Duke Huan of Qi achieved hegemony by relying solely on Guan Zhong, while King Kuai of Yan failed by entrusting everything to Zi Zhi. The actions were similar, yet the outcomes differed.'"
She spoke as if with great difficulty, seeming to recite from memory, yet Ruan Jiading was overjoyed upon hearing it.
He couldn't help but think, could it be that heaven favors me, deliberately using my daughter's words to foretell in advance that this time, the top candidate in the prefectural examination is none other than me?
"Daddy, the white-bearded old grandpa said not to tell anyone, or else… something… will be gone." Mi Niang scratched her head.
Ruan Jiading, as if harboring an enormous secret, quickly said to his daughter, "Good Mi Niang, Daddy understands. Don't worry, if Daddy passes this time, from now on, whatever Mi Niang wants to eat, Daddy will buy it."
But Mi Niang shook her head: "Mi Niang doesn't want to eat anything, just that Daddy listens to the white-bearded old grandpa from now on."
Asking her father to listen to her was unrealistic, but by attributing it to a wise master, they might believe it.
Ruan Jiading's scholarship was not poor to begin with, and he had studied diligently for many years. Even when he interrupted his studies to become a teacher at the community school, he did not neglect his learning. Later, when he entered the academy, he advanced from an Outer Dormitory student to a Middle Dormitory student and then to an Upper Dormitory student in just over two years.
During these days, he had simply been studying diligently, but the knowledge was already well within him.
Now, having heard this policy question, he couldn't help but practice essay writing at home. Previously, he would come out for a drink of water, but now he shut himself in his study all day long. Second Madam Ding would quietly bring meals to his side and then leave.
Ruan Jiading knew that his wife and daughter were not living well, so this time he was determined to give it his all, striving with utmost effort.
Right up until the day of the academy examination, when he entered the examination hall, he felt not the slightest fear. When he encountered the policy question, he was even more ecstatic.
After seeing her husband off, Second Madam Ding, unusually, went out with Granny Hao and Mi Niang. On the street, a sedan chair carried by eight men passed by, surrounded by countless attendants. Granny Hao clicked her tongue in amazement: "The lady sitting inside is so young, about the same age as our mistress! Yet she has such grand pomp, truly impressive."
Such a grand display had already attracted many onlookers. Eldest Mistress Bin was also nearby and overheard Granny Hao's words. She couldn't help but deliberately raise her voice: "This Lady Zhang's husband passed the Jinshi examination at just nineteen, a young talent—truly extraordinary. It's not like some who, after reading a few books of pedantic texts, think they have Gongming. There's a saying, how does it go? 'Do not bully the young for being poor, do not bully the middle-aged for being poor, do not bully the old for being poor.' Some people study their whole lives without ever achieving anything."