All Hail Cousin Brother

301 Palace Examination Questions

After receiving Eldest Miss’s name, the three maidservants also knelt down and thanked her.

The little girl, who had just entered the residence, had to be taught the rules for a few days first. Once her character was molded and there were no problems, she would then go to her master’s house to serve her.

After seeing her, Yu Youyao returned to the house, sat down on a chair, and climbed onto the table.

Nanny Xu arranged for a few maidservants to learn the rules before returning to the house. She saw Yu Youyao crawling on the table, staring blankly at the smoke in the incense burner.

“Are you unhappy?” Nanny Xu poured a cup of tea and handed it over.

Yu Youyao took the teacup but did not drink it. “Nanny, have you seen Hong Yu in Grandmother’s house? She’s very beautiful. She’s the same age as Qin Xin this year and usually does some needlework. Grandmother treats her as a half sister. Many sachets, small clothes, shoes, and socks in my house are made by Hong Yu.”

Nanny Xu understood immediately.

Old Madam raised Hong Yu and kept her by her side to teach her. In the future, when Yu Youyao was close to her, Hong Yu would be sent to serve her.

After working together for a few years and building a relationship, when it was time to get married, this girl would accompany her.

She was good-looking and had been raised in the same residence since she was young. Such a maidservant was easy to control and was loyal to her master. She was also good at pleasing men. After becoming a concubine, she could help the mistress stabilize her position. She could even fight with the other concubines. In the future, when she was pregnant, she would carry on being a concubine. This child would also help the legitimate son.

No matter which family it was, they had such a maidservant.

Although the families wouldn’t make a big move, they wouldn’t hide it. Those who were a little older would understand what it meant.

When Yu Youyao saw Qin Xin, she understood what she was thinking.

Yu Youyao pouted. “I’m only a little old. I’m not engaged or married, but I have to help someone’s husband raise a concubine in the future. Nanny, I don’t like this.”

It was indeed a little inappropriate for a young lady to say such things, but Nanny Xu did not stop her—

“No one likes this. However, after marrying someone, as a daughter-in-law, you have to be filial to the elders in the family.”

“As a wife, you have to help your husband spread his roots and solve his problems. You have to manage the inner residence.”

“As the mistress, you have to manage the household and prosper the family.”

“As a woman, you should still focus on your own cultivation and take care of your dowry. This is your true confidence in establishing your family.”

“As the first wife, you should also raise your children and settle down in the inner residence.”

“What’s more, you have to be responsible for everything from the big issues to befriending others outside to the small events.

“All of this is your duty. However, in fact, once you marry someone, there’s far more you have to do. This way, you won’t have to spend too much time with your husband. No matter how deep the relationship between husband and wife is, it will be worn down by your responsibility as the first wife.”

Yu Youyao’s head went numb. “So, instead of letting those other little vixens with ulterior motives seduce him, it’s better for me to take the initiative to arrange them for him. At the very least, I don’t have to worry that the people around me will be disloyal to me.”

Nanny Xu’s rejection was written all over her face. She sighed softly. “Any young miss from a wealthy family has to go through this too.”

Yu Youyao suddenly thought of the Xie family. “My maternal family won’t be like this. The Xie family has a rule that we don’t take concubines.”

Nanny Xu felt that it was a little unorthodox for Yu Youyao to have such thoughts, but she did not stop her. “A family with such rules as the Xie Residence doesn’t exist in the capital. There are still very few families with such rules as the Yu Residence.”

With Old Madam’s doting on Yu Youyao, she wouldn’t marry that far away in the future. Furthermore, with her current reputation and upbringing, she would definitely marry into a noble family in the future and become the wife and eldest daughter-in-law.

Her future was glorious, but only those who had walked such a path knew how difficult it was.

Yu Youyao pursed her lips and did not say anything else.

She was only a little older, so she shouldn’t have mentioned such outrageous words.

Nanny Xu stroked her head again. “If you don’t like it, don’t force yourself. Other than looking outstanding, Qin Xin is also an efficient and capable person. Just take her as an ordinary maidservant.”

Yu Youyao was unwilling, so she forced herself to do it. If she separated from Qin Xin, no matter how many schemes she had, it would not work.

There was still a long way to go in the future. How could she let her suffer first because of this? She wouldn’t even have a good time. It was better to let nature take its course!

Only then did Yu Youyao smile and throw herself into Nanny Xu’s arms. “Thank you, Nanny!”

Nanny Xu gently touched the wooden osmanthus incense bead necklace on her neck. It was not impossible to spend more effort and teach her some principles and methods.

This matter ended here.

At dusk, the palace examination ended.

At seven o’clock, the sky turned completely dark!

The carriage in the residence had just brought Yu Shande and the others back to the residence. After taking the examination for an entire day, the few of them were helped out of the carriage by a servant. They were exhausted.

Yu Youyao quickly got someone to bring over the medicinal cuisine.

The few of them used a small bowl of medicinal cuisine to calm themselves down. Then, they asked the servant to help them into the “Jiang Zhi Courtyard” in the front courtyard to wash up. After that, they ate some light food and fell asleep.

The next day, Yu Shande and the others slept for a night and were much more energetic. They went to An Shou Hall to greet Old Madam Yu.

After the imperial examination, the entire court was closed for a day. Yu Zongzheng and Yu Zongshen were both at home.

Yu Zongzheng asked, “What question did you get yesterday?”

Yu Shande replied respectfully, “Ways to manage the vassal state.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall instantly turned solemn.

The questions in the palace were all personally set by the emperor. Ever since King You was accused of treason, the entire court had been secretive about the people in the vassal state.

How many undercurrents were hidden in the emperor’s strategy of managing the vassal state?

It was no wonder that Yu Shande and the others had collapsed after the examination. Little did they know that the emperor had set the questions with an agenda, but the candidates were taking the examination with their heads.

Zhou Linghuai lowered his eyes and gently rubbed the wooden osmanthus incense beads on his wrist, blocking the treacherous light in his eyes.

Yu Zongshen pondered for a moment and asked, “Tell me about your answers.”

Yu Shande looked serious. “My answer is to govern farming. By using the wind, soil, and Qi of various places, as well as species that are suitable for farming, I encourage farming and use farming to strengthen soldiers and supplement battles. Youzhou is bitterly cold, and the soil is thin and filled with sand and stones. It should be planted with mulberries, cotton, beans, and other crops…”

Old Madam Yu lowered her eyes and had an idea.

It was neutral and peaceful, but it was also reasonable. It made sense and bypassed the sensitive territorial issues, emphasizing that agriculture was the foundation of everything.

He had answered the question well and was capable.

However, the answer was too conservative and practical. It could only manage matters and not people.

The top scorers were used to govern people.

The second rankers were used to manage matters.