Peaceful Farm Life

Ye Zhi didn’t really take it to heart, and instead laughed: "Let’s buy more, there are so many people at home, and we just made fifty thousand taels today, we can eat braised pig trotters many times."

"You decide, I have no objections~" Gong Juechen said with a cheeky smile to Ye Zhi while protecting her from being bumped by passersby.

Ye Zhi was already used to Gong Juechen protecting her like this, and she didn’t think much of it, but she still instinctively tightened the hand that was interlaced with Gong Juechen’s fingers.

They both had white hair now, yet he still protected her and spoiled her like this, it was really nice.

...

With Gong Juechen’s prescription, the toxins in Taoming Ye’s body were somewhat suppressed, and he appeared a bit healthier, but compared to a normal person, he still looked sickly.

After another month of medication, Taoming Ye’s complexion didn’t improve anymore, it felt as if the medicine wasn’t working.

Taoming Ye tried stopping the medicine for a few days, but who knew, once he stopped, his body returned to its previous state, after walking a few steps his face would turn as pale as a ghost, so Taoming Ye continued taking the medication.

At least with the medicine, his complexion was much better, and his body felt lighter than before.

Time flew by, and it was almost New Year.

Su Xing and Taoming Ye returned to the Tao family on the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, and when Tao Chengyin and Tao Mingsheng saw Taoming Ye looking a bit better, they were very happy. Mrs. Cao, Taoming Hai, and Wan Banyan were not happy at all, but they did not show it on their faces.

In fact, Mrs. Cao even thought about poisoning Taoming Ye. But because Su Xing kept a close eye on Taoming Ye, she couldn’t place anyone in Taoming Ye’s courtyard, so the poisoning plan was never carried out.

After New Year, on the 16th day of the first lunar month, Su Xing took Taoming Ye to the Huo family in preparation for this year’s provincial exam.

On February 27, for the provincial exam registration, Taoming Ye accompanied Su Xing to register, encountering the same government officer from last year.

Upon seeing Su Xing, the officer laughed: "Indeed a tiger father breeds no dogs, Miss Huo, you took first place last year, I hope you take first again this year."

"Thank you for your kind words." Su Xing exchanged a few more words with the officer before heading home with Taoming Ye.

Taoming Ye’s body could handle a bit of travel now, but couldn’t endure long trips. The carriage had to stop several times on the way back to the Huo Mansion, and eventually, Taoming Ye and Su Xing returned to the Huo Mansion.

The provincial exam would take place in mid-June, and Su Xing was training even harder than last year. This time she was aiming for the Emperor to make an exception and declare her as the Martial Champion!

As the exam date approached, Su Xing grew less nervous, but Tao Chengyin became more anxious, almost every day after returning from the Ministry of Revenue, he would stop by the Huo Mansion to check on Su Xing and ask about her preparations.

The day before the exam, Tao Chengyin happened to have a day off, he hadn’t been sleeping well recently, so he came directly to the Huo Mansion, pacing back and forth anxiously all day long.

Su Xing found it amusing.

Seeing Tao Chengyin so tense, Taoming Ye said: "Father, you should go back. Second Brother is also taking the provincial exam; it’s not good for you to be here like this."

Tao Chengyin replied: "What’s bad about it, Xin’er’s exam is way more important, I’ll take care of Xin’er first. I told him about it last time, he understands now, there’s nothing bad about it."

Taoming Ye said nothing more.

Tao Chengyin continued: "Your second brother can be reckless sometimes, but you are brothers after all. If your wife is flying high someday, don’t forget to help your second brother."