After wandering around the southern part of the city for a while, Yu Shu and the others found the Yunlai Inn recommended by the escort. This inn was slightly old and not as spacious as the place they stayed at in Feng Prefecture. However, considering the price, Yu Shu was taken to the second floor of the back to look at the rooms. In the end, they chose two third-class rooms next to each other and paid five days' rent. Similarly, Yu Xiaoxiu and Jing Chen shared a room, while Yu Shu and Xia Mingming shared a room.
There were two beds in the room and the layout was not particular. Fortunately, the bedding was clean and there was even a summer mat. The window was open on the back street, so it was relatively quiet. This was something that Yu Shu was very satisfied with.
Putting down the luggage, Yu Shu walked to the basin rack to wash her hands. Xia Mingming had been holding back all the way. Seeing that there was no one around, he finally asked, "You are so good at Yi Xue, why don't you take the Dayan examination?" Yu Shu shook off the water droplets on her hands and wiped them with a handkerchief. She turned her head and asked, "Is my Yi Xue good?"
"Of course it's good!" Xia Mingming was a little excited. "You know the Art of Six Lines! I dare say that with this, you will definitely make a name for yourself in the Dayan examination! "
Yu Shu smiled and said, "It's true that I know the Art of Six Lines, but have you ever seen me use it to tell the fortune of others?"
"This …" Xia Mingming thought about it carefully. It seemed that she really had not seen her use the Art of Six Lines to tell the fortune of anyone. Even when Yu Shu was teaching her, she did not use the Art of Six Lines to tell the fortune for her.
But … why?
Seeing the confusion on Xia Mingming's face, Yu Shu immediately explained to her, "My aptitude is not good. I can barely learn the Art of Six Lines, so I can only tell the fortune for myself. It's not accurate for others."
"Ah?" Xia Mingming's mouth was wide open. With a stunned expression, he blurted out, "Isn't this a waste?" Yu Shu snorted softly. She thought to herself, "Don't be calculative with a child. Anyway, of course she has poor aptitude. So what if her aptitude is rotten? Who is in the way? She did not rely on this to make a living.
Seeing the change in Yu Shu's expression, Xia Mingming realized that he had said something wrong. Blushing, he rubbed his hands and said, "I, I didn't mean that. Don't be angry. I just wanted to say that it's a pity that you can't use the six lines. Yes, it's a pity!"
Of course, Yu Shu wouldn't get angry just because of one sentence. Xia Mingming was just being straightforward. Moreover, even Yu Shu herself felt that she had ruined the Six Yao Lines. However, she had no choice. Her horoscope was not reliable, so she could only use the Six Yao Lines to make up for it.
Seeing that Yu Shu was not speaking, Xia Mingming thought that she was really angry. Feeling anxious, Xia Mingming sat down beside her, held her hand, and said, "Ashu, don't feel bad. Aptitude and talent are born with it. It's not up to us to decide. Look at me, aren't I the same? I can read dreams, but I can't use it at all. My fourth sister has always laughed at me for being a good-for-nothing since I was young, but I'm still the same. What's the big deal? They are just a little better than us when they are born." As she spoke, she began to sympathize with Yu Shu. She put one arm around Yu Shu's shoulder and said in a tough voice, "There are several subjects in the Great Yan Examination. You can't use the Six Yao Lines, so don't go for the Uncanny Techniques. If you pass the other subjects, you will still have a chance to enter the Imperial Historian's Library. Oh right, isn't there a Ji family in Yiyang City? I heard that there is a young lady in the Ji family who is very talented. Three years ago, she was chosen to enter the Imperial Historian's Library only by relying on astrology. How's your Fengshui? You don't know physiognomy, so what do you call it? " Seeing that Xia Mingming was talking energetically, Yu Shu poured herself a cup of tea to drink. The Great Yan Examination that was held once every three years was indeed an opportunity for a carp to leap over the dragon's gate. At first, she had thought of taking the exam, but on second thought, she felt that it would be inappropriate.
The Great Yan Examination was organized by the Celestial Commissioner under the imperial decree and was linked to the Imperial Historian's Library. The top students of each subject would definitely be reviewed by the Celestial Commissioner before being selected to study in the Imperial Historian's Library.
If she remembered correctly, the old master of the Ji family was currently holding a position in the Celestial Commissioner's office, and it wasn't a low position either. That Ji Xingxuan was a famous "top student" in the Imperial Historian's Library. As for her, her predecessor was a pitiful person who died in the Ji family's household. She had been chased out of the Ji family twice, and had almost replaced Ji Xingxuan as someone's concubine. It could be said that she and the Ji family had a deep hatred for each other.
If she were to participate in the Great Yan Examination, she would definitely spare no effort to fight for a ranking. She didn't dare to guarantee anything else, but at least in Fengshui, she would definitely enter the top three.
But what would happen after that? If the Ji family didn't find out, then it would be fine. But if they did, based on the Ji family's character, she didn't believe that they would let her wander. If they found out that something was wrong, they would definitely crush her to death in her infancy.
She was afraid that when the time came, she would be too busy supporting the Ji family. Not to mention studying, even finding a place to live would be a problem.
Success wasn't something that could be achieved overnight. She was still too inexperienced. The Great Yan Examination was a shortcut, but it wasn't suitable for her. Or rather, it wasn't suitable for her right now. In a situation where she couldn't protect herself, exposing herself prematurely would only bring her danger and obstacles. In comparison, the temptation of leaping through the dragon's gate wasn't enough for her to gamble.
As a reference for this year's Great Yan Examination, she had previously used the six lines to make a divination for herself several times. Each time, there was danger hidden within the good fortune. This made her even more determined to not advance rashly.
"Mingming, you don't need to comfort me. I won't go to this year's Great Yan Examination." Yu Shu interrupted Xia Mingming's words. Her attitude was very firm. She removed the hand that was on her shoulder and placed it on the table. She patted it and said, "Prepare yourself well.
Yu Shu got up and left the excited Xia Mingming behind. She went to her bag and took out a small abacus, a stack of banknotes and half a bag of silver fragments. She sat on the edge of the bed and calculated. The more she calculated, the more worried she became.
Right now, she only had about three hundred and ten taels of silver left. Two rooms in the inn cost two taels a day. The food expenses for the four of them would be two hundred taels a day. Ten days of food and lodging would be twenty-two taels. In addition to the money for Jing Chen's medicine, they would have to live on the streets in two months.
Xia Mingming followed Yu Shu to sit on the bed. After a moment of silence, she couldn't help but ask, "Ashu, can you accompany me to Peiren Hall tomorrow?" Yu Shu fiddled with her abacus. Without raising her head, she said, "Didn't I say that I have something to do tomorrow? You can go by yourself. You're already a grown man. How can you get lost? Don't you dare to go to the capital alone? How come you've become a coward here?"
She could take care of Xia Mingming and help him, but she didn't want to spoil and protect him. She didn't have the leisure and obligation to do so.
"Who's a coward?" Xia Mingming was dissatisfied and said, "I want to bring you to see the world. Peiren Hall is a must-visit place for those who come to the capital. If you're lucky, you can meet a Great Yi Master there. What urgent matter do you have to do?" Yu Shu said, "I want to see if there are any houses for sale in the city. I want to find a place to stay as soon as possible. It's a waste of money to stay in an inn. It's not cheap to eat outside."
Xia Mingming was surprised, "You want to buy a house?"
"Yes, it's not a big one. Two rooms are enough." There were four of them and the place was too small. Just like the small courtyard where Cao Zixin lived in Yiyang City.
Inadvertently thinking of that person, Yu Shu was slightly absent-minded. She only responded after Xia Mingming called her several times.
"… Ashu, Ashu?"
"Ah, what did you just say?" Yu Shu lowered her head and cleared the messy abacus in her hand. She thought that he had already returned to the Xue family and should be in the capital now.
"You just said that it's expensive to eat outside. Are you going to cook after buying a house? Let me tell you first, I don't know how to cook. "
"I don't expect you to." Anling City was so big. They shouldn't be able to meet each other. Even if they met, there was nothing to say. After all, that day they …
Yu Shu sighed. She would rather not see him again than feel awkward when they met again. Whether it was her Brother Cao or Master Xue, she didn't know how to face him.
"Why are you sighing? Do you not have enough money?" Xia Mingming asked with concern. After several times of Yu Xiaoxiu's unintentional ridicule, she was now very self-aware. She knew that she had to rely on Yu Shu to support her.
"Just save some money. Wait for me to think of a way to make money." Yu Shu sorted out the scattered banknotes. She took out the top banknote with a denomination of ten taels. She took out a few pieces of silver and handed it to Xia Mingming.
"What is this for?" Xia Mingming looked at it but didn't take it.
Yu Shu smiled and said: "Aren't you going out tomorrow? Are you going to walk? If it's too far, you can rent a carriage. But don't waste it. Buy some tools with the remaining money. You don't even have a compass now. "
Hearing that Yu Shu was so considerate of her, Xia Mingming's eyes became wet. She took the thin banknote. She wanted to say thank you, but she was afraid that it would be unreasonable. Just as she was feeling touched, she heard Yu Shu say: "I'm not giving you money for free. I'll keep an account for you. You have to pay me back in the future. Don't forget to write me an IOU later so that you won't renege on your debt."
Xia Mingming's face turned green. She said angrily: "Pay me back! I'll pay you back ten times!"
Yu Shu reached out and flicked her forehead with force: "Wait until you have money."
"Ah!" Xia Mingming cried out in pain. She covered her forehead and wanted to flick her hand back, but she didn't dare. She could only swallow her anger and pout her mouth. She stared at Yu Shu with her big eyes.
Her interruption made Yu Shu forget the depression she felt when she thought of someone just now. She laughed and put the banknote away. She went next door to see if Yu Xiaoxiu and Jing Chen had finished packing. Then she asked them to go downstairs to eat together.
They didn't put fish and meat on the table. They only ordered four bowls of soy sauce noodles. Yu Shu asked Yu Xiaoxiu to buy six sesame seed cakes from the opposite street. The four of them ate together. Jing Chen and Yu Xiaoxiu didn't complain at all. Although Xia Mingming was dissatisfied, she was too embarrassed to say it.
Kim Bao was also dissatisfied with Xia Mingming. Yu Shu asked Yu Xiaoxiu to take half a sesame seed cake back to the room to feed it. Kim Bao had been fed a while ago. When it smelled the sesame seed cake, it turned around and raised its butt to face Yu Xiaoxiu, silently protesting. It was only after Yu Shu poked its forehead and warned it to be obedient. It trembled its ears and ate a small piece of sesame seed cake.
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