Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1355: Chapter 1307: The Military Department Under Public Scrutiny

Let’s not talk about the teasing sounds within the Political Office, the spring examination continues at a slow pace, one round a day. Subjects with quick results have already started recruiting qualified scholars for training, ready to assume positions at any moment.

”Sister, why are you reviewing papers too?” Cai Zhenji looked at Cai Yan’s political essay in her hand, as each paper requires three people to review, and only those with significant differences will be judged by everyone to avoid excessive subjective influence.

”Is it strange that I’m reviewing papers?” Cai Yan said coolly, reaching out to pat her nephew’s head; although there’s no blood relation, she does quite like him.

”The problem is, with you reviewing papers, we’ll be nearby, and that could interfere.” Cai Zhenji sneakily glanced at the papers and had already seen Wang Yi’s essay.

”Don’t worry, I’ll suppress your scores a bit,” Cai Yan suddenly smiled, rarely teasing her sister.

”...” Cai Zhenji felt something was amiss.

”Want to see your paper?” Cai Yan turned her head and asked blandly.

”Better not.” Cai Zhenji shook her head repeatedly; her sister could genuinely do such a thing. ”How did I do?”

”Enough to teach your nephew,” Cai Yan did not answer directly, and Cai Zhenji looked down at the little rascal in her arms, feeling crushed. Was she still at the Mengxue level?

”And you?” Cai Zhenji said grumpily.

”After your son is born, I can teach him,” Cai Zhaoji looked at Cai Zhenji, who was instantly speechless, thankful it was only their sisters present, or truly it would be awkward.

”Sister, if you don’t marry, I’ll give you one of my kids; my husband and I have agreed.” Cai Zhenji rubbed her belly, ”Actually, sister, you don’t need to worry about these things; while father was alive, he betrothed you to the Weii family.”

At this point, Cai Zhenji said nothing more, but her meaning was clear: the Cai Family didn’t really need someone to hold the family business. When Cai Yong betrothed Cai Yan to the Weii family and promised Myriad Books to Wang Can, it was clear evidence.

”Better not, this is fine,” Cai Yan said with a gentle smile, ”living a stable life is no problem at all.”

”...” Cai Zhenji looked at Cai Yan speechlessly, really thinking her sister was quite unfortunate.

No need to mention Weii Zhongdao that unlucky kid, with the Three Books and Six Rites just completed, before Cai Yan could deliver herself, he died, so Cai Yan returned to the Cai family carrying a Kef halo.

Then upon reaching Mount Tai, Cao Cao wanted to bring Cai Yan over, either because of the mentor-friend relationship with Cai Yong or having other intentions towards Cai Yan.

Back then, Cai Yan didn’t have an appropriate partner, nor was she as independent as now; if Cao Cao hadn’t acted recklessly, it might have worked, but sadly, he did.

The battle of Xuzhou, for whatever reason, made it impossible for Cao Cao to bring Cai Yan over, and when those from Mount Tai who could marry Cai Yan all married, it was utterly hopeless.

”Oh, poor sister,” Cai Zhenji said, patting Cai Yan.

”It’s nothing, reading books, drinking tea, playing the piano, and repairing books every day is quite good,” Cai Yan’s calm demeanor showed she didn’t mind this situation at all.

Cai Zhenji looked at her sister expressionlessly; she noticed five or six years ago that her sister seemed to really enjoy staying home, barely active, living mainly in just reading, reading, reading, playing the piano, playing the piano, and the rest of the time cooking and making clothes.

”Let’s go, I’ll take you to the military examination today at the school grounds for a competition!” Cai Zhenji grabbed her sister’s hand and pulled her up. ”Staying at home all day, aren’t you bored?”

Cai Yan, feeling a headache, helplessly agreed, ”Alright, I’ll go with you, these papers aren’t urgent.”

After speaking, Cai Yan returned to the inner room, faint sounds indicating she was changing clothes; when she emerged, Cai Zhenji felt a sudden brightness before her eyes. She had simply pinned her hair with a single hairpin, letting her dark tresses fall naturally, and tied loosely behind.

She wore an all-white long dress, over which a pale flowered robe was layered, and then beckoned to Cai Zhenji.

”Sister, is this new clothes you made?” Cai Zhenji asked Cai Yan.

”Yes, a few days ago I had nothing to do, and had some silk fabric, so I made clothes,” Cai Yan nodded and said, stepping out with her sister and nephew onto the carriage.

[Perhaps this is indeed a good thing for sister.] Cai Zhenji thought silently upon boarding the carriage.

[Why do people keep bringing up marriage prospects for me recently!] Cai Yan thought begrudgingly after getting into the carriage, [Even my sister has this thought, what’s going on?!]

Upon reaching the military examination grounds, they found the outskirts already packed with crowds, people watching everywhere. Unlike other subjects, the military exam didn’t require such strictness. Originally, it should test riding and archery separately, but for convenience, it turned into mounted archery, followed by martial arts competitions, simple and straightforward - one fight to know.

In this era, there’s no entertainment program, fighting crickets, where is watching fights more interesting, thus as the military examination grounds set up, people started waiting, and now there’s a huge crowd around the military exam watching candidates.

”How is it, sister, isn’t this lively?” Cai Zhenji asked excitedly; unlike Cai Yan’s cool demeanor, Cai Zhenji loved this bustle, and young Yangg Fa in her bosom was also staring wide-eyed at the distant field.

”There are rather too many people,” Chen Xi wiped his sweat and said, ”It’s too exaggerated, though there’s no entertainment program, but the common people shouldn’t be so interested in fighting.”

”Indeed it is exaggerated; it seems that the common folks really enjoy such confrontational activities. I heard the number of applicants exceeded expectations, so later Zilong and Zijian pre-selected first,” Li Youu scanned the scene from the carriage.

”Because we’re now stacking soldier benefits again, it’s returning to the Qin and Former Han era’s war drum excitement, where upon hearing of war, they volunteer with their own weapons,” Jia Xu sighed, saying people are enthusiastic about joining the military for titles.

”This is also good,” Chen Xi said, rubbing his chin, ”Liking war is good as long as money and grain are stable, the more they like war, the better.”

”Who knows who will take the first place in military exams?” Xun Yue now climbed atop the carriage roof, gazing afar at competitors, who were now competing in mounted archery.

”Not sure, the initial selection is for the best fighters, followed by military strategy deduction assessment,” Liu Bei suddenly appeared from the crowd, speaking to Xun Yue and the others.

”Greetings...” They were about to wave at Liu Bei, but he signaled no need, while Lady Gan and Zhang Clan both poked their heads out from the carriage, watching the lively crowd which was quite abundant.