After the review, in a few days, he could go back to the Rites Division to get the "Mutual Guarantee of Relatives," which was the family guarantee form required for the Child Examination.

All of this required making trips to the county government, and the candidate had to go himself. The trips back and forth took up time. If he were in the village, it would waste the better part of a day. It was much better to be in the county seat; he could just pop over when it wasn’t crowded and possibly be back in the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Furthermore, her father had said earlier that after the New Year, he would compile a set of past gazettes issued by the court and bring them home.

The gazettes contained the court’s latest developments. Even though Qingshui County was far from the Capital City, meaning news was already months old by the time it arrived, and even though her father was only bringing back old gazettes, the Lord County Magistrate was still an official. All of his measures and actions at his post would undoubtedly align with the court.

While you couldn’t expect to find the exam answers directly in the gazettes, the questions he set would certainly be heavily influenced by the opinions and articles published by the higher-ups.

Therefore, reading the gazettes was a must.

If Jing insisted on staying home to study for the exam, they would have no choice but to split the gazettes in two for him and De’an to read and then exchange.

Chen Wanqing knew Zhao Jing’s personality well. He had a stubborn streak about certain things; once he made up his mind, he rarely changed it.

This meant she would either have to waste her breath trying to persuade him or simply give in to Jing’s wishes.

However, she hadn’t expected that when she brought it up this time, Zhao Jing’s attitude would be the complete opposite.

"Since it’s a kind offer from your parents, we really shouldn’t refuse it. Wanqing, let’s move to the county seat after the Lantern Festival."

Chen Wanqing was stunned. "You’ve changed your mind?"

Zhao Jing chuckled softly, his low, husky voice rasping against her ears and making her distinctly uncomfortable.

He reached out and tucked the quilt in more snugly behind Chen Wanqing’s head.

"I’ve suddenly realized your parents’ proposal is an excellent one."

"What’s so excellent about it?"

"That’s a heavenly secret."

Chen Wanqing’s lips parted, but she ultimately didn’t say what was on her mind.

’Jing has gotten mischievous; now he’s speaking to me in riddles.’

But she couldn’t press him, because they were far too close at that moment—so close she felt that if she moved even slightly, her lips would brush against his cheek.

Feeling awkward, Chen Wanqing rolled over, turning her back to Zhao Jing again. "If you don’t want to say it, then don’t. It’s late, and I’m going to sleep." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

But Zhao Jing gently poked her in the back. "Are you angry, Wanqing?"

"It’s nothing. Why would I be angry? Besides, you agreed, didn’t you? I’ve got no reason to be upset. Alright, go to sleep. We have to go to the market first thing in the morning, and then head back to the village for the New Year."

Chen Wanqing said as much, but with a hot body pressed tightly against her back, the sensation so unfamiliar and his presence so potent, how could she possibly sleep?

But she was exhausted after the long day, and drowsiness gradually began to set in.

Just as she was drifting off, Chen Wanqing suddenly heard Zhao Jing ask, "Wanqing, is it warm sleeping next to me?"

Chen Wanqing nodded groggily. "Of course, it’s warm."

"Then after we go home, can I still sleep next to you? How about I warm the bed for you?"

Chen Wanqing mumbled an "Okay," and even nodded lightly.

But as her cheek brushed against the soft bedding, her hazy thoughts suddenly snapped into focus, and she was instantly wide awake.

She was a sharp woman, and piecing together the implication in Jing’s last two questions, she suddenly realized a certain possibility.

’Could it be that Jing only agreed to my mother’s proposal so he could sleep under the same quilt with me?’

’The thought was utterly absurd, yet it also seemed exactly like something Zhao Jing would do.’

Just as she was thinking this, Jing’s laugh came from behind her. "You’ve agreed now, so you can’t take it back. Even though you’re a woman, Wanqing, you know that a promise is worth its weight in gold. If you really renege, I’ll be very disappointed."

Chen Wanqing’s patience snapped. She slapped him on the arm. "You’re unscrupulous! I was asleep!"

"But you answered me, so you clearly weren’t asleep. In any case, you agreed, and you have to do it. Otherwise, you’d be breaking your promise."

’So what if I break my promise?’

’If I’m being unscrupulous, it’s only because he was unscrupulous first.’

But in the end, she didn’t say any of this.

She just felt indignant and flustered, her mind a complete mess. Annoyed, she couldn’t stop herself from swatting Zhao Jing again. "Just go to sleep! If you bother me again, I’ll hit you."