"Yes, we met once many years ago." Xiao Jingzhao said calmly.

"We weren't lying to you, were we? Miss Jiang is as beautiful as an angel, especially that beauty mark between her eyebrows, which is unforgettable."

When talking about beautiful women, Lin Xiangzhi's eyebrows danced and his spirits soared.

"Your Majesty, the ministers will likely be submitting memorials urging you to select an empress soon. Would you consider Miss Jiang?"

"Your Excellency is quite free today, would you like to help me...?"

"No, Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to help, but I drank a few too many cups at the banquet and I feel very dizzy and sleepy."

Lin Xiangzhi waved his hand repeatedly, then covered his face with his sleeve and yawned. He quickly selected two houses that were not far apart from each other in the booklet and then hurriedly took his leave.

After the banquet at Qionglin, Su Jin went straight back to the Jiang residence.

"Second place! Our A-Jin is really amazing. It's incredible that she made it into the top three." Jiang Shuyue was overjoyed to learn that Su Jin had come in second place.

“Sister, this is not enough. You are only a seventh-rank editor. I will work hard to grow into a big tree that can shelter you and Sui Sui from the wind and rain.”

Jiang Shuyue was moved to tears by Su Jin's words.

They were closer than family, and at that moment, she felt she wasn't alone in this strange world.

She picked up a handkerchief and dabbed at the corner of her eye, saying earnestly, "As long as you are safe and happy, and your careers go smoothly, that's all that matters. Work hard, he is a wise ruler."

"Um!"

Another joyous occasion occurred in the manor, and Jiang Shuyue had no choice but to instruct Qiuju to reward the maids and servants, and also asked Gao Mu to order a banquet from Juxian Pavilion to celebrate back at the manor.

The palace sent someone to deliver the court robes and explained the details of tomorrow's horse parade through the streets.

Everything was arranged by the Ministry of Rites, and Jiang Shuyue instructed Qiuju to prepare enough purses for rewards.

When Su Nan learned that her older brother had become the runner-up in the imperial examination, she felt both joy and pressure.

These days, Gao Mu teaches Sui Sui to practice basic skills, and Su Nan also practices along with her.

In his words, even if you only learn a little bit, even if it's just fancy moves, you can still fool people.

The next morning, the palace staff arrived at the Jiang residence early.

With the help of the palace servants, Su Jin dressed neatly and sat in the hall to wait.

Seeing that Su Jin kept glancing towards the door, Jiang Shuyue said, "The people from the etiquette team are waiting for the top scholar outside the Zhen Mansion. They'll be here soon."

"Don't worry, sister, we'll just ride horses around the main streets." Su Jin reassured her sister, even though she herself was nervous.

In the past, the procession lasted three days, but the emperor shortened it to one day, and after three days, everyone was allowed to take up their posts.

Jiang Shuyue looked at the keys in the tray and said, "Don't rush to move out. Cangyun can take you to court every morning."

“Alright, I’ll go with you tomorrow. It’s close to the palace gate. I’ll need you to send someone to help me tidy up before I go there to stay.”

Jiang Shuyue had no choice but to nod. It was close to the palace gate, so Su Jin wouldn't have to get up too early. It was government property, and the rent wasn't much.

Qiuju, Lan'er, and Mei'er distributed reward money to the people who came from the palace one by one.

Holding the heavy purses, everyone beamed with joy and remained respectful, showing no airs whatsoever.

The sound of gongs and drums rang out outside the door, and then an envoy announced, "Please invite the second-place scholar to mount his horse."

Surrounded by the crowd, Su Jin walked outside.

"Yaozu, look at my uncle today, he's dressed in a red robe, doesn't he look like a groom going to fetch his bride?"

Two little heads peeked out from under the straight-lattice window at the back of the hall, peering into the hall.

Yaozu scratched his head. "Young Master, I haven't met the groom yet, but Young Master Su looks quite imposing in his official robes."

"You two stop looking, everyone's gone. There are too many people on the streets today, how about we just write calligraphy in the mansion?"

The two were so engrossed in watching that they didn't realize Su Nan had appeared behind them.

...

After leaving the mansion, they hadn't gone far when the ceremonial team quickly brought Bai Zhou, the third-ranked scholar, into the procession.

The three men wore black gauze hats adorned with gold flowers, had handsome faces, wore bright red robes, and rode red-maned horses with golden saddles.

With officials leading the way and an honor guard following closely behind, the top scholar Zhen Jingxiu smiled and repeatedly bowed to his followers and the common people on both sides of the street.

From time to time, girls would throw silk flowers to the three of them from the windows of the teahouses on both sides of the street.

The crowd surrounding her watched as the silk flower almost fell into the arms of the top scholar.

Some people cheered and shouted, "Hurry up, top scholar! You've passed the imperial examination with flying colors, now all you need is a wedding night and you'll be all set!"

The shout drew laughter from the crowd.

Su Jin and Bai Zhou were surrounded by a group of people, and the procession was followed by many officials and commoners, forming a grand procession that marched forward.

Lin Xiangzhi and Xie Yunchen were also among them, each of them having taken a silk flower from somewhere and tucked it behind their ears.

Seeing the girls' enthusiastic welcome towards the three talented men, the two men clapped and cheered from time to time, seemingly enjoying the spectacle.

When the girls finally saw the three men's faces clearly, someone exclaimed, "Everyone says that the third-ranked scholar chosen by the emperor is as handsome as Pan An, but today the top two scholars are both exceptionally good-looking, and their handsome appearance is no less than that of the third-ranked scholar."

"Yes! The top scholar has a face like jade and a graceful demeanor, the second-place scholar has red lips and white teeth and is as gentle as jade, and the third-place scholar has handsome eyes and fine eyebrows and is tall and elegant. I wonder which family's daughter is so lucky to get such a good son-in-law."

Someone immediately chimed in, "If the three of them walked side by side, it would be hard to tell who was the third-ranked scholar."

Gao Mu and Cang Yun followed behind the officials and saw girls throwing silk flowers at the three of them along the way.

When Cangyun saw that Su Jin was deliberately letting the silk flower slip off his sleeve, he wished he could pick it up and stuff it into Su Jin's arms.

Most of those throwing silk flowers were daughters of officials, while the three handsome young men were all smiles, like immortals untouched by worldly affairs.

...

Inside Chang Le Palace.

Chang Le sat on the small couch, took the melon seeds that Jing'er had peeled and tossed them into the air, then looked up and opened her mouth to catch them.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!