Liu Mingzhe is Liu Sifu's son. He asked Liu Sisi in a childish voice.

"Auntie, is my second uncle the top scholar today? My mother said that being the top scholar is very prestigious, and I want to be the top scholar in the future."

Liu Sisi looked around and covered Liu Mingzhe's mouth.

"Shh, Xiao Zhe, keep your voice down. You can't be so arrogant. You have to wait until the list of successful candidates is posted before you can say anything!"

Wu and Liu Dashi also affectionately pinched Liu Mingzhe's little face.

"Xiao Zhe, it's a good thing that you like reading. When you get a little older, Grandpa will send you to Jinghua Academy."

As they were talking, the list of successful candidates was posted, and everyone rushed forward to check their child's ranking.

Liu Sisi told her parents and nephew to stand behind her while she squeezed in to watch.

She glanced at the first place first, and was shocked to see that the list of winners was: Liu Siqiang, Zhang Yu, and Song Ling.

"We passed! We passed! Father and Mother, Second Brother is the top scholar! Second Brother really became the top scholar! And Brother Song Ling also became the third-ranked scholar!"

In order for their son to be able to study well, Song Jiuheng and his wife moved to the capital city a year after Liu Sisi's family moved there.

Originally, Song Linggang wasn't very interested in studying, but after becoming friends with Liu Siqiang, he started to work hard, probably because he was influenced by his surroundings.

His appearance has also changed from being chubby to a tall, handsome, and exceptionally good-looking young man.

Song Jiuheng and Liu Dashi both bowed to the sky, one thanking their ancestors for their blessings, and the other thanking the Snake Immortal.

One of them was originally a farmer, and the other was a merchant family for generations. It was truly a stroke of good luck for their family to produce a top scholar and a third-place scholar.

At this moment, someone announced the names of the top three: Liu Siqiang, Zhang Yu, and Song Ling, who rode over on tall horses amidst the sound of firecrackers.

When the daughters of officials and their families who were standing around heard that none of the three men were married, they all began to have designs on them.

Those who were bold enough came forward to introduce their daughters.

In an instant, Liu Siqiang was surrounded by people, which made him somewhat at a loss. These people were not easy to offend, as many of them were daughters of officials and nobles.

Suddenly, Luo Ling'er, dressed in red, stopped the "perverted hand" that was groping Liu Siqiang.

"Ladies, I'm sorry to say, this gentleman is already taken. He's my fiancé, and we're about to get engaged, so you have no chance."

After saying that, he mounted Liu Siqiang's horse. "Siqiang, let's go!"

Liu Siqiang's heart was pounding in his chest. He had only one thought in his mind: Did Ling'er also love him? He said they were getting engaged soon. He couldn't hear anything else. He just kept thinking about that sentence: "We're getting engaged soon."

In the past few years, he has been able to meet Ling'er in the capital. The two families often get together. He has wanted to express his feelings many times, but he always feels that he is not good enough for her.

He worked even harder, hoping to confess his feelings to Ling'er on the day he passed the imperial examination with top honors.

But to his utter surprise, Ling'er spoke first, and even went straight to the engagement process.

He carefully took Luo Ling'er's hand, and Luo Ling'er generously returned the handshake, and they continued walking home.

Once everyone saw that the top scorer had no chance, they turned their attention to the other two.

They returned to the princess's mansion in high spirits, and the common people no longer followed them.

Someone who didn't know that Liu Siqiang was Liu Sisi's brother whispered.

"So he's Princess Anning's brother. No wonder he's so handsome. It's a pity he's already taken. Sigh."

"Oh, what? No one would even look at your girl if she didn't have a master. The Princess's mansion is definitely going to throw a big banquet, let's go and see."

As they talked, the two headed toward the gate of the princess's residence.

Liu Sisi and Wu Shi and the others also returned by carriage. In fact, a family like theirs could have sent someone to check, but Liu Sisi and her parents wanted to see Liu Siqiang's name on the list of successful candidates in person.

Of course, now that I've topped the list, I'll have to treat everyone to a celebration.

When Gu Lingchen heard that Liu Siqiang had topped the list, he finished up his work and came to congratulate him.

He has now been made crown prince and is very busy every day, but he still makes time to visit Liu Sisi, afraid that if he doesn't see her for a long time, they will become estranged.

"Sisi, congratulations on your second brother becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination. I've brought a congratulatory gift today." Gu Lingchen arrived with his men carrying several boxes.

"When Wu and Liu Dashi saw him, they quickly bowed and said, 'Your Highness, you are too kind. How can we accept your gift!'"

"It's just a small token of my appreciation, and I hope you won't find it offensive, Uncle and Aunt."

In recent years, Liu Sisi's family has opened shops all over the cities of Tianlong Kingdom, and even involved in various fields. They pay a large sum of money in taxes to the country every year.

Liu Sifu and his wife are both business geniuses, and the shop is doing better and better under their management. Gu Lingchen has already taken back the money he invested. At first, he only invested to help Liu Sisi. Now, Liu Sifu manages almost everything. As the Crown Prince, he is unwilling to take advantage of the Liu family any longer.

At first, he said he would only take back one thousand taels, but Liu Dashi and Liu Sifu were unwilling, saying that without his initial help, the Liu family would not have these shops now. In the end, they gave him fifty thousand taels.

Unable to refuse his kind offer, Wu accepted it. Wu and Liu Dashi then went on to entertain the guests who came to offer their congratulations.

His family has a princess, a top scholar, and a renowned physician. Now that Liu Siping and Liu Si'an have joined the army, there might even be two more generals in the future. Therefore, many people in the capital are willing to befriend his family, and many people have come to congratulate them.

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