Chapter 20 The Top Scholar Who Murdered His Wife and Daughter (Part 20): The Farmer's Son's Counterattack...

After that shopping trip, the couple settled down in the capital. Song Ce stayed at home and continued to bury himself in his studies.

Time flew by, and it was now the eighth day of the second lunar month, the day that would determine the candidates from all over the country to begin their provincial examinations. The provincial examinations consisted of three sessions, beginning on the ninth, twelfth, and fifteenth of the second lunar month. Each session lasted three days and nights, and the examination venues might need to be changed in between, so the actual examination period was nine days and seven nights. This meant that Song Ce had to stay in his examination room until the last session was over before he could leave.

Although the weather in the capital was much warmer than in the dead of winter, staying in the cell for so many days in a row was still taking its toll on Du Ningwan's body. Therefore, Du Ningwan prepared thick knee pads, shoes, and socks in advance, putting a lot of effort into preventing the cold and frostbite.

Song Ce was a northerner in his previous life. He thought he would soon adapt to the weather in the capital. However, after queuing for a while at the entrance of the Imperial Examination Hall, he felt the cold wind seeping into his clothes along his neck.

Du Ningwan was an extremely considerate person. She took out the gray squirrel fur cloak she had bought for Song Ce in the county town and draped it over him, carefully instructing him, "Husband, you should wear more clothes at night. There are thick knee pads and hand guards in the basket. Wear them carefully when you sleep. Now that we've come this far, don't worry. Just give it your all. Wan'er will be waiting for you to come home."

Song Ce squeezed Du Ningwan's hand tightly: "I understand. It's cold and the dew is heavy. Wan'er, go home early."

Du Ningwan was still worried and handed the hand warmer to Song Ce: "I don't know how long this hand warmer will keep you warm. When we search you later, my husband, please be careful not to catch a cold. After you finish the exam, I will meet you at the entrance of the examination hall. Please go in, and I will go back after you go in."

Song Ce nodded and took the hand warmer. He had arrived relatively early; it had only taken about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The officers waiting at the gate to conduct searches knew how to treat people differently depending on their appearance. If a candidate was poorly dressed and had mediocre exam results, they would be thoroughly searched. They would be ordered to loosen their robes and their bodies would be carefully searched, including their examination boxes and luggage. If a candidate was dressed reasonably well, they would be given a cursory search, but with a cold face and a rude attitude. When it came to someone like Song Ce, who was refined in manner and a top-ranking candidate, they only briefly checked his examination box and luggage, and even had a slight smile on their faces.

After nearly an hour, the candidates finally entered and sat down in their examination rooms.

The metropolitan examination usually only selects the top three hundred, but Song Ce carefully counted and realized that there must be more than three thousand candidates from all over the provinces. It would be difficult to get into the top three among these thousands of people. But then he thought that there were countless people taking the provincial examination, and he still managed to become the top scholar among hundreds of thousands. Thinking about this now would only add to his worries.

After the officers checked the candidates' examination cards, Song Ce was led to the second position in the third row. The overall environment was better than during the provincial examination, but it was still somewhat difficult.

After tidying up the exam room, placing my luggage and exam kit at my feet, and putting on a gray squirrel fur cloak to keep warm, I closed my eyes to rest.

As the night passed and dawn broke, Song Ce heard a few gong sounds, and the imperial examination officially began.

Song Ce laid out the examination questions, the first of which was on the interpretation of the classics. He glanced at the questions carefully and immediately felt confident.

The first three days passed in a flash.

When Song Ce finished copying the exam paper, he heard someone crying out from next door. However, the examiners on patrol warned him not long after, and after they said something, the person quickly stopped crying.

After only a short half-day rest, the second round of the imperial examination, the policy essay, began.

After passing the imperial examination, Song Ce read a great many policy essays. After thinking for a while, he picked up his pen and began to answer the questions. Although there were some speculations about the preferences of the examiners, he still wrote according to his own ideas, preferring to be straightforward rather than circumlocutionary.

However, he didn't expect that the third session would be neither poetry nor historical discussion, but practical matters.

After copying down the last character, Song Ce carefully checked each exam paper to make sure there were no mistakes or omissions before solemnly writing his name, place of origin, age, and other basic information at the beginning of the paper.

When the gongs sounded again, it meant that the candidates could hand in their papers.

After confirming that the exam paper was error-free, Song Ce tidied up his exam bag and luggage, then stood up and signaled to the invigilating officer to accompany him in handing in the exam paper.

After handing in his exam paper, Song Ce felt light and carefree. He carried his exam luggage and left the exam room where he had stayed for nine days.

Du Ning was waiting at the door early in the morning. When she saw Song Ce come out, she quickly went up to him and asked, "How is my husband? Should we go to the clinic to see him?"

Song Ce offered a reassuring smile: "There's no need to go to the clinic, let's just go home!"

Du Ningwan frowned: "Husband has lost a lot of weight these days, you should go to the clinic to get checked out! Your lips still look a bit pale."

"It's nothing, I just feel a little tired." Song Ce held Du Ningwan's hand and said, "I'll be fine after resting at home for a few days."

Du Ningwan helped Song Ce to the carriage that had been arranged in advance. When the driver saw that he was a young and handsome scholar, he wisely put down a low stool, lifted the curtain, and drove the carriage at a very steady speed.

Hot water and warm snacks and soups were prepared at home early in the morning. Song Ce couldn't stand the smell on his body. After spending so many days in the examination room, he had developed an unpleasant odor, which was hard for the usually clean Song Ce to bear.

He quickly prepared the bathwater, took a long and refreshing bath, and when he came out of the bathroom, Du Ningwan had already set out the meal. Song Ce didn't have much of an appetite, only ate a couple of bites, and then pulled Du Ningwan back to the bedroom to rest.

Song Ce slept for most of the day, and when he woke up it was already dark.

It's not advisable to eat too much in the evening, so the couple shared a bowl of chicken soup noodles. Du Ningwan got up to clean up, but Song Ce grabbed her, pushed the bowl aside, and laughed, "Why doesn't Madam ask me how I did on the imperial examination this time?"

Song Ce rarely called Du Ningwan "Madam," only saying it once or twice during playful banter between the couple.

Du Ningwan blushed slightly upon hearing this, but still replied, "My husband's return is unlike that of other candidates who are overjoyed or saddened. I suppose he must have some confidence in his heart."

"How dare I make a definitive conclusion? How about we make a bet, madam?" Song Ce said with a smile.

“Okay,” Du Ningwan said.

"If I am fortunate enough to be among the top three, my lady must..." The last sentence was whispered into Du Ningwan's ear.

Du Ningwan blushed even more, and lightly pinched Song Ce's waist: "My husband is so learned, it's really unfair to be in the top three. How about the first place?"

"As you say, madam."

After the exams, there wasn't much to do. Song Ce practiced calligraphy at home for a few days, but then got bored and took Du Ningwan out for a stroll and sightseeing. While other candidates were discussing the exam questions with their fellow villagers or wondering if they had passed, all looking anxious and worried, Song Ce, carefree, led Du Ningwan around the capital.

Later that evening, Du Ningwan couldn't help but ask him what he was thinking. Song Ce thought for a moment and said, "If it succeeds, that would be great. If it doesn't, we can still experience the prosperity of the capital. The results haven't been released yet, so worrying too much is not good for our physical and mental health."

Du Ningwan felt that Song Ce had become much more carefree since they got married, and would occasionally utter words she had never heard before. But it was precisely because of this that their relationship grew sweeter day by day, but that's another story.

Amidst this complex atmosphere, the results of this year's imperial examination were released on March 18th.

The neatly written list was posted outside the gate of the examination hall, with the official seal stamped below. On either side of the list stood an official who read out the names, starting from the last name. Each name was repeated twice, and each time a name was read out, it would cause a stir in the crowd.

"Luo Zhongchuan from Yongchang County, aged 52, ranked 282nd in the provincial examination!"

A loud laugh erupted from the crowd. An elderly scholar with white hair and beard laughed heartily, tears welling in his eyes as he shouted, "I've passed! I've passed! Decades of hard study! Today I've passed! I've passed!"

The other candidates bowed and offered their congratulations. The man next to Luo Zhongchuan, who bore a striking resemblance to him, also shouted, "You passed! You passed! Congratulations, Father!"

Compared to Du Ningwan, who was anxiously fidgeting with her handkerchief, Song Ce calmly poured her a cup of tea: "Don't panic, my wife. The list of successful candidates is posted right at the entrance of the examination hall. It's not like it's going to grow legs and run away."

"Husband! Why aren't you in a hurry?" Du Ningwan said, "Why don't we send someone to take a look? That way we can at least have some idea of ​​the situation."

This teahouse is a shrewd business; they sent out several waiters early in the morning, and if a name was sung, they would run back to relay the words.

"The 152nd place in the imperial examination is Zhao Feng from Jide County, aged 38!"

...

"The 151st place in the provincial examination, Lin Yongsi from Pei County, aged 42!"

...

The waiter relayed the message back and forth. When he encountered someone from the high school, he would tip them with small pieces of silver, and then they would shout even louder when they signed up.

Now only the top ten names have been announced. Those who haven't heard their names are filled with anxiety and anticipation. Do they have to wait another three years? Or did their essay catch the eye of one of the examiners and earn them such a good ranking?

For a time, all the scholars in the teahouse waited anxiously.

The announcements continued, and when the fifth place was called, Song Ce unusually twitched his finger.

It wasn't that he was nervous, but rather excited. After all, this was his first major exam in every sense of the word. Just as he had finished drinking two cups of tea, the distant announcement of the results drifted closer—

"The top scorer in the provincial examination, the one who achieved the highest rank, is Song Ce from Qingzhou County, aged twenty!"

Upon hearing this, the somewhat noisy teahouse fell silent. Du Ningwan was overjoyed and immediately stood up, but then realized that it was inappropriate to speak in this place, so she lowered her voice and congratulated Song Ce. The many congratulatory words she had thought of in her heart were now reduced to just this one sentence: "Congratulations... Congratulations, my husband!"

Song Ce looked at the girl in front of him, wanting to say something, but his throat tightened for a moment. He opened his mouth, but only managed to utter one word: "Okay!"

When the candidates learned that the top scholar was a twenty-year-old, they immediately engaged in heated discussions. Upon learning that he was also the top scholar from Jinling City, their jealousy and resentment turned into amazement.

At this moment, inside the Zichen Hall of the Imperial Palace.

Emperor Shunyuan stared intently at the list of candidates for the imperial examinations. Although there were still many sons of noble families, there were also some from humble backgrounds without powerful connections. What surprised him most was Song Ce, the top scholar in this year's examinations.

This young man is only twenty years old, with a clean background. Although he has a county magistrate father-in-law, his origins are simple, and he doesn't have many connections with powerful figures in the capital. He is undoubtedly a clean and talented individual. Emperor Shunyuan has already meticulously prepared the past lives of those promising scholars from humble backgrounds on his desk. Some people who appear to have clean backgrounds actually have powerful backers behind them, perhaps the Prince of Cheng's faction, or perhaps the Prime Minister's faction; the situation is far more complex.

Emperor Shunyuan ascended the throne at the age of thirteen but did not officially assume personal rule until he was eighteen. At that time, he needed talented people around him. He wanted to keep a few scholars with clean backgrounds, either to hone their skills and send them to other places or to stay in the capital, so that he would be less constrained by the court.

He circled several names with his vermilion imperial brush, including Song Ce's, and said to the person beside him, "Investigate further."

The man bowed and accepted the order before retreating.

A note from the author:

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This ancient setting story should be finished in about seven or eight more chapters~ Please add it to your favorites if you like it! Next story poll: My Daughter Is My Biological Child vs. A Life of Depression. Please leave a comment if you like it~~ Thanks again~