Upon hearing the servant's words, Chang's eyes lit up. "Don't rush, speak slowly. Did the young Wang or the great Wang pass the imperial examination?"

The servant beamed, "Both of them passed the imperial examination. It's just that their rankings are quite different."

The young Wang, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, ranked twenty-third; the older Wang, a successful candidate, ranked fifty-sixth.

Chang Yi happily clenched his fist and clapped his hands.

"It's good that you won, it's good that you won. Look carefully, are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"

The servant boy refused to continue.

"The head steward doesn't look down on people."

"I may not be good at fighting, but when it comes to my photographic memory, I dare say I'm second to none."

"Alright, since you're sure you didn't see it wrong, let's go tell the boss's sister the good news."

As they spoke, the two of them took the firecrackers and headed straight for the second courtyard.

Upon arriving at the gate, Chang Yi first set off a string of firecrackers. The gatekeeper heard the noise, opened the gate, and took a look.

"Head Steward, what brings you here?"

Chang Yi smiled and said, "Hurry up and go tell Miss Zhao and Mr. Wang the good news. Both of them have passed the imperial examination."

The doorman was overjoyed and ran towards the main house, shouting, "Great news! Great news! We won! We won! Both of you gentlemen won!"

Hearing the commotion, the Wang family uncle and nephew had already come outside.

When they learned they had won, their joy was palpable.

Wang Guangzong took out a red envelope from his pocket and handed it to the doorman, asking, "Who came to announce the good news?"

"Thank you, sir. It was Steward Chang from Huicui Pavilion who brought the news. They're setting off firecrackers right outside our door."

The uncle and nephew quickly went to the door to greet Chang Yi.

Regardless of what relationship Chang Yi has with Zhao Qingyan, it has absolutely nothing to do with them.

People come with good intentions to share good news and even set off firecrackers, so we must treat them with courtesy and invite them in for tea.

The uncle and nephew walked out of the gate, and many neighbors came over to watch the spectacle.

"What's the occasion? Why are they setting off firecrackers for no reason?"

A neighbor asked.

Chang Yi smiled broadly, "Hahaha, great joy, great joy! Two tribute students from one family, of course we should set off firecrackers to celebrate."

"What?!" Everyone was in an uproar. The neighbors only knew that the house had been sold last year.

Later, a young couple and an elder moved in.

This family is rarely seen going out. Only the old woman goes out to buy groceries every day, and she's the kind of person who won't say a word if you try to talk to her.

Unexpectedly, this was a trap.

What does it mean for a family to produce two scholars who passed the imperial examinations?

Other families might try their best to support their entire clan and still not be able to produce a single successful candidate in the imperial examinations, but this family produced two successful candidates in the provincial examinations at once.

Even if you don't rank well after the palace examination, you can still become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).

This is amazing! Everyone is asking the host to sprinkle some candy so that everyone can share in the joy.

"Haha, let's spread the sweetness! When the messenger arrives later with the good news, we'll spread the sweetness too."

Chang Yi said loudly, then turned around and saw the Wang family uncle and nephew standing at the door.

"Congratulations to the two successful candidates!" Chang Yi bowed deeply.

Wang Huaijing and his nephew quickly helped Chang Yi up.

"I'm flattered, I'm flattered. Congratulations to you, Mr. Chang. Please come in."

Wang Guangzong led Chang Yi into the main hall first.

The doorman helped the servant drive the carriage in.

Wang Huaijing clasped his hands in greeting to his neighbor.

"Thank you all for coming to congratulate us. We will definitely come out later to give you all some candy."

I need to entertain some relatives for the time being, so please excuse me from joining us.

After speaking, Wang Huaijing returned to the courtyard.

The gate closed again, and if you didn't look at the firecracker debris at the entrance, it would seem as if nothing had happened.

An hour later, there was another knock at the entrance to the second courtyard.

The doorman had been keeping a close eye on the main entrance, and upon hearing the knock, he immediately went to open the door.

"Is this the home of Wang Huaijing from Wufang Town, Qingyang County, Lingnan Prefecture?" asked a yamen runner who came to deliver the good news.

The doorman nodded and quickly led the person into the courtyard. Wang Huaijing and the others came out to greet them again.

Congratulations to Wang Huaijing from Wufang Town, Qingyang County, Lingnan Prefecture, for achieving the 23rd rank among the successful candidates in the imperial examinations.

Congratulations to Wang Guangzong of Wufang Town, Qingyang County, Lingnan Prefecture, for achieving the 56th place in the imperial examination.

"Congratulations to the two successful candidates in the imperial examination!" the official announced loudly.

The uncle and nephew returned the greeting with clasped hands, and Wang Huaijing and Wang Guangzong each took out red envelopes from their sleeves and stuffed them into the hands of the officials who came to announce the good news.

Feeling the hard, dry flesh inside the red envelope, the yamen runner guessed it must contain silver and grinned from ear to ear.

Having declined the tea offered by the Wang family uncle and nephew, he still had to hurry to the next house to deliver the good news.

The doorman and the servant brought by Chang Yi unloaded a large basket of candy from the arriving carriage.

"They're here! They're handing out candy! Let's share in the joy..." The servant's voice was incredibly loud.

More and more neighbors gathered at the gate of the courtyard.

When the sugar-sprinkling began, the servants and doormen were both young and strong. They were skilled at sprinkling the sugar, and the sugar flew out and spread evenly.

Whether you're nearby or far away, you can always grab a few candies.

It's not that the candy is particularly delicious, it's just wedding candy, you have to share in the joy. Who knows, maybe one of our family members will produce a scholar who passes the imperial examinations someday.

It's quite rare to see two people from the same family pass the imperial examination.

The uncle and nephew were so happy that they insisted on treating Chang Yi to a meal.

"Gentlemen, it's not that I'm being overly polite, but there's still a lot to do at our Hui Cui Pavilion."

Let's skip the meal today and eat after the two of you take the imperial examination, shall we?"

The Wang family uncle and nephew readily agreed and distributed red envelopes to the few servants in the courtyard.

The uncle and nephew resumed their studies.

Zhao Qing continued to look after the children, cook, and sew little clothes for them, just as before.

Zhao Qingyi was overjoyed that Wang Huaijing passed the imperial examination with flying colors.

As long as the uncle and nephew don't perform too badly in the palace examination, they will definitely be appointed as officials.

No matter where they go, it's like a fish leaping over the dragon gate; their own children will be born into official families.

The imperial examination was scheduled for seven days later. Chang Yi returned to Huicui Pavilion and quickly informed Zhao Qingyan of the news that Wang Huaijing and his nephew had passed the examination with flying eagles.

The Zhao family was overjoyed upon receiving the news and immediately sent someone to inform Madam Wang and Wang Huaijing's father's family.

The news of Zhao's son-in-law passing the imperial examination with flying colors spread like wildfire. The villagers began to place even greater emphasis on their children's education.

On the day of the imperial examination, the Wang family uncle and nephew dressed in thick clothes and took a carriage early in the morning to wait outside the palace gate.

The palace gates opened, the imperial eunuch finished his announcement, and a group of newly appointed scholars followed him in single file.

Upon entering the Military Academy, the candidates found their respective seats according to the nameplates on the table.

A quarter of an hour later, the announcement "The Emperor has arrived" rang out, and everyone knelt down and kowtowed.

Those kneeling in front could see a bright yellow hem fluttering by, while those kneeling behind could not even see a shadow, let alone a hem of clothing.

Some people start learning at a young age, and by the time they've finished their studies, their hair has turned gray, and naturally their eyesight isn't as good anymore; they may develop nearsightedness or presbyopia.

First, the instructor gave a few words of admonition, and then the Emperor's voice, seasoned with age, rang out, "Let's begin."