Seeing Zhou Junhong deep in thought, Xu Rao couldn't help but admire her uncle Wu Muyue, who had brought up the marriage proposal. Zhou Junhong was truly the most suitable candidate.

After the meal, Xu Rao selected a few guards to accompany Zhou Junhong to Tai'an to meet Zhao Sixing and have a brief interaction with him. If they thought Zhao Sixing was a decent person and suitable for marriage, they would send a letter to the capital, asking the Marquis to find the Marquis of Yongping and propose marriage in Liaodong Prefecture.

While things proceeded smoothly here, the results of the imperial examinations were soon posted in the capital.

The imperial examination system selected officials, and although there was a palace examination after the metropolitan examination, passing the metropolitan examination and being listed on the list was considered a complete success in life. After all, after passing the metropolitan examination, one could be selected by the Ministry of Personnel and officially embark on an official career.

Of course, some successful candidates in the imperial examinations could also enter officialdom through certain means, but such people did not go very far. If they were lucky, they could only reach the fifth rank at most. If they wanted to continue to rise, it would be as difficult as climbing to the sky.

Early in the morning, the government sent people to wait in front of the examination hall. There was a red wall on the main street of the examination hall. After the provincial examination, the names, scores, and hometowns of those who passed the provincial examination would be posted. It was here that many families waited to find a son-in-law after the results were posted.

After having breakfast, Chen Zhaoci went to the old lady's courtyard. Seeing Chen Zhaoci's restless appearance, the old lady smiled and said, "Look at you, when Rao'er was waiting for the results of the imperial examination, I never saw you as nervous as you are today."

Chen Zhaoci said with a smile, "Grandmother, to be honest, I felt that our Third Master's success in the imperial examination was like something he picked up off the street. Before he went to the examination, he told me that he was not confident this time and was thinking of just testing the waters and that he would do better next time. I believed him and thought that I had no hope of passing the exam, so I was not nervous at all. Who knew that after the exam, the good news would come to our house?"

The Ning sisters-in-law were also there. Hearing Chen Zhaoci's words, they all laughed. Ning said with a smile, "Our young master doesn't need to be nervous at all. The young master's brain is not something that ordinary people have. He is also someone who can patiently study hard. How could he not pass?"

Madam Yao smiled and said, "That's right. When my father saw our young master's essay, he said he was a scholar with the talent to be the top scholar in the imperial examination."

As they were talking, they heard a commotion outside. A maid ran in, laughing and shouting, "Great news, Madam! Our young master has passed! He ranked eleventh!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhaoci clasped his hands together and chanted Buddhist prayers. Ning Shi quickly stood up and shouted to the people outside, "Reward them all! Pass on my message: those who serve in our household will receive an extra month's salary."

Those outside offered their congratulations, but Chen Zhaoci felt a little embarrassed and said to Ning Shi, "The household has gone to so much trouble."

Madam Ning smiled and said, "What you're saying is wonderful. Our young master's success is a great joy for our household, and everyone should come and share in the happiness."

The room was filled with congratulatory voices, while the Marquis's study was rather quiet.

Upon hearing his ranking, Xu Di frowned. Seeing this, the Marquis asked in surprise, "What's wrong with you? Why aren't you happy about passing?"

Xu Di said, "Grandfather, I think my essay is quite well-written, so why is my ranking so low?"

Upon hearing this, the Marquis smiled and said, "The chief examiner this time is Prime Minister Fu Jingnian. Fu Jingnian's writing is ornate and elegant, while your writing style is steady and simple. Being able to get eleventh place is already very good."

Xu Di gently shook his head and said, "I see."

The Marquis smiled and said, "You are not yet of legal age, and you have achieved such results. It is truly remarkable. When you take the imperial examination, write a good essay. Your grandfather is waiting for Xiu Ning to bring back the top scholar title for him."

After the results were announced, the palace examination followed immediately. Xu Di calmly participated in the palace examination, and after it was over, he was surprisingly named the top scholar by Emperor Liang Cheng.

Upon receiving the letter, the people of the Marquis's residence were overjoyed, and firecrackers were set off in front of the mansion for half a day.

After the palace examination, there was a procession of horses through the streets, making the capital very lively for several days.

After everything settled down, Xu Di attended several banquets outside and then brought a young man home.

Over the years, Xu Di had never brought any friends home. Chen Zhaoci was surprised, but it wasn't appropriate to go to the front yard to meet them. So she went to the old lady's room and persuaded her to invite the person over to meet them.

The old lady was getting on in years and enjoyed lively gatherings. Before anyone in the courtyard had even gone far, someone came over and said to her, "Madam, the eldest young master has brought his classmate back and says he wants to come and kowtow to you."

The old lady quickly invited the person in. Chen Zhaoci and Ning Shi accompanied him. They saw a handsome figure, taller than Xu Di, accompanying Xu Di. After entering, the figure bowed and said, "Greetings, Old Madam. Lin Zhining of the Lin family of Gaoqing County, Jinan Prefecture, pays his respects to the Old Madam."

After a long pause, the old lady said, "Oh, so you are a descendant of the Lin family. Come, come closer."

The person who came was the young master who greeted Xu Di at the entrance of the examination hall after the exam.

Lin Zhining walked up to the old lady, who looked at him for a while and said, "You look just like your grandfather when he was a child. Our two families haven't had any contact for many years."

Lin Zhining bowed and said, "I want to let the old lady know that my grandfather passed away a long time ago, and my grandmother struggled to support the family business with my father. It was only in recent years that the family's situation has improved."

Upon hearing this, the old lady exclaimed in surprise, "Your grandfather passed away so early? Why was no obituary sent to the capital?"

Lin Zhining said with some sadness, "According to my grandmother, my grandfather was injured in his early years. When the old wound flared up, several of my uncles had a bad relationship with him. Later, they fought fiercely over the family property. My grandmother, a widow with no children, had to sell most of the family property and live a secluded life with my father. It was only later, when my father grew up, that he was able to manage the family's livelihood."

Hearing this, the old lady sighed and said, "Your grandmother is a strong-willed person. She never likes to trouble others when she has trouble. I was the matchmaker for your grandparents' marriage back then. In the blink of an eye, decades have passed. You and Di'er are the same age. How old are you this year?"

Lin Zhining smiled and said, "Madam, Zhining is already twenty-one years old this year."

The old lady said with a smile, "Good, good! Your grandfather has a successor, and he can rest in peace. Di'er, Zhi Ning's grandfather, once guarded the border with your grandfather. Later, he also retired from the army and returned to his hometown with your grandfather. The emperor intended to keep him in the capital as an official, but he said he wanted to go home to farm and returned with the reward. Who knew that we would never see each other again?"

Upon hearing the old lady's words, Xu Di smiled and said, "Since we are old friends, we must keep in touch from time to time. Grandmother, we haven't paid our respects to Grandfather yet. I'll take Youwu to the front now."