Song Yan'er just couldn't stand seeing Xiao Yang looking so dejected! Not even his name!

Xiao Yang: "Sister~"

Song Yan'er couldn't hear Xiao Yang's rapid, coquettish words as he spoke to her:

"It's nothing much, just a 10,000 tael bet, and you might win the top prize!"

Xiao Yang...

Ten thousand taels? Are you all that rich now that you'd gamble away ten thousand taels?

After speaking quickly, Song Yan'er didn't look at Xiao Yang's expression, and instead looked up at the sky:

I can't see it, I can't see it, I'm rich! So what!

Xiao Yang sighed, "Are we all this rich now?"

Speaking of this, Song Yan'er looked very proud:

"Of course, otherwise would I be lying when I said I could support you?"

Xiao Yang...

"So it doesn't matter if I lose this ten thousand taels?"

Song Yan'er...

"Of course it matters. After all, this is money I worked hard to earn. It would be such a waste to throw it away! Don't you think so?"

Then he looked at Xiao Yang with anticipation:

"So, did you even do your exam properly?!"

Xiao Yang said with a doting look, "Do your best on the exam!"

Luckily, I did well on the exam. I was originally planning to hide my shortcomings, but my cousin said there was no need. Now I can just shine! So Xiao Yang answered the questions very seriously? Otherwise, he would have lost another ten thousand taels!

However, scientific examinations are not like before, where there are standard answers, right is right, and wrong is wrong. They are highly arbitrary, so Xiao Yang cannot guarantee that he will be the top scholar!

However, the possibility is still quite high, because of his background. As long as he is outstanding enough, no one will make things difficult for him! At least his achievements will be genuine!

It's only ten thousand taels, and I still have some of my own savings, so it's enough to cover it!

As it turns out, he was too happy too soon!

He was surrounded as soon as he arrived at his doorstep!

"Xiao Yang, how did the exam go? I bet you a hundred taels that you'll be the top scholar! You better do your best!"

"Yes, yes, I also bet a hundred taels!"

"Xiao Yang, Xiao Yang, I bet five hundred taels! Isn't that amazing!"

Xiao Yang...

So how much do I really have to go through just by taking an exam?!

Xiao Yang looked annoyed, and then he saw the old lady come out from the innermost part!

"Don't worry, don't worry, my grandson's teacher is the former chief tutor! He'll definitely pass, don't worry!"

Xiao Yang...

So that's where the culprit was!

Xiao Yang looked at Song Yan'er helplessly:

Wife, save me!

Song Yan'er suppressed a laugh. Xiao Yang was so down-to-earth right now! That's great!

Having finally made it outside the circle, Xiao Yang walked to Song Yan'er's side:

"How much did they actually bet?"

Song Yan'er said in a very extravagant way:

"Not much, maybe seven or eight thousand taels in total!"

Xiao Yang coughed up blood!

My secret stash of money might all be lost!

Xiao Yang entered his home feeling extremely depressed!

Then he saw his maternal grandfather sitting in the middle of his doorway. When he saw Xiao Yang coming over, he immediately waved for Xiao Yang to come over!

"Now, your grandma is telling everyone you're the old master's apprentice, so did you take the exam seriously? Tell me the questions and your answers!"

Xiao Yang...

Grandpa, can I catch my breath first?

But seeing the look on my grandfather's face that said he would make me look bad if I embarrassed him!

Okay, let's check the answers!

The first round mainly consisted of the Four Books and Five Classics, and the Eight-Legged Essay, so the answers were given very quickly!

Xiao Yang recited his poem and interpretation of the classics. The old man smiled and nodded.

"Hmm, not bad, there's still a good chance of winning the top prize."

Xiao Yang wiped away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead!

It’s really not easy!

Now everyone is just waiting for the results to be released!

However, this process takes a bit longer, since there are thousands of exam papers, but only thirty people are grading them. They work in groups of five, meaning each exam paper has to be reviewed by five people. If three people give it a negative review, then there's no point in sending it up!

Of course, this "unqualified" grade isn't given arbitrarily. There's a special team that reviews these unqualified exam papers, and if the grade doesn't match the actual grade, the reviewers will be punished!

Finally, the top two hundred candidates were selected by ten reviewers and reported to higher authorities, where two chief officials decided on the selection of the successful candidates!

Of course, ten empty slots must be reserved for ministers to select candidates for those who can use their connections to get in!

Finally, after the palace examination, the emperor personally decided on the top three candidates!

The final palace examination will be held after the results of this provincial examination are released. It is already December, so the results should be released before the end of the year, which will allow students who have traveled from afar to return home and have a good New Year!

Of course, if you don't do well on the exam, it won't be a good year!

In the days that followed, everyone lived very peacefully, as if they weren't the ones who had taken out so much money to gamble!

The old lady has recently become obsessed with mahjong, and all the old ladies in the neighborhood are her mahjong partners!

I'm so happy every day, I look a few years younger!

It's worth mentioning that recently the Emperor has been coming here to freeload meals all the time, which made the old lady wonder what was wrong with him. Only after being severely tortured did he finally tell the truth!

The Emperor has fallen ill. Although it is not very serious, the Emperor suddenly realized that he should abdicate because he saw the old lady living such a carefree life every day.

He wants to emulate the old lady!

The angry old lady grabbed a broom from beside the door and chased her eldest son around the yard several times!

"I went through so much trouble to get you to that position, and you just want to quit like that? I think you're asking for a beating!"

The Emperor remained calm: "Mother, I have always remembered your words, 'Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you,' and I have always done so. But you yourself do not want to be the Empress Dowager, so why do you insist on making me the Emperor?"

The old lady was furious: "Damn it, I only said one thing and you remembered it? Then I told you to be a good emperor, did you listen?"

The Emperor was already quite used to this foul-mouthed old lady, so he remained calm and composed.

"Mother, I'm sick. The imperial physician said I shouldn't overwork myself! But how can an emperor not be overworked!"

old lady……

"If you had said it later, you would have been completely better. You can't believe you're just talking about that little appendicitis! You must be joking!"

The old lady looked at the emperor with a complicated expression: "Who do you intend to let inherit the throne?"

The Emperor looked exhausted: "We haven't decided yet, but I feel either one is suitable and capable of handling this important task."

The old lady chuckled: "You can think it through yourself, but you still need to keep your eyes open!"

The Emperor looked at his mother with a complicated expression, thinking that she would use this opportunity to recommend the fourth prince!

After all, he practically grew up right in front of her!