When Zhuang Zhen walked in, he glanced at the seats and sat down opposite Xiao Yang without any hesitation!

Rumors of an unfriendly relationship with Xiao Yang immediately spread!

Xiao Yang didn't care either, since the discord didn't start with his generation anyway!

The first-place winner of the second-class class arrived last. Seeing that someone was sitting in his seat, he didn't react at all. He simply walked to the seat below Xiao Yang and sat down!

This was just a minor incident at the Deer Cry Banquet, and almost no one remembered it after a while!

As Xiao Yuan had said, the top three were all retained in the Hanlin Academy. Although they were only starting from the bottom, Xiao Yang was still very happy because he wouldn't have to run around anymore!

The Emperor also attached great importance to the upcoming parade of the Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations), so he did not delay for long. He bestowed hairpins upon the top three winners and then left!

The three women placed the flower hairpins on their official hats, which Xiao Yang found extremely distasteful. What was a grown man like him doing wearing flowers? If it weren't for Song Yan'er, he probably wouldn't have gone to the parade! After all, with so many people watching them, they looked like a joke. He really didn't understand how so many people could enjoy this kind of activity!

In fact, Xiao Yang and Zhuang Zhen are both good-looking. Wearing the flower hairpins does not make them look effeminate at all. On the contrary, they look heroic and beautiful, like peach blossoms and plums, surpassing all others!

Only Feng Liulang was somewhat disappointing; perhaps it was because his skin was rather dark, but the flower hairpin he wore in his hair looked a little comical!

The Imperial Guards led the way, followed by officials from the Ministry of Rites beating gongs and drums!

Hearing this, Xiao Yang couldn't help but frown, regretting once again participating in today's parade, feeling like a fool!

No matter what Xiao Yang thought, at this point, it was no longer an easy time to back down!

Xiao Yang reluctantly led two hundred scholars, riding on gleaming horses, to receive the cheers and gazes of all the people!

The people originally came for Zhuangzhen, after all, he had been known as a genius since childhood, and they wanted to witness his talent firsthand!

However, when people saw the top scholar walking at the front, they immediately erupted in excitement!

"My goodness, she's like a celestial being descended to earth!"

"My goodness, I never heard that this year's top scholar is so handsome!"

"Top scholar, look this way! This way!"

"Top scholar, look over here!"

Some of the bolder girls started screaming, hoping that Xiao Yang would even glance at them!

Xiao Yang overheard the entire discussion, and his face grew even darker.

How dare a grown man like me be called beautiful? What utter nonsense!

Zhuang Zhen's expression wasn't very good either. Clearly, all this glory and the favor of these girls should have been his. Although some girls were calling him names, they were no match for Xiao Yang!

Of the top three, only Feng Liulang was genuinely happy; he was so happy that tears were about to stream down his face!

What does it mean to bring honor to one's ancestors and to bring glory to one's family? This is it! For this moment, Feng Liulang felt that all the hardships he had endured before were worth it!

There was only one top scholar, and although he was handsome, his dark face was quite frightening!

Everyone in Zhuangzhen knew about his family's background; people from ordinary families would definitely look down on him!

So, although both of them were quite handsome, they were still far from being as good-looking as Feng Liulang!

This was the first time Feng Liulang had received so much attention from women, and he blushed deeply, which made the girls who had their eyes on him burst into laughter!

The more people laughed, the redder Feng Liulang's face became; it was practically a virtuous cycle!

The tradition of parading people through the streets was meant to be fun; if you could bump into a husband and bring him home, all the better. But if you couldn't, it was just for fun! So everyone was very happy!

Only Xiao Yang was casually looking around:

Yan'er said she would wait for me here, so why haven't I seen her yet?

Suddenly, a purse landed directly in his hand. Xiao Yang initially wanted to throw it away, but upon seeing the familiar design on the purse, a smile immediately appeared on his face, and he began searching for Song Yan'er in the crowd!

"Ah, is the top scholar looking at me?!"

"Get out of my way! The top scholar was clearly looking at me!"

"They're looking at me."

"Wow, the top scholar looked handsome even with a stern face, but when he smiled like that, oh my god, I'm smitten!"

"My God, even the most stunning beauty couldn't compare! If it were him, I'd be willing to be his concubine!"

Hearing this from the crowd, Song Yan'er rolled her eyes. Why did everyone want to steal her away? Luckily, she acted early.

However, Xiao Yang, now riding on horseback, had his long, black hair under his official hat brushing against his face, reflecting the sunlight as if the tips of his hair were slightly tinged with golden luster. He smiled slightly, exuding an aura of unparalleled charm!

Damn, it's so tempting!

I just felt weak in the knees!

Listening to the discussions around me, it's clear that Xiao Yang fits the aesthetic standards of all humankind!

Suddenly, Xiao Yang seemed to see Song Yan'er. His smile slowly bloomed, as alluring and captivating as a red lotus! His sharp features now appeared incredibly gentle, and his blurred smile contained a hint of doting affection, peacefully enveloping Song Yan'er!

Xiao Yang waved the purse in his hand towards Song Yan'er. Song Yan'er smiled knowingly, but in her heart she was thinking, "Don't smile anymore. Can't you see the girl next to you is about to scream her lungs out?"

At that moment, Xiao Yang removed the hairpin from his official hat and was about to throw it towards Song Yan'er with his internal force!

He wasn't worried at all that Song Yan'er wouldn't be able to catch the hairpin! After all, her martial arts skills were simply too formidable!

Song Yan'er also thought that no one would compete with her for the hairpin at this time, after all, Xiao Yang's purpose was very clear!

To their surprise, they were both wrong; someone actually came to steal the hairpin!

Soon, a golden whip lashed out towards Xiao Yang's hairpin!

"ah!"

This is the cry of an ordinary woman!

Song Yan'er frowned. Using a whip here? Wouldn't that hurt a lot of innocent people?

Just as the whip was about to wrap around the hairpin, Song Yan'er drew her peerless sword and blocked the arrogant whip!

The hairpin naturally fell into Song Yan'er's hands!

"How dare you! I am the eldest princess of Western Liao! How dare you try to steal my things!"

Princess Yelü Xue of the Western Liao thought that if she revealed her name, others would be afraid, after all, that was how she was in the Western Liao!

But what I saw was Song Yan'er's sneer!

"So they're from the Western Liao! No wonder they were so rude! Honestly, next time we should have someone speak to the Emperor. These primitive barbarians shouldn't be allowed into Western Shu. If they're mistaken for people from Western Shu, it will really damage the national character of Western Shu!"

Yelü Xue showed no expression when she heard Song Yan'er's words, as if she was used to being told that!

He glanced at Song Yan'er casually:

"So what? What I want has never escaped my grasp. This top scholar from Western Shu is a perfect match for me. There's no point in you fighting for him!"

Yelü Xue's arrogant demeanor ignited the fighting spirit of the people of Western Shu!