The beggar chuckled, "I'm not an onion, I'm just a rock at best!"
Lin Rui'an pursed his lips, afraid that he would laugh out loud.
"You...you...stone?"
Suddenly, the man remembered the name of the first-place winner he had just seen, his eyes widened, and he asked in a questioning tone, "You... what's your name?"
"Is Shi still alive? What's wrong?" The beggar pulled up his trousers, which were about to fall down.
"Are you really the Huiyuan?"
"Is it that strange? It's just an exam. I'm not brainless," the beggar said casually.
Those who were originally watching Lin Shixuan immediately shifted their attention upon hearing the name Huiyuan.
I was stunned when I saw the person dressed as a beggar.
"What? The top scholar is actually this beggar?"
"My God, this must be the poorest Huiyuan in history!"
"A talented person emerges from a beggar's den?"
"I don't believe it. Who knows if this person is an imposter?"
“That’s right, I don’t believe it either. I studied hard for ten years with many classmates and only got fifth place. How could you, a beggar in tattered clothes, be better than me?” Zhu Qingfeng squeezed out from behind and stood next to the beggar.
The beggar glanced at him. "What, are you jealous of me?"
"Who...is jealous?" Zhu Qingfeng was speechless for a moment.
He is jealous, but that doesn't mean he'll admit it.
"Since you're not jealous, why do you care whether I've studied or not? Back when my benefactor taught me to read, you weren't even born yet."
Zhu Qingfeng was displeased upon hearing this.
"You look like a beggar, only in your early twenties, a few years older than me. What, you think you can fly?"
The beggar ripped the coarse cloth off his neck, and a pungent, sour smell instantly filled the surroundings.
Upon smelling it, everyone was choked and took several steps back.
Zhu Qingfeng almost vomited, and angrily pointed his finger at the beggar:
"You, you, you did this on purpose."
"I did it on purpose! People like you who look down on others deserve it!" The beggar shook his robes.
Seeing the beggar's appearance, many people who had originally hoped to climb the social ladder suddenly felt inexplicably guilty.
If this person is indeed the top scholar, given his smelly appearance and lack of manners, he would probably be eliminated in the palace selection.
After venting his anger, Lin Shixuan looked at Lin Rui'an with hatred in his eyes.
That damn Lin Rui'an.
He must have done it on purpose. He must have known he hadn't passed the exam and deliberately brought this beggar to humiliate him.
Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that this beggar is the top scholar?
"The Four Books and Five Classics, poetry, and songs were all created little by little by great men of the past. You are just a beggar who has not received proper education or formal learning. How could you possibly pass the imperial examination with top honors?"
"Lin Rui'an, did you deliberately find this beggar to impersonate the top scholar just to humiliate me?"
Lin Rui'an left after saying that.
"You're not good enough for me to waste my time."
Lin Shixuan watched his carefree departure, his blood boiling with anger, and the anger he had just suppressed surged up again.
Suddenly his gaze turned to Zhu Qingfeng.
"Don't come any closer, I don't know you." Zhu Qingfeng retreated as if avoiding a plague when he saw him coming.
He's currently in fifth place, and he doesn't want to get involved with this person and affect his own palace selection.
If it affects his career, how can he marry Chu Qianxue?
Lin Shixuan thought he really didn't recognize him, so he quickly explained.
"Qingfeng, it's me, Shixuan."
Zhu Qingfeng, afraid that he would say another word, waved his hand and hurriedly left.
"Looks like you're not very popular, huh?" The beggar looked at him with a wry smile. "With your character, it's a good thing you didn't pass the exam; your ancestors' graves must be dried up by now!"
Lin Shixuan was furious and was about to run over and hit him when the beggar suddenly ran away from the crowd, as if he had known in advance.
"Oh dear, you failed the exam, you're just jealous of me~"
"Everyone who passed the exam, run fast! If Lin Shixuan finds out that anyone passed, he'll beat them up!"
Upon hearing this...
A commotion broke out in the crowd, with occasional sounds of collisions and screams.
When the beggar saw Lin Rui'an preparing to get into the carriage, he immediately ran up to him and blocked his way.
"Young master, young master, wait for me."
Lin Rui'an heard the beggar's voice and withdrew his foot, which was about to step onto the carriage.
"Excuse me, what can I do for you?"
The beggar, panting heavily, leaned on his knees and brushed aside his filthy hair. "Young master, could you give me a ride?"
Then he pointed behind him.
“I accidentally offended Lin Shixuan, and I’m afraid he’ll beat me to death.”
Lin Rui'an glanced at the noisy crowd behind him. "Didn't you cause this yourself?" he thought, feeling a little hesitant.
My sister and mother are both in the carriage. The beggar smells a bit; what if something happens to my mother…
"Ruian, is he your classmate? Then bring him up."
Upon hearing the woman's voice from inside the carriage, the beggar excitedly replied, "Madam, yes, I am his classmate. I just moved today, and I live near your residence."
"Come on up."
"Thank you, Madam," the beggar said to himself, completely disregarding Lin Rui'an's attitude. He pushed Lin Rui'an aside and climbed into the carriage.
Ye Lanyin was happily arranging the upcoming banquet with Huaxin and Huamei inside the carriage when she suddenly smelled a pungent odor.
She immediately took out a handkerchief from her waist and covered her nose.
"Hua Mei, why does it smell so bad? Is that a cesspool next to it?"
Hua Mei also smelled a sour stench and covered her mouth to explain, "Madam, there are carriages all around here, I don't see any cesspools."
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