The results of the Spring Examination would be announced five days later. Lu Yiling booked a teahouse at the corner of the street early in the morning just to check Chu Che's ranking.
Qi Zhiyuan, who had arrived with Lu Yiling, was full of confusion and said, "You could have asked your father and Uncle Lin if Chu Che was on the list. Why did you have to come here so early in the morning to such a crowded place?"
Lu Yiling said, "Isn't this just for fun? How can you, as her brother-in-law, be so impatient? Xiaoxiao is pregnant and can't come here, and you're here to check the rankings for her, yet you're so talkative?"
Qi Zhiyuan looked at Chu Che who was drinking tea calmly beside him and asked, "You are not panicked at all?"
Chu Che said, "Don't panic."
Lu Yiling looked at Chu Che and asked, "Did my sister already tell you the ranking?"
"No." Chu Che said, "No matter what, the result is already determined. There's no point in panicking. If it doesn't work out this time, then I'll just study hard and wait for next year."
Qi Zhiyuan couldn't help but chuckle when he saw Chu Che being so calm, "That's true."
There is no point in panicking this year.
Before the red cloth on the list was removed at the auspicious time, Lu Yiling and Chu Che went to the imperial list. The moment the red cloth was removed, Lu Yiling spotted Chu Che's name at first sight, as it was at the top of the list.
Lu Yiling threw herself into Chu Che's arms and said, "I got it! I got it! I'm at the top of the list! It's definitely the top!"
Chu Che was stunned by Lu Yiling throwing herself into his arms, but he also hugged Lu Yiling tightly, regardless of the people on both sides looking at them. The energy he had spent on studying since he was a child finally paid off.
Qi Zhiyuan watched the two of them from the side, coughed heavily, and lowered his voice to say in Lu Yiling's ear: "Cousin, don't act recklessly in public, and don't be afraid of losing your reputation!"
Lu Yiling said, "I'm not fooling around. He's my fiancé, so I don't have to worry about losing my reputation."
Qi Zhiyuan was puzzled: "You and Chu Che are engaged? How come I didn't know? When did it happen?"
"It's decided now!" Lu Yiling held Chu Che's hand tightly.
Chu Che is at the top of the list at a young age. If she doesn't hurry up to arrange this marriage, it will inevitably fall into the hands of others.
Chu Che chuckled at Lu Yiling and said, "I finally lived up to your expectations."
After the results of the Spring Examination were announced, there was still the Palace Examination. However, Lu Yiling was not worried about Chu Che's Palace Examination at all. His Majesty was Chu Che's brother-in-law, so how could he make things difficult for Chu Che? Sure enough, after the Palace Examination, Chu Che was chosen as the top scorer.
At the Wenxi Banquet specially held by the royal family to entertain the newly-appointed Jinshi, Chu Che stole the limelight. He was the only top scholar before the age of 20 from ancient times to the present.
Many high-ranking officials and noble families had the idea of marrying into the family with Chu Che, but before they could even come up with the idea, they heard that the young princess of the Lu family and Chu Che had already been engaged. They could only praise them for being a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman.
At the Wenxi banquet, many people used Chu Che to toast and congratulate Lu Ze.
Lin Jiang said to Lu Ze, "Why didn't you tell me earlier that Chu Che was your future son-in-law? I'm so disappointed that I haven't even asked him to be my son-in-law yet."
Lu Ze frowned and said, "I haven't agreed yet."
"Why shouldn't such a good son-in-law wait for you?"
Lu Ze said, "I just look down on him for following Lingling around since he was little, letting her do whatever she wants. He's completely unmanly."
Lin Jiang smiled faintly and said, "When you were young, you often followed Princess Qi."
Lu Ze said, "When we were young, it was clearly Yuning who ran behind me."
Lin Jiang smiled and called Lu Ze to a quiet place aside. "Your Majesty has granted several concubines in the palace extra-palace residences today and bestowed upon them the title of Madam of the State. Do you understand what His Majesty means?"
Mrs. Lin Jiang's niece is now Concubine Wang De in the palace. Lin Jiang was naturally concerned when he learned the news.
Lu Ze said, "Your Majesty has grown up, and we are not in a position to interfere in the private affairs of the harem. However, Your Majesty has decided to appoint Wang Zhiyong as the Grand Marshal of the Dasheng Army. Your Majesty is a kind and benevolent person, and he will not mistreat a loyal minister."
Lin Jiang said: "I never thought that His Majesty would do this for the Queen."
Lu Ze said, "I really didn't expect that."
After the Wenxi Banquet, Chu Che was appointed as Shaoqing in the Dali Temple as he wished. The marriage between the young princess of the Lu family and Chu Che had not yet been officially completed with the six ceremonies, but it was already known to everyone in Shengjing.
There was nothing Qi Yuning and Lu Ze could do even if they refused to agree. What Qi Yuning feared the most was that Lu Yiling didn't really like Chu Che, but just felt familiar with him.
On the day Chu Yan and Ye Li came to Shengjing City to propose marriage, Qi Yuning went to Yuemi Courtyard to ask Lu Yiling, "Lingling, do you have feelings for Chu Che? You have to understand that the love between good friends and the love between husband and wife are different."
Lu Yiling nodded and said, "Mother, I think I understand now. In fact, I know him very well, but sometimes when I see the way he looks at me, my heart still beats violently. I didn't know why before, but now I understand. I just like him. There is no reason not to like him."
"On my tenth birthday, he caught a room full of fireflies for me to entertain me."
"When I first came to Yuemiyuan and was afraid to sleep alone, he would stay by my window all day."
"I want him to pass the imperial examination. For the past two years, he has been studying even at midnight."
"When I'm tired and don't want to walk, he'll carry me on his back. I think I just love him. I've gotten used to him being by my side for every little thing. I can't live without him."
Qi Yuning listened to Lingling's words and said, "Okay, Chu Yan and your wet nurse will come to propose marriage soon, and mother will help you set the wedding date."
"Okay." Lu Yiling said with a faint smile.
Chu Yanye Li came to ask for Lu Yiling's hand in marriage and offered a very generous betrothal gift, more than twice as generous as the one given to Zheng Xiuxiu before.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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