Chapter 362, Zhao is number one.
The day after the results of the prefectural examination were posted, the results of the provincial examination were posted.
Only those who pass the first exam can participate in the second. Those who pass the second exam become the Xiucai of that year. Once they become Xiucai, they are considered to have an official position. Therefore, the announcement of the results of the provincial exam is more sensational than that of the prefectural exam, and many unrelated people come to join in the fun.
Early in the morning, Cheng Zhao, Shen Zheng, and Qian Hui finished breakfast, tidied up, and went to wait for the results to be released.
Cheng Wanwan stayed at the inn to wait for good news.
She wasn't worried about Zhao'er making the list. As for Xiao Zheng, she wasn't sure, but the boy seemed carefree, so even if he didn't make the list, he probably wouldn't be too depressed.
Shen Zheng didn't really take it to heart. If he didn't pass the exam, he could try again next year. Anyway, he was still young... cough cough, not so young anymore.
He's already seventeen this year. If he takes the exam again next year, wouldn't he be in the same cohort as Si Dan Yu Zhan? No way, that would be too disgraceful to Young Master Shen's reputation. He has to pass the exam this year!
Shen Zheng immediately tensed up.
"You've encountered the questions in the first exam before," Cheng Zhao's voice rang out calmly. "As long as you don't make any mistakes, you should be able to pass the exam."
Shen Zheng was overjoyed: "Since you've said so, then I'm sure I'll be on the list."
Qian Hui laughed too: "We're about the same level. If you can make the list, then I definitely can too."
"Who's on par with you?" Shen Zheng immediately distanced himself. "You're from a wealthy family, spending your days eating, drinking, and having fun. I'm a good student, studying hard every day. If I fail the exam, it would be against all reason. But if you fail, it's perfectly reasonable."
You're asking for it!
Qian Hui started chasing after Shen Zheng and making a scene.
Cheng Zhao smiled and shook his head helplessly. These two are never serious...
He was about to hurry after her when suddenly someone bumped into his shoulder. He looked up and saw a girl dressed as a maid. The girl glanced at him, then threw a crumpled piece of paper into his arms and disappeared into the crowd in an instant.
Cheng Zhao was completely bewildered. He unfolded the crumpled paper, on which was written a line: "Please meet at the teahouse on the street corner."
The handwriting is in the delicate and neat small regular script, clearly written by a woman.
A woman invited him to a teahouse on the street.
For men and women to meet in private is against etiquette and is a major taboo!
Cheng Zhao immediately looked up, left and right, but didn't see any suspicious women around him.
"Hey, why aren't you leaving?"
Shen Zheng had walked more than ten meters ahead when he turned around and found that Cheng Zhao had fallen behind, so he shouted loudly.
Cheng Zhao crumpled the note into a ball and hid it in his belt, then quickly followed Shen Zheng.
At the end of the street, a magnificent carriage was parked, with a coachman and a maidservant standing guard beside it.
After waiting for a long time, a cold voice came from inside the car: "Has the person arrived?"
"Miss, let me go and take another look ahead."
The maidservant, head bowed, hurried toward the place where the list was posted. She returned shortly, her face beaming with joy: "Miss, that young master Cheng is at the top of the list, the first place in the first round! He's sure to become a scholar in this imperial examination. Perhaps we should do as Master and Madam wish..."
"So what if he's first in his class? So what if he's a scholar?" Miss Leng's voice was even colder. "He has no intention of marrying me, and I have no intention of getting married either. Forcing us together is just mutual torture. My parents' drastic measures have made me so ashamed that I can't face anyone. This matter must be nipped in the bud."
The maid wanted to say a few words of advice, but in the end she swallowed them and said, "There are too many people over there, and I really can't find an opportunity. Why don't I wait until after the second exam, and then I'll go to the inn to invite Young Master Cheng to the teahouse for a chat?"
Miss Leng lifted the carriage curtain and glanced over there.
For some reason, even though there were so many people, thousands of people, crowding the street, she spotted the man who had caught the embroidered ball that day at a glance.
Perhaps because he was at the top of the list and was surrounded by countless people, he was particularly dazzling.
Perhaps it was because of his extraordinary bearing and refined temperament that she could spot him at a glance.
Miss Leng lowered the carriage curtain and calmly ordered, "Let's go back to the manor."
Surrounded by the crowd, Cheng Zhao vaguely felt as if someone was watching him. He looked up at the street corner, but only saw a magnificent carriage slowly driving away.
"Brother Cheng is truly a man of great talent."
"Brother Ziyu is the top scorer in the first round, and he's sure to be the top scorer in the second round as well. From now on, we should call him Scholar Cheng."
"The second exam is tomorrow, and I hope Brother Cheng will not hesitate to offer some guidance..."
A group of scholars surrounded Cheng Zhao.
Before the notice was posted, these people hadn't exchanged a single word with Cheng Zhao. But as soon as the notice was posted, they all gathered around to exchange pleasantries, calling him "Brother Cheng" and even using his courtesy name, as if they were very familiar with each other.
Not far away, Zheng Wangfeng's face was so black it looked like ink was dripping from it.
He was ranked second, completely overshadowed by Cheng Zhao.
Back then, because Cheng Zhao was so outstanding, the headmaster of Nanfu Academy praised Cheng Zhao highly in his words and deeds. He became jealous, so he joined forces with Qian Hui to secretly trip up Cheng Zhao.
He thought he had ruined Cheng Zhao's career, but he never expected that Cheng Zhao had such an outstanding aunt.
Originally, Qian Hui was his underling and follower, but because of that Lady Sui, he became Shen Zheng and Cheng Zhao's lackey. Zheng Wangfeng really couldn't swallow this insult.
He gave a look to the follower behind him.
The lackey, who hadn't made the list, was seething with anger. Seeing Zheng Wangfeng's tacit approval, he no longer held back.
He strode forward casually and sneered, "Someone who was expelled from Nanfu Academy for cheating has the nerve to be the top scorer in the academy exam, ha!"
Upon hearing this, the people around him were filled with surprise and doubt.
"How can someone with a history of cheating be allowed entry?"
"Was he really expelled from Nanfu Academy? Then why would someone vouch for him?"
"I knew it! How could the top spot be held by someone whose name I'd never heard of before? Turns out there's more to it than meets the eye..."
Cheng Zhao said calmly, "Before entering the examination hall, the examiners will verify my identity. If I really had a criminal record, why would the examiners let me in? Since I was able to participate in the provincial examination, it means that your words are completely unfounded. Do you know what crime it is to slander a candidate in public?"
“How can you smear Brother Cheng in public?” Zheng Wangfeng walked over, looking condemning. “Although Brother Cheng was indeed expelled from Nanfu Academy, he later went to the county magistrate and the matter was clarified. It was just a misunderstanding.”
As soon as he said this, the people around him looked at Cheng Zhao with scrutinizing eyes.
Since Nanfu Academy has issued an expulsion order, it means that there was indeed cheating involved.
After investigation, it was determined to be a misunderstanding. It was highly likely that Cheng Zhao had brought great benefits to the headmaster of the academy, so the matter was dropped.
But that doesn't change the fact that Cheng Zhao cheated.
If Cheng Zhao is disqualified, then all of them will move up a rank, which would be fantastic news...
Seeing the calculations in everyone's eyes, Zheng Wangfeng smiled quietly.
Although Cheng Zhao's qualification for the provincial examination cannot be actually revoked, as long as it causes trouble for Cheng Zhao and affects his performance in the second examination, that will be enough.
He was determined to be the top scholar in the provincial examination; this was an honor that Zheng Wangfeng had to hold firmly in his grasp.
"Zheng Wangfeng, you're a real bastard!" Shen Zheng slammed his paper fan shut and cursed, "Back then, when Brother Cheng was expelled from Nanfu Academy, what exactly happened that required us to confront him in public?"
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