Chapter 764 Zhao Jingsi Becomes the Head of the Council
The posting of the list of successful candidates sparked a city-wide frenzy.
Lu Yingxue is a lively person, and every time the list is posted, she would drag Cheng Wanwan to occupy a good spot in advance. But this time she looked listless.
"Forget it, let's go anyway." Lu Yingxue stood up. "Si Dan and Xiao Zheng both did very well. Let's see what place they got."
“It’s already this late, we won’t be able to squeeze in anyway.” Cheng Wanwan smiled. “We might as well sit in the courtyard and have some tea. If we pass the exam, someone will come to tell us. If we don’t pass, we can just keep trying.”
"Sister Wanwan, when will I be able to be as calm as you?" Lu Yingxue couldn't be so calm, and shook her head. "Sidan and Xiaozhan are still reading in the study. I don't know how those two boys can sit still like that."
She knew in her heart that Xiao Zhan had no chance, but she couldn't help feeling anxious and kept pacing back and forth in the yard.
Gu Bing felt dizzy from being shaken and couldn't help but say, "If Madam Yu really wants to know the result, I can make a trip for you. It will only take the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to make a round trip."
Just as Lu Yingxue was about to speak, the sound of gongs and drums drifted from afar.
The sound grew closer, and a young maid who was sweeping fallen leaves at the door ran in, shouting, "Madam, someone from the official school has come to bring good news!"
"I knew Sidan would pass the exam!" Lu Yingxue said excitedly, pulling Cheng Wanwan's arm. "Stop drinking tea and let's go out and see."
Cheng Wanwan put down her teacup, got up and asked Granny Qi to prepare the reward money before walking towards the door.
As they approached the gate, they saw the officials from the official school arriving in a lively procession, banging gongs and drums, before finally stopping at the entrance of the residence.
"Excuse me, is this the residence of Zhao Jingsi from Dahe Town, Ping'an County, Huzhou City, Yunnan Province?"
Cheng Wanwan nodded: "It is indeed my son."
"We, your servants, greet Lady Sui." The people from the official school bowed respectfully, then raised their heads and struck the gong and drum sharply, "The wind whips the banners, the water shakes the sky, and fish and dragons carry colorful boats."
Then knock once more and shout loudly, "Spring is beautiful, always following the pavilion, the top scholar falls into this house."
"The top scholar is the son of Lady Sui!"
"Congratulations, Madam Sui! Congratulations, Young Master Zhao! You've achieved the top score in both the provincial and metropolitan examinations! You're the envy of everyone!"
The officials and students from the official school sang in unison, bringing the atmosphere to its peak.
Those watching the spectacle at the entrance applauded and couldn't help but chatter amongst themselves.
"My goodness, Madam Sui is so good at raising children. Her nephew was the top scholar in the imperial examination, and three years later her own son also became the top scholar."
"Otherwise, how could she become the headmistress of the girls' school? Otherwise, how could she be so highly regarded by the Emperor and Empress? Lady Sui is truly capable."
"The imperial examination is coming up soon. I hope Lady Sui's son will become the top scholar."
"Our Great Yu Dynasty hasn't produced a top scholar who achieved the highest honors in all three levels of the imperial examinations for many years. I'm afraid it will be difficult."
"However, it wouldn't be surprising if it happened to Mrs. Sui's son..."
"..."
Cheng Wanwan herself was somewhat surprised.
She knew that Si Dan would most likely be on the list, and she thought that ranking in the thirties or forties would be pretty good. Unexpectedly, he was ranked first.
To rank first among so many outstanding scholars is even more difficult than the college entrance examination in later generations...
Cheng Zhao was able to get first place because he studied hard for more than ten years, while Si Dan only studied for four or five years, yet he was still able to crush so many outstanding talents.
All I can say is that Si Dan truly has a talent for studying.
After her initial surprise, she smiled and said, "Thank you all for coming to share the good news. This is a small token of my appreciation, please accept it."
She took the money pouches from Granny Qi and gave one to each of them.
The official from the school weighed it briefly and knew there was a lot of silver inside. He immediately beamed with joy, and auspicious words poured out of him like water.
"Excuse me, Madam Sui, where does Yu Zhan, a resident of Dahe Town, Ping'an County, reside?" the official from the school frowned. "The address is listed on the school records, but this is Madam Sui's residence..."
Lu Yingxue's breath caught in her throat, and she immediately stepped forward: "I am Yu Zhan's mother. We are staying with Madam Sui for the time being!"
Her eyes sparkled as she nervously watched the people from the official school, waiting for them to say what they would say next.
"Congratulations, Madam Yu!" The official from the school banged the gong again. "Yu Zhan has achieved twelfth place in this imperial examination, ranking among the top, with a bright future ahead..."
“Twelfth place…” Lu Yingxue suddenly grabbed her collar, “Oh my god, my son got in…”
Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly fell backward and fainted. If Gu Bing hadn't caught her waist in time, her head would have hit the threshold.
"Please excuse my poor appearance, gentlemen."
Cheng Wanwan gave out the reward money on behalf of Lu Yingxue, distributed wedding cakes and candies to the onlookers, and then closed the door and went inside.
Lu Yingxue slowly woke up, bursting into tears of joy: "Sister Wanwan, did you hear that? Xiaozhan got in! He came in twelfth place! His fingers were all injured, yet he still came in twelfth place! My son is so amazing, sob sob..."
"mother……"
Hearing the commotion ahead, Yu Zhan went to the front yard with Zhao Sidan to see what was going on, only to find his mother weeping bitterly in Madam Sui's arms.
"Xiao Zhan!" Lu Yingxue immediately hugged her son. "You passed the exam! You passed the exam! You're a tribute student now!"
Zhao Sidan laughed: "Congratulations, Brother Yu! Congratulations, Brother Yu! You've finally reached the same level as our teacher back then."
Upon hearing the result, Yu Zhan did not show much surprise. He said softly, "There is one last hurdle."
The final stage, the final palace examination, was held half a month after the results of the provincial examination were announced, which was in early April.
"We only have half a month left," Zhao Sidan said. "Let's go, let's continue reading."
So the two boys had barely stepped out for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before turning back to their books, without any of the expected surprises.
But after taking only a few steps, the two of them turned around at the same time and asked, "Did Zheng make the list?"
"Godmother, open the door! Open the door quickly!"
At that moment, Shen Zhengzhong's energetic voice came from outside the door.
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said, "Your brother Zheng must have made the list, otherwise he wouldn't be so excited."
Gu Bingfei quickly walked over and opened the door. Shen Zheng walked in full of energy and punched Zhao Sidan and Yu Zhan once each: "Well done, you two! One is number one and the other is number twelfth. You are so outstanding at such a young age. How can I bear it!"
Lu Yingxue said impatiently, "Alright, stop being so mysterious, just tell me your ranking."
"Ahem!" Shen Zheng said awkwardly, "One hundred and third place."
"That's not bad at all!" Lu Yingxue patted his shoulder. "Your Shen family has double good news this time, congratulations!"
Shen Zheng scratched his head and laughed.
In a few days it will be his wedding with Miss Lin, wouldn't that be a double celebration?
As the group was talking, there was another knock on the door. It was two other students from Dahe Academy who were taking the imperial examinations.
One of them made the list, ranking 123rd, while the other failed and planned to return to the Great River Academy to study hard for three years before trying again.
"Why go back to Dahe Town?" At this moment, the King of Qin swaggered in. "Even if you study hard for three years and try again, you may not be able to pass the exam."
The student's face darkened, but out of respect for the other person's status, he dared not say anything.
"But it would be different if you came to my Xiao Qin Academy," the King of Qin said loudly. "You are a scholar who has passed the imperial examinations, you are knowledgeable and insightful, and I've heard you also have some knowledge of the Assab language. If you enter Xiao Qin Academy, you will definitely be at the top of the list. Every year, my academy recommends officials to the Court of State Ceremonies, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Revenue. If you are at the top of the list, you can choose whichever position you want to hold. I don't easily tell others about such a good thing. It's only because you are from the same hometown as Lady Sui that I'm inviting you first..."
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