Jiang Jinzhao's light blue fine brocade robe had completely lost its elegant appearance at this moment. Several knife cuts had torn the fabric, and the edges were firmly stuck with blackened blood clots.
In particular, it was wrapped with several layers of fine cloth, tightly wrapping his entire right hand and forearm.
The bloody smell lingering in the air seemed to be emanating from him.
Several imperial physicians took turns squatting down, holding Jiang Jinzhao's wrist with serious expressions, and feeling his pulse with their fingertips.
The wrinkles between their brows grew deeper and deeper, and occasionally they raised their eyelids and exchanged a few heavy glances quickly.
Time seemed to freeze. The gentle flickering of the candlelight and the measured footsteps of the patrolling soldiers outside the tent were infinitely amplified by this silent heaviness, making it suffocating.
The classmates were all silent, exchanging complicated glances, their throats tightening.
Right hand! That's the life of a scholar! The Autumn Examination is just around the corner. Ten years of studying, sharpening a sword, untested, yet this flying arrow snaps it in half.
The dead silence was finally broken by a question with a youthful and hoarse voice.
Jiang Yihuan took a few steps to the imperial physician and raised his voice in a high and urgent voice: "Imperial physician, my eldest brother's hand. Can he still take part in this year's Autumn Examination?"
Almost everyone in the tent felt their hearts tremble and held their breath.
The imperial doctors put down their hands and looked at each other helplessly again.
The old man with white beard in the lead slowly stood up and faced Jiang Jinzhao.
"Young Master Jiang, the arrow wound was treated promptly and appropriately. Fortunately, the arrow passed through the palm without damaging any bones or tendons."
He took a deep breath, as if mustering up immense courage. "It's just this injury. It's strained my tendons, veins, and flesh too much. I'll have to rest and recuperate for a year or two. Then I'll pick up my pen and practice calligraphy again, day after day. Maybe I can recover as before."
As soon as the words fell, the tent was instantly filled with suppressed sighs and regretful gasps.
"Oh my goodness. A year or two? Is this year's Autumn Examination completely hopeless?"
"It's more than just this year! What does it matter if my fingers are more flexible? The strength and control of the pen can't be regained overnight. I'm afraid that even if I delay for another three years, I may not be able to catch up with the original!"
"It's more than a pity. He's the one the dean has called the most likely to win the championship. We've even privately said we must see who will win the top spot this year, Senior Brother Jiang or Senior Brother Li. Heaven is blind."
"That's exactly what you said. With Senior Brother Jiang's great talent, once the Autumn Examination is over, he'll be on the list of successful candidates in no time. He should have a bright future ahead of him."
The whispers among the students were like cold little snakes, rustling into my ears.
Li Tingzhen pushed aside the person blocking his way and stepped forward. "Brother Jiang, I hope you take care of yourself and rest assured. There is still a long way to go, and there will surely be a time for you to realize your ambitions."
Jiang Jinzhao turned his head slightly and met Li Tingzhen's gaze.
His face looked extremely pale in the candlelight, with a fine layer of cold sweat oozing from both sides of his nose. Only his eyes were surprisingly bright.
At that moment, he thought of the worse possibility - what if he was completely useless? The fact that he was still okay now was a blessing from heaven.
He nodded at Li Tingzhen and moved his lips: "Thank you for your concern, Brother Li."
"Ah!"
A slightly abrupt smacking sound was heard. Yu Huanshen crossed his arms, his index finger unconsciously tapping his forearm.
He had been looking at Jiang Jinzhao with his head tilted, his eyes moving around several times with complicated expressions.
I used to think Jiang Jinzhao was too aloof and inexplicably protective of his own people.
But today, he ended up in this situation just to protect his sister?
The lingering awkwardness in Yu Huanshen's heart suddenly eased.
He cleared his throat and uttered dryly, "Hey, Jiang Jinzhao!" His tone sounded stern, but the content was awkward: "Things have come to this, there's no point in worrying. Just take good care of your thing! Didn't they just recite the poem the county lady said? 'I was born with talents that must be useful.' The same goes for my hands! Just get through it, and there will always be a day when I can pick them up again!"
Jiang Jinzhao's eyebrows seemed to raise slightly when he heard this: "Mr. Yu has a good heart."
The discussion in the tent had not yet stopped when the sound of clearing a throat was suddenly heard outside the tent.
Ying Shuo, the eunuch beside the emperor.
His eyes, which were always smiling and narrowed into slits, were now covered with a layer of solemn gloom.
Ying Shuo's voice was not loud, but it was extremely penetrating, suppressing all the sighs and whispers in the tent: "The emperor has ordered——"
Everyone in the tent was startled and crouched down silently like the tide, and suddenly fell to their knees on the ground.
"Jiang Jinzhao, the eldest son of the Yongding Marquisate, and Jiang Songyi, the Princess of Jiaqing County, have made outstanding contributions in protecting the Crown Prince. Jiang Jinzhao is hereby appointed the heir apparent of the Yongding Marquisate and is to inherit the title. Princess of Jiaqing County is to be granted an additional fief of 500 households. In addition, a thousand taels of gold are to be granted, along with eight pieces of ancient jade from the previous dynasty, twelve exquisite paintings and calligraphy from the palace collection, and fifty bolts of each of the finest silks and brocades from Suzhou and Hangzhou. All these expenses must be used and, after the summer ceremony is completed, the Imperial Household Department will oversee the preparations and deliver them. This is my decree."
Ying Shuo raised his voice slightly: "Prince Jiang, County Lady, please accept my order and express your gratitude."
The moment Jiang Songyi lowered his head, he felt an incredible heat rushing straight to the top of his head.
Another 500 households were added to her fiefdom. This meant her fiefdom now reached a thousand households! This was already beyond the norm for ordinary princesses! Many princesses probably didn't have such a generous salary!
There was a slight tremor in her voice that she tried to suppress but still felt excited: "Your Highness. I accept your command and thank you!"
Beside her, Jiang Jinzhao also leaned down.
He stretched out his intact left hand and steadily caught the imperial edict.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace." He spoke, his voice calm and composed, not as if he had just received an imperial edict that would determine the family's fortunes for the next fifty years.
Ying Shuo's shrewd eyes lingered for a moment on Jiang Jinzhao's right hand, which was wrapped in layers of clothes.
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