Chapter 419: Another Victory
"Father and mother? My parents are farming and making tofu in the countryside. Did Lord Wen and Madam Jiang say something wrong?"
Wen Yan was so busy every day that she didn't want to waste time on them. "Please leave, both of you. If you insist on making a scene here, I'll have no choice but to call the Acropolis Guards to kidnap you."
Jiang Xinkui shrank back in fear and quickly winked at Nanny Jiang beside her.
After receiving the order, Nanny Jiang rushed over, hugged Wen Yan's thighs, and began to accuse her with tears and snot.
It was said that Jiang Xinkui had become ill due to missing her daughter recently, and that Wen Yan had ignored the parents who had raised her for 16 years.
Ying Zhilin frowned slightly and said a few words to Pei'er. Pei'er nodded vigorously, turned around and ran out.
Wen Yan shook her legs vigorously, and she broke free from Nanny Jiang's persistence: "Miss me? I don't think so.
You guys went to Qingfeng Xiaolou to cause trouble yesterday, and you came to Yidianmo to cause trouble today. Aren’t you just trying to get the talented Qi Yunzhou away from me? "
Wen Yan was annoyed. "Has Madam Jiang been having an easy time lately? Do you want me to publicize the fact that you embezzled the credit for the Imperial Guards?"
"What merit? What publicity?" Lord Wen looked at Jiang Xinkui with sharp eyes.
Jiang Xinkui felt guilty, and just as she was unsure what to do, she saw two people squeeze in from the crowd: "So, does Shopkeeper Liu really know Qi Yunzhou's whereabouts?"
Wen Yan looked at one of them and felt that he looked somewhat familiar.
The next second, she remembered that he was Lord Wen's immediate superior, the Minister of Rites.
Wen Yan had never seen the Confucian scholar around him.
When Lord Wen saw the two, he hurried over to pay his respects and said, "This humble official greets the Shangshu and the Taifu."
It turned out to be the Grand Tutor of the current dynasty.
No wonder he has such an elegant temperament.
Wen Yan also bowed and asked, "I wonder what brings you, gentlemen, to our house so early in the morning?"
The Minister of Rites originally wanted to say a few polite words.
The Grand Tutor, however, saw that Wen Yan was not one to beat around the bush, so he said bluntly, "Shopkeeper Liu, I read Qi Yunzhou's article yesterday and was quite impressed. I came to visit him today."
Wen Yan said, "I'm sorry, Qi Yunzhou was harmed by a villain and all his limbs were broken. He is currently recovering from his injuries and is not suitable to see guests."
"All his limbs were broken? Then how did he write those articles?" the Grand Tutor asked curiously.
Wen Yan opened her mouth, wanting to explain something.
Finally, he turned back into the shop, took out a roll of paper, and handed it to the tutor: "After reading this, you should be able to understand."
The tutor opened the paper and took a look.
The characters on it were crooked and twisted, even worse than those of a child who had just learned to write.
Taifu: "He can't be..."
Wen Yan nodded: "You guessed right. These articles were written by Qi Yunzhou with his left hand in a splint."
"While he was writing these articles, his newly reattached left arm started to have problems again.
Now he has been ordered by the doctor to rest in bed and is not even allowed to read more books every day.
You two are both highly respected people, you wouldn't do anything that would disregard the life and death of a junior."
A look of embarrassment flashed across their faces, and they saw that Wen Yan was very determined to refuse to see the guest.
The two of them couldn't force it anymore.
So he settled for the next best thing and said, "Since he is not convenient to see guests now, let's not disturb him for now.
If Qi Yunzhou wants to meet guests in the future, please inform us immediately."
"That's as it should be."
The two of them exchanged a few polite words and then turned and left.
Lord Wen looked left and right, then immediately followed him and said, "Sir, it's all my fault for not doing my job well, which is why you made this trip in vain.
The Minister of Rites looked at him, shook his head helplessly and left.
The shop entrance was finally quiet.
**
Songshan Village.
As the sun rises, the villagers of Songshan Village go down to the fields to work, starting their day's work.
A villager commented: “I heard that the results of this year’s imperial examination were announced yesterday.
The people from the county government haven't come to announce the good news yet, is it possible that Zhilin didn't pass the exam?"
"But he passed the exam last year, so he shouldn't do too badly this time."
“Yingzhi Lin is just the best student in the capital.
Those who came to take the imperial examination were all the successful candidates from Dayong.
Dayong has so many prefectures and cities, and every three years there are more than a dozen Jieyuan (School Champions). It's not impossible for him to be outperformed."
"Oh... I thought our village could produce a Jinshi!
But it doesn't matter. Ying Zhilin is such a good student, he might pass the next imperial examination."
"That's right. Zhilin's wife is so rich that it wouldn't matter if she supported him to study for the rest of his life."
Everyone laughed and put the matter behind them.
Mrs. Qiao, who was in the field nearby, heard their discussion and laughed smugly, "Bah! You should know that little bastard Lin is worthy of being a Jinshi?
He deserves to fail the exam!"
A moment later, a team of officials entered the village with drums and gongs beating.
Everyone was quickly attracted by the sound of the gong and watched from afar, not daring to get close.
Until the officers stopped at the door of Lu's house and shouted, "We are the officers from the county government, and we are here to announce the good news.
Congratulations to Ying Zhilin for getting first place in the exam."
Soon, the gate was opened from the inside.
Brother Chen Qi came out with a cane: "Who is this...?"
The officer quickly recounted the story: "This good news should have been delivered yesterday. The government report was mixed up with other official business, which is why it was delayed."
"It's okay, as long as the good news is delivered." Brother Chen Qi took out a purse and stuffed it into their hands. "Thank you for your hard work. I'll treat you all to tea."
As soon as the officer got the purse, he felt its weight.
It's very heavy, probably about fifty taels.
This family is really generous.
The last time they came to announce the good news, they also gave a lot.
They said some more auspicious words and left.
The villagers who were watching from afar then flocked over and asked questions.
"Xiao Chenqi, did Zhilin really pass the exam and become the top scorer?"
"What is a Huiyuan? How does it compare to a Jinshi?"
Brother Chen Qi smiled and explained, "Huiyuan is the first place in the Jinshi exam."
"What! Ying Zhilin got first place again? Oh my god, Ying Zhilin is really amazing!"
Everyone praised Ying Zhilin again.
Brother Chen Qi smiled and said, "Zhilin will stay in the capital to prepare for the palace examination and will not be back for the time being. The celebration banquet will not be held for the time being, but gifts will be given to everyone."
Everyone waved their hands sheepishly: "It doesn't matter whether it's a gift or not, what matters is that our village has produced a Jinshi master.
I heard that if you pass the imperial examination, the court will directly assign you an official position.
From now on, when we see Ying Zhilin, we must kneel down and call him Master."
"Xiao Chenqi, the palace examination you mentioned means you will meet the emperor, right?"
The villagers rushed forward and asked questions enthusiastically, and everyone's face was full of curiosity and enthusiasm.
Brother Chen Qi was infected by their emotions. Not only did he not hate this feeling, but he also answered them one by one with great patience.
He got along well with the villagers and even his personality became much more cheerful.
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