“But Mother, you should still be careful.” Lin Fenghe frowned slightly. “His Majesty is suspicious, the Second Prince is watching you closely, and the First Prince doesn’t like you either. Mother, you should stay in the manor for the time being. After your uncle finishes the provincial and imperial examinations, you should go back to Lin Family Village and get away from everything here.”
Song Anxin nodded. Upon hearing this, Yan Shuping unconsciously looked at Song Anxin, a different emotion flickering in his eyes.
"General Yan, what's wrong?" Song Anxin asked blankly when she saw Yan looking at her.
Yan Shuping withdrew his gaze and shook his head. "It's nothing."
At this moment, Song Anxin suddenly remembered something: "By the way, His Majesty was coughing very badly when I left. Is His Majesty experiencing some kind of health problem?"
Yan Shuping said, "My aunt said that the Emperor has been unwell recently, but the imperial physician said it was just a minor ailment and nothing serious."
"I see."
Song Anxin didn't think about it any further.
For the next period of time, Song Anxin mostly stayed quietly in her own residence. With Yan Ping'er and Li Xi accompanying her, she was not bored. Occasionally, the group would go out for a stroll together.
Soon the day of the imperial examination arrived. On the day they went to the examination hall, Song Anxin and Sun Lixi thoroughly checked Song Anbang's clothes and belongings, inside and out, for fear that someone might tamper with them, since their family was now being eyed by many.
"Uncle, don't worry. There are examiners on the Crown Prince's side as well. The Crown Prince has already spoken to you, so you won't be made things difficult," Lin Fenghe said.
Song Anbang nodded and said solemnly, "Sister, Li Xi, I'm going in."
His eyes were fixed on the examination hall. He was determined to pass the exam and establish himself in the capital, no longer standing behind his elder sister.
The provincial examination also lasted nine days and six nights, and was held in three sessions. Fortunately, the examination was completed smoothly and safely. When the results came out, Song Anbang won the second place in the provincial examination and became a tribute student, thus successfully entering the palace examination.
The palace examination was presided over by the emperor himself and was the final stage of the entire imperial examination. After the palace examination, the list of successful candidates would be released, and the emperor would personally appoint the top two scholars (Zhuangyuan, Tanhua, and Bangyan). At that time, the newly appointed scholars would parade through the streets of the capital every three years.
Soon, a week later, the imperial examination arrived. Song Anxin, Sun Lixi, and the others were already waiting at the East Gate of Kyoto. The list of successful candidates would be posted on this site as soon as the examination was over.
A bell rang out, and the crowd of people squatting around the notice board stirred.
"Here it comes, the notice has been posted!"
The officers in front cleared the crowd with their horns, while another officer posted a bright imperial edict on the city wall.
As soon as the officials left, the crowd surged forward, and Song Anxin and Sun Lixi, who were right in front of the crowd, were pushed to the bottom of the list.
The two started looking at the first name.
First place: Qin Tingbai.
Second place: Meng Kaitai.
Third place: Song Anbang!
"ah!......"
Song Anxin and Sun Lixi exclaimed at the same time, their hands clasped tightly together in extreme joy.
"Third place, third place! Sister, my husband is the third-ranked scholar! He's the third-ranked scholar!" Sun Lixi couldn't hide the excitement on her face.
At this moment, Lin Fenghe and Yan Ping'er also squeezed in. Lin Fenghe was overjoyed to see the name on the list: "Uncle passed the exam!"
"Wow, Uncle Song is actually the third-ranked scholar! That's amazing! Aunt Anxin, Aunt Song, let's hurry to the city gate. I heard from Grandfather that the top two scholars in the imperial examinations are very impressive when they parade through the streets!"
Yan Ping'er goes to Song Anxin's residence almost every day, and she especially loves to freeload meals. Over time, she has become familiar with Sun Lixi and Song Anbang, and now she calls Song Anxin "Aunt Song" and "Uncle Song" repeatedly.
Song Anxin was so happy that his mouth almost stretched to the back of his ears. The two top scholars and runners-up were both sons of prominent families in the capital, and their learning conditions and vision were much better than Song Anbang's.
It was truly remarkable that Song Anbang, from a humble background, could achieve the third-highest rank in the imperial examinations. His tireless study day and night, through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, was a testament to his dedication.
She waved her hand and said, "Okay, let's go! Your uncle has to see the parade."
The procession of newly appointed scholars through the imperial examinations is the most exciting event in Kyoto, held every three years. Naturally, the people of Kyoto would not miss this spectacle, and the streets were filled with people heading towards the Imperial Palace.
The capital city was bustling with people. Song Anxin, Sun Lixi and the others followed the crowd and could not move forward when they were still more than ten feet away from the gate of the imperial city. A crowd of people had already gathered at the gate of the imperial city, waiting to catch a glimpse of the scholars who had passed the imperial examination.
Soon a commotion arose in the crowd.
"The imperial city gates are open, they're open, we're about to come out..."
The imperial city gates opened, with flags and drums leading the way. On both sides, officials held up signs that read "Silence" and "Avoidance." Behind them were three top-ranking officials riding tall horses. At the very front was the top scholar, who wore a golden black gauze hat adorned with flowers and a bright red scholar's robe, looking very cheerful.
Then came the second and third place winners, followed by the other successful candidates in the imperial examinations, all dressed in festive red.
However, Song Anxin and the others noticed Song Anbang first. He was wearing a black gauze hat with flowers in his hair. He was radiant with joy because of his success in the imperial examination. His eyebrows were raised and his eyes were bright. His elegant and handsome face, coupled with his outstanding literary temperament, made him stand out among the other candidates.
"My goodness! This year's third-place scholar is so handsome!"
"Yes, he's the most handsome third-place scholar in all these years!"
"How many young ladies must he have won the hearts of? I wonder if this top scholar has married a proper wife yet?"
"......"
For a moment, everyone's attention was drawn to the third-ranked scholar, and they began to discuss him.
"Don't even think about it, the third-ranked scholar is already married and taken! Hahaha..." Yan Ping'er deliberately shouted in the crowd and then burst into laughter.
Song Anxin, Lin Fenghe, and the others laughed, while Sun Lixi covered her mouth and chuckled.
Those around sighed upon hearing this.
"Oh my, such a handsome young man, how many girls must he break their hearts!"
"Hehe, it's good that they got married, at least it saves them from marrying a princess..." someone said optimistically.
Soon the procession reached Song Anxin and his group, who immediately waved excitedly at Song Anbang.
"uncle!"
Anbang.
"My lord, we're here!"
“Uncle Song! Scholar Song!” Yan Ping’er’s voice was very loud.
Song Anbang had been intentionally searching for his family in the crowd. When he heard the familiar shouts, he looked towards the source of the voices and, sure enough, saw his family.
He rode a tall horse, his handsome face beaming with an even deeper smile as he waved to his family. His smile was as warm as a spring breeze, immediately eliciting screams from the young women and wives around him.
"Aunt Song, it's a good thing you acted early, otherwise those young ladies from famous families would have been fighting tooth and nail for Uncle Song," Yan Ping'er exclaimed.
Sun Lixi smiled, her eyes filled with thoughts of her husband. She was very grateful to her elder sister for encouraging her to express her feelings to her husband; otherwise, she really didn't know if she would still be able to be with him now.
She said, "Ping'er, if you take a fancy to any man, you must make your move as soon as possible."
Yan Ping'er touched her chin, feeling that what Aunt Song said made a lot of sense. She looked at Lin Fenghe and then said, "Lin Fenghe, let's get married!"
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