On the day the top scholar paraded through the streets, the entire Zhao family, including the children, had reserved a street-facing spot at a restaurant well in advance, just to watch their family member parade on horseback.
Although throwing objects from high-rise buildings was prohibited during the parade, it did not dampen the enthusiasm of the young ladies.
I've heard that this year's top scorer is really good-looking.
Some ministers who had seen Xu Dongsheng at the palace gates even went home and told their wives that the newly appointed top scholar had a close relationship with the heir of the Duke of Huguo.
The clever ones, after a series of mental calculations, naturally sensed the air of gossip.
The foolish ones thought that by becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination, they could gain some benefits through the son of the Duke of Protectorate.
There are also those who simply want to find a son-in-law who is easy to control and has a promising future for their daughter.
Various motives, various rumors.
There were even rumors that Xu Dongsheng, the top scholar, had an unclear background and that he may have received the exam questions in advance.
However, no one dares to say such things casually; they wouldn't be smart enough to do so.
After all, anyone can cheat, but how could the imperial family possibly cheat?
The private room for the Zhao family was reserved in advance by Han Xuri; it was on the second floor and had a good location.
There was nothing obstructing the view downstairs, so the top scholar could see it clearly as he walked by.
At this moment, Han Xuri, Zhao Qianci, Zhao Qingyi, Zhao Qingyang, and Zhan Tong were looking out the window together.
Da Bao was young and short. Han Xuri then picked Da Bao up and carried him in his arms.
The short, stout guy became the one with the best view.
The women, on the other hand, had several little ones and children being held in their arms, watching the commotion outside.
The streets were lined with people.
Everyone wants to see if the top three picks in the draft, compared to the previous year's picks, look better.
Soon, the parade would be almost downstairs.
From afar, one could see the figures of Xu Dongsheng and his group.
In order to allow their family members to find their whereabouts as quickly as possible.
Zhao Qingyan offered an idea,
"When the procession gets downstairs, let's all call out to the men of the Zhao family to come over here, shall we?"
Of course, I agree.
So, whether they were screaming or waving handkerchiefs from other windows, they were all shouting.
The Zhao family members all spoke in unison.
"Men of the Zhao family, look over here, look over here."
Once they've attracted attention, they start shouting and yelling.
With that shout, the window on the Zhao family's side instantly became the focus of attention.
Fortunately, the Zhao family members are all quite thick-skinned.
When Xu Dongsheng saw his wife, she called out to him with her hands flared like megaphones, and he was so happy that his mouth stretched almost to his ears.
He raised his head to greet me, "Wait for me to come home."
Upon hearing the greeting from their own family members, all the men of the Zhao family naturally raised their hands in response.
This left all the scholars in the procession puzzled.
Who is that person in the window? How come so many people wave at the window just because they shouted?
Should they wave too?
The herd mentality is a terrible thing.
First, Xu Dongsheng and the seven newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) from the Zhao family waved.
Then other successful candidates waved, and then it evolved into everyone waving along in the streets.
I don't know what waving means, but waving is the right thing to do.
The scene was extremely spectacular.
The second and third place winners on the side were very curious.
"Scholar, do you know the girl in that window just now?"
Xu Dongsheng had a sweet smile on his face.
"Of course I know her. The one who shouted at me is my fiancée. The others are my father-in-law's family members."
The second and third place winners both felt it was unbelievable.
"The top scholar is not old, why is he engaged so early?"
Xu Dongsheng was in a good mood, so he said a few more words.
"That's because my fiancée is outstanding enough."
Then he said no more, afraid that if he said too much, they would be envious and jealous.
Well, I originally thought of marrying my younger sister or half-sister to Xu Dongsheng because he was good-looking and learned.
The plan fell through instantly.
Because of the high profile of the Zhao family.
The people inside the Zhao family's window could be seen clearly from the opposite side.
Those with sharp eyes naturally spotted Han Xuri through the window of the Zhao family's house.
Especially when people saw Han Xuri holding a child, they were in trouble. Some people overthought things and started to have dirty thoughts.
"Is that child the young master's illegitimate son?"
The woman who wanted to marry Han Xuri was consumed by jealousy.
I really want to find out who the child in Han Xuri's arms is.
Just who exactly are the people from the Zhao family?
The sight of Han Xuri standing by the window holding his eldest child naturally provoked Han Xuri's stepsister, Han Wanzhen.
Hearing that the newly crowned champion was as handsome as Pan An, she set her sights on him.
Although she was the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion, her mother was a second wife, and her maternal family was too ordinary.
No respectable member of the imperial clan or aristocratic family would even consider her.
The flowering season was almost over, and Han Wanzhen was very anxious.
She thought that if she couldn't marry into a noble family, she would marry a talented young man.
The newly crowned champion comes from a farming family; he has no connections, is good-looking, and has a promising future.
That's why I booked a room facing the street well in advance, just to see what this year's top scorer looks like.
She was immediately smitten when she saw it from afar.
Even if you can't see the eyebrows and eyes clearly, you can tell from the figure and temperament that the top scholar is good-looking.
Upon closer inspection, one is even more awestruck by its beauty.
Just as she was feeling joyful, she saw the top scholar calling out to the woman.
This is outrageous! It truly proves the saying, "Snatching food from a tiger's mouth."
Han Wanzhen was not willing to accept this.
Han Wanzhen had never met Zhao Qingyan, so she naturally did not know that she was the owner of Huicui Pavilion.
She thought she was just an ordinary country girl, at most a childhood sweetheart of the top scholar.
So what if a village girl is a little pretty?
I believe the top scholar is intelligent, and marrying a daughter of a duke's family would greatly benefit his future.
Just as he was thinking about how to get rid of Zhao Qingyan, he glanced over and saw his older brother holding a child in his arms.
"When did our eldest brother become so approachable? That child looks so delicate and beautiful, could he be our eldest brother's illegitimate child?"
The more Han Wanzhen thought about it, the more she felt she had figured out the truth.
Thus, a grand drama unfolded in his mind, specifically regarding the Duke's mansion's lack of offspring.
If their father knew that their elder brother had an illegitimate child, he would definitely send the child back to the Duke's mansion.
How much benefit can one's own siblings possibly gain?
Even though my father still cherishes my mother, it's a fact that she's now old and her beauty has faded.
Beauty fades and love wanes; this has been true since ancient times.
Han Wanzhen no longer had time to investigate Xu Dongsheng.
The important thing is to hurry home and find my mother to resolve the matter of my elder brother's illegitimate child.
The young ladies who came with Han Wanzhen were puzzled when they saw her leave.
They were able to get close to Han Wanzhen because she was from a higher-status family, a position they couldn't reach.
After all, his own father or grandfather were only fifth or sixth grade officials.
Among them, the one with the best family background had a father who was only a fourth-rank official.
However, a good family background is not as important as marrying well.
Who wouldn't want to marry a talented young man?
She doesn't want to marry a lousy old man as a second wife or a good-for-nothing ugly freak just for some so-called family alliance.
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