Chapter 26, Section 026: "Congratulations, top scholar!"...
Today, the area outside the examination hall's notice board was still packed with people early in the morning. Besides the candidates taking the palace examination, those who failed and were temporarily staying in the capital, and ordinary people who were bored and loved to watch the excitement, there were also servants sent by wealthy merchants or officials from the capital to check the results. There was also a group of messengers who were there to deliver good news to the successful candidates. If they were fast and lucky enough to run into a wealthy family's messenger, they could sometimes get a reward of dozens of taels of silver!
Luo Lan and Pei Xingshu had arrived long ago. Pei Xingshu got out of the car and socialized with his acquaintances from the same department. Luo Lan sat inside the car, peeking through a small gap in the curtain to keep an eye on the outside. In the end, she only saw Qingchuan arriving alone.
Qingchuan recognized the Pei family's carriage and trotted over to greet Roland.
Roland: "Did the entire Marquis's mansion only send you?"
Qingchuan said with a bitter expression, "Yes, the Third Young Master asked me to come and see if his name is on the list."
The fact that the top scorer in the imperial examination is worried about this shows how slim his chances of passing the exam are.
Roland didn't have much to say. She told him to hurry up and grab a spot. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw several successful candidates who had been on good terms with her husband after the results of the imperial examination were announced. They had been chatting and laughing with her husband at the time, but after Xiao Yu's accident, these women never contacted her husband again. Now, they deliberately avoided the location where Pei Xingshu was.
If even our family, which is merely related by marriage to the third branch of the Xiao family, is in such a state, one can only imagine the recent cold reception the Xiao family has received in the capital's official circles.
Who can be blamed? It's human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm. Relatives and friends are already bound together and can't be separated, so of course outsiders will stay far away.
However, it is precisely because of this that it is all the more commendable that a colleague is still willing to be on good terms with her husband.
When the appointed time arrived, the Ministry of Rites official who was in charge of posting the notice came out, still with guards carrying swords clearing the way, and the official calmly posted the notice.
As if possessed, Roland didn't go to find her servant in charge of checking the results. Instead, she stared intently at the tall Qingchuan. Seeing Qingchuan standing there motionless, Roland unconsciously gripped the window frame. As she gripped, Qingchuan finally turned around, first pushing his way out, and then, upon meeting her gaze from afar, Qingchuan grabbed someone's shoulder and jumped high into the air, bursting into tears of joy: "The top scholar! My third young master is the top scholar!"
Roland felt a sense of relief, and in his elation, he shed a tear.
At this moment, his own servant squeezed out like a monkey and ran towards the carriage road: "Young master, you have become the third-ranked scholar, the top scholar in the first rank!"
Their voices echoed through the crowd. Even if they hadn't shouted, the eager onlookers had already begun to announce the names of the top three scholars: Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua. The common people might not have heard about what had happened in this year's palace examination, but all the candidates present knew that Xiao Yu, the top scholar of this year's provincial examination, had committed treason and was imprisoned. Hearing Xiao Yu's name again, and that he had even become the top scholar, the candidates could hardly believe their ears.
"Is it really Xiao Yu?"
"Wasn't it said they were taken away before the palace examination was even over?"
"What exactly did he write?"
.
At the Marquis of Zhongyi's residence, Madam Deng sat sullenly in Wanhe Hall, flanked by Yang Yanzhen and Li Huaiyun.
For several years, the three women—mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, and mother-in-law—lived their own lives without disturbing each other. However, after Deng was frightened by her youngest son, Yang Yanzhen and Li Huaiyun came to visit and comfort her every day. As they comforted her, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law actually grew closer. Today, the results of the imperial examination were announced, and expecting that the mother-in-law was in a bad mood, Yang Yanzhen and Li Huaiyun came to comfort her again.
Including Yang Yanzhen, the three women—mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law—were prepared for Xiao Yu to fail the exam, waiting for a result to finally give up hope.
"Madam, Madam, six or seven messengers have arrived outside, all saying that the Third Young Master has become the top scholar in the imperial examination!"
Manager Zhao, who had been guarding the gate, rushed in, panting heavily. His face was flushed, and he said, "One reporter might be trying to make a fool of the Xiao family, but if several reporters are saying the same thing, it must be true!"
Before the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law could react, Qingchuan, who had lagged behind the messengers, arrived and confirmed the good news.
Madam Deng was overjoyed and immediately sought help from her eldest daughter-in-law to clarify: "What, what's going on? The Emperor really doesn't blame the third son?"
Yang Yanzhen smiled and said, "The Emperor's grace is boundless. The Emperor appreciates my third brother's talent and will not hold his offensive and frank words against him."
This was the truth. Deng was deeply grateful to Emperor Yongcheng. She immediately ran to the courtyard, knelt down in the direction of the palace, and kowtowed three times with tears in her eyes: "The ancestral graves of the Xiao family are emitting auspicious smoke, allowing them, father and sons, to receive such great imperial favor. Your Majesty is so kind to the Xiao family. The descendants of the Xiao family will swear to repay Your Majesty and the court with their lives..."
Yang Yanzhen, Li Huaiyun, and others also knelt down and kowtowed, and then the two daughters-in-law helped their mother-in-law up.
Yang Yanzhen glanced at Steward Zhao and asked his mother-in-law, "The messengers outside are still waiting for the wedding money. I suggest that the first messenger to arrive receive one hundred taels, and the rest ten taels each. What do you think, Mother?"
The smile on Deng's lips and the tears in her eyes froze. She was very happy that her son had become the top scholar, but even so, it was not worth spending more than a hundred taels of silver to celebrate. They were not her son's classmates, and she could only retain a good relationship by hosting a banquet.
Yang Yanzhen explained in a voice that everyone in the courtyard could hear: "In previous years, the top-ranking scholars from wealthy families would only receive a few dozen taels of silver as a congratulatory gift because they only received the first level of joy from passing the exam. Our family is different. Today, the Emperor's favor bestowed upon my third brother far surpasses the honor of him being named the top scholar. Mother, don't you think so?"
Madam Deng suddenly realized that the silver was not for the reporters, but to tell everyone, especially the Emperor, how grateful the Xiao family was for the Emperor's kindness to the Xiao family!
She immediately instructed Steward Zhao: "Quickly go and withdraw the silver, and say it according to the Madam's wishes!"
Manager Zhao understood that when it was his turn to give the messengers their lucky money, he would both laugh and cry. The messengers would see that even the Xiao family's manager was so grateful to the Emperor, and they would imagine how grateful the masters inside would be. When they went back and boasted about the Xiao family's generosity, they would not only explain why the Xiao family had given so much, but they would also naturally tell them about what they had seen and heard.
Shensi Hall.
Qingchuan was reporting the good news to his young master: "The list says that the Emperor will hold a banquet in the Taiji Hall the day after tomorrow, and all the successful candidates will have to go to the palace to attend."
Xiao Yu did not laugh. After a moment of stunned silence, he knelt down in the courtyard just like his mother and kowtowed three times to the palace with utmost sincerity.
He offered his advice out of loyalty to the emperor and for the sake of the people, and at that time he was already prepared to die. However, the emperor not only did not punish him, but also appointed him as the top scholar in the imperial examination. Xiao Yu could only repay such imperial favor with all his heart.
After kneeling and kowtowing, Xiao Yu calmed his turbulent emotions and strode towards the central courtyard.
Luo Fu sat in the east side room, her mind in turmoil. She had heard Qing Chuan rush into Shen Si Hall to announce the good news, and knew that Xiao Yu had become the top scholar.
The top scholar! The top scholar! If Xiao Yu hadn't committed a crime and gone to jail, if he had smoothly obtained the top scholar title, Luo Fu would be grinning from ear to ear right now, wouldn't she?
She had been hoping he would fail the exam that morning, so they could live a peaceful and uneventful life as a couple. But then Xiao Yu passed, and with that, he was to become an official. Given his straightforwardness and audacity, who would believe he would never offend the emperor again?
Anyway, Luo Fu didn't dare to believe it, and didn't dare to gamble with her and her family's entire lives.
When Xiao Yu lifted the curtain and entered, he saw his wife's pursed lips and her worried eyes, which instantly shattered his fantasy that becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination would make his wife change her mind.
"You, you heard what Qingchuan said?" Xiao Yu asked, still clinging to a sliver of hope.
Luo Fu returned his polite smile: "Yes, congratulations, top scholar."
Xiao Yu: "...I assure you that even when I offer advice to the Emperor in the future, I will carefully consider my words and strive not to offend the Emperor. Please give me another chance, Madam."
"I don't believe these empty words." Luo Fu turned her head away. Her parents had a good relationship, but how many times had her father and mother promised not to secretly lend money to others? When had they ever kept their word? At most, they dared not lend large sums of money anymore, only the small change they had.
It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. Judging from his parents-in-law's attitude and the two things Xiao Yu did, no, we should also add the old case from three years ago where he subtly criticized the emperor and openly criticized the left prime minister. Xiao Yu is a straightforward and impulsive scholar who is not afraid of death but will speak out. It's no wonder he can't change.
Looking at his wife's cold face, Xiao Yu longed to make her smile again, but he couldn't think of a way to break the deadlock.
Just then, Pei Xingshu and his wife arrived, and Deng sent someone to call the young couple to Zhongzheng Hall to receive guests.
Today is a big day for Xiao Yu. Even if no relatives come to visit, he still has to go and receive congratulations from his mother and sisters-in-law. He can't stay cooped up in Shensi Hall all the time.
Luo Fu was polite; she could discuss the divorce with Xiao Yu behind closed doors, but until the matter was settled, it was best to keep it a secret from her parents-in-law and brother-in-law.
After a quick tidying up, the couple went to Zhongzheng Hall in silence. As soon as they arrived, Luo Fu smiled, as if she was genuinely happy.
After the social engagements, Xiao Yu was taken to a restaurant by Pei Xingshu to meet with his fellow students who were waiting to congratulate them. Luo Fu took her sister back to Shensi Hall for a private chat.
Upon learning that her younger sister was still thinking about divorce, Roland tapped her on the forehead: "Are you stupid? The Emperor didn't even blame Xiao Yu, and generously appointed him as the top scholar. Now that you're divorcing Xiao Yu, are you trying to tell the Emperor that you suspect he's not as benevolent as he seems, and that you still hold a grudge against Xiao Yu? So, you, the smart one, should leave the Xiao family as soon as possible?"
Luo Fu: "..."
Roland sighed, “Xiao Yu’s failure to pass the exam proves that he was wrong. You can avoid criticism by proposing a divorce. Now that the Emperor is openly appreciating Xiao Yu, you are going against him. What will the Emperor think? The historians will probably record it, saying that Xiao Yu, who spoke out against the Emperor in the thirty-second year of Yongcheng, was pardoned by the Emperor and passed the imperial examination with top honors, while his wife, Lady Luo, still abandoned him out of fear of death. Well, they, the Emperor and his minister, have gained a good reputation, while you, Lady Luo, will be infamous for eternity.”
Luo Fu: "..."
She never cared about being remembered in history, but she also didn't want historians to smear her with a bad name!
"Then, so I'm just going to continue living with him in constant fear?" Luo Fu asked unwillingly.
Roland gently touched his younger sister's thinner face and said softly, "There's no such thing as a free lunch. Just as soldiers can easily gain merit on the battlefield, they can also easily lose their lives. Civil officials can be promoted if they achieve merit, but they can also be demoted or punished if they mess up their duties or are framed. Your brother-in-law is good at dealing with people, and he has now become a third-place scholar in the imperial examination, but will his official career really be smooth sailing from now on?"
Luo Fu: "...I can remarry an ordinary man, he doesn't need to be an official, as long as he has some assets and doesn't make me suffer."
Roland: "It's easy to say. How many ordinary men in Guangling were forced into labor or conscripted into the army? How many ordinary men were bullied and manipulated by the rich and powerful because they had no power or influence? And what about us sisters? If it weren't for our family having some money and later climbing up to the prestigious Pei family in the city, with our looks, we would either have been harmed by local thugs or taken as concubines by纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families who are spoiled and dissolute), and we would hardly have had a good end."
Luo Fu fell silent.
Roland advised his sister: "Marrying anyone will bring worries. Rather than marrying an ordinary man and worrying about unknown dangers, you should continue to be the wife of the top scholar in the Marquis's mansion, dressed in gold and silver and served by servants every day. You only need to keep an eye on Xiao Yu and make sure he doesn't make any more foolish mistakes. Besides, does Xiao Yu really think he's fearless and enjoys being in prison? He dared to insult the Emperor a second time after insulting him once? He'll learn from his mistakes. You don't need to control him; he'll learn his lesson on his own."
Luo Fu tugged at her sleeve and looked at her sister, asking, "What if? What if he dares to come a second time? Aren't you afraid that our family will be implicated by him, and that your husband, Yi-ge'er, and the others will also be implicated?"
Roland: "What if it's just a matter of chance? There are still 9,999 points of wealth and honor that you would enjoy with him. It's the Luo and Pei families who are benefiting from the Xiao family's influence. For a little bit of hidden danger, you'd give up 9,999 points of wealth and honor. Oh, and you'd also have to add the historical stain of being a coward. Tell me, sister, is it worth it?"
Luo Fu: "..."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Emperor Yongcheng: Actually, you could just dump him. I wouldn't mind. [Eating popcorn emoji]
Haha, 100 little red envelopes, see you tomorrow~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com