☆, Chapter 171: Who Will Win the Top Scholarship?
Uncle Zhao originally wanted to ask if he had made the list, but seeing the man who returned looking radiant with joy and excitement, he figured Zhao Yunjing couldn't have done too badly and must be on the list. As for whether he was number one...
Uncle Zhao shouted, "Wait, wait, wait!"
He kept patting his chest and taking deep breaths, but he couldn't calm down for a long time. Aunt Zhao was more composed and nodded to the messenger: "Tell me, what place did Yun Jing get?"
"First place!" The servants jumped up. "Our young master is the champion!"
First place in the provincial examination! The top scholar!
Getting first place in the provincial examination and getting first place in the provincial examination are two completely different things!
Aunt Zhao's feigned composure was also shaken at this moment. Zhou Mujiao supported her with one hand, while Zhao Yunjing patted her father's back.
"Did you see it clearly?" Zhou Mujiao asked.
The servant nodded frantically: "Before the list was posted, the officials saw the clothes I was wearing and asked if I was from Zhao Yunjing's family. As soon as I heard that, I knew our young master must have come in first place. Then the officials congratulated me, saying that our young master had come in first place and had become the top scholar!"
"We checked three times each, and even asked others to help confirm. Our young master is indeed the top scholar!" Several servants bowed. "Congratulations, young master! Congratulations, master and madam! Congratulations, young lady! Congratulations, old lady! Congratulations, Headmaster Ning and the other teachers!"
The Zhao and Zhou families, having some idea of what was going on, only remained excited for a short while before catching their breath. Ning Xian, Master Gan, Master Qin, and Master Xing, however, were unable to continue.
First, Ning Xian screamed, and then the other three teachers followed suit. Then, the four of them frantically confirmed with each other: "Hey, did you hear? Yun Jing passed the imperial examination with top honors! Top honors come from our academy! Top honors are our students!"
And then there's this: "To hell with Qin Zhongliang! I'm going to crush you to the ground this year!"
Finally, the four of them hugged each other, crying and laughing, leaving Zhou Mujiao dumbfounded.
The steward summoned the servants to the front yard to congratulate Zhao Yunjing. Just as Aunt Zhao was about to prepare a reward for them, the sound of gongs and drums came from outside. It turned out that the people from the examination hall had come to deliver the results!
"Congratulations to Young Master Zhao on winning the top prize in the imperial examination, becoming the only student in our Great Liang Kingdom to achieve five consecutive top honors! Master Zhao and Madam Zhao are truly blessed, but you two should take it easy, as even greater blessings await you!"
The crowd outside gathered in circles, praising the Zhao couple for their good fortune. Uncle Zhao, being a miser, threw out half a basket of money in his excitement. If it weren't for Old Lady Li pulling him back, he would have been so carried away that he would have treated everyone to a lavish meal at Haoyunlou Restaurant.
The officials were very polite: "Thank you, Madam Zhao. We wish Young Master Zhao all the best in the upcoming palace examination, becoming the first person in our Great Liang Kingdom to achieve the highest rank of six in the imperial examination! We will also work hard and hope to have the honor of bringing good news to the Zhao family next time!"
Aunt Zhao smiled and thanked her, then stuffed the bag of silver in her hand into Zhou Mujiao's hand. She winked, and Zhou Mujiao understood, opening the purse and saying, "The officials are still on duty, so we won't linger any longer. After you finish your shift, come to Haoyunlou for tea. Just tell me your name, and the manager will treat you to a top-class room and a good meal..."
You can get a reward and also enjoy the top-tier room at the Lucky Building...
This was the most worthwhile errand they'd ever run!
After seeing off the officials, Aunt Zhao took out a large bag of silver and stuffed it into Zhou Mujiao's hand.
Zhou Mujiao added another portion for herself and handed it to the steward: "Uncle Zhong, our family is celebrating a great day, everyone will receive a reward, five taels of silver each. If Yun Jing achieves a good ranking in the palace examination, he will receive another five taels!"
Two strings of firecrackers were set off in front of the Zhao family's house. Before long, neighbors from all walks of life on Zhuque Street, regardless of their social standing, sent people over to offer their congratulations. Uncle Zhao, Aunt Zhao, and Old Lady Li sat high in the main hall, where Zhao Yunjing and Zhou Mujiao received these people.
When they left, Zhou Mujiao was in charge of the follow-up. If it was a steward or servant sent, Zhou Mujiao would give them a reward and send them a gift back. If it was another master or head of another household, she would send back a gift of similar value.
When everyone returned, they all felt that Zhou Mujiao's demeanor was very dignified: "At such a young age, she already has the bearing of a matriarch. Now who would dare to call her a country bumpkin? I think most of the girls in our capital city, before they truly take charge of a household, might not even be a tenth as capable as her!"
"It's a pity that such a generous girl is already engaged. Otherwise, if she were to marry into our family, would we have any worries about our family's prosperity?"
"That young master Zhao is truly exceptional in talent, character, and ability. Even when he was still a poor student, he was noticed by the Emperor. Now he has already won five top honors. If he wins one more, he will truly soar to great heights and be remembered for all time. Even if he doesn't become the top scholar, with his own abilities and the Emperor's favor, he will probably enter the Grand Secretariat in the future. His future is limitless, limitless indeed!"
"It's a pity he's already engaged, otherwise I would definitely make him my son-in-law!"
"Come on, if Young Master Zhao isn't engaged, the Emperor will bestow a marriage upon him. What business is it of yours?!"
"That's not quite right. Although I'm just a minor fourth-rank official, my family is upright and honest, and my daughter is well-educated, polite, and capable of managing a household. If he were to marry my daughter—"
"It's not even night yet, and you're already dreaming," someone teased. "Your dreams won't change anything. No matter how good your daughter is, can she be as good as Miss Zhou?"
"How wonderful Miss Zhou is is secondary. The important thing is, didn't you all see that just now? When the officials went to the Zhao family to report the good news, it was Miss Zhou who gave the reward money! What does that mean? It means that Mr. Zhao's parents only recognize Miss Zhou as their daughter-in-law!"
"Oh my! Miss Zhou is so lucky!"
"Nonsense! Young Master Zhao is clearly blessed as well!"
"...Could it be that their ancestors have manifested their spirits at the same time?!"
When these words reached Zhou Mujiao and Zhao Yunjing's ears, Zhou Mujiao simply smiled faintly.
What ancestral intervention? It's just that she had foresight and acted first.
Zhao Yunjing, however, wholeheartedly agreed.
If it weren't for divine intervention, how could someone as unlucky as him, who suffers all sorts of misfortunes and can barely support himself, possibly win the favor of a good girl like Zhou Mujiao?
Because of the joyous occasion in the Zhao family, the entire Zhuque Street was filled with a festive atmosphere, while the atmosphere at the Duke of Wei's mansion, a few streets away, was somewhat somber.
Duke Wei asked in a deep voice, "Did you see clearly? Is that old lady from the Zhou family really the one from the Li family?"
The butler nodded: "I saw it clearly. Although twenty years have passed and Madam Li's appearance has changed slightly, I recognized her at a glance. Moreover, her overall demeanor is undeniable. If she were just an ordinary old lady that Lord Jiang picked up on his way to inspect the country for the Emperor, she wouldn't have such a refined air. Besides, Lord Jiang has his own parents; he doesn't need to recognize another mother. Furthermore, Lord Jiang has been back in the capital reporting for duty for so long, yet he hasn't returned to the Jiang family. This shows that he values this old lady very much."
When Li Luo disappeared, the steward witnessed Jiang Wuyu's madness. Therefore, the only people Jiang Wuyu would value so much were the Li family.
"It seems that it really is Madam Li."
Duke Wei pursed his lips.
Even without him specifically inquiring, he could find out Old Madam Li's identity. The Emperor's spies are all over the world, so wouldn't he have known all along?
Knowing something but saying nothing always gives off a sense of detached indifference, like watching a fire from across the river.
There's also a sense of conspiracy, like 'luring the enemy into a trap'.
Upon thinking of this, the Duke of Wei couldn't help but hiss.
He said that the Emperor's trust in Zhao Yunjing came too suddenly. Now that he thinks about it, he's afraid that all of this was just to lure out Old Madam Li and find out the whereabouts of the millions of taels of disaster relief silver and disaster relief supplies.
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