☆, Chapter 128: The County Chief Case Officer!
This year, the county examination results were posted five days earlier than in previous years. Early that morning, Ma Dalang and Liang An rode into the village with joyful faces. They told the villagers that Zhao Yunjing had come in first place and become the top scholar. The news spread like wildfire, and the whole Peach Blossom Village knew about Zhao Yunjing's results. People followed Ma Dalang and Liang An, carrying chickens, ducks and fish, to congratulate them.
Ironically, Zhao Yunjing, the person involved, was the last to know the news.
Uncle Zhao and Shiba are villagers. They are currently socializing with the villagers in front of their house, humbly saying that they are just being lucky, but their faces are beaming with pride. In just a few words, they are already talking about how many tables they will set up to celebrate tomorrow.
Since the inn on the official road outside the city opened a year ago, Jiang Wuyu and Du Zhusheng quickly built an intelligence network on the spot. A year later, the road from Taohua County to the capital city has been completely opened up by them, and news from the capital city is continuously sent to Taohua Village every day.
After the New Year, Grandma Li seemed a bit depressed for some reason, so Jiang Wuyu put everything aside and stayed home with her. In the past few days, he finally managed to get the old lady's mood back on track.
The two of them were inside the house at that moment and heard everything Uncle Zhao said.
Grandma Li really liked Uncle Zhao's personality, and they usually got along well. Uncle Zhao treated her with almost the same respect and love as his own mother. Gradually, Grandma Li also began to treat the Zhao family members as her own juniors. Now that Zhao Yunjing had become the top scholar, she was genuinely happy.
"Yun Jing only went to the county school for a year and was able to come back as the top scholar. That's really impressive."
“This is only the county examination.” Jiang Wuyu frowned. “There are still two more examinations to take. If you excel in the county examination but fail the prefectural examination, it will all be for nothing. It’s too early to invite people to a banquet now.”
“I’m telling you, Xiaoyu, Ajiao and Yun Jing are deeply in love. Can’t you wish Yun Jing well? Once Yun Jing becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination, she will have a legitimate reason to return to the capital.”
Jiang Wuyu remained silent.
If the Li family hadn't suffered a calamity twenty years ago, and he hadn't married Li Luo, why would Ajiao and Xiao Wu have needed to go through so much trouble to return to the capital? His Jiang family's children, though not as privileged as the imperial princesses, could still have whatever they wanted.
Zhou Mujiao is talented and beautiful. The men who want to marry her must be from all walks of life, from emperors and nobles to commoners. There are so many of them that they could line up from the Jiang family to the East Gate!
As if she could hear his thoughts, Old Mrs. Li sighed softly: "I used to be confused and resentful, and I even asked God why He treated the Li family so badly. But God always picks on the weak. No matter how resentful we are, there's nothing we can do... I'm already very grateful that I'm alive to see Ajiao and Xiaowu. Xiaoyu, let bygones be bygones. You should find a woman who understands you and settle down."
Jiang Wuyu ignored the last sentence and smiled gently: "Mother, you are right. Let bygones be bygones. Living well in the present is the best thing. Once Zhao Yunjing becomes the top scholar, I will agree to let Ajiao marry him."
He thought to himself, "What's past is past. Some justice, even if it takes twenty, fifty, or a hundred years, I will still seek it back for the Li family."
That's what they owe the Li family, what they owe Li Luo, and what they owe him.
Zhou Mujiao ultimately rejected the idea of hosting a banquet, saying that it would be more meaningful to invite Zhao Yunjing after he passed the imperial examination.
Chen Lizheng laughed: "If you ask me, the truly meaningful wine is the Zhuangyuan Wine! If I, Chen Dayou, could drink a cup of Zhuangyuan Wine, I would have no regrets in this life!"
Xiulan picked up the running Xiaobao and excitedly interjected, "Village head, just you wait! Next March, Yun Jing will definitely let you drink the champion's wine, won't he, Ajiao?"
Zhou Mujiao pulled Xiaobao's finger to play with it and nodded: "That's right. If the village head waits a few more years, Xiaobao will be able to drink the champion's wine."
A group of people burst into laughter, and Xiulan was even more excited. She took Xiaobao back to the embroidery workshop and mentioned to her mother-in-law what Zhou Mujiao had said: "Mother, Ajiao said that the village head will be able to drink Xiaobao's champion wine in the future."
Aunt Feng smiled and pinched her grandson's chubby little face: "Since it was Ajiao who said it, then my little treasure is definitely going to be a top scholar in the future. I'll send him to the village school tomorrow. He's already five years old, it's time for him to go to school. Little Jiu isn't even five yet, but he went with him too."
"I'm afraid he won't understand."
"As long as you're not stupid, even if you don't understand, listen for a few more years and learn for a few more years, and you'll understand even if you don't understand."
Aunt Feng smiled knowingly: "Even Ajiao said he's the top scholar, so he must be."
Xiulan opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law quickly got to work.
Zhao Yunjing topped the county examination. The Zhao family did not host a banquet, but Magistrate Tang set up several tables at his home and invited all the students who passed the county examination this year to his residence. It was said to be a celebration, but it was mostly an encouragement. In short, as long as everyone passed the prefectural examination, the academy examination, the provincial examination, and the metropolitan examination, they could drink as much as they wanted in the future!
Young Master Chen came in second place this time, only one place behind Zhao Yunjing. People came to congratulate him and cheer him on, saying that he should work harder in the prefectural examination and come back as the top scholar.
Feng Wei lowered his voice: "Brother Chen, last time I overheard the headmaster talking to Zhao Yunjing, the headmaster meant that Zhao Yunjing should win the top score in the county examination, the prefectural examination, and the provincial examination, saying that he should become the first person in history to achieve the highest score in all six examinations!"
Chen Gongzi naturally aspired to achieve the highest rank in the imperial examinations, but there was no hope for him this year. He would have to try again in three years.
Even if there's no chance this year, if I can win the top spot in the exam, I can still overshadow Zhao Yunjing.
Young Master Chen took a sip of wine and said calmly, "When it comes to exams, you can't just get whatever rank you want. Of course, if you can get first place, no one wants to be second."
The world's attention is always focused on the best. Zhou Mujiao doesn't see him, isn't it because Zhao Yunjing is always better than him? If he had become the top scholar, her feelings for him would probably be different.
Young Master Chen downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, then looked up at Zhao Yunjing, who was chatting and laughing with Lord Tang across from him, his heart filled with bitterness.
Zhao Yunjing seemed to sense something, looked up and met Chen Gongzi's gaze. He nodded.
Lord Tang followed his gaze and noticed Young Master Chen. He immediately beckoned Young Master Chen to sit down.
On the left is the first place winner of Peach Blossom County, and on the right is the second place winner. Lord Tang looked at this and that, and suddenly had the illusion that he was surrounded by the top two scholars.
If the top two scholars of this year's imperial examination both came from Peach Blossom County, wouldn't he, as the county magistrate, also rise to prominence and be immediately transferred to the capital to become a first-rank official?
After finishing their drinks, the students were all staggering and couldn't tell the difference between Shanglin Academy and Huilan Academy anymore. Since they were all on the same mountain path, they helped each other up the mountain.
Zhao Yunjing drank less; he walked at the back, carrying the already drunk headmaster on his back.
A night breeze blew, and Zhao Yunjing felt a bone-chilling cold. He was already slightly tipsy, but the cold wind blew away his already limited effects of the alcohol.
Zhao Yunjing continued climbing, having been lifted a little higher by the mountain railing, when suddenly a scream came from ahead: "Help! Murder!!"
Zhao Yunjing paused, and two dark figures darted out from the side. Zhao Yunjing said urgently, "Leave one person behind, and the other one quickly goes ahead to check!"
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