Chapter 28 The number one scholar’s father is a charlatan who always wins in gambling!
Li Changqing was not surprised to hear that Li Changwen's ranking had improved so much, because he knew Li Changwen's true level very well. He was ranked over 100 in the imperial examination, which was obviously due to his poor performance due to the disputes at home. He performed normally in the palace examination, so it was normal for him to improve his ranking so much.
However, the tenth and the hundredth place will both be awarded the status of second-class Jinshi, and there will be no difference in treatment, so the ranking among the second-class Jinshi is not important.
Li Changqing was even happier about his success in winning the top spot. After all, his top spot was not an ordinary top spot, but a "big three" top spot. Unless there was a top spot winner with six top spots in the future, ordinary top spots could not be compared with him.
He achieved this achievement in the first special examination after the new emperor ascended the throne. Judging from the time the new emperor stayed beside him when he was answering questions in the palace examination, it was known that he must have attracted the new emperor's attention.
As long as the emperor noticed him, he would have the confidence to show his abilities to the emperor. If the emperor was not incompetent, he would definitely see his ability level and give him the opportunity to display his strengths.
Li Changqing did not have the idea of being arrogant because of his talent. There are so many talented people in the world, but there are many good horses but few good horse trainers. His real wish is to learn both literary and martial arts, serve the royal family, and make a name for himself to bring honor to his parents.
After the roll call, the newly-crowned Jinshi will be paraded through the streets on horseback. This is an honor that only happens once in a lifetime for newly-crowned Jinshi. They are allowed to walk out of the main gate of the palace and walk on a road that only the emperor is qualified to walk on.
As the top scholar, Li Changqing naturally ranks first. His parents have cultivated various interests and hobbies in him since he was a child. Riding and archery are no problem for him at all. He is a man of both civil and military talents.
So when the runner-up and third place winners needed someone to help them mount their horses or someone to hold their horses, Li Changqing easily and swiftly climbed onto the horse by himself. From his skillful appearance, it was obvious that he was an expert in riding and shooting.
The guard who was holding his horse could not help but praise him after seeing his skills: "The number one scholar is also good at riding a horse. He is truly a man of both civil and military skills."
Li Changqing smiled and said, "You also need a good body to take the imperial examination, so I learned horse riding and archery to exercise my body. Horse riding and archery are also one of the six arts of a gentleman."
But having said that, how many Jinshi can study hard and learn riding and archery at the same time? It’s not a question of whether the family has the conditions, but whether there is the energy and time.
Everyone on Li Changqing's side is ready and is about to begin the most spectacular horse-riding parade for the new Jinshi. Si Yuan and Yu Yan have also received the good news that their sons have won the top spot in the imperial examination.
Yu Yan said ecstatically: "Great! My son is the top scholar!" Although Yu Yan was not as obsessed with her son's success as Tan, which mother didn't want her child to be successful?
In Yu Yan's heart, she is satisfied as long as her son is safe and happy, but she will be even happier if her son is also promising.
Yu Yan was so happy that she didn't know what to say. She simply gave three months' monthly salary to all the servants in the family.
Si Yuan looked at Yu Yan's ecstatic expression and understood her very well. Even if he had known that Li Changqing would pass the imperial examination and become the top scorer, Li Changqing was not his biological son. But seeing himself grow up from a tiny, soft little guy to become the top scorer in high school, the sense of accomplishment and joy that came from the heart also gave Si Yuan a new understanding of life in this world.
The corners of Si Yuan's lips had already raised up in a relieved and happy arc.
At this time, the system shouted in his sea of consciousness: [Fuck, the progress bar took off! 】
Then a progress bar appeared in front of Si Yuan, increasing at a speed visible to the naked eye. No wonder the system was so startled that it split into pieces.
Si Yuan said calmly: [What are you surprised about? Isn’t this a very normal thing? 】
The system said in confusion: [Host, have you done something that I don’t know about? Why does the progress bar take off from the spot? 】Having gotten used to slow progress, I suddenly saw the progress take off, and the system was a little confused.
Si Yuan said lazily in his heart: [Because Chang Qing passed the imperial examination and ranked first, while the male protagonist Li Changwen, who should have ranked third in the original plot, now only ranked tenth. The starting points of the second-class Jinshi and the first-class Jinshi in the officialdom were quite different. Changqing started at the sixth rank when he first entered the officialdom, while Li Changwen had to work his way up from an eighth- or seventh-rank official. He started behind Changqing. In this case, what do you think outsiders would think after seeing the results of the two cousins? 】
The system conjured up a small hand and scratched its head: [What do you think? 】
Si Yuan: […They would think that Li Jingyuan, a son raised by a Jinshi, is not as capable as Li Siyuan, a son raised by a playboy. So in terms of educating children, I have won over Li Jingyuan again. And because this Enke has a far-reaching impact and many people think so, the progress bar is moving forward so fast. 】
The system suddenly realized that the progress bar was rising not because of any action taken by the host, but because Li Changqing did better than the original male protagonist Li Changwen in the imperial examination!
Si Yuan: ...Okay, it’s not wrong to think so.
Si Yuan changed the subject: [Let’s not discuss this anymore. It’s a good thing that the progress is increasing. I’ll take you to see the parade of Changqing’s top scholar. 】
The system thought of the cannon fodder cub it had watched grow up, and said happily: [Great, great! 】
Si Yuan also said to Yu Yan, "Madam, it will be Chang Qing's parade soon. I have already booked a seat in the restaurant, so I can see Chang Qing walking down the street from the window."
When Yu Yan heard Si Yuan's words, she happily praised him, "My husband is really thoughtful. What are we waiting for? Let's go."
The couple, along with their personal maid and servant, came to the restaurant that Si Yuan had booked long ago. The private room Si Yuan had booked was on the second floor. When they opened the window, they could see the newly-minted scholar passing by downstairs.
Si Yuan, as the new top scholar, was the one at the head, a handsome young man riding a tall horse, sitting upright on the horse's back. The tall horse without a single strand of stray hair had a big red flower on its body. The top scholar sitting on the horse, who looked like a handsome man, aroused the love of the young girls who were watching the parade of the new scholars. They looked at the top scholar as if they were looking at a groom riding a tall horse with a big red flower to marry them.
One by one, the girls threw the flowers, handkerchiefs, purses and sachets that they had prepared in their hands at the new scholars they liked. Li Changqing, as the handsome top scholar, was the most favored one. The flowers and sachets thrown at all the other scholars combined were not as many as his.
But no matter what it is, once there is too much of it, it will be suffocating. Li Changqing sat on the horse's back, staggering from side to side to avoid the sachets and other items that were thrown at him. If it weren't for his excellent riding and archery skills, he would have been unable to dodge the flowers and sachets and could only sit on the horse to resist this "attack of love".
Suddenly, Li Changqing smelled the aroma of meat buns among the many flowers, and then he was hit on the forehead by a big, soft meat bun. The meat bun fell into his arms. He subconsciously held the meat bun and looked in the direction it came from. He saw that all the windows on the second floor of the restaurant next to him were open. There was a person standing next to one of the windows waving at him. It was his father and mother.
Li Changqing was speechless for a while: "..." He knew that the only person who could do such a thing as hitting him with a meat bun was his damned father.
But this meat bun smells really good, and it makes him feel hungry. Because it was inconvenient to go to the toilet in the palace, no one dared to eat or drink too much, and his stomach was flat. Now he really wanted to eat the meat bun that his father threw to him.
In the end, Li Changqing didn't have the courage to eat the meat bun in public, so he just raised his hand and waved to Si Yuan and Yu Yan.
The people in the same direction as Si Yuan and Yu Yan became excited. They all thought that the young and handsome top scholar was waving at them. Especially the young girls who were just beginning to fall in love, their hearts were excited, so they threw more flowers and sachets faster and more accurately.
Li Changqing was hit on the head and was so scared that he tightened the reins and gently pinched the horse's belly to make the horse go faster and leave the street as soon as possible.
Si Yuan, who was sitting by the window on the second floor of the restaurant, laughed without giving his son any face, "This boy is really popular with the girls. When he returns home, I will definitely tease him. He was frightened by the enthusiasm of the girls and fled on horseback."
Yu Yan couldn't help laughing, but she felt more proud, after all, it was her son who was so popular.
If Si Yuan had not already agreed to let Li Changqing decide on his own marriage, Yu Yan could have started looking for a future wife for her son.
Si Yuan was still looking at the team of newly graduated Jinshi scholars riding horses in parade. Only the top three in the first class could actually sit on horses, while the second class scholars starting from the fourth place could only walk behind the horses of the top three.
Although this is also an honor, others are riding tall horses in glory, while they can only walk behind others' horses. This gap is also difficult for people to accept.
It’s okay for those Jinshi who have a broad mindset, especially those who are a bit far away from the top three, they don’t feel jealous.
The fourth and fifth place Jinshi who were only one step away from the top three were a little upset. They saw the top three riding tall horses and receiving worship from the onlookers, while they were following behind the horses and were mostly ignored. How could they not feel jealous?
Li Changwen was ranked tenth, after the ninth. He did not have to look at the horse's butt of the third place winner in front of him. But when he thought that he was just like everyone else among the second-class Jinshi, while his cousin Li Changqing, who was only a few months older than him, was able to ride a tall horse and be the first to receive everyone's worship, he could not help feeling envious and jealous.
How come he didn’t even get a third place in the exam? I'm actually so far behind Li Changqing. I don't know how angry my parents will be when I get home...
Li Changwen, who was in mixed feelings, did not notice that his parents were among the crowd looking out of a nearby inn.
Li Jingyuan, Tan and Tan Zhuyue finally found Li Changwen among the crowd of Jinshi, but compared to the glory of Li Changqing, who ranked first, Li Changwen, who was only ranked tenth, could be said to have no sense of existence.
Tan Zhuyue, who was holding the sachet in her hand and wanted to throw it at Li Changwen, immediately gave up the idea. She looked at the first one, Li Changqing, who was riding a tall horse and was handsome and elegant.
Is this Li Changqing, who is always praised by his father-in-law and mother-in-law as being better than Li Changwen?
Tan Zhuyue didn't know much about the Li family in her previous life. After all, she had looked down on the declining Jingyuan Earl's Mansion. Li Jingyuan and Li Siyuan were separated and became side branches of the Li family. They had little to do with the Jingyuan Earl's Mansion anymore and could not be considered members of the Jingyuan Earl's Mansion. Therefore, the Li family was not among the high branches she wanted to climb.
She was framed by her stepmother Wang and forced to enter the Cheng'en Mansion. Her life was difficult every day and she had no time to pay attention to things outside the Cheng'en Mansion.
She even learned about the fact that Li Changwen won the third place in the imperial examination, was highly regarded by the third prince, and became a trusted minister of the new emperor when her husband in her previous life complained about her.
Tan Zhuyue, who was isolated from the outside world, had no idea who was the top scorer in the imperial examination that Li Changwen passed, so she did not suspect that something was wrong with Li Changqing. After all, she had no idea what kind of life Li Changqing had before her rebirth. She thought that Li Changwen had passed the imperial examination and ranked third in the imperial examination in his previous life, and the top scorer was Li Changqing.
However, in this life, I don’t know what kind of influence another reborn person had, but Li Changwen only ranked tenth in the exam and was not even the third place.
Tan Zhuyue was terrified by this change, and blamed Li Changwen for not being as successful as he was in his previous life. She was a little confused about her future, and didn't know why her life was still a mess after her rebirth.
If she had known this, she might as well have married into the Cheng'en Mansion like she did in her previous life. Although her husband might still dislike her and her mother-in-law might still make things difficult for her, at least the Cheng'en Mansion now has the Empress Dowager to rely on. The new emperor's biological mother had passed away long ago, and the Empress Dowager is the new emperor's adoptive mother. The mother and son have a good relationship and have been very kind to the Cheng'en Mansion.
When she was in the Li family, her husband didn't like the mother-in-law making things difficult for her. When she was in the Cheng'en Mansion, her husband didn't like the mother-in-law making things difficult for her. So why didn't she choose the Cheng'en Mansion, which is more prosperous now?
However, Tan Zhuyue never expected that the Li family, who had been the new emperor's confidants in the previous life, would show no signs of prosperity in this life, just because the new emperor changed the second prince from the third prince.
Tan Zhuyue, who was regretting in her heart, knew that it was useless to regret. She had already married Li Changwen. Her biggest wish now was to get pregnant and have a child as soon as possible so that she could gain a firm foothold in the Li family.
Although Li Changwen was not as successful as in his previous life, he at least passed the imperial examination and was about to become an official. She also hoped that her husband would be honored and noble in the future, and that she would also have an imperial decree to support her.
It’s just that Tan Zhuyue’s plan was very good, but Li Changwen didn’t want to cooperate with her at all.
He was really fed up with her, and even more fed up with the family atmosphere of constant quarrels between the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law. So after the Lu Ming Banquet, Li Changwen told his father Li Jingyuan about his future plans - he wanted to be sent to serve as an official in other places.
Li Jingyuan refused to agree no matter what. If he could not enter the Hanlin Academy, he could not enter the cabinet. His future in this life was at an end, and all his hopes were on his son Li Changwen. He hoped that his son would be able to enter the cabinet and become a senior official to bring honor to him.
So Li Jingyuan required Li Changwen to take the examination for the title of Shujishi no matter what.
But Li Changwen felt suffocated after being suppressed and controlled by his parents for more than ten years. He didn't want to endure this kind of life anymore. He couldn't wait to escape, get away from his parents and get out of their control.
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