Chapter 871 The third place winner must be the best looking one!
Before the palace examination, the examiners selected to mark the papers could not see the candidates in person.
No one knows each other's background and the whole process is kept strictly confidential.
Everything just waits for the essays to be placed on the examiners' desks. Several examiners will cross-evaluate the essays and comprehensively select the candidates on the list. Then they will choose the best candidates to enter the top three.
Then they will enter the palace examination, and the emperor will personally select and decide the top three candidates.
It is said that at the palace examination, the ministers involved in the selection were silent for a long time.
Among the three people selected to compete for the top three, one is 51 years old and the other is 56 years old.
Xu Minghui, standing among the three people in a plain robe, made himself look so handsome and young for no reason.
Xu Yu gasped as if he had a toothache. Chen Jing'an leaned back in his chair and said, "Also, there's an unwritten rule in the top three selections: the best-looking one must be chosen."
"When Xu Minghui's competitors were two elderly men with white hair and wrinkled faces, he had already lost his eligibility to compete for the top spot."
The best-looking one must be the one who wins!
Xu Minghui won the third place!
After the good news was sent out from the palace, there was a grand parade to express gratitude in the afternoon. Chen Jing'an snapped his fingers and said, "The parade for the top three is going to be a big event. Friends and relatives will usually fight for a good seat to watch. Are you going?"
Just as Xu Yu was about to say he was busy, Xu Mingxu's excited voice came from outside the courtyard: "Brother, mother said we should take Yuanbao and Nuonuo to pick up Second Brother!"
"Sister-in-law has found clothes for you, change quickly so we can set off!"
Xu Yu silently swallowed back the words "I won't go" and tugged at Chen Jing'an's shoulder: "Let's go and watch the fun."
In addition to Xu Yu and the others, Second Aunt Xu was also held down to wash and dress up, her face filled with unstoppable joy.
Xu Yu first congratulated Second Aunt Xu solemnly, but before he could stand up straight, Second Aunt Xu stuffed a thick red envelope into his pocket.
Second Aunt Xu was in high spirits because of the good news. She was very wealthy and generous. She gave one to Xu Yu and stuffed Sang Zhixia's arms full with the other.
Sang Zhixia was too heavy to go to crowded places. Holding the pile of red envelopes in her hands, she couldn't help but laugh: "Second Aunt prepared so many and gave them all to me. Do I have to go empty-handed when I meet people later?"
Second Aunt Xu laughed out loud: "Oh, how can that be possible?"
"Just put it away and buy some candy. I still have plenty!"
In addition to distributing red envelopes as auspicious gifts, Second Aunt Xu also prepared a porridge distribution program for half a month and planned to hold a grand banquet to celebrate for Xu Minghui.
The Nan family had also prepared the reward money and porridge stall early on, just waiting for the good news to arrive so that they could raise the funds.
Aunt Xu was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling and walked out with Nan Weiwei.
Sang Zhixia was too lazy to stand up and leave, so she simply waited until Xu Yu came closer before saying, "There are a lot of people outside. Remember to keep an eye on Nuonuo and Yuanbao, as well as Jinxi and Mingxu. Take a few more people with you so they don't get separated."
Xu Yu nodded in understanding, and noticing Sang Zhixia's furrowed brow, he whispered, "Or I won't go."
"You yourself..."
"I'm fine."
Sang Zhixia patted the back of Xu Yu's hand to interrupt him and said with a smile, "It's inappropriate for you not to show up."
Everyone knows that Xu Yu and Xu Minghui are brothers, but one is a scholar and the other is a warrior.
Xu Yu has already become very famous, and Xu Minghui is a rising star.
At times like these, more eyes are on them than ever before, and if they are not careful, rumors of discord between the brothers might arise.
It is not worthwhile to cause such controversy without any reason.
Sang Zhixia leaned back in her chair and smiled, "Besides, you guys won't be back for long, so I can help arrange the banquet at home."
"Okay, go ahead."
At everyone's urging, Xu Yu walked out of the door, looking back three times. When their figures were completely out of sight, Sang Zhixia took a deep breath calmly and secretly clenched the armrests of the chair.
However, after just a few breaths, a thin layer of cold sweat appeared on Sang Zhixia's forehead.
Elder Qi knew this clearly. After checking his pulse, he decisively said, "This child is probably anxious to drink Uncle Er's celebratory wine."
Sang Zhixia couldn't help but bare her teeth when she heard this, and smiled bitterly while trying to steady her breathing: "This brat really knows how to pick the right time."
She had a vague feeling that something was wrong this morning, but the discomfort was mild, and she was distracted by Xu Minghui's good news, so she didn't pay much attention to it.
Who knew the little guy really wanted to choose a good day.
When the summer harvest season of mulberry branches approaches, everything that needs to be prepared is ready, just waiting to be started.
Therefore, even though most of the family members had left, there was no chaos in the tense and busy delivery room.
Xu Yanran, eyes red, wiped Sang Zhixia's sweat with a handkerchief and bit her lip as she said, "I'll go call my eldest brother back. He..."
"What's the use of him?"
Mr. Hu said disdainfully, “Have you forgotten when Nuonuo and Yuanbao were born?”
"That loser nearly scared himself to death. He was just one step away from falling to the ground."
Xu Yanran weakly tried to defend Xu Yu, but Old Qi reminded her, "Besides, the internal injuries he suffered in Chuzhou haven't fully healed yet. Excessive stimulation wouldn't be good for him."
"What if he gets possessed and lies on the bed with his mouth twisted wide open, waiting for the children to feed him?"
Xu Yanran: "..."
Xu Yanran was at a loss for words and couldn't find any excuse to make up for it. Sang Zhixia, who should have been concentrating, was amused by the two elders' words.
Xu Yu's previous performance was really terrible, no wonder he was criticized.
However, Sang Zhixia also did not agree to make a big fuss.
Otherwise she wouldn't have sent everyone away.
Sang Zhixia tried to catch her breath and said, "If you start yelling over here, everyone who left just now will have to rush back. It'll be a commotion where neither side can make arrangements. What's going on then?"
The sudden pain came, and Sang Zhixia's face turned even paler.
Mrs. Xie rushed over with a midwife. Old Qi inserted a few needles into Sang Zhixia's wrist, touched the top of her head, and said calmly, "Don't panic."
"We are all here, it's a good thing that the unruly person doesn't cause trouble.
"With me here, nothing will happen."
Old Master Qi and Old Master Hu once again confirmed that Sang Zhixia was in good condition, handed the delivery room over to the midwife and Madam Xie, and walked out quickly.
The old man was guarding outside the door and stood up subconsciously.
Mr. Qi waved his hand and said, "No problem, everything is fine."
"On Xu Yu's side..."
"grandfather!"
The person who was talking suddenly turned around and saw the person who should have left long ago. Old Qi said in disbelief, "Didn't you go to see Xu Minghui wearing the big red silk?"
Everything was arranged inside and out, so how did Xu Yu suddenly come back?
Xu Yu took a quick glance and seemed to be thinking of something. His face turned pale and he ran into the closed door of the delivery room without saying a word.
Old Qi sighed and didn't bother to stop him. He ordered the official with a mixture of anger and amusement, "Go prepare a tranquilizing soup for your lord. Make sure to increase the dosage. I'm afraid the normal amount won't be enough."
The people waiting in the yard sat down again. In the delivery room, Sang Zhixia looked at the pale-faced Xu Yu and said with a puzzled look, "Why are you back?"
"Who gave you the news?"
Xu Yu chose a spot beside the bed where he could sit down. He held Sang Zhixia's sweat-soaked hand and pressed it against his forehead. After taking a few breaths, he said in a hoarse voice, "No one reported the news."
"I just...I just felt inexplicably anxious when I walked out."
He was so panicked that he couldn't wait a moment.
He couldn't breathe without seeing Sang Zhixia.
Before Sang Zhixia could say anything, the sweat beads rolling down Xu Yu's forehead hit the back of his hand.
She was in pain for such a long time, but the amount of sweat she produced was not as scary as Xu Yu's!
Sang Zhixia couldn't help laughing out loud: "Well, Yanran will give your big brother a few pieces of ginseng to hold in his mouth."
Otherwise, she would be fine, but Xu Yu would be the first to collapse.
Sang Zhixia wanted to make a few more teasing remarks, but the next wave of pain came even more violently, and the pain made her forget what she was going to say.
Xu Yu grabbed a handkerchief and kept wiping the sweat off her head and face. When the baby's loud cry sounded, Xu Yu bent down and gently kissed Sang Zhixia's sweat-stained eyebrows.
Sang Zhixia was so tired that she was unconscious. Before she fell asleep, she vaguely heard him say, "Zhizhi..."
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