Chapter 63: The Third Place
Liao Cheng held Zheng Rong's hand and stopped him from leaving. Zheng Rong looked around cautiously. Seeing Liao Cheng's expression, he felt pleased in his heart, "Isn't it making the princess feel comfortable?"
"Comfortable……"
Liao Cheng's voice gradually became louder, as if no one was around. Su Wanwan covered her ears and hid on one side. She wanted to sneak away from the other side, but found that there were people guarding the other side. So she could only squat like a quail, feeling extremely panicked.
Normally, if she met a pair of wild mandarin ducks in the village, she would be afraid of being beaten and threatened after being discovered, let alone in the capital. Who knew if she would be silenced?
But they were not in a private residence now but in Fanlou. Although Fanlou was big, who knew if someone would suddenly come here - like her.
The two men were obviously seeking excitement, and the noise was getting louder and louder. Su Wanwan was really scared, but she had to leave. She would be discovered sooner or later, but if she left, she would still have a chance to hide.
She took a deep breath, observed the surrounding terrain, and then ran over.
"who!"
Zheng Rong stopped when he heard the voice, and Liao Cheng urged him unhappily.
"It seems like someone passed by."
"That's my maid," Liao Cheng said in a tender voice, "Hurry up."
Zheng Rong was skeptical.
After returning to the banquet, Su Wanwan was still a little scared. Pei Changfeng pinched her hand and asked, "Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?"
Su Wanwan shook her head and only explained: "I feel a little dizzy."
They should or shouldn't come to Zheng Jing's banquet today. Pei Changfeng found an excuse to leave, and then took Su Wanwan on the carriage back.
"Is it really okay to just leave like this?"
"I've talked to the waiter in the building," Pei Changfeng touched her forehead, "Are you suffering from a cold?"
Su Wanwan leaned her head on his shoulder and told him what she found when she went out. Finally, she said, "Do you think I will be discovered? I didn't do it on purpose. Who knew they would be so bold?"
Wild mandarin ducks can be seen everywhere in this world. Pei Changfeng comforted her, "It's okay. They dare not make it public. Even if they find out, they will just trip you up in secret. Maybe they are more afraid than you."
His words were like a stabilizing force, and Su Wanwan felt relieved at once. She rubbed her eyes, and after a brief moment of novelty, she felt a overwhelming fatigue.
"I'm so sleepy." she muttered.
Pei Changfeng patted her shoulder and said, "Go to sleep. I'll call you when we get there."
Su Wanwan opened and closed her eyes twice and fell asleep.
After arriving at the place, Pei Changfeng did not call her, but carried her back to the room.
On the day when the results were drawn up, Emperor Chongming thought for a moment and crossed out Pei Changfeng's name from the second place and moved it to the third place.
Eunuch Li has been working for Emperor Chongming for many years and can see that Emperor Chongming has a different attitude towards Pei Changfeng, which seems to be admiration, but also like a test.
He had read Pei Changfeng's answer sheet, which was worse than that of the top scorer, but still slightly better than that of the former third place winner. Eunuch Li was at a loss as to what Emperor Chongming meant by this move.
On the day when the results were announced, Pei Changfeng had no objection to the ranking. There were so many scholars and smart people in the world, and those who could make it all the way to the palace examination were extraordinary. He was lucky to be able to enter the first class.
Pei Changfeng became the third place in the imperial examination. When the whole Yang family heard the news, they burst into laughter. Lord Yang was even more frowning. It was a relief for the Yang family.
Because of the matter of catching a son-in-law from the list, Pei Changfeng did not show up to check the list this time, but asked a servant to do it for him. Even so, the servants of the Yang family were surrounded by people who came to inquire, and only Xingzhou was able to escape because of his young age.
"Let's go back home and prepare the feast!"
Today is the Yang family's family banquet. After an auspicious date is decided in a few days, the Yang family will set up a grand banquet to entertain guests.
"You are smart, just like your mother," Madam Yang couldn't help but say, "I always say that if your mother were a boy, she would also be able to pass the imperial examination. She has loved reading since she was a child, so I hired a female teacher for her. She became famous in the capital the year she came of age. She could compose poems as soon as she spoke, and countless people came to ask for her hand in marriage..."
Perhaps people always start to recall the past when they get older, but everyone at the table knew that she had suffered for decades due to her daughter's disappearance. No one said much and everyone listened quietly.
There was no separate table today, so Yang Ying sat opposite Pei Changfeng on purpose. She was now even more determined to marry Pei Changfeng, a man who had won the third place in the imperial examination. His future would definitely not be bad.
He could enter the Hanlin Academy, but if he was not a Hanlin Academy, he could not enter the Cabinet.
Lord...
In Yang Ying's imagination, she had become the wife of a cabinet minister, enjoying unlimited glory.
It's just that Su Wanwan beside Pei Changfeng was too annoying, and the way they whispered to each other was particularly annoying. Yang Ying was silently planning in her heart.
In this exam, the top scorer was a candidate from Jiangnan, Bai Jitong, the son of the Bai family in Jiangnan. The second place was Zheng Jing. Fan Ling was the third in the second class, which was also a very good ranking.
The second master, Yang Yuanwen, looked uncertain, as if he had something on his mind. Dai on the side also had a bad expression on her face. It was obvious that they were sitting here reluctantly. However, Su Wanwan didn't know why they were like this.
"Our family is lucky to have benefited from Changfeng," Yang Tianqi said, laughing foolishly after drinking so much that his tongue became swollen. "Tanhua Lang, I will have face to brag about it in the future, my cousin is a Tanhua Lang!!"
The atmosphere was harmonious and everyone was having a good time. Suddenly, Dai stood up with a dark face, and Yang Yuanwen beside him looked extremely unhappy.
"I know what you're thinking. If you want to take that bastard back, I'm telling you I don't agree!"
"You are just making a fool of yourself," Yang Yuanwen slammed the table angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about at the celebration party for the child!"
Su Wanwan and Pei Changfeng looked at each other and watched silently.
"Isn't it that the son born by that bitch is ranked third in the second class? Go and get him. Go and get him back and tell everyone that you have a concubine and she gave birth to a son...Ah! How dare you hit me!"
Yang Yuanwen suddenly took action, catching everyone off guard. Madam Yang and Lord Yang did not say anything. Only Yang Yuanwu and Yang Yuanqi went over and grabbed Yang Yuanwen.
"My child, I'm sorry to make you laugh at me," Madam Yang patted Pei Changfeng's hand, "your second uncle, ah."
This kind of thing has happened countless times, but Lord Yang has never expressed his attitude. In fact, in his heart, he still hopes that his son can recognize Fan Ling.
Pei Changfeng shook his head. He caught a glimpse of Su Wanwan who looked like she wanted to see but didn't dare to. He took the initiative to ask, "Is this really all right?"
Madam Yang Hou sighed but said nothing. This was a matter between the couple, and it would be bad for her to intervene whether she cared or not, so it was better for her to ignore it. However, the second son went too far today and actually started a fight.
“That’s enough!”
Lord Yang was the head of the family after all. After he spoke, Yang Yuanwen did not dare to move. Dai cried and demanded an explanation.
"In that case, you should find a reason to bring the child back. Put him in the second son's wife's arms and say that he is your former concubine's son. He has been raised in the farm since he was young because of his poor health."
After hearing this, Yang Yuanwen breathed a sigh of relief, while Dai shook his body a few times with a dejected look on his face.
"I knew it, I knew it..."
Today was a farce. After returning home, Su Wanwan felt uneasy every time she thought of Dai's appearance.
In fact, she knew that all women in this world were like this.
"What are you thinking about?" Pei Changfeng asked.
"I feel uncomfortable," Su Wanwan turned around to face him, "Why did my second uncle do this? Did he have to beat her? Can't we go back and discuss this matter?"
She had many questions that she asked even though she already knew the answer.
Why else? Because everyone at the table is a member of the Yang family, even Dai’s daughter has the surname Yang.
Pei Changfeng stroked her palm and said, "Don't think too much."
Su Wanwan was not overthinking it, she just couldn't help but put herself in other people's shoes.
Dai Shi cannot give birth to a son, so it is possible that she will not be able to give birth to a son. Dai Shi will become a shrew and a nagging woman, but that day may not be gone for her.
Everything in this world is changing rapidly, what is the unchanging thing?
Su Wanwan hugged Pei Changfeng's arm, feeling extremely tormented.
If a man wants to change his mind, he has ten thousand ways to do it.
Pei Changfeng saw through her anxiety. He didn't know what to do so he could only hold her tighter.
In the end, love depends entirely on conscience.
Unexpectedly, Fan Ling refused to be recognized by the Yang family.
Fan Ling's mother, Liu, couldn't believe it. She pulled Fan Ling's sleeve and cried, "Ling'er, if you don't go back, what will happen to your mother?"
Because she had such a son, Liu was very confident in front of Dai. She thought that she might have the opportunity to become the mistress in the future.
But Fan Ling's refusal surprised everyone.
"When the mother left that day, did she ever think about what her son would do?"
Fan Ling laughed at himself and pulled out his sleeves. "My last name is Fan, which is my grandmother's last name. I have nothing to do with the Yang family."
Liu looked at Yang Yuanwen for help, and Yang Yuanwen said lovingly, "Ling'er, don't you want to go back to your father?"
Fan Ling just glanced at the two of them indifferently, then turned and left.
All that remained behind was Liu's crying.
As for how she knew about this, Su Wanwan learned it from Dai.
Fan Ling refused to acknowledge his ancestry, and Dai no longer had that gloomy look on her face. She would talk about this matter with everyone she met wherever she went, just to make fun of Liu.
Liu was like a lost dog. She was reduced to her original state after just two days of glory. She even dared not go out and hid in the yard all day long.
Although Su Wanwan had no friendship with the Dai family, she was still happy to listen to some gossip.
Pei Changfeng later joined the Hanlin Academy, and the emperor granted him a small courtyard with two entrances, which was much closer to the palace gate than the previous courtyard.
Pei Changfeng is on duty every day. It can't be said that he is idle, but it is not busy either. In short, he has something to do, but it is also boring. When he comes back at night, he is full of energy and always finds a way to torment Su Wanwan.
After he started working, Su Wanwan had someone deliver a letter to Widow Liu, asking her to bring Su Chaochao and Xiaoxiao to the capital.
After arriving in the capital, Widow Liu cried in the house for a whole day, thanked God, and then took Su Chaochao out to see the world. Every day, they would start strolling as soon as they opened their eyes in the morning and would not come back until it was almost dark at night.
Su Wanwan had no objection to this. It was good that the two of them had something to do.
"Alas," said Widow Liu, "I never thought that I would be able to come to the capital one day. I remember when I married your father, he said he would bring me to the capital to do small business."
After saying that, Widow Liu sighed again, "You've really grown old. Whenever something happens, you think of your father. Your father is such a dead ghost. He didn't even dream of such a big happy event at home. Doesn't he love you the most?"
Su Wanwan also missed Su Dad, the man with a fair face but who grew a beard to look mature.
The two sat together and sighed. Su Chaochao came over, as if he had forgotten who his father was, and chased Xiaoxiao around in the yard.
Generally speaking, if other departments are too busy, they will borrow people from other departments to help. For example, today, Pei Changfeng and Bai Jitong were borrowed by the Ministry of Revenue.
After a whole day of work at the Ministry of Household Affairs, fatigue was visibly evident on both of their faces.
Bai Jitong couldn't help but sigh, "Fortunately, I'm the top scorer. If I were in the second place, I would have to work in the Sixth Ministry."
Among the candidates of the same period, those who worked in the Six Ministries seemed to be a little dazed. Compared with now, although the promotion process in the Hanlin Academy was slow, it was much easier than the Six Ministries!
Pei Changfeng shook his head and didn't have the energy to speak. When he thought about the fact that they were borrowed for seven days, he didn't even want to eat lunch.
"Come on, I'll treat you to some wontons," Bai Jitong poked Pei Changfeng's arm, "Why don't you move?"
This Bai Jitong, although he is said to be a young man from a famous family in Jiangnan, is actually still a boy. He is lively and talkative, and he doesn't look like a top scholar at all.
"Let's go," Pei Changfeng stood up, "Or Wang Ji?"
"Wang's is delicious," Bai Jitong thought of something, "Is it okay if you don't go back to eat?"
"It's too late today. I've already sent the servant back to deliver the message. There's no need to keep me for dinner."
The two sat down at the wonton stand, and Bai Jitong ordered another portion of fried noodle cakes. "Next time, take me back to your house for dinner. I miss home so much."
The two talked and chatted, and because it was already very late when they got off duty, it was almost dark without them noticing.
Lights gradually came on on both sides.
Bai Jitong suddenly remembered that he seemed to have made a mistake when calculating a place today, so he pulled Pei Changfeng to check it verbally again.
After checking, Bai Jitong breathed a sigh of relief, "It's good that I didn't make a mistake."
The Ministry of Revenue is really not a place for ordinary people to stay. Pei Changfeng recalled the depressing feeling and couldn't help but want to sigh.
"Alright, alright. This is only the first seven days. After that we still need to work with the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Rites..."
After listening, Pei Changfeng had a blank expression on his face and pretended not to hear it.
The two said goodbye at an intersection. Pei Changfeng had just taken a step when he was pulled back by Bai Jitong. He saw a gorgeous carriage appear in front of him and almost hit him.
"Who are you? Are you looking for death?"
The driver looked down on Pei Changfeng and, seeing that he was dressed in ordinary clothes, he even tried to whip him with a whip.
"stop."
Liao Cheng in the car spoke and looked at Pei Changfeng with strong interest in his eyes.
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