Chapter 62 Passing the Imperial Examination
Time flies, and the day of the imperial examination arrived.
The morning light of spring shone through the clouds into the courtyard of the General's Mansion. The peach blossoms were in full bloom, and the pink and white petals fell with the wind, creating a beautiful tapestry on the ground.
Xie Sangning stood under the corridor, gazing at the garden full of spring colors, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Miss, it's time," Ru Chun gently reminded her.
Xie Sangning tucked a stray hair behind her ear: "Let's go."
Today is a big day.
Just as the master and his servants reached the gate of the mansion, they heard a commotion.
The second branch of the family was escorting Xie Wulu out, and Madam Wang's voice was particularly loud: "My son, you must do well on the exam today and make our second branch proud!"
Xie Wulu wore a brand-new indigo long robe, with a talisman that Wang had specially obtained from the temple hanging at his waist, and a smug smile on his face.
He glanced at Xie Sangning, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes, but he still pretended to bow and ask, "Elder sister, you've come to see me off too?"
Upon seeing Xie Sangning, Madam Wang immediately became sarcastic: "Oh, so you finally decided to come and see your younger brother off to his exam? It's a bit late to be trying to curry favor now!"
She stood tall with her back straight and her nostrils pointing to the sky, looking just like a victorious rooster.
Xie Sangning didn't even bother to glance at them, and went straight to the carriage with Ruchun's help.
Just as the carriage curtain was about to fall, her clear, cold voice drifted out: "Please make this clear, Second Branch. Sang Ning has no younger brother, only an older brother. Xie Wulu is just a cousin." She paused, then added, "Don't let outsiders hear and think that the General's Mansion has gained another legitimate son."
These words were like a bucket of ice water, causing the faces of everyone in the second branch of the family to change drastically.
Xie Wulu's smile froze, and his fists clenched white inside his sleeves.
He stared intently at Xie Sangning's carriage, his eyes filled with resentment.
Although he didn't say it, Xie Sangning must have found out about his idea of adopting a child, which is why she mocked him like that.
But whether or not to adopt is not up to Xie Sangning.
Once he passes the imperial examination with flying colors, his grandmother will naturally see who is truly worthy of inheriting the General's Mansion!
"Let's go, don't be late." Xie Wulu suppressed his anger, flicked his sleeves, and got into the carriage.
The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, raising a cloud of dust.
The area in front of the examination hall was already crowded with people, with candidates from all over the country waiting to enter, some nervous and some confident.
Xie Sangning's carriage was parked a little distance away. She lifted a corner of the curtain and glanced at the crowd.
Ru Chun whispered, "Miss, everyone has arrived."
Xie Sangning nodded slightly.
Among the crowd, more than twenty students dressed in plain-colored long gowns were quietly queuing up. They looked straight ahead and were respectful, seemingly no different from the other students.
"Miss, would you like to go over and say something?" Ru Xia asked.
Xie Sangning shook her head: "No need." She lowered the carriage curtain, "Let them concentrate on their exams."
These students were the twenty-odd impoverished youths whom Xie Sangning had secretly nurtured in a neighboring county.
From writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones to clothing, food, housing, and even the renowned teachers they invited, everything was arranged by Xie Sangning, all so that they could enter the examination hall with complete focus today.
Not far away, a slender student quietly raised his eyes, caught sight of the familiar carriage, and his eyes immediately reddened.
He quickly lowered his head and wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve.
Three years ago, he was a poor scholar who couldn't even afford to eat. If it weren't for the young lady's help, he wouldn't have the opportunity to stand in front of the examination hall today.
"Enter!"
The gates of the examination hall slowly opened, and the yamen runners shouted announcements.
Students entered the venue one by one after verifying their identities.
Those sponsored by Xie Sangning mingled in the crowd, seemingly unrelated, but as they passed the carriage, they all slowed down and nodded slightly.
This was their pre-arranged code, indicating that everything was going smoothly.
After the last person entered, Xie Sangning instructed the driver, "Return to the manor."
The carriage had just turned around, so she certainly wasn't going to wait there for them to finish their exams.
"Miss, what if Xie Wulu really passes the exam?" Ru Xia asked worriedly on the way back to the manor.
Xie Sangning toyed with the jade pendant in her hand and said calmly, "I actually hope he passes the exam, so he can know what it means to have high hopes...and then to be disappointed."
——
A few days later, the list of successful candidates was displayed, and the sound of gongs and drums filled the air.
The yamen runners, carrying the good news, rushed into the general's mansion, holding up a red invitation card and shouting "Good news!"
The second courtyard erupted in chaos. Wang's shrill voice pierced through the courtyard wall: "He passed! My son passed the second class, ranking seventeenth!"
Xie Wulu was surrounded by the crowd. His brand-new Jinshi robes gleamed with the unique luster of silk in the sunlight, and the jade pendant at his waist jingled.
He deliberately straightened his back, and his fingertips trembled slightly as he accepted the gold-embossed congratulatory letter.
It wasn't excitement, but rather the release of a long-suppressed sense of triumph that had finally found its outlet.
His gaze swept over the crowd of onlookers, finally settling on the direction of Ruixue Tower.
"Quickly! Go to Ruixue Tower and announce the good news!" Madam Wang's face lit up with joy, and her voice rose even higher.
"Let Xie Sangning also share in her brother's joy!" She emphasized the word "brother".
Inside Ruixue Tower, Xie Sangning was facing an unfinished game of chess, a black jade chess piece between her fingers.
The faint noise coming from outside the window seemed to go unnoticed.
Ru Chun entered quietly and whispered, "Miss, regarding the second branch of the family... Xie Wulu ranked seventeenth in the second class."
The chess piece landed with a "thud".
Xie Sangning then raised her eyes, her gaze calm and indifferent: "Understood, prepare the congratulatory gift according to the rules."
Only seventeen people in the second tier, truly trash.
Seeing the second wife's unwavering confidence, and hearing the rumors about Xie Wulu's genius, she actually began to regard Xie Wulu as her rival.
Xie Sangning scoffed.
Xia replied, "According to the rules of the manor, those who pass the imperial examination should be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver and ten bolts of silk..."
"Xie Wulu passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, so he naturally falls into this category as well."
Xie Sangning spoke calmly, picking up another white piece with her fingertips: "Go."
As if spring had just arrived, it withdrew.
Xia pouted, somewhat displeased, but her mistress had made her own arrangements, and she certainly couldn't say anything.
But as soon as Ru Chun stepped out of the moon gate, she ran into a large group of people from the second branch of the family.
Xie Wulu walked in front, followed closely by Wang Shi, whose face showed undisguised smugness.
"Oh, isn't this Miss Ruchun?" Madam Wang raised her voice. "Are you here to offer your congratulations on behalf of your young lady? No need for that, we came on our own!"
As she spoke, she led her people straight inside.
Ru Chun frowned and blocked her way with her arm: "Second Madam, please wait. Miss has instructed that the congratulatory gifts will be delivered to the West Courtyard shortly."
"Send it to the west wing?"
Xie Wulu chuckled, her voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone in the courtyard to hear: "Is it because you can't stand seeing your younger brother succeed, elder sister?"
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