Chapter 45: The Number One Scholar, My Little Father, Can Only Take My Last Name
After the Spring Examination, the Palace Examination will soon be held.
The top ten students must go to the temple in person and be supervised by the saint himself in the Chonghua Hall.
Early in the morning, Si Yao left the house with his pencil case.
After entering the Xuanhe Gate, one could see the figures of Mu Tong and the other three from afar.
This time, all five of them were lucky enough to make it into the top ten.
When Mu Tong saw her, he immediately raised his hand and waved, his face full of smiles: "Junior sister——"
Si Yao walked over immediately.
When I got closer, I found that there was an acquaintance here. It was Mo Qing who had had an argument with Mu Tong and others in the Confucius Hall that day.
She obviously saw Si Yao as well.
His expression was quite indifferent, and he turned away directly.
Si Yao quickly withdrew her casual glance and smiled at Mu Tong and the others: "Senior Sister..."
She just said hello.
The palace gate behind them slowly opened.
An elderly maid came out and said to them, "Students, please follow me—"
She led the way forward.
The students waiting outside the door hurriedly followed her footsteps.
After passing through a long and dark corridor and several palace gates, we finally stopped in front of a magnificent palace.
Tall white jade steps lead directly to the palace entrance. Bronze palace bells are hung on the four corners of the palace. A breeze blows by, leaving behind a string of crisp and ethereal music.
The nanny led them into the palace.
After entering the main hall, let them sit down at the tables and chairs that have been prepared.
"The Saint will be here soon. Students, please remain silent and do not disturb the Heavenly Family by making any noise."
She gave some instructions and then left the hall.
The heavy and tall palace door slammed shut.
Block the bright sunshine outside the door.
*
Two hours later, the door of the hall was opened from the inside.
The nanny who had been waiting outside led the students out.
Look at how pale some of them are.
A look of understanding flashed across his eyes.
After each palace examination, there would always be students who could not bear the majesty of the emperor and fell seriously ill.
This class of students is pretty good.
At least no one was carried out of the hall halfway.
She walked in front, leading everyone back the way they came.
Mu Tong squeezed in beside Si Yao, walking at the back, and whispered to her, "Junior sister, did you see the saint's appearance just now? I was so scared that I didn't dare to look up. Even my hands were shaking when I answered the questions."
Si nodded.
With her eyes lowered, she said, "Like my senior sister, I didn't dare to look up. I just kept my head down and answered the questions."
"Tsk tsk, this heavenly land is really not a good place to stay. Just hearing the saint's footsteps makes me panic."
Mu Tong felt a little emotional.
She glanced at Mo Qing and a beautiful woman standing at the front. "The Saint specifically called them out for questioning. It seems they will be the top two this time. I heard that this woman's status seems to be even more noble than Mo Qing's. Maybe she is the top scholar this year."
Although I look down on Mo Qing's temperament.
But Mu Tong still admired her knowledge.
Si Yao said nothing when she heard this. She never liked to pay attention to these things.
Mu Tong also knew her temper.
He said this casually and then stopped talking.
After they left the palace, Si Yao said goodbye to Mu Tong and the other three and returned home.
Fang Zhiyue was sitting in the yard. When he saw her coming back, he immediately went to greet her, "Sister Yao, you're back——"
His eyes followed her closely, "How was it? Did you answer smoothly?"
"Don't worry, little father, everything will go well."
Si Yao smiled, reached out and held his hand, then pulled him into the house.
"The results will be out in three days. I'll take my father with me to see them then, okay?"
"Why aren't you nervous at all?"
Seeing her calm expression, Fang Zhiyue was actually more nervous than her.
Ever since she left home this morning, he has been fidgeting and has no intention of doing anything else.
Si Yao held him and sat on her lap.
Hearing this, he smiled again, his voice soft and gentle: "It's enough to have my father-in-law nervous for me. Besides, I'm waiting for the list to be released so that I can quickly get married with my father-in-law."
She kissed him on the ear.
Fang Zhiyue blushed when he heard this.
He stammered, "...You're still thinking about this. Actually, it's fine this way."
After so many days, he has accepted the current situation.
Anyway, he couldn't escape from Sister Yao'er's clutches.
But he always thought in his heart that maybe one day Yao Jie'er would get tired of him and fall in love with other younger and more handsome men.
He didn't want to have no way out.
When that time comes, when Sister Yao marries another man, he can still be her little father and continue to take care of her.
"Little father still doesn't want to marry me?"
When Si Yao heard this, he felt very unhappy.
She clamped his chin in her jaws and forced him to look into her eyes. "Little father, are you still planning to marry someone else? Or are you still planning to escape from me?"
Her eyes were malicious and dangerous.
Fang Zhiyue blinked his pitiful eyes and shook his head quickly: "I, I didn't, it's just that I thought that if one day you get tired of me, I can still be your little father and continue to stay in the Si family."
He looked at her pleadingly.
Si Yao pursed his lips and remained silent for a long time.
She suddenly released her grip on him, pulled him into her arms again, and kissed him on the cheek: "In this life, we will only be husband and wife, nothing else. Don't even think about it, little father. This marriage must go through. I want little father to belong to me completely. When I die, I can only be called Si Yao's husband."
"Got it?"
Fang Zhiyue didn't say anything.
Si Yao bit his earlobe and asked, "Do you understand?"
As soon as she exerted force, Fang Zhiyue couldn't help but tremble.
Forced by her, he finally nodded, "I, I understand..."
*
Three days later, the results were announced.
The capital city is extremely bustling today.
The major gambling houses and teahouses were packed with people. Every year at this time, people would spend huge sums of money on the top three candidates in the imperial examination. Some became rich overnight, while others lost everything, a scene of mixed joy and sorrow.
The signboard at the entrance of the Ministry of Personnel was also crowded with people.
Not only were there candidates who came to see the list and common people who came to watch the fun, but there were also slaves and guards from each family waiting here, waiting to "capture the wife from under the list" after the list came out.
This is also an old tradition.
Those young men from official families who are of marriageable age would capture a talented young man and bring him home.
Although she married into a lower class, her family background was clean and easy to control, so her future was bright.
It's much better than marrying into a noble family, becoming the legal husband and managing a group of servants in the backyard.
And most of those who are favored by officials and noble families are also very willing.
After all, marrying a nobleman and having a powerful father-in-law is a good opportunity to rise to fame overnight.
This is a mutually beneficial thing.
Therefore, some candidates wait for this day, hoping that they can be "caught".
Fang Zhiyue looked at the brightly dressed and energetic students and couldn't help but look at Si Yao beside him with some curiosity: "Sister Yao, do they know they are on the list? They all look so happy."
Si Yao followed his gaze.
When he caught a glimpse of the small mirrors in some people's hands, he told him the interesting story of catching wives under the list, "They are not sure they are on the list, but waiting for the powerful and noble families to take a look at them. If they can be noticed by a nobleman, they will be able to rise to the top and rise rapidly."
"So that's how it is..."
Fang Zhiyue was stunned when he heard this.
He looked at Si Yao, who had a calm expression, and suddenly said, "Perhaps, there will be a nobleman who will take a fancy to you, Sister Yao..."
Fang Zhiyue was inspired by looking at her exceptionally elegant face.
When Si Yao heard this, he was unhappy.
She narrowed her eyes instantly, "What is the purpose of saying this, little father?"
"I, I praised you for being pretty..."
Fang Zhiyue's heart skipped a beat and he spoke hurriedly.
Looking at Si Yao's cold face, he hesitantly explained, "Yao, sister Yao, you are so beautiful, it's normal for a noble man to be attracted to you..."
Si Yao was not very satisfied with his explanation.
If they were not still outside, she would have held him in her arms and bit his ear as punishment.
She avoided the crowd and pinched his thin waist wantonly, "I'll deal with you when I get back."
Fang Zhiyue felt a numbness in his waist and his face turned red instantly.
I quickly lowered my head, afraid of being seen by others.
At that moment, the door of the Ministry of Personnel opened from the inside, and a clerk came out, beating gongs and drums while shouting, "The results are out! The results are out!"
A clerk followed closely behind her, holding a huge piece of red paper in his hand.
The petty officials beating gongs and drums led the way to clear out the people.
The clerk holding the red paper walked to the notice board and posted the list on it.
On it were rows of names and rankings written in gold-sprinkled pen.
After the two clerks left, everyone crowded forward to look.
Soon, an excited voice from a candidate rang out from the crowd, "I got in! I got in! 13th place in the second class!"
Si Yao and Fang Zhiyue stood on the outskirts of the crowd.
Shi Qi has already squeezed into the crowd to look at the list.
Before she came out, several shouts broke out from the crowd: "Who is Si Yuzhuo? Is Si Yuzhuo here?"
When Si Yao heard his name coming from a stranger's mouth, he couldn't help but frown.
She didn't respond.
But one of the candidates who had taken the palace examination that day saw her and pointed at her and said, "This one, this one! She is Si Yuzhuo!"
In an instant, several people squeezed out.
When he saw Si Yao's elegant face, his eyes lit up again.
"So you are the top scholar! My master is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. I wonder if you would be willing to come to my house for a chat?"
"My master is the Minister of Imperial Households. Would you be willing to go?"
"Master Si, please come to my house! My master is a scholar of the Hanlin Academy."
Si Yao was surrounded by the crowd, even Fang Zhiyue was pushed away by them.
Her brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and then she bowed deeply, gently rejecting the offer: "I appreciate your kindness, but I hope you will tell the adults when you return that I have important matters at home, so we'll talk another day."
After saying that, he squeezed out of the encirclement and dragged Fang Zhiyue with him as he walked away.
"Hey—Mr. Si, please stay!"
Several people behind him wanted to chase after him.
Just at this moment, Shi Qi came out and blocked them, thus preventing them from catching up.
A few people stamped their feet, looked at Si Yao's disappeared figure, and hurried back to inform the host.
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