"Siyuan, why are you so happy? Quickly thank her!"
Xie Zhiqing wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes as she spoke, while Guo Siyuan remained standing there blankly. The eunuch who had delivered the message had already received instructions and simply smiled without getting annoyed.
"Master Xie, there's no need to worry. Miss Guo is overjoyed."
One drop, two drops... Tears fell like pearls strung on a string. This was the first time Guo Siyuan had lost control of her emotions in front of everyone.
"I...I'm the third-ranked scholar?"
"It's absolutely true. The Emperor himself personally selected you as the third-ranked scholar," the young eunuch said with a smile. "You are the only lady among the top three scholars."
"I am the third-ranked scholar... I am the third-ranked scholar..."
Guo Siyuan murmured these four words over and over again, as if all the hard work she had put into studying over the years had paid off, and so had Lord Chen... She had truly lived up to Lord Chen's expectations.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Empress Dowager."
With a thud, Guo Siyuan knelt heavily on the ground and kowtowed three times towards the direction of the palace. She thought that at most she could only get the title of Tongjinshi, but she never expected that the emperor would personally appoint her as Tanhua.
"This is a joyous occasion, Miss Guo, please don't cry." The young eunuch gently helped Guo Siyuan up. "The official imperial decree will be issued tomorrow, and you will be paraded through the streets during the grand ceremony of announcing the results of the imperial examinations!"
"By the way, Father-in-law, what about Qin Ke'er... what was the result of Qin Ke'er's diagnosis?"
Guo Siyuan seemed to have fully realized what was happening, and stared into the little eunuch's eyes as she asked.
The young eunuch involuntarily took a step back under that gaze. "Miss Guo, the detailed list will be posted tomorrow."
"I see, thank you, sir."
After the eunuch left, Guo Siyuan was surrounded by everyone in Lingyun Garden. "Congratulations, Siyuan."
Congratulations were endless, and Guo Siyuan's sense of reality vanished instantly. Seeing Guo Siyuan's state, Xie Zhiqing quickly cleared her throat, "Alright, let Siyuan go back to her room and calm down. Look at her, she's so happy she's lost her mind."
After Guo Siyuan entered the house, Xie Zhiqing followed closely behind.
"Siyuan, this is a good thing. It should reach your hometown by tomorrow, and then the surrounding villages will be proud of you." Even Xie Zhiqing looked at Guo Siyuan with admiration and envy.
She was well-read and longed for the opportunity to take the imperial examinations.
But her mother back then... She was too ashamed to ask the Empress Dowager and the Emperor for another chance to take the imperial examination.
"Master, I really succeeded." Guo Siyuan's voice trembled as she spoke. "I thought... I thought the Emperor wouldn't..."
"His Majesty is the most fair. Your writing and knowledge are excellent, so it is only natural that he would appoint you."
Xie Zhiqing smiled and stroked Guo Siyuan's hair at her temples, "Now the whole of Dayu knows that the third-ranked scholar is a girl!"
"Rest assured, Master, I will help more women to study and embark on the path of the imperial examinations."
After the two talked for a while, Xie Zhiqing asked with some confusion, "Siyuan, was there a reason why you asked about that eunuch, Miss Qin?"
"I...I can't say right now."
Guo Siyuan lowered her eyes, concealing the deep meaning in them.
......
The next day, the results of the palace examination were posted, and Qin Ke'er ranked second in the class.
"I wish to see the Empress Dowager of Dayu." Qin Ke'er showed no emotional fluctuation after receiving the news, and simply spoke calmly to the eunuchs guarding outside the courtyard.
"Please wait a moment while I go and ask the Empress Dowager."
A quarter of an hour later, Jiang Yu met Qin Ke'er at Zhaoning Palace.
"I heard you wanted to see me?" Jiang Yu had already guessed Qin Ke'er's purpose for coming, and upon seeing Qin Ke'er for the first time, her guess was confirmed.
Sure enough, the next second Qin Ke'er's voice rang out, "I want to go back to the Qin family. I will find out who the Pei family has planted in the Qin family and expose the Pei family's conspiracy to the public."
"Tell me more about it," Jiang Yu raised her eyebrows, looking very interested.
“Dayu values the imperial examination. I am now a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). I will force you to let me go back by committing suicide, and then I will naturally go back to deal with my family affairs.”
Qin Ke'er spoke very fluently, clearly having thought it through many times in her mind.
"How can I trust that you won't oppose Dayu after you go home to handle your family affairs?" Jiang Yu smirked. "I'm not willing to let a tiger return to the mountain."
"Your Majesty, rest assured. Just let the guards follow me. I will return as soon as I expose the true face of the Pei family. I still want to continue serving as a female official in Dayu."
"Alright, I agree."
After Qin Ke'er left, Granny Ling spoke with some worry, "Your Majesty, the Qin family was once the most prestigious family. If we really let Miss Qin go back..."
“Granny, since Pei Jian was able to send someone to poison the Qin family head, then the Qin family head will never wake up.”
Jiang Yu spoke slowly, "Pei Jian is the most ruthless person, how could he give the Qin family head a chance to wake up?"
"Letting Qin Ke'er go back and expose Pei Jian's true colors this time will be extremely beneficial to our Dayu." Jiang Yu patted his back. "It's a good thing, let Qin Ke'er go back."
"yes."
......
Three days later, the grand ceremony of announcing the winners will take place.
The top three scholars—the first, second, and third place winners—entered through the main gate of the palace and were personally received by Gu Qingyan.
After all the ceremonies were over, the three of them were about to embark on the most unforgettable horse parade of their lives.
All the people in the capital had gathered early on both sides of the street, waiting to see the grand spectacle of the parade. Guo Siyuan, riding her horse, received even more attention.
Guo Siyuan remained extremely calm, letting these gazes scrutinize her; in fact, she hoped that more women would see her.
"The third-place winner this time is actually a woman."
"Yes, isn't she the woman who fought to a draw with Prime Minister Kui last time?"
"So it was her."
Guo Siyuan heard this voice many, many times, and a smile appeared on her lips. Yes, this time the third-place winner was none other than Guo Siyuan.
As they were riding through the streets and approaching a crossroads, Qin Ke'er suddenly rushed out.
"Who is this? Why did they suddenly rush out?"
Before anyone could react, Qin Ke'er pulled a short blade from her sleeve. "Let me go back to the Qin family, or I'll kill myself here."
"It's Miss Qin!" The crowd gasped. "Wasn't she a successful candidate in the imperial examinations? Why would she be so distraught as to commit suicide?"
Those who could pass the imperial examination and become Jinshi were highly valued talents in Dayu.
Soon, guards appeared, trying to get closer to Qin Ke'er, but Qin Ke'er's short blade pressed even closer to her skin, and blood was already beginning to seep out.
"I demand that your emperor promise to let me return to the Qin family!"
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