Chapter 676 - 247: Metropolitan Examination Champion

Chapter 676: Chapter 247: Metropolitan Examination Champion

This time, Zhao Jing did not personally go to the posting site to wait for the results of the imperial roll.

The old madame was even more anxious than they were. She had made arrangements with the servants the night before, having them get up at the third watch today to check the results. Therefore, after breakfast, he and Xu Yanhe sat in the flower hall of the front courtyard, drinking tea and playing chess while patiently waiting for the servants to return.

The entire Xu family had gathered in the front courtyard. The old madame was surrounded by Mrs. Guo, Xu Su Ying, and Chen Wanqing, playing cards to pass the time. However, everyone’s minds were elsewhere. The previous player would put down a card, and the next player wouldn’t even know it was their turn to draw, absentmindedly asking, "Whose turn is it?" In no time, the game fell into complete chaos, so they simply put the cards away and stopped playing.

The sun climbed higher, shifting toward the south. Seeing that no one had returned for a long time, the old madame anxiously walked to the entrance of the flower hall and stood under the corridor, gazing toward the main gate.

"What hour is it? Why haven’t they returned yet?"

Xu Yanhe chuckled and comforted his grandmother. "They will return when it’s time. Don’t worry."

Xu Su Ying also chimed in, "Haste makes waste. Just sit down and wait patiently."

"I’m just worried."

The old madame didn’t say what she was worried about, but everyone knew it in their hearts. Although the family all agreed that Jing’s academic knowledge was more than enough to claim the title of Metropolitan Examination Champion, and Yanhe’s knowledge, while slightly inferior to Jing’s, was guaranteed a spot on the list. However, the world was full of hidden talents, and capable individuals were countless. Furthermore, anything could happen in the examination hall, and the examiner’s preferences largely determined the success or failure of the examination. There was also the influence of the court’s political situation—the disputes, balances, and compromises of various factions.

The old madame paced back and forth in the corridor, as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof. Her anxiety rubbed off on the others, making Xu Su Ying and the rest uneasy as well. Xu Yanhe and Zhao Jing couldn’t even focus on their chess game anymore.

Just when the atmosphere became so oppressive that everyone found it hard to breathe, a servant suddenly scrambled in from outside the main gate. The people in the corridor saw him and immediately looked up. Their collective gazes were as sharp as the edge of a sword, making one tremble with fear.

The servant didn’t notice this; he was dizzy with the anticipation of his upcoming reward. Rushing forward, the servant dropped to his knees with a heavy THUD and raised his voice to announce the good news. "Good news for the Old Madame, the First Madame, and Madam! The Third Young Master of our family has passed the Imperial Examination and is on the list!"

The old madame held her breath, unable to exhale or inhale. With trembling hands, she grabbed the arm of the nanny beside her. "Yanhe passed? What rank? What is his rank?"

Having caught his breath, the servant deliberately smiled and kept them in suspense. "This servant specifically checked the list several times. Our young master’s ranking is extremely auspicious! It is the number on the South Heavenly Gate, the twenty-eight constellations descending to the mortal realm! The Third Young Master placed twenty-eighth in the Imperial Examination, becoming an Advanced Scholar!"

Xu Su Ying suddenly asked, "What about Jing? Is Jing not on the list?"

The courtyard fell silent as everyone stared at the servant. The servant’s face, which had been blooming like a joyful flower, suddenly crumpled in dismay. He lightly slapped his own cheek. "Madam, this lowly one forgot to check. There were too many people, and I was pushed right up against the wall. When I lowered my head, I saw the young master’s name and immediately turned around to run home and report the good news. I... I deserve to die! I’ll go back and check the list again right now!"

"Forget it, you useless thing. We arranged for other people anyway, so you don’t need to go back. Still, Yanhe placing twenty-eighth is a very good result." Xu Su Ying revealed a joyful expression, and only then did everyone in the courtyard become truly happy.

With bright, radiant smiles, the servants all knelt and kowtowed. "Congratulations to the Old Madame! Congratulations to the Young Master! Our family is about to produce another official!"

Placing twenty-eighth in the Imperial Examination was an exceptionally high rank. It was a top position just below the "Five Jingkui." To achieve this rank among over six thousand candidates was quite impressive.

Zhao Jing cupped his hands and said to Xu Yanhe, "Congratulations!"

Xu Yanhe was grinning from ear to ear with excitement. "Congratulations to you too! I never expected to score so well. On the afternoon I left the examination hall, my stomach was cramping in agony, and I was covered in a cold sweat. After finishing copying my exam paper, I didn’t even have time to check for omissions..." After saying this, he hastily added, "Your academic knowledge is better than mine, so your rank will definitely be higher. Jing, wait patiently. Someone will probably come to report your good news in a moment."

Xu Yanhe was so excited that he spoke incoherently. By the end, the corners of his eyes even turned red as he wept tears of joy. When all was said and done, it truly was a stroke of luck this time! If he hadn’t carried that pill with him, even if he had managed to pass, his rank would never have been this high.

Just as everyone was congratulating each other, a court messenger arrived at the main entrance, beaming with joy. He wore a large hat adorned with golden flowers and a red brocade uniform with a leopard pattern. A sword hung at his waist, its hilt decorated with red silk.

"Good news for your esteemed residence! The master of your esteemed residence has achieved great success in the Imperial Examination! Quickly open the main gate to welcome it!" Once inside, he held the bright red notice high. "Congratulations to the master of your esteemed residence! I serve at the Capital Governor’s government office and have come today under the court’s orders to deliver this good news! Your esteemed family’s master, Xu Yanhe, has passed the Imperial Examination of the Yisi year, placing twenty-eighth in the Wei Dynasty as an Advanced Scholar..."

The old madame couldn’t wait for the messenger to finish his congratulations. She directly ordered the servants to carry out baskets of coins to the main gate to distribute rewards. The messenger, the servant who reported earlier, and even the rest of the household staff all received generous rewards. One by one, they knelt on the ground and offered their sincere congratulations.

Amidst the waves of joyous voices, Chen Wanqing grabbed Zhao Jing’s hand. "Don’t worry. The later they announce it, the higher the rank. I believe in Jing; you will be in the top three at the very least."

The corners of Zhao Jing’s lips curled up slightly. Using the cover of his sleeve, he grasped her hand in return. "Then I thank you for your auspicious words, Wanqing."