eurekapd Chapter 159, Top Scholar
Chapter 159, Top Scholar
Chapter 159, 159 Top Scholars
The notice board in front of the Imperial Examination Hall in the capital was crowded with people, pushing and shoving each other, craning their necks and looking up at the notice board.
Just a quarter of an hour ago, officials from the Ministry of Rites posted a foot-long piece of yellow paper on the bulletin board of the examination hall. The paper immediately attracted the candidates who had been loitering and gathering around the examination hall. Like a pack of wolves starving through winter, they rushed forward, hoping to see their names on the paper.
"Make way! Everyone move aside!"
"Don't squeeze!"
"You dare step on me, you brat! I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!"
For a time, shouts and curses filled the examination hall. Some even started fighting over a good spot to view the results, turning the hall into a chaotic mess. Of course, there were also those who passed the exam and were overjoyed, laughing heartily to the heavens.
"I passed! I passed! I can go to take the imperial examination!"
"I passed too! That's wonderful! Father, if you're watching over me, please bless me so I can pass the imperial examination!"
"Excellent, excellent! It seems that studying hard is indeed useful. I hope my imperial examination will go as smoothly as this."
Amidst the commotion, two figures, upon seeing the name at the top of the provincial examination list, immediately broke away from the crowd and rushed off in different directions.
One of these two people was a servant sent by the Marquis of Anshi's mansion, and the other was a maidservant from the Xu family in Yanliu Lane.
In terms of speed, it was the servants of the Marquis of Anshi's mansion who were the first to relay the news of Ye Yanxun's success in the imperial examination back to the mansion.
"Young Master Xun has passed! Young Master Xun has passed! He's the top scholar in the imperial examination! Young Master Xun has passed!"
In the front hall, Marquis Anshi, Ye Yanxun, and even Gongsun Yuan were all gathered there. When they heard the servants shouting from afar, they were first stunned, and then stood up with joy on their faces.
As soon as the messenger ran into the main hall, Marquis Anshi rushed forward, grabbed him, and asked, "How is it?"
"Your Excellency, I saw it with absolute certainty. Young Master Xun's name is at the top of the list; he is the top scholar in this year's provincial examination!"
Great!Great!
Marquis Anshi was overjoyed. He immediately turned around, hugged Ye Yanxun tightly, and patted his back forcefully, saying, "You truly are my good son! You have made your father so proud!"
Ye Yanxun was also very happy, but he pretended to be calm and said to An Shihou with a smile, "It's just a Jieyuan. Father, don't forget that my ambition is to become the Zhuangyuan."
However, his slightly trembling voice ultimately revealed the excitement in his heart.
"It's one thing to be the top scholar, but it's equally something to celebrate to be the top scholar in the provincial examination!" Marquis Anshi laughed loudly. "This is a momentous occasion! Steward Ye, issue the order that from today onwards, every servant in the manor will receive an extra ten coins in salary!"
"Yes, Your Excellency, I will take care of it immediately," Steward Ye said with a smile as he stepped forward from behind.
No sooner had Steward Ye left than another servant came to report that people from the Ministry of Rites had arrived.
Knowing that Ye Yanxun was now certain to be the top scholar in the imperial examination, Marquis Anshi was so happy that his eyes narrowed into slits. He hurriedly said, "Quickly, please invite the officials from the Ministry of Rites in to have a seat!"
The person who came from outside was Huang Langting, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Upon seeing Marquis Anshi, he first bowed respectfully, then smiled and handed Marquis Anshi a document bearing the official seal of the Ministry of Rites, saying:
"Congratulations, Your Excellency! Your son has achieved first place in this provincial examination, becoming the undisputed 'top scholar' of the western capital. Your son has accomplished so much at such a young age; his future is undoubtedly limitless."
"Not at all, I have to thank you all for taking care of my son in the examination hall, otherwise he would not have been able to achieve this."
"The imperial examination will be held next March. Your son can report to the Ministry of Rites with this document, and someone will arrange for him to participate in the examination," said the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. "I wish your son great success in the imperial examination."
"You're too kind, Minister Huang. I appreciate your kind words." Marquis Anshi said with a smile, gesturing to his servants to give Minister Huang some silver. "Since Minister Huang is here, please stay and have a couple of cups of hot tea."
Huang accepted the silver without changing his expression and said, "I still have to go and deliver documents to the candidates, so I won't bother you any longer. Farewell, Your Excellency and Madam."
"Please take care, Vice Minister Huang."
After seeing off the Ministry of Rites officials, Marquis Anshi looked at the genuine "Jieyuan" (top scholar in the provincial examination) on the document in his hand and was filled with emotion.
With this document, if Xun'er were willing, he could use his connections to arrange a lucrative position for him in the court. However, if he truly wanted to cultivate his own power, Xun'er would have to make a name for himself in the palace examination and be appointed by His Majesty to a position, only then would he have real influence.
Unlike An Shihou, who harbored his own ulterior motives, Gongsun Yuan was genuinely happy. Her eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she smiled, and her gaze towards Ye Yanxun was filled with unadulterated tenderness.
"Xun'er, come here." She reached out her hand to Ye Yanxun.
Ye Yanxun recalled the words Gongsun Yuan had said to him before the exam, and was deeply moved. He called out "Mother" and walked towards her.
"Mother is truly happy for you." Gongsun Yuan held his burning hand, stroked his meticulously combed hair, and looked at him with delight: "My child, you are indeed the most outstanding man in the world."
Ye Yanxun's palm trembled suddenly, and after a long while, he finally found his voice, saying hoarsely, "Mother, Xun'er actually...didn't do well enough." Indeed, he hadn't done well enough. When he discovered Ye Yingrou was in the examination hall and being taken away by the Ministry of Revenue, his mind was already in turmoil. If it weren't for the calming incense pills Ye Pianran had given him, he didn't think he could have calmed down to answer the questions, let alone become the top scholar!
"You did very well, that's enough." Gongsun Yuan smiled. "Xun'er, you must have confidence in yourself. I believe you will still be the top scorer in the imperial examination next spring."
Ye Yanxun could hardly describe the emotions surging in his heart, and could only nod vigorously and say, "Xun'er will work hard and not let Mother down!"
Marquis Anshi listened from the side, his expression shifting several times. If he didn't know the inside story, just looking at this scene of maternal love and filial piety, he would truly believe that Ye Yanxun was indeed Gongsun Yuan's biological child. To be honest, over the years, Gongsun Yuan had indeed been incredibly attentive and caring towards Ye Yanxun; even he couldn't find a single fault in Gongsun Yuan's upbringing of Ye Yanxun.
Unfortunately, Xu Pingyue would not allow her child to continue to recognize someone else as her "mother".
"My lord," Gongsun Yuan suddenly called out to Marquis Anshi. Marquis Anshi snapped out of his reverie, looked at her, and replied, "What is it?"
"Elder Feng has put in a lot of effort to educate Xun'er and help him become a talent. Let's prepare some generous gifts and go to his residence to express our gratitude in person tomorrow," said Gongsun Yuan.
Marquis Anshi said, "It is a great joy for the Marquis's mansion that Xun'er has become the top scholar in the provincial examination. I would like to hold a banquet in the mansion and invite Elder Feng and his colleagues from the court to come to the mansion so that Xun'er can pay his respects and express his gratitude to Elder Feng in public."
"This..." Gongsun Yuan frowned, "Isn't this somewhat inappropriate?"