Chapter 738: Chapter 732, Chapter 733: Palace Examination Ranking Announcement (Part 2)

Don’t give yourself away before the marriage.

Zhang Zhu blushed and said she understood.

...

On the other side, in the south of the city.

Dai Tu, wearing a mask, found that Peng Si’Er was nowhere to be seen and began to inquire about him, only to discover that Peng Si’Er had been captured by people from the Government Office.

Peng Si’Er had many ruffian friends, and people like them always kept watch at the Government Office’s entrance, ensuring that any major actions by the Government Office were known in advance.

And Peng Si’Er was seen when he was taken to the Government Office.

Upon learning of this news, Dai Tu panicked and fled the south of the city in a state of alarm.

After reaching a deserted dark alley, he took off his mask and gasped for air.

Once he calmed down, Dai Tu began to think.

At that time, he was wearing a mask, so Peng Si’Er should not know his identity.

Even if Peng Si’Er was caught, it should not implicate him.

However, there was one concern that troubled Dai Tu.

Where was Peng Si’Er captured by the Government Office?

If it happened while he was killing Huang Zhaodi and the others, and if Huang Zhaodi and the others were not dead yet, it would be disastrous.

After all, if the Government Office brought back Huang Zhaodi and them for investigation, everything would be over.

At the same time, Dai Tu fervently hoped that it was only after Peng Si’Er killed Huang Zhaodi and the others that he was caught by the Government Office, so he would have no further worries.

...

Time flows like a river, relentless both day and night.

In his apprehension and fear, three days passed by for Dai Tu.

Seeing that nothing happened, Dai Tu breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed that when the Government Office captured Peng Si’Er, they did not come across Huang Zhaodi and the others.

Thus, Dai Tu was at ease.

However, because he was in a state of anxiety and fear, he did not notice that Zhang River was not as warm to him as before.

At this moment, Dai Tu suddenly heard the sound of drums and gongs.

He realized that today was the day of the palace examination results announcement.

Dai Tu was suddenly startled!

Did I make it?

Dai Tu was shocked and rushed out of Zhang Residence, watching with a pounding heart as the procession approached his direction.

At the same time, Zhang Zhu heard the sound of drums and gongs and came out to see.

Upon seeing the procession, her face lit up with joy.

Nearby neighbors all came out to watch the spectacle, all aware of what day it was.

However, the procession passed by the front of Zhang Residence and stopped in front of a courtyard on the next street.

Living there were Qin Shi and Qin Hao, the father and son.

The two didn’t live there often; it was just a property the Qin Family purchased in Xiangyang, and after the results, Qin Hao would return to Jiangnan.

Upon hearing the sound of gongs and drums outside, the father, son, and servants hurried out to check.

As soon as they reached the door, the constable delivering the good news cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations, Young Master Qin, felicitations to Young Master Qin, wishing you delight in achieving the honor of being announced as Chuanlu."

Upon these words, the Qin father and son and the surrounding onlookers were stunned, the silence was deafening.

Moments later, there was an uproar.

The first place in the second category, commonly known as Chuanlu, is the person just below the top scholars, the Champion, the eye of the list, and Third Place Scholar.

"I am Chuanlu?" Qin Shi was also in a daze for a long while; even though he thought he did well in the last palace examination, he never expected to score so high.

Next to him, Qin Hao’s mouth split into a wide grin, he quickly pulled a gold leaf from his arms, rewarding the person delivering the good news, and even the surrounding onlookers received a reward, although not gold leaves, but broken silver.

This was more than enough proof of his excitement and joy.

And of course, the people who received the rewards were not stingy in their words of praise, and immediately came a round of further congratulations.

Soon, Qin Shi’s friends also came to visit, clearly aware of his high achievement.

One of the friends said, "Qin, do you know who the top scholar is this time?"

"Who is it?" Qin Shi asked curiously.

"It is Sun City, Sun, he is the Champion, while the eyes of the list is Guo Ning, Guo." The friend said.

"Hiss." Qin Shi drew a breath of cold air.

And next to him, Qin Hao’s eyes darted around quickly as he instructed servants to package some silver and visit them.

Meanwhile, this was also happening at Liu’s Bun Shop.

Liu Taoshu achieved the end of the top three.

Once the person delivering the good news left, within an hour, people bringing gifts to the Liu Family almost broke Liu’s doorstep. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

...

But human pessimism does not connect.

Within Zhang Residence, there was a dead silence.

Zhang Zhu also felt somewhat disappointed as the palace examination list did not contain Guo Xian.

However, Zhang River seemed unsurprised by this result.

After all, before that matter was clarified, to maintain influence, Guo Xian’s name certainly would not be put down on the list.

Because if it turned out to be true, spreading the news would harm the face of the other successful scholars.

However, Zhang Zhu did not show Guo Xian any displeasure, but instead, comforted him.

In her heart, she was already quite satisfied with Guo Xian.

...

In the evening.

Chen Mo hosted a banquet at Fu Ze Restaurant, inviting the scholars who made the list this time, as well as the noble families in Xiangyang.

He also expressed that soon they will accompany him to the capital to see the Emperor, who will bestow upon them the titles of Advanced Scholars and thereafter arrange for their placements, telling them to prepare well.

At the banquet, Chen Mo, following tradition, posed several poetic and essay topics to set the atmosphere.

As the atmosphere heated, the noble families present actively engaged with these scholars.

Among them, the most welcomed was not the Champion Sun City, nor the list’s eyes Guo Ning.

Instead, it was the Third Place Scholar Wang Haosheng.

Even though Chen Mo ranked them by scores, it seemed almost destined in the unseen world that Wang Haosheng was indeed the most handsome of all the scholars.

The noblewomen present had gaze fixed on him so intensely, it seemed as if they might devour Wang Haosheng whole.

After this day, Sun City, Guo Ning, and Wang Haosheng became akin to celebrities. Wherever they appeared, those places saw booming business.

Especially Xiangyang City’s brothels, which even issued a call for a thousand gold to the Champion Scholar for a piece of writing.

One could say, where these three went to eat, they didn’t need to spend money, the restaurants would instead pay them, and they did so eagerly.

It wasn’t until the end of July that this situation gradually subsided.

At this time, the heat of the palace examination had also dissipated in Xiangyang.

Simultaneously, Zuo Gang, who previously led people to investigate in Yanzhou Taoyuan County, returned to Linzhou, en route to Xiangyang in haste.

At this moment in Zhang Residence.

In the hall, Zhang Zhu was inquiring of her father when her marriage with Guo Xian would take place.

This was not Zhang Zhu being impatient.

After all, they had agreed earlier to marry right after the palace examination.

But now, more than twenty days past the results, people have stopped discussing the exams, and still, her marriage with Guo Xian was not decided.

Upon hearing this, Zhang River didn’t seem surprised by the results.

After all, before investigating this matter, his name surely wouldn’t be on the list due to reputational concerns for the other candidates if it were true.

However, Zhang Zhu didn’t show Guo Xian a displeased face over this, instead choosing to comfort him.

Meanwhile, "Guo Xian" was worrying inwardly.

With Peng Si’Er being caught and his name not appearing on the list after the results, although he wasn’t overly confident in making the list, something about the situation struck him as strange.

Especially since nothing untoward had happened until that day.

The matter of Peng Si’Er being caught had not affected him.

Additionally, during these days, he had inquired quite often and hadn’t sensed any rumors, which made him feel much more at ease.

Now his only concern was whether he and Zhang Zhu’s marriage would be called off.

This kept him on edge all the time.

It wasn’t until today that he felt any bad news coming his way.

Currently, there was nothing troubling or adverse heading their way.

...

Lately, in the back hall of Prince Wei’s Mansion.

Ning Wan specifically called Qing Dance.

After taking the Youthful Appearance Pill for such a long time, this day, it was clearly visible that her fellow student’s skin had become more delicate.

This delighted Wu Mi and the other madams, praising Qing Dance for managing Fu Ze Restaurant’s business well.

Qing Dance, on her part, felt that the Princess Consort and the ladies were treating her wonderfully.

Feeling she must repay their kindness well.