The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 417 - 209: Gathering Money! (First Update) _2

Chapter 417: Chapter 209: Gathering Money! (First Update) _2

However, after he reviewed the two test papers with disdain, he was suddenly rendered speechless.

He was the biological grandfather of the Prince of An County, so he naturally recognized the style of writing unique to the prince.

The emperor asked, “Is there a need to invite other cabinet ministers to review the tests?”

Grand Tutor Zhuang clasped his hands together and said, “No need, we will entrust all decisions to your majesty.”

The emperor laughed and said, “I find both these test papers excellent. Maybe we could give them a tie rank for first place. What do you think, Grand Tutor?”

Grand Tutor Zhuang heaved a sigh of relief, “Your majesty is wise.”

The fact that Grand Tutor Zhuang allowed someone to rank equally with his own grandson showed just how exceptional the other party’s exam paper was.

It was so good, in fact, that not even any unfair practices could mar its quality.

If there had been a single disputable point, Grand Tutor Zhuang would not have allowed this tied rank for first place.

However, the emperor could not just push the Prince of An County down in rank either.

At present, the cabinet was still under Grand Tutor Zhuang’s control. Any test-taker who ended up as a civil servant would land in his hands first.

In a corner of the imperial palace, the voices of two men echoed from behind a large tree.

“What happened? Wasn’t someone supposed to take it away? How did it still appear?”

“Lord Tong said, he indeed hid the Prince’s test paper, but somehow, it showed up on the last day. He suspects that some mischief was at play.”

“Where are there any ghosts in this world?”

“If it wasn’t a ghost, but human actions, why didn’t they expose Lord Tong?”

“You’re right.”

“So…what’s the next plan…”

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“What next plan? The results are out. Do you think there will be a chance to retake the exams?”

Originally, they planned to lose the Prince’s paper. Using the Zhuang family’s influence, it would not be difficult to figure out that the paper was misplaced. They would definitely find a way to redo the imperial examination.

They couldn’t interfere during the first exam because they only found out about the Prince’s weakness two days before. By then, it was too late for them to carefully plan their actions, leaving them with the roundabout method of causing a re-examination. They planned to create some disturbance at the exam site to delay the opening of the papers. The prince, unable to see at night, would naturally fail.

“What a pity!”

Xiao Liulang and the Prince of An County both attained first place, causing Qingfeng Building to lose a considerable sum.

Gu Jiao’s bet of a thousand taels turned into eleven thousand taels. She was elated!

The neighbors on Bishui Alley all bet that Xiao Liulang would rank first, and he indeed did. Isn’t being tied for first still considered first? The court has already issued the title of Huì Yuán (the champion in the imperial examination). Would a small Qingfeng Building dare to default?

Qingfeng Building wept bitterly.

The neighbors earned a pot of money and hurried to find the old lady to play leaf cards.

The old lady: Yes, very good, the purse is plump, the sheep is fat, it’s time to slaughter it!

It’s all because of her!

Old Jiujin just returned from outside. As soon as he got off the carriage, he was immediately collared by the old lady and dragged to Uncle Zhao’s house next door for a game of cards!

His main job: carrying the money!

This time, Fen Lin also got admitted, barely making it in at the one hundred and seventy-sixth place out of two hundred and ten.

When it was the provincial examination, he ranked seventeenth in Youzhou. Now in Capital City, he had barely managed one hundred and seventy-something. The fall was so steep that it was heart-stopping.

But even this result counted as a good one. Several people who had placed before him in the provincial exam in Youzhou had failed. Those who made it into the list and ranked higher than him weren’t many either.

It just went to show, even in a competition amongst scholars, things could get ruthless!

Lin Chengye also made the cut. His score wasn’t bad, ranking at one hundred and twenty-third place.

You should know, during the provincial exam, Youzhou selected fifty people. He ranked forty-five, barely qualifying as a Ju Ren (scholar).

Lin Chengye was so thrilled he became giddy. Thousands of taels hadn’t been wasted. Master Liulang was too amazing!

Fen Lin nodded deeply at him. Sure enough, players who paid had advantages!

Du Ruohan ranked fifteenth on the list.

It was a bit short of his own expectations. He was aiming for the top ten. Nevertheless, this was a top-notch ranking. After all, it was a national examination featuring the brightest minds. It was held once every three years, and only two hundred and ten people were selected each time.

Du Ruohan was not the type to harbor overly grand ambitions or an excess of pride and self-confidence. He quickly accepted his examination results and felt content with them.

Of course, he was well aware that his success depended greatly on Gu Jiao. Without the cold medicine she had given him, he would have fallen in the first round.

This was not the county or provincial tests, where the difference in abilities was vast. All the candidates here were top-notch. One slip up and the gap wouldn’t be mere tens of places, but rather the difference between making or missing the honor roll.

That evening, Du Ruohan carried big and small bundles of gifts to Bishui Alley.

Ever since the news of Xiao Liulang topping the examinations spread, their doorway had been nearly worn out by visitors.

Fen Lin and Lin Chengye had also come.

Thus, upon seeing Du Ruohan, Xiao Liulang was not too surprised—except for the bundles in his hands—

Seeing that Du Ruohan was practically struggling with his load, the normally nonchalant Xiao Liulang courteously quipped, “It’s only the Imperial examinations, no need to go to such lengths—”

“Jiao! I’m here!” Du Ruohan excitedly burst into the room.

The scene was a perfect match for the one Fen Lin had created earlier.

Xiao Liulang’s face darkened.

Just as Gu Jiao had dreamt, Xiao Liulang had caused the biggest upset in the history of the Imperial examinations. Owing to the presence of Prince An, Xiao Liulang’s first place held a far greater weight in everyone’s eyes.

Ranked first alongside Prince An, just how extraordinary did this poor lad have to be?

This news spread even faster than the explosion at the Ministry of Industry. In a single day, it permeated the entirety of Capital City.

Naturally, it also reached the ears of Lord Xuanping.

Lord Xuanping looked highly skeptical, “Who topped the examination?”

“Young Master!” The steward, Liu, gleefully reported.

He too had bet on Xiao Liulang and had won a hundred taels of silver!

He had been prompted by Gu Jiao to place the bet and at that time, he had begrudged parting with the money. But now, his heart was filled with joy.

Exultation gave way to regret. Why hadn’t he brought a hundred or eighty more silver taels that day?

Lord Xuanping, with his handsome face clouded with suspicion, wondered, had he unknowingly raised another genius son?

Something felt amiss!

“Oh dear! How come you don’t have an intelligent son? Isn’t the young lord quite clever?”

Lord Xuanping was, in some ways, self-aware. Xiao Hen’s intelligence was not due to him—in fact, if the child had taken after him, he’d probably be rather uncultivated.

Xiao Hen took after his mother—he was intelligent, refined, meticulous, and knowledgeable.

So, who did this illegitimate son take after? Chen Yunniang? Chen Yunniang was a gentle and kind woman, but she did not possess such mental acuity.

Lord Xuanping ordered seriously, “Call those old scholars over. Also, bring me Xiao Liulang’s examination papers.”

The examination papers of all candidates were sealed in the Ministry of Rites and were not accessible to ordinary people.

However, Lord Xuanping was no ordinary man. At times, he wasn’t even entirely human.

The steward, Liu, managed to procure Xiao Liulang’s papers, while Chang Jing located several aged scholars, their hair and beards grey, walking with a shuffle.

Lord Xuanping asked them to compare Xiao Liulang’s papers with articles written by Xiao Hen prior to his death.

Both individuals’ writings left the old scholars in awe.

“Were these written by the same person?” Lord Xuanping asked in a deep voice.

“No.”

“It’s evident they weren’t.”

The old scholars shook their heads one after another.

“Are you sure?” Lord Xuanping cast a skeptical glance at the scholars.

“Lord Xuanping, if we were unable to distinguish the literary style of individual writers, we would have lived our years in vain. Not only do their handwriting differ, their manner of writing and thought processes are also fundamentally different.”

One was like daylight, the other was like a dark night.

Xiao Hen’s articles were refreshing and uplifting, while Xiao Liulang’s were like the harsh gusts of winter, striking right at the heart of the readers.

If these were written by the same person, how profound must the pain and torment he had endured be, for he had carved himself so deeply?