"Senior Brother! Senior Brother! You took first place! You took first place!"
The plump Ouyang Fa nimbly hopped in through the doorway. Seeing Fan Chunren and Feng Jing drinking tea together in the study, he immediately added, "You two brothers also made the list. Brother Dangshi came second, and Brother Yaofu came third. Congratulations, congratulations!"
"I told you Young Master would definitely pass the jinshi examination and become an official." Little Pillar did not compete with Ouyang Fa to deliver the good news. Two steps behind him, he leaned against the doorframe, grinning foolishly.
Sheng Changbai said nothing, but he was no slower. By then, he had already picked up a brush at the desk and begun writing.
When Fan Chunren craned his neck to look, he smiled. "I'm writing home to tell Father and Eldest Sister that Brother-in-Law took first place in the metropolitan examination, so they can rest easy."
"Oh, right, right, right. I need to write Father too. He'll definitely be happy." Ouyang Fa nodded repeatedly and crowded over as well.
Seeing the two youngsters so restless and excitable, the others all shook their heads. Fan Chunren cupped his hands toward Wang Yan and Feng Jing. "Ziyan, Dangshi, congratulations."
"Same to you, same to you." Feng Jing laughed heartily. "Ziyan is still the most impressive. He won't even turn nineteen for a few more months, yet he has already passed the jinshi examination. He may well be the youngest jinshi in our dynasty. If His Majesty names him top scholar at the palace examination and grants him the jinshi degree, no one will be able to compare."
"What matters is going far." Wang Yan smiled. "Little Pillar, tell the kitchen to make preparations. We should have a feast. The weight in our hearts has finally lifted—we ought