Among the Top Ranks

On the day the results were posted, Han Nanxing dragged his elder brother out of bed bright and early to check the Apricot List, showing even more enthusiasm than Han Yucheng, who had actually taken the Metropolitan Examination.

Since the results were posted when the apricot blossoms were in full bloom, the court's list of successful Metropolitan Graduates was known as the Apricot List.

Though they had not arrived particularly late, a sea of people had already gathered where the list was posted at the Examination Compound.

Clearly, they were not the only ones eager to see the results. All the examination candidates shared the same feelings.

Relying on his martial training and sturdy physique, Han Nanxing forced the crowded throng apart and squeezed his way toward the Apricot List.

Han Yucheng also wanted to get closer, but as a frail scholar, he had the will without the strength. No matter how he tried, he could not squeeze through.

Besides, he wanted to preserve his dignity as the elder brother and maintain a composed air in front of Han Nanxing, so he simply stood at the edge of the crowd and watched his younger brother push his way inside.

With so many people, clashes were inevitable, and complaints soon rang out.

"Ow! Which turtle-spawn bastard stepped on my foot?"

"What are you shoving for? In a hurry to be reincarnated?"

"Which damned wretch dared grope my backside?"

"Get lost! Stay the hell away from me!"

Han Yucheng had been doing his best to keep a calm expression, but when he heard that someone was fishing in troubled waters to grope other people's backsides, even the corners of his mouth twitched.

Watching Han Nanxing's retreating figure, he could not help worrying about him.

Han Nanxing was tall and handsome, and his martial training under General Fang had given him a thoroughly masculine air.

He had heard that men with a taste for other men liked this sort best. Han Yucheng thought, Little brother, whatever you do, don't let anyone take advantage of you!

Unaware that his normally composed elder brother was worrying about someone coveting his backside, Han Nanxing focused entirely on squeezing toward the Apricot List.

Through his tireless efforts, he finally reached the front row.

With his height and sharp eyes, Han Nanxing quickly made out the contents of the Apricot List.

He read down the names one by one. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and delight spread across his face. Turning toward Han Yucheng, he shouted, "Elder brother! Your name is fifth!"

Then Han Nanxing hurriedly turned back, fixed his eyes on the list, and counted again and again. Only after making certain his eyes had not deceived him did he squeeze back out of the crowd.

His younger brother's voice was loud enough that Han Yucheng had already heard him clearly from outside: he had placed fifth.

Yet when Han Nanxing reached him, he could not resist asking again, "What did you just say?"

Han Nanxing was about to answer when his eyes suddenly darted mischievously. "Elder brother, your name is last!"

"Aren't I fifth?" Han Yucheng blurted out.

The moment the words left his mouth, he realized something was wrong. Sure enough, a teasing gleam appeared in his younger brother's eyes.

Waggling his eyebrows, Han Nanxing said, "Elder brother, I thought you really were that calm. Turns out you were only pretending! Hahaha!"

His dignity punctured, Han Yucheng felt his face grow hot. When his younger brother kept laughing, he gave him a punch.

Han Nanxing's laughter stopped abruptly, replaced by a cry of pain at the blow.

As someone who genuinely practiced martial arts, how could he possibly fear his elder brother's flowery fists and embroidered kicks?

Han Yucheng, however, took it seriously.

He hurriedly supported his younger brother and asked anxiously, "Nanxing, are you all right?"

Holding back his laughter, Han Nanxing lowered his head and said aggrievedly, "Elder brother, I was only joking with you, yet you actually hit me! And here I worked so hard to squeeze to the front and check the list for you!"

Han Yucheng was instantly overcome with guilt, his face full of concern. "Nanxing, that was my fault. I'll carry you on my back to a doctor right away!"

Han Nanxing burst out laughing.

Only then did he lift his head, with not a trace of pain on his face. He said gleefully, "Elder brother, with that little frame of yours, you think you can carry me?"

Han Yucheng finally realized his younger brother had fooled him again. His face alternated between green and white, and he promptly gave him another punch!

This time, he put some strength into it. Caught unprepared, Han Nanxing doubled over like a shrimp.

"Ow! Elder brother... you really are..."

This time, Han Yucheng ignored his younger brother's cries and turned to leave.

His elder sister and niece were still waiting at the teahouse for news.

Seeing that his elder brother was ignoring him this time, Han Nanxing could no longer keep up his one-man show and trotted eagerly after him.

Together, they reached the teahouse, gave their names, and entered the private room Princess Yu had reserved.

Chu Siqing sat beside her mother and had already been waiting for some time.

Had there not been so many people where the results were posted, she would have wanted to go and take a look with her two uncles too!

Seeing the relaxed expressions on her two younger brothers' faces, Princess Yu knew the ranking must be quite good.

She quickly had someone replenish their tea, then asked with a smile, "What place did you get?"

Han Yucheng took a sip of tea and was about to speak, but Han Nanxing cut in. "Elder sister, why don't you guess?"

Princess Yu considered it, then ventured, "In the top ten?"

Han Nanxing merely smiled without answering, then asked his niece, "Siqing, what's your guess?"

With a disdainful little smile, Chu Siqing held up five tiny fingers.

With the Gossip System at her disposal, how could such a trivial matter be hidden from her?

Surprise appeared on Han Nanxing's face. "Siqing, you really are a divine fortune-teller!"

Princess Yu said happily, "So you placed fifth! Yucheng, you did very well this time."

Hearing his elder sister's praise, Han Yucheng could not help smiling until his eyes curved.

Han Nanxing joked, "Elder sister, you have no idea what elder brother just did..."

He recounted the earlier pranks to his sister and niece.

Han Yucheng's mouth turned down, and he shot his irrepressible younger brother a fierce glare!

Princess Yu could not help laughing. "You little rascal, always playing tricks. However composed your elder brother may be, he isn't even twenty yet. You just had to tease him!"

Chu Siqing also smiled and reached out a plump little hand to tug at her eldest uncle's hand in comfort.

Han Yucheng's handsome face reddened slightly, but he said nothing.

The siblings chatted about family matters for a little longer.

Finally, Princess Yu told her elder younger brother, "Yucheng, the upcoming Palace Examination won't eliminate any candidates. His Majesty will merely rank you all anew, so just approach it with a calm mind."

Han Yucheng nodded. "I understand, elder sister."

Soon, the time for the Palace Examination arrived.

Princess Yu once again took Chu Siqing to pray before the Bodhisattva she had prayed to during Han Yucheng's Metropolitan Examination.

Chu Siqing could not resist teasing her inwardly: [Mother, you told eldest uncle to approach it calmly. Why are you even more nervous than he is, when he's the one taking the examination?]

Princess Yu offered the Bodhisattva a stick of incense and bowed before telling her daughter, "I simply didn't want to put too much pressure on your eldest uncle. Of course I hope he'll do even better!"

Chu Siqing kept giggling to herself.

A few days later, the Palace Examination results were posted as well.

After the Palace Examination, the court issued its list of successful Presented Scholars, commonly known as the Golden List.

How many scholars throughout the land dreamed of having their names inscribed on the Golden List!

By this stage, the Metropolitan Graduates whose names appeared on the Apricot List were no longer in a hurry. They would all be on the Golden List anyway.

Most dressed themselves up very respectably and waited in teahouses near the Examination Compound. Someone would naturally come along soon to announce the good news.

These prospective Presented Scholars all did the same thing without prior agreement because of a popular custom that followed the Palace Examination.

That custom was "Snatching Sons-in-Law from the List."