Placing fourth in the palace examination

The entire teahouse fell silent.

Princess Yu and the others had already been frowning at the slander against Second Place Wang. Hearing this voice, their expressions eased.

Chu Siqing immediately craned her head to see who had spoken.

Someone had dared to stand up for Second Place Wang amid all the ridicule, undaunted by what others might say-and had such a lovely voice, too. Her curiosity was positively unbearable.

She was not alone. Almost everyone in the teahouse stretched their necks to see who was speaking up for that country bumpkin who had placed second.

A young man strolled into view, seeming to lend radiance to the entire teahouse. Everyone else paled beside him.

Though dressed in plain cloth, he could not conceal his beauty. If anything, it made him seem all the more ethereal, untouched by worldly dust.

Even more captivating than his looks was his noble, lofty bearing. Like the divine being of Mount Gushe, he made anyone who saw him forget the mundane world.

Chu Siqing stared, forgetting even to close her mouth.

Most of the others reacted much the same way, and people gradually began asking questions all at once.

"Who is that?"

"I think he's Yu Qing, a close friend of Top Scholar Yan."

"They say Prince Shun's son in the Capital is renowned as the 'Immortal Young Master.' I'd say this Young Master Yu is every bit his equal."

"Is he betrothed?"

Hearing that the young master's surname was Yu, Chu Siqing said in her soft, babyish voice, "Yu... beauty..."

Han Yucheng pinched Chu Siqing's little cheek. "Can't take your eyes off Young Master Yu now, either?"

Han Nanxing exclaimed, "Oh! Little Siqing even knows about the 'Beautiful Lady Yu'?"

Princess Yu said, "Young Master Yu truly does seem like an immortal."

Downstairs, Second Place Wang looked grateful as he said to Yu Qing, "Young Master Yu, thank you for speaking up for me."

Yu Qing smiled in return. "There's no need to thank me, Second Place Wang."

Seeing that he had arrived, Yan Guan also stepped forward to speak with him.

When the others saw Top Scholar Yan take the initiative to approach Young Master Yu, they each began drawing their own conclusions.

"What ability does he have, to be so close to Top Scholar Yan?"

"I hear Top Scholar Yan is already betrothed to his younger sister."

"So that's it. Someone mentioned it earlier. No wonder it sounded so familiar."

In truth, after hearing Young Master Yu defend Second Place Wang and seeing what an extraordinary person he was, most people felt admiration for him. Even those who had spoken ill of Second Place Wang felt somewhat ashamed.

But some could not stand Yu Qing's manner and sneered, "Heh. He's just someone riding on a woman's coattails. He has no real ability."

Someone who admired Young Master Yu was about to refute the mocker when the third messenger bearing good news arrived.

The messenger went straight up to Young Master Yu and announced loudly, "Congratulations to Master Yu Qing, a provincial graduate from Dan Prefecture, on taking third place in the palace examination! This humble servant congratulates our Third Place scholar!"

At these words, the man who had just mocked Yu Qing flushed crimson.

Someone laughed at him. "You said Third Place Yu had no real ability, sir. May I ask what place you earned?"

Everyone around them laughed.

The man's face turned green, then white, and he blurted, "Third Place Yu only spoke up for Second Place Wang because he's poor too and has no money to reward the messengers!"

Another person who disliked Yu Qing remarked, "Dan Prefecture is indeed a desolate, impoverished place, and Third Place Yu is dressed so shabbily. I wonder how he'll reward this messenger."

Yu Qing felt no shame upon hearing this. Instead, he said openly to the messenger, "My apologies. My family is indeed poor, and I have no money to reward you."

Yan Guan hurriedly told his servant to give the messenger some silver. Unexpectedly, the messenger refused again and again, unwilling to accept it no matter what.

He said excitedly to Yu Qing, "Master Yu, I don't want a reward! I'm from Dan Prefecture too, and I know how hard life is for the people there. You came from Dan Prefecture and still managed to take third place. We're all proud of you! How could I accept your money?"

Hearing this, Yu Qing could not help smiling. "So you're a fellow countryman. You truly praise me too highly."

His smile was like a hundred flowers bursting into bloom. The entire teahouse seemed to brighten, and everyone stared in a daze.

Chu Siqing gave several quiet little squeals, longing to run over to Third Place Yu and look at him up close.

Princess Yu gathered her daughter into her arms and smiled. "Siqing likes Third Place Yu that much?"

Chu Siqing immediately nodded furiously.

Both Han brothers could not help laughing.

Just then, someone else said sourly, "A pauper from Dan Prefecture-who knows what scheming brought him to the Capital? He only got third place because he's handsome."

He spoke softly, but everyone nearby heard him.

Yan Guan's expression immediately turned cold. He said to the man, "A man born into this world ought to earn his own future. Humble birth is no disgrace. Everything Brother Yu has achieved today came from his own painstaking studies. What right have you to disparage him?"

The man dared to challenge Yu Qing, who came from humble roots, but not Yan Guan, with his powerful backing. He could only shut his mouth in mortification.

Yu Qing said a few more words to Yan Guan.

Han Nanxing could not resist saying to Han Yucheng, "Big Brother, these people finished gossiping about Second Place Wang and went straight on to finding fault with Third Place Yu. You scholars are far too narrow-minded!"

Chu Siqing burst into a giggle.

Her second uncle's thoughts certainly took some wild leaps.

Han Yucheng looked utterly exasperated. "What does that have to do with me? Those people are jealous of Second Place Wang and Third Place Yu. I admire them both."

Princess Yu also said, "Nanxing, you mustn't judge everyone by a few. Whether scholars or warriors, some are broad-minded and others have hearts no bigger than a chicken's gut. You should understand someone's character before deciding to associate with them."

While the siblings were talking, the fourth messenger unexpectedly arrived at their table.

"Congratulations to Master Han Yucheng, a provincial graduate from the Capital, on taking fourth place in the palace examination! This humble servant congratulates our Fourth Place scholar!"

Han Yucheng froze, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Princess Yu reacted first. Unable to hide her smile, she hurriedly told her maid Mei Qing to give the messenger some silver.

Han Nanxing slapped his elder brother hard on the shoulder and said joyfully, "Big Brother, you took fourth place! That's incredible!"

Chu Siqing also clapped loudly for her eldest uncle.

Only then did Han Yucheng seem to wake from a dream, and he smiled bashfully.

He had never expected to place fourth, one rank higher than in the metropolitan examination.

People nearby congratulated him as well, and quite a few began asking about his background.

"Who is this Young Master Han?"

"I hear he's the Earl of Ningyuan's eldest legitimate son. He should inherit the title someday."

"That's quite a distinguished background. With fourth place to his name too, he's sure to have an excellent future."

"His elder sister is Princess Yu, too. A prince's household is even more illustrious."

"This Young Master Han doesn't seem to be betrothed yet. Such a fine son-in-law would be a perfect match for our daughter..."

Hearing everyone discussing him, with some even bringing up marriage, Han Yucheng began to feel restless in his seat.

His face faintly red, he said to Princess Yu, "Sister, why don't we head back first? We know my ranking now, anyway..."