My gaze traveled downwards, finally settling on fifth place... He won...
Meng Anci shouted excitedly, "Auntie, Auntie, I passed the imperial examination! Our family can be exempted from taxes!"
Shi Chang'an put him down on the ground. Meng Anci didn't even have time to thank him before he dashed out of the crowd, jumped into Jin Shanyao's arms, and excitedly exclaimed, "Auntie... I passed the imperial examination! I passed the imperial examination!"
Jin Shanyao laughed heartily, "My little scholar is truly remarkable; he's even managed to exempt his family from taxes!"
Meng Anci looked at Meng Anzhi with pride, "Sister... am I still a money-losing burden?"
Dressed in red, Meng Anzhi reached out and plucked the velvet flower from her hair, placing it in Meng Anci's bun. "Wonderful... just don't boast in the future."
"What big talk?"
Meng Anzhi smiled, "Bingsheng... didn't you say you wanted to get first place?"
Meng Anci blushed with embarrassment. He listened to Lord Su's advice and chose the safest approach: a standard essay that was neither outstanding nor flawed. It was neither eye-catching nor anything could be wrong with it, so he managed to keep his title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the imperial examination) and thus ranked fifth.
Shi Chang'an led Shiyan over, "Congratulations, Shopkeeper Jin..."
Jin Shanyao her hand and laughed, "Congratulations to you too."
Meng Anci looked at Shiyan, "What rank did you get?"
Shiyan grinned from ear to ear, patting his chest proudly, "Last place!"
Everyone present, except for Shi Chang'an, froze. Meng Anzhi was the first to react, " Shiyan, you're amazing! You can pass any exam by the hair's breadth."
Shiyan proudly said, "That's because... we're lucky."
Shi Chang'an glanced at his silly son and couldn't help but laugh out loud. " Shopkeeper Jin, you're busy... We'll take our leave first." With that, he led his son away.
Meng Anci tiptoed to look at the list, "Auntie... could you help me see what rank Zhao Zhiyuan got?"
Jin Shanyao and Meng Anzhi exchanged a glance. " Anci... you have to hold on."
Meng Anci completely bewildered.
He looked at the two of them, puzzled, only to hear his aunt coldly say, " Zhao Zhiyuan is fourth."
"What..." Meng Anci, standing on tiptoe and craning his neck to look at the list. Just then, Zhao Zhiyuan and his father Zhao Mingjing came out, followed by Zhao Mingyang.
Upon seeing this, Meng Anci quickly bowed and greeted him, " Master Zhao..."
Zhao Mingyang smiled and said, "Congratulations... young scholar."
Meng Anci blushed and glanced at Zhao Zhiyuan, "I'm ashamed to say I only ranked fifth."
Master Zhao patted Meng Anci on the shoulder and comforted him gently, " Anci, you're only seven years old. To pass the imperial examination at the age of seven—you'd be hard-pressed to find another like it in the entire Sheng Dynasty. Don't underestimate yourself; there's plenty of time ahead, and you'll surely do better and better in the exams."
Meng Anci solemnly, "I will remember this and will certainly not fail my teacher's expectations."
Zhao Zhiyuan's gaze swept over the fluffy flower in Meng Anci's hair, and he said gently, " Anci, congratulations."
"Congratulations..." Meng Anci's voice was clear and crisp, showing no sign of disappointment. Zhao Zhiyuan was puzzled. With Meng Anci. Was he nervous about the exam? Before he could figure it out, Master Zhao had already put his arm around his shoulder.
" Shopkeeper Jin, we still need to get back to Willow and Poplar County, so we'll be heading out now."
After saying this, the Zhao Household family members left.
Meng Anci stared at Zhao Zhiyuan figure, his mind filled with countless thoughts. It's over... he'd gone too far and Zhao Zhiyuan had actually surpassed him.
Jin Shanyao thought he was upset, so she comforted him, " The Zhao Household is Aristocratic Clan scholars for centuries. Zhao Cheng, the head of the Green Mountain Academy, is Zhao Zhiyuan's great-grandfather."
The teacher at the Prefectural City Academy is Zhao Zhiyuan's cousin, and even his own uncle is a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations). Apart from the academy teacher, you only had one other person, Su Wenqian, who reviewed your exam papers.
Your current fifth place is the result of your tireless, solo efforts, fought day and night—all by yourself...
"Come on, shout with me... I'm the best!" Jin Shanyao, startling Meng Anci. He glanced around, suppressing a laugh, and said, "I'm the best."
"Speak louder... like me... focus your breath in your Dantian, I'm the best..."
Meng Anci took a deep breath and yelled, "I'm the best..."
"Yes, that's how it should be... Anzhi, you should shout a few words too."
Meng Anzhi was a little confused when she was suddenly called that, "Auntie... I've always been great, you don't need to call me that, right?"
Jin Shanyao disagreed, "That's why you're shouting it, just because it's great. Come on, shout it out..."
Despite the strange looks, Meng Anzhi said weakly, "I'm the best."
"Speak louder..."
Meng Anzhi steeled her heart, closed her eyes, and yelled, "I'm the best..."
"I'm the best..." the Jin Shanyao.
Meng Anzhi shouted, "I'm the best..." Then she glared at Meng Anci, Meng Anci yelled back, "I'm the best!"
The people around them looked at the three of them as if they were mentally challenged, Jin Shanyao was completely oblivious, walking and shouting with the two children in tow.
"I'm the best..."
"I'm the best..."
"I'm the best..."
The three of them, one after the other, shouted and yelled all the way home.
As soon as she entered, Meng Anzhi said, " Qing Yang, quickly pour me a glass of water, my throat is parched from shouting."
Meng Anci a hoarse voice, "Pour me a glass too."
Qing Yang was completely confused. Had he gone to check the rankings or to rant and rave? How come his voice was hoarse?
As soon as she finished pouring the water, the two children couldn't wait to grab it and gulp it down.
Qing Yang placed the water glass on the table.
"Is nothing wrong at the shop?" Jin Shanyao, sitting down behind the table, seemingly unconcerned.
"Everything is fine, except Xiao Huzi came and said you owe him a penny."
Upon hearing this, Jin Shanyao sat up abruptly. That's right, the answer of zero plus three last time wasn't hers. So she only owed one coin. Luckily, Xiao Huzi came to collect it.
Otherwise, she would incur another karmic debt. She called out through the window to the neighbor, " Old Wang... is Xiao Huzi there?"
Shopkeeper Wang's voice came from outside, "He went home with his mother. Do you need him for something?"
"Oh... it's okay. Next time he comes, have him come find me."
Shopkeeper Wang responded with an "oh"... thinking to himself, "You two seem to be getting along quite well."
Jin Shanyao sat up straight and looked at Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci, "Shouldn't we celebrate?"
Meng Anzhi smiled and said, "Yes... let's go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion and order all the dishes my brother likes."
Meng Anci glanced at his sister leisurely. "Now that you know I'm your brother, why didn't you remember I was your brother when you invited me to see ghosts together?"
Without hesitation, Jin Shanyao immediately took the two children to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
Today, the results of the provincial examination were released, and there were many people on the street. Those who knew Meng Anci came up to congratulate him.
Meng Anci responded with a smile throughout, and the three of them arrived at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
The waiter greeted him warmly, "Congratulations, Scholar Meng!"
Meng Anci blushed slightly and gave the waiter a few copper coins.
The three entered a private room, and the waiter, as usual, asked Jin Shanyao what she wanted to eat.
Jin Shanyao and said, "Today is to celebrate Anci passing the imperial examination and becoming a scholar. Let him order the dishes..."
The waiter's gaze fell on Meng Anci, Meng Anci and said, "A plate of stir-fried mushrooms, three crab roe pomegranate buns, sweet and sour fish, and Mapo tofu, that's all."
Jin Shanyao asked doubtfully, "Why not order a few more?"
That's enough, we can't eat all that.
The waiter withdrew as instructed, and soon all the dishes were served. As the three were eating, they heard voices coming from next door.
"I heard the North-Pacifying Army is causing quite a ruckus."
"How could they not be furious? Using soldiers as pawns... If the court doesn't give an explanation, the public anger will be hard to quell."
At this moment, the voice was lowered a few decibels, and Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci held their breath and listened intently.
"I heard it was one of the Third Prince's advisors who did it secretly behind his back. When it was exposed, he fled... Now the Third Prince and the Prefect of the Capital are searching everywhere for him."
"It's not just them searching; Young General Shen is looking everywhere too. Notices have been posted throughout the capital, offering a reward of five thousand taels of silver..."
"Three forces are looking for someone at the same time, this money won't be easy to get... Oh, by the way, brother... what brings you to Qingzhou Prefecture this time?"
"Send a notice to Lord Su; your Qingzhou Prefecture should be posting arrest warrants tomorrow..."
"What was the name of the Third Prince's advisor...?"
" Xuanjizi... Are you finished eating? If you are, please pay the bill and let's go."