Despite the criticisms faced by the woman who remarried, she and her husband shared a loving and harmonious relationship, living a smooth and fulfilling life, indifferent to the idle chatter and gossip. Even now, those whispering behind her back are likely driven by envy, jealousy, and resentnt.
When Mo Yan heard this, admiration for the resolute and persistent woman welled up in her heart—such is how a woman should be.
While everyone was busy talking, suddenly, more than thirty imposing guards stread out of the palace gate.
Thirty guards lined up in two neat rows by the wall on the left, blocking the people trying to approach and preventing anyone from getting close. After that, a group of eunuchs in green clothing escorted two eunuchs in purple clothes, who filed out. The two eunuchs in purple, with respectful expressions, held up a bright yellow piece of silk that was unfurled to reveal a length of one zhang and a width of five feet, filled with densely written characters.
"Look quickly, they’re announcing the list!"
The mont the bright yellow silk was hung on the palace wall, the crowd began to stir, everyone standing on tiptoes and craning their necks to get a better look at the wall.
"Who can read, who can read, co and see who the Champion Scholar is, God please bless it to be Young Master Ziyu, otherwise if I lose this bet, it won’t be easy explaining to Tiger Mother at ho!"
"That’s nothing, if you lose, at most you’ll kneel on a washboard for a while. I’ve put in all the silver I was saving for a wife; if Young Master Ziyu wins Champion Scholar, I’ll be losing the match I’ve arranged."
"Hmph, that’s because you’re too greedy. Whose fault is it for betting so much?"
"Hey, hey, wasn’t I just trying to win a bit more to give my wife a better life?"
"..."
Mo Yan hadn’t expected so many people to co and see the list. Not wanting to be jostled by the crowd, she simply stepped back to the very outside but, having heard such discussions, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusent and incredulity.
It wasn’t just one or two voices expressing this sentint; after listening for a while, she realized that nearly half of the people there had participated in the gambling houses’ bets, which explained why the crowd was so huge.
At this mont, literate onlookers had squeezed their way to the front, their eyes fixed on the first-level list. The first-level list had only three nas, and among these observers, soone who admired Mr. Ziyu’s talents naturally hoped he would succeed. When they saw "Champion Scholar" followed by the na of the person they admired, it was as if they had won the title themselves, and they shouted excitedly, "Mo Qingze, the top na Champion Scholar is Mo Qingze, it’s Young Master Ziyu!"
"What, Young Master Ziyu? Ah, I’m in big trouble now, I’ve even lost the money for my parents’ coffins!" A voice wailed from the crowd, as a burly man beat his chest and stomped his feet, tears welling up in his eyes.
Soone nearby schadenfreude said, "Serves you right, I told you to bet on the winning side, but you insisted on betting against him. Now you’d better brace yourself for how your dad is going to handle you!"
"How’s he going to handle ? Spank my bottom, what else, alas, such bad luck!"
"Haha, that is pretty unlucky! I got lucky and bet right this ti, even if the odds weren’t high, it’s enough to feed my family for two or three years, I’m content, haha..."
A small announcent of results sparked a range of tragicodies, quietly overlooking the dynamic crowd with their various expressions of laughter and anger.
Watching her father’s na at the very top of the bright yellow list, Mo Yan’s face showed a faint smile, her underlying worries completely dissipated.
Perhaps due to Mo Qingze’s overwhelming reputation, he was the talk of the crowd; as for the Second Top Scholar and Top Third Scholar, let alone who was in the Second Level or Third Level, scarcely anyone paid them any attention.
Next, would be the Champion Scholar, Second Top Scholar, and Top Third Scholar parading through the streets on horseback—an honor bestowed by the ruler of the nation to the first-level Jin Shi and the main reason why people gathered here despite the scorching sun.
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