In the palace, Qin Yi and Su Pan’er were discussing the recent examination cheating scandal, while on the other side, good news had already reached the Su Family’s Mansion.
Everyone at the Su Family’s Mansion was anxiously waiting inside, sending one servant after another to gather information, but no concrete news had co.
Just when everyone was eagerly expecting and feeling extrely anxious, suddenly there was activity outside.
The sound of gongs and suonas, growing closer and closer, seed to be heading in the direction of the Su Family’s Mansion.
"Could this bulletin announcing happy news... possibly be coming to Our Ho?"
Seeing that no one present was speaking, Su Laosan cautiously asked, not daring to speak too loudly.
Everyone looked at each other and simultaneously turned their gazes towards Patriarch Su, but no one dared to speak.
Patriarch Su remained silent for a mont, also sowhat uncertain, "It seems the sound of gongs isn’t coming this way. I heard that the Lu Family Fifth Child also beca a High School scholar, could the bulletin be headed to his mansion? Maybe... we should wait a bit longer?"
Waiting a bit longer and going out to welco later wouldn’t be disgraceful; the real embarrassnt would be going out to welco and then finding the bulletin entering soone else’s mansion.
"Dad is right, let’s keep our cool and wait a bit longer."
The one who spoke, Su Lao Si, was telling everyone to keep their composure, but in this chilly spring, his head was covered in sweat, hardly appearing calm.
"Or should we send a couple more people out to scout?"
This ti it was Su Lao Wu who suggested.
His suggestion imdiately received everyone’s agreent, "That’s a good idea, let’s have two more people go out and scout and co back to report as soon as there’s any news."
Everyone agreed and imdiately arranged for people to go.
But before those people could leave, there was already movent at the gate.
"Old Grand Master! It’s a great joy for the mansion!"
The old caretaker Su Fu rushed in, incessantly shouting, "Great joy, congratulations to the Old Grand Master, congratulations to the master, Young Master Ke has beco a High School scholar! He’s the first place in second class! The people bringing the bulletin have already reached the gate, please, Old Grand Master and master, quickly open the gate and welco the bulletin inside."
"Is it truly the joyful bulletin for our Ke’er? Not for the neighboring Lu family?"
Patriarch Su sprang up, none of his earlier dejection visible.
Everyone present stared intensely at old caretaker Su Fu, wishing they could bore holes through him with their eyes.
"My lord, you are simply godly!"
The old caretaker, his face full of joy, gave a thumbs up, "That bulletin, indeed, was ant to co to Our Ho. Funnily enough, that Lu family thought it was for their Fifth Young Master. They opened their gate to welco it, making quite a farce outside. It surely provided the commoners outside with quite a laugh. Now, the people with the bulletin are heading towards Our Ho!"
Everyone completely erupted in laughter.
They were worried about making a fool of themselves, but it turned out soone had already done so.
Patriarch Su, Su Hai, even more excited, ordered, "Quick! Open up the central courtyard wide and welco the bulletin into the mansion!"
"But, Ke’er still hasn’t returned."
Mrs. Su-Hua managed to say a word, but it was drowned out by the overwhelming joy.
When the joyful bulletin entered the central courtyard, Su Ke, along with Little Shitou and a Duan Yan, was just entering through the side gate. As the Su Family’s mansion personnel greeted the people with the bulletin, he arrived just in ti.
Firecrackers burst in succession, drum and music filled the sky, musicians holding flags, a bulletin announcing happy news made everyone’s face beam with joy. The leading man stood in the hall, holding the big red bulletin high, and loudly read the Imperial Edict.
"Congratulations to Old Master Su, for being the first place in second class in the palace examination! His Majesty decreed that Top Scholar Su shall oversee the academic award ceremony bright and early tomorrow. Top Scholar Su, co quickly to receive the bulletin!"
Su Ke approached with neither humbleness nor arrogance, bowing to everyone, "Thank you all, it has been a tough journey for everyone. Please have so celebratory drinks before you leave."
After saying this, he ordered the bulletin announcing happy news to be taken down by soone, and they were served good wine and dishes.
As soon as the Ministry of Rites’ bulletin announcers had left, those sent by the Yingtian Academy to deliver the bulletin also arrived, and everyone inevitably repeated the sa proceedings as just before. Chatting and laughing, each person left with a big red envelope when they went.
The snap and crackle of firecrackers exploded in front of the gates of the Su Family’s Mansion, sending up a large cloud of lingering smoke, spreading a thick atmosphere of celebration everywhere.
Following tradition, Mrs. Su-Hua personally carried a bushel of rice, stepping outside the mansion gate and throwing the rice into the air to ward off misfortune.
Neighboring locals had already received the news and sent people to bring gifts of congratulations.
Outside the main door, countless people sward to request celebratory gifts. The Su Family was generous, having prepared copper coins, candies, peanuts, longan, and so forth, scooping them up in winnowing baskets and tossing them into the sky, causing countless people to scramble for them.
Patriarch Su held the bulletin, looking at the words "first place in second class" and couldn’t help but be overwheld with tears.
"Our ancestors had a prophecy hundreds of years ago, which said to wait patiently for the right ti to soar to great heights. I have doubted the truth of our ancestor’s prophecy for many years and even scoffed at it. I never expected to find out today that it’s all true! I never imagined that I, Su Hai, would live to see this day..."
The more Patriarch Su talked, the more moved he beca, his face a mixed expression of joy and sadness, his eyes filled with a loving glow as he looked at Su Ke.
Su Ke quickly stepped forward.
"Grandfather, do not get too excited. From now on, our Su Family’s days will only get better. You can rest assured."
"Very good, very good..."
Patriarch Su extended his trembling hand, wanting to pat Su Ke’s head, but hesitated and didn’t follow through.
"Grandfather."
Su Ke moved closer, resting his head in Patriarch Su’s hand.
Patriarch Su patted his head and, with tears in his eyes, he laughed and after a long while sighed, "In the past, your older sister always protected you. Later, to treat your leg, she even volunteered to marry in your place... that’s what brought us to today! Now that you’ve ranked high in the palace examination, I wonder if she has received the news in the palace..."
They say in marrying off a daughter, one lifts their head, but in receiving a daughter-in-law, one lowers their head. Once a daughter marries into the Imperial Family, it becos difficult for her to even make a visit out.
"Grandfather, rest assured, my sister must have already received the news..."
Before Su Ke’s words had settled, soone ran in from outside again.
"Old Master, sir, young master! Outside, outside, the Empress has sent soone with a reward!"
The Empress’s reward!
Of the over four hundred successful candidates, only their household had received a reward from the Empress!
The reward from the Empress was quickly brought in and then placed on the stand in the center of the inner courtyard.
It was a cluster of Jadeite bamboo carved from mutton fat jade, as big as a potted plant. What’s more precious is that both the bamboo leaves and joints could be distinctly seen, the green jade carved into luxuriant bamboo looked stunningly vibrant; just placing it on the stand dazzled everyone present.
The visitors who ca to offer congratulations grew even more frenzied, desperately squeezing towards the front of the Su Family’s Mansion gate, everyone stretching their necks trying to get a clear view of what the young Top Scholar Su looked like.
Those who had seen his appearance boasted proudly, "This Top Scholar Su has a fine and handso face with rosy lips and white teeth, truly a dashing young man..."
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