65: Chapter 63 Good News 65: Chapter 63 Good News Ye Shijie was in Wangxian Tower with friends, waiting for news.
Although he tried to suppress it, a trace of anxiety inevitably showed on his face.
As he watched the noisy crowd outside, all he could do was wait for the crowd to disperse and for the gossiping people to speak the results.
Soone who had gotten the news dashed out from the crowd posting the results outside, and he was talking with others, presumably about the outco of the examination.
Those near the window in Wangxian Tower were shouting, urging those who had gone to view the list to hurry back.
At the table next to Ye Shijie where people were drinking, soone had already left.
Then, they saw him running back inside, nearly stumbling in his haste, and as soon as he entered the tavern, he was surrounded by people.
Everyone asked, “Who is it?
Who topped the list in this school examination?”
“The first place at the Imperial College is Ye Shijie,” the man, having just steadied himself, took a long breath and said, “The second is Li Jing, the eldest son of the Right Chancellor’s Residence.
And third is Zhou Yanbang, the Heir of Marquis Ningyuan!”
The people around him imdiately buzzed with excitent.
“Who is Ye Shijie?
I’ve never heard this na before, is he a new student at the Imperial College?”
“The Right Chancellor’s eldest son actually didn’t co in first this ti, quite unexpected.”
“I thought the Heir of Marquis Ningyuan would be second this ti, but he ended up third.”
“But really, who is Ye Shijie?
Do you know this person?”
The surrounding people were talking amongst themselves, and Ye Shijie’s friend excitedly gripped Ye Shijie’s shoulder, “Shijie, did you hear?
You’re first this ti!”
“I heard.” Ye Shijie seemingly maintained his calm but was in fact thrilled beyond words.
Just like the people of the tavern in Yanjing City, his na was unfamiliar in Yanjing, and to the whole Imperial College as well.
He had co to the Imperial College with the intention of bringing honor to the Ye Family, and finally, his efforts had paid off.
The first place in the Imperial College ant direct appointnt to an official position.
As long as he had an official title, the Ye Family would no longer be commoners, no longer subject to bullying without the ans to protect themselves.
The Ye Family’s status would only improve.
However, there was another issue on his mind.
Soone nearby asked, “We know about the Imperial College now, what about Mingyi Hall?
Who’s this year’s top at Mingyi Hall?”
The person surrounded in the middle paused, then suddenly fell silent.
Such silence in the bustling tavern was astonishing.
The crowd gradually quieted down, exchanging glances, unsure of what was wrong with him.
Soone couldn’t help but speak up, “What’s the result, just tell us!”
The man hesitated for a mont before saying, “On the Mingyi Hall list, the fifth Miss of the Jiang Family, Jiang Yue, ca in third; the Chief Minister’s Daughter ng Hongjin is second.”
When he ntioned “ng Hongjin is second,” the crowd let out a sigh of sentint.
The wager between Jiang Li and ng Hongjin was common knowledge, and now that ng Hongjin was second, Jiang Li’s bet that ng Hongjin would kneel in front of the Imperial College to apologize was no longer a possibility.
The focus then shifted to Miss Jiang the Second, as if she had co in last, it would an a total loss.
Ye Shijie clenched his fists, and for so reason, he also began to worry about Jiang Li’s fate.
“The top spot is…” The person reporting the results paused for a mont, and under the watchful eyes of all, finally announced the last na.
“The Chief Minister’s Daughter Miss Jiang the Second, Jiang Li.”
Jiang Li!
Ye Shijie’s friend nearly knocked over his cup in shock, and digging at his ear, he exclaid, “Did I hear that wrong, Shijie?
Did he say that Jiang Li is first?!”
Even Ye Shijie began to doubt his own ears, wondering if he was just experiencing an unrealistic dream.
As soon as the man finished speaking, the crowd beca wildly agitated and cursed, “Are your eyes failing, or are you blind?
Can’t you read, spouting such nonsense?”
The man stood his ground, his face red and neck swollen as he loudly argued, “I’m not talking nonsense, the top spot is indeed Miss Jiang the Second!”
“Ptui,” a middle-aged man spat on the ground and declared loudly, “If Miss Jiang the Second is the top scorer, I could eat that pile of horse dung by the door!”
Everyone turned toward the entrance, where in the stables, a tall sorrel horse was swishing its tail.
Sensing the gaze of the people, the horse looked curiously into the restaurant and pawed the ground with its front hoof.
“If you don’t believe , go see for yourselves!” The man, who had kindly explained the exam rankings to everyone, had not expected to be insulted; angered, he stood on the stool and shouted furiously.
“Let’s go see then!” Another man, carrying a knife, said, “Look at you, so ignorant you can’t recognize a single word.”
Before he had finished speaking, another patron burst into the door, also soone who had gone to see the rankings at the restaurant.
This person was more forthright than the previous one, not keeping anybody in suspense—he ca through the door and yelled excitedly as if he had just received great news, “Incredible!
The top spot for the Mingyi Hall school examination has been announced, it’s Miss Jiang the Second, Jiang Li from the Jiang Family.
This ti Miss ng from the ng Family must ask for forgiveness with her reputation in tatters!”
With a single sentence, the crowd fell silent as birds startled into quiet.
The doubted man hopped off the stool, snorted coldly, “You believe now, don’t you?” He adjusted his clothes and left in a huff, leaving behind a bunch of onlookers as still as statues.
Ye Shijie watched the chaos unfold before him and, though he should have frowned, he couldn’t help but smile.
…In the Jiang Residence, it was also quiet today.
In the Night Wind Hall, Ji Shuran was keeping Madam Jiang the Elder company, chatting.
Jiang Bingji sat to the side eating pastries, Jiang Youyao and Jiang Yue sat together, while Jiang Yuyan was bowed over embroidering a handkerchief.
“The ones who went to see the school exam rankings will be back shortly.” Ji Shuran steadied her heart with her hand, smiling, “I’m quite nervous.”
“What’s there for you to be nervous about, elder sister-in-law,” Lady Lu replied with a smile, “Youyao has nothing to worry about.
Unlike our branch, Jingyou is not cut out for studying, and Jing Rui… as long as he doesn’t cause a heap of troubles, all is peaceful in the world.”
Jiang Jingrui and Jiang Jingyou had also taken the Imperial College school examination, but it was the sa every year.
Jiang Jingyou’s results were always diocre, and Jiang Jingrui was at the bottom; Lady Lu had long lost hope.
Jiang Yue listened to their conversation with pursed lips, smiling faintly.
She had co to the Night Wind Hall with Jiang Youyao today so that she could be present when the rankings were announced.
She wanted to receive praise from Madam Jiang the Elder, showing everyone in the Jiang Family her talent and intelligence.
“Why isn’t Second Sister joining us?” Jiang Yue asked, “I had soone call for her earlier when I ca over.”
“I heard Second Sister is in the courtyard making tea, saying she isn’t much interested in the exam rankings,” Jiang Youyao answered generously with a smile.
“If Second Sister doesn’t want to co, we shouldn’t force her.”
Everyone overheard this and once again rembered the bet between Jiang Li and ng Hongjin.
Today’s Six Arts examination had three categories announced, setting half the final standing.
Jiang Li was likely at the bottom, and if she lost, she would pay a heavy price.
Naturally, she would not want to witness it herself.
“After the results are out, I’ll go and tell her,” Ji Shuran said with a gentle smile.
Madam Jiang the Elder remained silent.
As they were speaking, Zhenzhu pulled back the bead curtain and said, “Old madam, the people who went to see the results are back.”
“Let them in.”
The one who had gone to see the results was a young servant of Jiang Residence; he first paid his respects to his masters, then reported, “Of the four misses participating in the school exam, the Third Miss placed fourth, the Fourth Miss placed seventeenth, and the Fifth Miss placed third.”
Initially, Jiang Youyao was pleased to hear that she ca in fourth, but upon learning that Jiang Yue had co in third, besting her by a rank, her heart beca extrely vexed.
Jiang Yue struggled to contain her ecstasy, looking at the servant, she asked, “May I know which place my Second Sister achieved?”
The servant took out a transcribed list of nas from his chest and handed it to Madam Jiang the Elder, grinning widely as he spoke.
“Second Miss is at the top of the list, the champion of this school examination.
Congratulations to the old madam!”
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