68: Chapter 66 Renowned Reputation 68: Chapter 66 Renowned Reputation Jiang Li’s achievent of topping the Mingyi Hall examination for achieving three levels of examination quickly spread throughout the entire Yanjing City, naturally reaching ng Hongjin’s ears as well.
At this mont, the Chengxuan Envoy’s Mansion was steeped in quiet.
Inside a room, ng Hongjin was weeping softly by the side of a collapsed bed.
Mother ng, distressed, wrapped her arms around her daughter and said, “My child, don’t cry, this is just the first of the six departnts; haven’t we still three more departnts to go?
It’s hardly the end of the world, right?”
“Disgraceful!” ng Youde, ng Hongjin’s father, had a very grim expression on his face and said, “To have been so confident in making a betting agreent with soone and now to suffer such a crushing defeat, it’s not just you who has lost face, I too am disgraced—it is completely useless!”
Upon hearing these words, ng Hongjin felt an imnse sorrow and wept even more uncontrollably.
Seeing her daughter weep so sorrowfully, Mother ng was filled with indignation and imdiately retorted, “How can this be blad on Hongjin?
That Jiang Li had just returned to Yanjing City and spent eight years in a temple; everyone assud she knew nothing, so how could they have anticipated her sudden triumph?
Could you have predicted it?”
ng Youde was at a loss for words; he truly did not foresee this outco.
This was exactly why when he learned of his daughter’s bet with Jiang Li, ng Youde had rely chided her lightly for her impulsiveness and said no more because he was convinced in his heart that Jiang Li was bound to lose.
The reality had slapped him hard in the face.
Rembering the mocking looks from his colleagues at court that day, ng Youde felt a deep irritation in his chest.
Mother ng spoke up again, “I’ve been thinking, sothing about this isn’t right at all.
Could it be that Jiang Li used so underhanded tactic?
You should know that Jiang Yuanbai holds a not insignificant position in the court; could he have bribed the examiners this ti?
Otherwise, how could my Lili possibly lose to her?”
“Exactly,” choked ng Hongjin between sobs, “The sisters and I have been studying at Mingyi Hall for five or six years, and Jiang Li has been here for less than ten days.
Could it be that there was a school like Mingyi Hall in the temple, allowing her to study?”
As his wife and daughter both spoke this way, ng Youde began to ponder.
He was now secretly aligned with the Right Chancellor, which made him the Right Chancellor’s man, and Jiang Yuanbai and the Right Chancellor had never gotten along.
He was essentially an enemy of the Jiang Family, and Jiang Li’s outstanding performance in the examination seed unnatural.
If he could find evidence of collusion between Jiang Yuanbai and the Mingyi Hall examiners, it would be more than ideal.
The current Emperor hated anything underhanded in the civil service the most; if he could use this to strike a heavy blow against Jiang Yuanbai, it would be as if he himself had accomplished a great feat.
A blessing in disguise, ng Youde suddenly felt a faint excitent brewing within him.
He picked up his outer robe and put it on, saying, “I need to step out,” and left in a hurry.
Watching her father leave, ng Hongjin felt an even greater sense of aggrievent, and Mother ng comforted her, “What’s there to worry about?
Don’t we still have the next three departnts?
The examination for the next three departnts starts tomorrow, with Zither, Imperial Archery and Horsemanship as the subjects.
Your skill in the Art of Archery and Horsemanship is amongst the best.
Even if the temple had teachers, they surely wouldn’t have had an instructor for the Art of Archery and Horsemanship.
That Jiang Li is bound to lose against you.”
ng Hongjin was one of the few girls in Mingyi Hall who took a keen interest in Archery and Horsemanship.
Naturally impetuous, she was perfectly suited for the toughness required in the Art of Archery and Horsemanship.
Initially, her mastery of horse riding had dazzled all onlookers, and her archery was accurate enough to compete with the best of n.
In Mingyi Hall, or perhaps the whole of Yanjing City, no one dared challenge her in Archery and Horsemanship.
If the previous three departnts of Writing, Mathematics, and Rites could be considered areas where ng Hongjin excelled, then the upcoming three departnts of Zither, Imperial Archery, and Horsemanship were her true forte, Zither notwithstanding.
With this thought, ng Hongjin’s mind beca a bit more settled, yet the humiliation she felt because of Jiang Li did not dissipate.
Because of Jiang Li, her previous grand declarations now seed like a joke.
To be thought inferior to a dummy who had just entered Mingyi Hall, she could only imagine how many people would gossip about her behind her back.
The more ng Hongjin thought about the scornful glances from others, the more her hatred towards Jiang Li grew by degrees.
She wished she could trample Jiang Li under the hooves of her horse in the upcoming Inspection Field…
Suddenly, an idea sprang to her mind.
If she could trample Jiang Li under the hooves of her horse…
At the Inspection Field, swords and blades are indiscriminate…
Her heart was like being tumbled in cold water, then doused with a hot soup, cool and hot intermingling, slowly boiling over.
…
anwhile, ng Youde, who had gone out to find evidence of collusion between Jiang Yuanbai and the examiners, was also destined to return empty-handed.
To prove fairness, Mingyi Hall specially posted copies of the top three examination papers at the door of the hall, drawing countless onlookers.
ng Youde was almost squeezed out by the crowd, hearing many people discussing around him, “If anyone dares to say again that Miss Jiang the Second doesn’t recognize a single character, I’ll crack their skull open with a staff.
I think Miss Jiang the Second writes much better than the scholars in our village school.
Though I don’t recognize a single word, I also know it looks good!”
This was presumably a plebeian.
There were also scholarly-looking readers whose voices carried through the crowd to ng Youde’s ears, “The most marvelous aspect is the essay, with references and quotations, and unique insights.
Miss Jiang the Second must be a person who has extensively read many books.
I’ve studied in seclusion for fifteen years, yet I’m not as good as a young girl, sha on !
Sha on !” With that, he covered his face and sighed deeply.
“They say the writing reflects the person.
Miss Jiang the Second’s writing is rather masculine, full of breadth and an open and relaxed spirit, like that of a bold and spirited young man,” a burly man who resembled a soldier muttered in a subdued tone.
“This accounting skill is not bad either, and here’s a fresh thod.
This thod is good; I’ll copy it down and use it later to manage the accounts in my shop, much easier than the old thods,” chid in a rchant with a golden abacus around his neck, his eyes shining brightly.
In short, as soon as Miss Jiang the Second’s examination paper transcription was released, all rumors were self-defeating.
There was no possible leak in Mingyi Hall’s examination, and Miss Jiang the Second must have written on the spot.
Compared to the other top three answers, Miss Jiang the Second’s examination paper was clearly much more brilliant.
This first place was truly well-deserved.
ng Youde walked out of the crowd, dispirited and distracted, realizing he no longer needed to exhaust himself seeking evidence of Jiang Yuanbai colluding with the examiners.
Jiang Li’s examination paper not only allowed her to stand out but also brought honor to the Jiang Family.
And as Jiang Li received praise, by the sa token, ng Hongjin seed inferior by comparison.
One person’s rise often ans stepping on another’s reputation to ascend in the official circles, a common occurrence.
ng Hongjin also represented the ng Family in this wager, and at least for the first half, the ng Family was losing.
ng Youde’s steps floated as he headed toward his own mansion, the excited discussions of the people around him gradually becoming an indistinct murmur.
At this mont, only one thought occupied ng Youde’s mind: the stakes of the bet had grown too much by now, possibly even known to the palace.
If ng Hongjin couldn’t turn the tables in the next three departnts, the ng Family would have no chance of winning.
That could spell trouble.
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