Three days after the courtyard exam concluded, the exam results were announced. During these three days, Yingying did not disturb them, and the second lady was reassured, making food for the two at ho.
The two children, who originally appeared emaciated, surprisingly regained much of their strength in just three days.
On the fourth day, everyone got up early, tidied themselves up, and prepared to see the announcent of the results.
In this courtyard exam, neither of them exerted their full effort in a tacit agreent. They even glossed over so challenging essays, rely jotting down a few personal thoughts.
However, they noted down the exam questions, planning to study and ponder on them later. They would discuss them with their teacher upon returning ho.
Even though the next exam would undoubtedly have new questions, this exam’s questions also posed a great learning opportunity.
Both were fully aware that they would not pass this ti, but that did not stop them from wanting to take a look.
It wasn’t just Jiang Yu and Liu Ze; everyone else was curious. After all, it was the announcent of the courtyard exam results, sothing none of them had ever seen before, right?
Wang Fu even waved his hand generously, announcing, "Close the doors for an hour. Anyone who wants to see can go!"
Just as they stepped out of that main street, they heard the sound of clanging gongs and beating drums.
"Dianhuai Prefecture’s Number One Scholar~"
"Dianhuai Prefecture’s Number One Scholar~"
"Dianhuai Prefecture’s Number One Scholar~"
The Number One Scholar, the first place, directly announced throughout the city!
It was rumored that the Magistrate would also provide substantial rewards to the top three, and of course, once they returned to their hotowns, the County Magistrate and others would also reward them.
This was a rit that brought honor to their hotown.
Listening to the cheers coming from the crowd, Jiang Yu and Liu Ze couldn’t help but feel envious. Even being the Number One in the courtyard exam was equivalent to gaining fa and success.
Within the boundaries of Dianhuai Prefecture, with eleven counties and more than five hundred scholars participating in the exam, to be among the top three was surely a testant to genuine talent and learning!
Only when the sound of drumming and clanging faded into the distance did they finally retract their gazes, exchange glances and offer relaxed smiles.
"Let’s go, let’s join the excitent too."
Today was a great day, with people everywhere in the alleys and streets heading towards the place of the announcent, hoping to catch a bit of good fortune and see who the top three were.
They didn’t arrive early, and along the way, they saw so people full of joy, while others appeared crestfallen.
It wasn’t hard to deduce that the happy ones had passed and, starting today, they beca Scholars, reaping the rewards of years of hard work. Not only could they et officials without needing to bow, but even their household taxes would be halved!
That’s also why many families, whenever there was a chance, would spare no expense and effort to support one scholar from their clan.
Passing the Scholar exam would halve the family’s taxes. If there were many siblings and the family hadn’t split, the taxes on all the family mbers and land would be reduced by half!
If one beca an Advanced Scholar, all taxes would be exempted, and the entire family would receive ritorious honor and additional educational resources.
Not to ntion, becoming Tribute Scholars or Presented Scholars opened pathways to directly entering officialdom, which ant great honor and benefits for the entire family.
But because of these stakes, such exams were exceedingly difficult. To be among the honored, one had to exert more effort than ordinary people.
As they continued down the road, so rejoiced while others fretted. It wasn’t difficult to see that quite a few made it onto the list this ti.
No matter the ranking, at least they were a step further along the journey.
Along with the crowd, everyone squeezed in front of the announcent wall, facing a full list of over sixty nas who passed.
Jiang Yu and Liu Ze still took a look and, as expected, their nas were not there.
"Haha, you were boasting before. What now, didn’t pass?" A sharp voice ca from nearby.
Turning to look, well, wasn’t it their neighbor who had eaten sothing bad and was carried out?
Before entering the exam hall, they had exchanged a few words.
Jiang Yu tilted up his chin: "Didn’t I say we’d be back next year? What about you, did you pass?"
Even though he saw him being carried out, the person’s face was still pale and hadn’t fully recovered, yet he was asking if they’d passed.
The man’s face froze, unable to co up with a response, and in the end, he simply flung his sleeve, let out a cold snort, and walked off.
Jiang Yu shrugged, turning to see his family looking at him, puzzled. He explained with a smile, "I ntioned him to you before, the one next door who got carried out."
Everyone nodded; so it was him.
Then they prepared to head ho. They originally ca to join the excitent; everyone knew the two of them were not on the list this ti and didn’t feel disappointed.
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