Chapter 95

After finishing all the miscellaneous tasks, Jia Zheng asked Vice Minister Li Dekang for leave for an hour. Li Dekang asked for the reason and only then learned that today was the posting of the Academy Examination results, and that Jia Cong, who was good at calligraphy, had participated in this Academy Examination.

Now that Jia Cong was raised under the name of the Second Branch of the West Prefecture, Jia Zheng, as the uncle of the Second Branch, naturally valued this matter and wanted to go back early to inquire about the results.

Li Dekang had just obtained a piece of calligraphy from Jia Cong and had a good impression of this talented youth, so naturally, he had no objections.

Jia Zheng hurried back to the mansion and immediately sent a servant to the Ministry of Rites to inquire about the news.

This reminded him of his own imperial examination situation back then. Unfortunately, he had gained nothing back then, which was a lifelong regret.

He also heard from his family about Wang Ziteng coming to offer birthday wishes today, the Wang family boy trespassing into the inner courtyard, and the whole matter of publicly humiliating Jia Cong.

Jia Zheng was so angry that he smashed his teacup to pieces. In front of Lady Wang, he shouted that Ziteng did not know how to teach his son, making Lady Wang feel extremely awkward.

While this was happening, the yamen runners reporting the good news arrived at the main gate of the Rongguo Prefecture. The gatekeeper was shocked to hear the news and hurriedly informed the steward.

Although Steward Lai Da looked down on Jia Cong a bit, he didn't dare to be negligent. He brought the government bailiffs reporting the good news through the ceremonial gate and headed straight for the Rongxi Hall.

Jia Mu, Jia Zheng, Lady Wang, and others were all shocked when they received the news and went to the Rongxi Hall one after another.

Even so, it was extremely outstanding in the wealthy and glorious Jia family. If this could happen, it would be the greatest blessing this boy had accumulated in his previous life.

Jia Mu, Lady Wang, and Jia Lian, Wang Xifeng, and others who arrived later were all stunned.

They all knew that Jia Cong studied extremely hard. In their impression, it would probably take four or five years of reading to pass the exam.

The yamen runners reporting the good news were well-informed. Every time someone passed the exam, the sudden ecstasy of the family would lead to all kinds of strange reactions, and they were long used to it.

But now Jia Cong was not yet thirteen, and not only did he pass the scholar exam, but he also won the honor of being the top candidate in the prefecture, far surpassing Jia Zhu back then!

Historically, more than half of those who won the top spot in the Academy Examination could enter the Palace Examination and make it onto the Golden List.

The yamen runner reporting the good news entered the hall, knelt on one knee, and sang loudly: "Young Master Jia Cong of your honorable mansion has passed the 12th year of Emperor Jia Zhao Yongzhou Academy Examination as the top candidate!"

Now the one who won the top spot was the Rongguo Jia family, where "white jade is the hall and gold is the horse." Who didn't know that the Jia family had two Dukes in one family and was a wealthy and prosperous family in the world?

He felt he had encountered great luck today. Such families were all like throwing money away like dirt. With him coming to report such great glory as the top candidate of the Academy Examination, could the reward money be small?

So he was full of spirit and sang loudly again: "Young Master Jia Cong of your honorable mansion has passed the 12th year of Emperor Jia Zhao Yongzhou Academy Examination as the top candidate!"

After the news spread, Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng both rushed over, but the inner courtyard was deep, and the news hadn't reached Yingchun and the other sisters so quickly.

Even yamen runners coming to the door to report passing the exam only appeared in his imagination.

Back then, Jia Zhu passed the exam at fourteen and was called a genius, but that was just passing the exam, and his ranking was still low, far from the top spot.

He also took out the good news report from his bosom, which was stamped with the vermilion seal of the Ministry of Rites, which could not be faked at all.

But they never expected that Jia Cong's first exam would not only pass but also win the great name of the top candidate of the Academy Examination.

The top candidate—this was something Jia Zheng didn't even dare to think about. Back then, limited by his natural talent for reading, he would have thanked heaven and earth if he could just pass the exam.

Now it was actually happening before his eyes, and it was said that Jia Cong had won the top spot in the Academy Examination!

Jia Zheng's face flushed red, and he seemed not to believe his own ears, asking tremblingly again: "Say it again!"

The top candidate was not something that could appear in his world.

After all, the Jia family had produced scholars like Jia Jing and Jia Zhu, so Jia Mu, Lady Wang, and others still understood some of the ways of scholars.

This boy is at this age and has such good fortune; could it be that the Jia family is going to produce another Jinshi?

Everyone present was shocked, but each had their own thoughts.

If one were to say that Jia Mu was not happy at all, that would be impossible, but she was a bit mixed in her feelings. Her most beloved Baoyu was unknown, but this one she disliked the most was always winning the top spot in everything.

And Lady Wang looked at the yamen runner reporting the good news, the wariness in her eyes deepening. She no longer had a Jia Zhu who could support the family, and now she only had Baoyu left.

Jia Cong and Baoyu were the same age. One was still being pampered in the inner chambers, while this one had already won the top spot. Wouldn't he be far surpassed? If this went on for a long time, even the Old Matriarch's side would be hard to talk about.

Jia Zheng laughed happily and said: "Old Matriarch, this is great joy! Cong-ge'er is not yet of age, and not only did he pass the exam early, but he also won the top spot. It is truly the protection of the ancestors, bringing glory to the family!"

He also said to Hearing Lai Da: "Give this official a reward of silver for wine, no, reward him with gold, a heavy reward!"

The yamen runner was overjoyed, knelt down, and said a bunch of auspicious words about making it onto the Golden List, winning the top spot, and the family's glory for generations. Those in their line of work said these words very fluently.

He coaxed Jia Zheng into being very happy, and finally, he was rewarded with a gold ingot and left happily.

Jia Zheng also asked Hearing Lai Da to send someone to find Jia Cong. Before long, firecrackers sounded outside the main gate of the Rongguo Prefecture, and the noise could be heard throughout Ningrong Street.

And the news of Jia Cong winning the top spot in the Academy Examination spread rapidly through the two Jia mansions. Before long, Jia Zhen of the East Prefecture also came to congratulate him, but Jia Cong was nowhere to be seen.

Xiao Qiu, a little maid in Jia Mu's courtyard, ran with small steps along the wind and rain corridor of the inner courtyard, her little face slightly flushed.

When she reached the Qingzhi Studio, she patted the courtyard gate with a loud "pa-pa" sound.

It was the little maid Juan'er who opened the door. Xiao Qiu panted and asked: "Is Sister Qingwen here? I'm looking for her to talk."

Qingwen ran out of the room, looked at Xiao Qiu with her flushed little face, frowned and said: "You little hoof, knocking on the door in broad daylight with such a loud sound, I thought robbers had come to the door."

Xiao Qiu didn't care about Qingwen's sharp tongue and said with a smile: "Sister Yuanyang asked me to bring you a message. Just now, an official came to report the good news, saying that Cong Sanye Cong passed the Academy Examination as the top candidate."

Qingwen's pretty face was full of surprise, and she pulled Xiao Qiu and asked: "Did he really pass as the top candidate!"

Xiao Qiu smiled: "How could that be fake? I saw it with my own eyes at the front. The Second Master even rewarded the official who brought the news with a big gold ingot, and the firecrackers outside the mansion are still ringing."

Qingwen jumped three feet high happily and shouted in a pretty voice: "Cong Sanye is too amazing! Cong Sanye passed, Cong Sanye passed as the top candidate!"

Juan'er and Si'er in the courtyard also became a group of joy.

At this time, Wu'er also heard the news and ran out, full of surprise, pulled Xiao Qiu and asked again, and then happily hugged Qingwen.

The Qingzhi Studio echoed with laughter like silver bells, and the green bamboo in the courtyard seemed to be infected, swaying lightly in the autumn wind.

Xiao Qiu looked at the scene before her and felt a bit envious, saying: "Sister Qingwen, you are so good here, and Cong Sanye is so capable. Why don't you ask the Old Matriarch to let me come over and be with you all."

Qingwen tapped Xiao Qiu's head with her finger and scolded with a smile: "What kind of beautiful things is the little girl thinking about? Just stay honestly on the Old Matriarch's side, but you have merit today, so I will reward you."

Saying that, she pulled Xiao Qiu into the room, brought two plates of snacks newly made by Wu'er, and Wu'er smiled and poured a cup of hot tea for her.

Xiao Qiu was at the age of being greedy, and she kept stuffing snacks into her mouth, eating with great relish, forgetting even the sadness of being rejected by Qingwen just now.

This cute way of eating made Wu'er and Qingwen giggle on the side.

(End of chapter)